By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Last week, we reported that the Northfield Middle School had received national recognition for its success through the Blue Ribbon School program. Today, we are taking a closer look at the school’s success. Throughout his presentation, Principal Greg Gelineau emphasized the importance of building connections between students and teachers, citing a school survey that found 76% of students felt connected to at least one teacher and that 84% of students were excited about at least one class. He stated that these connections and excitement can lead to better outcomes for students later:
“We know if schools are excited about good attendance follows, they want to be there, they like being there. And we know they become more successful.” – Greg Gelineau, Northfield Middle Principal at the 10/14/2025 School Board Meeting
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On the same note of student excitement, Gelineau cited the high number of students who participate in school activities, with 801 registrations last year, and 302 registrations for just this fall.
“I’m just always trying to throw that in front of them, saying, Hey, get your students involved. We know for a fact your students will enjoy coming to school more and do better if they are involved in something.” – Greg Gelineau, Northfield Middle Principal at the 10/14/2025 School Board Meeting
Beyond just the students, Gellineau said that the excitement and energy are also among the staff. He noted that 42% of teachers at the Middle Schools have worked for 20 years or more.
Read more:
Northfield Community Education has Several successes from the Past Year; Early Children’s Programs prepare students for Kindergarten – Read here
Northfield High School Sees Improvements in Student Attendance – Read here
Northfield Middle School Recognized with National Blue Ribbon Award; Only Middle School in MN to Receive Recognition in Both Categories – Read more
The focus areas for this school year include continuing to ensure the Middle School remains a safe place for students and building a welcoming school culture. The administration team also aims to improve the Employee Experience Survey results by 3% over the next three years.
See the full presentation here, starting on page 24
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