#RoyalFam Newsletter

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope this letter finds you well. This year brings feelings of excitement and optimism for our scholars, staff, and family.

At Hopkins High School we are committed to transforming education by fostering co-agency, embracing personalized learning, optimizing space and technology, and promoting anti-racist behaviors to unite humanity in a complex world. These elements are deeply embedded in our vision and guide our daily efforts to create an inclusive and dynamic learning environment for our scholars to thrive.

We continue to emphasize our four foundational values known as the 4 Rs at HHS:

1. Respectful. We believe in cultivating an environment where each person is treated with dignity and kindness. Respect is the cornerstone of our interactions, and we encourage our scholars to approach each day with an open mind and commitment to valuing the perspectives of others.

2. Responsible. Personal responsibility is key to success both inside and outside of the learning spaces at HHS. We empower our scholars to take ownership of their learning, actions, and decisions, understanding that their choices have an impact on themselves and our larger community.

3. Restorative. We understand that mistakes are a vital part of the learning process. Our restorative approach focuses on repairing harm and restoring relationships when conflicts arise while holding ourselves and each other accountable. Through restorative practices, we aim to build a school culture that prioritizes learning and understanding, while fostering a strong sense of community.

4. Relationships. Positive relationships are the heart of our school. We are dedicated to nurturing connections between scholars, staff, and families, recognizing that strong relationships are essential for academic and personal growth. At HHS, we are a family and together we will support each other through challenges and celebrate our successes.

In alignment with our vision, we are committed to fostering co-agency by empowering scholars to take an active role in their learning journey. We embrace personalized learning, ensuring that each scholar’s unique needs, strengths, and interests are met. By optimizing space and technology, we create innovative environments that enhance learning and collaboration. Additionally, we are committed to promoting anti-racist behaviors understanding that these factors are essential to uniting humanity in an increasingly complex world.

As we embrace a new school year, I encourage you to join us in embracing the 4 Rs and supporting our scholars as they strive to embody these values and our graduate traits in their daily lives. Your partnership is invaluable, and I look forward to working together to make this year successful and rewarding for all.

Please know that my door is always open, and I welcome your thoughts, questions, and feedback.

Mark Your Calendar

9/18 State of the School 5-6pm in HHS Auditorium

9/19 Principal Tea 7:30-8:30am in HHS College and Career Center

9/19 - Digital Learning Day (Scholars access learning online)

9/28 - Homecoming Dance

10/3 - Rosh Hashanah - No School

10/4 - Conferences - No School

10/17 & 10/18 - MEA - No School

10/24 - Digital Learning Day (Scholars access learning online)

School Calendars

District Calendar

We have a new platform for career and college planning, MaiaLearning. We will be conducting training in Royals Connects, class meetings, individual appointments, and after school so that scholars are acclimated to the new platform. Dr. Kuhl will hold special hours during Term 1 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 pm in the College and Career Center for scholars.

It is important scholars attend Royals Connect to get important information about how to use MaiaLearning to help with after-high school planning.

As scholars are embarking on the college application process, they may have identified that their GPA would be higher if we included their 9th-grade IB scores in the high school GPA calculation. If scholars wish for a supplementary letter to be sent explaining their GPA would be higher if we included their IB grades, please fill out this form to make that request from Dr. Kuhl. Please note, she will not send the letter if your grade point average is not higher when including your IB grades.

Most scholarships can be found on our scholarship board in MaiaLearning. Eligible seniors are encouraged to apply for the Coca-Cola Scholarship for a chance to be awarded $20,000. Eligibility and application requirements can be found here.

Senior Sunrise. Each year seniors convene at the HHS stadium to watch the sunrise together. At the end of the year they convene to watch the sunset together. This HHS tradition strengthens community and connections. Both events are hosted by our talented Student Council. This year the senior sunrise will take place Friday, September 6, at 6:30 am.

Cell Phones. Cell phones can be only used during lunch and passing periods. Cell phones should not be used during class time unless permitted by the teacher.

Restrooms. To ensure proper supervision before school the restrooms on the first floor of the south wing and the all-gender restrooms near the Small Theatre are open. All restrooms are unlocked during the 1st block.

Lunch. Seniors are permitted to leave campus for lunch. All food must be consumed during their designated lunch time.

Food Delivery. Food delivery though, Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub etc. is not permitted at HHS. Food delivered will be confiscated until the end of the school day.

