NMS Update 11.10.2024
Northfield Middle School 24 -25
Thank you Voters!
Thank you to everyone who voted in the 2024 election! We are looking forward to helping with the plans for the reimagined Northfield High School where your children will be the recipients! You will be invited to have a voice in this process in the very near future. Stay tuned to communication from Dr. Hillmann.
Thankful for you....
MS Parents,
We like to find ways to show appreciation for our staff members. Something new this year is giving parents and students the opportunity to send a virtual thank you. We are collecting small notes of gratitude for our staff. If you'd like to send a thank you note or a note of gratitude for one/some/all of your teachers, educational assistants, custodial staff, nurse, media center specialist, administration, and/or student support team, please fill out this Google form. We will collect these notes, print them and share them with our staff the week of Thanksgiving.
Veteran's Day Program
The middle school will be hosting their annual Veteran's Day Program on Monday, November 11th at 2:00 pm in the auditorium. Families of performers, community members and area veterans are invited to attend this program. Seating will begin at 2:00 pm with a program beginning at 2:10 pm. To live stream the program, please click here.
Benjamin Bus
Benjamin Bus will be sending out alternate stop bus cards to affected families the week of November 4th. They will only send alternate bus stop cards to families that would experience changes if alternate routes were utilized. The cards will include approximate stop times based on a normal school start time but may vary slightly depending on weather/road conditions. Benjamin Bus will communicate.
Bids for Lids
On November 15th Student Council will be hosting a "Bids for Lids" event where students can donate money in order to wear a hat for the day. Proceeds will go towards the program Operation Joy which gives to families in need during the holiday season. The Student Council will match any amount raised, so please join in the fun!
Winter MS Activities
NMS Families,
The middle school offers the following WINTER activities for students in grades 6 – 8. Students do not need a sports physical for any middle school activity. However, if your student wishes to participate in a high school activity, they will need a sports physical completed and on file before they can register. Physicals last for 3 years and can be sent to the middle school nurse, Carol Reed (creed@northfieldschools.org).
Students must be registered before they can participate in any NMS activity. You can get more detailed activity information and complete the registration process by going to our middle school activities website and clicking on the registration button. You will need your student’s ID number, which can be found in Family Access/Skylert under “Other ID.” The student ID will be a nine-digit number. If you need any assistance, please contact Kari Hartwig KHartwig@northfieldschools.org or at 507-663-0680. Game schedules will be posted onto our activity website once they are finalized, which will be the beginning of November. We will also have hard copies available in the main office. Each activity will have a Schoology code for players and parents to join for ALL activity-related communications. We also have an Activities Hotline, 507-645-3559, that is updated daily by 1:00 pm for games/events and any cancellations.
Spelling Bee
All Northfield Middle School students in grades 6-8 are invited to participate in this year’s District Spelling Bee. The first step for your child to participate in the spelling bee is to email Mrs. Cara Holland (cholland@northfieldschools.org) by Friday, November 8, and include the following information: your child’s name, grade level, your preferred email addresses, phone number, your name(s). Students will compete at the District Spelling Bee on Thursday, November 21 at 6:00 pm. The Spelling Bee will be held in the middle school auditorium. Family members are welcome to come watch. The top two student champions will then move on to represent Northfield Middle School in the next level of the Rochester regional spelling bee program. The third place speller will act as an alternative in the event that one of the others can not attend.
Fitness Center
The middle school Fitness Center is opening for business again! If you want to improve your strength, flexibility, & endurance, join your friends in the FC after school. Using the Fitness Center is a great way to get your body tuned up and connect with friends! Please contact Coaches Natalie Amy (namy@northfieldschools.org)
or Paul Stanaway (pstanaway@northfieldschools.org) with any registration questions. Fitness Center runs Mondays-Thursdays, from 3:00-4:30 PM each night. Students can come as many nights per week as their schedule allows. The first day of Fitness Center is Monday, November 11.
Wrestling
Students in grades 6-8 who are interested in wrestling are encouraged to bring their own headgear, wrestling shoes, and water bottle for practices. Practices are Monday through Friday, 3:00 – 4:30 pm. Practices are held in the Auxiliary (small) gym. The first day of practice will be Monday, November 18. The end-of-season conference tournament is Saturday, January 25.
