BRIDGES ACADEMY 2010-2011 Annual Report
Bridges Academy | 3921 Laurel Canyon Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604 | (818) 506-1091 | www.bridges.edu | www.facebook.com/BridgesAcademy
!
Imag ine
Persevere
Achieve
(Carl)
Amy E. Freilich Chair
As I read through the pages the 2010-2011 Annual Report, I cannot help but be struck by the accomplishments of our community. This year alone, we purchased our campus, successfully completed our WASC/ CAIS re-accreditation process, launched the Bridges Now! Capital Campaign, produced our first musical, took our annual gala in a new direction with the inclusion of an art gallery, and chose the Phoenix as our mascot. We also began work on the newly acquired first floor of our main building in order to make it an attractive and optimal education space for our teachers, students, parents, and community at large starting in the 2011-2012 school year.
Lary Rappaport Vice Chair
The 2010-2011 school year also marks the creation of Bridges Academy’s first school motto: “Imagine, Persevere, Achieve.”
Bridges Academy Board of Trustees 2010-2011
Margie Power Treasurer Peter Schwartz Secretary Richard Barnett Richard Davis Brian Haskin Jeff Mironer Tom Ropelewski Tatsuyoshi Saijo Arlene Schneir Glenn Sonnenberg Jodi Meade Vernon Cindy Wexler Michael D. Wolper Suzie Wynne Parent Association Kim Vargas President Head of School Carl Sabatino
Imagine. At Bridges Academy, each student explores his or her creative intelligence and works to establish a creative process, understanding that great works are the products of great imagination. Whether it is the foundation of the first 2e school, the ownership of our campus, or the paths borne out in each of our students’ lives, the vital first step toward realizing our dreams is imagining the possibilities. Persevere. Worthwhile pursuits require hard work, and staying in the struggle is not always easy. It requires the development of a strong work ethic, planning skills, flexibility, resilience, and an appreciation of the complicated processes of creation themselves. It also requires an understanding and supportive community. As our school and our students continue to grow and evolve, the community we build among parents, teachers, administrators, and neighbors becomes more important than ever. Achieve. Each time their hard work pays off, students learn more about the scope of their capabilities and that of their peers. They grow more confident and motivated to further imagine, persevere, and achieve. Each time our students achieve, we are renewed in our efforts to educate, and to ensure the lasting legacy of the educational model at Bridges. Our motto is not something that exists solely on letterhead. It is a living phrase that embodies the educational culture we pioneer in the classroom day in and day out, providing us the opportunity to help students engage successfully in their own academic development. The 2010-2011 school year also saw the creation of a new, three-person development office: Jodi Schapiro, Director of Development; Evan Lewis, Development Associate in charge of grants, and Kristen Schwarz, Development Associate in charge of communications and design. In the coming years, this new team will contribute to and coordinate our internal and external efforts to fund general and talent development programming for our students, pay off the property, re-envision and remold our campus buildings and spaces, and work with local and national educational institutions to improve education for all. Thank you all for your commitment of wisdom, work, wealth, and everything else it takes to make our community great. I look forward to another exceptional year.
Carl Sabatino Head of School 1
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Bridges Academy recogniz es and honors the strengths of our students by offering a d ifferentiate d curriculum that challenges and engages each student on his or her own terms
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r i a h C e h t m o r Letter f We at Bridges Academy have been on a remarkable and successful journey, and I want to take a minute to “stop and smell the roses”—to reflect on what Bridges has accomplished over the past few years and to share some thoughts about the exciting path ahead. Ten years ago, Bridges was a school of fewer than 50 students, housed in a former dentist’s office in Sherman Oaks. Although the school’s goal of serving gifted students with learning differences and disabilities (twice exceptional, or 2e students) was in place, there was great debate about the means of achieving these goals. Since that time, Bridges has built an enduring and revolutionary educational model for teaching gifted children with learning disabilities and is helping to lead a national movement in 2e education. Thriving under the innovative, thoughtful and inspirational leadership of Carl Sabatino and a dedicated and talented group of administrators and faculty, Bridges is developing a curriculum that can be utilized nationwide to reach 2e students who may be languishing in more traditional environments. Unlike conventional teaching methods for these students, which focus primarily on improving weaknesses, Bridges focuses on talent development—teaching to the gifts and talents of 2e children, allowing them to succeed while addressing their learning issues. The results have been remarkable. Our students are well educated in a college preparatory curriculum, excited to come to school and are gaining admittance to four-year colleges across the country. In the past year, we have