Bridgewater Bear Tracks

Monday, February 17th is Professional Development Day for teachers. There is no school for students.

Winter conferences will be February 20 and February 25. Teachers sent out information earlier this week. Please look for those emails and contact the teachers if you have any questions. Looking forward to seeing many of you next week!

The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) is administered every three years in grades 5-12 and is the primary source of comprehensive data on young people at the state, county, and local level in Minnesota and is the only consistent source of statewide data on their health and wellbeing. It provides valuable information about issues vital to the health, safety, and academic success of young people. The survey is voluntary, confidential, and anonymous on the part of students.

Northfield schools will administer the 2025 survey during the week of 3/7/2025 in grades 5-12.

Federal law requires schools to make the Minnesota Student Survey available for parents to review in person at our school. Please contact your student’s school to make arrangements to review the survey questions.

For additional parent information, click here for English and Spanish. This survey is voluntary. You may choose to have your child not take the survey by completing the online form below. Students may also decline to take any part of the survey or the whole survey. They are informed of that option by staff when taking the survey.

If you do not want your child to take the Minnesota Student Survey, please click here to complete this opt out form online by Thursday February 28, 2025.

We had an in-house field trip/assembly in which all the students got to participate in watching a spectacular science show with many experiments and tons of fun:

We have had a wonderful day today with all the sweetness and kindness going around! Thank you so much for all of the treats and cards for Valentine's Day and my Birthday! I cannot imagine being in a better place for a birthday celebration, especially with all the singing and hugs! Happy Valentine's Day to you all!! Happy Birthday also to Oliver!! 💝

As shared in 2024-25 District Family Update No. 18, the parent/caregiver survey is now open through February 21. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us to identify areas of success and areas for growth in our district. The survey gives you an opportunity to provide both numerical ratings and open-ended comments about your experiences, along with an opportunity to recognize our educators’ great work through the “shoutout” question. Thank you in advance for your input!

»Take the survey now!

• Your feedback helps us improve our school district.

• It can take less than 10 minutes to complete this survey.

• The survey window has been extended through Friday, February 21.

• Please complete one individual survey for each building your students attend.

Congratulations to our 115 Bridgewater artists who had their work selected this year for the Northfield Arts Guild All School Art Show. The selected artists will be bringing home yellow letters with postcards attached this week if their work was included in the show. We would love to include all of our wonderful artists from Bridgewater, but we have to share the gallery space with the other schools in Northfield and our wall space is limited. If you are not sure if your artist received a letter, please contact me. The artwork will be displayed Tuesday 2/13/25 through Saturday 3/15/25 at the Northfield Arts Guild on Division Street in downtown Northfield. The address is 304 Division Street, Northfield, MN.

A public reception called the “Imagination Celebration” will be held Saturday, March 8th from 10am -2:30pm. Students, families, guardians, and friends are invited to enjoy the art show, theater performances, art activities, and musical performances during this special day of recognizing the wonderful work these students have created. You may also view the show during regular gallery hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: 12–5pm Saturday: 11am–4pm.

Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Ms. Woodstrup

Bridgewater Art Room website: https://bridgewaterartroom.weebly.com/

Northfield Arts Guild website:

https://northfieldartsguild.org/arts/visual-arts/galleries/main/upcoming-exhibits

February is Black History Month. This is a time that we recognize the many contributions of African Americans to the United States. We will introduce students to a variety of black people that have made and/or are making a significant difference to our country and the role that they play in our lives today.

ISO waterproof or insulated gloves of all sizes. If you have any you're willing to donate, that would be much appreciated! (We do not need anymore of the cloth gloves for over 50 degrees - have plenty of those!) Thank you in advance!

February is I Love to Read Month. Today, students had fun with "Apple and Book" where an older student was paired up with a younger student to have a tasty snack and read together.

Healthy food for the body and the soul!

Looking for a way to get some great advertising for your business? The BBC is looking for T-SHIRT SPONSORS for this year's Boosterthon Fun Run! ALL students get a FREE t-shirt for Fun Run Day! This shirt is free because of our amazing sponsors! Your business logo will be featured on the back of every t-shirt! Imagine over 550 kids walking around town boasting your logo - that's great advertising!

COST: $300/business logo

DEADLINE: March 1st

CHECKS should be made out to: Bridgewater Booster Club, 401 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield, MN 55057

LOGOS (and questions!) should be emailed to tori.martin4@gmail.com

Registration is required by Tuesday, February 18!

The lunch menu for each month will be provided in the newsletter.

There are many activities that children and adults may access during the course of the year. Don't forget to check the numerous opportunities from the Northfield Community Education Program: https://northfieldschools.org/communityeducation/

Feb. 17---Staff Development Day - No School for Students

Feb. 20 & 25---Parent-Teacher Conferences

Feb. 21---Choral Festival for 4th & 5th Grade Students

Mar. 24-Apr. 1---Spring Break/Teacher Prep - No School for Students

April 18---Second Grade Field Trip to the Science Museum

April 30--Division Street Singers perform for 5th Graders

May 8 --- Band and Choir Concert 2:00 and 7:00 pm

May 9---Fifth Grade Field Trip to Physics Force Show

May 12---Kindergarten Field Trip to the Children's Museum

May 16---Boosterthon Fun Run

May 20---First Grade Field Trip to the Zoo

May 20---Third Grade Field Trip to Gibbs Farm

May 22---Ag Day

May 23---Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Mill City Muesum

May 27---Fifth Grade Field Trip to the Bell Museum

May 30---Track & Field Day

June 3---Water/Fun Day

June 5---Fifth-Grade Graduation

Attendance Line

507-664-3306

Benjamin Bus

507-645-5720

BW Main Office

507-664-3300

Nurse

507-664-3305

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 570 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/

Email: nantoine@northfieldschools.org