The Eagle Eye
January 12, 2023 - Eagle Ridge Academy - 2022-23 Issue 8
Upcoming Events
Thursday, January 12
- Boys Basketball at ERA vs. North Lakes Academy, JV - 6:00 p.m., Varsity - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 13
- Sixth Grade Trivia & Eagle Bluff Information Night, ERA Forum, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 14
- Boys Basketball at ERA vs. West Lutheran, JV - 1:00 p.m., Varsity - 2:30 p.m.
Monday, January 16
- No School due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 18 - Friday, January 20
Thursday, January 19
Friday, January 20
- Change to Academic Calendar - Now a Regular Instruction Day (See Academic Calendar here)
- Final Day of Quarter 2
Monday, January 23
- No School due to Staff Development
Tuesday, January 24
- First Day of Quarter 3
- Sixth Grade Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
- Girls Basketball at ERA vs. Heritage Christian Academy, JV - 4:15 p.m., Varsity - 6:00 p.m.
- Boys Basketball at ERA vs. Heritage Christian Academy, JV - 4:15 p.m., Varsity - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 25
- Seventh & Eighth Grade Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
Thursday, January 26
- School of Rhetoric Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
Please note: only home games and matches for Gryphon Activities are listed on this calendar. To see a full list of Gryphon games, matches, practices, and meetings, please view the Activities Calendar.
Enroll for the 2023-2024 School Year Before January 16!
Eagle Ridge Academy's 2023-2024 open enrollment period will close on January 16, 2023. If your current ERA student has a sibling or foster sibling that you wish to enroll for the 2023-2024 school year, please make sure to fill out an application for each child you wish to enroll before the deadline to ensure that they will be included in the Enrollment Lottery on January 17.
All ERA student siblings will receive sibling preference in the lottery as long as the application is submitted in a timely manner. All applications received after 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2023, will not be included in the lottery. They will be added to the grade level waitlist in the order that they are received. Please contact Admissions Specialist Janice Gerheart with questions at jgerheart@eagleridgeacademy.org.
Register Now for the 9th Annual Donut Dash 5K and Mini-Donut 1/2 Mile for Kids on Saturday, May 13!
Your favorite things all in one place: running and donuts. Whether you are a runner, a walker, or a donut enthusiast, this is the event for you!
We moved our race last year, introducing a 5K course in Minnetonka, leaving and finishing at Eagle Ridge Academy. (VIEW RACE MAP HERE.) This route is an accurately measured 5K course, is chip- and mat-timed, and takes you on a picturesque run or walk just north of Bren Road. There will be Zumba warm-ups provided before the race, complimentary chair massages, rock tape applications, music, great food, and fun youth activities. Fun for all ages!
Each race registrant receives a tech shirt, post-race refreshment, and DONUTS!
- Online Registration ends May 10 at 4:00 p.m.
- All registrations are nonrefundable.
- To register via mail with cash or check (made payable to FERA), please download the registration brochure and return with your payment to Eagle Ridge Academy.
- Due to possible supply chain delays, we will place our shirt order in on April 14 to ensure timely delivery. delivery of shirts. While we will order extras, please be sure to register no later than April 13 to ensure a shirt in your preferred size.
Schedule for Saturday, May 13:
7:15 a.m. – Packet Pick-Up at Eagle Ridge Academy
8:00 a.m. – Mini-Donut Dash Start Time
8:25 a.m. – Zumba Warm-Ups
8:45 – 9:30 a.m. – Youth Activities
8:45 a.m. – Donut Dash 5K Shotgun
10:00 a.m. – Awards
5K Pricing:
$35 Adult 5K Registration (on or before April 21)
$30 Student and Alumni 5K Pricing
$40 5K Registration (after April 21 to race day)
Kids Mini Donut Dash 1/2 Mile Pricing:
(Kids 10 and younger)
$20 Mini-Donut Dash Pricing (on or before April 21)
$25 Mini-Donut Dash (after April 21 to race day)
Proceeds will benefit Eagle Ridge Academy, offering an outstanding public Classical education to students K-12.
