Eagle Ridge Academy - A Classical Education Preparing Students for TOMORROW’S Opportunities.

New Staff Welcome | Help us give a big #GoGryphons hello to Sean Hames, Fifth Grade Teacher! Mr. Hames earned his Elementary Education degree from Winona State. He taught in Spain for a year during COVID, transitioned into an EL role in Eden Prairie, and has spent the last two years as a First Grade Teacher. "When I was finishing up my Elementary Education degree, I student taught at ERA. I had a very pleasant experience working here and thought it'd be a lot of fun to return to where it all started, " shared Mr. Hames. When he's not at school, you can find him doing all sorts of activities, including learning new recipes, working out (running, hiking, gym, etc.), going to local events with friends, and working on his art. He also recently started a small commission business. We are proud to have Mr. Hames as part of our community and are excited for him to join us!

Congratulations to rising junior Violet for being crowned 2025-2026 Hopkins Raspberry Festival Princess! The Raspberry Royalty promote community service, volunteerism, and personal growth for young ladies within the local community. They cover 5 pillars of leadership that the program identify as: Purpose, Integrity, Teamwork, Courage, and Humility.

Eagle Ridge Academy Class of 2025 graduates Victoria, a 2024-2025 Hopkins Raspberry Festival Princess, and Maleeha, 2024-2025 Hopkins Raspberry Festival Queen, helped crown Violet during last week's ceremony.

During the Hopkins Raspberry Festival this past weekend, Violet spoke with community members, met the mayor, rode in the parade, and more. We are proud of you, Violet! #GoGryphons

New Staff Welcome | Help us give a big #GoGryphons hello to Alison Stewart, Second Grade Teacher! Ms. Stewart earned her Masters in Teaching Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota and her Bachelor's degree in American Studies, and her global perspective has been shaped through living experiences in Ukraine, Argentina, Luxembourg, and a specialized elementary teaching program in Denmark. "Coming to ERA was a natural choice for me as I deeply connect with the school's mission of challenging students to reach their highest academic and personal potential. As a mother of three children (ages 11, 9, and 7), I understand firsthand the importance of quality education and am particularly passionate about literacy education, " shared Ms. Stewart. When she's not at school, you can find her enjoying bike rides, tending to her garden, savoring European chocolate, or planning her next travel adventure. We are proud to have Ms. Stewart as part of our community and are excited for her to join us!

Class of 2025 graduate Maleeha Subhan is participating in the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization (AAO) program this month! Out of the 44 candidates participating, one woman will be chosen to be the Queen of the Lakes, and two women will be chosen as Princesses. The selection team considers a variety of criteria including: professionalism, public speaking ability, current and future goals, education and co-curricular/extracurricular activities. In addition to the interview process, the candidates also participate in leadership, personal development and other unique experiences.

Community members are invited to cheer on their community representative nextWednesday, July 23, at the Meet the Candidates event at the Minneapolis City Center Rotunda at 9:30 a.m. and at the Aquatennial Torchlight Parade in the downtown Minneapolis Nicollet Mall area at 7:30 p.m. The Coronation of the 2025 Aquatennial Ambassadors will be held at Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus on Saturday, July 26, at 4:00 p.m.

Maleeha will start school at George Washington University this fall, majoring in Social Justice. She was awarded George Washington University's Presidential Academic Scholarship due to her dedication to school work and volunteerism while at Eagle Ridge Academy. In her senior year, Maleeha was crowned Hopkins Raspberry Festival Queen and helped ERA Theater win first place at sections in the state high school theater one-act play competition.

"My academic goal is to graduate with honors, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and personal growth. Beyond academics, I strive to embrace new experiences daily, fostering continuous learning and self-improvement," shared Maleeha about her personal goals. We are proud of her hard work and wish Maleeha luck this week! #GoGryphons #ClassicalEducation #ERAAlumni

Registration is now open for grades 7-12 Cross Country, Soccer, Boys Football (co-op with Hopkins), Girls Swim & Dive (co-op with Blake), and Girls Volleyball. The early registration deadline for fall athletics is August 1. After August 1, registration fees will increase by $50. Learn more about the fall athletics offerings and register today here to avoid the $50 late fee: https://era3075a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/. #GoGryphons

DON'T FORGET: Shop back-to-school and get 10% off approved uniform vendor School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger July 14-20! To shop, visit www.globalschoolwear.com and use school code EAGL03.

