12/10/20

Hello Families!

Here is the latest information on what is going on at Bridge:

HEALTH AND SAFETY

We learned yesterday about our community’s fifth positive case of Covid 19. This individual has not been in the building this school year. We have alerted the Department of Health.

We appreciate that families continue to alert us to the health status of our students!

Please see the end of this email for information on Covid symptoms and testing sites.

POSSIBLE RETURN TO SCHOOL

We have learned from Superintendent Testani that the earliest Bridgeport schools will return to in-person learning is January 11, though a return may happen even later than that.

We will continue to keep you posted!

FREE MEALS FOR EVERYONE! NO PAPERWORK REQUIRED!

You can come in on the days and times below to pick up all of your child’s lunches and breakfasts for the week:

Mondays and Tuesdays: 11:00 to 1:00

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 3:00 to 5:00

(after 4:00 go to the kitchen side of the building

near the railroad overpass and ring the bell)

Please email our cafeteria coordinator, Rachel Majlak, the day before you plan to come in so that she can have the meals prepared for you. Her email address is rachel.majlak@bridgeacademy.org.

We have plenty of food for everyone so don’t worry about taking food from others who might “need it more”.

Picking up food helps our school! Here’s how:

– The program enables us to receive federal and state funding

– The program helps save jobs for our food service workers

– The program helps you save money on your grocery bill

– The program helps support businesses that depend on our business

PROGRESS REPORTS

Time is flying and we are already at the halfway point of the second Marking Period! You will be receiving your child’s progress report in the mail next week.

APPLYING TO BRIDGE ACADEMY

We have begun accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year.

If you know of any 6th grade families looking for a good school please encourage them to apply to Bridge! Families can apply directly online at https://bridgeacademy.org/application/

I have also attached a hard copy of the application below.

CHROMEBOOKS AND HOTSPOTS

If your child is having issues with their chromebook, feel free to come to Bridge to switch it out for another one.

Also, if you consistently have trouble with wifi in your home, please come to school to pick up a hotspot for your family.

LATEST MEDIA CLUB VIDEO

Please enjoy the Media Club’s most recent video; this one recognizes those students who earned Perfect Attendance, Honors and PRIDE awards!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5KHnzj8bjs

The Media Club is hosting a virtual Talent Show. Please encourage your child to take a brief video of them demonstrating a talent (dancing, poetry, basketball, piano, violin, rubik’s cube, chess, washing dishes: anything goes!). Submit videos to Mr. Anderson (eric.anderson@bridgeacademy.org) or Ms. Losure (corky.losure@bridgeacaademy.org) by this Monday, December 14.

Thank you!

Rachel

COVID-19 is spread mainly via person-to-person contact through contaminated air droplets from coughing and sneezing by an infected person. As with controlling the spread of other viruses, we urge everyone to discuss the following preventive measures with your children and family members:

Wash your hands frequently, but especially after using the restroom and before preparing or consuming food. Using soap and hot water, wash for about 20 seconds. Be sure to also wash your fingertips. When soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
Avoid coughing and sneezing into your hands or in the air. Always try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough/sneeze inside your elbow.
As much as you can, avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
Wear a mask whenever there is a likelihood that you or your family members will be in the presence of others.
Maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet) between yourself and others when outside your home.

Below is a list of COVID-19 symptoms for which everyone should monitor their family members:

Fever (100.4 degrees or higher)
Chills or shaking chills
Uncontrolled new cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell

For additional information on COVID-19 symptoms, please see:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Staff and students exhibiting any of the above symptoms, or feeling ill, should remain home and call their medical provider to report their symptoms and ask about testing prior to seeking in-person care at a clinic, physician’s office or hospital.

There is a list of testing sites in Bridgeport at the end of this letter.

For more information on what to do if you or a family member has possible symptoms, a diagnosis, or exposure to COVID-19, please see Addendum 5: Interim Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios in Connecticut School Districts, available here:

https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/COVID19/COVID-19-Resources-for-Families-and-Educators/Addendums-and-FAQ’s

We are closely monitoring this situation and working with the Bridgeport Department of Health and will provide you with updates as we know more. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Rachel Allison and Tyrone Elliott

IN SPANISH

Estimadas familias de Bridge:

El COVID-19 se transmite principalmente a través del contacto de persona a persona a través de gotitas de aire contaminadas al toser y estornudar por una persona infectada. Al igual que con el control de la propagación de otros virus, instamos a todos a que analicen las siguientes medidas preventivas con sus hijos y familiares:

