Bridgewater Bear Tracks

Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There won't be school for staff and students for this national holiday.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is more than just a day off from school or work. There is significant meaning behind this day. These are two of the many quotes from Dr. King that I find particularly meaningful: "Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others." "Without love, there is no reason to know anyone, for love will, in the end, connect us to our neighbors, our children and our hearts."

This is a good time to think about others and what we can do to make their lives better. We truly cannot do something for someone else without getting some of the goodness on us. Please take the time to talk with your family about what you can do to serve others even if it is just the smallest of ways. Martin Luther King, Jr. has left an amazing legacy that centers around the value of people, service to others, and speaking up for those who are less fortunate than we are.

There will be no school Tuesday, Jan. 21st or Wednesday, Jan. 22nd. The last day of the first semester is Jan. 17th, and teachers will be preparing report cards. Report cards will be sent home with students on or before January 28th.

We are seeing a higher number of students out due to illness. The most common diagnoses are influenza A , strep throat and stomach flu. We don’t like to encourage students to stay home longer than needed, but please consider carefully before sending them back to school.

Here are some guidelines to help with your decision if you are not sure whether you should send your child to school; students in these situations should stay home:

• If your student has had a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours

• If your child has vomited within the past 24 hours

• If having your student at school would significantly put others at risk for catching your student’s illness

• If your student will not be able to participate or focus on academics

If you have questions about when to send your child to school, please call our school nurse. Thank you for cooperating to keep our students healthy at Bridgewater Elementary.

Nurse Lucy is on the lookout for size 16 or any XL boys sweatpants. If you have any around, please donate them to us. Thank you!

Please send your student to school prepared with clothing appropriate for the changing temperatures. If your student is walking to school, please have them dressed appropriately for the cold temperatures.

• If the temperature is warmer than 0 degrees and the wind chill is warmer than -10 degrees students will be outside for recess.

Author, Sarah Warren, will be coming to Bridgewater on Friday, January 24th to meet our students. "Sarah Warren is an author and early childhood educator, who is dedicated to bringing multicultural, everyday heroes to life in elementary schools where children do not often see themselves reflected in the literature they experience. Sarah teaches teen writers to raise awareness with their one-of-a-kind expressions. Sarah has partnered with Free Arts Minnesota, The Bridge for Youth, and Avanti Center for Girls to provide workshops for young people. She is a registered trainer for the Minnesota Center of Professional Development and an Artist Educator for Face Forward: Humanity Through Art. She lives in Minnesota with her family." (Google Books)

We are hosting our Kindergarten Tour Night on Monday, February 3rd from 5:00-6:30 for families with a child planning to attend kindergarten in the fall. This is a great opportunity for incoming kindergarten students to see the building, meet the teachers, and learn more about our school day. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Seaberg at 507-664-3303 or at kseaberg@northfieldschools.org.

The time has come for two of our current BBC Board Members to step down. Beau Nielsen (President) and Tori Swedin (Treasurer) will be retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. We are searching for a new President and a new Treasurer for the 2025-2026 school year. Please inquire at our front office with questions and/or interest in one of the positions!

One of our parents wanted to pass along an opportunity for 4th grade skiers! Around $40 for 4th graders, you are able to send information including a photo and proof that the child is in fourth grade (like a report card). With this pass, fourth graders are able to get a free ski pass for many Minnesota ski slopes (Lutsen, Duluth and more!) Please see this link if interested:

https://passes.skiandboardmn.com/registration/

Parents Night Out FRIDAY, January 17 5:30-8:30PM

School's Out Days MONDAY-WEDNESDAY January 20-22; 7AM-5PM

Did you know that the YMCA sends a van to Bridgewater to transport students to the Y after school for programs? The programs that are just starting are: Afterschool Basketball, Afterschool Volleyball, Afterschool Soccer, and Afterschool Gaga Ball. All of these are for students in Grades 1-5.

Go to northfieldymca.org or call 507-645-0088 to register.

Dolly's program sends one book per month to every child signed up from the age of 0 until Kindergarten. Northfield partners are holding a fundraising event on Friday, January 24 at the Armory in downtown Northfield to help keep up with costs of this popular program. There will be live entertainment, live and silent auctions, and good food so, please consider attending! Click here for the registration link.

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/

Jan. 20---MLK Day-No School for Students & Staff

Jan. 21 & 22---Teacher Preparation Days-No School for Students

Jan. 24---Sarah Warren Author Visit

Jan. 24---Dolly Parton Imagination Library Fundraiser-6:30pm

Jan. 31---BBC Spirit Day: Jersey/Sports

Feb. 3 --- Kindergarten Tour Night 5-6:30

Feb. 11---100th Day of School Kinderbration (morning)

Feb. 11---Bridgewater Booster Club Meeting 6:00-7:00 pm in the BW Media Center

Feb. 17---Teacher Preparation Day-No School for Students

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

Mar. 24-30---Spring Break

May 16---Boosterthon Fun Run

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