🌟 Hello VirtualEDU Families! 🌟

As we approach our upcoming break 🗓️, we want to take a moment to remind you of the importance of self-care, joy, and connection. 💕 The upcoming break is the perfect opportunity to:

✨ Rejuvenate – Take time to recharge your energy. Whether it's curling up with a good book 📚, enjoying nature 🌳, or indulging in your favorite hobby 🎨, do what makes your heart happy! ❤️

✨ Reflect – Look back on all the hard work and growth you've experienced this year. Celebrate your wins 🏆, big or small, and think about what brings you the most joy and fulfillment. 💭✨

✨ Rest – Give yourself permission to slow down 🛌 and prioritize rest. Whether it's extra sleep 😴, cozy family movie nights 🍿🎥, or simply quiet time, rest is essential to feeling your best! During this time, we encourage you to focus on what truly matters – spending quality moments with loved ones 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, embracing laughter 😂, and cherishing the little things that make life beautiful 🌈.

💡 Tip: Create a list of activities or moments that bring you joy – then try to enjoy as many as possible over the break! 📝🎉

From all of us at VirtualEDU, we wish you a restful, joyful, and peaceful break. 🌟 Thank you for being an integral part of our community, and we can’t wait to see you refreshed and ready to take on new challenges! 💪🎓

Take care, and remember – find joy and let your heart be happy! 🌺🌟💖

Warm wishes,

Demond Johnson 😊

Enjoy what this incredible year has to offer!! We are here to help make everything needed for graduation and celebrating your achievement a simple process. Please, see important steps below and order deadlines. Follow the easy steps below to ensure you have everything you need for graduation!

ORDER YOUR CAP & GOWN

NOTE: The cap and gown unit includes cap, gown, and basic tassel.

Gown Size - determined by height & weight (feet & inches; pounds) Height determines length. Weight determines fullness of gown. Submitting accurate information will ensure a proper fit.

Orders submitted after the deadline will not have sizing guaranteed!

Order Deadline: Friday, DECEMBER 20th

Cap & Gown Order Link

Welcome back to the Data Corner!

Let’s dig a little deeper into our Panorama data…

Our students complete two different Panorama surveys during the administration windows. The Student Supports and Environment survey asks students how they feel about their school, while the Student Competency and Well Being Measures survey shows how students perceive their own social-emotional skills.

This week, we take a look at our students' responses to our Student Supports and Environment survey. Questions from the survey are categorized into subtopics. In the chart below, the topics are listed in the left column. The percentage of favorable responses for both secondary and elementary students are shown in the next two columns. Not all subtopics are suited for all grades.

Our school teams use this data to pinpoint strength areas and areas where our students may need more support. In sharing this data with you, we hope it sparks some of your own thoughts and wonders about your students' SEL.

Data analysis: What does this data set tell you? What does it make you wonder? How can you talk to your scholar about their social emotional learning?

📢 Dear Families,

Friendly reminder: 🗓️ November 26th will be an ONLINE LEARNING DAY!

There will be NO BLENDED LEARNING on this date.

All classes will be held SYNCHRONOUSLY ONLINE💻.

Please remember to check your SST for your schedules 📅📝.

Thank you for your cooperation! 😊

Earlier this week, the district sent an email inviting families to share feedback on the new cell phone policy, required by recent Minnesota legislation. We’d love to hear your thoughts on cell phone use at school and how we can create a balanced, effective policy. The survey takes about 10 minutes and is open until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 27. Check your email for details!

Open-enrolled families (families who live outside the Hopkins School District): if you have a fall 2025 kindergartner, you will need to complete an Open Enrollment Application for your child by January 15, 2025.

Hopkins School District resident families: please submit a K-12 Student Enrollment form for your fall 2025 kindergartner — even if you are already attending Hopkins Preschool.

Find enrollment forms online, visit HopkinsSchools.org/enroll.

Hopkins Alpine Community Education Program

Do you know an elementary or middle school scholar who loves to ski? Improve your skills and learn to race with our Hopkins community education program!

For scholars grades 3-6, our Alpine program team is a fun way to enjoy winter and get to know other kids who love to ski. No race experience is needed, all you need is the ability to ski in control and our coaches will teach you the foundations of racing. Community education sign up is now open, so please use this link: Hopkins Alpine Community Education Program - Hopkins Community Education.

If you have questions about this program, please contact coaches Jason Langlie (JasonLanglie@gmail.com) or Maria Eaton (Mariachristine2@gmail.com)

✨ Thank you for joining us at our Title 1 Engagement Meeting! ✨

📊 We had the opportunity to discuss our next steps in the Comprehensive Needs Assessment to ensure we are providing our scholars with the supports they need to thrive at VirtualEDU. 💻

💡 We appreciate the chance to share our Math, Reading, and Social-Emotional data transparently 📚😊 and value your feedback and suggestions on how we can improve to better support our scholars. 🌟

Here is a recap of the data shared with the group:

Elementary:

• In Spring 2024, 64% of students who participated in the Panorama Survey responded positively when asked how frequently they feel challenging emotions. This has increased by 15 percentage points from last school year.

