As a school community, we are honored to learn from one another and to celebrate the many cultures, histories, and identities that make Northfield such a meaningful place to belong. This month provides an important opportunity to reflect on the strength, wisdom, and contributions of Indigenous communities and to recognize the land and the people who came before us. We are grateful for our students who lead with voice, pride, and purpose; their perspectives enrich our understanding and strengthen who we are together.
For me, Native American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the diversity and depth of Indigenous cultures across the Americas. From Canada all the way south to Argentina, which is known as Turtle Island, every community has its own roots and traditions. The meaning of life and the guidance of our ancestors push me to become the best version of myself for my family and community. I feel the powerful sense of love and passion expressed through dancing, music, and food, which brings communities together as one extended family. Nature is sacred to me, too—Mother Earth gives so much to everyone, though many don’t fully recognize the teachings she offers. The four elements—air, water, earth, and fire—are central to my well-being mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
My mother inspires me to continue my education, and organizations like Colorado Circles for Change have exposed me to many cultures, youth programs, and social justice initiatives. The Mayan teaching of In Lak’ech, which means “you are my other me,” resonates deeply with me because it shows how families, friends, and partners can reflect one another. My culture motivates me to be respectful, self-aware, and to love wholeheartedly, while honoring the lands I live on.
I also want to share that there are many Native communities, locally and beyond, that people should know about. In Colorado, there are the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain tribes, as well as Cheyenne, Arapaho, Apache, and many others. I hope people take the time to understand the faith, balance, and community that guide Indigenous peoples, and to recognize the rich diversity of tribes across the Americas.
Ximena Almaguer
Class of 2026
Three Northfield staff members are helping families get a complete family meal over Fall Break. Brenda Quezada, Family and Community Engagement Specialist and social workers Audrey Harriger and Tyler Maldonado launched a Turkey Drive, collecting donations, assembling meal baskets, and organizing distribution. KCNC News even shared the story! Their next goal is to start a Northfield food pantry for ongoing support.
KCNC-4 (CBS) Website: Denver’s Northfield High School is providing holiday meals to community – CBS Colorado
YouTube Video: Find out how one Denver public school is providing holiday meals to students
We want to sincerely thank our community for coming together to support this effort. Every donation, big or small, helped ensure families in our Northfield community had a complete meal over Fall Break. Your generosity and care made this Turkey Drive a true success—and it’s a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together.
NOTE from DPS – Tasty Food Operating During Break:
Tasty Food will be operating during DPS’ Thanksgiving break (Nov. 24-29) to help ensure that no child or youth goes hungry during their week off.
Please note that all Tasty Food sites will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 in observance of Thanksgiving and Friday, Nov. 28 for the City and County of Denver furloughs. Saturday lunches will still be available for youth on Saturday, Nov. 29.
All youth ages three to 18 are welcome to stop by for a free meal. No ID or registration is required. For more information, visit the Tasty Food website.
The Colorado Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who can speak, read, and write in English and at least one other language. This prestigious honor is added to a student’s transcript, comes with a graduation cord, and is celebrated at a district ceremony—a great way to strengthen college applications and future job opportunities.
How to Earn the Seal:
Important Dates & Resources:
Questions? Contact Reina_Cruz@dpsk12.net
The Northfield tennis program has reopened coaching positions for both boys and girls teams. Families are invited to a brief virtual parent meeting on Tuesday, December 3rd, from 4:15–4:35 p.m. to hear updates and next steps. A meeting link will be shared closer to the date. Thank you for supporting our student-athletes and helping ensure a strong, positive season!
The schedule is also on the calendar on the website.
The DPS SchoolChoice window opens Dec. 2 with students entering ECE, kindergarten, middle school, or high school for the first time. Current Northfield students do not need to submit a SchoolChoice form.
For more details, visit the DPS SchoolChoice website.
Our second and final Open House is Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 6–8 PM in the cafetorium! Prospective families will enjoy student-led tours, a student panel, a short presentation, and time to speak one-on-one with teachers and staff.
As our best ambassadors, we’d love for current families to share this event with friends, neighbors, or anyone interested in learning more about our school. Details online!
Join us virtually on Tuesday, December 10 at 6:00 PM to learn about the exciting educational travel opportunities available to Northfield students. We’ll cover trip details, destinations, and how to enroll.
