ENG 2025-26 Family Update No.3

Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:

We continue to grieve the deaths of two children and injuries to 17 others at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis yesterday. This heinous act will not soon leave our hearts or our minds. Please see the resources I shared in yesterday’s message as we continue to process this tragedy.

At the same time, we look forward to welcoming your students for the 2025-26 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The beginning of the school year holds tremendous promise with a fresh start for everyone.

I am confident that you and your students will have an exceptional experience at Northfield Public Schools. One of our strategic commitments is communication, which is also a vital component of our school-home partnership.

We are committed to giving you timely and transparent information about our schools and your child. We encourage you to connect with us and share what is working well for your students, as well as how we can better support them.

Our partnership is crucial in successfully navigating the inevitable “ups and downs” of the school year. Together, we can prepare every student for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage in our society.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with feedback or questions about the school district.

Sincerely,

Matt

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Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent
mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629

All district staff gathered on August 26 for our annual back-to-school kickoff event. During the event, staff received training from the I Love U Guys Foundation, a non-profit organization that develops and delivers research-based school and community safety programs. The training focused on the building blocks of crisis management and the implementation of a standard response protocol in the event of an emergency. Their training centered around five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. Those actions are:

• Hold: Hold in your room or area. Clear the halls. This is the protocol that will be used when hallways need to be kept clear. Classes will be held as normal within the classrooms, but students will not be able to move from room to room until the incident is resolved.
• Secure: Get inside. Lock outside doors. This is the action that will be used if there is a hazard outside of the school building. Classes will be held as normal inside the building, and students will be free to move from class to class. No one will be allowed in or out of the building. Depending on the situation that leads to the secure, the building may allow a controlled release or monitored entry.
• Lockdown: Locks, lights, out of sight. This is the action that will be taken in the event of a security breach in a building. Staff will lock the classroom door, turn out the lights and instruct students to move out of sight and maintain silence.
• Evacuate: Students and staff will be asked to leave the building, and staff will lead students to an evacuation location. This protocol will be used in the event of a fire or another situation where it is unsafe to stay inside the building.
• Shelter: This action is most often used in the event of severe weather. Students and staff will be asked to use the appropriate safety strategy for the hazard, for example, moving to the building’s designated storm shelter.
  
  

At Northfield Public Schools, we know consistent attendance is essential for student success. Regular attendance keeps students engaged, builds relationships, and supports their full potential. Beginning in 2025-26, we are updating attendance procedures to promote timely communication and ensure absences are managed consistently.

General Absences

• After eight total absences (for any reason), families will receive a letter of concern.
  
  

Illness-Related Absences

• After 10 illness-related absences, families will receive a letter stating that additional illness absences will require medical documentation to be excused.

• If a doctor visit is not possible, students may be evaluated by the school nurse. If the nurse sends the student home, the absence will be excused.

• Families are encouraged to provide medical documentation for all illness-related absences and appointments, regardless of whether the 10-absence threshold is reached.
  
  

Illness at School

• Students must see the nurse if they feel ill during the school day. Absences excused by the nurse do not count toward the 10-day illness limit. Leaving without nurse approval will result in an unexcused absence.
  
  

Appointments

• Please schedule appointments outside school hours whenever possible. Students should attend school before/after appointments and not miss the full day if possible. Documentation is strongly recommended.
  
  

Personal Days

• Up to five personal days are allowed each year for activities such as vacations, family events, and non-school sponsored academic or athletic activities.

• After the fifth personal absence, requests will require administrative approval via a Google Form.

• Funerals, religious observances, family emergencies, court/legal proceedings, college visits, and military obligations do not count toward this limit.
  
  

Unexcused Absences

• Families must submit documentation within five days of an absence. Absences that are not verified during that time will remain unexcused.
  
  

Tardiness

• All schools (elementary, middle and high school) will now follow a seven period day schedule, and attendance will be recorded for each class period.

• Arriving more than ten minutes late or leaving more than ten minutes early = absent for that period.
  
  

For full details, please visit northfieldschools.org and review your school’s handbook. Thank you for partnering with us to support strong student attendance. We appreciate your partnership in supporting student attendance and learning.