The Eagle Eye
September 21, 2023 - Eagle Ridge Academy - 2023-24 Issue 2
Upcoming Events
Friday, September 22
- Girls Varsity Soccer vs. PACT Charter at ISM, 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, September 23
- K-12 Volunteer Fair Organized by National Honor Society, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday, September 25
- Sixth Grade Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
- Boys Varsity Soccer vs. North Lakes Academy at ISM, 4:15 p.m.
- Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Chesterton Academy at ERA, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26
- Kindergarten Field Trip: Schneider/Linehan/Dueffert, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
- Seventh Grade Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
- Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Spectrum at ISM, 4:15 p.m.
- School Board Meeting, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 27
- Kindergarten Field Trip: Mills/Woolf/Vargas, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
- Eighth Grade Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
Thursday, September 28
- School of Rhetoric Pillar Assembly - FORMAL DRESS REQUIRED
- Gryphon Cross Country Invitational at Levi P. Dodge Middle School, 4:20 p.m.
Friday, September 29
- NO SCHOOL due to Professional Development
Saturday, September 30
- Grades K-5 Rockin' the Ridge School Carnival, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Please note: only Varsity home games and matches for Gryphon Activities are listed on this calendar. To see a full list of Gryphon games, matches, and practices, please view the Activities Calendar.
Congratulations to Eagle Ridge Academy's National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists!
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on September 13 that two Eagle Ridge Academy seniors have been named as 2024 National Merit Semifinalists. We offer congratulations to National Merit Semifinalists Gabriel Grabanski and Greta Long! Gabriel and Greta will now compete against 16,000 other students for a chance to be awarded the National Merit Scholarship this coming spring.
Students compete against over one million juniors across the country for the chance to qualify for a semifinalist position. These students were among the highest-scoring participants in Minnesota on the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). These scores, along with their academic record, extracurricular activities, community services, leadership abilities, and awards received during their high school years, are all factored into the selection process. Learn more here.
Guide to Eagle Ridge Academy Operations Staff - Executive Director Jason Ulbrich
Dear Eagle Ridge Academy Families,
While the start of the school year brings new beginnings, it also brings the most challenges, especially with operations like transportation, ordering lunches, and parking. We appreciate your flexibility and patience. One question we often receive early in the year is, “Who do I go to?” Below is a list of operations staff, their contact information, and a brief description of responsibilities:
Karen Conner, Operations Manager, kconner@eagleridgeacademy.org
- Supervise office and operations staff
- Facilities
- Equipment and furniture
- Building scheduling
- Transportation
Kari Lyon, Human Resources Manager, klyon@eagleridgeacademy.org
- Benefits and Compensation
- Employee Handbook and Policies
- Recruitment
- Substitute teachers
Janice Gerheart, Admissions Specialist, jgerheart@eagleridgeacademy.org
- Student admissions and enrollment
- State reporting
- Student records
Que Rivera, Substitute Licensed School Nurse, qrivera@eagleridgeacademy.org
- Health provider
- Medical staff training
- Student health records
- Health and wellness
Steve Meak, Food Service Specialist, smeak@eagleidgeacademy.org
- Manages school breakfast and lunch program
- State and federal food service reports
- Menu coordination, chef
Kris Babler, Activities Director, kbabler@eagleridgeacademy.org
- ERA Activities and Athletics Director
- Club Director
Franchesca Castro, Communications Manager, fcastro@eagleridgeacademy.org
- Manages district email communication and school website
- ERA Social Media
- Eagle Eye Newsletter
- Event Form Requests
Dee Martin, Accounts Payable Specialist, dmartin@eagleridgeacademy.org
- Accounts payable
- Payroll/timecards
- Deposits
Amber Dahlstrom, Director of Special Services, adahlstrom@eagleridgeacademy.org
- SPED Director
- ADSIS Coordinator
- 504 Services
When you need assistance with operations, please refer to the list above. For help in areas of instruction, please use the following as a guide:
- If there is a question or concern within the classroom, contact the teacher first.
- If there is a question or concern with curriculum or school wide instruction, please contact your building principal. Janelle Mellgren for the School of Grammar, Michael Pelofske for the School of Logic, and Erin Johnson for the School of Rhetoric.