One Act Play Performances January 27 & 29
Come see the Eagle Ridge Academy theater department's One Act Competition Play Radium Girls at the ERA Auditorium on January 27 at 7:00 p.m. and January 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets will be available for $8 at the Activities Entrance (Door 4). The Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose (one act non-competition play) performance is included at no extra charge.
Final Call: Order School Yearbooks by Friday, January 27!
Don't forget! Friday, January 27, is the LAST DAY to submit 2022-2023 yearbook orders.
Classical Corner: Scholé, Contemplation, and Leisure
Dear Families,
We are rolling into a new year with much to be grateful for and much to look forward to in our coming months. As I looked back and reflected over break, I found many moments that brought a warm memory and a smile. Many of these memories were times when learning was seeping into leisure time, when students were simply playing or talking. They were in comments I heard while passing through the lunch room, walking in the courtyard, or as children picked up their younger siblings and asked about the day.
As we wrapped up the end of the year prior to break, the whole school was able to slow down, partake in leisurely fun, and connect. Though snow days and late starts may have thrown off the schedule a bit, we still came together in leisure, in scholé, to take in one of our favorite traditions–door decorating. While older scholars partnered with our younger students, classes walked the halls, taking in all of the different puns crafted for this year’s theme: Gryphons are Punny. The halls were quickly filled with laughter and conversation, with older students stepping into their role as the younger looked up in admiration.
Such events where students can come together, specifically around learning, and enjoy all they are taking in is a great marker of our school and our community. It is something we work hard to foster here in the building and continue to grow with our parent community. In continuing what was begun last year, we are looking forward to holding our second Classical Conversation–an informal gathering off-site to connect and share what we are seeing at school and at home, centered around a specific tenet of a Classical Education. Our upcoming session will focus on Schole, Contemplation, and Leisure and its important role in a Classical Education. We will meet Thursday, January 26 at 5:30 p.m. at People’s Organic in Eden Prairie. Express your interest through this link. Looking forward to gathering in scholé together as a community!
Sincerely,
Suzannah Toso
Classical Enrichment Teacher K-2
Classical Coordinator K-12
School of Grammar News
Join School of Grammar Faculty for a Gryphon Conversation on Amplify Language Arts Program
Eagle Ridge Academy will hold a Gryphon Conversation for School of Grammar families via Zoom on Monday, February 6, 12:00-12:45 p.m. Gryphon Conversations are a way for the ERA community to hear the latest Academy information and ask questions of our administration. Principal Janelle Mellgren, Academic Director Susan Bloomgren, and some School of Grammar teachers will facilitate a conversation regarding the new Amplify Language Arts Program, giving updates on this year's implementation of the program and answering questions.
If you plan to join this conversation and have a question to ask, please submit your question here so we can make sure to answer it. We hope to see you there!
Schools of Logic & Rhetoric News
Classic Learning Test - Linda Kaiser, College & Academic Counselor
Classic Learning Test
The Classic Learning Test’s suite of assessments provides a standard of testing that is intellectually richer and more rigorous than tests based on national standards. Its philosophy is one that matches our school and provides valuable insight into our instruction and practices. It can also be a piece of the college application and scholarship package for many private higher education institutions.
CLT10 Assessment is a preparatory exam for students in grades 9 and 10 comparable to the PSAT. All students in grades 9 and 10 will be completing the CLT10 Assessment at school on February 7.
CLT Assessment is a college entrance exam for students in grades 11 and 12, comparable to the SAT® and ACT®. Eagle Ridge Academy juniors and seniors are able to take the CLT at home (online and proctored), and it’s free for our students for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year. Please contact me for further information regarding registration for the exam.
The assessment dates for the remainder of 2022-23 include:
February 25
March 18
April 15
May 27
June 22
For more information on either exam and practice materials, please refer to the CLT Parent Letter or contact me at lkaiser@eagleridgeacademy.org.
