Northfield High School is proud to send 182 HOSA (Future Health Professionals) students to the State Leadership Conference, held February 13–15 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. Led by advisors Angela Cannava, Abby Cox, and Jef Brown, our students will compete in various categories ranging from Veterinary Science and Nursing to leadership events like Prepared Speaking and Medical Innovation.
This conference serves HOSA’s mission to inspire future health professionals through competition and hands-on learning. In addition to their events, students will gain real-world experience through “Stop the Bleed” training, suturing clinics, and professional symposiums.
We especially want to recognize our eight Northfield HOSA student officers. Their hard work and dedication have been essential in preparing their peers to represent our school at the state level. Good luck to all our competitors!
Angela Cannava
CTE Biomedical Sciences Teacher
Mr. Kenkel brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the Northfield High School Social Studies Department, helping our youngest Nighthawks navigate the complexities of U.S. History with passion and purpose.
Now in his 16th year in education and his 8th at Northfield, Mr. Kenkel provides a classroom environment built on the belief that learning should be the highlight of a student’s day. His journey toward teaching began at age 13; after spending summers working in a meat-packing plant, he developed a deep appreciation for the sanctuary of the classroom. Today, he translates that passion into engaging lessons that inspire freshmen to become creative problem solvers and effective communicators.
In our U.S. History classrooms, Mr. Kenkel focuses on making the “depressing grind” of traditional rote learning a thing of the past, replacing it with a collaborative environment where students are empowered to discover their own strengths.
“Ryan makes an impact on student engagement because he’s always thinking about innovative ways to draw his students into learning. Whether it’s a skit, a puppet show or a songwriting lesson he makes every day exciting and different.” — Dr. Bonnie Martin, Assistant Principal & Activities Director
Outside of School: When the school day ends, Mr. Kenkel stays active by escaping to the mountains for backpacking adventures or sharing his love for rock ‘n’ roll with his two-year-old.
At Northfield High School, our status as an Innovation School is more than just a designation—it is a strategic tool that allows us to put our resources exactly where they belong: with our students and staff.
One of the most significant advantages of our Innovation Plan is the fiscal autonomy it provides through an “actual salary” budgeting model. This flexibility has allowed Northfield to capture and reinvest an average of $394,065 annually over the past three years.
By retaining these funds directly at the school level, we can make mission-driven decisions that define The Northfield Way:
Our Innovation Plan ensures that every dollar works harder for our community, allowing us to build a sustainable environment where “IB for All” can truly flourish.
Schoology provides the most accurate, live updates on assignments and grades. Use these tips to track and improve performance:
Parent/Guardian Schoology Account
NOTE: Infinite Campus is still the place for transcripts.
Interested in learning more about Northfield’s IB for All academic model? Families of current sophomores are invited to join us for an informational evening focused on our academic programming and how it supports student success.
During this session, we will provide a clear overview of the IB program and how it prepares students for their junior and senior years, as well as for life after graduation.
Date: January 29
Time: 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
Who: Class of 2028 students and their families
Where: Building 1, Cafetorium
What We’ll Explore:
There will be dedicated time for questions at the end of the session.
Review the senior timeline of events that keep you prepared for graduation!
Our Biomedical Science students recently stepped out of the classroom and into the cadaver lab at Red Rocks Community College for a profound, hands-on learning experience. Standing around the dissection table, these students weren’t just looking at a specimen—they were meeting their “first patient.”
This field trip allows our CTE students to move beyond 2D diagrams to see the complex reality of human anatomy, including the unique variations and pathologies that make every body different. We are incredibly proud of the maturity and professional respect our students showed as they explored the intricate systems they’ve spent the year studying. This is more than a field trip; it’s a foundational step in their journey to becoming the next generation of healthcare providers.
Bringing Broadway to McAuliffe
This week, our Musical Theater students had the wonderful opportunity to tour their production of 13 the Musical to McAuliffe International School.
Performing for near peers allows our students to build confidence while sharing a relatable story about growing up, friendship, and fitting in. We are so proud of the hard work this cast has put into this production and grateful to McAuliffe for hosting us!
Class of 2026
1. FINAL CALL: Opportunity to celebrate your Senior ends Feb 1!
This is the final countdown to ensure your graduate’s legacy is captured forever. You have a limited opportunity to:
The Window Closes: February 1st
2. Let’s get those volunteer hours verified!
The clock is officially ticking. While 30 hours is the goal, verification is the final boss. If your hours aren’t in x2VOL and verified by a supervisor, they don’t count toward your graduation total.
The Nighthawk 3-Step:
Avoid the “graduation jitters” and get it done this week. If you’re stuck or x2VOL is giving you trouble, email or visit Ms. Ritter in the library—she’s there to help you cross the finish line!
HOSA Students Lead the Charge for Alzheimer’s Awareness
Our HOSA (Future Health Professionals) chapter is proud to premiere “Brain Buddies,” a PSA produced for the Hilarity for Charity (HFC) national competition.
The project highlights how daily habits can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and advocates for better brain health equity in our communities. By focusing on education and reducing stigma, our students are showing that youth leadership is vital to building a brain-healthy future for everyone.
Click here to watch the video.
Girls Basketball
Girls Varsity Swimming
Wrestling
POMS Perform at Nuggets vs Wizards Game
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Wrestling
Tickets: Purchase online or in person via GoFan.
Can’t attend? Most games are available to watch through a HUDL subscription: https://www2.hudl.com/
Spring Athletes: Don’t Get Benched!
With the spring season fast approaching (March–May), please take a moment to check your athlete’s physical expiration date. To ensure your student is eligible to play on day one, physicals must be up to date and valid through the entire season.
If their current physical is set to expire before or during the March–May window, please schedule an appointment now to avoid any gaps in participation.
Details on our ‘Athletics Program’ webpage.
We want to see them on the field, not in the waiting room—make sure their paperwork is updated before the spring whistle blows!
Help our students warm up the city! Our student leaders are collecting gear to support Urban Peak and help youth experiencing homelessness stay safe this winter.
Our students are on a mission to deliver smiles to Children’s Hospital! Let’s help them fill the bins and brighten the day for patients of all ages.
Pro Tip: Think Lego sets, art kits, or infant rattles—anything to make a hospital stay a little brighter.
Last Week
Q: You leave your campsite and hike south 3 miles, then east 3 miles, then north 3 miles — and somehow end up back at your tent, where a bear is eating your food.
A: What color is the bear? WHITE!
Because the only place you can hike south, then east, then north and return to your starting point is the North Pole, where only polar bears (which are white) live.
This week: Nighthawk History
Did you know? Most of our Class of 2026 was born in 2007 or 2008. To put that in perspective, 2007 was the year the very first iPhone was released. While we were all trying to figure out how to “slide to unlock,” our future Nighthawks were just joining the nest!
They may be “digital natives,” but there is still one big milestone that is 100% analog (for now): Learning to drive!