The whole community is invited to the National Honor Society's Culture Night on Friday, April 17, 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is the biggest NHS event of the year!

At this event, we will celebrate the diversity of our community with student-created posters, delicious foods from around the world, and a short exciting cultural dance show in the Auditorium.

Please enter through the Activities Entrance for this event.

The 4th Annual Gryphon/Husky Youth Track Meet for students in grades K-8, sponsored by Eagle Ridge Academy and the International School of Minnesota, will take place at the International School of Minnesota on Saturday, May 2, starting at 10:00 a.m.

Athletes must pre-register for this event by Monday, April 20. The cost is $20 per athlete for up to three running events and two field events (five events total). 

If your child would like to participate in the Youth Track Meet, please complete this registration form and return it, along with the registration fee, to your child's classroom or homeroom teacher. Questions can be directed to Coach Heidi Sheppard.

Join the ERA Booster Club at Unmapped Brewing (14625 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka) 6:00-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, for a bingo fundraiser to support our student athletes and activities!

There will be 10 Bingo games and an extra coverall game. This event is open to the public, so invite your friends, neighbors, and anyone who enjoys a fun evening out. The more people who play, the more we can give back to our students! There will be great drinks, a food truck, cash prizes, raffles, and fun giveaways throughout the evening.

Friday, April 24, 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's Lost & Found will be cleared out on the morning of Friday, April 24. 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.

Join ERA Theater for a performance of The Addams Family! Spring play performances will take place in the Auditorium on Friday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 26, at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10. The box office will open for ticket sales 30 minutes prior to performance. Please note that the box office can only accept CASH or CHECK.

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

Currently, the committee is seeking volunteers to assist in greeting and directing participants each night. Please sign up to volunteer at the button above. We look forward to seeing you at the Fine Arts Festival.

April 7-10 was Pillar Week at Eagle Ridge Academy! During Pillar Week, the whole school is encouraged to dress up according to various themes chosen by Student Senate that embody Eagle Ridge Academy’s Pillars of Citizenship, Integrity, Perseverance, Honor, Excellence, and Respect. 

Citizenship

Integrity

Perseverance & Excellence

Honor & Respect

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.

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!

Online registration will close May 7. 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!

Carver Scott Humane Society is joining us at the 12th Annual Donut Dash 5K and Mini-Donut 1/2 Mile for Kids on Saturday, May 9! As a foster-based rescue serving the Twin Cities area, Carver Scott Humane Society is dedicated to connecting animals in need with people who care. They’re also excited to soon be Eagle Ridge Academy’s new neighbor as they move into their new facility in Hopkins this fall! This will allow them to expand their ability to serve even more animals and the community. 

Stop by their table to meet some of their adoptable puppies, learn more about their work in the community, and find out how you can get involved—whether that’s through adoption, fostering, volunteering, or donating. Fair warning: you may leave wanting to add a new furry family member!

Need one more reason to register for this year’s Donut Dash? Come and see Eagle Ridge Academy’s Robotics team - the tERAbytes - who will put on robot demonstrations and will invite guests to use their pitching machine in an interactive fun play! The tERAbytes competed in the Regional Tournament in North Dakota earlier this month have previously competed in both the State Championship and National Championship.

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.

Join us for an information session at Eagle Ridge Academy of Brooklyn Center! Explore enrollment opportunities, meet our team, and discover what makes Eagle Ridge Academy a truly exceptional place to learn and grow.

Upcoming sessions are listed below. Virtual events will be held on Microsoft Teams (link sent upon registration). In-person events will be held at 7031 Halifax Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429. We can't wait to meet you!

Classical Education 101: What It Is & Why Families Love It

Kindergarten Experience Day

Bounce into Eagle Ridge Academy of Brooklyn Center (Bounce House Party!)

School of Rhetoric senior Ananya Murugavel has been announced a State Winner of the Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Awards Program (MnAiC) by the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) and the Minnesota state affiliate. As a State Winner, Ananya has significantly demonstrated interest and aptitude for computing.

The Minnesota Aspirations in Computing (MnAiC) program was launched in 2012 to recognize and support high school girls aspiring to achieve college and career success in the technology field. Each year, they honor nearly 100 exceptional students at their spring awards ceremony. These awards celebrate students’ computing achievements, enthusiasm for technology, leadership, community involvement, and resilience. This recognition not only acknowledges student accomplishments, but also fuels their ongoing engagement in STEM, enhances their confidence, and advances diversity in the tech industry. 

Congratulations, Ananya! We are so proud of you.

The Eagle Ridge Academy Choir Club performed the National Anthem to open the Twins Baseball game at Target Field on April 14. The weather was perfect, AND the Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0!

Thank you to the families, teacher, and staff members that joined us to cheer on Choir Club (and the Twins of course!), and a special thank you to Choir Club Director Ben Allen for organizing this incredible opportunity for our students. Amazing job, Choir Club!

Registrations are still being accepted for select Spring athletics and activities.

We are excited to launch One School, One Book (OSOB) again this summer for incoming Kindergarteners through fifth graders! This year, grades K-5 students had the opportunity to vote for our summer book. Register your family here to see what book was chosen and request your family copy! Participants will be contacted once materials arrive at Eagle Ridge Academy in mid-May.

What is One School, One Book?

OSOB is a shared reading experience that families enjoy from comfort of their own home across the school community! One copy of The Lemonade War will be provided to each household that registers (or families may choose to purchase their own copy).

Parents/caregivers will read it aloud with their children this summer. Families may also choose to listen to chapters read by a guest reader via YouTube. Resource packets will be included which will consist of an outline of the program, tips for reading aloud, suggested activities, reading schedules, discussion questions, and vocabulary support.

There will also be an opportunity to sign up for a community book discussion gathering during the summer.

OSOB builds a community of readers and a sense of belonging within our school. When an entire school reads together, it generates excitement about reading. Thank you to our fabulous ERA PTO and April $5 Free Dress Day for sponsoring this incredible opportunity!

Questions? Contact Carolyn Tillotson ctillotson@eagleridgeacademy.org or Mandee Gordon mgordon@eagleridgeacademy.org.

During the months of April and May, students in grades 3-11 will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA). The testing schedule is to the right 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 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 April School of Logic Pillar Award recipients! Thank you for demonstrating CIPHER every day and for being role models at Eagle Ridge Academy.

Help us give a big #GoGryphons hello to Markell Lucas, who will take over the role of School of Logic Assistant Principal this fall! Mr. Lucas had the opportunity to introduce himself and speak to all staff at the District Meeting yesterday, his first day at the Academy. He will be training with current Assistant Principal Missy Madigan (soon to be Director of Teacher of Learning) for the remainder of the school year.

Mr. Lucas earned his Bachelor’s in Sociology from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his Master's in Educational Leadership from Concordia University St. Paul. He has worked in schools all around the country, most recently in Denver, Colorado.

"What excites me most about starting this fall is the opportunity to support both students and teachers and to be part of a school culture that values growth, structure, and meaningful learning. I’m especially looking forward to building relationships and helping contribute to a positive and focused environment in the School of Logic," shared Mr. Lucas.

When he's not at school, you can find him outdoors, spending time with family, or at the gym. We are proud to have Mr. Lucas as part of our community! If you see him in the hallways this quarter, be sure to stop and say hello.

School of Rhetoric Prom will take place at Travel Design in Excelsior on Saturday, May 9, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Prom theme and ticket information will be shared with the community early next week. Tickets will be sold during high school lunch leading up to the event.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Opportunity) registration for the 2026-27 school year is open through May 30.

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.

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.

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, April 30.