The Eagle Eye
Dec. 9, 2021 - Eagle Ridge Academy - Volume 18 | Issue 7
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, December 1 - Friday, December 17
Thursday, December 9
- Winter Band Concert, ERA Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 10
- Spirit Wear Day
- COFFE HOUSE POSTPONED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. New date TBD.
Monday, December 13
- Choir Club Session 1 Performance, ERA Auditorium, 4:00-4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, December 14
- Virtual School Board Workshop and Meeting, Zoom, 5:30-9:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 16
- Virtual Schools of Logic & Rhetoric Student and Parent Panel, Zoom, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 17
Monday, December 20 - Friday, Dec. 31
- NO SCHOOL due to Winter Break. School resumes Monday, January 3.
Year End Appeal Letter from ERA Board Member and Parent David Croson
Please take a moment to read the 2021 Year End Appeal letter written by Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors member and parent David Croson.
Please Complete Masking Survey from ERA Board of Directors by Friday, December 10
At their regularly scheduled meeting on December 14, the Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors will be having a discussion around the current masking protocols and possible benchmarks to determine the removal of a mask mandate in the future. Any decision would only impact the current school year and is always subject to change. Please complete this survey by tomorrow, December 10, to provide valuable input to the discussion. If you have specific questions, please contact Board Chair Clare Murray at cmurray@eaglridgeacademy.org. Thank you.
Read the 2020-21 Annual Report
Eagle Ridge Academy is proud to present the 2020-21 Annual Report, a document that highlights the school's strengths and performance over the past year. Wondering what information you might find in the report? We've collected just a few of the statistics for you here:
In 2020-21...
...Eagle Ridge Academy was designated as a High-Quality Charter School by the Minnesota Department of Education.
...students attended Eagle Ridge Academy from 30 different school districts.
...students outpaced the average state test score by at least 15%.
...we had a 100% graduation rate for the Class of 2021.
Want to learn more? Check out the full annual report on the school website: www.eagleridgeacademy.org/2020-21-annual-report.
Gryphon Conversation on Wednesday, December 15, to Discuss Removal of Latin Instruction for Grades K-2
The Curriculum Instruction Student Achievement (CISA) group will be hosting a Gryphon Conversation to discuss the recommendation by the Latin department to remove Latin instruction for grades K-2. The purpose of the change is to increase the instructional minutes of 6th grade Latin to better align with the recommended pacing provided by the Latin Cambridge curriculum, as well as provide students with integrated Latin and grammar instruction.
The research and exploration of the Latin shift has been several years in the making. It began with the initial adoption and implementation of the Cambridge textbook and was followed by researching practices in Classical schools across the nation, as well as examining the overall purpose of Latin instruction.
As a result of the change, Eagle Ridge Academy is exploring replacement options for kindergarten - 2nd grade. Replacement options being explored are rated based on alignment to a time-tested, Classical pedagogy, liberal arts focus, reinvestment in current programming, supports a logical transition into subsequent grades, and scheduling viability.
The timeline is as follows:
Wednesday, December 15
Eagle Ridge Academy will hold a virtual Gryphon Conversation, 9:45-10:30 a.m. This will be an opportunity for parents to ask questions and provide feedback on the recommended change. You may join the Gryphon Conversation using this Zoom link.
Tuesday, January 11
The Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors will hold a virtual Board Listening Session, 5:30-6:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents to share any additional thoughts on the change with the Board. You may join the Board Listening Session using this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 812 4214 0622 | Passcode: ERA2020).
Tuesday, January 25
The Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors will hold a virtual Board Meeting, 6:00-9:00 p.m. At this meeting, the Board will consider approving the Latin changes and specialist replacement. You may join the Board Listening Session using this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 812 4214 0622 | Passcode: ERA2020).
Free Dress Day Next Friday, December 17
What is Free Dress Day?
Free Dress Day is an all-school fundraiser for various departments at Eagle Ridge Academy. Students pay $5 to be able to wear non-uniforms to school on specific Free Dress Days.
