THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for helping us reach our Give to the Max Day 2025 goal! More than $1,500 has been raised to replenish play equipment for students of all grades.Thank you to Mohammad, Jama, Naveen, Dominic, Ross, Hafsa, Sindie, Meghan, Aarthi, Kelly, Aditi, Madina, and Anonymous for all donating today during Give to the Max. Thank you to Allison, Narendra, Pooja, Nataliya, and Vicki for donating during Early Giving. Haven't given yet? It's not too late - every gift counts! Join the community on this Minnesota day of giving and help us keep classroom resources in place by providing the equipment our students need to stay active and have fun. 

The Gala for the Gryphons Silent Auction, featuring more than 300 items, is open until Sunday, November 23, at noon. Browse a fun selection of themed baskets, new excursions and activities, gift cards to a variety of breweries and restaurants, fitness memberships, crafts, sports tickets, theatre and museum vouchers, toys, teacher and grade-level experiences, and SO much more!

Additionally, there will be four Live Auction items at the Gala for the Gryphons this Saturday, November 22. If you are not attending the Gala but wish to bid on one or more of these, please email Kelly Schiffman and request a proxy bid number ASAP.

Proceeds from this year's silent auction will help fund the Eagle Ridge Academy's CIPHER Scholarship Program, building scholarship funds for our graduating seniors, creating opportunities for future generations of Eagle Ridge Academy scholars. 

On November 10, Eagle Ridge Academy was named a "Beat the Odds" school by The Minnesota Star Tribune. This recognition is based on our school's exceptional academic performance compared to schools serving similar student populations.

According to The Minnesota Star Tribune's analysis of Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results, "Beat the Odds" schools are those whose students significantly outperform expectations based on demographics such as income, race, and English learner status. Out of more than 2,000 schools statewide, only a small percentage achieve this honor each year.

In reading, grades 7–12 outperformed expected proficiency by 23% and grades 3–6 outperformed expected proficiency by 10%. In math, grades 7–12 outperformed expected proficiency by 26% and grades 3–6 outperformed expected proficiency by 28%. Overall, students exceeded expected performance by about 18 percentage points, placing Eagle Ridge Academy among the top 1% of all schools in Minnesota.

This recognition reflects our incredible dedication, expertise, and love for our students. ERA staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that every student-regardless of background-receives a world-class, Classical education that builds both character and intellect.

Please join us in taking a moment to celebrate this achievement. Our students have truly "beaten the odds," and the collective work of staff, parents, and students continues to make Eagle Ridge Academy a place where excellence and virtue thrive.

Executive Director

Jason Ulbrich

For years, I’ve shared the story of Eagle Ridge Academy’s remarkable academic success. Our students consistently outperform their peers across Minnesota, outpacing district schools, charter schools, and even the state’s most respected STEM academies. Their performance is measurable, repeatable, and undeniable. But academic excellence, as impressive as it is, is not the goal of Classical education. It is merely the fruit.

At Eagle Ridge Academy, we pursue something deeper, richer, and more enduring: the cultivation of young people who can think clearly, act virtuously, and lead with purpose. Our mission is not simply to prepare students for tests or careers, but to form individuals who can flourish in their work, their relationships, their communities, and their country.

Prepared for Every Path: One of the great misconceptions about Classical education is that it is old-fashioned or limited. Our graduates are among the most adaptable and well-prepared students in Minnesota. ERA alumni become lawyers, scientists, doctors, educators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and IT professionals. They thrive in careers that didn’t exist a decade ago, and they innovate in fields that will define the next generation.

Why? Because Classical education does not train students for one job, it prepares them for all jobs.

Students learn how to analyze complex problems, reason from first principles, communicate clearly, understand the human condition, work collaboratively, and persist through challenge. These are the timeless skills employers seek, and the bedrock abilities needed in an ever-changing world.

Forming Leaders, Not Just High Achievers: Yet the ultimate purpose of classical education is even greater: to form leaders. At Eagle Ridge Academy, leadership does not mean power, prestige, or position. Leadership means cultivating the capacity to seek truth courageously, listen generously, engage in thoughtful civic discourse, choose virtue even when it is difficult, serve others before oneself, take responsibility for one’s actions, and influence communities for the good.

A Classical education is not designed to create followers, it is designed to awaken leadership in every student. Whether our graduates guide a team in a Fortune 500 company, mentor younger colleagues in a tech startup, raise a family, or serve in their local community, they bring with them the habits of character and intellect that shape societies.

Seeking Truth, Engaging in Civility: Perhaps the most urgent need in today’s world is the ability to disagree without dividing and to seek truth without shouting.  ERA students learn how to have meaningful conversations rooted in logic, evidence, and respect. They learn how to examine ideas rather than attack people. They learn that wisdom does not come from winning an argument, but from genuinely understanding another point of view.

This is not only preparation for college or careers—it is preparation for citizenship in a free society.