• The percentage of students at VEDU Elementary who earned “Low Risk” or “Meets Target” in the aMath FastBridge assessment has increased from 41% at End of Year 2024 to 54% in the Fall 2024 window.

• 72% of students at VEDU Elementary earned either “Low Risk” or “Meets Target” in the aReading FastBridge assessment this Fall

Thank you! 🙌

🌟 Thank you for joining us at our Caregiver Engagement Meeting!

🙏 We truly appreciate your engagement and thoughtful questions during the session. 🗣️💡

💻 We also want to thank you for allowing us to share information about our learning management systems here at VirtualEDU. 📚✨

📎 I’ve attached the presentation from the November 20th session below. 🎥 You can also find the recording from the session, which is 50 minutes long. ⏱️ While it’s a bit lengthy, it contains valuable information to support you and your scholar! 🌟👩‍🎓👨‍🎓

Caregiver Engagement Presentation

Caregiver Engagement Recording

❄️ Brrr... It's Getting Cold! ❄️

Even as the temperatures drop, we still enjoy heading outdoors on Blended Learning Days! 🧤🧣 To keep your student comfortable and prepared, please make sure they bring the right gear for the weather.

🧳 What Should They Bring?

🧥 Warm Coat
🧢 Hat
🧤 Gloves/Mittens
🧦 Thick Socks
👢 Boots (if it's snowy or wet)
🩳 Layers to adjust as needed

We want every student to stay cozy and enjoy their time outside, no matter what the weather brings! 🌬️✨Thank you for your help in keeping everyone prepared and warm! 😊

Remember, next week both Monday and Tuesday will be fully online days. We'll end the day Tuesday with some community fun.

This week, students began a Project Based Learning unit, which will take us to winter break. They will have 4 choices of how they want to spend their time. They'll spend half of their day in one of these 4 areas: • Life After High School: Learning how to Adult + survival skills • Creative Writing • Credit Recovery (juniors and seniors only) • Create Your Own Project and make it happen Students will continue to work on Science, Math, and their Specials and elective courses.

In Creative Writing, students are starting work with an exploration of poetry, and brainstorming what kind of writing they may want to do for their final project.

In Life After High school, students have looked at how to do taxes and what's under the hood of a car. If you ever need to jump-start a battery, these scholars are ready.

In Create Your Own, students have begun the project they've designed. They have identified their goal, sketched out their calendar, and begun their research and work.

In Credit Recovery, students have started designing a project that will show mastery of the concepts and standards they're missing from a particular class, so that they can gain the necessary skills and re-gain their credits.

🌱 Exciting News, VirtualEDU Community! 🌱

As we continue our journey working with the University of Minnesota 🎓, we’re thrilled to embed hydroponics into our weekly activities! 💧✨ This initiative will help us set up microgreen kits 🌿 and use the fresh, healthy food we grow to cook and nourish our bodies. 🍴🥗

🎥 Check out the video below to learn more about this amazing project! 📹✨

Together, we’re growing knowledge, health, and sustainability! 🌟💚

Hydroponics @ VirtualEDU

📣 Hello Seniors and Parents,

🌟 Great News! FAFSA is Now Open! 🌟

If you're planning to pursue any post-high school education—including 2-year colleges or technical schools—it's crucial to complete the FAFSA.

🖱️ Start Here: Fill out FAFSA

📝 How to Get Ready:

1️⃣ Create an Account
2️⃣ Gather Required Documents

• Learn what you'll need to complete your FAFSA.
  3️⃣ Determine Dependency Status
  4️⃣ Identify Your “FAFSA Parent”

🎯 Why Fill Out FAFSA?

✅ Access Financial Aid:

• Federal Loans (repayable)
• Grants (free money!)
  ✅ Qualify for Work-Study Programs
  ✅ Unlock Scholarships:
• Many schools require FAFSA for institutional scholarships and resources.
  ✅ MN North Star Promise Eligibility:
• Free tuition for eligible students!

🌟 What is the North Star Promise?

Minnesota's North Star Promise program offers free college tuition to eligible students at:

• Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
• University of Minnesota campuses
• Tribal Colleges

💡 Eligibility:

• Minnesota residents with a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below $80,000 (as reported on FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act application).

📖 Learn More: North Star Promise Overview
💬 Q&A: FAQs

🎓 How to Apply for the North Star Promise:
Simply complete the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act application. If eligible, your college will notify you about your award through their financial aid process—no additional application needed!

Let’s make your dreams of education a reality! 🚀

• 11/26: Online Learning Day; No Blended Learning
• 11/27-29: No School; Fall Break
• 12/6: No School, Professional Learning
• 12/12 Asynchronous Day
• 12/13: In Person Student Meet-up
• 12/20 Asynchronous Day
• 12/23-31: No School; Winter Break

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