Recently, Eagle Ridge Academy was the focus of a thoughtful national reflection in The New York Times, which you may read here. The author, having observed our classrooms firsthand, wanted to understand whether a school grounded in ancient wisdom and ordered habits might offer something our present age sorely lacks: a renewal of civil discourse and virtuous citizenship.

The essay recounts a visit to a ninth-grade classroom at Eagle Ridge, where students engaged in a Socratic discussion of Virgil’s Aeneid. What struck the author was not merely the content of the conversation, but its spirit: students listened attentively, spoke with respect, and wrestled seriously with questions of truth, honor, and human purpose.

He observed a culture shaped by clear expectations like uniforms, orderly conduct, and a shared moral vocabulary rooted in the Eagle Ridge Academy Pillars, citizenship, integrity, perseverance, honor, and respect.

From this, the author concluded that classical education is far from being antiquated and may in fact cultivate the habits necessary for a flourishing republic: reasoned dialogue, moral clarity, and mutual respect amid disagreement.

What the author perceived, perhaps more clearly than many, is that Eagle Ridge Academy is not merely a school, but a community ordered toward the formation of the whole person. We do not simply impart knowledge; we seek to cultivate wisdom. We do not merely prepare students for college; we prepare them for citizenship in a free society.  In classical terms, our aim is the pursuit of the true, the good, and the beautiful. This requires discipline of mind and formation of character. It requires that students learn not only what to think, but how to think and how to do so in the presence of others who may disagree.

It is worth noting, as the author does, that Eagle Ridge Academy is richly diverse in its student population, drawing families from many backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.  Yet we must speak plainly: diversity, while a gift, is not our aim. Our purpose is not diversity for its own sake, but excellence in education. We seek to provide a classical education in which any student regardless of background can succeed, provided they embrace the habits of respect, diligence, and perseverance.

In this, we affirm something both simple and profound: human flourishing is not the inheritance of one group, but the birthright of all who are willing to strive toward it.

Where diversity finds its highest expression at Eagle Ridge is not merely in demographics, but in diversity of thought. This is a greater good, though at times a more demanding one.

In our classrooms, students encounter differing perspectives on enduring questions: What is justice? What is honor? What is the good life? Such encounters can be, at times, messy.  Disagreement is not avoided it is disciplined. Students are taught to say, “I agree with you,” or “I disagree with you,” and then to give reasons. This practice forms not only intellect, but character. It teaches humility, courage, and charity these virtues are essential to both friendship and citizenship.

This tension between unity and diversity of thought is not new. Early African American thinkers understood it well. Figures such as Frederick Douglass recognized that a free society demands both equality under the law and the vigorous exchange of ideas. They entered the great conversation of Western civilization not by abandoning it, but by engaging it and sometimes in agreement, often in challenge, always in pursuit of truth. They saw clearly that true education does not eliminate disagreement; it ennobles it. It transforms conflict into dialogue and difference into understanding.

The author closes his essay with a question: what would become of our nation if every child received an education like that offered at Eagle Ridge?

It is a question worth pondering.  In a time of noise and division, we will continue the quiet, steady work of forming young minds and hearts, one conversation, one book, one act of discipline at a time.

Sincerely,

Jason Ulbrich CEO

Congratulations to Muthu Meenakshisundaram (Eagle Ridge Academy Class of 2022) for giving such a thoughtful and inspiring speech as the University of Minnesota - Morris' 2026 Curtis H. Larson Award recipient!

Muthu's words were a powerful reminder that education is not merely about information, credentials, or career preparation - it is about the formation of the human person.

A true Classical education does something extraordinary: it liberates students. It frees them from ignorance, from shallow thinking, and from the tyranny of living only for the moment. It teaches students "how to make difficult choices well," how to think, how to discern truth, how to appreciate beauty, and how to pursue goodness.

When students encounter great books, timeless ideas, meaningful dialogue, history, philosophy, literature, mathematics, and the arts, they begin to understand what it means to be fully human. They gain intellectual freedom and moral imagination. They are no longer captive to trends, slogans, or fleeting cultural pressures. Classical education forms young people who can lead wisely, speak clearly, reason carefully, and live courageously.

Thank you, Muthu, for articulating so well the deeper purpose of education: not simply to prepare students for a job, but to prepare them for a flourishing life. Watch his speech below.

School of Grammar

The last day of school for students in grades K-4 is Thursday, May 28. Students in grades K-4 may wear free dress on their last day of school at no cost as long as they follow the free dress guidelines. The last day of school is a half day and grades K-4 will be dismissed before lunch at 11:00 a.m. on May 28.

Please complete the Grades K-4 Last Day of School Lunch Order Form by Friday, May 15, if you would like a bag lunch to be delivered to your Grammar child's class to take home on their last day of school.