The ERA Difference: As I continue to report on the extraordinary achievements of our students, I am reminded that numbers only tell part of the story. Test scores show what our students know. But what truly matters is who they are becoming. At Eagle Ridge Academy, we are committed to developing graduates who are lifelong learners, moral citizens, competent professionals, thoughtful neighbors, and courageous leaders.

This is the promise—and the power—of Classical education. Our students don’t just outperform; they outgrow, outthink, and outlead. Because when education is rooted in truth, virtue, and beauty, achievement follows—but character endures.

Jason Ulbrich
Executive Director, Eagle Ridge Academy

Shop the Spirit Wear Pop-Up Shop online now through noon on Tuesday, November 25. Classic designs are available, as well as new School of Logic House Spirit Wear! Orders will be sent home with students in mid December. 

Eagle Ridge Academy's Lost & Found will be cleared out the morning of Tuesday, November 25. Make sure to check the Lost & Found for any missing items prior to this date. The Lost & Found is located outside of the Solarium in the hallway that leads to the school library.

There is no school and the office will be closed November 26-28 due to Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on Monday, December 1.

Educational Outfitters' online Thanksgiving Sale runs November 27 -30. Shop online here for 15% off.

View Eagle Ridge Academy uniform information here. 

The Eagle Ridge Academy Parent Teacher Organization Community Cookbook is now available for purchase!

Filled with cherished recipes from ERA families, this keepsake cookbook will celebrate our school community and support future ERA community-building activities.

Cookbooks have been professionally published and are available for $20 for a limited time. Reserve yours today!

• Bookmark the PTO website.

• Follow the PTO on Facebook.

• Email the PTO Board.

• Join the K-12 Parent Directory.

• Make your annual family contribution.

The Eagle Ridge Academy Parent Teacher Organization holds monthly PTO meetings to build community and raise funds to support our school. All ERA parents and teachers are welcome to join, whether you’ve formalized your membership or not. Come connect with other parents, stay informed, and help the PTO support ERA students and teachers.

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month in the ERA Library, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Winter Choir Concert for grades 6-12 will take place in the ERA Auditorium on Thursday, December 4, at 6:00 p.m. The Winter Band Concert for grades 6-8 will take place in the ERA Auditorium on Tuesday, December 9, at 6:00 p.m. The Winter Orchestra Concert for grades 6-12 will take place in the ERA Auditorium on Thursday, December 11, at 6:00 p.m.

Please enter through the Activities Entrance for all concerts.

Friday, December 5, and Monday, December 7, are Two-Hour Early Release Days due to staff data planning.

School of Grammar dismissal is 1:00 p.m. on Early Release Days. The deadline for Silent Dismissal changes is 12:45 p.m. on Early Release days. Schools of Logic & Rhetoric dismissal is 1:10 p.m. on Early Release Days. For after-school bus drop-off times, simply subtract two hours from your child’s typical drop-off time.

Remaining scheduled early release days for 2025-2026 include January 30, February 2, March 6, March 20, and May 22.

Friday, December 12, is a Spirit Wear Day. On Spirit Wear Days, students K-12 can wear any spirit wear and uniform combinations. No streetwear allowed and the shoe policy still applies.

Don't forget to purchase your 2025-26 yearbooks before the current sale ends!

School of Grammar grades K-4 yearbooks can be purchased here.

Schools of Logic & Rhetoric grades 5-12 yearbooks can be purchased here.

Eagle Ridge Academy recognizes Veterans Day each year. Part of the Eagle Ridge Academy vision statement is that Eagle Ridge Academy will offer an academically rigorous, time-tested, Classical liberal arts curriculum that fosters an appreciation for the United States of America and her unique role in the world. It is important that Eagle Ridge Academy students understand what it means to be a Veteran and to honor the selfless sacrifice that so many have made for our freedoms.

Grades 2-12 attended Veterans Day assemblies in the ERA Auditorium in honor of the holiday, and kindergarteners passed out flags to Veterans who attended the assembly. We welcomed Mr. Robert Sommers, brother of School Librarian Mrs. Sommers Tillotson as our special guest speaker at this year’s assemblies. Mr. Sommers served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army from 1986-1995 and 2002-2014, for a total of 21 years. We appreciated his message about commitment to serving others and being part of a team in the face of great challenges. 

Assemblies also included a performance of the Armed Forces Medley and National Anthem performed by the Eagle Ridge Academy Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Ms. Maggie Shirley. The Armed Forces Medley is a patriotic compilation of the official songs for the branches of the U.S. Military, which typically includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. School of Rhetoric senior Michael W. announced the branch of service each song represented. Watch the performance here. Assemblies also included a reading of the Gettysburg Address by School of Logic eighth grader Sarah A. Watch the reading here. View the full Veterans Day photo album here.

