Dear Northfield Public Schools Families,
I hope this message finds you well and your family healthy. The COVID-19 global pandemic health crisis has been stressful for us all. Thank you for your continued cooperation and grace as we work to adjust to this change in our daily lives. Governor Walz has ordered school facilities closed through April 30 and has ordered instruction to resume via distance learning. For Northfield students, distance learning begins on March 31, 2020.
Distance Learning Plans
Please pay close attention to our guiding principles. We have developed the initial plans based on a variety of ideas, suggestions, feedback, and collaboration. As we enter this different way of educating children, I ask for your patience and forgiveness. Our staff is working hard to continuously improve our instruction throughout this period of distance learning. We will ask for your feedback as we implement the plan over (at least) the next month. Please contact your school principal with any specific questions about their building’s distance learning plans.
We are dedicated to ensuring 100% connectivity for every student in the school district. Please reference the message I sent on March 24, 2020, about how to receive help in getting Internet access if you do not already have it.
Child Care for Health Care and Emergency Workers
I am proud to announce a partnership between Northfield Public Schools and the Northfield Area YMCA to provide child care for Tier I and Tier II health care and emergency workers.
» Please see this document for additional details about this critical service.
Meals for Children
We will continue to provide meals for child
» Please see this flyer for information about our expanded list of locations to access meals.
Remembering “the why”
The purpose of Governor Walz’s shelter-in-place order and the decision to conduct school via distance learning is to prevent the virus from overwhelming hospitals and reduce the rate of the infection’s spread. There were a total of 235 intensive care unit (ICU) beds across all of Minnesota as of March 25, 2020. By sheltering-in-place, we help slow the spread of the virus and allow our healthcare infrastructure to expand the number of patients they can care for. This is the compelling “why” behind our coming together as a state and doing these difficult things – to save the lives of our friends and neighbors.
Thank You
I have been overwhelmed by the understanding, support, and patience of our parents, staff, students, and community as we have quickly transitioned to an entirely new way of educating our children, providing child care for emergency and health care workers, and delivering meals to children in need. We will get through this global pandemic health crisis together.
Sincerely,
Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools