Hi Bridgewater Bobcats,

I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer and have had an opportunity to begin reading a book on our Summer Reading List. There are some great books on that list!

We are still working out of Sand Lake Elementary. We are looking forward to moving into our new building at the end of July.


We have scheduled a “Registration Blitz” on July 17th and July 18th at Sunset Park Elementary. We are hoping that many of our new students will register on those days. If you are coming from a feeder elementary school (Windermere, Lake Whitney, Whispering Oak), or a feeder middle school (Gotha and Lakeview), you do not need to complete the new registration forms prior to the opening of school. Our Math and Reading Coaches will be available to administer placement tests to the students who register on July 17th and 18th from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Our Band and Chorus Teachers will also be available for questions from 1 PM -3:00 PM.


We are still interviewing and filling our positions. We are especially interested in finding custodians for our new school. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please have them contact us at 407-903-7400 Ext. 2268.

Hi Bridgewater Bobcats,

I know many of you are anxious to know about the music classes that we will be offering at Bridgewater. Our band program will include:


2 Beginning Bands - This band is for sixth grade beginning students.


1 Concert Band - This band is for 7th and 8th grade students who

are working on skills and fundamentals of music.


1 Symphonic Band � This is an ability-based younger version of wind

Ensemble for students who have mastered beginning-band skills and fundamentals.


1 Wind Ensemble - This is an ability-based band, composed of mostly

of 8th grade students with some advanced 7th

grade students.


1 Jazz Band � This is and auditioned group that will meet before or after school.



We will also offer beginning and intermediate guitar methods and piano keyboarding for seventh and eighth grade students.





Our Choral Classes will include:



1 Wheel Class: Singing STARS class (Sound Training and

Responsive Singing)

This class is on our wheel rotation. We will be teaching students the fundamentals of music.



1 Sixth Grade Chorus �Treble Makers�:

(Entry Level Choir for Sixth Grade Students)

This class is a year-long chorus class. Enrollment is open to beginning students.


1 Musical Theater Workshop:

This is a combined class for7th and 8th grade students. This class develops singing and performing techniques through the medium of musical theater productions. Students will be required to perform scenes and full-scale productions. This class is open to interested seventh and eighth grade students, however the team nature of this class will require students and parents to commit and adhere to a performance contract (similar to how students do for choirs)


1 Mixed Choir:

This choir is for 7th and 8th grade students who have had previous choir training.


1 Advanced Ensemble Vocal Jazz:

This ensemble is an auditioned group for 7th and 8th grade students who are working at an advanced level. Students must have the choral teacher�s approval and be involved in either Mixed Choir or Musical Theatre Workshop to enroll in this class.

Last evening we began the chartering process for the Bridgewater PTSA. We learned all about PTSA and three committees were formed (Nominating, Publicity, and Bylaws).




The second and final meeting for chartering will be:


Monday, May 7, 2007

5:30 – 6:30 PM

Lake Whitney Elementary School Cafeteria

1351 Windermere Rd.

Winter Garden, Florida 34787


This will be the actual chartering meeting. Everyone who is interested in joining PTSA is invited to attend. We will approve the bylaws, pay our PTSA dues, and elect our officers.


We hope to see you there!

Hi Bridgewater Bobcats,


Since Bridgewater Middle School now has an official name, it is time to begin the chartering process for our PTSA. The chartering process entails two meetings conducted by a state board member.



The first meeting will be held on Monday, April 30, 2007 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM in the Lake Whitney Elementary School cafeteria. This will be an informational meeting about PTSA and we will also setup three committees (Nominating, Publicity, Bylaws).


The second meeting will be held on Monday, May 7, 2007 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in the Lake Whitney Elementary School cafeteria. This will be the actual chartering meeting that will include all who desire to be members, approval of bylaws, payment of dues and election of officers.


Lake Whitney Elementary School is located at:

1351 Windermere Rd. in Winter Garden


We hope to see you there!

April 4, 2007


Our School Name Proposal was submitted to our Area Superintendent, Dr. Jenny Reeves, on Friday. This proposal will be submitted to the School Board for consideration at the April 10, 2007 School Board meeting. The meeting will take place at the Educational Leadership Center which is located at 445 West Amelia Street in Orlando. The meeting will begin at 5:30 PM. We will be one of many items on the agenda for the evening.


Dr. Melinda Stahl, our Guidance Counselor Department Chair, will be visiting our feeder elementary schools and our feeder middle schools during the month of April and May. She will orient the students and distribute class choice forms to the students. If you are a student at one of our feeder schools and are zoned for the new school, your school records will be transferred to our new school.


If you are a new student to Orange County or will not be transferring from Lakeview Middle School, Gotha Middle School, Whispering Oak Elementary, Lake Whitney Elementary, or Windermere Elementary, you will need to register for the 2007-2008 school year for the new middle school at your current home middle school for 2006-2007 (Gotha or Lakeview). Our school building will not be available until August. If you have any questions regarding your zoned school or where to register, please call the Office of Pupil Assignment. The office hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). The phone number is 407.317.3233.


Aren’t the pictures on our website amazing? Mr. Aldridge, one of our Physical Education teachers, is updating our site on a regular basis. He is doing an amazing job of showing the building process. I can’t wait to move in!

We had a great time at our School Naming Committee last week. We were extremely fortunate to have been able to meet in the Community Room at Windermere Library. They were very gracious! Our committee really worked hard to narrow our ballot down to seven choices. With the help of our school staff and parent volunteers, our students at the feeder schools and our school staff will be voting for their favorites this week. We hope to have our school name very soon.


We are currently working on our new registration packets, meeting with vendors, and making plans for our new beginning!

March 9, 2007


The new school is progressing as scheduled. We have received many name, mascot, and color suggestions for our new school. I want to thank everyone who sent in a suggestion. We have some great choices! Today is the last day to submit suggestions.


Our School Naming Committee will meet on March 22, 2007 from 5-6 PM at the Windermere Public Library. At this meeting we will narrow down the selections for community voting.


We now have a secretary and a bookkeeper on site! It's wonderful to have some help in the office. We have started to order our equipment and are continuing to review resumes for future interviews.


I hope everyone has a safe and restful Spring Break.

The month of February has been filled with interviews, hiring, construction meetings, and school meetings. We are well on our way to hiring an awesome staff!


As February comes to a close and March begins, we will be focusing on completing our school budget. We will have a strong academic program. The completion of the budget will allow us to finalize school plans for specific electives and support positions.


It's been nice to visit with many of our parents during the last month, as well. If you are interested in serving on our PTSA, SAC, or PLC please send an email to me at lucasd2@ocps.net and I will add your name to a contact list for meetings.

Check back for information about the new Gotha/Lakeview Relief Middle school opening in August 2007.