made many other strides as well. Acquisition of our beautiful 3.5 acre campus in Studio City, centrally located to the many communities we serve, has given Bridges a permanent home. And, with award of a six-year accreditation by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, we have received confirmation from our peers that Bridges is on a strong and positive path. We are currently engaged in a strategic planning effort focusing on programmatic expansion, financial stability, and facilities management, which will lay the groundwork for our next five years of growth. And we have successfully launched Bridges Now!, the first Capital Campaign in the history of the school. Our success to date has been forged in no small part with many countless hours of volunteer effort. Peter Schwartz and Rick Davis provided remarkable leadership, shepherding through the acquisition of the Bridges campus. Tom Ropelewski and Michael Wolper were the driving force behind our Development Committee efforts, allowing us to sustain and expand our current programs, while positioning us to build a permanent and enduring home for Bridges. And, thanks to the dedication and meticulous attention to detail of Lary Rappaport, we now have a comprehensive Faculty Handbook. I would particularly like to recognize the efforts of Arlene Schneir, who has retired from the Board of Trustees after many years of service. Arlene’s vision and insightful approach to strategic planning have been instrumental to the development of Bridges’ Strategic Plan in both 2005 and in the current year, and she played a key role in the accreditation process. In 2011, Jim Jones, Jason Ricks, Annie Duke, and Kim Vargas, who ably led the Parent Association last year and will now chair our Strategic Planning Committee, will join our Board of Directors. These new Trustees join our existing board members in committing their precious time, knowledge, expertise and financial resources to growing Bridges Academy. I want to thank our dedicated community of families, friends and supporters for their tireless efforts to sustain and advance Bridges throughout the year, and to encourage those new to the community to get involved. By joining our community of supporters, you too may experience the joy of witnessing, firsthand, how your efforts directly benefit our students. It is truly rewarding! Thank you, once again, for a great year. Sincerely, Amy E. Freilich Chair, Board of Trustees 3
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Parent Associatio n Report 2010 – 2011: A Year of Achievement & Celebration What a year of accomplishment for our school! At the first PA meeting, Board of Trustees President Amy Freilich and Trustees Tom Ropelewski and Michael Wolper unveiled the Bridges Now! Capital Campaign, setting a tone of excitement for the year to come. The Parent Association’s (PA) activities began in the fall with a round of well-attended Back-to-School pool parties, which offered our new and returning families a chance to meet. In October, the PA hosted a Halloween luncheon with a guest palm reader, makeup artist, and games of chance that wowed the kids. Spring brought a wave of additional activities, starting with the 5th Annual JamFest and continuing with what we expect to become an annual event, the Bridges Walk-A-Thon. Parent volunteer turnout for the Walk-A-Thon was unprecedented! In May, we wrapped up the year’s events with our annual Gala, which this year took the form of a dazzling art auction. Thanks to generous parent donations in December, the PA was able to host a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon for all faculty and administrators on their last day of work at Lotería Grill. Each guest received a candy-filled Bridges Academy coffee mug as a gift. Our school year ended on a high note, with incoming President Elizabeth Lindell and President-Elect Jenya Worrell accepting key leadership positions. I am also very pleased to report that the largest number of parents in Bridges’ history have enthusiastically volunteered to coordinate every scheduled PA event for the 2011-2012 school year, which ensures another “exceptionally” successful year for our school community! I’m grateful to have participated in such an historic year for Bridges. It was a privilege and a pleasure.
Kim Vargas PA President 2010-2011
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Event Highlights Beach Day To kick off the new school year, faculty and students grabbed their boogie boards, shovels, and footballs and headed to the beach for a day of friend-making! The entire school spent a day in the sun on Friday, September 3, playing guitars, exploring trails, digging in the sand, or being buried in it. Students volunteered to grill hamburgers and hot dogs under the watchful eye of teacher sous chefs. Many braved the cold waves to show off their swimming skills. Several pods of dolphins and the bobbing heads of sea otters completed a perfect day.
The Bridges Advanc ed Band at Jamfes t. Left to Right: Alec Adelman , Helen Germain, Te ague Rabkin, Harry Rapp aport, Johnny Reze ndeShalom, Daniel Zu ker.
JamFest On Sunday, March 6th, Bridges co-h osted the 5th Annual Jam Fest at the Roxy Th eatre. Students perform ed alongside band s from Campbell Hall, Cros sroads School, Ha rvardWestlake, Join th e Band, New Com munity Jewish High Scho ol, and STAR Prep Academy. All proceeds benefited Musica res, an organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance for musicians in times of need. It was an impressive aftern oon of rock, especially on the part of Bridge s.
