Northfield Middle School teacher Katrina Meehan said a group may return in the fall to remove more of the non-native plants, whose growth has a negative effect on ecosystems. Last fall, Meehan and her colleague Amy Allin taught the students to recognize the invasive species, engaging them in a long-term restoration project at Carleton College Cowling Arboretum.

“For the past several years, we’ve worked with Arboretum Director Nancy Braker to remove Buckthorn in the arb,” Meehan said. “After studying plants and flower structure, we also return each spring to look at the wildflowers in our nature journaling curriculum. This way students can see the connection between removing Buckthorn, (which leafs out early and blocks sunlight,) and an increase in the native plant population.”

Middle school students, teachers and parents cleared Buckthorn from Sibley Marsh and Prairie on May 10.

Service learning projects, such as the restoration work, have been incorporated in instruction throughout the district to enrich academics.

“We try to connect our curriculum to our community,” Meehan said. “It gives students a variety of ways to learn.”

In the junior group exhibit, Rikka Zilmer and Jenna Olien received honorable mention for their project, “Medtronic: A Turning Point in Medical History.” Topical prizes were awarded to Theo Ash, for “The Corps of Discovery: The Journey of Lewis and Clark,” and Caroline Pritchard, for “The Andrew Sisters: Voices of an Era, Loved for Generations.”

All participating Northfield students included: Theo Ash, Erin Gunn and Addie Monroe with individual performances; Kate Adams & Claire Neilsen, Logan Bornick & Jake Valek, Madelyn Hessian & Elsa Hoff, Grace Hillmann & Abigail Borene, and Samuel Temple & Elijah Leer in group performances; Celia Meagher with an individual documentary; Lia Pak, Danny Gill, Josh Bisel, and Caroline Pritchard with individual exhibits; and Rikka Zillmer & Jenna Olien with a group exhibit.

History day competitions in Minnesota typically involve four levels of competition; from school fairs up to the national level. National History Day in Minnesota is sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the University of Minnesota, Department of History.

In conjunction with the 6th Annual Mother’s Day Book Sale in the media center, the middle school will be offering a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.

The fiesta will include local groups performing traditional Mexican music and dance, Loteria (Mexican-style bingo) and a potluck buffet for those who choose to participate. At the book sale, students will be able to purchase books and gift items for Mother’s Day using their Tattered Pages coupons.

The Northfield Middle School Choir concert will follow these events, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Please call 507.663.0650 for more information. All three events have been rescheduled from their originally planned date of May 2.

The following students have been recognized by the faculty of Northfield Middle School as the March Students of the Month:  (From left to right in photo) row one: Luis Calvario, Anna Stegman, Jason Woitalla; row two: Noah Miller, Zeke Vanderwood, Lizzy Wager, Izzy Hessian, row three: Dylan Olson, Andrea Thurnheer, Jacob Halvorson.

All items in The Tattered Pages store are purchased by students with coupons rather than real currency. The coupons are earned by students for donating books, working in the store, volunteering for school service projects, or by excelling at school.The annual Mother’s Day Book Sale provides an opportunity for students to purchase gifts for the women in their lives without spending a dime. The evening will include free gift-wrapping, food, music, dance performances and crafts.

Students who wish to purchase new items with real money will have the opportunity to shop at the Scholastic Bookfair, held in the media center on the same dates. Bookfair products will be offered two for the price of one during the spring sale.

Donations can be dropped off at the Northfield Middle School. Call the media center at 507.663.0677 to arrange for pick-up of large items.

The agenda will include:

Student Placement:  The process by which students are placed on 6th grade teams and into courses will be described.
WEB Orientation Event:  Everything that parents need to know about WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) will be previewed.
Student Responsibilities:  A quick overview of what to expect during the middle years will be presented: homework, base teachers, lockers and more.
Math Placement: A middle school math teacher will review the math curriculum and course pathways. For more math placement information click here.
Miscellaneous: Activities, music and co-curricular programs will be highlighted.
Parent Volunteers: Our volunteer coordinator will share the process for visiting and volunteering at the middle school.
New this year, students are invited to attend. Students will get building tours and information about 6th grade.