Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Try Your Best
We’re thrilled for this year’s main fundraiser — Bridgewater Elementary Fun Run 2026! Our goal is to raise $45,000 for Classroom support, Scholastic News, Accelerated Reader, Skatetime School Program, I love to Read Month/Bookfairs, Kindness Retreat to benefit our students at Bridgewater Elementary.
Why are we excited?
✅ Easy-to-use fundraising platform
✅ Character-building program
✅ Celebration event for every student!
Families will gather donations through MyBooster.com by simply sharing your student’s page with friends and family. Every share makes a difference!
Students will also enjoy 'Star Quest 5,' an exciting character-building adventure where they'll learn important values through space-themed figures and activities.
⭐ Key Dates:
💻 Sign up opens at MyBooster.com – April 20th
🎉 Kickoff in school – May 4th
🏃 Boosterthon Fun Run - May 15th *Spectators welcome! See the schedule below.
9:30-10:15 - Kindergarten
10:20-11:05 - 2nd Grade
11:10-11:55 - 4th Grade
12:20-1:05 - 1st Grade
1:10 - 1:55 - 3rd Grade
2:00 - 2:45 - 5th Grade
Stay tuned for more details and follow us on social media for updates!
The sign up for Boosterthon 2026 is now live…
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A9AF22A7FDC70-63430114-boosterthon
…here are the important dates on which we need volunteers:
- Friday, 5/1/26 = Transformation Day
- 5/5/26-5/15/25 = Daily Prize Delivery
- Friday, 5/15/25 = Fun Run
IMPORTANT NOTE: All volunteers will be required to complete a background check form... here is the link to complete that form: https://northfieldschools.org/schools/bridgewater-elementary/volunteer/
Dear Families:
Our school will conduct a “lockdown” drill on Wednesday, April 29th at 2:40 p.m. This drill is intended to prepare students and staff to respond to the exceedingly rare circumstance when an intruder enters the school. The drill includes teachers locking their classroom doors, shutting off all lights, moving people away from windows and doors, instructing students to remain silent, and instructing students to remain out of sight.
Minnesota Statute 121A.038 permits parents to opt their student(s) out of this type of required safety drill. If you would like to opt your student out of the drill, please notify the school office. You can pick your student(s) up 30 minutes prior to the start of the drill and return them 30 minutes after the drill is completed. This absence will be excused and no adverse action will be taken due to their absence.
If your student has experienced violence or trauma that this drill might reactivate, please notify the school office.
Again, these required drills aim to help students and staff know how to respond in an emergency situation. These are skills we hope are never needed.
Please contact Nancy Antoine or Adam Danielson with any questions.
Dear Northfield School District Families:
One of our strategic plan benchmarks is that all parents report satisfaction with their children’s educational experience. As part of that commitment, we conduct an annual parent/caregiver survey.
Our goal is to have 700 responses.The survey responses help us to identify areas of success and areas for improvement. We use the feedback you provide to improve our school district. The survey also allows for open-ended comments, as well as a space to recognize our educators’ great work through the “shoutout” question.
»Take the Parent/Caregiver Survey
- Your input helps us improve our school district.
- The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
- The survey will be open until Sunday, April 26.
- If you have students in more than one school building, the survey will prompt you to complete a separate response for each building.
- New this year: At the end of the survey, you will have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for $10 in Northfield Chamber Bucks. There will be 12 winners, 2 from each school.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are grateful for your partnership.
Administrative Professional Appreciation Day-April 22
Bridgewater said, "Thank you!" to our office assistants this week for all of the ways they help our school. Thank you, Ms. Kari and Ms. Maria!
Essay Winner
Fifth grade student, Aanika Gupta, has received recognition as an Elks Lodge district essay winner for her submission to the Elks Lodge essay contest. Her essay answered their prompt, "What does service to your country mean to you?" Congratulations, Aanika!
A Note From Nurse Lucy
Rice County Public Health will host a vaccination clinic on Wednesday, April 29, from 3:30–4:30 p.m. at the Community Action Center, located at 1651 Jefferson Parkway in Northfield. This clinic is available to families who are uninsured or enrolled in Medical Assistance.
To register, please contact our Family Navigator, Natalia Peterson, at npeterson@northfieldschools.org and indicate which vaccinations your child needs. If you are unsure of your child’s vaccination status, you may email me at larchibald@northfieldschools.org, and I will be happy to provide that information.
We are excited to announce our Try Hockey for Free Day event this summer!
Who: All students in Pre-K through 3rd grade
When:
📅 Monday, July 27th
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Where: Northfield Ice Arena
1280 Bollenbacher Drive
Northfield, MN 55057
Why Attend?
This is the perfect opportunity to try hockey—and it’s completely FREE!