Annie Duke’s “All in for Charity” Poker Tournament For the second year in a row, Bridges parent and world famous poker player Annie Duke hosted a charity poker tournament to raise money for Bridges. The tournament took place on April 16th and drew parents, friends, community business members, and local poker club members for a night of fun and prizes at the Beverly Garland Hotel. Many thanks to the evening’s sponsors: The Law Offices of Adelson, Testan, Brundo & Jimenez; KidSave International; Manpower; and Wicked + Communications. 5
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
The Walk-A-Thon On Saturday May 7 we held our first Walk-A-Thon. We had two primary goals in mind: to encourage our students to take active roles in supporting our school and to raise awareness of Bridges Academy in our local community. We more than achieved both of these goals. Forty-three student walkers raised $ 23,035 by completing 1/3-mile laps around one of our neighborhood blocks and had a blast doing it! “Big Spin” prizes were awarded for every fifteen laps finished and a “Grand Prize” – a two-hour session in a “Game Truck” loaded with video games – was awarded to participants from the class that raised the most money (the seventh and ninth grades, in a dead heat, both took that honor), as well as to student walkers in the non-winnng classes who raised the most funds or walked the most laps. Local merchants donated cash, goods and services in exchange for promotion on our official Walk-A-Thon tshirts. Food was provided by the Daily Grill, Los Gringos Locos, and Jamba Juice, while student musicians jammed through the afternoon. We even previewed Bridges’ first Time Capsule, with contents chosen by our students. It will be buried this fall, with plans to open it at the twenty-fifth reunion of the Class of 2011. All involved learned a lot from this experience. Plans are already underway to make the Second Annual WalkA-Thon an even a bigger success next year.
Walk-A-Thon Photos: Chris Lindell
Photo by Kenneth Moore
Tom Ropelewski Walk-A-Thon Chair
10th Annual Gala & Silent Auction
annual “Outside the Frame,” Bridges’ 10th rday, Satu e plac took , Gala Silent Auction and room of May 21st in the beautiful Grand Ball r, the Gala the Beverly Garland Hotel. This yea the form in look ing esh refr took on a new and works of l utifu bea ring offe , of an art auction lty, our art from our talented students and facu artists. l ona essi prof l loca and , Bridges families ool Carl The evening ended with Head of Sch elegant An . tion auc live e atur Sabatino’s sign raised also Gala the nt, eve and entertaining over $14,000 for the school!
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l o o h c S e l Mi dd The 2010-2011 school year was an exciting one for Bridges Academy’s Middle School. Students began the year with team building activities organized by the Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation (WOLF) and carried that team spirit with them through numerous field trips and Enrichment Clusters throughout the year. Trips to the California Science Center, Pacific Aquarium, Dinosaurs Walking, LACMA, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory were among student favorites. Wednesday Enrichment Clusters, such as Chess led by Chess Meister John Dunlap, Marine and Tide Pool Study, Photography, and Medieval Manuscripts, also generated a great deal of interest among this year’s Middle Schoolers. This year, the Middle School introduced a Distinguished Guest Lecture Series on Enrichment Cluster afternoons, which gave parents, teachers, and students an opportunity to showcase their expertise. The Middle School uses Enrichment Clusters and field trips to support rigorous in-class project-based learning. In the fall, fifth through seventh graders participated in an in-depth study in Humanities, Math, and Science that culminated in a multimedia Museum Day. In the spring, the eighth graders participated in an annual Civil War re-enactment, Science Fair presentation of environmental inventions, and formal Eighth Grade Bridging presentation, in which they used a digital portfolio of work to reflect on why they were prepared for high school. The 8th graders were promoted in a ceremony at the Universal Hilton on May 31. Talent development and social/emotional well-being and growth beyond the classroom continue to be a focus for the Middle School. This year, several fifth and sixth graders initiated a popular Yu-Gi-Oh club, and musical and art talent abounded, with over a third of the 60 Middle School students participating in the Bridges music program or outside music or art opportunities. The Middle School looks forward to 2011-2012 and the opportunities it will bring to imagine, persevere, and achieve.
Cynthia Novak Middle School Director 7
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Back Row: Ian Seegman, Gabriel Amos. Middle Row: John Wilmore, John Carr, Nico Amatullo, Ryan Kaplan, Connell Boken, Alex Lawrence, Milo Piazza, Blake DeBenedictis, Matthew Siegel. Front Row: Skye Bennett, Daniel Hausmann, Kara Schwartz, Elinor Shapiro,Natasha Ryan, Isa Crisostomo, Georgia Eskew, Isaac Medeiros, James Steiner, Brandon Lampert.
