As we move throughout November, I want to take a moment to recognize Native American Heritage Month and honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples.
One leader whose story has always stood out to me is Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
What I admire most about Wilma Mankiller is not simply that she broke barriers, but what she did once she had the opportunity to lead. She believed in the power of community, education, and our responsibility to improve the lives of others. Before becoming Principal Chief, she helped organize a rural Cherokee community to bring running water to its residents. Throughout her leadership, she championed educational opportunities, expanded access to health care, and worked to strengthen the Cherokee Nation.
Her story reminds me that leadership is not just about being the first to reach a position; it is about what you do with the opportunity once you get there. It is about using your voice, bringing people together, and creating opportunities for those who come after you.
To our Native American students and families, we celebrate you, your heritage, and the contributions you bring to our Nighthawk community.
As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, I challenge our Nighthawk community to learn from the stories of Native American leaders, past and present, and consider how we can put those lessons into action. How are we using our voices to make a difference? How are we creating opportunities for others? And what are we doing to leave our communities better than we found them?
May this month inspire us not only to learn from remarkable leaders like Wilma Mankiller, but also to lead with courage, serve with purpose, and make a difference in the lives of others.
Jessica Rodriguez Bracey
Principal
Please join us in recognizing Northfield student Taylor Gordon for receiving the Student Achievement Award presented by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and TODOS: Mathematics for ALL.
Nominated by Northfield Math Department Lead Taylor Ohlstrom (AP Calculus & Intro to Statistics), Taylor was selected from a competitive pool of applicants across the entire Denver Metro area.
This regional recognition honors students who demonstrate exceptional mathematical growth, curiosity, and dedicated engagement in STEM. Earning an award backed by NCTM—the nation’s premier mathematics education organization—and TODOS—a national advocate for equitable math education—highlights Taylor’s individual academic tenacity, problem-solving drive, and leadership among her peers.
Congratulations, Taylor, on a well-deserved recognition of your hard work and achievement!
Huge congratulations to Northfield Poms on a dominant showing at Wednesday’s DPS League Spirit Championship at Denver South! Varsity Poms claimed the Varsity Dance title, marking an extraordinary 5th consecutive DPS League Championship for the program. Adding to the celebration, JV Poms took 1st Place in their division, securing their 2nd consecutive DPS League Championship!
Winning at the district level requires complete precision—teams are scored on technical execution, high-difficulty skill sequences, synchronized group dynamics, and overall showmanship. Up next, Varsity takes this momentum into the postseason as they prepare for the CHSAA State Spirit Championships in December at the Denver Coliseum, followed by their push toward NDA Regionals. Go Nighthawks!
Following stellar performances and qualifying scores at their regional meet, these student-athletes earned top-tier individual spots to compete against Colorado’s finest high school gymnasts on the state stage.
State prelims kick off Friday morning, Nov. 6, at the Denver Coliseum, with top individual finishers advancing to Saturday’s Event Finals. Join us in wishing Sophie, LJ, Sierra, and Violet the best of luck as they represent Northfield High School!
5A Volleyball begins postseason play at the Regional Qualifier level today against Westminster at 4:30 PM and Chaparral at 6PM.
If they win their 3-team regional pool today, they’ll be headed to the 12-team State Championship Tournament!
🎟️ Tickets & Admission: Digital tickets required via GoFan (host site pricing applies).
The Class 5A State Championship Bracket is official, and your No. 13 seed Nighthawks (6–4) are hosting Round 1!
🎟️ Tickets: Digital tickets are required via GoFan.
On Monday, Nov. 9, our IB science students will present their Collaborative Science Projects to their teachers and peers, meeting a curriculum requirement.
About the IB Collaborative Science Project
The IB Collaborative Science Project is an interdisciplinary experience that brings students together from across scientific disciplines to investigate shared, real-world issues. By combining learning from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, and Sports, Exercise & Health Science, students put scientific concepts into practice while building critical collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.
This Year’s Focus: Climate Change & Society
This year’s student teams are exploring the complex impacts of climate change on ecosystems and global communities. Student research topics include:
Next week is National School Psychology Week, and we are taking the opportunity to recognize our very own Jim Robnett!
Whether he is delivering direct one-on-one student support, coordinating prevention and intervention services, or supporting our special education programming, Jim plays a critical role in ensuring our Nighthawks have the resources and support they need to succeed.
