Weekly Newsletter 5/15/26

News from the Nest

Ho’omanawanui: A Senior Reflection on Culture and Community

When I think about the legacy we seniors leave behind at Northfield High School, I see a transformation of our campus culture, from a place you simply attend to a place where you are truly seen. Over the years, we have celebrated identities and learned from one another, building a strong sense of community. Through these experiences in AAPI, traditions often emphasize remembrance, community, education, and resilience, values that connect many different cultures and shared experiences.

From my own Hawaiian heritage, I share the idea of ho’omanawanui, a value meaning patience, endurance, and perseverance through challenges. These values are not just ideas we reflect on in theory; they are lived experiences at Northfield. We see them in how our school community shows up for each other, celebrating each other’s identities and creating a space where everyone belongs.

In classrooms, on campus, and through clubs like AAPI, we share moments that bring us closer together, such as bake sales, cultural field trips, and sharing traditional food from our cultures. These are more than just events; they are opportunities to learn from one another, honoring where we come from and inviting everyone to be a part of the AAPI community. As seniors, we reflect on the people, memories, and lessons that shaped us, and we hope that existing and incoming classes continue what we have left behind, carrying these values with them as they follow their journeys.

Owen Campbell, Northfield Class of 2026
University of Northern Colorado
Biological Sciences: Pre-Health & Biomedical Sciences


Key Dates & Events


Weekly Highlights

2026-2027 Academic Calendar is Now Available!


Monday, May 18 is a Late Start NAVY Day


James Scott

Northfield HS Journalism Student Earns Statewide Recognition 

We are thrilled to announce that James Scott has been awarded Second Place in the 2026 Best of Colorado individual competition, hosted by the Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA).

Competing in the Print News/Online Class I division, James was recognized for his exceptional work on his column, “5 Things With James Scott.” The Best of Colorado awards honor excellence in student-led print, online, and broadcast journalism across the state. Please join us in congratulating James on this prestigious achievement and his dedication to the Northfield High School newspaper. 

Read The Nighthawk Times.


Engineering Success: Nighthawks Took 2nd at DPS STEAM Expo

LtoR: Thomas (Will) Freyman, Elliot Curtis, Anastasia Yezubenko and CTE teacher, Ms. Yukta Thadi.

Huge congratulations are in order for our Northfield Robotics Freshmen students and CTE teacher Yutka Thadi! Our Northfield High School Robotics team engineered a spectacular run at the 2026 DPS STEAM Expo Championship held at CSU Spur on May 2. Competing in the High School VEX Robotics division, our Nighthawks battled through a highly competitive field of district teams to secure Second Place as Tournament Finalists.

The trophy recognizes not just the robot’s performance on the field, but the months of technical design, autonomous coding, and teamwork required to reach the championship round. Please join us in congratulating our student engineers on this major achievement! 


Magnifying Impact: Northfield Honored with the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award

We are proud to highlight the exceptional civic leadership of our Student Voice and Leadership class, who were recently presented with the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award. This prestigious statewide recognition from the Colorado Secretary of State’s office honors high schools that achieve a significant milestone: registering at least 85% of their eligible seniors to vote.

To celebrate this achievement, we welcomed Theresa Conley, Chair of the Colorado Title Board, and Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López. Our students exceeded the award’s goal, reaching an 87% registration rate and adding nearly 500 new voters to the rolls.

The true story of this award lies in the students’ commitment to democracy. Through their deliberate effort and leadership, they have magnified their impact, ensuring that a broad range of student perspectives will be represented in decisions regarding state spending and land development. Ms. Conley and Clerk López noted that this kind of engagement is vital for a healthy, representative government.

When asked how they reached so many of their peers, the students spoke about the importance of making the process accessible and the fundamental belief that representation matters. We celebrate their hard work and their commitment to ensuring that our community’s voice is active and empowered at the ballot box.


Inaugural Arts Signing Day: A New Nighthawk Tradition

Front Row L to R:  Madison Crist, Max Montague, Madalynn Glaze, Caitlin Crist, Madeline Cody.  Second Row:  Nathaniel Bicha, Lucy Lavonas, Phoebe Dominguez, Ellyana Newman, Julian Whitworth.  Third Row:  Liam Osborne Miyata, Kate Hartman, Emmet Johnston, Cashis Parsons.

On Thursday, May 14, 2026,  Northfield High School reached a significant milestone in our commitment to excellence across all disciplines. We were honored to host our Inaugural Arts Signing Day, a dedicated event celebrating 14 seniors who have officially committed to pursuing the arts at the collegiate and professional levels.

This event signals the incredible growth and expanding impact of the Northfield Arts program. Our 14 signees represent a diverse array of creative futures—including authors, producers, content creators, and performers—all of whom have demonstrated the grit and vision required to succeed in today’s creative economy.

As these Nighthawks move beyond our halls, they carry the Northfield legacy into the wider world, ready to shape the culture and lead the conversation in their respective fields. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to making “Arts Signing Day” a cornerstone tradition for years to come.

