Friday, March 13, 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.) Learn more here.

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.

Thank you to everyone that came to the February 28 Open House. It was wonderful to meet new families and share why Eagle Ridge Academy is a truly exceptional place to learn and grow. Couldn't make it last month? Join us at one of our upcoming information sessions:

In Person: Kindergarten Experience Day - Saturday, March 21, 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Virtual: Classical Education 101: What It Is & Why Families Love It Information Session - Thursday, March 26, 6:00-6:45 p.m.

Candidates for the 2026 Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors Election will answer questions from ERA stakeholder groups during the 2026 Virtual Board Candidate Forum on Wednesday, March 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend the Candidate Forum virtually via the Board of Directors Zoom link (Meeting ID: 546 087 0386 | Passcode: Gryphons26). The official election will open on March 18 following the Candidate Forum. All eligible voters will receive an individualized ballot passcode and login information as well as further directions via email. All votes must be cast no later than Monday, March 23, at 12:00 p.m. Official results will be announced at the Annual Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:00 p.m.

The 2026 Eagle Ridge Academy Board of Directors Election Guide is now available to view and download here. The 2026-2027 Board of Directors will include seven members, representing teacher, parent, and community seats. Recent bylaw changes ensure that no single group holds a majority, and at least one member from each group must serve.

There are three seats open for the 2026 Board of Directors election: One teacher member / One parent member / One community member. Under the current bylaws, these openings may be filled by: Only one teacher member / Only one parent member / Up to three community members.

Thank you for giving this election your thoughtful attention. Participating in this process is a cornerstone of our country's system of government and an excellent way to exercise and model true citizenship.

All Board of Directors information can be found on the Board page. Please contact the Board with questions at board@eagleridgeacademy.org.

The Eagle Ridge Academy Choir Club will be performing the National Anthem to open the Twin's Baseball game at Target Field on Tuesday, April 14, at 6:40 p.m. Our entire school has been granted a generous discount ($8 per ticket) so that we can show up for our Gryphons. We would love if you could join us there!

Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. The last day to buy tickets is Friday, March 27. You don't need to buy a specific seat, just the number of tickets your family would like. (Note: Children under 3 feet tall do not need to buy a ticket, it's expected they will sit on a parent's lap.) Tickets will not be reserved without payment. The option to pay will pop up after you submit your ticket form.

Tickets can be picked up in the Main Office the week of April 7. Please email ballen@eagleridgeacademy.org with questions. Thank you for supporting our students!

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 2 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!

Our largest Classical event of the year is coming up next month! Join us Thursday, April 9, for an evening of Classical classes, where you, as a parent, have the opportunity to sit in on two of our classes. You become the student!

From working through mental math strategies to responding in seminars, learning Latin 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 to experience class and learn how you can best support your child’s growth into the summer!

Interested parents: please RSVP for Classical In-Action Parent Night and rank your top three class choices by Monday, April 6. You must register ahead of time for this event, as registration requests will be compiled and then assigned to classes based on numbers.

Come for the classes, stay for the PTO-hosted social afterward to reflect with fellow parents on all your learning. Please contact Suzannah Toso with questions at stoso@eagleridgeacademy.org. We look forward to having you in class!

Interested in becoming more involved in the ERA community? Consider joining the ERA Parent Teacher Organization! The PTO sponsors and organizes events such as the Used Uniform Sales, Book Bingo, and Teacher Appreciation Week. There will be two spots open in the next election: Vice President and Communications Secretary.

For more information, contact PTO Board President Loren Christianson at president@era.pto.org. The election will be held at the PTO's next meeting in the ERA Library on Monday, April 13, at 5:30 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Academy is fortunate to have an abundance of caring families and staff who donate their time and talents selflessly to make Eagle Ridge Academy a better place. Every single minute donated makes a difference in what we can do for students.

In appreciation for each moment given in volunteerism to Eagle Ridge Academy and its community, we are pleased to invite our volunteers to a Volunteer Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 21, at Eagle Ridge Academy. The evening will include a program highlighting the wonderful work you have done this school year and honoring you for your many talents and time given. We will follow the program with a reception of desserts, refreshments, and entertainment from comedian John DeBoer.

All who have donated their time this year in any capacity are welcome to attend! Please kindly RSVP by April 15.

