#RoyalFam Newsletter

Term 1 grades have been posted to your scholar’s transcript. You may access grades via the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus.

Over Thanksgiving Break, November 27, 28, 29, HHS will be closed. Staff will not be available during this time.

Cold season is approaching, and we could use your Kleenex tissue donations! Please send your donations to school with your scholar, and they can drop them off at the Main Office. Alternatively, you may drop donations off at our welcome desk at Door A (main entrance).

A special thank you to everyone who has donated kleenex to HHS so far this year!

This year we are raising funds to give some HHS seniors $1,000 scholarships. We are asking each HHS scholar to donate $3 to our fundraiser. Scholars who donate will receive a class T-shirt. Donations can be made in the main office.

Mark Your Calendar

11/20- State of the School 5:00 pm HHS Auditorium

11/21 - Digital Learning Day (Scholars access learning online)

11/27-11/29 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

12/5 - Term 2 Conferences - No School

12/6 - Staff Professional Development Day - No School

12/12 - Digital Learning Day (Scholars access learning online)

12/23 - 01/03 - Winter Break - No School

School Calendars

District Calendar

The State of the School is a quarterly event designed to share relevant data about HHS. The next State of the School Address will be this Wednesday, 11/20, at 5:00pm in the HHS auditorium. Below are some data points that were discussed during the September State of the School address.

• Athletics and Activities Roster Data

• Racial Demographics Trends

• Grade Point Average Trends

• Social Emotional Learning Survey Data

• Unfavorable Behavior Data

The monthly Principal Tea is an opportunity for parents/caregivers to have a conversation with Principal Ballard. This month’s topic is Seeking Feedback Regarding School Experience. The Principal Tea will be held this Thursday, November 21, at 7:30am in the College and Career Center.

Click here for the online sale at the Hopkins Royals Spirit Shop now through December 4!

Planning for the Senior Class Party is underway! The 2025 Hopkins Senior Party will take place at Hopkins High School, Thursday, June 5, 2025 at NO COST for scholars. Fun, photos, games, raffles, and activities will run throughout the school day.

We will continue to update our web page with details about the day. Opportunities for donations and volunteering will be located here as well.

https://www.hopkinsseniorparty.com

We Need Your Help

Since the Senior Party is funded 100% by donations, with the average cost for one senior to attend is $75, we need your help in raising money! We have a goal of $15,000. Here's how you can help:

DONATE
Make a direct donation today via GoFundMe at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/2025-HHS-SeniorParty
OR
Venmo at:
Hopkinsseniorparty25.

Is there an opportunity at your company for your employer to match contributions? Please email HopkinsSeniorParty@gmail.com

VOLUNTEER
We have been given five dates to earn money for the party at the Concession counter in the RAC. Shifts last 2-4 hours and you can sign up for as many as you want. We will need volunteers to work the following dates:

November 26, 5-9 pm (Girls Basketball Game)
December 7, 8:45 am-10:15 pm (Basketball Tournament)

Jan 14, 5-9 pm (Boys Basketball Game)
March 7, Time is TBD (Basketball Sectionals)

Sign up here for basketball concessions: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084AACA92DA2F94-52810643-basketball?useFullSite=true#/.

Work concessions at the Wrestling match on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Sign up for wrestling concessions:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084AACA92DA2F94-53249922-wrestling#/

PURCHASE A YARD SIGN

Yard signs will be available for order again in January. Watch for more information on ordering after winter break.
Order at: https://hopkins-high-school-spirit-shop.square.site/

Join us for an unforgettable show as Royal Productions brings Newsies to the Hopkins High School Auditorium! Showtimes are November 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23 at 7:30pm, with a special matinee on November 16 at 2:00pm.

This production is extra special as it features our high school cast alongside 17 talented elementary and middle school students from Hopkins, many making their stage debut. Their energy and enthusiasm bring an exciting new dimension to the story of Newsies—a tale of resilience and heart that will have you cheering as they “seize the day!”

Get your tickets here: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/events/landing/47569

The Wallin Scholarship application is available for qualifying seniors planning on attending a 4-year college. The deadline to submit the application is January 31, 2025. Please see the flyer and scan the QR code for more information. You can also visit their website at https://www.wallinpartners.org/

There will be a panel interview/information session with the United States Military Academy Cadets currently attending West Point on November 25 at the Wayzata HS Auditorium - See link below. Scholars and parents will be able to hear what the Cadets say about tips for the application process and Cadet life at West Point and ask questions.

If you would like to attend, click on this link to register for the event - https://apply.westpoint.edu/register/PlymouthHTV2024

Are you ready to learn about life-changing opportunities for a gap year in Israel? We're thrilled to invite you to Masa Israel Journey's Virtual Gap Fair on November 24, from 12:00 to 1:30 PM ET, with breakout sessions from 1:30 to 2:00 PM ET for deeper dives into specific programs.

REGISTER TODAY!

College scholarships are being uploaded into the local scholarship section of MaiaLearning on a regular basis. Please have your scholar start checking and applying for scholarships. They will have videos and tutorials in their Royals Connect that show them how to do it.

FAFSA opens on December 1st. Please start gathering documents and getting ready for the application cycle.

Mid-year review transcripts are sent automatically after Term 2; however, there are two conditions that you can request a new transcript be uploaded now for college applications. First, you have not completed all your college applications and are wishing for the updated transcript to go just to new colleges. Second, a college you already applied to is specifically requesting that you send one with Term 1 grades.

Dr. Kuhl, College and Career Readiness Coordinator will be holding open office hours after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She will also hold an in-school SST every Wednesday during Royals Connect time. These hours do not need an appointment and are specific to planning for what scholars will do after high school.

How to fill out the Common App tutorial videos can be found here.

How to navigate MaiaLearning tips sheet found here.

Senior Photos

If you did not utilize Lifetouch for your senior portrait and you have your own senior photo you would like to submit, please follow these instructions, which include an upload link. The deadline for submission is December 1st.

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

Senior Yearbook (Ad) 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.

We are taking an amazing trip over spring break in 2026! We are doing a civil rights/HBCU tour to Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. We will be visiting famous sites like the Edmund Pettus bridge and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and we’ll tour the Whitney Plantation and Lafayette Cemetery. We will tour Spelman and Morehouse Colleges and more! I will host some information nights beginning in November, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, you can view the entire itinerary and see the price at www.explorica.com, enter tour ID Heimlich-8408 You can sign up to pay monthly payments too. Students, you can always stop by Ms. Heimlich’s room, W112, with any questions. Families, you can email me with any questions at jennifer.heimlich@hopkinsschools.org

Last 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!

Are you looking to give back to Hopkins schools? Support the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF). We fund classroom projects and resources that kickstart learning opportunities for Hopkins students. Your support makes that happen. You can help by ordering Gratitude Gifts for Hopkins teachers and staff. Your $25 purchase supports our grants and gives each recipient a treat, gift card, and personal note. Orders close December 9. You can also help by donating to the Hopkins Education Foundation on Give to the Max Day (November 21) or by attending our fundraiser at Bear Cave Brewing on December 9 (20% of your order that day goes to HEF if you select our organization at checkout). Visit HopkinsEducationFoundation.org for more information.

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