Speech
The Northfield Middle School Speech Team will begin Monday, December 2nd. We are looking for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who would like to improve and practice their speaking and performing abilities. Speech team isn’t really about writing speeches, that is just one of the many categories. Students will also not be giving speeches to a giant audience, but rather a small group of around 10 people in a classroom. Students choose to expressively read literature from 13 different categories which can be funny or serious, just for fun or informative or they could write their own if they want. There really is a category for everyone!! From these categories, members pick one selection to perform throughout the season. One 20 minute practice session each week is required. Practice times are flexible, so students in other school activities are still eligible to participate in speech. The team will have 3 meets on Saturday mornings and 1 meet on a Friday night in January and February. If you are interested, but have questions please contact Ms. Kelly Hebzynski by email (khebzynski@northfieldschools.org) or Schoology. You can also stop by Room 253 or the main office any day after school to get information. Practice begins Monday, December 2.
If you are a 7th or 8th grader interested in boys swimming, girls gymnastics, or Nordic and Alpine ski, please see the high school Sports NGIN website for details.
High School Athletics General Information For Participation and Registration
*High School Sports require a sports physical to be on file.
Questions, contact John Mahal (Activities Director), or Sheryl Docken (Admin. Assistant), at 507-663-0632.
Thank you for reading. We look forward to a great Quarter 2!
Michael O'Keefe
Assistant Principal & Activities Director
Northfield Middle School
(w) 1.507.663.0680
(c) 1.612.998.0436
Ski & Snowboard Club
Join the Northfield Ski & Snowboard Club for six Monday evenings at Welch Village! You will enjoy scenic trails; varied terrain options; and can expect to improve your skills. Beyond the adventure of crushing it out on the snow, club nights are filled with laughter; warm breaks at the lodge; and a supportive team of veteran chaperones. This club makes winter a season to look forward to!
If you are a potential newcomer, and reluctant to join the club, now is your chance to secure a safe and affordable place for learning in our Summit ski lesson program. Using drills and beginner technique, our experienced staff will help you gain confidence in your abilities, thus facilitating a firm foundation from which to enjoy this activity for a lifetime!
For more information, please pick up an informational packet in the main office, or call Community Education at 507.664.3502. Registration will open on December 6th, and close on December 13th. An informational meeting for those new to the club, or interested in learning more, will take place on Monday, November 18th at 7 pm in the Northfield High School Auditorium.
Operation Joy
Happy fall to you all!
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
For more detailed information, please click on the attached flyer.
Spelling Bee
en Español (Google Translate)
Dear Parents/Guardians,
All Northfield Middle School students in grades 6-8 are invited to participate in this year’s District Spelling Bee. This year, we are hosting the district spelling bee earlier to give our champions more time to study for regionals in the new year. Your child received with this letter a packet of words to study. I also recommend downloading the Word Club app for free for a fun way to study.
The first step for your child to participate in the spelling bee is to email Mrs. Holland at cholland@northfieldschools.org. In the email include the following information: your child’s name, grade level, your preferred email addresses, phone number, your name(s).
Students will compete at the District Spelling Bee on November 21st at 6:00 pm. The Spelling Bee will be held in the middle school auditorium. Your child’s family is welcome to come watch.
The top two student champions will then move on to represent Northfield Middle School in the next level of the Rochester regional spelling bee program, which also may include online tests in lieu of in-person spelling bee events. The third place speller will act as an alternative in the event that one of the others can not attend.
Remember, the first step to spelling bee participation is to email Mrs. Holland by November 1st.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions about our school spelling bee program. I look forward to having your child compete to represent our school!
Sincerely,
Cara Holland, Spelling Bee Advisor
Grade 7/8 Choir Field Trip
Friday, December 6th, 2024
This year we are taking a trip to see the musical “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis.
We leave by school bus at approximately 8:40am.
The show is from 10:30am-12:30pm and includes a 15-minute intermission
Bring a sack lunch to eat on the bus and a snack to eat in the lobby at intermission
Students who attend must exhibit exemplary behavior for the entire trip, including no talking during the show and being respectful of all peers.
We will return to school around 2:00pm. Students will attend part of 1st hour and all of 7th hour.