December 13-16, K-12 students may bring $5 to their homeroom or first hour teacher in order to participate in Free Dress Day. On December 17, the cost to participate is $6.
What are the December 17 Free Dress Day funds designated for?
The December 17 Free Dress Day funds are designated for:
- Adding more diversity in book options to a classroom library
- Choir Club (grades 3-5) singing National Anthem at a Twins game (date TBD)
- 5th grade Kindness Retreat
- 6th grade Eagle Bluff trip
- 7th grade Courage Retreat
- ART XPO materials
What are the Free Dress Day guidelines?
All shoes must have backs--boots are permitted. Long and short sleeve shirts are permitted. No strapless, spaghetti straps, or sleeveless tops are permitted. Jeans are permitted; however, jeans with immodest rips in them are not. Sweat pants are permitted. Any logos on clothing must be school appropriate. Shirts are not to be tied back with elastic bands, but may be untucked. Heels should be no more than 1”. Skirt and shorts length should be modest, and no more than 2” above the knee. Costumes and Halloween masks should not be worn. No hats are permitted. Leggings and yoga pants can only be worn with modest shirts, tunics, shorts, and skirts.
Enroll Now for the 2022-2023 School Year!
Our 2022-2023 open enrollment period began on October 1. If your current ERA student has a sibling or foster sibling that you wish to enroll for the 2022-2023 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 18.
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 at or after 12:00 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2022 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.
Collect Lost & Found Items Before Winter Break
Community Updates: School of Grammar
Order Your School of Grammar Yearbook Today!
To purchase a School of Grammar yearbook for only $31 plus tax, please go to the Jostens website. Yearbooks will be distributed at the end of May. You may contact Jami Kruschke with Lower School yearbook questions at jkrushchke@eagleridgeacademy.org.
Community Updates: Schools of Logic & Rhetoric
Notes from the Schools of Logic & Rhetoric - Erin Johnson, Principal
Dear Families,
As we near the end of our first semester of the 2021-22 school year, we have been looking ahead to next school year. We have begun planning our course catalog, master schedule, and registering students. It is a good time to remind our families about the benefits of staying at Eagle Ridge Academy through high school and how continuing to receive a traditional Classical Education prepares students for success in post-secondary endeavors. Students are well-prepared for post-secondary options after they leave our building, easily making the transition from high school to college.
We have a panel of parents, students, and graduates who are eager to speak to our families in grades 4-8 about the benefits of staying at Eagle Ridge Academy through high school. We have both virtual and in-person options over the next four months for parents and students to attend and learn more about what Eagle Ridge Academy has to offer in the School of Rhetoric. An email was sent home to families on Tuesday, December 7, with more information on these panels.
Additionally, we have course registration for students in grades 8-11. Academic and College Counselor Mrs. Mary Johnson (Ms. MJ) will be meeting with advisories over the next week to introduce the course catalog and answer questions for students. After we return from Winter Break, Ms. MJ will meet with all students in grades 8-11 individually to register for courses and plan their time in the Eagle Ridge Academy School of Rhetoric. Please reach out to her with any questions about course offerings or if you have questions regarding graduation requirements.
The upcoming break is one students, staff, and families alike look forward to. I hope that you have a safe, warm, and happy break.
Sincerely,
Erin Johnson
Order Your Upper School Yearbook Today!
Senior Portraits, Quotes, and Baby Pictures Due December 17
Please fill out this Google form to submit senior portraits, quotes, and baby pictures. If you have any questions, please contact Emma Conner, econner@eagleridgeacademy.org. Please complete the form and do not send the pictures through email.
Notes from the Academic Advising Office - Mary Johnson, College and Academic Advisor
Seniors: The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application opened on October 1, 2021. If you are planning on attending any type of post-secondary education institution (college, university, trade or technical school) after high school, you must complete your FAFSA as part of the application process to the post-secondary institution. The sooner you get your FAFSA submitted, the more aid you are likely to receive. Let's get those FAFSAs submitted as soon as possible! Please email me at majohnson@eagleridgeacademy.org with questions or for assistance.
