BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport Exempted Village School District opened its doors and gave a Bulldogs welcome to prospective students during Bring a Friend to School Day May 19.
Each visiting student shadowed a friend who goes to school at Bridgeport, and they experienced firsthand all that the district had to offer. Administrators including High School Principal Jack Fisher greeted the visitors and asked about their interests, such as trades, activities, or music and the arts. Fisher said the high school welcomed 13 students. His guests looked forward to a fun, full day.
“We’ve got a lot of new kids coming into our district today to check it out and see what it’s like to be a Bulldog, to see how great it is.”
Fisher also touched on the district’s College Credit Plus program for students who want to get a head start on college classes. He said Bridgeport Schools will have even more to offer in the near future, thanks to the grant-funded multipurpose facility to be dubbed the Bridge. It will be construction on the district campus in the next two years, with groundbreaking May 28.
“There’s going to be new programs. New opportunities here.”
Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson hosted 41 guest students.
“It’s great for other kids in our community to be able to see what awesome things we do here at Bridgeport.”
Elementary School Principal Kamaron Sabinski said 15 visiting students joined her elementary kiddos.
“Bring a Friend is going great. The kids are happy to be here.”
Fourth grade teacher Kelli Hilt had five visiting students in one of her classes, with two already planning to attend next school year. While they familiarized themselves, Hilt introduced the students to the district iPads that play a role in many of the interactive lessons.
“They’ll get to see that experience that we do,” she said. “I’ve got an activity for them that involves them making something with the iPads, so we’re going to do that so they can see how we incorporate iPads in the classroom.”
Fourth grader Kaz invited Kaylynn to see the learning activities.
“I wanted to show her everywhere around the school because she might be coming here next year.”
Kaylynn, who is currently homeschooled, enjoyed accustoming herself to Bridgeport Elementary school. She found the activities matched her interest in art.
“I really like this school,” she said. “A bunch of things are different here.”
Skylar, another fourth grader, brought her friend Addi, who is moving to Bridgeport next year.
Addi enjoyed activities related to math.
“I wanted to see her and I wanted to see what the school was like,” Addi said.
Seventh and eighth grade math teacher David Nelson involved his guest students in some inventive activities. The seventh graders were building scale houses out of cardboard, to reflect actual dimensions of a house.
“I try to take what we’re learning in math and apply it to situations they will see out in the real world.”
Seventh grader Nevaeh invited her friend Alayjah.
Alayjah joined the students in their architectural project.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” she said. “I wanted to meet Nevaeh’s nice friends.”
Afterward, Nelson’s eighth graders were tasked with solving a simulated crime.
“We have a crime scene in the back, and we have a story that they’ll work through. They’ll be detectives and model what happened,” he said.
Nelson said teachers go above and beyond at Bridgeport.
“We have great teachers that care about our students, and we just want the best for them and try to get them to achieve their best.”
Visiting students gathered in the gymnasium toward the end of the day for an assembly to meet the heads of extracurricular activities and put a name and a face to the many programs at Bridgeport Schools.
Fisher said this was a first step to building relationships in the district.
“These days are really exciting. I think it’s great any time we can bring new kids into our district and show all the great things we do.”
Guests heard from coaches and other program directors. Athletic Director Brittany Hicks spoke about sports and the exercise science classes. Head Football Coach Andrew Yahn and others highlighted the Bulldogs teams. Choir director Ashely Krieger and Band Director Kyle Turley introduced them to musical opportunities and theater director Rene Storm said some great productions were on the horizon.
Sophomore Adalie Regoli invited Justice Wilson to spend the day at Bridgeport High. Regoli was happy to share the kindness and unity of the Bulldogs.
“I was trying to show the way the community is,” she said. “Bridgeport is better about that. About keeping it to where everybody is more of a kindhearted person.”
Following the assembly, Wilson commented on his experience.
“The teachers are very nice,” he said.
“I saw a lot of good here,” Wilson said. “It’s been fun, and it’s been nice throughout the day. I think it’s a great school.”
Prior to the assembly, Krieger said she was excited to introduce visitors to general music classes, the middle and high school choir programs.
“It’s a great idea, the Bring a Friend Day, so that students in neighboring districts can come and visit Bridgeport and see what programs we have to offer here and maybe get them interested in being future Bulldogs.”
Yahn also said the Bridge is a herald of many more good things to come.
“It’s a very exciting time, and we just want to get the word out that Bridgeport is going to be a great place to have a lot of opportunities for your kids to come to school.”
Yahn added the Bulldog community is its strongest asset.
“Us being a small school, it’s kind of that family atmosphere, and having a close-knit group, you’re able to build those relationships and work together.”