Scholarship Deadlines
If you would like to receive the weekly Scholarship Newsletter, please sign up here.
- Rise Challenge - $500,000 (100 Awards) - Deadline: January 25
Pulse of Perseverance Scholarship - $1,000 (12 Awards) - Deadline: February 1
Kind regards,
Mrs. Kaiser
ERA Spirit Wear Store Open Online 24/7
Registration Open for Mock Trial, Dance Team, Speech Team, & ImpART Club Session 2
Learn more about each activity below and register here today.
Mock Trial
WHO: Grades 7-12
WHEN: Thursdays starting December 8
WHERE: ERA Room 2118
ADVISORS: Daniel Provencher & Rebecca Schmitz
COST: TBD
ERA Dance Team
WHO: Grades 7-12
WHEN: January 10 - March 17, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30-5:00 p.m. (Plus some basketball games)
WHERE: Lunch room (or gym when available)
ADVISOR: Emma Martin
COST: $100
Speech Team
WHO: Grades 7-12
WHEN: January 10 - March 28, Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Room 1216
ADVISOR: Timothy Huston
COST: $80
ImpART Club Session 2
WHO: Grades 2-5
WHEN: January 26 - April 13, Thursdays, 3:30-4:45 p.m.
WHERE: Room 1510
WHAT IS NEEDED: All supplies are provided.
DIRECTOR: Jamie Kruschke
COST: $110
Join us at the following ERA Booster Club sponsored events:
- An ERA Booster Club Board Meeting will be held over Zoom, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- All are welcome to attend - learn how you can get involved with this fun group!
- For more information and Zoom meeting link, email: info.erabooster@gmail.com.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24
Join us to pack the stands and recognize the ERA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS from the 2021-22 season: Mock Trial, Math Team, and Robotics!
Proudly sponsored by CHICK FIL A Knollwood: Hot Meal Deal CHICK FIL A Chicken sandwich, waffle chips, and beverage for $9!
4:15 p.m. - Basketball games begin
5:00-7:00 p.m. - Hot Meal Deal will be sold (while supplies last)
7:30 p.m. - Championship teams will be recognized
A 3-Point Shooting Contest will be held during halftime of each varsity game with chances to win prizes - bring your $1 bills! Attendees will also have the chance to win door prizes!
Join the ERA Booster Club on Facebook for activities updates and check out erabooster.org for more information and to register as a booster!
Developing Connections
Ways to Get Involved and Give Back - Kelly Schiffman, Director of Development
There are several ways to participate in giving at Eagle Ridge Academy. Creating additional revenue sources and building community is important as we strive to create the best possible educational experience for our students while staying true to our mission. Enjoy giving from the heart for a good cause with the benefit of receiving a tax deduction.
For more information on how you may participate in developing Eagle Ridge Academy, please contact Kelly Schiffman at 952-746-7760, ext. 1107 or by email at kschiffman@eagleridgeacademy.org. Visit our website for online giving and other important information at https://eagleridgeacademy.org/giving/ways-to-support-era/.
Volunteer Opportunities
Eagle Ridge Academy views parents and students as integral contributors and active participants in our school. The Academy is most successful when parents and students work together with the teachers and staff to create and sustain the best possible learning environment.
We update our volunteer opportunities weekly at the community opportunities link. Within this link is a separate sign-up for our monthly Volunteer Wednesdays, an opportunity to come in once per month to help with teacher and school projects.
Save the Date: 10th Annual Gryphon Classic Golf Tournament Monday, June 19!
The golf tournament will once again be hosted at Edinburgh USA in Brooklyn Park! Edinburgh USA is a public course and is one of only two courses in Minnesota designed by world renowned architect Robert Trent Jones II, who also designed Chambers Bay, site of the 2015 U.S. Open.
The annual golf scramble is a fun event that brings people together for a day to benefit the students of Eagle Ridge Academy. The event includes 18 holes of golf, cart and green fees, lunch and social hour by D’Amico Catering, raffle, complimentary drink ticket, and golfer gift. Stay tuned for registration in early spring. Learn more about the Gryphon Classic here.