Thank you for making an impact on everything Eagle Ridge Academy and for allowing us to deliver the best education and experiences possible to our students.

Eagle Ridge Academy is proud to host its 13th annual charity golf tournament at Edinburgh USA in Brooklyn Park on Monday, June 15, 12:00-6:30 p.m. The Gryphon Classic Golf Tournament is a four-person scramble, bringing together community to raise important funds for the Academy. Enjoy an afternoon of golf and camaraderie on the course while playing for a good cause! 

The event includes 18 holes of golf, cart and greens fees, lunch and social hour by Tavern at Edinburgh, complimentary drink ticket, golfer gift, and social hour/dinner. Whether you are an avid golfer, never picked up a club, or want to come out to volunteer, we welcome you to be part of our Gryphon Classic Golf Tournament.

We are living in a remarkable moment in history. Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday life. Tools that can write, summarize information, answer questions, and generate ideas are now available to anyone with a computer or smartphone. For schools, families, and students, this raises an important question: What does learning look like in the age of AI?

I recently had a very practical experience with AI that made me think more deeply about this question.

As some of you know, I’ve been trying to improve my fitness and prepare for a boxing match later this year. I wanted to build a workout plan that would help me get stronger while also improving endurance. Out of curiosity, I asked an AI program to create a weekly training plan.

Within seconds, it produced a structured program: strength training days, conditioning workouts, rest periods, and even suggested progressions. It was impressive how quickly it organized the information. In that moment, I saw one of the clear benefits of AI, it can make us much more efficient. Tasks that might normally take hours of searching and organizing can be done in seconds. But as I looked more closely, I also noticed its limitations.

The plan didn’t fully account for my own history of lower back injuries. It suggested exercises that might be effective in theory but would not be wise for me personally. It didn’t understand my schedule, how my body responds to certain movements, or when I might need to adjust a workout because something doesn’t feel right.

In other words, the AI was helpful in organizing information, but it could not replace human judgment and experience.

That small experience illustrates something important. AI is a powerful tool, but it is still just a tool. It can help us work faster and organize ideas more efficiently, but it cannot replace wisdom, judgment, creativity, or lived experience. Because of this, we must think carefully about when technology should assist us and when it should not.

AI can be helpful when we need to:

But there are moments when we should not rely on AI, especially when the goal is intellectual growth. Students still need to read challenging texts themselves, wrestle with difficult ideas, write and revise their own thoughts, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and teachers.  These are the activities that develop the mind.

At Eagle Ridge Academy, our mission has always been to help students do more than simply collect information. Through our classical approach to education, students learn to read carefully, think critically, and communicate clearly. Our classrooms emphasize thoughtful discussion and civil discourse, where students learn to listen carefully and engage respectfully with different ideas.

Ironically, the rise of AI makes these skills even more valuable. When technology can generate quick answers, the real advantage will belong to those who know how to ask better questions, evaluate ideas carefully, and think independently.

This approach has served our students well. Eagle Ridge Academy consistently ranks among the top schools in Minnesota, with outstanding ACT scores and national recognition for Advanced Placement participation and success. But beyond these accomplishments, our goal is to graduate students who are prepared not only for college, but for lives of thoughtful leadership and contribution.

Technology will continue to shape the world our students enter. But the qualities that allow people to flourish with wisdom, curiosity, discipline, and thoughtful conversation, remain timeless.

At Eagle Ridge Academy, we believe the best preparation for the future is an education that develops the mind and character of the whole person. In the age of artificial intelligence, that mission is more important than ever.

Over the past eight weeks, the  tERAbytes, Eagle Ridge Academy's Robotics team, have been hard at work designing, building, and programming their robot for this year’s challenge. The team spent the fall learning new CAD skills and designed their entire robot - which can collect balls, shoot them into a target, and lift itself on a bar - virtually BEFORE building it. Currently, the tERAbytes are in North Dakota competing in Regionals and showcasing their strategies, teamwork, and gracious professionalism alongside talented teams from across the region. You got this, tERAbytes! Good luck on your journey to qualify for State and Worlds! 

On March 1, School of Rhetoric students and DECA members Muhammad I., Bhavik P., Amaar M., and Geoffrey M. joined 3,405 students from across MN to compete in 66 various events at the MN State DECA competition.

