Bridgewater Bear Tracks

Tonight is the second home football game, and elementary students are more than welcome to attend. Students are encouraged to come to watch the game, and not run around causing problems for others. Usually, Bridgewater students have done a pretty good job of being good fans, but a reminder is always helpful. Fans will not be allowed to bring in backpacks, footballs, soccer balls, or other throwable items or outside beverages into the stadium for football and soccer games. When all children are supervised by parents, everyone can enjoy the event. Go Raiders!!

School Pictures are scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 27th during the school day. Picture packets will be sent home with students. Online orders may be done by going to www.strawbridge.net and using the code FM387945.

The Social Skills Improvement System Brief + Mental Health Scales (SSIS SEL screener) is a short screener that is completed by a student (grades 3-12), or their teacher (grades K-2). The screener takes between 5 and 8 minutes to complete, and will be given during the time of Oct. 3-14. The focus of the scales is a student’s social emotional learning (SEL) (including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making) and emotional behavioral concern (internalizing and externalizing). The purpose of this online screener is to identify areas of strength and emotional behavioral concerns in students. This will help inform teachers and school leaders in planning Social Emotional Learning (SEL) instructional and programmatic supports for students.

English Opt-out form link

El Resumen del Sistema de Mejoramiento de Habilidades Sociales + Escalas de Salud Mental (evaluación SSIS SEL) es una evaluación breve que completa un estudiante (grados 3-12) o su maestro (grados K-2). El filtro tarda entre 5 y 8 minutos en completarse. El enfoque de las escalas es el aprendizaje socioemocional (SEL) de un estudiante (que incluye la autoconciencia, la autogestión, la conciencia social, las habilidades para relacionarse y la toma de decisiones responsable) y la preocupación por el comportamiento emocional (internalización y externalización). El propósito de esta evaluación en línea es identificar áreas de fortaleza y preocupaciones de comportamiento emocional en los estudiantes. Esto ayudará a informar a los maestros y líderes escolares en la planificación de apoyos programáticos e instructivos de aprendizaje socioemocional (SEL, por sus siglas en inglés) para los estudiantes.

Spanish Opt-out form link

Welcome back to school, and the return of the BBC Spirit Day. This is a mini fundraising activity sponsored by the Bridgewater Booster Club which allows students to wear hats and clothing to align with a special theme or pajamas. Recommended donation of $1 to wear a hat, $1 for themed clothing, $2 for both.

September's Spirit Day is hat and pajama day. Get cozy and comfy in your favorite pair of PJs and hat on Friday, September 30th. Money should be turned into student’s classroom teacher. 100% of all money collected will be evenly redistributed to teachers for the purchase of items needed in their classrooms.

Please call the Bridgewater attendance line if your child is going to be absent from school. This number can be accessed 24 hours a day. 507-664-3306 is the number and this is at the top of your Bridgewater magnet that you received at your Family Conference. We will place a phone call to families that we don’t hear from by the morning; this is done for the sake of safety. Thank you for your help!

It is always best when you establish a consistent routine with your child to follow at the end of each school day. If you have a change in plans, please send a note with your child just in case there is a guest teacher that day. During the day, calls may be made to the Bridgewater Office; please don't rely on sending an email to your child's teacher after noon as teachers don't always have time to check email while they are teaching. Please call before 2:30. If a student does not have a note, they will be sent on their normal route.

Please send your child with a bike lock to lock their bike when they ride their bike to school. We have had some bikes stolen in the past, and this is not what I want for your child. Better to be safe. I would appreciate students parking at the larger bike racks on the flagpole side of the building. Bike helmets are also highly recommended.

As you have seen from Dr. Hillmann's family updates, the district is asking voters to renew and expand our existing capital projects levy. The vote is in conjunction with the general election on Nov. 8, 2022.

Please visit https://northfieldschools.org/cpl for more details.

Hello Bridgewater Families! Here is your newest update from Community School news! We have finished coordinating our after school programs and I am happy to share the schedule and club descriptions! The live links to sign-up for clubs will go out next week, so you will want to make sure your child(ren) are pre-registered for Community School!

Click here for Club Schedule (Live Links next week)

Click here for Club descriptions

En Español:

Click aquí por las descripciones de clubs.

Register for Community School

If you haven't already pre-registered, please do so using this link.

*Familiies who have pre-registered will get an email to sign-up for after school clubs, and space will be limited. The after-school CS club sign-up sheet will be sent out early next week!

BW Community School programming will start on Monday, October 3rd! Keep in mind that we will offer clubs, Monday through Thursday from 3:15-4:45pm and on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm. Our evening session will also incorporate some adult and family programs. Stay tuned for the evening schedule!

Community School Open Houses

BW Community School open houses have been so fun! Families came to learn more about what we will be offering after school and in the evenings, they pre-registered, and received a sweet treat!

The last Open House is Wednesday; September 28, 2022 (5:30-7pm) 4th and 5th Grade Families.

• Please make sure your student is bringing the correct footwear to school

• If your student wears alternative footwear such as sandals, please remind them they need to be responsible and change their shoes when the teacher reminds them of specials! :)

• Additional shoe donations in Kindergarten - second grade sizes are greatly appreciated!

• If you need assistance with getting PE appropriate shoes, please contact us! We will gladly help. smccabe@northfieldschools.org; pbernhard@northfieldschools.org

• We sent home cardboard shoes with Kindergarten and first grade students - we would love your student to work at home at mastering the skill and then bring their shoe back to school to be admitted into the “BW Shoe Tying Club”

• Shoe Tying Tips

I thought I would take a moment again this year to share a little bit about myself so that you may get to know me better. I am originally from a small town on the North Shore, Lutsen, MN. I graduated from Cook County High School, and had the pleasure of seeing Lake Superior every day on my ride to and from school on the bus! This is my 16th year at Bridgewater as the principal. I was a head principal for five years in Worthington. I am also an adjunct professor for Concordia St. Paul preparing teachers to become administrators. I am married to my husband Doug and we have two children, Chris and Jen. My mother, Muriel Lyght, has also lived with us for the past twenty-five years. My son Chris graduated from St. Cloud State University, and is working as an account executive for the MN Timberwolves and Lynx. Jen is a senior at St. Cloud State, and is majoring in early childhood education with a minor in special education. It seems like just yesterday when they were students at Bridgewater, and I am very proud of them.

I also stay busy professionally trying to stay current across the state and nation. I am a Past-President of the MN Elementary Principals’ Association and serve as the chair of the Board of School Administrators. I was also asked to represent seven states on the NAESP National Racial Equity Task Force. I have learned so much through all of these experiences and it is great to see what happens in other school districts across the country.

I thoroughly enjoy working with students, staff and families, and try my best to learn the names of all the students. I cannot imagine not being around children; they are such great gifts and bring happiness with lots of energy! I am also a huge sports fan and that is why you may see me at many local sporting events when they are in session.

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/

Sept. 27th---Picture Day

Sept. 30---5th Grade Field Trip to FarmAmerica

Oct. 5 & 6---STEAM Arcade

Oct. 10---Fire Prevention for grades K-3

Oct. 11th---BBC Meeting 6:00-7:00, Media Center

Oct. 14---Vision & Hearing Re-screening

Oct. 18---5K for fifth-grade students; parents welcome to participate and/or watch

Oct. 20-23---MEA Break, No School for Students

Nov. 10-16---Book Fair

World-Class Learning for Elementary Students K-5 Bridgewater Elementary School, situated on a 14-acrd campus just south of downtown Northfield, is a K-5 public school serving approximately 530 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.

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