- If there is a question regarding mission, vision, or policies, contact the Executive Director.
- If your concern or question is not handled in the appropriate manner, or more guidance is needed, please contact the next level.
When we communicate our questions and concerns at the level which it is closely related, we decrease confusion, frustration, and save time.
Sincerely,
Jason Ulbrich, Executive Director
Eagle Ridge Academy Volunteer Fair Saturday, September 23
The Eagle Ridge Academy National Honor Society is holding a Volunteer Fair in the ERA Forum on Saturday, September 23, 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Volunteer Fair is an opportunity for all students and families to connect with local charities and non-profits looking for volunteers from the community. Please enter through the Main Entrance starting at 1:00 p.m.
Walk-in Flu Clinic Friday, September 29, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Parents, guardians, and children aged five years and older may come to the Main Entrance from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to receive a flu shot. Remember to bring your insurance card and driver’s license or ID, and wear something that makes your upper arm easily accessible. Children must be accompanied by guardians at all time. No guardian is required for children aged 18 and older, but they must provide a driver’s license or valid ID and insurance card for prescription coverage.
Eagle Ridge Academy Music Department Music Performance Times Survey
Get Involved: Volunteer Opportunities at Eagle Ridge Academy
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. To learn more about all volunteer opportunities, policy and procedures around volunteering, and see it all by season of year, please visit https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/volunteer/.
We currently have a variety of volunteer opportunities coming up where you can lend your hands in support! High priority needs are for lunchroom support, School Portrait Retake Day, and Rockin' the Ridge. On our volunteer opportunities sign-up page there is a separate sign-up for our monthly Volunteer Wednesdays, an opportunity to come in one time per month to help with teacher and school projects. Our first Volunteer Wednesday is October 11. Give 5 and volunteer this school year!
Eagle Ridge Academy Homecoming Week October 2-6
Classical Corner: Cultivating the Heart
This year as we prepared for students, one of the things we focused on was how the physical environment could communicate our values. We examined our spaces in the school and considered how to make the most of each space for our students–how to draw one’s eye to something, how to communicate our Classical ideals, how to hold up that which we value. For a Classical environment guides scholars toward that which is true, good, and beautiful. By displaying items which clearly mirror our ideals, virtues, and the pillars, we are not only supplementing the core values we seek to instill, but are also nourishing the formation of our students’ moral compasses. Jerilyn Olson, a Classical education leader, puts it this way:
“There is no higher calling than turning the student’s heart to love what is true, good, and beautiful, to draw them in…We are cultivating. We are encouraging growth… We think first about preparing the soil. We are tilling that soil and immersing students in the right kind of environment to flourish…If we want [students] to build a love for what is noble and lasting, then our first job is to steep them in a space that honors those noble and lasting things.”
As parents, you know well that cultivating the heart is not work that is simply checked off and completed. This work is a continual, proactive means by which we communicate to children what matters most. Tilling the soil, instilling core values, and encouraging growth is the very work you are doing at home. Rest assured, that it is the very work in which we come alongside you. As your partners in education we fully understand that we are in this together and hold the moral development of your children as not only an integral part of our mission but also one of our greatest honors.
So as you see your children come home with pillar stickers and pillar awards this week, take a moment to celebrate with us. For this is our shared accomplishment–one that begins with small steps to steep students in a space that turns the eye toward that which is true, good, and beautiful; that grows with adults in their lives embodying the pillars; that continues in children finding and emulating goodness. May we continue together in our cultivation of hearts and minds!
Sincerely,
Suzannah Toso
Classical Enrichment Teacher K-2
Classical Coordinator K-12
Classical Education Parent Night: "The Joy of Classical Education" Wednesday, October 18
Schedule
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Airport Marriott Hotel, 2020 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN
Social Hour*: 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Presentation: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
*Appetizers will be served. Thank you to the Eagle Ridge Academy PTO for sponsoring the social hour.
Susan is the author most recently of Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child’s Education, as well as The Well-Educated Mind, The Story of Western Science, and the History of the World series, all published by W. W. Norton; she also wrote the children’s series The Story of the World, Writing With Ease, Writing With Skill, and Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind. Susan and her mother Jessie Wise are the co-authors of The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, now in its fourth edition.
