Bridgewater Bear Tracks

Dear Bridgewater Families:

Thank you for your partnership as we enter the second month of the school year. I appreciate your daily efforts to collaborate with our educators in preparing all of our students for lifelong success.

I am updating you about Principal Nancy Antoine’s leave of absence. As you are aware, Nancy’s husband, Doug, has been battling medical issues. We initially anticipated that Nancy would return to Bridgewater in mid-October. However, Doug’s condition requires additional treatment, which will necessitate Nancy extending her leave until at least mid-November. Please join me in holding Nancy and Doug in your hearts.

This extended leave necessitates some adjustments to the interim principal position. Hope Langston will serve in the role through the MEA break, but is unable to continue after that due to prior commitments. I am grateful to Hope for her skilled leadership.

Shane Baier, retired Northfield High School principal, will begin serving as the interim principal after the MEA break. Adam Danielson will continue to serve as associate interim principal. I am grateful for Adam’s ongoing leadership and support in that role during this interim period.

I am confident you will appreciate Shane’s leadership. Shane served for 27 years as a school principal, with seven years as an elementary school principal at Washington Elementary in Mankato.

You can expect to learn more about the transition plan in upcoming Bridgewater Bear Tracks newsletters.

Bridgewater is a fantastic school community. I appreciate your continued support for our students and staff!

Sincerely,

Matt

--

Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent

mhillmann@northfieldschools.org

Bridgewater will be administering the SSIS Brief Universal Screener the week of October 6th. The SSIS Brief Universal Screeners are short rating scales that are completed by a student (grades 3-12), and their teacher (grades K-5). Each assessment takes between 5 and 8 minutes to complete. The focus of the scales is a student’s social and behavioral health (SBH) (including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making) and emotional behavioral concern (internalizing and externalizing). The purpose of these online assessments is as a universal screener given to all students that will identify areas of strength and behavioral concerns in order to inform teachers and school leaders in planning SBH instructional and programmatic supports for students.

Ordering Pictures: Pictures and proofs were sent home today with students. You will find your student's unique photo code on the bottom right corner of the "Your Pictures Are Here!" page in the envelope. If you received your child's proof and want to order pictures, please visit https://www.strawbridge.net/, click on "Order Pictures & Yearbooks", and enter that code. Your child's photo should appear with options to order pictures. Any pictures ordered from this code will be sent to your home address.

Ordering Retakes: If you ordered pictures and you would like to have retakes, please keep all of your child's pictures together in the original envelope and return the envelope with the student on Picture Retake Day on November 7th. If you did not order pictures the first time and would like to have retakes, please order online using the specific Picture Retake Day code FM475292.

*Strawbridge has informed us that a Retake Day sheet with a QR code on it will be sent home closer to Picture Retake Day to instruct parents to order retake pictures online. Parents have 5 business days after Retake Day to order the images without being charged shipping. If orders are placed within the 5 days, the order will be sent to Bridgewater. If orders are placed after the 5 days, the images will be mailed directly to their home and there will be a shipping charge.

Picture retakes are scheduled for November 7th.

Are you looking for some Bridgewater gear to show your school spirit? Look no further! The Bridgewater Booster Club has put together an online store for you to purchase some awesome Bridgewater clothing items and accessories. It opens on Monday, October 6th!

ONLINE STORE ACCESS INFO

Link: https://larsonsprinting.itemorder.com/

Code: BRIDGE25

Store closes: Monday 10/27 at 11:59pm

Thursday, October 2nd was Custodian Appreciation Day and we want to be sure our amazing custodial staff is recognized for their outstanding work.

Juan, Josh, and Jadzia we thank you for all you do for our school!

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

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 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.

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.

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!

Oct 10--Kindergarten Field Trip to Windy Willow Farm

Oct 14--Bridgewater 5th Grade 5K (8:35)

Oct 14--3rd Grade Field Trip to Windy Willow Farm

Oct 16 & 17---MEA Break-No School

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)

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/