Welcome to Kindergarten Inspiring remarkable growth and achievement in our youngest learners
Accepting enrollments starting Nov. 16 for the
2024-25 Kindergarten School Year
Hopkins
Class of
2037
We are excited to welcome you and your upcoming kindergartner to Hopkins! Welcome to Hopkins Kindergarten! Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions that you will make for your child. In Hopkins, we believe in relationships. We take the time to get to know you, your family, and your child. Our students are at the center of everything we do. When students feel heard, seen, and valued, they can do their very best work — that’s why love is one of our core values. We are excited to begin this relationship with your family during the year before kindergarten, so that when your child begins their first day of school, they will be full of confidence and excitement. Our program is centered on your child’s academic and social-emotional success with caring teachers who will support your child as they explore their passions, discover their talents, and develop their strengths throughout their Hopkins path. We look forward to having you at our kindergarten events and we’re excited for your student to join us next fall! Sincerely,
Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent
About Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed Bachelor’s degree in psychology and graduate of the teacher preparation program, Yale University. Master’s degree in education policy and administration, K-12 licensure, University of Minnesota. Doctorate in education leadership, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Meet Your Elementary School Principal Our Principals
Eduardo Navidad
Behind every great school is a great school leader. The principals who lead our schools in Hopkins are student-centered and committed to creating the best learning environments. We invest in our principals’ leadership to make sure they have what they need to serve our students, staff and families at the highest possible level.
Principal, Alice Smith I choose Hopkins because Hopkins’ commitment to Vision 2031 is a collective drive to embody the core values in our daily work.
Melissa Ness
Jeff Radel
Principal, Eisenhower I choose Hopkins because Hopkins values each scholar as an individual who brings strengths and brilliance.
Principal, Glen Lake I choose Hopkins because we believe that every child deserves a brilliant future!
Dr. George Nolan
Natalie Sawatzky
Principal, Gatewood I choose Hopkins because every student who comes through our doors is valued and loved!
Principal, Meadowbrook I choose Hopkins because our district’s values closely align to my personal values. I lead with love, humility, and a quest for equity.
Dr. Jim Hebeisen
Demond Johnson
Principal, L.H. Tanglen I choose Hopkins because it is a caring community with relationships as a foundation for great learning.
Associate Principal, VirtualEDU I choose Hopkins because we inspire and educate our students to develop their unique potential.
Join us for these important events during your child’s year before kindergarten November 16, 2023 — Kindergarten Information Night Mark your calendar! This fun and interactive event is for families and their incoming kindergartner. Learn about Hopkins’ exciting vision, meet your child’s principal, and explore the many options and choices available to you. Kindergarten Information Night at Hopkins High School:
Register Online: bit.ly/3rD0lQ7
Nov. 16, 2023, 6-7:30 p.m.
November 30, 2023 — Virtual Chinese and Spanish Immersion Information Session Families interested in our Spanish Immersion or Chinese Immersion programs are invited to a virtual event focused on answering all of your immersion questions. Virtual Kindergarten Language Immersion Information Session:
Register Online: bit.ly/46wWfs7
Nov. 30, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Enrollment Help Sessions The Hopkins enrollment team is always available to answer your questions during our 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. business hours. To provide even more options for families, we’ve designated three evenings where the enrollment office will be open until 6:30 p.m. to answer questions on how to enroll for kindergarten, upcoming deadlines, and more. In-Person Help Session: Dec. 5, 2023, 4:30-6:30 p.m. In-Person & Virtual Help Session: Jan. 11, 2024, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Virtual Help Session: Dec. 14, 2023, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Register: HopkinsSchools.org/enroll
January 16, 2024 — Important Application Deadline The application deadline for open enrollment, Spanish and Chinese immersion, in-district transfer, and VirtualEDU is Jan. 16, 2024. Applications received after Jan. 16 will be added to a wait list based on the date submitted. Learn more at HopkinsSchools.org/enroll.
