Bridgewater Bear Tracks
Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Try Your Best
Picture Day
A photographer from Strawbridge Studios will be at Bridgewater on Tuesday, September 26 for our fall picture day! Click here to order online - click "Order Pictures" and enter code FM424809. Click here to sign up for updates on promotions, additional deals, and ordering at a later date. When entering your student's information, please enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.
Safety Drill Notification
Our school will conduct a “Duck and Cover” lockdown drill on Monday, September 25th at 8:50 a.m. This drill is intended to prepare students and staff to respond to the exceedingly rare circumstance when an intruder enters the school. The drill includes teachers locking their classroom doors, shutting off all lights, moving people away from windows and doors, instructing students to remain silent, and instructing students to remain out of sight.
Minnesota Statute 121A.038 permits parents to opt their student(s) out of this type of required safety drill. If you would like to opt your student out of the drill, please notify your student's teacher and me. You can pick your student(s) up 30 minutes prior to the start of the drill and return them 30 minutes after the drill is completed. This absence will be excused and no adverse action will be taken due to their absence.
If your student has experienced violence or trauma that this drill might reactivate, please notify your student's teacher and me.
Again, these required drills aim to help students and staff know how to respond in an emergency situation. These are skills we hope are never needed.
Homecoming
Tonight is Homecoming! The Raider football team will be playing the Owatonna Huskies at 7:00 p.m. The elementary students did a great job at the last home game, and it would be great to see the same happen at all home games. Just a simple reminder that students need to be accompanied by an adult, and that adult is responsible for supervising while at the game. Go Raiders!!
Lunch With Students--Reminders
We are happy to have you join your child for lunch. Remember that you are welcome to dine with your child/children and two friends maximum. We also appreciate when you help to clean up the space when you are done since we are busy with the rest of the students. If you bring items to share with your child, please make sure that it is just for your child, not the other students due to food allergies. Thank you!
Northfield Raider Volleyball Youth Night-Tues. Sept. 26th @ 7 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 26th at 7:00 pm is Nfld. Raider Volleyball Youth Night at Northfield High School. Come cheer on Coach Larson and the Raiders as they take on Rochester John Marshall! There will be a serving contest after the match for candy and prizes. Raider Rookie and Raider Rally Campers who wear their Northfield Volleyball Camp shirt will get in for Free! Adults will be charged admission.
Attendance Line
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!
Change of Plans
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.
Late Picking Up Students
Please call the Bridgewater Office (507-664-3300) if you will be late to pick up your child at the end of the school day. Late is arriving after 3:35. We do our very best to be understanding, and yet we have work to complete in the after hours so we may also go home. It is disheartening to have children waiting in the office after 4:00 with no phone call, an apology or a simple thank you. It isn't fair to your child. Just know that we will never blame your child for your lateness, and we will keep them safe.
Bike Riders
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.
Drop-In Bilingual Homework Help
Drop-in Bilingual Homework Help started this week at Northfield Public Library. Tutoring/homework help is available Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00 pm for K through 12th grade students.
Tips For Having a Good School Year
Here are six tips to make this year the best that it can be:
1. Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep at night.
2. Communicate with your child's teacher.
3. Be positive about the school experience and staff.
4. Ask your child about the best part of his/her day.
5. Expect minor glitches at the beginning of the school year; it takes time to get the routine in place.
6. Speak up if you see or hear something that is questionable; we are all responsible for making school a safe environment.
Who is Mrs. Antoine?
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 17th year at Bridgewater as the principal. Previously, 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 adult children, Chris and Jen. My mother, Muriel Lyght, has also lived with us for the past twenty-six years. My son Chris graduated from St. Cloud State University where he also played on the football team. He is currently working in St. Paul as an associate account executive for the St. Paul Arena Company, owners of the Xcel Energy Center, the River Centre, MN Wild, and the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Jen also graduated from St. Cloud State, and is working at an elementary school in St. Cloud and a daycare in Sartell. 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 on 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. The picture is my son and me at a MN Lynx game!
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/
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/