Find order instructions here: https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/uniforms.

Sign up for their free newsletter to get sale information sent right to your inbox: https://www.globalschoolwear.com/emailsignup.

THREE WEEKS AWAY: RSVP today for "Supporting Your Child's Educational Journey" parent workshop on Wednesday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the ERA Auditorium: https://shorturl.at/NLoBs.

While parents have the best intentions and truly desire the best outcomes for their children, they often forget that their child might not learn in the same way they do. This variance can lead to challenges when trying to provide support. Don't miss this two-hour workshop featuring Liz Jones-Twomey, International Teacher of the Year and ENVoY classroom management trainer. Liz has taught every grade from K to 8 and has presented worldwide, sharing her expertise and insights with educators and parents from various backgrounds.

Liz's insights will provide practical takeaways to enhance your parental or teaching approach, ultimately benefitting the children under your care. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from an esteemed and experienced educator!

New Staff Welcome | Help us give a big #GoGryphons hello to Sophia Thao, Fifth Grade Teacher! Ms. Thao graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Education for Early Childhood through Middle Adolescence (Grades 1-8), primarily studying Language Arts and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has spent the past three years teaching fifth grade in Eau Claire. "I was initially very impressed by Eagle Ridge's standards and quality of education, and after experiencing the community first hand, I also see that ERA has a deep and profound respect between students and staff that fosters a community that I am very excited about being a part of. " shared Ms. Thao. When she's not at school, you can find her spending time with her soon-to-be husband (Thao will be her married name!), their dog Lucy, and their cat Pidge. She enjoys crafting, painting, and anything that requires creativity and a challenge. She also loves learning languages! She learned Spanish in high school, spent a semester in college learning Korean in South Korea, and has recently begun learning Hmong, the language her fiancé's family speaks. We are proud to have Ms. Thao as part of our community and are excited for her to join us!

The Annual PTO Kickoff & Summer Used Uniform Sale will take place in the ERA Forum next Wednesday, July 23, 4:00-8:00 p.m. At this event, families can learn about the PTO, make annual family contributions, purchase annual Spirit Wear, and buy and sell used uniform items. To donate uniform items, please drop them off at the Eagle Ridge Academy District Office (Door 1) during summer hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Uniforms will be accepted through next Monday, July 21, for this sale. Proceeds from donated uniforms benefit a long list of PTO events and services. To learn how to sell uniform items, or to sign up to volunteer at the event, please visit erapto.org/used-uniform-sale. See you soon! #GoGryphons

School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger is an approved uniform provider for Eagle Ridge Academy families. Shop back-to-school and get 10% off July 14-20! To shop, visit www.globalschoolwear.com and use school code EAGL03. Find order instructions here: https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/uniforms. Sign up for their free newsletter to get sale information sent right to your inbox: https://www.globalschoolwear.com/emailsignup.

New Staff Welcome | Help us give a big #GoGryphons hello to Emily Molnar, School of Grammar Principal! Mrs. Molnar will transition from her current role as Eagle Ridge Academy Peer Coach into the School of Grammar Principal position this month. She has worked at the Academy as a Building Substitute, a Fifth Grade Teacher, and a Sixth Grade Teacher, and has served in several Academy leadership roles, including Data Lead, Team Lead, Grow-Your-Own Program Mentor, and Professional Learning Community Leader. Mrs. Molnar earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Literacy/Communication Arts (grades 5-8) from North Central University and a Master of Classics from Eagle Ridge Academy. She is currently pursuing a Master of Educational Leadership from Concordia University St. Paul. "I found a home with the ERA community and Classical Education while student teaching amongst exceptional fourth grade teachers. More specifically, I was attracted to the rich curriculum and the developmentally appropriate learning structure. [In my new role as Principal], I am most enthusiastic about building relationships with our families and collaborating with the many experts in the School of Grammar," shared Mrs. Molnar. When she’s not at school, you can find her visiting playgrounds and hiking with her three children, reading historical fiction novels, and playing board games with friends. We are proud to have Mrs. Molnar as part of our community and are excited for her new role at the Academy!