Susan is the owner and editor-in-chief of the Well-Trained Mind Press, a small press publishing resources for K-12 students and their parents, and the founder of The Well-Trained Mind Academy, which offers online courses in the classical tradition for middle and high school students.
She has a Ph.D. in the history of American religion from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, as well as an M.A. in seventeenth-century literature and a Master of Divinity in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature. For fifteen years, she taught literature and composition at the College of William and Mary.
She now writes and raises sheep on the family farm in Charles City, Virginia, which is also the home base for her husband and her four adult children, as well as two dogs, five cats, eleven ducks, thirty Angora goats, four horses, two donkeys, and a variable number of chickens and pigs. Her current project is a history of illness for St. Martin’s Press.
Community Updates: School of Grammar
Preorder Wristbands for Rockin' the Ridge (Grades K-5) School Carnival on September 30
Rockin’ the Ridge, the ERA PTO's popular community carnival event for grades K-5, will take place at Eagle Ridge Academy on Saturday, September 30, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
We are pleased to invite K-5 families to join us in making memorable moments with other members of the ERA community. Kids have a wide range of fun to choose, including a variety of carnival games, a photo backdrop with silly props, henna, face painting, crazy hair, and so much more!
The unlimited wristband can be pre-ordered for $25 and picked up at the event. The price will increase if purchased at the door on September 30. Punch cards for activities will also be sold at the event. Point values vary between games and activities.
Since this is a community event, the PTO is in need of many volunteers to make it successful. This event thrives on your support! Your time will help the PTO craft wonderful memories for students. The PTO welcome guardians, grandparents, extended family members, and even ERA juniors and seniors to lend a hand! Sign up to volunteer here.
Why Volunteer?
- Be a vital part of an amazing carnival experience.
- Give back to the community.
- Enjoy quality time with Eagle Ridge Academy students.
Your participation counts and your involvement is indispensable. Let's unite to make this carnival a hit! THANK YOU!
Gryphon Groups: K-4 Small Group Counseling Opportunities with School Counselor Ms. King
What are Gryphon Groups?
Gryphon Groups are a safe space for students to learn and practice skills for success and deal with challenging situations and feelings. Groups are divided by grade level and will meet once a week for up to eight weeks.
Who leads Gryphon Groups?
Gryphon Groups are led by Ms. Emma King, School of Grammar Counselor. Please email her at eking@eagleridgeacademy.org if you are interested in having your student join a Gryphon Group.
Groups Offered this Year:
- Friendship: Students will learn and practice social skills for making and maintaining friendships.
- Emotional Regulation: Students will safely process “big feelings” and learn calming skills for anger, sadness, frustration, worry, and more.
- Confidence: Students will learn and practice skills that promote a sense of self-worth and confidence. Students will identify and celebrate their unique strengths and ambitions.
- Anxiety/Worry: Students will safely process feelings of worry and stress. Students will learn and practice coping skills to promote a comfortable school day.
- Grief/Loss/Family Change: Students will be offered support as they experience changes at home, such as death, divorce, incarceration, or other significant changes.
School of Grammar Yearbook Sale Ends September 21
Register for Skyhawks After-School Care for Grades K-6 - Open on Non-School Day September 29!
Skyhawks is an after-school program for children enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade. Skyhawks Sports MN partners with Eagle Ridge Academy in a shared vision to develop the whole student to be confident, healthy, and respectful individuals ready for all that life has to throw at them.
During Skyhawks after-school care, students will have the opportunity to eat a snack, work on homework, and participate in various activities and crafts. Additionally, they will promote physical health while carrying out their mission of teaching life skills through sports. Skyhawks aims to teach the basics of sports, while emphasizing life skills such as teamwork, respect, responsibility, and leadership. This will be carried out through daily sports and/or organized games.
After-school care is available at Eagle Ridge Academy for grades K-6 students for $18/day on regular school days (Monday-Friday, 3:20-6:00 p.m.) and $35/day on non-school days (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
- Learn more about Skyhawks After-School Care at Eagle Ridge Academy here.
- Visit the Skyhawks website here.