✔ All equipment is provided
✔ No experience necessary
✔ Northfield Hockey Association coaches will be on-site
✔ Northfield High School Raiders boys’ and girls’ hockey players will be on the ice helping and
encouraging young skaters
This is a fun, welcoming way for kids to experience the game, build confidence on the ice, and connect with our local hockey community. We can’t wait to see you on the ice!
Come join us and give hockey a try—you might just love it! 🏒
REGISTER HERE: https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/4791
If you have an incoming kindergarten student, Bridges to Kindergarten is a FREE program that is designed to assist children in making a smooth transition into kindergarten. Children participate in a kindergarten-like classroom experience with early childhood and kindergarten teachers. Register here today! More information is found in the attachment below.
In the event that Northfield Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the first full school day cancellation due to winter weather was not replaced with an e-Learning day. Any future school closures during the 2025-2026 school year will be replaced with e-Learning days. Please see the plan for e-Learning days linked below.
To Report an Absence
All absences should be reported by 9:00 AM each day a student is absent.
Call the attendance line and leave a message (507-664-3306) OR
Email: bwattendance@northfieldschools.org
- Student’s full name
- Classroom teacher
- Reason for absence and symptoms if it is illness related
- Phone number to reach you if there are any questions
Please do not leave messages on the attendance line for changes to the end of day routine. Please call the office at 507-664-3300 by 2:00 p.m. instead.
Arriving at School
School starts each day at 8:20 a.m. (except Wednesdays) and dismisses at 3:20 p.m.
On Wednesdays, students start at 9:20 a.m.
Students are allowed to arrive between 8:00-8:20 a.m. (9:00-9:20 a.m. on Wednesdays) if not eating breakfast at school. Supervision will be in place during that time on the playground.
Please do NOT park in the drop off lane. If your child isn't exiting your vehicle right away, please park in the lot and walk them to the building at the appropriate time.
Breakfast (optional for all students) begins at 7:50 a.m. (8:50 a.m. on Wednesdays). Once they are done eating, students will go outside until 8:20 a.m.
Change in End of Day Plans
If your student’s end of the day plans is going to differ from their normal routine (ie. your child will be picked up by mom/dad instead of riding the bus home), please call the main office number (507-664-3300) no later than 2:00 p.m.
*Please do not leave messages on the attendance line for changes to the end of day pick up routine.
The safety of our students is always our top priority. Each year, we practice a variety of safety drills so students know what to do in case of an emergency. This year, our elementary schools will be using the Standard Response Protocol, which includes five simple actions that give everyone a shared language and clear steps to follow. These drills are designed to help students feel prepared, not scared. Families will always be notified at least 24 hours in advance before we hold a lockdown drill.
There are many activities that children and adults may access during the course of the year. Click the "button" below to check out current event, activity, and resource opportunities.
May 1--Principal Appreciation Day
May 1--5th Grade - Human Growth and Development
May 4--Boosterthon Kick Off
May 4-8--Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6--National School Nurse Day
May 7--1st Grade Field Trip to MN Zoo
May 11--Kindergarten Field Trip - Children’s Museum
May 12--Bridgewater Booster Club (BBC) Meeting (6:00-7:00 p.m.)
May 12--Band and Choir Concert - Bridgewater Gym (7:00 p.m.)
May 14--5 Grade Field Trip to Riverside Education Days (9:30-2:30)
May 15--Boosterthon Fun Run 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♂️
May 22--No School-Teacher Preparation Day
May 25--No School Memorial Day
Mary 26--Ag Day
May 28--Parade of Graduates (8:35 a.m.)
May 28--4th Grade Field Trip to JA Hemak Experiential Learning Center
May 29--4th and 5th Grade Track and Field Day
May 29--2nd Grade Field Trip to The Children’s Theatre
June 5--5th Grade Field Trip to the Bell Museum
June 8--Water Fun Day
June 9--5th Grade Graduation (1:15-3:00)
June 10--Last Day of School (2 hour early dismissal)
Bridgewater Elementary School
World-Class Learning for Elementary Students, Bridgewater Elementary School, situated on a 14-acre campus just south of downtown Northfield, is a K-5 public school serving approximately 560 students. It serves the neighborhoods on Northfield's southern side, Dundas, and the rural area south of Highway 19 and west of Highway 246. Students benefit from an active parent-teacher organization, Bridgewater Booster Club (BBC) and many parent volunteers.
The staff is intensely dedicated to offering a high-quality, well-rounded education that strives to meet the specific needs of each student. We focus on empowering our students in their academic and social emotional learning along with building a solid foundation for their educational journey in partnership with families.
Main Office Number: 507-664-3300
Attendance Line: 507-664-3306
Address: 401 Jefferson Parkway
Web page: northfieldschools.org/schools/bridgewater-elementary/