Essay Contests
- The 2021 Profile in Courage Essay Contest is now open for 9th-12th grade students. First-place prize is $10,000. Access curriculum materials, past winning essays, criteria for judging, and more online. Register and submit an essay at jfklibrary.org/essaycontest. Deadline for submission is January 14, 2022.
- The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education's Free Speech Essay Contest is now open for juniors and seniors. Entries are due by December 31, 2021. First prize is a $10,000 scholarship. For more details, visit thefire.org/contest.
Scholarship Deadlines
- Science Ambassador Scholarship - $40,000 - 1 Award (Deadline: December 13, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be a high school senior or an undergraduate student. B) Attend a school in the United States in the Fall of 2022.
- Burger King Scholars Program - $50,000 - 10 Awards (Deadline: December 15, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent. B) Plan to enroll full-time, without interruption, for the entire 2022-23 academic year at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.
- Senior Planning Social Work and Eldercare Scholarship - $900 - 5 Awards (Deadline: Dec. 15, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. B) Be a high school senior or undergraduate with less than 90 credit hours.
- Path to Pro Scholarship - $2,000 - 125 Awards (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be a high school senior, high school graduate, or have a GED equivalent. B) Plan to enroll, or be enrolled, in an approved trade-related program at an accredited two-year school (technical/vocational school or college) in the United States.
- CX Scholarship - $10,000 - 1 Award (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be 13 years of age or older and a legal resident of the U.S. B) Be currently attending high school, college, vocational, or any other accredited post-secondary institution.
- Design Thinking Scholarship - $500 - 2 Awards (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must be enrolled in a degree-granting program at an accredited two- or four-year college or university located in the United States.
- Certified Nursing Assistant Scholarship - $1,000 - 1 Award (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be currently enrolled, accepted, or applying to be in an accredited CNA program in the United States. B) Write an essay explaining why you have decided to become a certified nursing assistant.
- Thiel High School Fellowship - $100,000 - 30 Awards (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be under the age of 22. B) Be interested in designing and building things.
- Power of Resilience Scholarship - $1,000 – 1 Award (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must be in either high school or college (undergraduate or graduate program) and must show good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.0.
- CC Bank's Young Scholars Scholarship - $2,000 – 5 Awards (Deadline: December 31, 2021). To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Be a US resident under the age of 30. B) Be in good academic standing and carry a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
- Honor a Hero Scholarship - To be eligible for the scholarship a student must be a current high school senior, college student, or graduate student who is a legal resident of the United States residing in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia for the 2022 semester.
- Coolidge Scholarship - The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that may be used by recipients for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2023 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major. The submission deadline is 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
To receive a weekly scholarship newsletter, click here.
SUPPORT ERA ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES!
- Volunteer at the Boys and Girls Basketball Home Games! Volunteers are needed in concessions and admissions/ticketing. Go to www.ERABooster.org and look for the volunteer links on the home page.
- Become a Booster Club Member! Memberships range from a free Patron member to a Gryphon member that provides access to all home games, a free concession snack, a free ticket to the end of year awards ceremony, and more. Show your school spirit and become a member today. Go to www.ERABooster.org and look for the "Become a Booster" button on the home page.
- Attend the Pack the Stands Event on Thursday, January 6, to show your school spirit, cheer on our Girls Basketball teams, and recognize the 2021 ERA State Championship Mock Trial and Robotics teams! See the flyer below for more information or visit www.ERABooster.org.
- Become a Team Coordinator to support the students and coaches of a particular sport or activity. See https://erabooster.org/form/m/164170 for more information or to volunteer as your student's sport/activity Team Coordinator. Currently, the Debate Team and Robotics Team are both in need of a Team Coordinator. If you have interest and/or questions, please email GaraStrot@gmail.com.
- Join the ERA Booster Club Board! The ERA Booster Club is looking for parents interested in contributing to the growth and excellence of letter-eligible activities. Leading a committee for the Booster Club takes 7-10 hours per month. We currently need parents with an interest in fundraising, sponsorship, or communications. Email us at erabooster@gmail.com.
