Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Try Your Best
Thank you for participating in Family Conferences! There were 167 entries to win a gift card from The Blast. Three names were drawn at random and the winners are…
Leo Canedy
Hayley Strunic
Jocilyn Wright
Congratulations and enjoy your sweet treat!
Our school will conduct a “lockdown” drill on Thursday, September 25th. 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 Hope Langston or Adam Danielson with any questions.
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.
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.
If your child has newly been added to a bus, please inform the office of this change and include the bus number.
There is NO PARKING in the bus lane (facing Jefferson Parkway) anytime before 3:45 p.m. Thank you for your understanding.
Bridgewater Community School is currently on a waitlist. Please reach out to Grace Swanson with any questions or to be added to the list at gswanson@northfieldschools.org. Programming starts on Monday, September 29th.
Project Friendship fosters lasting connections between young students in grades 2 through 7 and college student mentors from Carleton College or St. Olaf College. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing impactful mentoring relationships that span two to four years, nurturing growth and support for both mentors and mentees.
School Pictures
School pictures were taken during Family Conferences. Orders placed prior to Family Conferences or at the time the pictures were taken will be delivered to school. Orders placed after the picture day will be delivered to your home. 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. More information will be coming.
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."
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.
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 3 --First Grade Field Trip to Bell Museum
Oct 10--Kindergarten Field Trip to Windy Willow Farm
Oct 14--Bridgewater 5th Grade 5K (8:35)
Oct 16 & 17---MEA Break-No School for Students
Oct 30---End of 1st Quarter
Oct 31 & Nov 3---No School-Teacher Preparation Day
Nov 6--Fall Conferences (3:30-7:30)
Nov 7--Picture Retake Day
Nov 11--Veteran's Day Assembly
Nov 13--Fall Conferences (3:30-7:30)
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/