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ENG 2024-25 Family Update No. 23

April 17, 2025

ENG 2024-25 Family Update No. 23 April 17, 2025
ENG 2024-25 FamilyUpdate No. 23April 17, 2025

2024-25 Family Update No. 23 | April 17, 2025

⏰ Reading time: three minutes, 35 seconds


Northfield High School held its annual Arts á la Carte on Friday, April 11.

en Español

💭 Superintendent's Message 💭 Superintendent's Message

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Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:


Thanks for your ongoing partnership and support. I have appreciated the community’s thoughtful and productive engagement in our priority-based budget reduction process. We have described the reasons and the recommended reductions in previous communications that you can review here.


While we are also still welcoming community feedback, we have entered the school board deliberation phase of the process. At the April 14 regular meeting, the board discussed the recommended reductions at length, clearly considering the suggestions from the five budget teams and the feedback it has received from district stakeholders over the last month.


Here are the next steps:

  • A board work session will be held on April 22 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the district office board room.

  • The board will make its final decisions about the priority based budget reductions at its regular meeting on April 28 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the district office board room.


These discussions have been difficult because we are working through the losses that the budget reductions represent. They mean the loss of valued staff members who make a difference for students each day. They mean the loss of services that our community has appreciated. They mean the loss of the "margin" that has allowed our system to respond thoughtfully to new or unique situations.


We will also move forward together. While we are working through these challenges, I am optimistic about our future. We will continue our work to prepare every student for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage in our society. We are a place where people want to be.


As always, don’t hesitate to contact me directly with feedback or questions about the school district.


Sincerely,



Matt

--

Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent

mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629

View the recommended budget reductions here

🗓️Superintendent/Community Meetings 🗓️Superintendent/Community Meetings

Several times per year, I invite parents/caregivers, district residents, and business and property owners to schedule meetings about any district-related topic they would like to discuss with me. Here are details about an upcoming opportunity:


  • Wednesday, April 30, 1:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.

  • Meetings are held at the district office.

  • Email Kelly Spillman-Kramer at kspillmankramer@northfieldschools.org to schedule a
    15-minute or 30-minute time slot.


Please note: I am always willing to have meetings with members of our school community. These events are intended to provide an explicit invitation to a wider community audience.

🐐The Northfield High School Raider Goats are back! 🐐The Northfield High School Raider Goats are back!

For the next few weeks, the animal science class will be monitoring, feeding and ensuring the health and happiness of Otto, Oliver, Fudge & Clover on a daily basis. The class has also added new playground features for the goats to engage with. NHS students can view and learn interesting facts the class has provided along the windows of the courtyard. Thank you to all who support the AFNR program!
A brown and white goat.
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Two brown and white goats, one darker brown and one lighter brown.
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Two brown and white goats, one lighter brown and one darker brown.
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Two brown and white goats, one smaller and one larger.
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🏆 NHS Knowledge Bowl places two teams in top ten at state 🏆 NHS Knowledge Bowl places two teams in top ten at state

Congratulations to two of Northfield High School's knowledge bowl teams, who finished in the top ten at state! They came in seventh and ninth of the 48 teams competing.

Seventh place team: Teddy Murphy, Eden Coudron, Jenny Dietiker, Cori Demas and Will Flannery
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Seventh place team: Teddy Murphy, Eden Coudron, Jenny Dietiker, Cori Demas and Will Flannery

Ninth place team: Andy Elliot, Annika Reister, Steva Thorstensson, Danica Sorem, and Audrey Hinman
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Ninth place team: Andy Elliot, Annika Reister, Steva Thorstensson, Danica Sorem, and Audrey Hinman

🏅Two advance to MSHSL Speech Championship Meet 🏅Two advance to MSHSL Speech Championship Meet

Noa Marohl and Elizabeth McCormick with Coach Jody Saxton West.
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The Raider Speech Team qualified two speakers for state at the Section 1AA tournament. Noa Marohl took first place in Storytelling, and Elizabeth McCormick took second place in Great Speeches. Both will compete in the state speech tournament at Shakopee High School on April 26.


Pictured are Noa Marohl and Elizabeth McCormick with Coach Jody Saxton West.

🎨 Greenvale Park Gecko Gallery 🎨 Greenvale Park Gecko Gallery

Greenvale Park's annual Gecko Gallery art festival showcased the students' amazing artwork. Guests had the opportunity to participate in fun hands-on art activities. Check out this video to get a glimpse of that evening.

💃 Annual Swing Dance 💃 Annual Swing Dance

The Northfield High School jazz bands held the annual swing dance at the Northfield Ballroom on April 12. It was an outstanding intergenerational event featuring two hours of live big band music and dancing lessons provided by Northfield-area choreographer and spring play director Shari Setchell.

People dance at the Northfield Ballroom.
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The jazz band plays.
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A closeup of the drummer playing in the jazz band.
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The group listens to the instructor during dance lessons.
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📌 Community Resources and Events Newsletter 📌 Community Resources and Events Newsletter

At Northfield Public Schools , we value our strong community partnerships. To better connect families with local events and resources, we've created a community events newsletter. This newsletter will be linked to our district newsletters, making it easy for families to stay informed about upcoming opportunities and important community resources.

View the Community Resources and Events newsletter here!

🪧 April 14, 2025 board update 🪧 April 14, 2025 board update

  • Board packets, table files, and meeting videos are located on our website.
  • You can listen to Superintendent Hillmann’s update on KYMN radio.
Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann discusses April 14 Northfield School Board meeting

Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann discusses April 14 Northfield School Board meeting

Northfield Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann talks about the April 14 School Board meeting during which priority-based budget reduction recommendations were discussed.

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Family Update Archives
Reimagining Northfield High School Updates
Weather Related Disruptions and School Closings Information
Employment Opportunities

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Northfield School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex 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.

Minnesota ISD #659 - Northfield Public Schools

Minnesota ISD #659 - Northfield Public Schools

Northfield Public Schools is the district providing elementary, middle school, high school and community education to the Northfield, Minnesota area.

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