NHS Raider Update
November 1, 2024
Exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, November 5th
REIMAGINE NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM
Dear Families,
As you know, the district will hold a bond referendum election on November 5, coinciding with the general election, to reimagine Northfield High School. This bond referendum represents an important decision for our community. The district aims to ensure that voters are well-informed about the purpose and impact of this referendum.
The referendum aims to improve the high school facility in numerous ways. As a summary, the referendum has three questions:
Question 1: Proposes $95.38 million for a new multi-story classroom addition, retains and renovates about 60% of the existing building, some demolition, and new HVAC systems at the high school. It addresses outdated classrooms, limited natural light, energy efficiency, building climate control inadequacies, and security issues due to the building's layout.
Question 2: Adds a $18.725 million expanded gymnasium to address space shortages for athletics and community activities.
Question 3: Allocates $6.975 million to upgrade the HVAC system installed as part of Question 1 to use geothermal technology, saving utility costs and prioritizing environmental sustainability.
The district has conducted over 90 educational events to ensure an informed electorate. Visit https://northfieldschools.org/reimagine to learn more.
One more tour of the NHS facility is on Saturday, Nov. 2, beginning at 10 am. Please enter at Door No. 10 and meet in the media center.
I also want to remind you about Carleton College’s historic pledge of $2 million toward the academic facility improvements that are part of Questtion 1. If the first question passes, Carleton’s pledge becomes a gift and the district will bond for $2 million less to fund the projects.
Finally, make sure you have a plan to vote! You can learn your polling location at the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.
Please direct any questions about the referendum to Superintendent Hillmann. Be an informed voter!
Sincerely,
Shane Baier
NHS Principal
How do I report an absence?
How do I report a student absence?
If there is a need to be absent, please call 507-663-0616 or use the NHS Student Absence Form. The link for attendance reporting is also be linked on the NHS website. If your student is ill, please provide symptoms within your message. This is a 24-hour voicemail system. Thank you!
Principal Update: End of Quarter 1
Dear NHS Students, Families and Staff:
There will be no school for students on Friday, November 1st and Monday, November 4th due to teacher preparation days for grading and the beginning of 2nd quarter. We have completed the first quarter of the 2024-25 school year. All grades will be posted by 4:00 pm on Tuesday November 5th. Please view family access app for grade reporting.
As we reflect on the first quarter of the school year, we much to celebrate. We re-shaped Family Engagement Days, brought back Parent-Teacher Conferences, and rebooted a cellphone/device plan to support a more focused learning environment. In the coming weeks, I plan to share a parent/caregiver survey to help us gather feedback on how the plan is working from a parent perspective. We will survey our students at the end of next week as well. We will use the data to make informed decisions about the plan.
As I reflect on the first quarter, I am incredibly proud of our students' level of focus, their pursuit of excellence in the classroom, on the stage and on the playing field. I am anxious to share our attendance rates for quarter 1 and results from the cellphone/device plan survey later this month. Our sports teams have had a tremendous fall with many state tournament appearances and Big 9 Championships.
Again, no school on Friday, November 1 or Monday, November 4th due to teacher grading and preparation days for 2nd quarter. Please take the time to exercise your vote on Tuesday, November 5th. Thank you for your continued support and confidence in the NHS team's capacity to serve in the honorable role as educators in your child's life.
It is a great day to be a Raider!
Sincerely,
Shane Baier
NHS Principal
Honoring Veterans; Veterans Day 2024
NHS will again be honoring Veterans Day with a display highlighting our students and staff that have a special Veteran connection. If you would like to honor your “Veteran” in our display, please complete the form below by Thursday, November 7th. The wall will be fully on display on Monday, November 11th.
Information to include:
1. A past or present photo of your Veteran.
2. A short Bio, including their relation to you or your student and any other information you would like to share. Examples would be: Branch of service, time served, which War or Duty station they were associated with and their rate/title/job etc.
3. If you would rather bring a photo in, we can scan your photo and return it to you as well.
Click Here to complete the form or click the button below.
Email Shane Baier, Principal, at sbaier@northfieldschool.org if you have questions.
Northfield High School Theater Presents: Something Rotten!
Northfield High School Theater Presents: Something Rotten!