Learn more by visiting the ERA Booster Club website (erabooster.org) or by joining the Facebook group today!
Senior Basketball Co-Captain Delaney W. Scores her 1,000th Point
Chess Success
State Champion ERA Mockers Begin a New Season; Coaches Needed
Following up on last year’s success as 2021 MN State Champions, the ERA Mockers are hard at work again this year learning a new case, preparing their opening and closing statements, working on their witness preparation, and practicing their objections. Their first invitational of the season is this weekend. The University of Minnesota Mock Trial Association will be hosting their 14th annual Golden Gavel tournament over Zoom on Saturday, December 11. Regional competitions begin the week of January 10, 2022.
As in prior years, there will be two ERA Mock Trial teams and there are a number of students returning for another exciting season, plus new students joining as well. Included in the Mocker ranks are these returning members of the MN 2021 State Champion team: Muthu M. and Bella V. L. (Class of ‘22), Natalie G. (Class of ‘23), and Greta L. (Class of ‘24).
The teams are coached by Harshita Kalidindi (ERA 2017 alumni and U of MN Mock Trial team member). The team needs additional coaching support. If you or anyone you know, has a legal background (attorney/para-legal) or experience with high school or college Mock Trial and might have an interest in helping to coach this amazing group of talented students, please reach out to Coach Harshita Kalidindi at harshivarma@gmail.com or 952-905-0563.
Let’s all wish our ERA Mockers another successful season! Go Gryphons!
Developing Connections
Over $47,000 Raised for ERA's Scholarship Program and New Grow Your Own Teacher Program During Gala for the Gryphons Online Silent Auction! - Kelly Schiffman, Director of Development
We are excited to announce that through the generosity of our community, we raised over $47,000 to help fund the Eagle Ridge Academy Scholarship Program and a new Grow Your Own Teacher Program at this year's Gala for the Gryphons! A special thank you to all of our guests who attended the Gala on November 19 and to our generous sponsors who make events like the Gala possible. If you participated through the silent auction, gave an out right gift, or helped as a volunteer, we THANK YOU! We are incredibly grateful for the many who supported this annual event. Enjoy some fun photos from Gala for the Gryphons: 70s, 80s, 90s Dance Party, taken by Sridhar Thayur of Thayur Photography here: GALA PHOTOS FALL 2021.
Volunteer
We have several opportunities available for volunteers this winter. There’s a job for everyone – let us know if you can help. Sign up to volunteer today.
For more information on how you may participate in the development of 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/.
Pledge Your Support
Pledge your annual support to Eagle Ridge Academy with an affordable monthly gift, broken down into smaller amounts, which 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 department 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 SCRIP
Eagle Ridge Academy offers SCRIP, 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 SCRIP donates a portion of all purchases back to Eagle Ridge Academy. Orders go in on Friday, with delivery to ERA the following Tuesday. The last order of the year will go in on December 13. Orders placed after this date will be processed after Winter Break. Learn more here. View the ShopwithScrip 2021 Holiday Gift Guide here!
AmazonSmile
January Food Service Information - Brittany Radtke, Chef Manager
Dear Eagle Ridge Academy Families,
Please see our Food Services page for December menus and below for January menus.
Sincerely,
Brittany Radtke
Holiday Message from the PTO
We would like to wish happy holidays and a peaceful and healthy season to all ERA families, teachers, and staff. Happy belated Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year to all.
Thank you for being part of Eagle Ridge Academy. Thank you for attending PTO-sponsored events, purchasing spirit wear, and making donations to support our teachers and student events. We are beyond grateful for all your involvement this year during our events, as we can’t build community without hard work and participation. We truly appreciate you and would love to see more of your smiling faces at the events.
Our next event is the Festival of Treats for the teachers and staff next week.
It is one of the longest ERA PTO traditions. Families share their holiday spirit by dropping off freshly baked cookies, fruits, charcuterie boards, and varieties of snacks. PTO will be on-site to help manage the drop-off and to set up treats in the two breakrooms. Please use this sign-up to let us know what you would like to contribute.
