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Hopkins Public Schools ISD 270 1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55305-4723
The Community’s Guide to the District
Fall 2022
HopkinsSchools The Community’s Guide to the District
Alice Smith Elementary October 11
Your scholar's safety is a primary concern for us. Today, all scholars attended Bus Safety Training where everyone learned how to be safe on the bus.
Residential Postal Patron ECRWSS
Hopkins Schools Shifting to eLearning Days for Inclement Weather Policy
Hopkins Public Schools October 13
Hopkins High School orchestra performed a variey of kid-friendly tunes for little Royals and their families at the Young People's Concert. Children were dressed in their pajamas, and stuffed animals and blankets in tow. The orchestra played several familiar tunes from Disney favorites! More photos: https://bit.ly/3S3frpf
Hopkins Schools October 15
Homecoming Week at Hopkins High School! Scholars celebrated their spirit this week with daily themes. Murad Essak was named Homecoming King and Taylor Woodson was named Homecoming Queen. Other members of the Royal Court include: Eduardo Flores, Rosa Greenwood, Praise Akinyele, and Sametta Hill. More photos: https://bit.ly/3rXEBuQ
Preparing Hopkins Students for Post-Secondary Success
LEARN ABOUT eLEARNING DAYS
WELCOME FALL!
Hopkins students get into the groove of the school year
HIGH SCHOOL ACCOLADES
AP SCHOLAR AWARDS Hopkins High School has one of the largest AP (Advanced Placement) programs in the state, offering 27 AP courses. Last year, 41% of Hopkins High School students took at least one AP course. Of those students, 140 students earned AP Scholar Awards from the college board. The AP program offers students the opportunity to earn college credit for successful performance on the AP exams.
Three Hopkins Students Named National Hispanic Recognition Awardees Alejandro Vega, Maya Holmes, and Hennesis Morocho were named recipients of the National Hispanic Recognition Award. These three students earned recognition because of their academic achievements in school and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and/or AP® Exams.
Hopkins270 October 20
This week, our junior high schools hosted a mural paint party! North Junior High and West Junior High will be adding a mural installation to one of their school hallways thanks to some help from designers at GoodSpace Murals. More photos: https://bit.ly/3TCovlX
Fall 2022
Hopkins Seniors Awarded National Merit Scholarship Recognition Seniors Grace Weil and Merlin Phillips are among a prestigious group of students named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. They are two of about 16,000 semifinalists in the scholarship program this year. Finalists will be announced in February.
National Merit Commended Students Gavin Lorinser, Beatrice Durham, and Michael Sandler were named National Merit Commended Students for their outstanding academic promise. While Commended Students do not move on in the competition for the National Merit Scholarships, these students often become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
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AP Scholar Awards
Scoring 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.
Starting this school year, when there is a need to close school due to weather, Hopkins Public Schools will shift to an eLearning day for PreK-12 students. Moving to eLearning days makes it possible for students to engage in learning even when the weather makes it unsafe to operate school in-person. In addition, an eLearning format allows the district to plan for weather without having to consider adding additional days to the school year due to unexpected school closures.
Jamaican Educators Visit Hopkins
AP Scholars With Distinction
Average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and score 3 or higher on five or more exams.
AP Scholar with Honors
Average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and have scored 3 or higher on four or more exams.
GET CONNECTED, STAY CONNECTED
HopkinsSchools.org/update
For one week in October, Hopkins Public Schools welcomed four teachers from Jamaica. The educators traveled to Minnesota through a partnership with Thrive Ed and the Jamaican Exchange in Teaching program. They observed classrooms and exchanged teaching strategies with our staff.
Left: Beth Ocar gives a student a high five after reaching an important milestone on her college essay. Right: Michelle Kuhl collaborates with students in the Royals Prep class.