Fridays and Saturdays, November 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30 PM, Sunday, November 17 at 2:00 PM, in the NHS Auditorium
Tickets $9 for Adults, $7 for Students, Seniors, available at the door
Strength Training Update
If you are in-between fall and winter sports, you can sign up for 'Strength Training High School" to continue lifting on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday's between 3:00-4:30! Once your winter team coach schedules their days/times, you will then be able to go with your team. Until then though, sign up to keep up with your strength and conditioning with Erik from ETS! Sign up HERE.
If you are 'out of season' or at all interested in learning more about this opportunity, you can also sign up to learn more or ask questions to get you going - it's free! Let's get this group up to at least 50 students this winter (if not more!). Sign up HERE.
Go Raiders!
John Mahal
Activities Director
Northfield High School
1400 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55057
Office: 507-663-0632
Order your Yearbook Today!
Don't forget to order your yearbook. Prices go up October 26th.
Link to order: https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1062320
Operation Joy Season!
It's Operation Joy season. For those of you new to Northfield, this is a holiday gift giving community tradition for over 50 years. Last year we supported over 1000 children from over 500 families in the Northfield community. The event this year will be Wednesday, December 11.
In the past few years many of you have also supported the program through
- staff adopting a family
- students raising funds
- collecting wrapping paper supplies - this is a HUGE help
- making fleece-tied blankets
All of it is very much appreciated. Reach out to confirm if you will be participating in any of these additional supports.
Registration has already begun.
Both registration and monetary donations are appreciated by Friday, November 15.
Fleece-tied blankets and wrapping paper supplies should be dropped off on Tuesday, December 10.
We will have posters ready next week if you are interested in hanging any up around your school.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for your support of this long shared community tradition.
Lisa Percy
Project Manager
1651 Jefferson Parkway Suite HS200
Northfield, MN 55057
507-664-3506
Community Action Center 507-664-3550
Summary of Important Events:
Nov. 11- Staff Meeting, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Nov. 12- AM Staff Meeting option, 7:25 am, NHS Media Center
Nov. 12- Site Leadership Team #1 Mtg, 3-4 pm, NHS Media Center
Nov. 14- Fall Jazz Band Concert, 7 pm, NHS Auditorium
Nov. 15 & 16- Fall Play, 7 pm NHS Auditorium
Nov. 17- Fall Play 2 pm, NHS Auditorium
Nov. 18- Staff Meeting, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Nov. 19- AM Staff Meeting option, 7:25 am, NHS Media Center
Nov. 19- Site Leadership Team #2 Mtg, 3-4 pm, NHS Media Center
Nov. 19- Fall Band Concert, 7:30 pm, NMS Auditorium
Nov. 25- New Teacher Meeting, 3:00 pm, NHS Media Center
Nov. 27- E-Learning Day
Nov. 28 & 29- No School, Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 2- Staff Meeting, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Dec. 3- AM Staff Meeting option, 7:25 am, NHS Media Center
Dec. 3- Site Leadership Team #1 Mtg, 3-4 pm, NHS Media Center
Dec. 6- Midterm for quarter 2
Dec. 9- New Teachers Meetings, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Dec. 9- Parents as Partners Meeting, 6:00-7:15 pm, NHS Media Center
Dec. 14- Choir Traditions Concert, 7:30 pm, Carleton Skinner Chapel
Dec. 15- Choir Traditions Concert, 2 pm, Carleton Skinner Chapel
Dec. 16- Staff Meeting, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Dec. 16-MS/HS Orchestra Concert, NMS Auditorium, 6-8:30 pm
Dec. 17- AM Staff Meeting option, 7:25 am, NHS Media Center
Dec. 23-Jan. 1- No School, Holiday Break
Jan. 6- Staff Meeting, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Jan. 7- AM Staff Meeting option, 7:25 am, NHS Media Center
Jan. 13-New Teachers Meetings, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Jan. 27- Staff Meeting, 3 pm, NHS Media Center
Jan. 28- AM Staff Meeting option, 7:25 am, NHS Media Center
Feb.3-Dec. 9- Parents as Partners Meeting, 6:00-7:15 pm, NHS Media Center
Feb. 24-Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7:30 pm
March 11- ACT, on site for grade 11 and Online Learning Day for all other students
April 25- Arts ala Carte, 5:30-9 pm
April 26- Jr./Sr. Prom
May 28- Senior Celebration ‘25, 8-11:30 p.m.
June 1- Graduation, 2 pm at Memorial Field