While kindergarten classes did not attend the Veterans Day assembly, they honored the holiday with relevant reading and vocabulary learning followed by the creation of poppies. The poppy symbol is inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” and is a symbol of sacrifice worn in honor and remembrance of Veterans.

Following their assemblies, Ms. Harris’ fourth grade class and Ms. Stewart’s second grade class teamed up to write letters of gratitude and draw pictures for soldiers. Leela and Kiaan, siblings in these two classes, have a father current deployed overseas. We thank their father, Major Krishnan Subrahmanian, and his team in the Minnesota Air National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing, for their service.

We have noticed more disruptions in the parking lot this quarter. Please take a moment to review the parking lot procedures and map. Important reminders include:

The open enrollment application period for the 2026-2027 school year began on October 1 and will run through January 15, 2026. Sibling preference is given if you have a student currently attending Eagle Ridge Academy. Complete an application for siblings now or encourage another family to apply!

The enrollment lottery will take place on January 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Lottery results for 2026-2027 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 that they are received. Learn more about enrollment here.

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 have many opportunities for engagement and volunteerism at Eagle Ridge Academy. Throughout the year we invite you to share your time and talents. Complete the Give Us 5 Volunteer Pledge, then browse ongoing volunteer opportunities and sign up today. Thank you for helping build community!

As our students prepare to take a well-deserved break, our staff has been reflecting on all there is to be thankful for here at ERA. While all who work with students strive to keep expectations high and engagement strong, we are ever-mindful of the fact that it is our students who are stepping up each and every day, putting their best foot forward in their academics and behavior. 

As we always reference in a Classical education, we are here for more than just teaching academic skills. We are here to train the whole child, to turn their eye toward truth, beauty, and goodness. Indeed, within the rigor of the everyday, it is refreshing to see that our students are truly taking that message to heart, that they are mindful of seeking truth, wanting of beauty, and hungry to share how they lead with goodness. 

The following examples are from our second graders, who took time to explain how they seek truth, beauty, and goodness in their lives. The beauty in each description is as heart-warming as it is impressive. As their responses continue to bring a smile to my face, I am reminded of yet another thing to be thankful for–our families. What a gift it is to teach children whose families support our mission and vision and pave the way for these sorts of reflections. Thank you, families, for all you do in supporting your children and helping them to understand the importance of taking time to seek and appreciate the truth, beauty, and goodness of the world and within themselves! It is my hope the responses of some of our youngest learners bring a smile to your face as they do mine, and remind all of the seeds we are planting from the very start. Enjoy!

I seek Truth when...

I read a lot so I am smart when I grow up.

I practice my multiplication so I get better at math.

I seek Beauty when...

I go to the museum to see all the beautiful colors.

 go to beaches to collect sea shells.

I seek Goodness when...

I help my mom with chores because she is pregnant and she gets tired. 

I lead my little sister to her cubby.

Grades 5-12 Computer Programming is back at Eagle Ridge Academy, and registration is now open here!

The purpose of this club is to enhance programming skills, and members can learn new programming languages such as Python, Java Script, HTML, CSS, among others. Sign up before practice begins on Thursday, December 4. 

If keeping up with all the ERA athletics information feels like a full-time job, we get it. The BoosterHub app makes it simple—everything you need, all in one place. Download it today!

The ERA Booster Club will hold their monthly meeting in Conference Room 1202 by the ERA Library, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Join them to brainstorm events and fundraising plans for the school year — all are invited to join the conversation.

Learn more about the ERA Booster Club here.

Thank you to everyone that came out for a performance The Importance of Being Earnest!

We are proud of the entire cast and crew for their hard work on the fall play. Your next opportunity to support ERA Theater will be during the One-Act Play performances in January. More information coming soon!

The School of Rhetoric will begin the process of registering for the 26-27 school year on December 4 during the Grade 8 and Grade 9-12 assemblies.  Please take time to review the course offerings and return the registration forms to the Study Hall Advisors the week of January 5-9.

Tuesday, December 16, is a Pillar Assembly Day for fifth grade and seventh grade. Wednesday, December 17, is a Pillar Assembly Day for sixth grade and eighth grade. Thursday, December 18, is a Pillar Assembly Day for School of Rhetoric students. Formal dress is required on Pillar Assembly days. View formal dress requirements here.

Scores from the October exam have been returned, and if students submitted a mobile number or have a College Board account, they should be able to access their scores online. If not, please contact lkaiser@eagleridgeacademy.org to have a printed copy delivered to your student or emailed to you.

Eagle Ridge Academy will administer the American College Testing (ACT) exam on the morning of Tuesday, April 14.  Registration/payment for the exam will occur in February. Please watch for further details.

The SAT is not offered at Eagle Ridge. Students wishing to take the ACT or SAT on a Saturday at a local testing site can register/pay online.

There is a 14-day free trial at Winward Academy to help determine a student's test preference (ACT or SAT). Students should check their colleges of interest to determine whether a particular exam is required.

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.

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, December 11.