Principal's Weekly
Principal Beth N. Choquette, Bridge Street School
Bridge Street School
2 Parsons Street
Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
413-587-1460 (phone) 413-587-1484 (fax)
http://www.northampton-k12.us/
Beth N. Choquette, Principal bchoquette@northamtpon-k12.us
Elizabeth Peterson, Administrative Assistant epeterson@northampton-k12.us
The New Principal's Weekly 9/30/17
Well, we are headed into October and the start of the year has been both exciting and challenging. It is exciting to be back to school and spending time with all of your children. They are my family when I can't be with my own family. In some way, they fill a lonely spot in my heart with my oldest being all the way in Tennessee. I adore your children and am so lucky to have them in my life. The first month of school has proven to be challenging as well. Our new model of inclusion and co-teaching has certainly had some challenging pieces to it and adjustments for all of us, but I am seeing so many positive changes. Change is so hard for children and adults. When we make such a big change, we have to give it time, time for us to get used to new routines, new schedules, new faces, and new opportunities to have empathy, compassion, and understanding. We all have something we are working on. That something could be academic, it could be social/emotional, and yes, it could be behavioral. We have a diverse population of students who are all working on something. At times and can be hard, both for the student going through the challenging moment and for those of us who witness it. At times you may hear that your child's class had to evacuate their classroom because a student was having a hard time. The reason why we evacuate the room is first and foremost for the safety of all and to take away the audience for the student struggling. When students are struggling, they aren't struggling "on purpose," they just can't help it, and things are hard for them. I've had parents say to me, "well what about my child, and the learning they are missing?" A change in setting does not mean learning stops. Learning always continues both academic learning and social learning. I promise you that your children are in a safe environment and that we hope that by learning side by side with their peers will mold them to be caring individuals who understand what it means to have a disability, whether it be a learning disability or a social/emotional/behavioral disability. Our hope is that they support their peers by offering to help and to not ridicule or laugh at our peers going through some really hard things. For a lot of our students, walking through the doors of school is an effort and the fact that they do come to school shows that they feel like they have a place where they belong, where they are cared for, and where they know, that no matter what, they are loved. ALL students belong at BSS and will be loved!
Who Is Mrs. Choquette?
In 2000 Beth was hired as an elementary music teacher where she taught music until 2006. In 2002 Beth had her second son, Jackson. She attended the Leadership Academy of the Berkshires and received her certification as principal in 2003. In 2006 she became a K-8 Prinicpal in Vermont until she came to Northampton as the Principal of Bridge Street School in 2012.
In 2010 Beth received her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston College in Educational Leadership.
Beth has licenses in the following areas: PreK-12 Principal (professional license) and Superintendent (initial).
Beth lives in Cheshire, Massachusetts with her husband Jamie, son Jackson, and their dog Orvin. Her eldest son Jacob is studying Audio Production in the Recording Industry Program at Middle Tennessee State University.
Beth aspires to be a Superintendent someday, but for now she LOVES being the Principal of Bridge Street School where she gets to work with the best teachers there are, the most amazing students, supportive families, and an awesome community!
Email: bchoquette@northampton-k12.us
Location: 2 Parsons Street, Northampton, MA, United States
Phone: 413-587-1460
K-5 Celebration
Monday, Oct 2, 2017, 09:00 AM
Bridge Street School Cafeteria
Open House
- 6:00-6:30/7 -- BSS Garden Tour with Elizabeth Cunningham and Hope Guardenier (Historic Northampton gardens)
- 6:30-6:40 -- Principal's welcome, including announcement of the schedule (cafeteria)
- 6:40-7:00 -- K-2 visit classrooms/3-5 visit specials and complete passport challenge/family photos
- 7:00-7:20 -- 3-5 visit classrooms/K-2 visit specials and complete passport challenge/family photos
- 7:20-8:00 -- Continuation of passport challenge/family photos for K-5
Tuesday, Oct 3, 2017, 06:30 PM
Bridge Street School
Early Dismissal
Wednesday, Oct 4, 2017, 12:15 PM
Bridge Street School
Walking School Bus
IMPORTANT!
Safety Drills
Important Dates
Oct. 2nd Celebration 9:00 a.m.
Oct. 3rd Open House 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Garden Tour starting at 6:00 p.m.)Oct. 4th Half Day of School (students dismiss at 12:20 p.m.)
Oct. 9th Celebration Mrs. Busone's Class Presenting
Oct. 10th PTO Meeting 3:15-4:15 BSS Library
Oct. 11th Picture Day
Oct. 11th 4th and 5th Grade Family Dinner 5:30-7:00 p.m. BSS Cafeteria