Lávese las manos con frecuencia, pero especialmente después de usar el baño y antes de preparar o consumir alimentos. Con jabón y agua caliente, lávese durante unos 20 segundos. Asegúrese también de lavarse las yemas de los dedos. Cuando no haya agua y jabón disponibles, use desinfectante para manos.
Evite toser y estornudar en sus manos o en el aire. Trate siempre de toser o estornudar en un pañuelo de papel, luego tírelo. Si no tiene un pañuelo de papel, tosa / estornude dentro de su codo.
En la medida de lo posible, evite tocarse los ojos, la boca y la nariz.
Use una máscara siempre que exista la posibilidad de que usted o los miembros de su familia estén en presencia de otras personas.
Mantenga una distancia social (al menos 6 pies) entre usted y los demás cuando esté fuera de su casa.

A continuación se muestra una lista de los síntomas de COVID-19 para los cuales todos deben monitorear a sus familiares:

Fiebre (100,4 grados o más)
Escalofríos o escalofríos
Tos nueva incontrolada (no debida a otra causa conocida, como tos crónica)
Dificultad para respirar o falta de aire.
Nueva pérdida del gusto u olfato

Para obtener información adicional sobre los síntomas de COVID-19, consulte:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

El personal y los estudiantes que presenten cualquiera de los síntomas anteriores, o que se sientan enfermos, deben permanecer en casa y llamar a su proveedor médico para informar sus síntomas y preguntar sobre las pruebas antes de buscar atención en persona en una clínica, consultorio médico u hospital.

Para obtener más información sobre qué hacer si usted o un miembro de su familia tiene posibles síntomas, un diagnóstico o exposición al COVID-19, consulte el Anexo 5: Guía provisional para responder a los escenarios del COVID-19 en los distritos escolares de Connecticut, disponible aquí:

https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/COVID19/COVID-19-Resources-for-Families-and-Educators/Addendums-and-FAQ’s

Estamos monitoreando de cerca esta situación y trabajando con el Departamento de Salud de Bridgeport y le proporcionaremos actualizaciones a medida que sepamos más. Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en ponerse en contacto conmigo.

Sinceramente,

Rachel Allison and Tyrone Elliott

DAILY TEST SITES

(MUST CALL FIRST)

VINCENT’S MEDICAL CENTER (HARTFORD HEALTH CARE)

2800 Main Street

Bridgeport, CT 06606

(860) 972-8100

9:00AM – 4:00PM, 7 days a week

By appointment only-PCR testing

BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL (YALE NEW HAVEN HEALTH)

226 Mill Hill Ave

Bridgeport, CT 06610

(833) 275-9644

7:30AM – 7:00PM, Monday – Wednesday

7:30AM – 3:00PM, Thursday & Friday

PCR test only

223 Mill Hill Ave

Bridgeport, CT 06610

(833) 275-9644

9:00AM – 3:00PM, Monday – Friday

By appointment only- PCR test only

Visit covidtesting2.ynhhs.org to schedule an appointment at a location nearest to you

SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

510 Clinton Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06605

(203) 330-6000

8:30AM – 4:30PM, Monday – Friday

9:00AM – 1:00PM Saturday

By appointment only

PCR test only

968 Fairfield Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06605

(203) 330-6000

8:30AM – 11:30AM, Wednesdays

PCR test only

Optimus Healthcare

982 East Main Street (parking garage available)

(203) 696-3260

9:00AM –4:15PM,Monday-Friday

Prefer – call first

PCR Test

URGENT CARE

1677 East Main Street

(203) 612-7929

9:00AM – 6:00PM, Monday – Friday

Prefer – call first

Rapid Testing only as of 11/12/20

COMMUNITY POP-UP TEST SITES

(No symptoms· No referral · No appointment)

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Yale New Haven Health

Hall Neighborhood House

52 George E. Pipkins Way, Bridgeport

9:00am – 4:00pm

PCR-test

Southwest Community Health Center

Southwest CHC

1020 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport

1:30pm – 4:00pm

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Southwest Community Health Center

Southwest CHC

1020 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport

8:30am – 11:30am

PCR only

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Yale New Haven Health

Islamic Community Center

703 State St, Bridgeport (corner of Park Ave.)

8:45am – 4:00pm

PCR-test

Southwest Community Health Center

University of Bridgeport- John J. Cox Student Center

244 University Ave, Bridgeport

8:30am – 12:00pm

PCR only