

Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Try Your Best

January 5, 2024
E-Learning Days
Winter, if it ever gets here, will be cause for a change in format after our first snow day. For e-Learning days, please remember to submit your child's work to the classroom teacher that day or have your child bring their work in the following day. We mark students present or absent based on the completion and submission of their assignments. Please don't let e-Learning days cause you stress; you are welcome to email your child's teacher or me if you have any questions.
Parent Teacher Conferences-January
Teachers will be sending a link to families to sign up for conferences. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher or call the office at 507-664-3300.
Author Visit-Jan. 26th
Author, Erin Soderberg will be coming to Bridgewater on Friday, January 26th to meet our students. "Erin Soderberg Downing has written more than seventy-five books for kids, tweens, and young adults, including Controlled Burn (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and the forthcoming Just Keep Walking (February 2024), a story inspired by a 100-mile hike she took with her son on Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail. She has also written several popular series for young readers: The Great Peach Experiment (a JLG Gold Standard Selection), Puppy Pirates, The Quirks, and Disney's Daring Dreamers Club.
Erin loves reading, swimming, exploring the woods, traveling with her family, and walking around Minneapolis lakes with her fluffy and mischievous dogs, Wally and Nutmeg."
Report Cards
There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 22nd and Tuesday, Jan. 23rd. The last day of the first semester is Jan. 19th, and teachers will be preparing report cards. Report cards will be either distributed during Parent Teacher Conference time (Jan. 23-31) or sent home with students afterward.
2024-2025 Kindergarten Information
February 12 - Kindergarten Tour Night @ 5:30PM, Bridgewater
February 23 - Registration Deadline for Kindergarten (Note: this mailing will arrive next week)
https://northfieldschools.org/about/enrollment/
More information to come!
Roller Skating Unit for Grades 3-5
This is the sixth year Bridgewater Physical Education classes grades 3-5 will be participating in our roller-skating unit 1/10/2024-1/29/2024. This is a very exciting and educational unit that the students participate in. Thanks to the Bridgewater Booster Club, we have enough funds to cover approximately 50% of the cost. We consider this an in-house field trip, and the cost for the unit will be $7.00/Student. This covers skate rental, and any safety equipment. All students will be expected to wear a helmet and wrist guards. We disinfect the helmets, and we encourage students to bring their own. If you have a financial hardship for the cost of the unit, please let Mr. Bernhard or Mrs. McCabe know. Permission and payment will be done online. Please use the link below.
MLK Day-No School for Students and Staff
Monday, January 15th is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There won't be school for staff and students for this national holiday.
MLK Day Thoughts
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.
Upcoming Programs at the Northfield Y
Happy New Year! We want to spotlight a handful of offerings for families and students that are
great ways to celebrate:
Winter 1 Programming: Registration Open NOW! Free Transportation Available!
o Our new slate of youth program offerings is now open for registration! From a
Spanish Language Club to a Basketball Skills Clinic, Volleyball, and more, we
want to see your students participating in afterschool programming at the Y!
There is truly a program that is perfect for every student!
January School’s Out Days: January 15th , 22nd , and 23rd
o Do you want your kids to have fun and stay busy during school breaks? Join us at
the YMCA! All kids in kindergarten - 5th Grade are welcome! Days will be filled
with swimming, games, crafts, sports, friends and more! Program runs from
7:00am - 5:00pm.
Valentine’s Day Dance: February 9th
o Bring your whole family to the Y for a Valentine's Dance filled with music, fun,
family and friends! We will have a photo booth, awesome DJ, snacks and a
Valentine's craft to take home. All Ages Welcome!
For more information and to register, visit our website or connect with our Member Services
team in person or by phone: 507-645-0088. We hope to see you very soon!
Dolly Parton Imagination Library Fundraiser-Jan. 19th
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 19 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.
Teacher Workdays-No School for Students
January 22 & 23 are Teacher Workdays. There is no school for students on those two days.
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
Jan. 15---Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day-No School for Students and Staff
Jan. 19---Dolly Parton Imagination Library Fundraiser-6:30-9:00 pm
Jan. 21---BBC Spirit Day: Jersey/Sports
Jan. 22-23---No School for Students-Teacher Workdays
Jan. 26---Erin Soderberg Downing Author Visit
Feb. 12---Kindergarten Tour Night-5:30 pm
Feb. 15---Choral Festival for 4th & 5th Grade Choir Students
Feb. 19---Professional Development Day-No School for students
Feb. 23---BBC Spirit Day: Book Character
School Calendars 23-24
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 560 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/