Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Try Your Best
Before School Reminders
Breakfast is served from 7:50-8:20. (Wednesdays 8:50-9:20).
Playground supervision starts at 8:00 - Do not drop your child off before 8:00 (Wednesdays 9:00).
When the drop off line is busy, pull your car up past the crosswalk.
After School Reminders
Make sure to have a car tag displayed until your child gets into your car, even if you are getting out of your car and picking up your child at the door.
If your child requires extra time to load, pull your car up to the end of the line.
Keep pulling your car forward. This helps us so we can load as many cars as possible.
Milk
While school lunches are available at no cost to students again this year, please note that if your child brings a lunch from home and wants a milk from school, a $0.50 charge will be applied to their account.
Visitors
Lunchtime is a favorite among students! As you can imagine, it takes a lot of practice to get every class into and out of the cafeteria efficiently each day. For that reason, guests will not be allowed to come for lunch for the first two weeks of school as we practice our lunchtime routines.
If you want to eat lunch with your child every once in a while, that option will be available beginning Monday, September 15th. Please stop in the office to sign in prior to going to the cafeteria, and then stop in again to sign out before leaving the building.
School Pictures
School pictures were taken during Family Conferences. To place an online order for pictures, please visit the Strawbridge website and enter Bridgewater’s code: FM475291 under “Order Pictures & Yearbooks.”
Picture retakes are scheduled for November 7th.
Feeling creative? The Northfield VFW Auxiliaries is holding a contest this Fall, giving students the opportunity to express their creativity through coloring or words. All entries should be on standard copy paper size, and include the student's FIRST NAME ONLY, teacher, and grade level on the back. Entries can be handed in to the office. The deadline to enter the contest is October 1st.
Kindergarten-1st Grade
Color a picture of the American flag! Pictures can be hand drawn, from a coloring book, or using the attached outline.
2nd-4th Grade
Have you seen the American flag on a flagpole at a sporting event, on a farm, or in front of a store? Draw a picture of a place you have seen the flag flying and be sure to include the flag in your picture!
Grade 5
Write a short essay (250 words or less) using the prompt, "How and Why I Show Respect for the American Flag."
Hearing and vision screenings will take place on Thursday Sept 18th. We will be screening 1st, 3rd and 5th grade students.
Apply for Free/Reduced Educational Benefits
Our schools offer healthy meals each day. We are a part of Minnesota’s Free School Meals for Kids Program, which started in school year 2023-24. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. For more information on this program click here (para español). Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees for school sports & activities. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other meal programs.
The appropriate form must be completed each school year and submitted to Child Nutrition Services for review and approval. Applications are available online to print on your own, at each principal’s office, each school kitchen, and are mailed to each household in August. If an application is needed in a different language please contact Child Nutrition Services. Applications are also available to fill out online in Family Access under the “Food Service” tab.
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.
To Report an Absence
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.
To Report a Late Arrival
It is helpful for the office staff to know if your student will be late for school. You can do this one of three ways:
Leave a message on the attendance line, available 24 hours/day (507-664-3306)
Email bwattendance@northfieldschools.org
Call the main office number (507-664-3300)
If your student arrives after 8:25 a.m., they will need to be checked-in by a parent in the office before heading to class.
Picking Students Up Early
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.
Please make sure to share medical needs for your child with Nurse Lucy Archibald. Any and all medications need to go through her as well. Please do not send medications on the bus with students.
Nurse's Email: larchibald@northfieldschools.org
Nurse's Phone: 507-664-3305
Thank you!
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.
Current opportunities include girls lacrosse clinic, basketball registration, community youth orchestra, girl scouts, and more!
Oct 16 & 17---MEA Break-No School for Students
Oct 30---End of 1st Quarter
Oct 31 & Nov 3---No School-Teacher Preparation Day
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/