The open enrollment application period for the 2026-2027 school year will end at midnight on Friday, January 16. Sibling preference is given if you have a student currently attending ERA.

The enrollment lottery will take place on Wednesday, January 21, at 1:00 p.m. Lottery results for 2026-27 will be communicated in February via email. After the lottery, applications will be processed and placed onto the appropriate grade-level wait list in the order they are received. Learn more about enrollment here.

The Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors and Leadership Team are asking for feedback on conferences as they build the Academic Calendars for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. Please share your conference preferences via this feedback form by Friday, January 16.

Thursday, January 15, is the final day of Quarter 2. There is no school and the office will be closed Friday, January 16, for grading, Monday, January 19, due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Tuesday, January 20, for data planning. Quarter 3 will begin Wednesday, January 21. Enjoy your long weekend, Gryphons!

Thirty spellers in grades 4-8 battled it out for two hours and thirteen rounds on January 12 to crown our 2026 Eagle Ridge Academy Spelling Bee Champion! After going back and forth for multiple rounds, sixth grader Itisha B. finally out-spelled the runner up, eighth grader Asli W., with “mitosis” as the winning word.

Thank you to Spelling Bee organizer Carolyn Sommers Tillotson, pronouncer Kristin Parks, judge Wendy Beasley, and record keeper Elena Ryabinin for their hard work running this year’s event. Itisha will next compete in Regionals in May. Congratulations to all our spellers for a great competition and good luck to Itisha on her journey to qualify for State!

Nearly 100 School of Grammar students participated in Round 1 of the 8th Annual Friends of Education Battle of the Books competition on January 6! The Battle of the Books is a voluntary, extracurricular reading incentive program in which students work in teams to read a list of books and then compete against other teams by testing their knowledge of the books they have read with lots of quick, trivia-style questions about the books. The main benefits of the program are that it gets children engaged with a variety of great literature, fosters a love of reading, and promotes a spirit of healthy competition. There were twelve books in Round 1 of the competition. The eight teams from Round 1 that answered the most trivia questions correctly will be reading more books and moving on to Round 2 in April. The top team from Round 2 will then go on to compete against other Friends of Education schools in May.

While we are excited for our teams moving to Round 2 of the competition, we are so proud of the other eight teams for all their hard work preparing for the first round. It’s incredible to see our students be passionate about reading and thrilled to share the knowledge they’ve accumulated! We hope that you’ll keep visiting the library and check out more books in second semester.

Thank you to Friends of Education for coordinating this interschool activity, School Librarian Mrs. Sommers Tillotson for organizing the ERA competition this year, and to our parent volunteers for assisting with the competition. Good luck to our teams advancing to Round 2!

Eagle Ridge Academy is opening in Brooklyn Center (7025 Halifax Ave N, 55429) in August 2026! We are now enrolling students in kindergarten and first grade for the 2026-27 school year.

Do you know a family that might be interested in enrolling at our new location? Invite them to learn more about Eagle Ridge, Classical education, and what we will bring to Brooklyn Center by joining us at an upcoming information session in Brooklyn Center!

Join the ERA Booster Club at their next meeting via Zoom on Monday, January 19, at 6:00 p.m. They are lining up some fun community events for 2026 and could use more parent voices around the table. If you want to help build connection, support our students, and shape what comes next, pull up a chair. Everyone’s welcome. View meeting details here.

The grading view in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal closed January 14 for teachers to enter Quarter 2 grades. Semester 1 report cards will be available to view in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal at the end of the day on Friday, January 23. Report cards will be available to view until June 30, 2026. It is recommended that you print a copy for your records. Questions about your parent portal account can be directed to Janice Gerheart. Questions regarding your child's grade should be directed to the instructors issuing the grade.

Join us for an evening or afternoon of one-act plays put on by grades 2-12! This year’s plays are all centered around the Greek myth of the Trojan War and its aftermath.

Grades 2-6 One-Act Play: The Trojan Horse | Directed by Ms. Bixby

This play follows the Greek heroes Agamemnon, Odysseus, and Achilles on their quest to get back Helen, their stolen queen.

