Bridgewater Bear Tracks

If you drop your child off at school in the morning or pick them up in the afternoon right after school, please read the next two sections. This does not pertain to dropping off and picking up from Kid Ventures.

Students should arrive no earlier than 8:00 a.m. each day (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays) unless they are eating breakfast. Students arriving for breakfast may be dropped off starting at 7:50. Students will go to the playground for morning recess including those who are finished eating breakfast. Kid Ventures is an option for childcare before and after school; this is fee-based and your child must be registered before they may access this program. We will have staff inside the front door who will help your child find their way to the classroom or to breakfast.

When you pull up into the drop-off lane, please pull ahead as far as you can before letting your child exit your car. If there is a long line, please don't wait until you are directly in front of the door before letting your child out of your car. There is enough space for at least eight cars to drop off at the same time, and children can walk up the sidewalk to the front door or playground.

The end of the day is a busy time. You can only imagine trying to dismiss 565 students at the same time in an organized fashion, making sure students get to the correct place. These are the things that keep me awake at night and give me nightmares. We dismiss at 3:20 pm each day. It is most helpful if you arrive to pick up your child after 3:00 p.m.

As in the past, we will provide you a car-tag for your child. Please write your child's name and grade clearly on this tag, and place it so that it is visible through your windshield. This way you will drive up, we can read your child's name and make sure that your child gets to your car. Please keep your car-tag displayed until your child is in your car. Also, remain in your car and in line. This is similar to a drive through, where you place your order and receive your happy face. Please be patient, alert and courteous. Everyone has a schedule with places to go. We are trying our best! Safety First!

The Bridgewater Booster Club (BBC) is in need of some volunteers to help Nurse Lucy with the annual Hearing & Vision Screening which will be on Thursday, 9/21/2023.

Here is the link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A9AF22A7FDC70-hearing3#/

Please be sure to complete the Volunteer Background Check & Confidentiality Acknowledgment (https://northfieldschools.org/about/volunteer/)

Friday, Sept. 8th is the first home football game with the Raiders taking on the Falcons from Faribault. Our students are welcome to attend the high school events, but must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone can have a great time at the game if all parents supervise their own children, and this includes sitting with your child rather than having them "walk around". Students who buy a ticket for the game and then leave the stadium will need to purchase another ticket to re-enter; plan to stay until you decide to go home. Students in the bleacher areas should not be standing as it blocks the view of others. Balls and other similar objects are not allowed at the game and will be taken away. Throwing any items and other disrespectful behavior will not be allowed. Please come and WATCH the game and cheer on the Raiders!!

We have handicap parking spaces at Bridgewater (as well as in the community) that are strictly for those who have a handicap placard issued by the State of MN. Please don't use these just out of convenience. The handicap buttons at the doors of the school and many other places of business are for use by those who are in a wheelchair or are on crutches. Please help us teach our students not to use these buttons out of convenience. I totally understand using them if your hands are full, but otherwise, no. Thank you!

BW Community School is a free after-school enrichment program available to students attending Northfield Public Schools. Programming includes, but is not limited to: homework help, various clubs and activities to support the academic and social skills students are learning during the traditional school day. In order to participate, parents must complete registration before the student attends for the first time. Please note that space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Programming is from October 2, 2023-May 16, 2024, 3:20-4:40. Bridgewater Registration

Students who live within the walking boundaries should leave home no earlier than 8:05 a.m. each morning. Leaving at this time will keep them out of the way of high school traffic, and this is a safety concern. Crossing guards will be at their post at Raider Drive and Jefferson Parkway in the morning at 8:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays), and at 3:20 p.m. in the afternoon. Students should always cross with the patrols and not at other places on Jefferson Parkway. Please talk to your child about going directly to school in the morning and directly home in the afternoon. We have found several students at the park in the afternoon since they didn't walk directly home.

Visitors are allowed in the building during the school day, and must check in the office. Unfortunately, this does not mean that parents are able to walk children to class. We are doing our very best to keep our students safe, and we will meet them at the front door to make sure they get to the correct room. Thank you for understanding!

Just a reminder that Wednesdays are one-hour late starts. Teachers use this time to meet with their Professional Learning Committees (PLCs). Buses will run one-hour later than usual, and school will begin at 9:20 each Wednesday.

Please note the Snack Cart is offered as a fee-based option for families, and it will start on Monday, Sept. 11th. The form to sign up and pay for Snack Cart is attached below.

Defeat of Jesse James' Days Ambassadors were here this morning to get our students excited for the weekend. Here is the link to find additional DJJD activities for the 75th year celebration: https://www.djjd.org/

The Bridgewater office is open from 7:15-4:00 daily. Most days, Principal Antoine is in the office until around 4:30 pm.

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 are happy to have you join your child for lunch. Please give us two weeks to set the routines for the students before you come in. 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. Thank you for understanding!

We welcome volunteers in our classrooms, and look forward to many smiling faces helping our students and teachers. Teachers will communicate volunteer needs or you can fill out a form to volunteer here. This will include a background check. Thank you in advance for supporting us!

School starts each day at 8:20 a.m. and dismisses at 3:20 p.m. On Wednesdays, students start one hour late at 9:20 a.m. Students are allowed to arrive at 8:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays).

Attached is the lunch menu for September. Students have the option of bringing a cold from home, eating the hot entree, having a cold sandwich or a salad.

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. 12---BBC Meeting-6:00 pm BW Media Center

Sept. 26--School Picture Day

Oct. 10---BBC Meeting-6:00 pm BW Media Center

Oct. 19-22 MEA-No School for Students

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