*If a student cannot behave well at school in the weeks leading up to the trip, they will not be permitted to attend. Parents, you will be notified in advance should this occur.*
COST: $20 per attendee, due Friday, November 15th, covers the ticket and transportation. Permission and payment can be made online by going directly to Revtrak, which is the preferred method. Find it linked on the middle school website/field trips. Cash or check payable to NMS along with the permission form will also be accepted and can be turned in to Ms. Bendett.
This Week's Events @ NMS
Bell Schedule/Wednesday One hour Late Start
Monday, November 11: Gold - Day 2
Music Lesson Day 6
- Veteran's Day Event, 2:00 pm, NMS Auditorium
- MSYC, 3:00 pm, Room 153
- Math League, 3:00 pm
- Fitness Center, 3:00 pm
Tuesday, November 12: Maroon - Day 1
Music Lesson Day 7
Grade 7 Vision & Hearing
MSYC, 3:00 pm, Room 153
Knowledge Bowl practice, 3:00 pm
Fitness Center, 3:00 pm
Informational Speech Meeting, 3:00 pm, Room 253
Wednesday, November 13: Gold - Day 2
Music Lesson Day 8
- One hour late start, 8:57 am
- MSYC, 3:00 pm, Room 153
- Fitness Center, 3:00 pm
Thursday, November 14: Maroon - Day 1
Music Lesson Day 1
- Student Council Meeting, 7:15 am
- Knowledge Bowl meet, bus leaves 7:57 am
- MSYC, 3:00 pm, Room 153
- Knowledge Bowl, Room 171, 3:00 pm
- Fitness Center, 3:00 pm
Friday, November 15: Gold - Day 2
Music Lesson Day 2
- Grade 6 Fur Trade Presentation
- Bids for Lids, Student Council Fundraiser
- Chamber Orchestra, 3:00 pm
Upcoming Middle School Events
November 11 - Veteran's Day Event, 2:00 pm
November 11 - Fitness Center, 3:00 pm, students must be registered
November 12 - Grade 7 Vision & Hearing
November 12 - Speech Informational meeting, Room 253, 3:00 pm
November 15 - Grade 6 Fur Trade Presentation, NMS Auditorium
November 18 - WEB Leader meeting, (last 10 minutes of C lunch)
November 18 - NMS Wrestling begins, students must be registered
November 19 - Duck Cup Presentation
November 19 - Fire Drill
November 20 - WEB Lunch (B lunch)
November 21 - NMS Spelling Bee
November 22 - Grade 7 Gov't Field Trip
November 22 - MS Student Council Dance, 3:00 - 5:00 pm (Cost of gate fee is $5.00; food and pop are available for purchase throughout the dance.)
November 25 - School Board Meeting, District Office, 6:00 pm
November 27 - Online Learning Day (e-learning day rehearsal)
November 28 & 29 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
Tutoring Hotline
Tutoring Hotline is a volunteer program that matches Carleton volunteers with Rice County students of all ages in need of free, one-on-one academic assistance in any subject. Our program supports students who already have a set curriculum; our tutors are not equipped to assign new content. Approved tutors sign up for specific tutoring requests depending on their academic interests and availability and will meet with students for about one hour, once a week in a public location or via Zoom. Tutoring sessions are individualized to the student’s needs and may include review of concepts learned in school, preparation for upcoming tests, help with homework, etc.
Helpful Numbers & Links
Activities Hotline
507-645-3559
Attendance Line
507-663-0655
Benjamin Bus
507-645-5720
NMS Main Office
507-663-0650
NMS Office Hours
7:15 am - 3:45 pm
Nurse
507-663-0656
School Fax #
507-663-0660
Student Support Office
507-663-0664
Student Support Team
Our School Counselors are available to assist families with class schedules and questions you may have:
Jenny Streefland - student last name A-H
Natalie Amy - student last name I-P
Cori Yamry - student last name Q-Z
NMS Administrators
Connect with Greg Gelineau
Email: ggelineau@northfieldschools.org
Location: Northfield Middle School, Division Street South, Northfield, MN, USA
Phone: 507-663-0650
Connect with Michael O'Keefe
Email: mokeefe@northfieldschools.org
Location: Northfield Middle School, Division Street South, Northfield, MN, USA
Phone: 507-663-0650