Deaundre LeBeaux has been chosen as the BW Student of the Week this month. Deaundre demonstrates the BW Way every day {Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, & Do Your Best}. He comes to school ready to learn every day, asks good questions, participates in class discussions, and always works hard. Deaundre consistently helps out his classmates (and teachers), and takes responsibility for himself. His strength of character has not gone unnoticed by his peers, as they nominated him to be a Student Council representative this year! He is a joy to have in class!

Our first-graders went to the Children's Theater Company today. We are very thankful for all of the volunteers who helped make this field trip such a success! We also received numerous compliments on the role model behaviors of our students!! This shows how well our students apply their learning to other situations. This also speaks to the great job that our parents do to teach their children to conduct themselves when away from home! I am very proud of our BW students!!

In 2022-23 District Family Updates No. 9 and 10, the district asked families for feedback about the changes it is implementing in its family engagement plan. Thanks to families who have submitted responses so far. We want to hear from you to help us continuously improve our communication with you about your students. The survey will remain open through Dec. 20 at 5 pm. You can complete one survey for each of your students here.

This year instead of collecting gifts for Operation Joy our BW Student Council will be holding a coin drive to raise money to support local families. Students are welcome to bring in coins any morning and drop them off in the commons Dec. 12-22. Last year we raised over $700! Thank you for your coins and for helping our community!

Operation Joy Coin Drive

Students may drop off coins in the Commons

every morning to help

Operation Joy

Dec. 12th -22nd

Thank you for your generosity!

BW Student Council

• This week Natalie Graham in 4th grade was nominated for the possible shot because of her enthusiastic and positive attitude during our winter themed tag game. Natalie was able to make the shot on her second attempt! Nice job Natalie!!

• Please make sure your student is bringing their tennis shoes with them to school. Snow boots will leave marks on the gym floor and can increase risk of injuries. We do not have enough shoes to change into for the number of students wearing boots. Thank you!!

This is the fifth year Bridgewater Physical Education classes grades 3-5 will be participating in our roller-skating unit 1/11/2023-1/20/2023. 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. All permission and payment will be done online. Please use the QR code or link for payment and permission or sign and return form below. If you don’t have access to the internet or have trouble with the link please send the bottom part of the permission slip back with your student with the $7.00 payment.

December's BBC Spirit Day is FESTIVE themed! Xmas PJs, ugly sweaters, your holiday pageant costume, elf hat, etc. Recommended donation of $1 to wear a hat, $1 for themed clothing, $2 for both. 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.

Thank you for all of the donated winter clothing items!

We are seeing a higher number of students out due to illness. The most common diagnoses are influenza A , strep throat and RSV. We don’t like to encourage students to stay home longer than needed, but we are seeing secondary infections and relapses when students return to school before they are well enough.

Here are some guidelines to help with your decision if you are not sure whether you should send your child to school:

• If your student has had a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours

• If your child has vomited within the past 24 hours

• If having your student at school would significantly put others at risk for catching your student’s illness

• If your student will not be able to participate or focus on academics

If you have questions about when to send your child to school, please call our school nurse. Thank you for cooperating to keep our students healthy at Bridgewater Elementary.

December is usually a month filled with music. Our fourth and fifth graders have been practicing for their performances. The 4th & 5th grade Orchestras will perform on Dec. 20th at the Middle School Auditorium at 7 pm. I hope you get the chance to hear them!

Some of you have received an attendance letter due to your child being tardy or absent from school. Please know that these are form letters generated by Skyward system. Our main objective is to let you know how many days your child has be late or absent from school; these days can add up quickly and we want your child in school when they are well enough to attend. You are always welcome to call if you have any questions or concerns.

Winter Break is December 23-Jan 2nd with no school for students and staff. The Bridgewater Office will also be closed. Please remind your child to bring home their winter gear over break so they can play outside.

Morning drop-off is a busy time, as many of you know. There is a lot going on, especially with the addition of ice and snow. Please make sure that you stay in the car line, pull ahead to drop off your child, and continue on your way. Don't park and walk across the parking lot or send your children running across the parking lot. You may park if you have a meeting to attend. Please do not drop your child off on Jefferson Parkway either; this blocks traffic and is unsafe. Please help us keep your child safe. Thank you very much!

Hello Families!

Session Two Update:

The second session of Community School will begin on January 3rd, 2023! We will have brand new club options that we think students will love. Click the link to register for the second session!

After School Programs:

**We WILL have after school programs next week, just like a regular week.**

We want to hear from you! Please take a moment and complete our survey for our after school programs! You will also be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift card for completing the survey! English survey and Spanish survey here. Submit your responses by Dec. 21 to enter into the drawing!

This week's highlights were how students in the Clay Club made the cutest little snowmen (see pictures below) and in Care Club, our friends from FiftyNorth came to do magic tricks and make holiday crafts with us!

Evening Program:

There will no NO evening Programs next week. We will resume our evening programs on January 4, 2023!

Thank you to everyone who came to our Holiday Party on Wednesday! We had a lot of fun with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the music and dance performers did such a great job!

We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season and happy new year!

As always, please follow us on Facebook here for Community School updates and pictures!

Jenny Jones

Northfield Community School

Program Coordinator

Bridgewater Elementary

401 Jefferson Parkway

Northfield, MN 55057

Cell: 612-709-9244

Office: 507-664-3359

Email: jjones@northfieldschools.org

Pronouns: she/her/ella

Hablo Español

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/

Dec. 20---Kindergarten Gingerbread House Day, 9:00-10:00

Dec. 20---4th & 5th Grade Orchestra Concert, 7 pm @ Nfld Middle School Auditorium

Dec. 22---Holiday Spirit Day

Dec. 23-Jan. 2---Winter Break, No School

Jan. 10---BBC Meeting 6:00-7:00 BW Media Center

Jan 23-27---Winter Family Engagement Window

Feb. 7---4th Grade Works Museum Field Trip

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