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Helping Shape a More Inclusive Slabtown Park
A new neighborhood park is taking shape just five blocks from Bridges Middle School, and we’re excited to help make it a welcoming space for everyone.
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Student-First Means Every Student
Why the students who seem to be doing well deserve just as much of our curiosity, connection, and care. When I think about what makes Bridges different, I think about the experience we want every child to have when they walk through our doors…
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Building Confidence and Self-Advocacy During the Middle School Years
Bridges Middle School was recently featured on the COSMIQ EdTech blog in an article exploring how a learning environment intentionally designed for neurodivergent students can help build confidence, belonging, and self-advocacy.
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Building Independence: When Should AI Step Back?
Technology can remove barriers for neurodivergent students, giving them new ways to read, communicate, organize their thoughts, and demonstrate what they know. But when does helpful support begin doing the very work a student is supposed to be learning to do? Our Executive Director, Beven Byrnes, explores that question in a new article for TechFinitive,…
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OregonLive Youth Voices Highlights the Bridges Approach to Neurodivergent Education
What happens when a school is designed around how neurodivergent students learn, rather than asking students to adapt to an environment that wasn’t designed for them? A recent OregonLive Youth Voices article takes readers inside Bridges Middle School to explore our approach to asset-based education and creating an environment where students feel supported, understood, and…
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Supporting Neurodivergent Kids Across Two Homes
For neurodivergent children, moving between two homes can mean more than changing where they sleep. Different routines, expectations, environments, and parenting styles can make those transitions especially challenging.
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Welcoming Cathy Reynolds as Chair of the Bridges Board of Trustees
Bridges Middle School is pleased to welcome Cathy Reynolds as the new Chair of our Board of Trustees as we begin an important new chapter in the life of our school.
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Expanding Dyslexia Support Across Portland: Bridges Middle School Partners with Park Academy
Bridges Middle School is excited to announce a new partnership with Park Academy and the Park Center Tutoring Program, expanding access to specialized literacy support for students with dyslexia and related learning differences throughout the Portland metropolitan area. For both organizations, this partnership reflects a shared belief: students with learning differences deserve access to instruction…
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Rethinking Education: High Expectations, High Support
What would it look like if, instead of asking students to fit the educational system, we built an educational system that better fit its students? Our Executive Director Beven Byrnes recently explored that question in an interview with Releasing the Phoenix, a holistic LGBTQ+ mental health and wellness organization. In 5 Things That Should Be…
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Using 529 and ABLE Funds for Bridges Tuition: A 2026 Guide for Families
At Bridges Middle School, we know that finding the right educational environment for a neurodivergent child can be life-changing. We also understand that specialized education represents a significant financial commitment for families. Parents sometimes ask whether they can use college savings, disability savings, or available tax provisions to help pay Bridges tuition.