Hig hlig hts: 8th Graders Visit Catalina Island Students ventured to Catalina Island October 27-29 to collect data for their fall science projects. While on the island, they worked with environmentalists from the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). Founded by Jacques Cousteau’s son, Michael, CELP teaches the principles of sustainability through activities such as day and night snorkeling, kayaking, star gazing and hiking through diverse geological formations and ecosystems.
Museum Day
Middle School Science lb Teacher Nadine Eisenko USC Receives Award From
olb was honored at This year, Nadine Eisenk she won an award in a USC luncheon, where ntal Biology for her Marine and Environme as a Teaching Asoutstanding performance gy. Dr. Gerald Bakus sistant in General Ecolo award, explaining, nominated Nadine for the or three of the very “Nadine was one of two I have had over a pebest teaching assistants For these reasons, I riod of several decades. her for a USC Biolstrongly recommended Bridges Academy, ogy Teaching Award.” At ative teaching to our Nadine brings her innov h and sixth grade scistudents everyday in fift Enrichment Cluster, ence, Marine Biology on. and Science Wintersessi
The Middle School enjoyed 100% family participation for the second annual Museum Day on December 14. Following a trumpet welcome by Sacha Presburger, fifth and sixth graders shared projects such as the Virtual Stock Market, an Element Superhero Power Point, and a trailer they filmed with the help of KIDFLIX filmmaker Ezra Werb. Seventh graders presented work from their Ancient China and India units, Virtual Stock Market, and circuit board experiments.
Pi Day Our Pi Day celebration, held on March 14, was a huge success for the third year in a row. The audience, comprised of faculty, students and parents, enjoyed many creative and informative Pi presentations, as well as the awe-inspiring Pi digit recitation. John Wilmore won for the second straight year, correctly reciting 325 digits of Pi. Parents who donated delicious pies made sure the day ended on a sweet note.
Kern County Museum At the end of April, several middle school students with an interest in engineering traveled to Bakersfield’s Kern County Museum, an expansive, historic facility featuring a multi-million dollar exhibit on the past and present day methods of oil extraction. A retired engineer who has worked in oil production all over the world guided the tour. Following the tour, Mechanical, Civil, and Environmental Engineer Steve Bahr showed the students drafting sheets and material samples as he fielded questions and explained how different kinds of engineers work together.
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Hig h Scho o l This year, students had the unique privilege of choosing the school mascot. Beginning with an intense controversy between bulldogs, wildcats, and carrots, students widened the competitive field to include a vast array of creatures to represent our school and our motto, “Imagine, Persevere, Achieve.” When the Phoenix emerged as the clear victor, all members of our community contributed images of the Phoenix to a school-wide competition. Elinor Shapiro, Alex Mazariegos, Ray Dillman and Hal Saijo were awarded prizes for their artwork, which is on display in our halls. In the classrooms, our students threw themselves into the study of everything from Roman legal systems to the genetics of C. Elegans worms. Some students took on unusual challenges: Henry Richardson built a Van der Graaf generator, Doug Vargas, Brian Rogers, and Harry Rappaport teamed up to find out about database development, and a dedicated group led by Sydney Frank and Chris Colabella threw themselves into creating not one but two yearbooks! Our musicians rocked the house at the Bootleg Theater and the Roxy, while our athletes ran fast and shot hoops to the cheers of onlookers. Student-led clubs such as Dungeons and Dragons and the Gay-Straight Alliance drew a great deal of interest. Students created a school newspaper, staged mock battles during Wintersession, and achieved perhaps their greatest victory in reinstating dodgeball as our largest, most frequent and most popular student-run activity. Throughout the year high school students discussed “Life After Bridges” and college applications in small groups. In April, students chose between a dozen field trips showcasing different colleges and careers. Some watched spaceships being built, some recorded their own music in a professional studio, some grilled college admissions representatives about how to build a resume, and all took home new ideas and new experiences. On May 31 we were proud to send our seniors off into the world with fresh diplomas in hand. Some are going to college out of state, some are staying in California, and some are broadening their horizons with a gap year. They all take with them the enthusiastic best wishes of our entire community. Left to Right: Gabriel Aira, Michael Argueta, Nico Bartoli, Clay Bilbrey, Jack Brazill, Alejandro Chavez, Griffin Flattery, Amy Freilich, Carl Sabatino, Deborah Dowling,Sydney Frank, Bram Jacobson, Graham Jolicoeur, Harry Rappaport, Johnny Rezende-Shalom, Doug Vargas, Daniel Zuker. 9
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Deborah Dowling High School Director
Hig hlig hts: Poet Visits English Classes On May 16, Dora Malech, recipient of the University of Iowa’s Capote and Teaching Writing Fellowships, led high school workshops exploring the creative process. Malech discussed Keats’ notion of “negative capability” and Eliot’s concept of the “objective correlative” to emphasize the importance of releasing the critical mind and the value of uncertainty in brainstorming.