Behind the title of School Psychologist is at least 3 years of specialized graduate study, 60+ graduate credit hours, and over 1,700 hours of supervised internship experience. Passing Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) board exams and maintaining ongoing professional credits ensures our school psychologists bring high-level expertise in cognitive assessment, crisis intervention, counseling, and special education law to support our students every day
Thank you, Jim, for your incredible dedication to our students!
Northfield and DPS want to hear from you! The DPS Panorama Family Survey opens Monday, Nov. 9. Look for an email from us next week with a link to the survey; all responses are anonymous and confidential.
We invite parents and guardians of all DPS students in all grade levels to provide their honest feedback on their school experience. All responses are anonymous and confidential. As a way to listen, surveys motivate thoughtful reflection and action, and we are committed to sharing what we learn from the survey and how survey insights will inform our next steps at the district and school levels.
For more information about the DPS Panorama Family Survey, visit the DPS website.
State required vision, hearing, and dental screenings will be conducted for all 9th-grade students during student advisement classes during the week of November 16. These screenings help identify issues early so students can thrive in the classroom.
Questions? Contact Nurse Kate at kate_marshall@dpsk12.net
Are you looking for an incredible leadership opportunity? High school students are invited to join us as leaders at Balarat! This is a unique chance to gain hands-on outdoor leadership skills while welcoming and mentoring DPS 5th graders on their Balarat overnight trips.
What High School Leaders Do:
Scan the QR code on the poster or link to the application to learn more and apply today!
Lead the Change: Join the Youth Unity Rising Summit at DU
Middle and high school students: Step outside the classroom and build the skills to drive real change in your community! Join student leaders from across Colorado for a day of interactive, youth-led workshops, high-impact advocacy training, and hands-on problem-solving on a college campus.
Registration & Details
Individuals and groups welcome. Complete the Individual Registration Form. Bringing a student group? Complete the Group Registration Form and reach out to Giselle (giselle@corising.org) and Kelly (kelly_moses@dpsk12.net) to secure your spots.
We are excited to welcome Lauren Snurka to our team as our new Athletic Trainer!
Lauren plays a critical role in supporting our student-athletes both on and off the field. As a licensed and certified healthcare professional, she specializes in preventing, examining, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions. From daily pre-game prep to long-term injury recovery, Lauren will be hands-on with all of our athletes to ensure they stay healthy, safe, and performing at their best.
Please join us in giving Lauren a warm Nighthawk welcome when you see her around campus and in the training room!
Please note that our upcoming Athletic Signing Day originally scheduled for next week has been rescheduled for the week of April 12.
We will share additional details and specific timing as we get closer to the date!
We are excited to launch the 2026–27 Winter Sports Season and can’t wait to see our student-athletes, coaches, and school community back in action!
Have questions about winter sports? Please contact head coaches directly via email:
Pre-Season Action Checklist (Required Before Day 1)
Students will not be permitted to participate in tryouts, practices, or team activities until all steps below are fully completed and approved. We strongly encourage families to complete these steps early to avoid delays on day one!
Thank you for your support, and GO NIGHTHAWKS!
We know it’s a busy time of year, but our Turkey Drive, sponsored by the Student Council and the Mental Health Department, are still actively collecting non-perishable food items and grocery gift cards to support our families this season.
How You Can Help:
Donate now through December 8, and your donation directly benefits the Northfield community, including five scholarships for graduating seniors. Plus, every donation is boosted by the $1M+ Incentive Fund, helping your gift go even further.
Donate: Colorado Gives Day – Northfield High School Foundation
Give today to change a student’s tomorrow!
The Northfield Foundation invites you to join our annual Thanksgiving Staff Appreciation tradition! Help us give back to our wonderful teachers and staff by donating a festive holiday beverage (or contributing funds so we can purchase one) for them to enjoy with their families over the holiday break.
How to Help
-Sign up or donate through the Northfield Foundation Thanksgiving Beverage Sign-Up Form
-Or make a financial contribution via Venmo to Wen-Whitaker (last digits of phone number are 9632), with NHS Thanksgiving in the memo line. Please donate money by Tuesday, Nov 17th.
Thank you for making this much-loved annual tradition a success!
Note: This event is hosted by our partners at The Northfield Foundation.
