Black excellence, to me, means showing up as my full self every single day not only as a student but as an athlete. It also means refusing to let anyone lower the standard of what I can and what I will achieve. It means recognizing the sacrifices of people before me and it means understanding my success is bigger than just me. During Black History Month especially, I think about leaders like Maya Angelou and Serena Williams, who showed strength, confidence, and excellence in spaces that weren’t always built for them. Their examples remind me that excellence isn’t just about talent; it’s about resilience, discipline, and pride.
In the classroom, I embody excellence by holding myself accountable. I push myself to understand the material, ask questions when I need help, and stay disciplined even when I’m tired from practice or games. Being a scholar means I don’t let stereotypes define me. I know that as a young Black woman, people may already have expectations and I choose to exceed them. I want my teachers and peers to see that I take my education seriously.
On the volleyball court, excellence looks like leadership, effort, and heart. It’s diving for balls when I’m exhausted, encouraging my teammates when we’re down, and staying locked in when the pressure is high. Volleyball has taught me that greatness is built in the small moments: early morning workouts, extra reps after practice, and trusting your team. As a Black female athlete, I also understand that representation matters. Younger girls are watching. I want them to see someone who plays with confidence, competes with integrity, and carries herself with pride.
The legacy I’m building is one of determination and impact. I don’t just want to be remembered for awards or titles like Female Athlete of the Year. I want to be remembered as someone who uplifted others, who balanced academics and athletics with grace, and who made space for the next generation to dream bigger. I want my presence at Northfield to stand as proof that Black excellence is not rare; it’s powerful, it’s consistent, and it’s everywhere.
As we close Black History Month, my message to the Northfield community is to celebrate Black excellence not just in February, but every day. Support Black students, listen to our voices, and recognize the greatness that exists in your classrooms, on your teams, and in your hallways. For me, Black excellence is about legacy, leadership, and love for who I am. And I plan to keep striving for excellence long after this month is over.
Kandice Kountz
Class of 2026
Our School Social Workers are the “Bridge” of Northfield—connecting school, home, and community. While they work tirelessly to support our Nighthawks’ mental health, many families may not realize the elite level of expertise this team brings to our campus every day.
Beyond the Degree: Highly Qualified Experts Becoming a School Social Worker in Colorado requires a level of training equivalent to many private clinical therapists. To serve our students, our team has met rigorous state standards:
How They Support the Nighthawk Journey Our three-person team provides a vital safety net for our students through:
Please join us in thanking our 2025-2026 Social Work Team for their heart, their advocacy, and their unwavering dedication to our Nighthawks!
The Mission: Last weekend, Northfield High School sent 78 delegates to the DECA State Competition in Colorado Springs. After three days of rigorous roleplay scenarios and technical business exams, 33 students reached the final rounds.
The Result: We are proud to announce that 13 Northfield students have officially secured their spots to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta this April. These qualifiers represent the top tier of competitive excellence in categories ranging from Financial Services to Entrepreneurship.
| CATEGORY | RANK | STUDENT(S) |
| Entrepreneurship Series | 1st Place | Margaret Martin |
| Integrated Marketing Campaign | 1st Place | Linnea Fry & Sofia Lewis |
| Principles of Finance | 1st Place | Valeriya Andronova |
| Retail Merchandising Series | 1st Place | Katie Wichern |
| Community Giving Project | 3rd Place | Scarlett Tolan |
| Innovation Plan | 3rd Place | Ava Lonigro & Katie Wichern |
| Financial Services Team | 4th Place | Isabelle Brehm & Colin Johnson |
| Restaurant & Food Services | 4th Place | Jonas White |
| Franchise Business Plan | 5th Place | Lauren Miller |
| Independent Business Plan | 5th Place | Sylvia Matthews & Margaret Martin |
| Account Applications Series | 6th Place | Will Zhang |
| Franchise Business Plan | 6th Place | Owen Huie, Max Mulcock, Max Tolan |
| Entrepreneurship Series | 7th Place | Mimi Haile |
At Northfield, we believe that the best way to prepare students for the future is to bring the “real world” into the classroom. Through our Innovation Plan, we are expanding our ability to hire specialized instructors for supplemental and elective courses.
Traditional licensing barriers can sometimes prevent highly skilled industry professionals from sharing their expertise with students. Our staffing waiver changes that by allowing us to recruit educators with unique industry experience and a bachelor’s degree, even if they don’t hold a standard teaching license.
This flexibility ensures our Career and Technical Education (CTE) and elective programs are led by experts who have lived the work they teach.
While we are prioritizing specialized experience, we remain committed to a supportive professional environment. All educators hired under this model:
By bridging the gap between industry and education, we are ensuring Northfield students learn from the best in the field.
We are thrilled to share the latest milestones from the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Future Center. Our students are showing incredible initiative as they prepare for life after graduation.