Bus transportation will be provided for regular bus students only on the last day of school. Buses will depart Eagle Ridge Academy at 11:20 a.m. For after-school bus drop-off times, simply subtract four hours from your child's typical drop-off time.

Schools of Logic & Rhetoric

The last day of school for students in grades 5-12 is Friday, May 29. Students in grades 5-12 may wear free dress on their last day of school at no cost as long as they follow the free dress guidelines. The last day of school is a half day and grades 5-12 will be dismissed before lunch at 11:10 a.m. on May 29.

Please complete the Grades 5-12 Last Day of School Lunch Order Form by Friday, May 15, if you would like your child to pick up a bag lunch from the cafeteria before leaving on their last day of school.

Bus transportation will be provided for regular bus students only on the last day of school. Buses will depart Eagle Ridge Academy at 11:20 a.m. For after-school bus drop-off times, simply subtract four hours from your child's typical drop-off time.

Commencement Information

Juniors and seniors will attend Class of 2026 Commencement Practice at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, at Calvary Reformed Church (5300 France Avenue, Edina). School will release at 11:00 a.m. Juniors and seniors will head to the church for practice after lunch at school. Lunch will be provided for juniors and seniors. Transportation to practice will be provided, if needed.

The 2026 Commencement Ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, at Calvary Reformed Church (5300 France Avenue, Edina). Seniors should arrive at the church no later than 6:15 p.m. on May 30 for the ceremony. The doors for guest seating will open at 6:30 p.m. A ticket will be REQUIRED to attend the commencement ceremony. There will be no open seating available without a ticket due to space constraints. If you are not able to obtain a ticket from a senior, you may watch a livestream of the event on Eagle Ridge Academy's YouTube channel. 

Report Cards

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal grading view will close Thursday, May 21 for teachers to enter Semester 2 grades. Semester 2 report cards will be available to view in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal the evening of  Wednesday, June 3. Please print copies for your records. Reports from the 2025-26 school year will be visible in the portal until June 30, 2026.

As the school year comes to a close, we would like to remind you to pick up your child’s medications (prescription, over-the-counter, inhalers, or EpiPens) from the school Health Office.

Medications cannot be sent home with students (unless they self-carry) and must be picked up by a parent/guardian or authorized adult by the last day of school.

Any medications, inhalers or EpiPens left at school after May 29 will be safely disposed of per school policy.

If you have any questions, please email nurse@eagleridgeacademy.org or call (952) 746-7760 Ext. 1301 and 1303.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!

Thank you to all who joined us at Eagle Ridge Academy on May 9 for the 12th Annual Donut Dash 5K and Mini-Donut ½ Mile Dash for Kids! It was a perfect Saturday morning of practicing excellence and perseverance with the Eagle Ridge Academy community. This year’s event raised $24,000 to benefit student enrichment at Eagle Ridge Academy and featured over 500 runners and countless supporters. Whether you were cheering on our mini dashers, volunteering to make our morning run smoothly, or racing on the course, we are grateful you could be with us on such a beautiful sunny morning. We hope you enjoy photos from the day taken by our very talented photographer Sathish Nathamuni (@pixelguyz / Website). View the full Donut Dash photo album here.

Congratulations to our top runners James Zoeller and Jacqueline Stenroos (Adult 5K 1st Place winners) and Ethan Eischens and Teagan Lenort (Student 5K 1st place winners), all with impressive times! Click here to view finishing times.

Thank you again to The MinneDonut Company for serving our community unlimited donuts during the event, DJ Keem for providing music and emceeing the event, HealthSource of Eden Prairie for giving chair massages and applying rock tape, TC Running and Scoreboard for providing prizes, Chick-fil-A Knollwood for gift cards for the runners, Sathish Nathamuni for taking photos throughout the morning, the Carver Scott Humane Society for bringing their adoptable puppies, the tERAbytes for creating a fun Robotics game, ERA senior Michael Witkowski for singing the National Anthem, and the Hopkins VFW Post #425 for their generous financial sponsorship and for presenting colors as we honored our country!

Thank you also to The Dental Specialists Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Boston Scientific, Rochon, Universal Cleaning Services, Beem Light Saunt, MSI, Construction Cost Consultants, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Kemmetmueller Photography, Choice Bank, Kwik Trip, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods, Lunds & Byerly’s, and Jerry’s Foods for generously sponsoring this event.

Join us to learn more about 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. In-person events will be held at 7031 Halifax Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429. Virtual events will be held on Microsoft Teams (link sent upon registration). We can't wait to meet you!

Bounce into Eagle Ridge Academy of Brooklyn Center

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

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.

The 8th Annual Friends of Education Battle of the Books inter-school competition took place at Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul yesterday evening. Eagle Ridge Academy's team - with members Nikitha, Sarayu, Hemant, Jude, and Mila - competed against seven other teams, taking first place in the competition!

The Battle of the Books is a voluntary, extracurricular reading incentive program in which students in grades 3-5 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.