Bonus: Two scholarships will be awarded to families who attend the meeting and enroll.
Register here: https://rsvp.eftours.com/b2e74f2
Review the senior timeline of events that keep you prepared for graduation!
The Northfield Nighthawks wrapped up their third season of Ultimate Frisbee on November 2nd with fantastic results. The varsity team went 13-8, beating Lafayette to take 5th place in the state, while the JV team finished 17-1, defeating the Fairview Knights to become D-3 State Champions!
Ultimate Frisbee is a club sport at Northfield, meaning it’s student-led and not part of CHSAA, which oversees most traditional high school sports. Even so, the program has grown from just seven players two years ago to over 30 athletes across two teams. Their teamwork, dedication, and passion for the game make Northfield proud—on the field and in the community.
“As we look to the future of Northfield Ultimate, we will continue to believe in ourselves and each other, and focus on our goals of growing the program through perseverance, optimism, and hard work. See you in the Spring! CA-CAW,” Coach Keane Sumner.
DECA gives students the opportunity to develop real-world business, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills while competing in a supportive, challenging environment. The DECA mission is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Recently, 130 Northfield students represented our school at the district competition this week. 35 of them earned the chance to compete at the state level in February, bringing them one step closer to the state-level competition.
Congratulations to the following students:
| Valeriya Andronova | Bridger DeCamp | Allea Guzman | Tatiana Kline-Davila | Lila Rowley | Jonas White |
| Cooper Barr | Larsen DeCamp | Milen Haile | James Lewis | Alison Saarela | Katie Wichern |
| Clara Berget | Demi Dolechek | James Henderson | Margaret Martin | Scarlett Tolan | Brynn Williams |
| Neil Blackburn | Tommy Drinkwin | Vivian Howell | Keegan Mentasti | Cohen Troge Troge | Tate Williams |
| Isabelle Brehm | Owen Fauerbach | Colin Johnson | Addie Murray | Keira Vipani | Will Zhang |
| Katie Casey | Mila Gomochak | Adelaide Kail | Ben Rink | Jason West |
Cheer
Come cheer on your Nighthawks this Saturday, 11/22, as they continue their journey toward the State Championships! Both JV and Varsity have been working incredibly hard to perfect their routines, and they are excited to showcase their progress.
Location: Denver Coliseum
Performance Times:
• JV – 3:12 PM
• Varsity – 7:47 PM
Entry:
• $18 for adults
• $15 for students with a valid ID
Performance details and ticket purchase information can be found at Road to State.
We would love to see the stands filled loud, proud, and supporting your Nighthawks!
POMS
Varsity Poms will compete at the National Dance Alliance regional competition this weekend.
Where: Mountain Vista High School (10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126, USA)
Performance Time Jazz: 11:32 am
Pomformace Times Pom: 4:28 pm
Tickets are available for $20, prior to Saturday. Purchase tickets.
Are you grappling with whether to purchase a smartphone for your child? Are you finding yourself in battles with your child over screen time? Please join professionals and parents from Central Park and Park Hill schools to discuss these challenges and more at the Kids & Tech Community Town Hall.
When: Wednesday, December 3
Time: 6-7:30 PM
Place: Bill Roberts School, 2100 Akron Blvd
Help DPS improve attendance by completing a short, anonymous survey—it only takes 10 minutes! Your input will guide strategies to support students, families, and schools.
Questions? Contact Erin Anderson at erin.anderson249@du.edu
As we gather with family and friends this Fall Break, we wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of the Northfield High School community.
This season of giving is the perfect time to make a difference for our students. We’re working toward our goal of $100,000 to provide scholarships for our seniors, critical needs for many of our students and supplies for our academic and athletic programs. Your contribution would be the perfect way to give back to our community.
What we’re thankful for:
https://www.coloradogives.org/donate/NorthfieldHighSchoolFoundation
Please help us continue providing resources and support for our students. Your generosity truly makes a difference. With your help all of our Nighthawks can fly!
With gratitude, Nighthawk Nation
Looking for holiday gifts this year? Shop at the Northfield POMS Kendra Scott fundraiser and support the team!
20% of sales go back to the Northfield POMS team—so you can give gifts and give back!
Last Week: Driving with your teen? 🎶 75% of families agree: Tunes we both like beat out the “makes-me-feel-old” playlist!
This Week…What is your teen more likely to have for breakfast before taking exams?