Bridgewater Bear Tracks

Safety is our top priority. We know drop-off time can be especially busy, but it’s important that everyone follows the same procedures to keep students and families safe and to ensure all students arrive to class on time. This past week, several parents have parked in handicap-accessible spaces or allowed their child to exit the car and cross traffic to reach the front door. Please review these important reminders:

• Handicap-accessible parking is reserved only for vehicles with a valid permit.
  

• When using the drop-off lane, please pull forward as far as possible before letting your child out. If your child needs extra time to exit the car, pull all the way forward.
  

• Do not park in the drop-off lane. If you need to get out of your car, park in a designated parking spot and walk your student(s) all the way to the door.
  

• Have your child ready to exit the vehicle quickly and safely.
  

• Drive slowly and use extra caution throughout the parking lot.
  
  

Thank you for your attention to this important safety matter.

Bridgewater students will walk to the Northfield Middle School on Tuesday, December 9th where the Youth Dance Ensemble will present, “The Nutcracker.” Students will be gone from Bridgewater from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. that day. Please try to schedule appointments and pick-ups/drop-offs outside of this window of time. Thank you!

Students enjoyed the first snowfall of the season!

In the event that Northfield Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the first full school day cancellation due to winter weather will not be replaced with an e-Learning day. The second and subsequent school closures will be replaced with e-Learning days. Please see the plan for e-Learning days linked below.

Please be sure your child looks through the lost and found to claim any items that belong to them. Our collection is getting quite large (pictures below)! Items left at Winter Break will be donated.

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.

While documentation is not required until after 10 illness absences, it is recommended that parents/guardians provide the school with documentation each time their student misses

school and visits the doctor due to illness or for an appointment. After 10 illness-related absences, medical documentation will be required to excuse any additional illness/appointment related absences.

Personal days include vacations, family events, or non-school sponsored sports or academic activities, etc. After 5 personal absences, a request must be submitted via Google Form (link below) for any additional personal absences to be excused. Additional absences will be considered unexcused unless approved by the school administration.

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

• 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.

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.

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.

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 2025-2026 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.

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!

Dec 9--Bridgewater to Middle School for "The Nutcracker"

Dec 9--BBC Meeting (6:00 p.m. in the Bridgewater Media Center)

Dec 9--All 5th Grade Band Concert (6:30 p.m. at Greenvale Park)

Dec 16--4th & 5th Grade Orchestra Concert (7:00 p.m. at Northfield Middle School)

Dec 18--Kindergarten Gingerbread House Making (9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Cafeteria)

Dec 22-Jan 2--No School-Winter Break

Jan 5--School Resumes

Jan 19--No School-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 22--End of 2nd Quarter

Jan 23-26--No School-Teacher Preparation Days

Jan 27 & 29--Parent/Teacher Conferences

Feb 12--Kindergarten Information Night (For 2026-2027 Kindergarten Families)

The Northfield School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, including gender identity or expression, or disability and prohibits discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in employment. You can learn more at: https://northfieldschools.org/about/departments/human-resources/ under the Title IX tab.

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/