The Highlights:
A huge thank you to our staff and families for supporting our students through these critical steps. If your student hasn’t stopped by the Future Center yet, encourage them to visit us soon to discuss their post-secondary plans!
It’s time to settle those student fees! We know it’s just another thing on the to-do list, but outstanding balances actually impact our ability to fund the essential classroom resources and activities your students enjoy every day.
Per school policy, students with outstanding fees will not be eligible to purchase Prom tickets. With Prom just around the corner on May 9, now is the time to ensure your account is clear so your student doesn’t miss out on the big night.
How to Pay via MySchoolBucks:
Questions? If you have concerns about a specific fee or need to discuss a payment options, please contact our Treasurer, Vanessa Piria.
The End-of-Year (EOY) BESS screening window for student, teacher, and parent forms opens today, Friday, February 27th. Students will be given time to complete the BESS screener in their Social Studies Classes. Please view the overview document to learn more about the BESS and universal social-emotional screening in DPS this year.
The Northfield High School Foundation is currently transitioning to a new platform for scholarship applications due to an unexpected service closure of their current provider.
Students who have already started an application are encouraged to complete and submit their work by March 5th to avoid having to restart the process on a new system.The Foundation is currently working on a solution for new applicants and will share updated instructions and a link for submissions as soon as they are available. The final deadline for all scholarship applications remains March 14th.
Review the senior timeline of events that keep you prepared for graduation!
The First Generation Student Organization (FGSO) at CSU invites high school students to a day designed to turn college dreams into reality. Whether you’re the first in your family to attend college or just looking for a head start, this event is built for you.
“Come as you are, leave who you want to be.” Join a community that celebrates your strengths and provides the roadmap for your academic journey.
How to Join: Go to the Access Center on the CSU website and click the conference button to register and see the full agenda. Questions? Shoot them an email at firstgencsu@gmail.com.
Class of 2026, it’s crunch time! We are heading into the home stretch, and there is critical information you need to stay on track for graduation.
Make sure you are there and on time—we’ll be covering essential details regarding your final requirements and upcoming senior events. See you there!
Generation Teach (GT) is looking for Northfield High School juniors, seniors, and alumni who are ready to make an impact. This award-winning Summer Teaching Fellowship is a hands-on leadership opportunity to serve the Denver community while getting paid to learn.
Spend 7 weeks coaching middle schoolers and developing professional skills.
Action: Apply Here or watch this quick video to see GT in action.
The Perks: Earn a $3,000 scholarship, receive daily professional coaching, and lead your own small classes.
Deadlines: March 15 & April 15 (Apply early—spots fill fast!).
————Reminder: Letterman Jacket fitting on March 12th during lunch in B1 Cafetorium———–
Good luck to our Basketball Teams!
A huge “Good Luck” to our Boys Basketball and Girls Basketball teams as they both advance to the 2nd Round of Playoffs! We are so proud of the hard work these athletes and coaches have put in to make it this far. Let’s keep that momentum going—Go Nighthawks!
Postseason Push: Nighthawk Playoff Basketball!
The road to the championship continues! Grab your gear and come loud—it’s playoff time for our basketball programs.
Playoff Schedule
Ticket & Entry Info
Please note that prices have increased per CHSAA Playoff regulations. We recommend purchasing ahead of time to skip the lines!
Purchase Your Playoff Tickets Here via GoFan
Women’s Soccer Home Opener: Pack the Nest!
Support our Women’s Soccer team as they take on Broomfield High School this Tuesday, March 3. Let’s make the home-field atmosphere electric for the season kickoff!
Home Games at Northfield:
Away Game at Broomfield:
The Spring Season has officially started! Good luck to all our Spring Athletes as they begin their competitions this week.
New for Spring: We are switching to ArbiterLive for all real-time schedule updates. Make sure to bookmark the link above to stay connected!
Let’s show up, show out, and cheer on our Nighthawks!
Do you have a dusty clarinet in the closet or a trumpet taking up space under the bed? The Northfield Tri-M Music Honor Society is hosting an Instrument Drive all through March to help keep the music playing in our community!
What We’re Looking For:
Easy Drop-Off Options:
| If you are a…. | Drop-Off Location | Best Time to Go |
| Parent/Visitor | Bldg 5 Front Office | Any school day (8:25 a.m.-4p.m.) |
| Commuter | Student Parking Lot (off 56th) | Tues & Fri (3:25-3:50 p.m.) |
| Current Student | Bldg 1 Room 116 | During passing periods or Final 30 |
Grab your exclusive “The North Field” apparel through our limited-time BSN shop! This isn’t just about looking good—it’s about opening doors for our students.
The Impact: Every dollar of profit from this fundraiser goes directly into the Northfield Student Travel program scholarships. Your purchase helps ensure that every Nighthawk has the opportunity to experience life-changing educational travel, regardless of their financial situation.
Shop now and help a student see the world!
Rumor has it the lead in the school play—a very short fortune teller—just skipped rehearsal. The director says we now have a small medium at large!