- Register monthly here.
- Register daily/weekly here.
- Register for non-school day September 29 here.
Community Updates: School of Logic
Schools of Logic & Rhetoric Uniform Clarification and Uniform Bank Donation Request
Uniform Clarification
We’ve been alerted to a format issue in our Schools of Logic and Rhetoric uniform policy that has caused some confusion. We apologize for the confusion caused and want to clarify the uniform expectation. Please note that a belt IS required with all pants and shorts REGARDLESS of whether the polo shirt is banded or not. Please ensure that your student wears a belt with the approved uniform pants and shorts.
Uniform Bank Donations Request
Our Schools of Logic & Rhetoric Uniform Bank supplies are dwindling. It’s important to have a healthy stock in a variety of sizes to keep our students in uniform throughout the day. We are seeking donations of several items including uniform polo shirts, spirit wear shirts/shorts, black leggings, shoes (either active or formal), black or brown belts, and uniform bottoms of all sizes. If you have the following items to donate or are still holding onto a uniform bank piece from last year, please email Mrs. Missy Madigan to coordinate drop-off.
Community Updates: School of Rhetoric
School of Rhetoric Homecoming Dance Friday, October 6
Tickets will be sold during high school lunch from September 25-October 4 and at the door on October 6. Students must pay with cash or check. Ticket prices are below.
- September 25-28: $15
- October 2-4: $20
- At the door on October 6: $25
Students must pay with cash or check. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Please contact Activities Specialist Kalvin O’Neal if you are interested in volunteering to help plan or run this event.
Schools of Logic and Rhetoric Yearbook Information
Approximately 200 copies of the Schools of Logic & Rhetoric yearbook will be printed this year. Last year, all copies sold out before the last day of school. Order your grades 5-12 yearbook early to ensure you get a copy this spring! The current price of a yearbook is $47, though prices will continue to increase as we approach the end of the school year.
Notes from the Academic & College Advisor
Dear School of Rhetoric Families,
Please see below for some important information.
Minnesota National College Fair
The 2023 National College Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center will take place on October 4, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m., and October 5, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Find more information here and register here.
PSAT/NMSQT® for Juniors on Tuesday, October 10
The PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a practice version of the SAT exam. Students can only take the PSAT once per year. However, if they earn a high score on the PSAT during their junior year, they could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship—180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests reading, writing, and math skills. All students in Grade 11 are automatically registered to take the assessment. Parents may opt out their student from the test by emailing lkaiser@eagleridgeacademy.org.
Financial Aid Bootcamp for Seniors in December 2023
The Department of Education has indicated that the new 2024-25 FAFSA will be released in December 2023, two months after the usual release date of October 1. The delay is due to the simplification of the process and form. Therefore, we will hold our Financial Aid Bootcamp for Seniors in December instead of the typical October. More information to come, but in the meantime, if you are interested, here is a calculator to estimate your student's Federal Student Aid.
Scholarship Opportunity
- Voice of Democracy Essay Contest - Deadline: October 31
Kind regards,
Mrs. Kaiser
Improving Student Government - Activities Director, Kris Babler
Life at ERA has seen rapid change over the past decade. Our facilities have changed. Our enrollment has changed. Everything about the student experience has evolved and adapted to our ever-changing school except how student government has been delivered.
I am proud of Eagle Ridge Academy’s commitment to teaching civil discourse and humanities. And our student government is a critical leadership development experience to further these ideals. The administration felt it was important to pause and reflect on what has worked well and what we need to revisit regarding student government.
Members of grades 6-12 met with Administration on September 15 to allow students to address critical issues facing the House and student government as a whole. As Houses are intended to improve the community, it was determined that there is a need to develop better structures, transparent meetings, and clearer election rules. These are familiar needs for everyone that lives in a democracy. And we are lucky, as educators, to guide and mentor the next generation of Gryphon leaders.
Don't Forget to Register for Fall Clubs
Registration for grades K-12 fall clubs and co-curriculars is still open. Learn more about the opportunities available below and register here today.
Discover – First Lego League (Grades K-1)
Who: Students in kindergarten and first grade interested in hands-on building.