Pledge Your Support
Pledge your annual support to Eagle Ridge Academy with an affordable monthly gift. Broken down into smaller amounts, it makes giving easier and allows a predictable revenue source for Eagle Ridge Academy. Click here to pledge your annual support.
Corporate Match Programs
Do you work for an employer who has a Matching Gift Program or supports community events as recommended by the employee?
Consider reaching out to your Community Relations or HR departments to ask about their community support and employee giving opportunities. Many organizations match employee gifts up to 100% (essentially doubling the impact of your gift to the Academy), donate to charities of choice based on volunteer hours, and sponsor events financially or with in-kind donations. Search this website to see if your workplace matches.
Be informed by asking today!
Shop with RaiseRight (formerly known as SCRIP)
Eagle Ridge Academy offers RaiseRight, a gift card program that gives back to Eagle Ridge Academy with purchases on everyday items such as groceries, restaurants, retail, and gas. Buy gift cards at face value from more than 750 retailers, and RaiseRight donates a portion of all purchases back to Eagle Ridge Academy. Orders go in on Fridays with delivery to ERA the following Tuesday. Learn more here.
AmazonSmile
Order 2022-23 Spirit Wear!
On Spirit Wear days, all staff and students K-12 can wear any spirit wear and uniform combination. The remaining 2022-23 Spirit Wear dates are Jan. 19 (Thursday), Feb. 24, March 10, April 20 (Thursday), and May 12.
Family Contributions
We appreciate the family contributions that have already been made to the PTO fund this year. You can always make a donation online or mail a check to the PTO at the school's address. The donations go toward building community and providing fun events for the children to enhance their school experience.
Stay Connected!
- Follow the ERA PTO on Facebook!
- Join the K-12 Parent Directory! This is a one-stop app that will help families search, sign up, and connect through our PTO web and mobile app. PTO encourages you to register. Create an account here: eagleridgeacademy.membershiptoolkit.com.
- Email the 2022-23 PTO Board at pto.eagleridge@gmail.com.
Support ERA Through Box Tops for Education and Coca-Cola GIVE Programs
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops for Education helps families earn money for Eagle Ridge Academy with products they already buy.
- Download the Box Tops for Education app on your phone.
- Follow the prompts to set up your account. Be sure to enter ERA as your school!
- Scan your grocery store receipts in the app. The app automatically finds eligible items and credits them to ERA! You can even see in the app how much money has been given to our school this year and what products have special Box Tops promotions going on.
- Visit boxtops4education.com for more information.
Coca-Cola GIVE
- To contribute through Coca-Cola GIVE, simply look for a code on Coke products. It can be found under screw tops or inside the boxes of 12- and 24-packs.
- When you see one, head to us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/ and search for Eagle Ridge Academy.
- Enter or scan the code and you’re done!
- Visit us.coca-cola.com/give/ for more information.
Annual Door Decorating Contest 2022
The week before winter break, Eagle Ridge Academy held its annual Door Decorating Contest. This year’s theme was Gryphons are Punny! Each classroom and advisory decorated their door, interpreting the theme differently. Students then toured the doors together, completing activities such as a scavenger hunt or art project, as well as voting for their favorites.
Door Decorating Contest 2022 Winners:
- Best Overall - Mrs. Toso’s Classical Enrichment Students
- School of Rhetoric - Mrs. Johnson’s Art Students
- School of Logic - Ms. Pahl’s Advisory
- School of Grammar - Ms. Anderson’s 3rd Grade Class
Thank you all for putting so much effort into your doors this year! Find the complete photo album of doors here.
Snow Day Fun!
Alumni Visit
Eagle Ridge Academy
Email: info@eagleridgeacademy.org
Website: https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/
Location: 11111 Bren Road West, Minnetonka, MN, USA
Phone: 9527467760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EagleRidgeAcademy/
Twitter: @eagleridgeacad