Bridgewater Bear Tracks

We want to remind you that all students must meet the state and district immunization requirements for school attendance, as outlined in School Board Policy 530. The deadline for compliance is October 14, 2026. Students who do not have up-to-date immunization records or a valid exemption form on file by Wednesday will be excluded from school until the requirements are met. Our goal is to not have to exclude students after October 14th.

You may check what immunizations your child has or may need by selecting this link.

To ensure your child may continue attending school without disruption this fall, please complete one of the following as soon as possible:

• Obtain Required Immunizations: Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider or contact Rice County Public Health at 507-332-6111 to inquire about upcoming free clinics. Once immunizations are completed, submit the documentation to the Health Office at your child’s school.

• Submit a Completed Exemption Form: Print the exemption form linked here.

• For medical exemptions: Your healthcare provider must complete and sign the form.

• For non-medical exemptions: Complete the appropriate section and have the form notarized.

• The required immunizations are listed directly on the form.
  
  

Documentation may be delivered in person, emailed to your child’s school building, or faxed to the school your child attends. We encourage families to address this requirement promptly to avoid any disruption to your student’s learning. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the school office.

Tuesday's forecast is showing a colder morning with lows in the 40's. Please dress accordingly as this event is outside. Parents wishing to cheer on the 5th grade students will meet at the track for the start and finish for the event.

You can cheer on our 5th grade students anywhere along the 5K route. The route can be found HERE.

Thank you for continuing to make safety our #1 priority during our dismissal process. We will continue to have students walk down to DOOR #1 to meet parents that are walking up to pick up their students. Please remember to utilize the crosswalk from door #1 to enter the parking lot. Do not walk into the parking lot further down the pickup line in between vehicles.

• No School Friday, November 6th (Teacher conference prep day)
• Fall Conferences November 10th and November 19th *Look for a conference sign up link next week.

• 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.

BOOK FAIR HOMEPAGE

Our annual 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, please be on the lookout for more information coming soon regarding how to submit a picture to be included in our 2026 Veteran's Day Slide Show.

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

Picture retakes are scheduled for October 6th.

The Picture RETAKE CODE IS: PX505350

HealthFinders will be offering free dental cleanings and X-rays on October 12th. This services is available during the school day for students at Bridgewater! HealthFinders provides dental care for students with PMAP plans, Medical Assistance, or no insurance.

To register, scan the QR code on the flyer or use this link: https://schoolhealth.healthfindersmn.org

Questions? Contact Fausto at: rodela.fausto@healthfindersmn.org

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 8–14

• 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.

Ashley Benhart,

Northfield Public Schools

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.

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.

Community School registration is still open! Programming starts September 28th. Please fill out the registration form if you are interested in having your student(s) attend the program for the 2026–27 school year. If you have any specific questions, please reach out to sschroll@northfieldschools.org.

Community School is a free after school program at which children participate in enrichment activities through clubs. Community School runs Mondays through Thursdays, starting after school and ending at 4:40pm.

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.

October 12: HealthFinders Dental Clinic

October 13: Fifth Grade 5k

October 13: Booster Club Meeting

October 14: Immunization Deadline

October 15-16: MEA Break (No School)

October 23: Kindergarten Windy Willow Farm FIELD TRIP

October 23: Spirit Day (Hat or PJ Day) Pay $1 to the BBC to wear a hat or PJ's for the day

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

November 24: Grandparents Day

November 25-27: Thanksgiving 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.-4:00 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. Dismissal will come from the gym using Door #11. 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, do not block Door #11 or enter the gymnasium. Still hold your car tag sign so we can see it and meet at door #11.

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/