Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Try Your Best
December 20, 2024
Happy Holidays from the Bridgewater Staff!
Winter Break
Winter Break is December 23rd-Jan 1st with no school for students. The Bridgewater Office will also be closed. Please remind your child to bring home their winter gear over break so they can play outside.
Thank you!
Thank you for entrusting us with your children!! Your children are a delight and I truly enjoy working with them every day! Please know that children need your presence more than all the presents each year; they crave time with their parents and special adults. We can see this daily through our interactions with them. I wish you the very best over this holiday season! Thank you so much!!
A Note from Student Council:
Students worked hard to make blankets for donating to Operation Joy this holiday season!
They turned out great!
SNOW MUCH FUN!!
"Extra Holidays" (Non-screen Activities)
Here is a new and update list of the "extra" holidays for January that might give some good ideas for non-screen related activities to do as families/groups. Whether it's National "Lego" Day or National "Chocolate Cake" Day, get some inspirations for creative ways to spend time at home!
"Way to go!" to our band and orchestra students on their winter concerts!
A Note from Nurse Lucy:
We are in search of more boys XL sweatpants. If you have any that you are getting rid of/your children are growing out of, please consider donating them to the school! Thank you in advance.
Student Illnesses
Around this time of year, we sometimes see a number of students out due to illness. The most common diagnosis right now is strep throat. We don’t like to encourage students to stay home longer than needed, but we also do not want them to return to school before they are well enough.
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.
Attending NHS Events
Our students enjoy attending Northfield High School events including basketball games, hockey games, etc. These events are most fun for everyone when every child is supervised by his/her own parent. Please be mindful of this and do your part to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone. Children should be there to watch the event, not to run around causing a distraction for others. Thank you for understanding!
PE Corner Happenings
As winter months and snow are upon us, please be sure your children have appropriate shoes for physical education with them at school (you can have them leave these shoes at school!). Thank you for helping us take care of our gym floors!
Grades 3-5 will be participating in roller skating January 8-24. All students were sent home with a sheet containing the details for this unit. If you have additional questions, please let one of the Physical Education teachers know! To pay and give your student permission, please click the link HERE. The cost for this in-house field trip is $7. If you need financial assistance, please let us know.
~A Message from the Bridgewater Booster Club~
BBC Open Board Positions
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!
Free Open Gym at Greenvale Park Elementary!
Looking for a fun, active way to spend your time over winter break? Join us for FREE Open Gym at Greenvale Park Elementary!
When: Monday, December 23, 10am - 12pm & Friday, December 27 10am - 12pm
Where: Greenvale Park Elementary School Gym
Who: All Northfield District Students Welcome!
No registration required—just show up and join the fun! Spread the word, and we’ll see you there!
YMCA Programming
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 Parton Imagination Library Fundraiser
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.
January Lunch Menu
The lunch menu for each month will be provided in the newsletter.
Winter Breakfast Menu
Activities
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/
Upcoming Events
Dec. 23-Jan. 1---Winter Break-No school for students
Jan. 14---Bridgewater Booster Club Meeting 6:00-7:00 pm in the BW Media Center
Jan. 20---MLK Day-No School for Students & Staff
Jan. 21 & 22---Teacher Preparation Days-No School for Students
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
School Calendars 24-25
Helpful Numbers and Links
Attendance Line
507-664-3306
Benjamin Bus
507-645-5720
BW Main Office
507-664-3300
Nurse
507-664-3305
Non-Discrimination Statement
Bridgewater Elementary School
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/