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

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

At the end of May, fourth graders built upon their learning of the U.S. government by touring the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul. 🏛️ Haven't been to the capitol in a while? We encourage you to tour with the family this summer and discover the capitol's history, art, and architecture. Admission is free Mondays-Saturdays. Additionally, the Minnesota State Capitol will host a Juneteenth Celebration for families this Saturday, June 21, 12:00-6:00 p.m. #ClassicalEducation #GoGryphons

On June 16, the fun was abundant as Eagle Ridge Academy held its 12th Annual Gryphon Classic Golf Tournament at Edinburgh USA Golf Course. Thank you to our 88 golfers for braving the heat and TWO thunderstorms to raise money for the students of Eagle Ridge Academy. This year’s proceeds supported Eagle Ridge Academy’s CIPHER Scholarship program! We are grateful to our generous sponsors who financially support this event and partner with us year after year, including Managed Services Inc. (MSI), Rochon, Universal Cleaning Services, Inc., Corporate Technologies, North Risk Partners, Construction Cost Consultants, Piper Sandler, Metropolitan Transportation Network (MTN) Inc., Central Telephone, Scheels, Advanced Imaging Solutions (AIS), Squires, Waldspurger & Mace, PA, Golf Galaxy, Veil and Wild Orthodontics, Kemmetmueller Photography, Inc., and Interstate Companies. Our students benefit from the immense generosity and kindness. Thank you to Edinburgh USA Golf Course (https://www.facebook.com/edinburghusa) for hosting us again. Mark your calendar for next year’s tournament on Monday, June 15, 2026! #GoGryphons #GryphonClassic

At the end of the school year, School of Rhetoric teacher Mrs. Johnson's Art History students went on their annual spring field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia). 🖼️ This year, they were checked in by ERA Class of 2020 alumna Josie, who now works at Mia, and chaperoned by Helena, another ERA ERA Class of 2020 alumna! Classes split into small groups and spent the day searching for art from different periods and locations, getting tour guide expertise from Mrs. Johnson and our chaperones. For many of the students, it was their first time at the museum. Thank you to @artsmia, Mrs. Johnson, and our chaperones for a wonderful day of learning outside of the classroom! 🏺 #GoGryphons

Eagle Ridge Academy would like to honor Clare Murray for her six years of service on the Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors. Clare served two years as Board Secretary and three years as Board Chair, chairing her final meeting yesterday evening. Clare, we thank you for your leadership and your commitment to the students, staff, and families of Eagle Ridge Academy. We value your dedication, your invaluable contributions, your hard work, your sense of purpose, your thoughtful perspectives, and - of course - your humor. You led us through COVID, one of the greatest challenges schools have ever faced, and helped us to not only build back up, but to dream bigger. You will leave a lasting legacy at the Academy. "I have learned so much about servant leadership and humility. I learned how to run a school with a moral compass and fiduciary responsibility, providing a high quality education to an incredibly diverse student body. It's not easy, but it can be done. I am excited to have Tuesday nights back but am sad to say goodbye to a group of colleagues I have grown to love. I am proud of what we have accomplished and excited to see where they continue to lead us in the future," shared Clare. The Board of Directors will vote for their new Board Chair later this summer. Stay tuned for more Board of Directors information, including the 2025-26 Board Roster and Board Calendar. #GoGryphons

CIPHER (Citizenship, Integrity, Perseverance, Honor, Excellence, Respect) is more than a motto, it’s what we strive to follow in our actions with fellow Gryphons. The Schools of Logic & Rhetoric hold monthly Pillar Assemblies in which six students from each grade level in the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric are recognized for displaying CIPHER throughout the month. Each student is nominated for a Pillar Award by one of their teachers, who writes a short paragraph describing how the student exemplified their pillar, which is shared with the student body. Congratulations to our May Pillar Award recipients - the final Pillar Award winners of 2024-25! Thank you for demonstrating CIPHER and for being role models at Eagle Ridge Academy this year. #GoGryphons