We sustain academic rigor by increasing learning time, setting high expectations, and helping meet the health and social service needs of our Scholars.
Founding Core Beliefs
ACADEMICS
Students learn best in a comprehensive, individualized, rigorous academic program that both teaches basic skills and inspires students to have rich intellectual lives.
Features of our academic program
An extended school day: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:30am-3:45pm, and Wednesdays from 7:30am-12:15pm.
A school that year runs from August through June
More than three hours daily of math, reading, and writing
Teachers who meet weekly to discuss curriculum and lesson planning
Regular teacher professional development and observations that focus on instruction, student data, and best practices
A rich and thematic social studies and science curricula that are each designed to incorporate hands-on projects and develop student inquiry
Licensed ELL teachers who provide ELL students with their needed hours of intervention
Inclusion support across all academic areas
Pull-out support with modified curricula for those in need
A Special Education department that equips students with disabilities with the academic and life skills needed to be active participants in their classrooms and in their communities
Speech and Language services through an individual education program (IEP) that are provided either in the classroom (push-in services) or in the speech room (pull-out services)
Occupational Therapy services through an individual education program (IEP) that are provided either in the classroom (push-in services) or in the OT room (pull-out services)
FULL SERVICE
Students learn best in a school that has an intentional focus on the elimination of barriers to learning through vibrant community partnerships that allow the school to meet the health and social service needs of its students.
FEATURES OF STUDENT AND FAMILY SERVICES
Annual vision, scoliosis, and hearing screenings (in depth hearing screenings for K1)
Eye glasses
Dental clinics on site
Three nutritious meals and a snack provided by our own full-service kitchen
Referrals and help with housing, social services, and food security
A Family Resource Room for our parents that includes computers, printers, a washer/dryer, and extra dress code clothes
Three full-time social workers and student support team
Parent workshops on a range of topics including asthma awareness, health and wellness, financial planning, reading at home, and behavior management strategies
Clinical counseling and health services through partners such as Boston Medical Center, the Home for Little Wanderers, Horizons for Homeless Children, South Bay Mental Health, New England Eye, and Forsyth Dental, Cradles to Crayons, and Rosie’s Place
An After-School partnership with the Boys and Girls Club
An After-School partnership with Mass Audubon
WHOLE CHILD
Bridge Boston works to create a nurturing community that honors the whole child. Classrooms are both joyful and demanding. We strive to create a balance between ensuring that students have the space and tools to cope with the aftermath of the trauma with which so many of them grapple, while continually pushing them to think deeply, read critically, write clearly, and solve problems independently. We want to expand our students’ self-discipline and self-appreciation.
FEATURES OF OUR WHOLE CHILD PROGRAM
A social-emotional curriculum designed to develop the successful management of life tasks such as learning, forming relationships, solving everyday problems, collaboration, decision-making, conflict resolution, and being resilient against negative peer pressure or substance abuse
Our core values of joy, achievement, generosity, unity, acceptance, and resiliency (JAGUAR)
A strong art, music, and physical education program grounded in the idea that different children shine in different milieus