What: This playful introductory STEM program ignites their natural curiosity and builds their habits of learning with hands-on activities in the classroom and at home using LEGO® DUPLO® bricks. Designed for kids, teams work together to discover how science and technology impact the world around them.
Where: Room 2124
When: October 2-December 15, Monday-Friday, 3:15-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $122
Director: Derek Lutz
Chess Club Session 1 (Grades K-12)
Who: Those with an interest in chess or a desire to learn a classic game of strategy
What: Students will learn and play chess at their level with qualified chess teachers and coaches.
Where: Various Classrooms & Lunchroom
When: October 24-January 23, Tuesdays, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
Cost: $95
Director: April Grabanski
Explore – First Lego League (Grades 2-3)
Who: Students in second and third grade interested in hands-on building. This is a precursor to Robotics.
What: In Explore, teams of students focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design, and code and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO Education WeDo 2.0. Guided by adult coaches, teams work with LEGO elements to build a motorized model and create a Show Me poster related to their research of a yearly theme. FLL Explore captures the interest of our youngest learners!
Where: Room 2124
When: October 2-December 15, Monday-Friday, 3:15-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $138
Director: Derek Lutz
Books & Beyond (Grades 2-5)
Who: Students looking for enrichment with reading and arts.
What: Students will gain some extra time in the ERA library and participate in creative book-related projects! Some project opportunities include building a "Little Free Library" for ERA, practicing character drawings, making a "shine-a-light" book, and/or writing and designing a puppet show. Project material costs are included in the fee.
Where: Library Room 1200
When: October 2-December 4, Mondays, 3:20-4:20 p.m.
Cost: $96
Leader: Carolyn Tillotson
Impart Art Club (Grades 2-5)
Who: Students in grades 2-5 interested in art.
What: Join us and have an amazing time creating new and exciting two-dimensional art. Artists will explore different mediums: paint, watercolor, collage, chalk, or oil pastel. Artists will advance their art knowledge and techniques beyond the classroom in a new fun way.
Where: Room 1510
When: September 28-December 14, Thursdays, 3:20-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $110
Leader: Jami Kruschke
Choir Club Session 1 (Grades 3-5)
Who: Students in grades 3-5 interested in group singing.
What: Students will sing, practice, and perform in an ensemble setting. The Session 1 final performance will be in the ERA Auditorium on Monday, December 11, 4:00-4:15 p.m.
Where: Music Room 1609
When: October 2-December 11, Mondays, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Cost: $85
Leader: Caroline Freund
Challenge – First Lego League (Grades 4-6)
Who: Students in fourth-sixth grade interested in hands-on building. This is a precursor to Robotics.
What: Teams collaborate to build and program an autonomous robot to score points on a thematic playing surface (the Robot Game) and create an innovative solution to a problem correlating to the yearly theme (the Innovation Project), all guided by the FIRST Core Values. Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. The theme of The Challenge changes every year and is based on a real-world scientific topic. Past challenges have included topics such as space, nanotechnology, biomedical, climate change, recycling, and transportation.
Where: Room 2124
When: October 2-December 15, Monday-Friday, 3:15-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $170
Director: Derek Lutz
ERA Theater (Grades 4-12)
Who: Everyone in grades 4-12 interested in the fine art of theater plays. Most shows require auditioning PRIOR to registration.
What: ERA Theater will put on theater productions in the fall, winter, and spring.
- Fall: Grades 6-12 play
- Winter: Grades 9-12 competition one act and grades 7-8 and 4-6 non-competitive one acts
- Spring: Grades 6-12 play
Where: Meet at the Auditorium
When: August 31-April 28
- Fall Rehearsals: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Winter Rehearsals: Monday-Saturday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Spring Rehearsals: TBD
Cost: $125 for the fall and winter shows; $150.00 for the spring show
Director: Betsy Bixby is the theater department chair. Each production has different leaders.
Middle School Robotics- FTC (Grades 6-8)
Who: Students in grades 6-8 interested in hands-on building robotics. This program helps to build math, science and engineering skills.