Grades 6-8 One-Act Play: The Odyssey | Directed by Ms. Bixby

This play tells the story of Odysseus’ long, difficult journey home from Troy after the war is over.

Grades 9-12 MSHSL Competition One-Act Play: The Women of Troy | Directed by Ms. Michels

In this play, the powerless but still defiant women of the defeated city of Troy—now the spoils of war—wait for the Greeks to decide their fate.

The three separate one-act plays will be performed back-to-back in the ERA Auditorium on Friday, January 23, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 25, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10. The box office will open for ticket sales 30 minutes prior to performance. The box office can only accept CASH or CHECK.

It is time once again for our largest and most popular Classical education event of the year: Classical In-action Parent Night! Classes are planned and REGISTRATION IS OPEN.

Join us Tuesday, January 27, at 5:30 p.m. for a night of Classical classes, where you as the parent simply sit in on one of our classes. You become the student! From working through mental math strategies to responding in seminars, creating art to applying oracy skills, you’ll have a front row seat to Classical education. At the end of each session, teachers will share simple ways to extend this learning at home. Come for the classes, stay for the PTO-hosted social afterward to reflect with fellow parents on all your learning. Don’t miss this opportunity to see our mission and vision in action!

The Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors will convene for its monthly meeting at Eagle Ridge Academy in Conference Room 1114, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Decisions on the agenda items will be made during this event, including the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Academic Calendars. You may attend School Board Meetings in person or virtually via the information here.

Don't forget to purchase your 2025-26 yearbook! Online orders will close at the end of January, and extra copies are not guaranteed.

Join us for a delightful pancake breakfast at Eagle Ridge Academy on Saturday, February 7, hosted by your ERA PTO! The PTO is thrilled to offer a delicious meal featuring fluffy pancakes drizzled with sweet syrup, complemented by a savory vegetable side and a fresh fruit selection. After enjoying your breakfast, stay for book bingo where you can win fantastic books! This event promises fun for the entire family, making it a perfect way to kick off your morning. This is not a drop-off event, so please plan to stay and enjoy the morning as a family.

Tickets cost $6 per person, or $0.50 for children ages 4 and under. Tickets must be acquired by Saturday, February 1, so the PTO can plan accordingly. Don’t miss this wonderful community gathering—grab your tickets today!

It's time to order your annual Art Expo t-shirt! This year's shirt was designed by Eagle Ridge Academy senior Maria Dorland. Order your shirt by Friday, February 27.

Our annual juried art exhibition for students in grades 6-12 will be held at Eagle Ridge Academy on Friday, May 8. Art will be displayed outside the gymnasium, and prizes will be presented for various works selected by the judges during the awards ceremony that will take place in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Art will be available for purchase with cash or check. Please enter through the Activities Entrance.

Got a bachelor’s degree and a passion for our school’s mission and vision? Then we have an opportunity for you! Become part of our Pathways for Teacher Development and Licensure (PTDL) program, where you can receive tuition assistance for licensing, field experience, one-on-one mentor support, and more to become an effective, high-quality, Classical teacher. No teaching experience is necessary.

Eagle Ridge Academy’s PTDL program is made possible through a Grow Your Own initiative grant awarded to school districts and charter schools through the MN Department of Education. The goal of a Grow Your Own program is to increase and diversify the teaching workforce.

Complete the interest survey for more information. Questions can be directed to Melissa Lego, PTDL Program Coordinator. We’d love to hear from you!

The entire community is invited to Eagle Ridge Academy on Saturday, May 9, for the 12th Annual Donut Dash 5K and Mini-Donut 1/2 Mile for Kids! Whether you are a runner, a walker, or a donut enthusiast, this is the event for you. Leaving and finishing at Eagle Ridge Academy, this Minnetonka 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 complimentary chair massages, rock tape applications, DJ music, giveaways, fun youth activities, post-race refreshments, and DONUTS!