Playwriting Table Read On the evening of April 25th, the high school playwriting class met to present the scripts that they had been working on throughout the semester. The performance was a culmination of a year’s worth of work focusing on character development, theme, plot structure, and dialogue. Students presented stories about the origins of a superhero, the troubles of a family with an adopted child, a father’s legacy, and the ins and outs of Opposite Day.
High School Musical: “Working” Bridges Academy explored the working world through a performance of “Working,” a musical based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 interviews of American employees from all walks of life. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and deeply authentic in its portrayal of working life, the musical showcased our students’ talent, their courage, and their insight into the lives and feelings of real people.
Bridges Art Teacher E xhibits Work Internationally
It has been a busy and bri lliant year for Bridges Art Teacher Caroline Maxwell. In March, Caroline and fellow artist Tal Yizrael ran the first exhibit of their pro ject “Department of Nocturnal Affairs,” a exploration of light, light pollution, and behavi or of nocturnal animals, in Fresno, Californi a. The public exhibit then traveled to Jer usalem, Israel, where it was a feature of the int ernational Festival of Light. Additionally, Carol ine’s work is part of a traveling exhibit entitle d “S.O.S.: Save Our State,” which debuted in Long Beach, traveled to Phoenix, and will soon visit Seattle.
Caroline, whose work wa s also on view at the Annual Gala and Silent Auction, also teaches Art History at the colleg e level.
Senior projects On Friday, May 13, the seniors presented their culminating projects to the entire high school community. We saw elaborate designs for a Rube Goldberg machine, a surrealist tale of adventure, an excellent stop-motion animation, a carefully engineered gaming interface, and some exciting percussion performances. We learned about the science of String Theory, the art of gourmet cooking, the practicalities of political blogging, the history of the washboard bass, and the usefulness of Linux. Congratulations to all the seniors!
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!
Life After Bridges “When I first came to Bridges, I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t really know what to expect out of anything. I had been pushed beyond my limits at my old school - I was broken, dazed, disoriented. I had been too long immersed in a culture that placed too much emphasis on what a person did, not what they tried to do. ...[Bridges] contains some of the most wonderful, creative, crazy, off-the-wall people I will ever meet in my entire life – no matter what ventures I embark upon, I am sure that I will never see such creativity as I have seen at Bridges. ...I would like to thank my classmates and schoolmates – you have all inspired and awed me in ways you will never know. The class of 2011 is truly an exceptional one (and the others aren’t too shabby). As we now go hurtling into the great beyond, I just want tell you all to follow your dreams and stay true to yourselves, because you all have the capacity for doing great and exceptional things.” -Commencement Speech Doug Vargas, Class of 2011
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Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
The Life After Bridges program provides students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade with opportunities that help them develop the self-awareness and self-advocacy skills necessary to succeed after graduating. The program is divided into two topic sections: Healthy Living and Occupational Skills. In Healthy Living, School Psychologist Lesli Preuss leads discussions on nutrition, exercise, sleep habits, healthy relationships, and self-awareness skills tailored to each student’s profile. In Occupational Skills, students learn about the working world and self-advocacy by practicing in-person job application solicitations, phone solicitations, resume and brag sheet building, and interview skills. In addition to the Life After Bridges program, students in the 12th grade participate in College Application Process (CAP) groups. CAP groups meet with college representatives to learn about the unique opportunities available at different colleges across the country. Students then develop well-informed, thoughtful lists of prospective schools, track their applications online, and practice interviewing and essay-writing skills. Bridges Academy is dedicated to the success of each student on his or her own terms, not just within the confines of the campus, but in the larger world that awaits after graduation. We are happy to count among our graduates musicians, visual artists, scientists, businesswomen and men, and teachers. You can learn more about a few of these graduates and their accomplishments on the following page.
Class of 2011 Destinations: California Institute of the Arts California State University Northridge Earlham College Gap Year Moorpark Community College Pace University Pitzer College Roger Williams University University of Denver Valley Community College
Alum Spotlights
Jaxon Kramer, Class of
’06
Jaxon is the Director Of New Business Media at Landsberg Studios. He has wo rked on such shows as Kid Nation (CBS); Melrose Place (CW); True Blood (HBO), and more. Jaxon also speak s nationally for the To urette Syndrome Association. He has spoken in front of Congress in Washington, D.C . in order to raise mone y for educational funding as well as to advocate for counseling and schooling op tions for families and ch ildren. Jaxon owns a multimed ia company, Arkind Media , and he co-owns a tattoo pa rlor and salon on Melro se Avenue named Black Band itz.