Spirit Wear
If you are looking to purchase spirit wear, we have received additional inventory. Please order online and pay an emailed invoice. Pick up of spirit wear items will be available in the office.
Skiing Club
We are looking for 4-6 parent volunteers to run the Skiing Club. If you are interested in this, please reach out to the PTO and we will get you in touch with our contact at Hyland Park and the previous club manager for training. There are no skiing dates or classes set up currently for this winter.
Next PTO Meeting is January 11, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
The January 11 meeting will be hosted over Zoom. Details will be posted on Facebook and the ERA PTO website.
School of Grammar Needs Winter Party Volunteers!
All Lower School families should have received a letter about winter parties, including information about volunteering and sending in $10 to cover both the winter and year-end parties. These parties are parent-led, so please direct any additional questions to one of your Classroom Parents.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! It's only one hour of your time and students love having their parents in the classroom. Sign up to volunteer here.
Contributions can be sent to school in the envelope provided with the letter or can be submitted electronically to @kwarkent on Venmo or PayPal. Please include your student's name and teacher in the comments. Thank you!
Family Contributions
We appreciate the family contributions to the PTO fund that have brought us halfway to our goal for the year. You can always make a donation online or mail a check to PTO at the school's address. The donations go toward building community and providing fun events for the children to enhance their school experience.
Share Your Contact Information in the Family Directory
Since our school is unable to publish or otherwise share family contact information, we want to encourage families to share their contact information in the school directory via Membership Tool Kit. Doing so makes it much easier to communicate between families, share classroom opportunities, publicize grade level get-togethers, and assist one another with homework and uniform questions.
Membership Tool Kit gives you control over what information you share and is available both online and as an app. Create an account here.
If you already have an account, use the same link to access it through your mobile app or computer and update your family information including teacher or advisor name.
Stay Connected!
Sincerely,
Your 2021-2022 PTO Board
President – Elena Ryabinin
Vice-President – Poornima Pelluri
Treasurer – Tina Loutsch
Teacher Liaisons – Lindsay Thomas (1st grade teacher) and Jessica Bergeron (9th grade Latin teacher)
Community Engagement – Gretchen Stone; Carolyn Sommers Tillotson
Feel free to reach out to PTO via email pto.eagleridge@gmail.com.
Support ERA Through Box Tops for Education and Coca-Cola GIVE Programs
See It… Save It!
Did you know that you can support Eagle Ridge Academy through your everyday purchases with the Box Tops for Education and Coca-Cola GIVE programs? These programs are free and simple to use. Not only that, but anyone can participate—grandparents, neighbors, and friends—so check out these programs today, and while you’re at it, get a couple of friends on board too!
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops for Education (BTFE) helps families earn money for Eagle Ridge Academy with products they already buy. It only takes minutes to get the Box Tops app through the app store on your phone and follow the prompts to set up your account. Be sure to enter ERA as your school. Once you have the app set up, it’s a snap to use it to scan your receipt every time you buy groceries. 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. Email seeitsaveitera@gmail.com if you have any questions about either program.
Cultural Exchange in the Classroom
Ms. Hurth's third grade class received a package from their pen pals in South Korea today! Former Eagle Ridge Academy TA Ms. Colby moved to South Korea last year to teach English. Ms. Hurth and Ms. Colby stayed in touch and decided to engage in cultural exchange to help their students learn a bit about another part of the world.
The first letters from Korea arrived in November. After writing back last month, our students have been waiting eagerly for a reply and were not disappointed by the care package that arrived today! Each student in Ms. Hurth's class received a drawing from their pen pal of their name written in Korean. Some of the other goodies inside the care package included Korean candy and snacks, fun pens for each student, a puzzle, games and toys, a BTS album, stuffed animals, and a decorative fan.
Thank you to Ms. Hurth and Ms. Colby for going above and beyond in the classroom! Our third graders had the best time unboxing their package and are already brainstorming ideas for what they can send back from America. Stay tuned for more from our pen pals in South Korea!
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