VirtualEDU

Dear VirtualEDU Community,

As October draws to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made together. This month has been filled with opportunities for our scholars to build meaningful relationships with their peers and educators. We’ve seen firsthand how these connections foster a supportive learning environment, enabling our students to flourish both academically and personally. It’s truly inspiring to witness the growth and engagement within our community!

We’d also like to invite our parents to share their experiences regarding the positive impact VirtualEDU has had on their families. Your stories are invaluable, and we encourage you to write emails to our superintendent, highlighting how our programs and community support have made a difference in your child’s education. Your feedback helps to illustrate the importance of our mission and can play a key role in shaping our future initiatives.

In the spirit of community, we are excited to announce an upcoming movie night for families at VirtualEDU! This event will be a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together, relax, and enjoy a great film. We’re in the process of selecting a family-friendly movie that will appeal to all ages, and we can’t wait to share more details about the date and logistics soon. We encourage all families to participate, as these gatherings are essential for building strong connections among our community members.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement. Together, we are creating an incredible environment where our scholars can learn, grow, and thrive!

Warm regards,

Demond Johnson

Associate Principal

We’d like to bring to your attention that Measles and Pertussis are on the rise in Minnesota. Although there have been no confirmed cases in Hopkins Schools at this time, our neighboring districts have had confirmed cases.
Minnesota is currently facing outbreaks of measles and pertussis (whooping cough), both of which can spread easily, especially in schools. Measles is a serious viral illness that spreads through coughing and sneezing. If your child hasn’t received the MMR vaccine and is exposed to measles, they may need to stay home for 21 days or longer. The school will provide guidance on how to manage this and offer educational support if necessary.

Pertussis cases are also on the rise around the state and country. This illness may start with cold-like symptoms but can develop into severe coughing fits that can last for up to three months. If anyone in your household has a persistent cough, especially if they've been in contact with someone diagnosed with pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider. While most children are vaccinated, immunity can decrease over time, and even vaccinated individuals can contract a milder form of the disease. More information

Thursday, November 7 | 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Gatewood Elementary, 14900 Gatewood Drive, Minnetonka, MN

All Hopkins families are invited to join the Gatewood Elementary community for a fun and festive Hay Day event! Enjoy seasonal treats like apple cider, hot cocoa, and donuts while meeting friendly goats and chickens. The evening will feature a hay ride, driven by Mr. Ike, and a cozy campfire (weather permitting).

In addition, you can experience a candlelight stroll through our outdoor learning spaces, where you'll have the chance to interact with various components of our Outdoor Learning School. This event is open to all, so bring your family and friends to celebrate the fall season with us. We look forward to seeing you there! Registration is recommended.

It may seem like fall has just started, but we’re already heading toward November next week, which means it’s time to start thinking about thanking Hopkins teachers and staff. Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) aims to help make the gift-giving season easier on busy parents. Order a HEF Gratitude Gift for each of the special teachers and staff who have made a difference in your child’s life. Each Gratitude Gift includes a loaf of delicious bread, a restaurant gift card, and a personalized note. And, best of all, HEF will package and deliver it for you before winter break.

Orders open on Friday, November 1. Start thinking about the teachers, paras, bus drivers, coaches, cafeteria workers, and other Hopkins Public Schools staff who deserve your gratitude. Your gift orders ($25 each) support HEF’s teacher grants that kickstart learning opportunities for Hopkins students. Visit HopkinsEducationFoundation.org to order.

This past week students completed the Panorama survey! This survey is given three times a year to help us monitor school climate and make adjustments to meet student needs throughout the year.

October Newsletter

This week was our first week of the Law and Order unit! (Can you hear the sound effect in your mind?). Students are exploring ideas of Law and Order in their science, math, English, and History classes. They're looking at cause and effect, and how sometimes the effect of our actions causes injustice to happen in the world.

Because this was our first week of Unit 2, all final projects for Unit 1 (Connection and Movement) should be turned in. You can check your scholar's progress in Canvas.

All math students have looked at their growth over the first few weeks of October, and reflected on how it's going--ask them about it!

Additionally, students have reflected on their student skills (like organization, time-management, and note-taking) and thought about what they would like to work on and strengthen, and what's going well.

NOTE: This coming week is the last week of term 1. The first special of the year will be concluding next Friday. Students should make sure they have their work turned in by then.

•6th-8th grade: World Cultures (there's a travel project)

•9th-10th grade: Phy Ed and Health

•11th-12th grade: Music with a Message (there's a final project)

This past week students completed the Panorama survey! This survey is given three times a year to help us monitor school climate and make adjustments to meet student needs throughout the year.

As Halloween approaches, we want to take a moment to share our school’s approach to the holiday. While we understand that Halloween is a time of celebration for many, we do not officially participate in its festivities at our school.

However, we are excited to encourage our scholars to express themselves creatively during the upcoming week! Instead of traditional Halloween costumes, we invite students to dress up as the careers they aspire to pursue when they grow up. This “Career Day” theme allows our scholars to showcase their dreams and ambitions in a fun and engaging way.

Additionally, we’re excited to announce that students can also wear their favorite pajamas throughout the week! Whether it’s cozy loungewear or their best sleep attire, we want to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we focus on promoting positive themes within our school community. We can’t wait to see everyone’s creative outfits next week!

Come join us at HopkinsVirtualEDU for movie night at our in person location at 5300 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley, MN.

Students will VOTE on the movie choices during school hours. Caregivers and students are encouraged to come. Movie popcorn and beverages will be provided while supplies last.

Please RSVP for popcorn and beverage count.

Questions about any of the following contact your School Counselor!

-PSEO

-PSAT/ACT/testing

-Academics

-Post secondary options (applying for colleges, picking careers, etc)

-Social/emotional/mental health

Anna Glasrud

952-988-5207

Anna.Glasrud@HopkinsSchools.org

• 11/5: No School; Professional Learning
• 11/13: Asynchronous Day
• 11/14: Community Social (5-7pm)
• 11/27-29: No School; Fall Break

Email: VirtualEDU@HopkinsSchools.org
Website: https://www.hopkinsschools.org/virtualedu
Location: 5300 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Phone: 952-988-4050