As anyone who has gone to high school knows, the experience goes by quickly. One minute you are struggling to find your classes and the next you are walking across the graduation stage into your exciting future. Hopkins High School is ensuring that post-secondary planning is intentionally embedded into each student’s high school experience so every Hopkins student is prepared for success after graduation. One way Hopkins is accomplishing this is through the newly created Royals College and Career Center (RCCC). The RCCC is funded by the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) and run by Dr. Michelle Kuhl, a college and career readiness coordinator. The RCCC works in partnership with the counseling office and the wellness center to streamline and expand on the strong foundation that Hopkins High School already has in place. By adding more integrated classes and opportunities, students will be encouraged to think more intentionally and deeply about what they want to do after high school and explore how they will get there. This year, the RCCC will host college prep workshops and a national speaker series, bringing in companies like Nike to help Hopkins students better understand careers that might be available to them. “The competitive advantage that Hopkins has is that we are not as big as the surrounding schools and the amount of personalized attention you have access to here is incredible,” said Kuhl. In her work with the RCCC, Kuhl does everything from collaborating with school counselors and hosting visiting colleges to providing personalized career exploration for students. This might be
helping a student write a competitive college application essay or reaching out to a professional in the field to make a career connection for a student. Through the RCCC and other college readiness programs, Hopkins High School is empowering students to pave their own path, while also helping them understand what is possible and the systems they need to navigate to get there. “We are not judgemental about what you want to do, we just want you to be prepared for it,” said Kuhl. “If a student wants to take a gap year, it’s my job to make that a structured experience.” Royals Prep college readiness class This year, Hopkins High School is offering a new class called Royals Prep co-taught by Kuhl and English teacher Beth Ocar. Royals Prep blends life skills and the college application process. Students not only earn graduation credit, but they must also apply to at least one college as part of the class. “There is nothing easy or stress-free about applying for college, so if we can make the process make sense and work for each individual student in a way that is fulfilling to them, that is very impactful,” said Ocar. Royals Prep has attracted a diverse representation of Hopkins High School students. The aspirations of the students ranges from those who want to attend Ivy League colleges to technical colleges. Royals Prep aligns well with Hopkins High School’s goal of college readiness as not all students have equal time available to them or even access to resources to apply for college or to prepare for what their life might look like when they get there. Through the See Preparing Hopkins Students, inside
ROYAL SPOTLIGHT Katie Stennes Hopkins Compensation Model Manager Katie Stennes holds several important roles in Hopkins — she is in a teacher leadership role, is a mom to two scholars at Eisenhower Elementary's Chinese immersion program, and she lives in the district. “I love being part of such a caring, supportive, and forward-thinking community,” Stennes said. “And I adore the students. They never cease to amaze me.” Stennes is part of a group who has been leading the sixth grade transition to the junior highs — a change that will occur next school year. She said she has been energized by the work. “Making this transition as we look towards Vision 2031 gives us a unique opportunity to tailor our program to the unique needs of our middle-level students in the context of our rapidly changing world,” Stennes said. What excites you about Vision 2031? We’ve created this bold, audacious goal of truly disrupting and dismantling systems that have been entrenched for so long. It is certainly challenging work, but it brings with it this great potential to craft our education system in a way that enriches the lives of the students, staff, and families in our community. A proud moment that made you feel great about doing your job? The time I spent with students in the spring of 2020 will always stick with me. While teaching during various stages of the pandemic stand out in different ways, connecting with my students during those first uncertain weeks of distance learning is a strangely positive memory because it brought us together in a different way.
ALUMNI CORNER Margaret Stelzner 2014 Graduate Stats: Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College • PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota, Neuroscience Fun Facts: Margaret Stelzner is a former Hopkins High School cross country and track athlete. She may not compete in races anymore, but she is on pace to complete the graduate program of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. Stelzner is currently studying neural circuitry of learning and motivation in the Saunders Lab. As a trainee on the addiction neuroscience team, she is investigating the role of a specific population of neurons in cue encoding and reward-seeking scenarios. Who was your favorite music artist the year you graduated? Brandi Carlile Where was your favorite hangout spot at Hopkins High School? As a cross country and track athlete, I spent a lot of time on the track. How did Hopkins prepare you for the future? Hopkins offered ProPEL, a program that allowed high school seniors to shadow or work alongside professionals in their field of interest. I spent my time with a school psychologist learning what her job entailed and how she did it. The experience provided me with a unique learning experience. While I didn’t pursue a career as a school psychologist, the experience underscored my interest in understanding behavior — my first clue of my interest in the neurological underpinnings of behavior.