What: This team-based, hands-on, competitive robotics program provides challenging and exciting learning opportunities for young people. It develops teamwork and leadership skills and promotes excitement in science and technology. Teams of up to eight students collaborate to build and program a robot that competes on a 12’ by 12’ field. Each year the challenge is designed to challenge students to think critically and expand their knowledge of the engineering process.
Where: Room 2124
When: October 2-January 18, Tuesday-Thursday, 3:15-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $202
Director: Derek Lutz
D&D Club (Grades 6-12)
Who: Everyone in grades 6-12 interested in experiencing a role-playing game.
What: D&D Club is run by Eagle Ridge students. Participants will get to experience a role-playing game in mixed groups.
Where: Rooms 2136 and 2121
When: September 22-April 3, Fridays, 3:30-6:00 p.m.
Cost: $65
Math Team (Grades 6-12)
Who: Math Club is for students that have a love for math or are adept in math and want to enhance their skills.
What: Math Club is dedicated to competitive mathematics and the pursuit of becoming a better person and mathematician.
Where: Room 2102
When: September 25-March 11, Mondays, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $159
Head Coach: Ethan Martin
Creative Cinematics (Grades 7-12)
Who: Grades 7-12 students interested in learning about photography, video production, and story-telling in the media age.
What: Creative Cinematics is a video production and photography program which aims to inspire, unlock, and direct creativity in the form of video and photography. Students will go through the process of pre-production to post-production, creating a finished product to show to their peers and family. The club will help with yearbook and social media content as well. In spring of 2023, students will create a short film and premiere it on the last week of school.
Where: TBD
When: September 26-June 7, Wednesdays, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $70
Director: Kalvin O’Neal
Debate (Grades 7-12)
Who: Grades 7-12 interested in learning more about Rhetoric and competing inter-scholastically.
What: Preparing students to use their skills in the art of rhetoric and convince groups of people to side with their positions using evidence and logic.
Where: Room 1406
When: Beginning October 9, Mondays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $95
Director: Judah Wall
Pep Band (Grades 7-12)
Who: Pep Band is for everyone in grades 7-12. Whether you can play well or not, the pep band is always a party. Come be a part of it.
What: Students will meet to rehearse once weekly for 60 minutes to prepare popular genre works for band. Our quest is to provide the crowds at athletic events with live musical pre-game and half-time entertainment.
Where: Room 1612
When: September 19-March 3, Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Director: Michael Berger
High School Robotics - FRC (Grades 9-12)
Who: Everyone interested in hands-on building robotics and competing inter-scholastically.
What: The FRC (FIRST ROBOTICS COMPTITION) is a non-profit organization that gathers high school robotics teams from around the world to come together and show off their skills in a competition format. Students will take a challenge offered by the FRC and develop a specially designed robot to complete the challenge at the highest level. Along the way students will be learning how to code, build, use tools, use CAD (Computer aided design), wire circuits, and build life skills such as communication, compromise, and teamwork.
Where: Room 2124
When: October 2-April 26, Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost: $239
Director: Derek Lutz
Mindfulness Club (Grades 9-12)
Who: This club is for students in grades 9-12 that want to understand their emotions better and be calmer.
What: The Mindfulness Club teaches brain science-based mindfulness practices. Participants will learn and practice these techniques to gain an increasing awareness of what is going on in our minds (and emotions) leading eventually to more control over our emotions and reactions, a little at a time.
Where: Room 2122
When: October 5-January 25, Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Leader: Dan O’Brien
Upper School Fall Play Performances November 10 & 11 - Preorder Tickets Today
Join us for ERA’s Upper School Fall Play: The Frugal Repast by Ron Hirsen, directed by Betsy Bixby. It is 1913 in Paris, where renowned art dealer Ambroise Vollard has just published The Frugal Repast, an edition of etchings by Pablo Picasso, the rising young star of the Paris art world. The two impoverished circus performers depicted in The Frugal Repast see the etching on display in the window of Vollard’s gallery and determine to steal it for ransom.
Performances will take place in ERA’s auditorium on Friday, November 10, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 11, at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 here or at the door for $10. Advanced reservations will close on Wednesday, November 8. Please note that the box office can only accept cash or check.