Shane Allen, Class of ’07
Shane went to Berklee College of Music for a semester and decided quickly that it wasn’t the right fit. She instead followed her successful ten-piece funk band, Turkuaz, to New York City. Shane now regularly tours the U.S. with Turkuaz. The band has released one fulllength, self-titled album and are releasing a second album this summer. She also wrote, produced, and performed her first electronic solo album, entitled “End of Days,” under the pseudonym “Danke” at Galaxy Smith Studios. She performs her original material in New York venues with her band Chango. She alse does studio work, singing vocals for commercial jingles.
Sam Jones, Class of ’05 gree in Music in Studio/
r’s de Sam received a Bachelo er 2009, then spent anoth in C Jazz Guitar from US in e cat rtifi Ce a Graduate year at USC completing w no m Sa n. es and Televisio Scoring for Motion Pictur h wit dio stu and production runs a music composing 10 20 of r me Since the sum his wife, Alexis Marsh. ies, for short films, web ser sic they have created mu projects. games, and other media
Greg Finkelstein, Class
of ‘04
After graduating from Bridges Academy, Greg attended Washington Unive rsity in St. Louis, graduating in 2008 with a doub le major in Earth and Pla netary Sciences and Anthr opology. In the fall of tha t year he started graduate school in the departmen t of Geosciences, specializi ng in Mineral Physics. Gr eg earned his M.A. from Pri nceton in January 2011, and is currently working tow ard his PhD. Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
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e g d i r B t a g Givin
s
Our ability to sustain the hallmark of a Bridges education, a studentcentered strength-based education, comes directly from you – our community of friends and supporters. Each year, we are both honored and delighted by the level of commitment and support demonstrated by our community of alumni, faculty, staff, parents and champions. Whether it is by hosting a special event, volunteering a special talent, serving as a mentor to a student, or participating in Annual Giving, your contributions make a difference!
8th grader Gabriel Amos learns how to compost firsthand with the Cat alina Environmental Leadership Program on Catalina Island.
The 2010-2011 Annual Fund The Annual Fund serves as the primary source of core operating support for the school, aside from tuition. Tuition alone does not cover the full costs of providing a Bridges education, and the Annual Fund makes up this shortfall by providing our families, friends, and supporters with a taxdeductible gift opportunity. Given our small size, we ask that each family participate in the Annual Fund with a personally meaningful gift. The Annual Fund provides for current support of ongoing programs, ensures that we can attract and retain the best and the brightest faculty, allows us to maintain the remarkably small student-to-teacher ratio at the cornerstone of a Bridges education, and pays for facility and technology upgrades needed to prepare our students to compete in the 21st century. Bridges’ families, friends, and supporters help us to meet these immediate needs each year with their contributions to the Annual Fund. The 2010-2011 Annual Fund Campaign was no exception. We are immensely grateful to our cherished families and community of supporters who continued to provide this much-needed annual support, especially during these challenging economic times. Thank you! 13
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Building our Future This year we took an important step forward in realizing our vision of becoming a strength-based 21st Century Lab School for uniquely gifted students with the acquisition of our Studio City campus. In 2010, we launched our Bridges Now! Capital Campaign to fund the acquisition and development of our campus. Thanks to generous leadership gifts from our Trustees and community, we were able to move forward with creating a permanent and enduring home for Bridges Academy, positioning our program for even greater success and prominence in the years ahead. The Bridges Now! Capital Campaign will launch to the broader community in 2012.
Other Ways to Give Bridges supporters embrace numerou s other ways of “giving back,” which include: legacy or planned gifts, employer matching gifts, challenge gifts, gifts in-kind of technolo gy and other needed items, gifts of appreci ated assets like cars and stock, Shop n’ Sup port program participation, and support of our special events throughout the year. We are grateful to our community for its ongoing support, and look forward to eve n greater accomplishments in the 2011-2012 academic year, with the launch of our new Dev elopment Office.
Above: Trustees Peter Schwartz and Tom Ropelewski at the first annual Walk-A-Thon. Above Left: New Student Day on the North Lawn Left: Channeling animals at the zoo!
