Author: Juliana Allen

Heading back to school in the fall can be an exciting time for students, but it can also be stressful as they adjust to new schedules, teachers, and classmates. They may worry about fitting in, being academically ready, and even being safe at school. Experts say there are many things parents and guardians can do to smooth the transition, as well as things kids can do to look after their own wellness. Kelsey MacQueen, head counselor at Eden Prairie’s Central Middle School (CMS), said that one of the most important things families can do is get into a healthy routine.…

The Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) girls varsity swim and dive team defeated St. Michael-Albertville (STMA) 105-81 in their season-opening meet. The clash took place at the Eagles’ home pool at the Eden Prairie Aquatic Center on Thursday, Aug. 31. “It was an exciting meet that involved two closely matched teams,” said the team’s new head coach, Bill Bloomberg. “The depth of our team and their performance was the difference. I could not have been more proud.” Bloomberg said the team “utilized an unconventional strategy” in the 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays to help win the meet. Instead of…

The Great Minnesota Get-Together takes place over 12 days in August and September, ending on Labor Day. Over one million Minnesotans start planning their State Fair visits well in advance, deciding when to attend, which activities to enjoy, and, most crucially, what to eat. For my family, planning starts with buying Blue Ribbon Coupon Books and advance discount tickets. We read all of the new food previews and marvel at the creativity and choice. We download the State Fair app and plot how best to allocate the precious real estate inside our stomachs. After all, there are hundreds of different…

Students at Eden Prairie’s Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM) Arts High School headed back to class on Monday, Aug. 28, after the summer break. Rob Thompson, the school’s director of communications and development, said there was “lots of good energy and excitement” on the first day, which featured an all-school assembly. A kick-off video for the school year can be viewed here. Last week, the freshman class of 2027 came together for ninth grade orientation at the RESPECT Retreat with Youth Frontiers. The school, which has 397 students, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In addition to offering…

Freshly sharpened pencils and unmarked notebooks aren’t the only new things Eden Prairie Schools students will enjoy this fall — they will also benefit from several key upgrades to existing school facilities. With the large Central Middle School (CMS) build now complete, “We’ve been focusing on a lot of smaller projects this summer, maintaining each of our sites,” said Kyle Fisher, director of facilities for EP Schools. “We’ve had a lot of painting projects and refreshing our classrooms, and quite a bit in terms of flooring.” Fisher, who has been with the district since 2014 and in the director role…

At Eden Prairie High School (EPHS), a donation-based free store called Eagle Nation Station (ENS) is seeking community help to support students and families. The idea for this free store came from a suggestion in the school’s Eagle Voice discussion platform. It asked for increased access to basic necessities for students while they are at school. During the school year, ENS is open weekdays from 8 to 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 3 to 4:30 p.m. Students can volunteer to help run the store. Available amenities include school supplies, personal care items, household items, food, and Eden…

Starting this fall, Eden Prairie Schools students will be offered free breakfast and lunch thanks to a new law passed by the state Legislature on May 17, 2023. Starting July 1, the Minnesota Free School Meals Program (MN-FSM) will permanently provide state reimbursement to schools that participate in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Students can have one reimbursable breakfast and one reimbursable lunch per day at no cost to them or the school district. All Minnesota school districts, charter schools, and non-public schools approved for the NSLP and…

Four boys from Eden Prairie-based club swim team Aquajets broke the 15-18 boys National Age Group (NAG) 4×100 medley relay record at the 2023 Summer Junior National Championships, held July 31 to Aug. 4 in Irvine, California. The 4×100 medley was the last event of the five-day meet, marking a thrilling finish for the team which had placed second in the event the previous year. The four relay members were: The boys swam the event in just 3:42.14, also breaking the Summer Juniors meet record and their own Minnesota state record. At the meet, they also broke three other state…

Eden Prairie Schools is offering free school supplies to families experiencing financial hardship who may need extra support. The Back to School Supplies Program exists to make sure each student has the supplies they need to be successful in the upcoming school year. Supplies are available for any Eden Prairie Schools student whose family is experiencing financial stress. No questions or names are asked, no registration is needed, and no income verification is needed. Supplies, including backpacks, will be available during Back-to-School Open House Nights at the end of August. No advance registration is needed. Families or students can ask for the School Supplies Program or…

Ella Schumacher, a rising sophomore at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS), will perform this weekend in the musical comedy “Head Over Heels” at Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis. Featuring catchy songs by 80s hitmakers The Go-Go’s and based on Sir Philip Sidney’s Arcadia, “Head Over Heels” is adapted for high school-aged performers from the Broadway musical of the same name. Tickets are available here and cost $25 for general admission. Advised ages are 12 and up due to some mature themes. “It’s a story about growth, love, hate, and finding yourself,” Schumacher said, who will be singing, dancing, and…