NMS Weekly Update 10.11 & 10.18
Winter Activities @ NMS
The middle school offers the Fitness Center and boys/girls Wrestling during second quarter. Registration is now open for both activities.
Fitness Center is Monday through Thursday, 3:00 - 4:30 pm and begins on Monday, November 9th. Students have the flexibility to attend all four days or go on days that work for their schedule.
Wrestling practices are in the small gym and go Monday through Friday, 3:10 - 5:00 pm. Practices will begin on Monday, November 23rd.
Have you ordered a yearbook yet?
Have you ordered a yearbook yet? Order today to get your yearbook for $31! On October 16th, the price goes up to $38! Click this link to order: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A04113510
Jostens Photos
View and order at: https://shop.jostenspix.com/login
School Name: NORTHFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Event Code: FE87526
Satchel Pulse
Dear Northfield Public Schools Families,
Helping learners develop the skills and readiness to engage fully in learning is an important part of our work. As part of our strategic commitment to supporting each learner, we are continuing to strengthen how we build connection, capacity, and clarity around social-emotional learning.
This year, Northfield Public Schools, students in grades k-5 and 8th grade will engage in learning with CharacterStrong to provide consistent social-emotional learning across our schools. To complement that instruction, we are also introducing Satchel Pulse, a universal social-emotional screener for learners in grades K–12. A district team reviewed several screening tools and selected Satchel Pulse because of its alignment with the CASEL framework and our goals for supporting learners.
Satchel Pulse helps us better understand learners’ strengths and needs in five areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. This information can help us make informed decisions about how we support learners’ social-emotional skill development and readiness for academic learning.
Satchel Pulse is a screener, not a diagnostic or mental health assessment. Our goal is educational: to better understand and support the skills learners need to engage in school, learning, and relationships.
What can families expect?
Learners will participate in Satchel Pulse twice this school year:
October 12
February 22–26
The screener typically takes 8–10 minutes to complete. Learners will complete the screener (k-12) and an educator (k-5) will complete it based on observations.
If a learner’s responses indicate that additional follow-up may be helpful, a staff member from their school will contact the family before any follow-up occurs with the learner.
Families may choose to opt their child out of the Satchel Pulse screener using this form.
Thank you for your partnership as we continue building a coherent approach to supporting the academic and social-emotional growth of every learner.
Greg Gelineau
Northfield Middle School
NMS Raider Closet
Welcome to the Raider Closet! Located at Northfield Middle School, this space is open to all students. We have coats, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, pants, shirts, shoes, and more. If your student needs any supplies, they are welcome to stop by the Student Support Office or Main Office, where we'll help them find what they need.
Questions? Feel free to contact Heather Stanton Ims, School Social Worker, at 507-663-0685.
We are looking for the following donations:
Adult M, L, XL shorts, elastic-waisted pants, and water bottles ( new or lightly used- we can sanitize them).
Duck Cup Presentation
We will be hosting grade-level presentations on Thursday, October 22. Here is some background information about the program:
About Duck Cup: The Duck Cup Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization formed by graduates from the New Prague High School Class of 2000. In 2001, they experienced the tragic loss of a close friend to suicide. Several years later, they founded this organization dedicated to providing resources for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Presenter Details: We are hosting Kristen, one of Duck Cup's veteran speakers and a favorite among many. You can read more about her background here:
https://mindingyourmind.org/speaker/kristen/
Schedule: We plan to host separate presentations for each grade level, starting at 8:00 AM with 8th grade. Each session will last approximately 50–55 minutes.