February 2024 — Kindergarten Roundup Join us in person at your child’s school for Kindergarten Roundup events that are designed to get you and your child ready for kindergarten in 2024. Watch for a mailed postcard with registration and event information. Alice Smith Elementary: Eisenhower Elementary: Gatewood Elementary:
Feb. 29, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Feb. 20, 2024, 5:00 p.m. Feb. 22, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Glen Lake Elementary:
Feb. 27, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
L.H. Tanglen Elementary:
Feb. 29, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Meadowbrook Elementary:
Feb. 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
VirtualEDU - Virtual Session:
Feb. 29, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
Spring/Summer 2024 — Additional Year-Before-Kindergarten Events Please watch our website for upcoming year-before-kindergarten event dates — including, Kindergarten Bridge in May and Kindergarten Playground Nights in August. Learn more at HopkinsSchools.org/kinder.
Early Childhood Screening
Kindergarten Early Entrance
Screenings are required before the start of kindergarten and recommended between the ages of 3-4. Schedule a screening appointment at HopkinsSchools.org/screen.
An informational meeting will take place in Spring 2024 for children who will turn 5 years old after Sept. 1. To register, call 952-988-5000 or email Sonya.Everhart@HopkinsSchools.org.
Personalized Learning Children learn in different ways and at different paces. Personalized learning is a teaching model based on this concept. This model moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a model where students are guided on more personalized learning paths, tailored to meet their individual needs. Personalized learning encourages students to express their interests, have voice and choice around their learning, develop critical thinking, and acquire self-advocacy skills so they feel increased engagement with their learning.
Examples of Personalized Learning • Inclusive environments that focus on community • Student experience is integrated into their learning • Interactive, project-based learning • Concept-based learning supports critical thinking
In a personalized learning model, assessment is for learning. The goal is to capture what students can do now, and plan for what they will do next to keep growing in critical skill areas, which are often called competencies.
Hopkins Elementary Schools at a Glance • Schoolwide talent development and inquiry-based learning are available to all students. • Spanish language instruction and immersion options starting in kindergarten. • Staff of specialists are at every school including social workers, counselors, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and restorative practice specialists. • Orchestra and band begin in elementary school.
• Social-emotional learning and self-regulation strategies create environments where students can thrive. Flexible classrooms give students agency over the physical space they need to support their learning. • Before- and after-school care is offered through our Kids & Company program: HopkinsSchools.org/kids. • 1:1 iPad program allows all students access to a powerful learning device.
Outdoor Immersion Learning and exploring in nature Your child will build connections to the natural world as they spark their curiosity, inventiveness, and excitement for school. While each of our elementary schools prioritizes outdoor exploration and observation, Gatewood Elementary is an environmental school with a schoolwide outdoor immersion program. Gatewood provides a holistic approach to learning, leveraging its beautiful grounds and outdoor classrooms, onsite naturalists, wellness programs, and a state-of-the-art greenhouse. When scholars have opportunities to go outside to learn, they become more motivated, observant, collaborative, and self-directed.
Gatewood’s outdoor learning increases student engagement in and out of the classroom. Learn more at HopkinsSchools.org/outdoorK
Benefits of outdoor immersion According to research, an outdoor learning environment has a positive effect on the brain and can lead to better learning outcomes. “I believe this program is providing our daughter with age-appropriate academics that are incorporated into an active and engaging environment. I appreciate hearing stories from my daughter about how she practiced letters using natural material manipulatives.”
CRITICAL THINKING
- Karlee Anderson, kindergarten parent.
Experiential Learning Enhancing curiosity and learning Experiential learning is the practice of learning through doing. It encourages your child to have first-hand experiences with their learning, rather than learning through someone else’s experiences in a textbook or teacher lecture. Experiential learning supports critical thinking and independent problem-solving — which builds students’ confidence. At Hopkins, our students gain a deeper understanding and retention of content areas when they are allowed to actively participate in their learning. Starting in kindergarten, your child will have opportunities to connect their learning to real-world experiences that will broaden their perspectives, fuel their curiosity, and enhance their engagement. Experiential and inquiry-based education is one of the ways we personalize learning for every student. Experiential learning is emphasized at Glen Lake. The Glen Lake Go! program connects students to engaging field trips each month. Learn more at HopkinsSchools.org/GlenLakeGo
EMPATHETIC EXPLORER
Benefits of Experiential Learning • Students learn what it means to work as a team and how to take on leadership roles. • As they explore academic concepts, your child will also learn about their strengths and passions. • Students with access to hands-on learning are more likely to retain knowledge and apply it across the curriculum and in their daily lives. • Your child can develop the important life skill of reflecting on their actions and thought processes to achieve new or different results.