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s e l s l n o e R p x r E o n & o H e d m n o u c F n l I a Annu-2011
2010
Due to the generosity of our parents and to increased enrollment, Bridges Academy has balanced the operating budget for the eighth consecutive year and finished the 2010-2011 fiscal year in good health despite the challenges of the current economic climate. Bridges Academy’s operating budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year was $4,762,635. All tuition and Annual Fund contributions fund the operating budget, which ensures our extra-small class sizes, extracurricular activities, continued and expanded programming, and faculty standards and salaries. Ten percent of income from tuition was allotted to financial aid. At the end of the first year of the three-year Bridges Now! Capital Campaign, our community has raised close to half of our initial Phase I goal. We are so grateful to the Bridges community and especially to the parents who have taken leadership roles through their hard work and donations to the campaign.
Income n n Tuition and Fees: 94.5% n n Fundraising: 5% n n Interest: 0.5%
Expenses .4%
nefits: 82 n n Salary and Be Grounds: n n Building and
11.1%
l Support: n n Instructiona
2.9% nses: 3.1%
ating Expe n n General Oper
ent: .5%
Developm n n Professional 15
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Brid
ges N ow! C Haipg ith al Ca mpai gn H S c o h n o o o l r Ro This year marks the first of Bridges Academy’s ll Capital Campaign to fun d the purchase and renovation
of our beautiful 3.5 acre campus. We are thrilled to report that this year’s campaign raised nearly half of ou putting the accomplishme r Phase I goal, nt of our goals within reach. We cannot thank enough the families who stepped forward th is year to support the Capital Campaign!
Angels and Visionaries ($100,000 or more) Anonymous John and Susan Boken
Heroes ($50,000 to 99,999) Anonymous
Leaders ($25,000 to $49,999) The Breslow-Schwartz Family Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Faculty Martin and Mary Carr Lauren Firestone and Chris Cookson Richard F. & Deborah Davis Neil Popowitz and Amy Freilich Brian and Sandra Haskin Jeff and Luba Mironer Margie Power and Ken Jones Ellen Isaacs and Lary Rappaport Leslie Dixon and Tom Ropelewski Carl Sabatino Michael Wolper and Wendy Brazill
Guardians (15,000 to $24,999)
Mr. James Jones and Ms. Lauren Corrao Martin and Ellen Rosen Eric and Debbie Swanson Suzie and Brian Wynne Supporters ($7,500 to $14,999) Richard and Marie Colabella Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Glaser Peter and Barbara Schwartz Associates ($3,000 to $7,499)
The Carey Family Kim and Bob Vargas The Wallace Family Cynthia and Robert Wexler Elena Zhukova Friends ($1 to $2,999)
Luis and Donna Aira Arlene Schneir and Steven Barlam Richard and Paula Barnett Michael & Stacey Bartoli Don Farkas & Phyllis Kupferstein The Germain Family Suzanna and Avram Kaplan Sherri O’Heron Rangel Ellie and Rick Ross Mr. and Mrs. Grant Rothhammer Mary Lee Ryan Tatsuyoshi and Takako Saijo Marilyn and Charles Sebesta Glenn and Andrea Sonnenberg Jon Steiger & Kelli Kerbawy Nuel Tate Jodi Meade and Arlene Vernon Dan & Jenya Worrell
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Roll r o n o H nd u F l a u n An Angels Circle ($25,000 or more) Anonymous
Founders Circle ($10,000 to $24,999) John and Susan Boken
Benefactors Circle ($5,000 to $9,999) Lauren Firestone and Chris Cookson Nathalie & David Cowan Sandra & Brian Haskin Steven and Gayle Insel Arnie Levitt Ellen Isaacs and Lary Rappaport Betsy Borns and Jonathan Shapiro Carl Sabatino Patrons Circle ($2,500 to $4,999) The Breslow-Schwartz Family Martin and Mary Carr Richard and Marie Colabella Richard F. & Deborah Davis Don Farkas & Phyllis Kupferstein Jon Steiger & Kelli Kerbawy Leslie Dixon and Tom Ropelewski In Memory of Harriet Zellman
Leaders Circle ($1,500 to $2,499) Anonymous Paul & Karin Flattery Gordon and Tracy Carey The Goldstone-Hausmann Family Chris T. Ishida Mr. James Jones and Ms. Lauren Corrao Margie Power and Ken Jones Luba & Jeff Mironer Valerie and Paul Presburger Jennifer Loomis 17
Bridges Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report