This week's events at NMS:
Monday, October 12, 2026: Maroon - Day 1
Band & Orchestra Lessons - Week 2
- SEL screener, Satchel Pulse, 8:00 am
- MSYC, 3:00 pm
- Math League, 7:00 am
- Evacuation Drill (rescheduled from 10/6)
Tuesday, October 13, 2026: Gold - Day 2
Band & Orchestra Lessons - Week 2
- MSYC, 3:00 pm
- Knowledge Bowl, 3:00 pm
- Gr 7/8 Football @ Tri-City United, 4:30 pm
Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Maroon - Day 1
Make-up Band & Orchestra Lessons
Thursday, October 15 & Friday, October 16: - NO SCHOOL / MEA BREAK
Monday, October 19, 2026: Gold - Day 2
Band & Orchestra Lessons - Week 1
- Math League, 7:00 am
- MSYC, 3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 20, 2026: Maroon - Day 1
Band & Orchestra Lessons - Week 1
- MSYC, 3:00 pm
- Knowledge Bowl, 3:00 pm
- Division Street Singers, 3:00 pm
Wednesday, October 21, 2026: Gold - Day 2
Make-up Band & Orchestra Lessons
- MSYC, 3:00 pm
- Yearbook, 3:00 pm
Thursday, October 22, 2026: Maroon - Day 1
Band & Orchestra Lessons - Week 1
- Duck Cup Presentations
- MSYC, 3:00 pm
- Knowledge Bowl, 3:00 pm
- Jazz Band, 3:00 pm
Friday, October 23, 2026: Gold - Day 2
Band & Orchestra Lessons - Week 1
- Chamber Orchestra, 3:00 pm
Rice County Walk-in Immunization Clinics
Immunizations are available for children on Minnesota Health Care Programs, children and adults who are uninsured and those who do not have vaccine coverage through their private insurance. These vaccinations are available through the Minnesota Department of Health Vaccines for Children Program and the Minnesota Department of Health Adult Uninsured and Underinsured Vaccine Program.
NOTE: Adults 19 years and older who are uninsured or who do not have vaccine coverage through their private insurance must live in Rice County to receive vaccines.
A $21 donation is requested for each immunization, but no one is refused due to an inability to pay.
Walk-in immunization clinics are offered every Tuesday from 1- 4 p.m. at the Public Health Office, in the lower level of the Rice County Government Services Building, 320 Third Street NW, Faribault.
Appointments are encouraged -- call Public Health at 507-332-6111 to schedule an appointment, however walk-ins are welcome. Children under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or have signed permission to be vaccinated.
Reporting an absence
If your student is going to be absent, arriving late to school, or leaving early, please be sure to contact the attendance line from one of the following options:
1. Call our 24 hour attendance line (507-663-0655).
2. Email our attendance office at ms.attendance@northfieldschools.org.
3. Email Lauren Zwolenski at lzwolenski@northfieldschools.org.
Upcoming Events
October 22 - Duck Cup Presentation
October 30 - Films for Foodshelf, 3:00 pm, NMS auditorium
November 5 - End of Quarter 1
November 6 - No School, Teacher Prep Day
November 9 - Quarter 2 begins
November 9 - Fitness Center starts, 3:00 pm
November 10 - Veterans Day Program, 2:10 pm
November 12 - Fall Conferences, 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
November 13 - MS Dance, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm ($5.00 gate fee)
November 16 - MS Band Concert, 7:00 pm, NMS Auditorium
November 17 - Evacuation Drill
November 17 - MS Spelling Bee, 6:30 pm, NMS auditorium
November 19 - Fall Conferences, 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
November 23 - Wrestling starts, 3:00 pm
November 25-29 - Thanksgiving Break, no school
MS Office Hours
The middle school office hours are 7:15 am - 3:45 pm. Our main office phone number is 507-663-0650.
If you have any questions, please call the main office or email Jen Henriksen at jhenriksen@northfieldschools.org.
NMS Student Support Team
Our School Counselors are available to assist families with class schedules and questions you may have:
Jenny Streefland - student last name A-L
Natalie Amy - student last name M-Z
Heather Stanton Ims - Social Worker
Marcy Korynta - School Psychologist
Helpful phone numbers, emails, & links
24 Hour Attendance Line
507-663-0655
Benjamin Bus
507-645-5720
NMS Main Office
507-663-0650
MS Nurses
Maimouna Toure-Keita (District & MS Nurse)
mtourekeita@northfieldschools.org
Sam Shimota (MS Nurse on Mondays)
sshimota@northfieldschools.org
507-663-0656
School Fax #
507-663-0660
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Northfield School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in employment. You can learn more at: https://northfieldschools.org/about/departments/human-resources/ under the Title IX tab.