VirtualEDU Online and Blended Learning Flexible pathways for K-12 scholars to thrive VirtualEDU is the first and only fully accredited K-12 public online school in the state of Minnesota to offer blended learning — a combination of in-person and online learning. Our blended learning model offers enhanced social interaction and in-person school community along with the flexibility that fully online learning provides. Whether students choose the fully online or blended model, VirtualEDU’s smaller class sizes, multiage classes, and strong teacher-student relationships allow for a deeply personalized learning approach that meets students where they are and guides them to reach their goals.
Benefits of Online Learning Online learning is expanding opportunities for personalized learning. Traditionally, education has been limited based on geographic location. Through online learning, your child can access quality education to increase their productivity and overall academic success.
94% Enrollment Increase
in VirtualEDU students since fall 2022
96% of VirtualEDU Secondary Students report they have a teacher they can count on
Learn more about Hopkins VirtualEDU at HopkinsSchools.org/virtual
100% of VirtualEDU Elementary Students report positive relationships with their teachers
International Baccalaureate (IB) Nurturing learners who are curious, confident, and empathetic The International Baccalaureate (IB) program builds on the belief that children are naturally curious and learn deeply when they are engaged in relevant topics. Children ask questions that guide their desire for knowledge, lead to discovery, and make education an adventure! IB provides a rigorous curriculum framework that encourages students to think critically and solve problems. Eisenhower and Gatewood are both IB-candidate schools. In each of our elementary schools, your child will discover relevant and engaging subjects, instructors that encourage curiosity and exploration, and inquiry-based learning.
Why Families Choose IB The IB assessment gives you and your child a richer picture of how they are doing in school, understands their strengths, and provides pathways for them to elevate their learning. Other benefits include: • Rigorous learning objectives • A student-centered approach to teaching • International perspectives
Chinese and Spanish Language Immersion Language immersion pathways Hopkins immersion programs holistically infuse cultural awareness, empathy, and respect for other perspectives and cultures into the curriculum for our global scholars.
Chinese Immersion XinXing is Hopkins Public Schools’ all-day Chinese immersion program located at Eisenhower Elementary School. Chinese immersion scholars reach an advanced level of proficiency by the end of grade 12 and will develop bi-literacy in both Chinese and English. Our teachers are native Chinese speakers who create a positive and authentic full-day immersion experience for your child. In kindergarten through grade 2, students receive language arts/reading, math, science, social studies, and health instruction in Mandarin Chinese. In all grade levels, music, art, and physical education are delivered in English, with Chinese cultural components infused throughout these classes. Chinese immersion courses continue at Hopkins West Middle School and Hopkins High School. Students who complete the full Chinese immersion track will be prepared for advanced coursework in Chinese at the college level and can earn up to 16 college credits by the time they graduate high school.
Immersion Student Statistics 500+ Elementary Immersion Students attended Elementary Immersion
89% of XinXing Students
were rated as proficient in speaking Chinese by the end of 5th grade
93% of Juntos Students
received top scores in communicating and understanding grade-level topics in Spanish on recent report cards
Learn more about our language immersion at HopkinsSchools.org/immersion
GLOBAL LEARNING
Spanish Immersion The Juntos Spanish dual immersion program at Alice Smith and Eisenhower fits into our district vision to develop holistic, global thinkers. The program brings together students who speak Spanish, English, or another language at home. Dual language immersion helps students develop high levels of language proficiency in their home and second language. In kindergarten, 90% of instruction is in Spanish and 10% is in English. Students learn to read and write in Spanish first, and English literacy instruction is increased gradually as they progress through the program. The Juntos elementary program started in fall 2020 and will grow into a K-12 immersion program by adding a grade level each year through grade 5. Juntos elementary students will join our successful Juntos Spanish immersion program at North Middle School and Hopkins High School. Scholars who complete the full Spanish immersion track will be prepared for advanced courses in Spanish at the college level, can earn up to 16 college credits, and may earn Minnesota Bilingual and Multilingual Seals. Students who speak Spanish are encouraged to apply.
Se les anima a los estudiantes que hablan español a aplicar.
