Bridgewater Bear Tracks

There is no school for students March 23–30 due to Spring Break and a teacher workday. Classes resume Tuesday, March 31.

Yearbooks are ready to order!

1.Visit www.strawbridge.net

2. Enter code: YB32386

3. Select either the standard yearbook option, or select the personalization you would like (personalization is only available for online orders)

All yearbook orders are due by April 3, 2026.

We have a multitude of lost and found items that need to be claimed! All items not claimed by 4:00 today will be donated.

🏀 The Northfield Boys Basketball team walked through our school as we cheered them on before the State Tournament next week. Good luck, Raiders!🏀

Update:

• We are finishing up cardiovascular and jump roping activities this week! After spring break, we will move to bowling!
• Kid's Heart Challenge donations will be accepted through April 3rd. After that, we will be submitting our donations for the post-event prizes to be sent. Thank you to everyone who chose to register or fundraise, our students did awesome!

Donation Request (for upcoming activities):

• T-shirts of any size!!
• Ice cream buckets and covers!!

In partnership with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), the Northfield School Board has officially launched its search for the district’s next superintendent. You can read Superintendent Hillmann’s letter to the community in 2025-26 Family Update No. 15. An important part of the process is gathering input from the community for consideration as the board moves forward with its search.

Here are two ways you can engage in the search process:

1. Fill out the superintendent search survey. Information from this anonymous survey will provide valuable input for the board to consider as they move forward in selecting the next superintendent. Please submit this survey by March 22, 2026. Hard copies of the survey are also available at the district office.
   Complete the Northfield Public Schools Superintendent Search Survey
   
   

2. Participate in a virtual Q&A Zoom session, where MSBA will answer questions about the search. This Zoom session will be held Friday, March 13, 2026 at 4:00. Questions about the search process were submitted in advance and can be submitted using the chat box during the session. This session will also be recorded and posted to the district’s website at a later date.
   Join the Friday, March 13 Zoom session

A webpage has also been created on the district’s website to keep the community informed about the process. Any questions can be directed to Amy Jordan, associate director of leadership development and executive search with MSBA, ajordan@mnmsba.org.

Community School is offering Spring Break Open Gym with homework help & tutoring! Open to Northfield Kindergarten–8th grade students. Parents or guardians must sign in students but don't need to stay. See flyer for details. Hope to see you there!

The Climate Conservation Club (CCC) is a group of 7th grade students fighting climate change in our community. The club is having an earth day event called, "Earth Fest" on April 18th at Central Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Earth Fest is a free event for everyone in our community to enjoy.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about climate change. There will be various hands-on activities such as seed planting, bird feeder making, and trash/recycling/compost sorting as well as a free snack stand, bingo, and earth day games!

In the event that Northfield Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the first full school day cancellation due to winter weather was not replaced with an e-Learning day. Any future school closures during the 2025-2026 school year will be replaced with e-Learning days. Please see the plan for e-Learning days linked below.

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.

Mar 20--End of 3rd Quarter

Mar 23-27--No School-Spring Break

Mar 30--No School-Teacher Preparation Day

Apr 14--Bridgewater Booster Club (BBC) Meeting

Apr 17--2nd Grade Field Trip - Science Museum

May 11--Kindergarten Field Trip - Children’s Museum

May 12--Bridgewater Booster Club (BBC) Meeting (6:00-7:00 p.m.)

May 12--Band and Choir Concert - Bridgewater Gym (7:00 p.m.)

May 14--5 Grade Field Trip to Riverside Education Days (9:30-2:30)

May 15--Boosterthon Fun Run

May 22--No School-Teacher Preparation Day

May 25--No School Memorial Day

Mary 26--Ag Day

June 9--5th Grade Graduation (1:15-3:00)

June 10--Last Day of School (2 hour early dismissal)

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/