Martin and Ellen Rosen Ellie and Rick Ross Mr. and Mrs. Grant Rothhammer Eric & Debbie Swanson Barbara & Peter Schwartz Lora Silverman & Keith Stolzenbach Bob and Lynn Traver The Wallace Family Larry and Leilani Wilmore Patricia Yoon Lee Ziff & Linda Macdonald
Sponsors Circle ($1,000 to $1,499) Anonymous Laura Coker Deborah & Andrew Frank Paul Fox & Franne Golde Marcia F. Jacobson John Levenstein Neil Popowitz and Amy Freilich Richard Rabkin & Gloria Apt Sherri O’Heron Rangel Takako & Yoshi Saijo Jan Breidenbach and Dan Stormer Wendy Brazill & Michael D. Wolper Dan & Jenya Worrell
Associates Circle ($500 to $999) Anonymous Richard & Paula Barnett Victoria & Seth Ersoff Alan Kaplan and Tierney Sutton Christine LaSalle MJZ Kathleen and Doug Miller The Piazza Family Jason & Tanisha Ricks Mary Lee Ryan
Supporters Circle ($250 to $499) Anonymous (2) Scott and Ezra Bergstein Tom and Cynthia Davies Karen D. Davis Anna Pierce & Nerses Gezalyan
Gene & Carol Harrison Anne Lawrence Doug Lenzini Silas & Eyra Mazariegos Vivian & Elliot Rosenberg Bruce and Carole Sergy Jeffrey and Diane Ten Robert and Cynthia Wexler Suzie and Brian Wynne
Train – West Hollywood Trader Joe’s Pagliacci’s Pizza Starbucks Los Gringos Locos Jamba Juice Game Truck Michael Morbid Law Offices of Vargas and Vargas Kriza Avedra Salon and Spa Elrod Racing Studio City Patch
Friends Circle ($50 to $249)
The Al Sherman Foundation for continuing support of JamFest.
Anonymous Cheri Shapiro & Douglas Aberle Chris & Lisa Adelman Jonibeth Whitney and Larry Balmagia Arlene Schneir & Steve Barlam Michael & Stacey Bartoli Rex Bilbrey Jen Bladen The Comeau Family Maria Eberts Sela Azmon-Fishbein & Evan Fishbein Jean Fox The Germain Family Bret Hambrick & Kristin Peterson Debra Hori Chandrabose - Kepper Alys & Marc Leif Karen & Geoffrey Lower Rose Shalom & Manuel Rezende Steve & Karen Rogers Anna Schaerf Kim & Peter Schwartz Marilynn and Charles Sebesta Arlene Spiegelman The Stashwick Family Lauren Steiner Jay & Amy Udani Kim and Bob Vargas Eyal Zuker & Robin Shapiro
Steve Bahr for leading students in an engineering exercise at Kern County Museum .
Special Thanks to:
Barbara Schwartz for chairing the End of Year Faculty Appreciation Luncheon.
Our wonderful event sponsors: Manpower Wicked.is KidSave International The Law Offices of Adelson, Testan, Brundo & Jimenez The Jacobson Group Daily Grill Kinara Spa Academy of Music and Fine Arts Elite Realty Partners Frank and Renee McDonough Suzanne’s Country Deli Nu-Color Printing Mr. Stitch
Lauren Steiner for chairing JamFest.
Debra Bonner, vocal coach, for leading Bridges students and singers in a voice workshop. Martin Carr, Maria Eberts, and Doug and Karen Richardson for their support of the Robotics Club. Marie Colabella for overseeing the Room Parents, and the Room Parents for their guidance and diligence. Serene and Ray Dillman for designing the new Bridges Phoenix logo, the JamFest poster, and T-shirt design. Don Farkas, for chairing the Theatre Guild. Debra Hori, for beginning the setup of a summer opportunities database, and for assistance with the Homework Support program. Al Jones (grandfather of student John Wilmore) and Lawrence Powell for speaking about their war experiences on Veterans Day, and Tom Davies for organizing the day. Dora Malech for leading high school workshops in the creative process. Todd Marks for bringing David Wolf to speak on the history and current state of China to the Middle School. Sherri Rangel for chairing the holiday giving program. Tom Ropelewski for chairing the Walk-A-Thon and sharing his documentary with the Middle School and filming graduates of Bridges. Ed Roscetti for leading middle and high schoolers in a percussion workshop. Ellen Rosen for her work on the new Bridges Community Room.
Lynn Traver for writing and assembling the PA By-laws. Kim Vargas, Anna Schaerf, and Carl Sabatino for chairing the Annual Gala and Silent Auction. Michael Wolper and Wendy Brazill for hosting October parent dinners in their home. Eyal Zuker and Rose Shalom for coordinating the Senior class gift. All the generous pie donors on Pi Day. All student, teacher, and parent volunteers at Coffee House 2010.
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BRIDGES ACADEMY
Imagine, Persevere, Achieve 3921 Laurel Canyon Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 www.bridges.edu www.facebook.com/BridgesAcademy