All four students competed in individual events and completed corresponding event testing to determine who would advance to the finals on March 3. During the preliminary results ceremony on March 2, Bhavik, Amaar, and Geoffrey were informed they would advance to their event finals. In addition, Geoffrey was recognized as a Top 25 Test Scorer for the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster Exam.

On March 3, Bhavik competed in the DECA state event finals for Principles of Finance while Amaar and Geoffrey competed as a team in Hospitality Team Decision Making. During the late afternoon final awards ceremony, all three students were called to the stage, placing 7th!

This is a HUGE accomplishment for this first-year team! The Academy is incredibly proud of all DECA members for their hard work this season, and we can't wait to see their growth next year!

Congratulations to School of Logic sixth grader Itisha B. on her excellent performance at the Regional Spelling Bee last Thursday. There were 77 schools represented from the metro area and she placed in the top FIVE!

"I had a lot of fun preparing for the Spelling Bee, especially being able to practice with my parents, younger brother, and teachers. I wasn't sure what it would feel like to prepare for the regional competition, but I enjoyed being able to challenge myself with new words. As I practiced, it was very interesting to find the origins of words and how they are used.  I want to thank all the teachers and staff at Eagle Ridge Academy who organized the Spelling Bee, helped me prepare, and kept encouraging me while reminding me not to worry too much," shared Itisha.

Itisha demonstrated dedication, poise, and pure joy throughout her spelling bee journey this year. We look forward to seeing what this incredible Gryphon will do next!

Grades 7-12 spring athletics and activities have started, but you can still register. Register today for Boys Baseball, Track and Field, the brand new Girls Flag Football team, and more!

The Fine Arts Festival will be a combined event featuring the work of School of Grammar students in art and music. Presented over the course of two evenings, audience members will have the opportunity to hear songs prepared in music class, view art works created in art class and hear poetry prepared in their Classical Enrichment course (K-3). After their performance, families will enjoy the art gallery in the forum and Story Walk in the Solarium and/or out on the patio.

The first evening will be Tuesday, April 28. The schedule is as follows:
5:30 p.m. – Kindergarten Informance
6:30 p.m. – Grade 2 Informance
7:30 p.m. – Grade 4 Informance

The second evening will be Thursday, April 30. The schedule is as follows:
5:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Informance
6:30 p.m. – Grade 3 Informance

During the months of April and May, students in grades 3-11 will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA). The testing schedule is below and is also available on the Academy website. If you have specific questions about testing, please contact your child’s teacher.

CIPHER (Citizenship, Integrity, Perseverance, Honor, Excellence, Respect) is more than a motto, it’s what we strive to follow in our actions with fellow Gryphons.

The Schools of Logic & Rhetoric hold monthly Pillar Assemblies in which six students from each grade level in the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric are recognized for displaying CIPHER throughout the month. Each student is nominated for a Pillar Award by one of their teachers, who writes a short paragraph describing how the student exemplified their pillar, which is shared with the student body.

Congratulations to our Schools of Logic & Rhetoric February Pillar Award recipients! Thank you for demonstrating CIPHER daily and for being role models at Eagle Ridge Academy. 

The School of Logic Houses that best embody the Pillars are invited to participate in fun Gryphon Games at the end of each quarter, and this last quarter's competition was a close one! Congratulations to the 5th Grade House of Probitas, the 6th Grade House of Probitas, the 7th Grade House of Veritas, and the 8th Grade House of Pulchritudo on winning your incentive! 

The overall March School of Logic House winner, with a total of 847 points, was Probitas! Your goodness reigns champion this month.

During these Gryphon Games, students competed in activities including shake off post-it notes and knock over water bottles with a ball inside of a head sock. Teachers competed too! Great job earning House points, Gryphons. See if you can beat your totals during this next tracking period!

PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Opportunity) registration for the 2026-2027 school year has opened.

Students are registered as full-time Eagle Ridge Academy students until their participating institution accepts them into the PSEO program. Once accepted, the students will meet with Mrs. Kaiser, Academic Counselor, to adjust their 26-27 schedule.

Eagle Ridge Academy's Scholarships for the Class of 2026 have opened, and the deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 25, at 9:00 a.m. More information can be found on the Scholarship page of the ERA website.

External scholarships are listed below. 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.

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, March 26.