🎨 Class of 2026 Arts Commits

Student Name Destination Major / Creative Focus
Nathaniel Bicha University of Northern Colorado B.F.A. in Musical Theatre
Madeline Cody CU Denver Illustration (Major); Film & TV Production/Screenwriting (Double Minor)
Caitlin Crist CU Boulder Minor in Theater & Film Production
Madison Crist University of Colorado Boulder Film – Media Production
Phoebe Dominguez Carthage College Music Education (Instrumental Cello)
Madalynn Glaze CU Boulder Theatre
Kate Hartman DePaul University Film/Television Production
Emmet Johnston George Washington University Fine Art / Art History Dual Degree
Lucy Lavonas University of Southern California Theatrical Design (Honors Program)
Max Montague Otis College of Art and Design Animation
Ellyana Newman University of Southern California Music Industry
Liam Osborne Miyata University of Colorado Boulder Jazz Studies
Cashis Parsons University of Colorado Denver Fine Arts
Julian Whitworth University of Colorado Boulder B.A. with Jazz Emphasis

Important End-of-Year Health Office Updates & Action Items 

As we wrap up the school year, please take note of these important reminders from our school nurse, Kate Marshall.

Urgent: Medication Pick-Up

If your student has medication or medical supplies in the health office, please contact Nurse Marshall immediately to coordinate a pick-up time.

Looking Ahead: 2026-2027 School Year

Beat the summer rush! Please review our Health and Medical Resource Guide to prepare for next year. This document includes essential information on:

Questions? Please reach out to Nurse Marshall directly to ensure your student is set up for success next fall!



Hawk Happenings

All Things Senior: Awards/Checkout/Grad Practice/Graduation Information

Get all the details on the Class of 2026 webpage.


Finals for Underclass Students

Students should bring school-issued Chromebooks for finals.

To help students and families prepare, we have details below. Please view the Spring Finals Schedule for a detailed breakdown of class type (standard, IB, AP and CE) and corresponding exam dates. Quick overviews are listed below.

Finals Week – Grades 9-11
5/22 (Fri.)5/26 (Tues.)5/27 (Wed.)5/28 (Thurs.)5/29 (Fri.)
8:25 – 9:25Period 1Period 2Period 7Student SupportGraduation; by invite onlyStudent Support; by invite only
9:35 – 10:35Period 3Period 4Period 8
10:45 – 11:45Period 5Period 6Extra time /Student Support
11:45 – 12:15Grab and go Lunch
12:15 – 1:00Students should go to B3 if staying on campus.
1:00 – 4:00Extra Time/ Student Support
NOTE: Students in grades 9-11 who are taking upper-level or mixed-grade IB classes need to view the IB Exam schedule. 

Quick Reference Table for Seniors/Families

Class TypeLast Day of ClassFinal Exam Dates
IB Classes / Diploma StudentsApril 30Per IB Exam Calendar
Non-IB ClassesMay 11May 12–13
CE (College) ClassesMay 11Per CE Exam Schedule
AP ClassesMay 11*Per AP Exam Schedule
*Unless the student is a Diploma Student, in which case their last day was April 30. 

Staying on Campus? Students remaining at Northfield during an off-block must report to the Library or Great Hall for quiet study. To ensure a focused environment for testing, students are not permitted to loiter in the hallways. 


Denver Student Ambassador Program

Are you a rising junior or senior looking to make an impact? The Denver Student Ambassador Program is looking for students to serve on a Human Rights & Community Partnerships (HRCP) Commission for the 2026-27 school year.

This is a unique opportunity to build leadership and public speaking skills, learn the inner workings of local government, and contribute to policies that impact our city. This experience also strengthens college and career readiness and looks great on future applications.Take the Lead: Explore the commissions and submit your interest form by June 15 at denvergov.org/studentambassador.



Athletics

Weekly Shoutouts

It is a massive weekend for Northfield Athletics! Let’s get out there and support our student-athletes as they compete at the highest levels. Good luck to all our Nighthawks!

Go Hawks! 🔵🟡


Upcoming Games & Events

Playoff & Finals Schedule

🎟️ Tickets & Tuning In

Note: The district has transitioned to ArbiterLive for all real-time scoring updates and last-minute schedule changes.

Let’s show up, show out, and cheer on our Nighthawks!



Community Notice

Free Back-to-School Shopping Experience (2026-27)

Get a head start on next year! The DPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team is hosting a NEW personalized shopping experience at our Community Hubs. Students can pick out free, grade-level backpacks and school supplies in a relaxed, stress-free environment.

How to Participate: To avoid long lines, shopping is by appointment only during the week of August 10–14, 2026.

  1. Register: Sign Up for Your Shopping Experience or scan the QR code below.
  2. Schedule: A team member will contact you before August 10 to confirm your specific shopping date and time.
  3. Shop: Bring your student’s ID number (lunch number) to your scheduled appointment and enjoy the experience!

All DPS families are welcome. Help us ensure every student starts the new year ready to succeed!


Support Our School

Parent Night Out 5/22

Need an evening off? The Northfield Cheerleaders are hosting Parents Night Out on Friday, May 22, from 5:30–9:30 PM at the NHS Gym.

Drop the kids off (ages 4–12) for a night of games, crafts, and a movie while you enjoy some free time. Cost is $30 per child. Spaces are limited—register now via the QR code on the flyer!

Register now!