The competition is formatted like a game show, 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. 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.

Congratulations, book battlers! Thank you to Friends of Education, Mrs. Tillotson for coordinating the competition, and to our parent volunteers for assisting with each round. Eagle Ridge Academy will host next year's competition! 

Sign up to volunteer or donate towards Camp Read-a-Lot in the library! During the days of May 13-22, the library will be set up like a campsite. School of Grammar students will read books with flashlights in tents and enjoy a "campfire" snack! This annual tradition is a fun way to return books and close out library visits for the year.

Library notices with checked out book titles (along with the cost for missing/damaged books) will be sent home with students prior to this visit. Thank you! Questions can be directed to Mrs. Tillotson.

Extra School of Grammar yearbooks are available for purchase for $40 until sold out! To purchase a yearbook, please email Mrs. Kruschke, K-3 Art Teacher/K-4 Yearbook Advisor at jkruschke@eagleridgeacademy.org.

Students can deliver the $40 payment in exact cash (no change available) or check payable to "Eagle Ridge Academy" to Mrs. Kruschke in exchange for a yearbook. If paying via check, please place in the check memo Yearbook with student name, teacher name, and grade. Yearbooks will be exchanged right away once payment is received.

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.

Eagle Ridge Academy celebrated the Class of 2026 at the annual Senior Breakfast and Awards Ceremony on May 13. View the full photo album here.

The following scholarships, awards, and honors were presented to the Class of 2026:

Valedictorian: Lakshitha P. | Salutatorian: Ananya M.

Director’s Award (Awarded for personifying, typifying, symbolizing, and representing one or all of the Eagle Ridge Academy Pillars): Janella W.

Athens Award (Awarded for academic scholarship and commitment to the pursuit of knowledge): Birkir G.

American Spirit Award (Awarded to the student who embodies the principles of our country’s founding fathers and excels academically): Janella W.

Eagle Award (Awarded to the student who consistently demonstrates the Academy’s core values of Citizenship, Integrity, Perseverance, Honor, Excellence, and Respect.): Anders H.

Student Athlete Award: (Awarded for quantitatively being the best student and accomplished athlete): Cadence L.

Gus the Gryphon Community Service Scholarship (Pillar of Citizenship – Funded by ERA PTO): Lakshitha P.

Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship (Pillar of Perseverance – Funded by ERA Community and Corporate Partners): Isabella T.

Honor in Action Scholarship (Pillar of Honor – Funded by ERA Alumni): Janella W.

Legacy Scholarship (Pillar of Excellence – Funded by ERA and FERA Boards of Directors): Olivia K.

Marilyn R. Strand Scholarship (Pillar of Respect - Funded by ERA Employees): Olivia K.

Additionally, Pins of Perseverance were presented to the 27 students who have completed the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric (Grades 6-12) at Eagle Ridge Academy, Stoles of Strength and Truth were given to the six students who have attended Eagle Ridge Academy for 13 years, from Kindergarten through graduation, and our eight National Honor Society members will be given cords to wear at commencement.

Congratulations, Class of 2026, we are so proud of you

Thank you for joining us at the 18th Annual Upper School Art Expo, the Academy's annual juried exhibition of middle school and high school student art, last Friday! View all 2026 Art Expo award winners and honorable mentions here.

More than 700 student-submitted art pieces were featured this year and we had a huge turnout for the Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to seventh grader Vivienne Iijima and ninth grader Clare Hopkins for winning Best in Show in their age groups, sixth grader Reagan Krause and eleventh grader Maria Dorland for winning the Peoples Choice awards, and to all of our School of Rhetoric and School of Logic award winners, honorable mentions, and participants!

Special thank you to Emma Conner and the Art Department team for organizing this event, and to judges Kate Ladwig, Kristen Lace, and Jason Ulbrich for their time

The first-ever Eagle Ridge Academy School of Rhetoric Field Day will be held on the Eagle Ridge Academy Soccer Field on Two-Hour Early Release Day Friday, May 22, 1:10-4:00 p.m. Grades 9 and 11 will take on grades 10 and 12 in yard games like water balloons, flag football, and more for a chance to win a pizza party. Tickets will be sold during high school lunch for $10 each. Come out, have fun, and kickstart finals season with your friends!

A huge thank you to the volunteers who made it this year's School of Logic Spring Dance possible and helped bring 195 students together for a night of community and fun!

A special shoutout to Snap in the Box Photo Booth, which had a full line all night and gave every student the chance to take home a fun memento.

Congratulations to Lucy Feddick and Gavin Reininger for winning best on theme looks!

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.

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 and for staying updated on Eagle Ridge Academy this year! If you haven't already, please make sure bookmark the ERA website, like the ERA Facebook page and follow the ERA Instagram to see updates throughout the summer.

The Eagle Eye will return in September 2026.