Bridgewater Bear Tracks

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.

Next week is Homecoming Week! The high school band, cheerleaders, homecoming royalty and others will be joining us on Wednesday morning to share their school spirit. We invite our students to wear their maroon & gold or BW blue for this event. Go Raiders!!

We are happy to have you join your child for lunch. Thank you for giving 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!

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/)

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!

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.

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.

Are you curious about Cub Scouts? Join us for our Potluck Kick Off on Sunday September 17th from 4:30-6:30 PM at the Spring Creek soccer field pavilion! Cub Scouts welcomes all children grades K-5 and offers age appropriate programming year round. Meet new people, go camping, hiking, and learn new life skills! For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pack300nfld or email pack300nfld@gmail.com. Ready to register? visit www.adventureiscalling.org/join/Pack-9300

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 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.

https://www.facebook.com/northfieldpubliclibrary/posts/pfbid02FvGgco6cQrjcVXCFqxqTCMFPt3A6hFgTBtYTkCH8uSVGxHadBZbJY3QbJTfVLVe5l

Next Thursday, Sept. 21st, during Third Thursdays Downtown, we have two musical acts that students and families are sure to enjoy. Lewis and Dan and the Invisible Band will be performing from 5-6pm and we will have Mariachi Alma De Mexico performing from 6:30-8pm to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a free event put on by the Friends of Downtown Northfield and the Riverwalk Market Fair.

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.

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!

For more information and to register, visit our website or connect with our Member Services team in person or by phone: 507-645-0088

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. 21---Vision & Hearing Screening

Sept. 26--School Picture Day

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

Oct. 19-22 MEA-No School for Students

Nov. 21---Grandparent's Day

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