All 5K registrants will receive a commemorative 2026 Donut Dash tech shirt (tri-blend, adult and youth sizing), post-race refreshments, and donuts. Mini-dashers will receive a 2026 Donut Dash shirt (50/50% poly/cotton), a participation medal, and a bag of mini- donuts.

Online registration will close May 7. Registrations placed after April 12 are not guaranteed a shirt. 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. Your participation will help support Eagle Ridge Academy, offering a time-tested, Classical liberal arts education to students in grades K-12.

Learn more about this beloved event, view pictures from previous years, and register now here. See you there!

Skyhawks provides after-school care for grades K-6 students until 6:00 p.m. every school day. Students will have the opportunity to eat a snack, work on homework, and participate in various activities and crafts. Pickup is at the rear door next to the tennis court. Skyhawks staff can be reached at (651)-968-0106. 

Daily Option: Skyhawks offers a daily option that can be purchased online up until one hour before school gets out. Please remember to update Silent Dismissal at the time that you register.

New Participant Promo: From now through the end of the semester, Skyhawks is offering a free day of after-school care for new participants! To get signed up, create an account for your child at skyhawks.com and send an email to minnesota@skyhawks.com with the date that you would like to enroll. 

Tuesday, January 27, is a Pillar Assembly Day for fifth grade and seventh grade. Wednesday, January 28, is a Pillar Assembly Day for sixth grade and eighth grade. Thursday, January 29, is a Pillar Assembly Day for School of Rhetoric students. Formal dress is required on Pillar Assembly days. View formal dress requirements here.

The Schedule Change Request Form is open for those needing to request a schedule change. Semester 2 starts Wednesday, January 21. Classes were designed and teachers hired based upon student previous registrations. Schedule corrections will only be considered for the following reasons:

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. The CLT10 for Grades 9-10 is a preparatory exam comparable to the PSAT. All students in grades 9 and 10 will be completing the CLT10 Assessment at school on Tuesday, February 3.

Eagle Ridge Academy will offer the online ACT with Writing to eleventh graders during the school day on Tuesday, April 14. Registration AND payment of $50 are due by Friday, February 6. Note: The exam is free if your student receives educational benefits.

Students should check their colleges of interest to determine whether a particular exam is required. The SAT is NOT offered at Eagle Ridge Academy. Students wishing to take the ACT or SAT on a Saturday at a local testing site can register/pay online.

Register for the ACT at a Testing Location | Register for the SAT at a Testing Location

There is a 14-day free trial at Winward Academy to help determine a student's test preference (ACT or SAT).

There are many fee-based test-preparation and tutoring options available. Below are local service providers that provide in-person tutoring (not endorsed by ERA).

Additional online SAT or ACT resources recommended by Academic Counselor Mrs. Kaiser are linked below.

Attend a Minnesota Goes to College virtual event! Register now for ongoing webinars about college and financial aid - free to students and families. 

If you would like to receive the weekly Scholarship Newsletter, please sign up here.

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.

Box Tops for Education helps families earn money for ERA with products they already buy. Download the app, set up your account, and scan your grocery store receipts. The app automatically finds eligible items and credits them to ERA!

Consider reaching out to your Community Relations or HR Department to ask about their community support and employee giving opportunities! Many employers match employee gifts. Search here to see if your workplace matches.

Did you know that there's an Eagle Ridge Academy mobile app available for iPhone and Android? To download the app, click here on your phone and follow the prompts or search Eagle Ridge Academy in your app store and look for the ERA logo. You do not need a username or password to use the app. 

On the app, you can see a live feed of notifications and announcements, view upcoming events, locate staff contact information quickly, review the day's breakfast and lunch menu, access Infinite Campus and Silent Dismissal, and more. 

Don't miss any notifications from Eagle Ridge Academy! Allow app notifications when prompted on initial download to ensure you don't miss any messages.

Thank you for reading the Eagle Eye newsletter and for staying updated on what's going on at Eagle Ridge Academy. If you haven't already, please make sure bookmark the ERA website, like the ERA Facebook page and follow the ERA Instagram to see more frequent updates.

The next issue of the Eagle Eye newsletter will be published on Thursday, January 29.