Cultivating the traits and skills your 2037 graduate will need through Vision 2031 When your kindergartner graduates in 2037, they will be entering a world that is highly globalized and rapidly evolving. The traditional school system was designed to prepare students for industrial work. We need to prepare students for the future — not the past. That’s the purpose of Vision 2031, a vision of innovation to reimagine the traditional school system from the ground up.
VISION Hopkins Core Values: • Authentically Inclusive • Intentionally Adventurous
Class of
• Optimistic Innovation
2037
• Humility of Heart • Vigilant Equity • Love
Traits of a Hopkins Graduate Our Traits of a Hopkins Graduate, crafted in collaboration with our community and staff, are designed to empower and prepare students for a future full of promise and opportunity. These graduate traits align with our vision for success, emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, empathy, adaptability, and various literacies, ensuring our students are well-equipped for a rapidly evolving workforce. These traits also inspire our students to be change-makers in the world.
Voice
Confident
Empathetic
Critical Thinker
Global and Well-Traveled
Holistic Thinker
Continuing your child’s journey as a Hopkins Royal At Hopkins, you’ll find a rigorous academic curriculum and an inclusive school community that enables every student to learn through trial and error, instilling confidence and creating opportunities for innovative thinking to emerge. When your child graduates in 2037, they will have key traits that we believe will set them apart from their peers and set them up for 21st-century success.
The Hopkins Promise Hopkins promises an educational experience for students ages 0-21 that prepares them to succeed in our increasingly complex, rapidly changing world. Our students are recognized as global scholars who work collaboratively, disrupt the status quo, and solve some of the world’s most complex problems. They are the best and brightest citizens of tomorrow. Together, we are creating a better world by inspiring each student to reach their full potential.
Hopkins Public Schools at a Glance 6,850+
E-12 Students
25
Our Schools
Elementary Highlights
High School Highlights
7 Preschool Locations 6 Elementary Schools 2 Middle Schools 1 High School 1 Online & Blended K-12 School
2 IB Candidate Schools 2 Language Immersion Programs
27 AP Classes Offered 21 World Language Courses
1 Experiential Learning School 1 Online & Blended K-12 School 1 Outdoor Immersion School
1:1 Technology Devices 60+ Athletic Teams, Student
Kindergarten Class Size
(Spanish and Chinese)
1,330+
District Staff & Teachers
(Spanning 4 different languages)
Clubs, and Activities Offered
Hopkins Public Schools ISD 270 1001 Hwy. 7 Hopkins, MN 55305
Presorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 161 Hopkins, MN 55343
Get to know us by attending our upcoming Kindergarten Information Session! Nov. 16. 6-7:30 p.m. at Hopkins High School
Register online via QR Code
Enroll beginning Nov. 16 All incoming kindergartners must submit a K-12 student enrollment form, including Hopkins School District residents and Hopkins Preschoolers.
Application Deadline: Jan. 16, 2024 • Chinese and Spanish Language Immersion Students
Hopkins Public Schools Key Contacts:
• Open-Enrolling Students • In-District Transfer Students
District Enrollment Center 952-988-4110
VirtualEDU K-12 Online & Blended Learning 952-988-4050
• K-12 VirtualEDU Students
Transportation Services 952-988-4115
Early Childhood Screening Appointments 952-988-5017, required for kindergarten
Visit HopkinsSchools.org/enroll or email Enrollment@HopkinsSchools.org to connect with the Hopkins enrollment team.
Student Nutrition Services 952-988-4060
Early Childhood Programs & Preschools 952-988-5000
Special Education Services 952-988-4042
Kids & Company School-Age Care 952-988-4080
Get Language Support Enroll Online
Get Email Updates
Schedule a Tour
HopkinsSchools.org/enroll
HopkinsSchools.org/YBKmsg
HopkinsSchools.org/Tour
For more information on Hopkins kindergarten, visit:
HopkinsSchools.org/kinder Connect with us!
HopkinsPublicSchools
Español: Comuníquese al 952-988-4211 o Elisa.Dorfman@HopkinsSchools.org si tiene preguntas y ayuda con el registro. Soomaali: Wac 952-988-4069 ama iimayl u dir Deeqa.Barkhadle@HopkinsSchools.org wixii su’aalo ah iyo caawinta isdiiwaangelinta. Hmoob: Yog tias koj xav tau kev pab, thov xa email rau Panou.Xiong@HopkinsSchools.org.
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