Bridgewater Bear Tracks

We are looking forward to focusing on Gratitude this month! Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and boost our happiness.

The end of the first quarter of the school year is Friday, November 6th.

Please note these important dates:

Kindergarten

Kristin Cade

Christa Danielson

Sydney Rodgers

Lahna Tran

1st Grade

Paige Carter

Kayla LaVoy

Michelle Lepper/Anna Rubin

Joel Stuemke

2nd Grade

Erin Hall

Sherry Schwaab

Erik Swenson

3rd Grade

Elizabeth Larson

Darren Lofquist

Gregg Sickler

Nate Truman

4th Grade

Ann Hehr

McKenzie Foley&Tegan Underdahl

Breanna Rodriguez

Tiffany Ryan

5th Grade

Chelsea Bischoff

Ashly Blatti

Sara DeVries

Dana Holden

• Tuesday, 11/17: (Set-up) No Purchases

• Wednesday, 11/18: Sale 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Thursday, 11/19: Sales 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. *Conference Night*

• Friday, 11/20: Sales 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. + Tear Down 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All students will visit the book fair with their class during school. Purchases are optional.

We’d also love your help!

💛 Becoming a Book Fair volunteer is a fun way to support our school and share the joy of reading. Every purchase and every helping hand make a difference!

BOOK FAIR HOMEPAGE

Please continue to pull as far ahead as possible (Green Star pictured below) before letting your student(s) out of the vehicle. We do not want students exiting the vehicle anywhere other than the sidewalk next to the building (Green Arrow pictured below.)

If you are needing more time to unload, please park in a parking spot and walk your student(s) to the front door utilizing the cross walk. Do not park and leave your vehicle in the driving lane during drop off & dismissal.

Safety is a shared community responsibility. Thank you for doing your part to slow down, avoid distractions, and keep our students safe!

As we settle into the school year, the safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority. We are asking for everyone’s help to ensure our school streets, parking lots, and drop off lanes remain safe for every student walking, biking, driving, or riding to school.

Here are some reminders to help everyone stay safe in our school zones and beyond:

• Assume children are always present. If you are driving near a school during school operational hours, treat the area as if children are present, being diligent to look for pedestrians and observe school zone speed limits.

• Watch your speed near every campus. Speed limits in school zones exist to protect our youngest community members. Drivers are asked to set a positive example for other community members, as well as our new drivers, by adhering to posted speed limits around all district campuses, especially before and after school.

• Stay alert at pedestrian crossings. Please use extra caution at intersections around our schools. Always yield to pedestrians and crossing guards. Pay attention outside of those areas and in our neighborhoods as well, especially during times when students may be walking or biking to and from school.

• Be mindful of construction traffic. With ongoing work at Northfield High School, we appreciate your continued support and caution around the Reimagine NHS construction zones.

Operation Joy is a program available to Northfield families with children ages infant through 18 years old needing additional support from the community this holiday season.

You will receive a personal email with your appointment time a couple of days prior to the event. The day before the event, you also will receive an event text reminder by phone.

If you have questions regarding registration, please contact CAC at 507.664.3550 for more information.

Registration Dates:

• Wednesday, November 4 – Wednesday, December 2, 2026

We will be celebrating Grandparents/Special Person Day on Tuesday, November 24th. The parking lot will be full, and we will allow grandparents to park in the parking lots and the bus loop as long as cars are moved by 3:05 pm, in time for dismissal. Please don’t forget to notify your child’s teacher ahead of time if you are allowing grandpa, grandma, or special person to take your child home with them; we cannot allow them to go without your permission.

9:00-9:45 - Kindergarten

10:00-10:30 - 2nd Grade

10:30-11:00 - 4th Grade

1:00-1:30 - 1st Grade

2:00-2:30 - 5th Grade

2:30-3:00 - 3rd Grade

We have seen an increase in cell phones and smart watches in our elementary schools. Because cell phones and smart watches can be distracting, we are reminding students and families that all cell phones and smart watches need to be in a zipped backpack and powered off during the school day. Should you need to get a message to your child during the day, please contact the school office at 507-664-3300.