Dismissal. School ends each day at 3:25. Scholars who are not a part of an after-school activity must exit the building by 3:45. HHS does not provide supervision for scholars who are not a part of an after-school activity at HHS. Scholars should be picked up at the RAC entrance.

Hopkins Creates. Hopkins Creates is now accepting applications and registrations for the 1st term of the 2024-2025 school year. If you’re interested in a different approach to school, and personalized content, Hopkins Creates might be the place for you.

Upcoming Lifetouch Picture Days

All freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors who will be using Lifetouch for their senior photos will have their photos taken during the school day on September 5. Please click here to order your photos. The window to order will close on Monday, September 10.

Important Senior Photo Information

If you would like to utilize Lifetouch on September 5 or on their retake day in October for the senior portrait for the yearbook, they will provide a free picture on either of those days. If you have your own senior photo you would like to submit, please follow these instructions, which include an upload link.

Please note:

1.) Upload only one photo. Make sure you choose the photo you like that meets our requests and upload ONLY that photo. If you upload more than one photo, we will not reach out to you, we will choose a photo for you.

2.) Select a photo that is styled after a professional head shot. We will crop all photos so that faces are about the same size, and that means that any props, trees, cars, athletic equipment, instruments, or walls you may be peaking around will not be included in the photo will only serve to distract from your head and shoulders shot once we crop it.

Senior Yearbook Tribute

We are proud to continue the popular tradition of the senior yearbook tribute. Here's how it works:

1. Find an adorable photo of your graduate from a much younger age

2. Create a 40-50 word message honoring who they have become

3. Purchase and upload the yearbook tribute at jostens before January 31

Yearbook Ordering Information

Order your yearbook as early as possible to take advantage of the lowest prices to help us gauge an accurate order by our deadline. Please email jeff.kocur@hopkinsschools.org if you have any questions or would like to coordinate a cash or check payment. Special offer: In addition to selling for the lowest price all year, if you order before September 20, you can choose four free icons (symbols to represent your interests, talents in school) when you also order personalization.

Spirit Week. Each day scholars are encouraged to dress according to the theme. The theme for each day will be shared in a future newsletter.

Movie Night. Monday, September 21, we will kick off Spirit Week with a movie on the Football Field. More details will follow.

Club Fair. The club fair will be held on September 25 during lunches. Clubs and activities are encouraged to table at this event and engage with new potential members.

Powderpuff. The annual Powderpuff football game will take place on Wednesday, September 25 after school. Each year we cheer for the junior and senior class at this event. In the last 2 years, the class of 2024 won. We look forward to celebrating the winners this year.

Pep Fest. Our pepfest will take place Friday, September 27 in the RAC each. On this day we will run a Royals Connect schedule. Scholars should first report to their RC for attendance at the walk to the RAC with their class.

HOCO Game. The HOCO game will take place Friday, September 27 at the HHS Football Stadium. Scholars who continue to not meet school expectations will not be permitted to attend.

HOCO Dance. The dance will take place in the HHS mall on September 28. Tickets will go on sale next week. Scholars who continue to not meet school expectations will not be permitted to attend.

Please click the following link for the Student Council Monthly News for more details on all of the upcoming events: https://secure.smore.com/n/7mzbe

We are taking an amazing trip over spring break in 2025 to Croatia, Slovenia, and Venice! You can watch a brief video overview by clicking on this link (here is the presentation).

Current Juniors who are taking AP Euro or AP World during the 24-25 school year and current Seniors who took AP Euro or AP World for the 23-24 school year as a Junior are eligible to register. (This is not available for incoming 9th graders at this time.) We currently have 25 students signed up and the trip is capped at 40.

If you have signed up and registered, there will be a meeting in the Fall (around Term 1 conferences, which is the first week of October) for everyone who is registered to begin discussing logistics and other items to be ready for the trip in the Spring of 2025!

Students and families, you can email me with any questions at michael.babinedinnen@hopkinsschools.org You can also check out our detailed tour itinerary at www.explorica.com, select Register for a Tour, and enter the tour ID: Babine-Dinnen-2359.

Please click this link for more information about the Scholars of Distinction Award. Scholars can start applying Oct 1, 2024.

Email: crystal.ballard@hopkinsschools.org
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/secondary-schools/hopkins-high-school
Location: 2400 Royals Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305, USA
Phone: (952) 988-4500
Facebook: facebook.com/hopkinsroyals270/
Twitter: @HopkinsHigh270