Just as Eagle Ridge Academy presents Pins of Perseverance to students who have completed the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric (grades 6-12) at Eagle Ridge, pins are also given to staff members who have served at the Academy for seven years. At the annual end-of-year district meeting, Hannah Miller, April Fenn, Becky Faulk, Amber Dahlstrom, Kris Babler, and Margaret Oie (not pictured) were presented with their Pins of Perseverance, which they wore at this year's Commencement Ceremony. We also congratulate Shannon Soerens, Lisa Hopper, Emily Molnar (not pictured), and Pooja Shetty (not pictured)for earning their ten-year plaques. Thank you to these staff members and to our entire team of faculty who make Eagle Ridge Academy such a special place to work and learn. #GoGryphons #ClassicalEducation

Eagle Ridge Academy wishes you a Happy Independence Day! One of our core values, and the first of our six pillars, is Citizenship. We are proud of all of our students for displaying citizenship every day. As a reminder, Eagle Ridge Academy is closed today. Summer office hours will resume on Monday, July 7. Eagle Ridge Academy’s summer office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. #GoGryphons

New Staff Welcome | Help us give a big #GoGryphons hello to Heidi Sheppard, Fourth Grade Teacher! Mrs. Sheppard has worked at Eagle Ridge Academy since 2017 as both a Building Substitute and Seventh Grade English Teacher. Mrs. Sheppard earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement from Northwestern College in Iowa. Fun fact: she first heard about the Academy from her husband's younger brothers who attended the school! "Fourth grade is such an exciting age! Students will learn leadership skills as the oldest in the School of Grammar. They will take the knowledge they've absorbed throughout their younger years and begin to analyze it on a deeper level as they prepare for the School of Logic. I can't wait to guide them in this journey!" shared Mrs. Sheppard. When she’s not at school, you can find her coaching the Academy's Cross Country and Track & Field teams and hiking state and national parks with her husband and three daughters (who will all be attending the Academy this fall!) We are proud to have Mrs. Sheppard as part of our community and are excited for her new role at the Academy!

It's the final #TransportationTuesday! 🚍 Each Tuesday in June, we reminded ERA families to fill out their 2025-26 Transportation Contracts by TODAY, July 1, to ensure transportation for the first day of school and avoid a $50-per-child late fee. Don't wait another day! Find everything you need at www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/transportation. Please check your email for the password to view the routes and contact Karen Conner, Operations Manager, with questions at kconner@eagleridgeacademy.org. #GoGryphons

Looking to learn more about our nation's history this Fourth of July week? Follow the lead of our fifth grade scholars and take a trip to Fort Snelling, a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark! On their field trip in May, fifth graders took a guide tour of the fort, experienced the stories of the people who lived in and around the fort, and participated in staff demonstrations. This field trip connects to the fifth grade history units on Westward Expansion, the Civil War, and Exploration. #GoGryphons

Eagle Ridge Academy will be closed Monday, June 30, through Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Summer office hours will resume on Monday, July 7. Eagle Ridge Academy’s summer office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. #GoGryphons

We hope that our gryphons are fully in the swing of summer now as we near the last week of June! If you haven't had the chance to visit the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on a sunny day, make sure to check it out. Eighth graders and second graders both took field trips there in May. On their field trips, eighth graders worked on photographing and drawing native plants to use in a mixed media project, and second graders learned about the plant life cycle and pollination. 🌱🌷 #GoGryphons

Eagle Ridge Academy is closed today in recognition of Juneteenth, a holiday recognizing the historical pronouncement of the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was said to have been first publicly read in Texas by Union soldiers. Learn more about the history of Juneteenth through the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture: http://bit.ly/3wvSvw1. The Academy will reopen on Monday, June 23, at 9:00 a.m. #GoGryphons