Being at school regularly gives students the opportunity to:

• Keep up with learning — Students receive the instruction, practice, and support they need to build important skills and stay on track.

• Be part of the classroom community — Students know what is happening, participate in classroom activities, and learn alongside their classmates.

• Build strong work habits — Regular attendance helps students develop routines, responsibility, perseverance, and confidence as learners.

• Celebrate their accomplishments — Being present gives students more opportunities to experience success, feel proud of their progress, and see what they are capable of.

• Discover that they can do hard things — Learning takes practice and perseverance. Showing up each day helps students develop the confidence to tackle challenges and keep trying.

• Build a strong foundation for the future — Each day provides opportunities to grow as a reader, writer, mathematician, problem-solver, friend, and lifelong learner.

• Call the attendance line and leave a message (507-664-3306) OR

• Email: bwattendance@northfieldschools.org

• Be sure to include the following detailed information:

• 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 instead. We notify students by 2:00 of these changes.

This month's edition includes registration and programming updates from:

• Minnesota Youth Ski League - Nordic Ski
• Northfield Community Education
• Northfield Area Family YMCA
• Northfield Lacrosse Association
• Northfield Wrestling
• Northfield Volleyball Club

To switch to Spanish, click on the dropdown menu at the top right of the announcement page.

There is a way for EVERY child to play...SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IN EACH SPORT!

Please contact the Community Action Center of Northfield, 507-664-3550

All volunteers in our school buildings are required to complete a confidentiality acknowledgment, plus an informed consent form that grants permission for the district to conduct a criminal background check. A background check needs to be completed each year in order to volunteer in the schools or chaperone field trips. Please click the link below to complete a background check for the 2026-2027 school year, and allow processing time of 24 hours prior to your event.

You can call the Bridgewater office at 507-664-3300 if you have questions.

November 6: No School (Teacher Prep Day)

November 10: Family Conferences

November 11: Veterens Day Assembly 10:00am

November 17: Booster Club Meeting

November 18: Book Fair 9:00-3:00

November 19: Family Conferences

November 19: Book Fair 8:30-7:00

November 20: 8:30-11:30 Book Fair Sales (Tear Down 12:00-3:00)

November 24: Grandparents Day

November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break (No School)

December 8: Booster Club Meeting

December 8: All 5th Grade Band Concert 6:30-7:30 at Greenvale Park Elementary

December 17: Band & Orchestra School Day Concert 2:00 in the Gymnasium

December 18: Spirit Day! Wear Christmas and/or Festive Outfit

December 21: Kindergarten Gingerbread House Event 9:30-10:30

December 23-Jan 1st: Winter Break (No School)

Attendance Line

507-664-3306

Benjamin Bus

507-645-5720

BW Main Office

507-664-3300

Office Hours: 7:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Nurse

507-664-3305

Students may enter the building only if they are having breakfast starting at 7:50. Breakfast is served from 7:50-8:20. Supervision on the playground starts at 8:00. Students that walk or are being dropped off should go directly to the playground if they are not having breakfast. If you take a bus you will be allowed to go in the building only if you need breakfast.

Please contact the office (507-664-3300) if you plan on picking your student up before the 3:20 p.m. dismissal. All students need to be signed out in the office before leaving the building prior to the end of the school day. You can come into the office to pick your student up and sign them out.

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.

If you are picking your child up, make sure you have your car tag on your rear view mirror. Do not remove the sign until your child has entered your car. We will bring your child to you, do not get out of your car. Keep pulling forward so the line can continue to move. If you park in the lot and are getting your child, Still hold your car tag sign so we can see it and meet at door #1.

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, Northfield, MN, 55057

Web page: northfieldschools.org/schools/bridgewater-elementary/