Order Spirit Wear Online 24/7
Eagle Ridge Academy's online Sideline Store is available for orders 24/7! For a limited time only, score 20% off $75 or more with code: GEAR20. #GoGryphons
Fall Booster Drive: Become a Booster!
Visit ERABooster.org to:
- Make your yearly contribution.
- Watch ERA games via livestream.
- Sign up for fun volunteering opportunities.
Interested in getting involved with the Boosters? Contact Julie Brandt at community.erabooster@gmail.com or call/text 952-392-4455.
You're Invited: Pack the Stands for Fall Senior Night!
ALL ERA students, families, staff, and friends are invited to pack the stands in the ERA gymnasium for Fall Senior Night on Tuesday, October 10! It's Neon Night, so make sure to come dressed in your brightest clothes to celebrate our senior athletes!
Volleyball matches will take place at 4:30, 5:45, and 7:00 p.m. Senior recognition will begin at 6:30 p.m. A Hot Meal Deal will be sold at concessions while supplies last. There will even be chances to win prizes and giveaways during this fun night out for the whole family - don't miss out!
Team Dinner September 15
The ERA Booster Club hosted a joint Girls & Boys Soccer team dinner on September 15. Thank you, team coordinators and parents, for all your help!
Developing Connections
You're Invited to this Year's Gala for the Gryphons Celebrating 20 Years: An Evening in Black and White - Kelly Schiffman, Director of Development
You are cordially invited to attend this year's Gala for the Gryphons! Celebrating 20 Years: An Evening in Black and White will take place at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Friday, November 17, 6:00-11:00 p.m. This year's Gala will include a social hour featuring live acoustic music by Trick, featuring Todd Epley and Rick Blomquist, plated dinner, dessert, silent and live auction, meaningful program featuring Eagle Ridge Academy’s co-founder Dr. Kenneth D. Greener, and dancing with Midwest Sound! Registration will open and invitations will be sent to the community at the beginning of October.
The silent auction is a favorite part of the gala and we’d love your help! We would appreciate any help you can provide:
- Pull friends or classroom parents together to create a themed basket.
- Ask your place of employment for a gift or experience.
- Do you have a timeshare or Airbnb, airline miles, or other unique experience to donate?
- Do you have season tickets to Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, etc.?
- Do you own a business and would like to sponsor the event?
Volunteer or attend! We welcome you as part of this fun planning team to meet new people, lend your voice and talents, and help make this night out special! Please email kschiffman@eagleridgeacademy.org or call 952-746-7760, ext. 1107 to learn more.
Featuring Speaker Dr. Kenneth D. Greener
Featuring Live Music and DJ Entertainment
Attend this year's gala to hear live acoustic music from Trick, featuring Todd Epley and Rick Blomquist. The evening will conclude with dancing to DJ entertainment from Midwest Sound.
Karen Sorbo Returns as Gala Emcee and Auctioneer
As a leading benefit auctioneer, Karen Sorbo’s dedication, effusive energy, commanding yet elegant stage presence, and precision techniques have engaged audiences across the country and internationally. Karen has raised over $900 million dollars conducting more than 2,900 auctions since 1993.
In addition to being a benefit auctioneer, Karen is a speaker, author, mentor, resilience coach, humanitarian, documentary film producer/director and travel enthusiast.
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 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
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.
Save the Date: Eagle Ridge Academy is celebrating Give to the Max Day on November 16!
What if you could help our school receive $1,000 just by giving $10 or more?
Join us for Give to the Max Day on November 16, and you could help us receive $500, $1,000 or $10,000. Just make an online donation on GiveMN.org and your donation will be entered into a drawing for a $500 Golden Ticket every 15 minutes for Friends of Eagle Ridge Academy. Donations will help support the students of Eagle Ridge Academy.
Here’s the really exciting part: One donation made on GiveMN.org during the Give to the Max Day campaign will be randomly selected to receive a $10,000 super-sized GiveMN Golden Ticket. Starting in October, donors may schedule their gifts ahead of time. Please watch for more information.
Help us increase our odds and make the most of your gift by making a donation on November 17 on GiveMN.org. Search for Friends of Eagle Ridge Academy, then make your donation. Together, we hope to raise more than $10,000 on Give to the Max Day and you can help us reach our goal!
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. 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.
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