BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport Exempted Village School District rolled out the blue and black carpet for visiting elementary, middle and high school students during Bring a Friend to School Day May 19. Bridgeport students were encouraged to invite a friend to “shadow” them through the day’s activities and so experience life as a Bulldog as they look to the next school year.
Bridgeport Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson said the middle school had 43 visitors. She added they could enjoy the extra, enriching educational activities such as the “medical detectives” course.
“Our teachers do an excellent job of welcoming the visitors,” she said. “I hope everybody feels welcomed at Bridgeport Schools.”
Fifth grade science teacher Jordan Sieber had a variety of activities for the guest students. One task called on them to draw on their astronomical knowledge to “design” a planet, and consider factors such as whether theirs should be an inner or outer planet, a gas giant or ringed.
“We like to showcase some of the things we do in our classrooms,” she said. “I like that they’re doing hands-on projects today. I like that they’re incorporating the things that we’ve learned previously and using creativity and their imagination to create something of their own.”
She added the visiting students have taken to the activities.
“Our guests today have definitely been jumping right in and participating with the classmates they came with,” she said. “It’s going great. They seem like they’re having a really great day at Bridgeport.”
Bailey, herself in her first year at Bridgeport Schools, wanted to show her new school to her friend, Zane.
“The teachers are my friends,” she said. Bailey said the school has sparked her interests. “I love math.”
Zane was having was having a fun time.
“I wanted to see what it was like,” he said. “I like it.”
Hunter invited Gio, who had been a Bridgeport Elementary student.
“I think he’d fit very well here for all the activities that we have,” Hunter said.
Gio was impressed with the class structure and range of activities, along with the chance to exercise his creativity.
Ann-Marie invited her friend Cianna
“I just want to let her know it’s a safe place here and she’s welcome to Bridgeport Schools.”
Cianna enjoyed the artistic activities.
“It’s good,” she said.
Bridgeport Elementary School Principal Kamaron Sabinski was happy to share all the school could offer with the nine visiting elementary students.
“I’m very excited about having other students come and visit our incredible school, to be able to spend the day with the nicest, kindest, most responsible children, able to see the innovative lessons that occur in our classrooms and enjoy some of the festivities that we have going on today.”
Fourth grade teacher Morgan Brunner said the day was doubly special, since the visitors got to observe the fourth-grade promotion where students celebrated completion of their elementary education and prepared to enter middle school next school year. The promotion included videos of high points of the final year.
“It’s really nice because they can come here and see what we do in fourth grade,” she said. “It’s great that they got a little bit of an insight.”
She introduced the students to STEM activities.
“A lot of hands-on learning. A lot of collaboration with friends. It’s really important at the end of the school year to keep that going into middle school so they can keep those friendships.”
Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher said nine visiting high schoolers shadowed his students.
“Just a nice day for us to showcase the really great things about Bridgeport,” he said, adding the district has many appealing features. “The biggest thing, I think, is the culture and the atmosphere of how our staff and teaches and everyone cares for their students and knows their students and has good relationships with their students.”
Sophomore Adelyn Canter invited junior Parker Conter and showed him the classes and educational tools, along with some fun end-of-the-year activities.
Parker appreciated the Bulldog culture.
“So far, I like it. It seems like there’s a lot going on, and it’s a very happy place and the teachers seem really nice,” he said. “I think they do a lot for the students here, and it’s very impressive.”
