Weekly Newsletter – 10/17/2025

News from the Nest

Moments That Matter

Head shot of Principal Jessica Rodriguez Bracey

As we move deeper into the semester, I’ve been taking time to notice the moments—big and small—that remind me why what we do here matters so much.

In classrooms, I continue to see the heart of Northfield at work—teachers connecting with students, creating spaces where every learner feels seen, challenged, and cared for. Those everyday interactions are what make our school feel like home and where our mission truly comes to life.

Thanks to the Denver Scholarship Foundation, our College Fair gave students a chance to explore, ask questions, and imagine what’s next. You can already feel that excitement across campus as seniors begin submitting college applications, celebrating and supporting each other through this milestone moment.

This month, our Spanish Family Night brought families together in a way that filled the building with warmth, laughter, and connection. Seeing our Spanish-speaking families supported and celebrated was a powerful reminder of what it means to belong.

We also celebrated a few firsts and a few championships. Our first-ever Senior Movie Night gave students a chance to just be together and make memories, while our Volleyball and Men’s Cross Country teams brought home League Championships, showing what dedication and teamwork look like in action.

Each of these moments reflects what makes Northfield special: a community that shows up, takes pride in one another’s successes, and believes in the power of connection. I’m deeply proud of the culture we’re building together and grateful for every person who contributes to it—students, families, and staff alike.

Jessica Rodriguez Bracey
Principal


Key Dates & Events


Weekly Highlights

Coach Hopeck Named Flag Football Coach of the Week!

Head coach Rebecca Hopeck is making history at Northfield High! Named CHSAA Denver Broncos Flag Football Coach of the Week, she has led the Nighthawks’ flag football team to their second consecutive postseason berth in just two years.


Coach Hopeck’s leadership emphasizes inclusion, resilience, and teamwork, helping a young roster grow in skill and confidence on and off the field. Want to see how she’s inspiring her team and the Northfield community? 

👉 Read the full story


Lock In Your Yearbook Today—Prices Increase Soon!

Your year. Your memories. Your time capsule. The yearbook is your personal time capsule—friends, events, and memories you’ll treasure forever. 

Get it now for the lowest price: $80 until Nov. 1. Prices rise after that ($100 at year’s end)!
👉 Grab yours at Jostens.com


Take a Minute to Ensure We Can Reach Someone—Update Emergency Contacts Today

All students should have up-to-date emergency contacts in Infinite Campus. Families can find instructions in English and Spanish in the Family Resource Toolkit. Please ensure contacts are reliable in case a parent or guardian is unavailable.


Grade Boosting Tutoring with City Year!

City Year is back at Northfield High for 2025–2026, helping students level up their academic skills. Join after-school tutoring every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 4:00–5:00 PM. Any schedule changes will be shared directly with students.  Permission slips required.

✅ Download the permission slip – English | en español

For questions, contact Impact Manager Sydney Folger at sfolger@cityyear.org.


High School Sneak Peek: Open Houses for Prospective Families

Know a family with an 8th grader thinking about high school? Northfield High is opening its doors on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and Monday, Dec. 2! They can come and check out why Northfield has the best outcomes for 9th graders, learn more about our “IB for All” approach, see what student life is like, and discover all the ways students can lead and make an impact.

Share the dates with friends, neighbors, or anyone curious about Northfield—you could help them find their perfect fit! They can always visit our Future Nighthawks webpage for all the details.

Bonus reminder: The DPS SchoolChoice Round 1 window opens Dec. 2 and runs through Jan. 20.


Senior Timeline

Click here to review the timeline of events that will prepare you for graduation!



Hawk Happenings

Innovation in Action: Reviewing and Refreshing Our Plan

Northfield High School is proud to be an Innovation School, which means we have the flexibility to design programs that best support our students and bring our IB for All vision to life.

Our Innovation Plan helps us stay true to our mission while adapting to meet the needs of our growing community. This year, we’ll go through the renewal process—a chance to review, revise, and recommit to what makes Northfield unique.

At the end of this process, our staff and Collaborative School Committee (CSC) will vote on the updated plan, ensuring our community continues to move forward together.

Review the plan.


Why Your Voice Matters in the BESS Survey- Please Complete!

When families complete the BESS survey, it helps us see the full picture of how each student is doing—academically, socially, and emotionally. Your insight helps us understand what’s going well and where extra support might be needed.

Together, we can make sure every student feels seen, supported, and ready to thrive at Northfield.

You can find the link for this survey here: BESS Parent Portal   (https://review360connect.com/Prod/denverpublicschools/parent

El folleto a continuación está disponible en español aquí.

Thank you for your participation! 



Athletics

Weekly Shoutouts


Upcoming Games & Events


2025–2026 CHSAA Winter Sports

Registration is now open! Tryouts and official practices begin November 17 for:

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Complete registration through Arbiter
  2. Submit Pay to Play fee via Arbiter
  3. Upload a current physical exam (CHSAA forms only, all pages 1–4)

Students missing these requirements cannot participate in tryouts, practices, contests, or team activities.


Off-Season Workouts

Winter sports athletes are encouraged to stay engaged with off-season workouts to build strength, improve skills, and prepare for the season.

For dates and contacts, visit the Athletics Programs tab on our school website and scroll to the bottom.


Athletic Sticker Reminder

Don’t miss out—get your sticker today!

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



Community Notice

Spooktacular HOSA Halloween Town

Join us for candy, face painting, games & more!  Share the fun with your family and friends! 

All proceeds support Northfield’s student-led HOSA Club, empowering future health professionals.


Just for Fun

Last Week: Looks like the future is full of surprises… or maybe too many unknowns—two-thirds of people would rather travel back in time!

This Week…
Outer space or deep sea—where would you go if you could explore the ultimate unknown?

Click here to vote.