Bridgewater Bear Tracks

We had a wonderful Veterans Day Program today!! Bridgewater students and staff did an amazing job of honoring our Veterans with presentations, songs, and a slide show. We want our Veterans to know that we will never forget the service they have provided to allow us the freedoms we have in our country! We had a house full of Veterans and guests this morning, and the many men and women in uniform let our students know that our Veterans are living among us and their entire family sacrifices for us. Thank you Veterans for your service to our city, state and country! We are free because of the brave service people!

Link for the Veterans Day slideshow: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b9im3AmF2UOv4U8Cvf_GW-xmeq9d870N/view?usp=sharing

Dates & Times:

Monday, Nov. 13---9:00-6:00

Tuesday, Nov. 14---9:00-5:00

Wednesday, Nov. 15 --- 9:00-5:00

Location: Commons

Thank you to all of the parents for volunteering! We could still use a few more - if you would like to help next week please click here to see and sign up for open slots.

~ Bridgewater Booster Club

This Sunday, November 12, the St. Olaf Orchestra is performing their annual Family Concert at 3:30pm in Boe Memorial Chapel at St. Olaf College! The St. Olaf Orchestra, conducted by Chung Park, presents a family concert. Widely recognized s one of the finest undergraduate orchestras in the United States, the St. Olaf Orchestra has been featured on NPR and PBS and was the 2013 and 2019 winner of the American Prize in Orchestral Performance.

This concert is open to the public and free of charge!

Nov. 22-26 is Thanksgiving Break with no school for students and staff.

Please know that most elementary students do not need a cell phone or a Smart watch. Cell phones and Smart watches need to be kept in a child's backpack in their locker during school hours. Students are not to be calling parents during the school day. We will always get a message to your child when needed.

Also, students may want you to believe that ALL of their friends have a phone; this is not the case. Please teach your child how to block people who are not being appropriate as well. If your child does not use their phone appropriately, please know that you can take it away. You pay for the phone, so you can take it away. You can always blame me if you need to.

We are very short on elastic waist pants for boys sizes 6-10. We could also use girls leggings. Thank you in advance!

Our lost and found is getting quite full! Please have your children check for any missing items. Also, as you come in for any reason, you may also take a look at the rack on your way in or out. Anything not picked up will be donated over winter break.

One of our goals is to engage parents in your child's learning experience at Bridgewater. This fall, we will be holding morning grade level parent meetings in lieu of fall conferences. Please know that you are still welcome to meet with teachers if you wish to do so; just contact them. At these meetings, we will focus on social-emotional learning and tips for supporting literacy in the home. I want you to get these dates on your calendar, and will send out a separate invite before each event happens. The time-frame for each will be 7:35-8:10 a.m. and each event will be in the Media Center. Here are the dates:

Friday, November 17th - 2nd Grade

Friday, December 1st - 1st Grade

Friday, December 8th-Kindergarten

We will be celebrating Grandparents/Special Person Day on Tuesday, November 21st. You will receive information from your child’s teacher regarding the specific times and activities. We will provide coffee in the commons area for our special guests. The parking lot will be full, and we will allow grandparents to park in the parking lots, the fire lane and the bus loop as long as cars are moved by 3:15 pm, in time for dismissal. Please don’t forget to notify your child’s teacher if you are allowing grandpa, grandma or special person to take your child home with them; we cannot allow them to go without your permission.

K - 9:00-10:00

1st Grade - 2:00-2:30

2nd Grade - 8:30-9:00

3rd Grade - 2:30-3:00

4th Grade - 10:00-10:30

5th Grade - 12:00-12:30

The holidays and winter break will be here before we know it! We want to spotlight a handful of

offerings for families and students that are great ways to celebrate the most wonderful time of the

year:

Parent’s Night Out: Friday, December 8th , 5:30 – 8:00 PM

o On Friday, December 8th , the Y is hosting a brand-new, special program: Parent’s

Night Out! This program is an amazing chance for parents to get some holiday

shopping done, wrap gifts, go out to dinner with friends, or just have a few hours

of time to themselves! The Y will provide snacks and lead the kids through a

variety of age-appropriate activities, games, and crafts.

Jingle Bell Bash: Saturday, December 16th , 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

o Families and kids of all ages are welcome to join us at the Northfield Y for our

Jingle Bell Bash, a day dedicated to celebrating the winter season and being

together! The Northfield Y will be hosting a Jingle Bell run, Cookie Decorating,

holiday-themed activities in the gym, and more! Families are encouraged to

explore, eat snacks, and participate in all planned activities. Registration is

required for the Jingle Bell 5K, but the Jingle Bell Bash is free to enter!

School’s Out Days: Thursday, December 28th and Friday, December 29th

o Looking for a spot for your students to hang out after the holidays are all wrapped

up? At the Northfield Y, all students grades K-5 are welcome at our School’s Out

Days, a program full of swimming, crafts, gym-time activities, time playing in the

snow, and more! This program is an excellent care option for busy or working

parents when your kids are looking for things to do over the long break!

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 soon!

Operation Joy, a community-wide gift sharing program of Community Action Center (CAC), is set to take place on Wednesday, December 6, 2023! Through the generosity of hundreds of individual donors and dedicated volunteers, approximately 1,000 Northfield area children from 350 households will receive gifts through Operation Joy this year. Gifts are available for children birth through age 18 who may be needing additional support this holiday season. Both registration and monetary donations are appreciated by Friday, November 17. Fleece-tied blankets and wrapping paper supplies should be dropped off on Tuesday, December 5.

If you would like to receive support this holiday, please register:

>> online: visit communityactioncenter.org/operation-joy

>> in person at

Community Action Center

1651 Jefferson Parkway

Northfield, MN 55057

If you would like to support Operation Joy, donations can be made in the following ways:

>> online: visit communityactioncenter.org/operation-joy

>> mail: send a check directly to:

Community Action Center

℅ Operation Joy

1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200

Northfield, MN 55057

For more information about Operation Joy, please visit: communityactioncenter.org/operation-joy. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Percy via email at percy.lisa@communityactioncenter.org or phone at 507.350.2903.

Just a reminder that next Saturday, November 19 there will be a John Prine Tribute show that will benefit the Northfield Fine Arts Boosters and it’s going to be outstanding!

What: John Prine Tribute to benefit the Northfield Fine Arts Boosters

Where: Armory Square Northfield

When: Saturday, November 19th

$10 suggested donation and all proceeds from admission go to support the Northfield Fine Arts Boosters.

This is going to be a great show featuring 2 dozen Northfield Musicians including:

NHS students Grace Ryden, Iris Harmelink, Maren Coudret, Emmett Norrie, Caroline Brice, Northfield Community Members Barb Piper, Jerry Johnson, Ray Coudret and his band Fred the Bear, Reid Hendershot, Brianna Lane and the Bratlanders, Mark and Ari Ross.

Attached are the lunch menus for November.

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/

Nov. 13-15---Book Fair

Nov. 14---BBC Meeting-6:00 pm BW Media Center

Nov. 17---2nd Grade Parent Breakfast

Nov. 17---BBC Spirit Day-Inside Out

Nov. 21---Grandparent's Day

Nov. 22-26---Thanksgiving Break, No School for Students

Dec. 1st----1st Grade Parent Breakfast

Dec. 8th---Kindergarten Parent Breakfast

Dec. 15---1st Grade Field Trip to the Children's Theater

Dec. 19---Gingerbread House Day-Kindergarten

Dec. 21---BBC Spirit Day: Hat & PJ

Dec. 22-Jan. 1---Winter Break

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/

Email: nantoine@northfieldschools.org