Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Do Your Best.
October 30th, 2026
Congratulations Camila!
District-Wide 4th Grade Coloring Contest Winner
Congratulations to Camila for winning 1st PLACE in the Governors Pheasant Opener coloring contest! The Northfield Area Cahmber of Commerce presented Camila & her classroom with the $200 Chamber Bucks prize.
👻Fall Festival FUN🎃
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Spoooktacular Staff
Fall Family Conferences
The end of the first quarter of the school year is Friday, November 6th.
Please note these important dates:
Friday, November 6th (No School - Teacher prep day)
Tuesday, November 10th (Conferences 3:30-7:30)
Thursday, November 19th (Conferences 3:30-7:30)
❗🚸Safety Reminders:🚸❗
Morning Drop-off
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!
Slow Down in School Zones
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 - Starting next week
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
Cell Phones and Smart Watches in School
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.
Book Fair
Get ready — the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to the Bridgewater Media Center!
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!
For full details and to create an eWallet, visit our school’s Book Fair homepage:
Veterans Day Assembly & Slideshow
Save the date!
Veterans Day Assembly will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. in the gymnasium. All families and Veterans are welcome to attend.
If you have a loved one who is currently serving or has served in the armed forces and would like to be represented in our slideshow, please submit a picture to our committee at: bw_announcements@northfieldschools.org no later than Monday, November 2nd. We will only accept digital photos in .jpeg format. You will receive a confirmation email in return indicating that we received your photo. The slide show will be included in the assembly.
Grandparents & Special Persons Day
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
Bridgewater Spirit Wear - Closing November 1st
Bridgewater Elementary School 2026
You can now purchase your items online in 3 easy steps:
1. Scan the QR code or go online to https://larsonsprinting.itemorder.com and enter sale code: belem26
2. Choose your items and add them to your cart
3. Securely checkout with your credit card
Online Store Deadline: Sunday November 1st, 2026 (11:59pm CST)
Please contact us at Larson's Printing with questions prior to placing an order, as we do not accept returns or exchanges on custom items ordered through the online store.
Larson's Printing
Location: 207 Water St S, Northfield, MN 55057
Hours: Monday-Thursday from 9am-6pm, Friday from 9am-5pm, and Saturday from 10am-4pm.
Phone: 507-645-7238
Email: admin@larsonsprinting.com
Attendance & Absence Procedures
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.
To Report and Absence
Call the attendance line and leave a message (507-664-3306) OR
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.
Personal Absences
Lunch Menus
🎃You're Invited!🎃
Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative
There is a way for EVERY child to play …
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IN EACH SPORT
Please contact: Community Action Center of Northfield, 507-664-3550
We encourage you to check each association’s website for the most current information.
This month's edition includes registration and programming updates from:
- Northfield Community Education
- Northfield Area Family YMCA
- Northfield Skating School
- Northfield Swim Club
- Northfield Wrestling
- Northfield Volleyball Club
To switch to Spanish, click on the dropdown menu at the top right of the announcement page.
Volunteer Information
Yearly Background Check
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.
Important Dates
November Events
November 1: Daylight Savings Time (Turn clocks back one hour)
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 Events
December 8: Booster Club Meeting
December 10: Band & Orchestra School Day Concert 2:00 in the Gymnasium
December 21: Kindergarten Gingerbread House Event 9:30-10:30
December 23-Jan 1st: Winter Break (No School)
School Day Information
Helpful Numbers
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
Before School
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.
Picking up Students 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.
Change to Dismissal Routine
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.
After School
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.
About Bridgewater Elementary
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/