STUDENT VOICE Beatrix (Trixie) Wilker Junior, Hopkins High School When Trixie Wilker first heard about the Collaborative Lab School (CLS), she knew it was the kind of environment she needed for her education. As a student, she learns best from untraditional learning experiences. CLS is a new pathway at Hopkins High School, powered by Hopkins Public Schools and Thrive Ed, where students and educators work together to co-create authentic learning experiences. In this environment, Trixie is given more freedom and support to be the driver of her own education. What makes CLS unique from a traditional class? I have found that CLS is different from past classes I've taken in structure, grading, trust, control, etc. Everything is set up and handled so differently from the regular school system that I sometimes have trouble explaining the differences because I see it as so separate from the traditional school system. In CLS, students lead classes and conversations. Instead of teachers, we have engagement guides who learn with us and guide us through learning. We have a lot of chances to connect what we're learning to things outside of our course and also really focus our efforts on what interests us. When have you used your student voice? I see myself as an opinionated person and I like being outspoken about those opinions. Maybe I've been too scared to speak up in the past. School should not be a place where kids are afraid to voice their thoughts. Learning happens when ideas are challenged. Why is student voice important? It's so important for student voices to be heard because they are the primary learners. Students have a greater understanding of how they learn best than they get credit for. So many times student voices are dismissed when they bring up issues and their voices are eroded over time. When we allow students to share their thoughts and opinions — and in turn, really listen and respect them — school has the potential to transform into a really beautiful learning environment.
Know a Hopkins student, teacher, or alumni we should feature? Email Michelle.Wirth@HopkinsSchools.org.
Preparing Hopkins Students, continued from cover
class, students are able to navigate college and tech school applications alongside a supportive mentor who is invested in their success and who can ensure their applications are competitive. Even students who feel prepared might realize, upon further reflection through the course, that their plan needs tweaking or to be changed. Allowing students the space and time to reflect aligns them to their highest potential. “We personalize our coaching for each student and their goals,” said Ocar. “We are seeing a lot of students who were certain they wanted to do one thing realize that they want to do something totally different.” Making college and tech school accessible to all students Hopkins High School has several programs in place designed to make the college application process less daunting and free from barriers. The AVID program works with students from populations that are underrepresented in college. In the senior year, the goal of the program is to demystify the college preparation process. AVID teacher Jen Heimlich develops deep relationships with students and their families to support them, helping families select college options and navigate important FAFSA financial aid paperwork that secures loans and grants for college. In the past, AVID was solely focused on placing students in four-year colleges but is now more inclusive of trade programs, two year-colleges, apprenticeships, and other options. “There are kids who want to go into a trade or the military,” said Heimlich. “We want seniors to have as many opportunities as possible and also have a strong backup plan.” Another way Hopkins High School is removing barriers to college is
Glen Lake House System Creates Community and Connections Glen Lake Elementary has adopted a house-sorting system — similar to Harry Potter — in an effort to create community and connections between scholars in every grade level. On Sept. 28, students were sorted into four houses: Altruismo, Amistad, Isibindi, and Rêveur. Every student selected a balloon filled with confetti. When the balloon was popped above their head, it revealed which house they would be in based on the confetti color. Through the house system, students are encouraged to build character, relationships, teamwork, and spirit.
through Direct Admission. Hopkins is one of a few high schools that has this partnership, which guarantees placement to hundreds of participating colleges and universities for Hopkins students who are on track to graduate. This program not only offers students more choices, it also takes the stress out of applying for college and worrying that you may not get accepted. The goal is to remove roadblocks that might prevent students from applying at all. Personalized approach Next year, the Hopkins student body will grow by one grade level as ninth graders are added into the mix. With this transition, high school counselors want to encourage students to think about the careers they want to explore as early as possible. At Hopkins High School, students can access job mentorship programs, personal finance classes, ACT and PSAT tutoring programs, college essay support, career assessments, and college-readiness classes. Xeev Xwm Vang, a counselor for students in their junior year, would like students to have a good sense of their natural gifts and what career paths they would like to explore by the time they enter 11th grade. Through assessments like Naviance, students can develop important insights into what they want to do after high school. Vang believes self-discovery can lead students to their personalized career path and wants students to invest in the social capital that is available at Hopkins High School. “Overall, scholars need to understand that they have access to high-quality resources here at the high school,” he said. “We’re all invested in their success; they should try to seek this out as much as possible.”
INCOMING KINDERGARTEN EVENTS Kindergarten Information Session (In-person) Calling the Class of 2036! Join us for a fun family-centered night of exploring what Hopkins Public Schools will offer your incoming kindergartener for the 2023-24 school year and beyond! Thursday, Nov. 10, at 6-7:30 p.m., at Hopkins High School Register Online: https://bit.ly/3eFelm3
Chinese and Spanish Immersion Information Session (Virtual) Join us for a virtual information session that will explore kindergarten Chinese and Spanish immersion options at Hopkins Public Schools! Thursday, Nov. 17, at 5:30-7 p.m., held on Zoom Register Online: https://bit.ly/3eGffOY
Registration Information Session (Virtual) Join our enrollment team to learn more about the application process, open enrollment, review key enrollment dates, and get answers to your enrollment questions! Thursday, Dec. 8, at 6:30-8 p.m., held on Zoom Register Online: https://bit.ly/3S8un5q
Somali Registration Information Session (In-person) Somali families are invited to join our enrollment team for an in-person event that will provide application information, review important enrollment dates, and help answering your enrollment questions! Enjoy some food and treats while you get enrollment support. Somali interpreters will be available to assist families! Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 6:30-8 p.m., at Eisenhower Community Center Register Online: https://bit.ly/3MHbYvr
FROM SUPERINTENDENT
DR. MHIRIPIRI-REED Learning and achievement in Hopkins After two years of managing the demands imposed on us by the global pandemic, I am pleased to share positive news with you about how well our resilient Hopkins students have adjusted and how much they are learning and achieving. Our teachers reported returning to school rested and ready for the 2022-23 school year. School staff also shared that our students showed up in noticeably positive ways this year — less anxious, more attentive, and ready to learn. Our students love and need school! Nationwide data indicates that the two-year pandemic generated levels of learning loss that was captured in multiple ways. For example, normed achievement exams and standardized test scores reflected achievement loss across the country. This impact was also true in our district. In Hopkins, we are using multiple measures to assess student learning levels. We know that a single test score does not accurately portray how much a student has learned, what students are able to do, or how well a school is educating its children. Rather, multiple measures that assess academic skill, subject-matter competence, and socioemotional well-roundedness are key to a balanced student assessment system. As I reviewed Advanced Placement (AP) test scores from this past spring, I noted approximately 700 scholars took one or more AP courses. Additionally, many scholars took College in the Schools courses which yield college credits. We were pleased to learn that 484 students took 803 AP exams. Scores of 3 or higher translate to college credits. Of these test takers, 117 Hopkins scholars earned a score of 5 (the highest) on their exams! Hopkins students master key graduation traits Students who stay with Hopkins for a 13+ year trajectory are demonstrating exceptionalism across multiple areas. We have identified a set of traits and skills that we want all Hopkins students to master upon graduation including critical and holistic thinking, empathy, collaboration and problem-solving, and personal confidence balanced with global-mindedness. Student to scholar At some point in our students' path, they evolve from student to scholar. They become focused thinkers who deeply engage in subject matter. They practice time-management and self-discipline techniques. Their scholarly attributes are distinct and admirable — which is why we use the term "scholar" in both an aspirational and practical sense. Just like a standardized test score inadequately conveys what students know, solely focusing on AP enrollment inadequately portrays the depth of Hopkins High School students’ individual aptitudes. We have many scholars achieving outside of and beyond AP. In Hopkins, we are building achievement dashboards that will help our public understand how well our students are learning, and where we may need to sharpen our instructional efforts. Hopkins students have been and continue to be ready for a dynamic world. We thank our Hopkins educators for shaping our curious students into disciplined scholars. Hopkins graduates will be the change-makers the world needs to see!
Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed Superintendent