From the Interim Executive Director

Greeting Seven Hills Community,

Thank you for the opportunity to address you with a message from the School Board.  

Every board meeting begins with the recital of our school mission, "Seven Hills Preparatory Academy engages students in a rigorous Classical education, designed to prepare each one for strong citizenship and life-long learning."  This tradition reminds us of the north star to which we aspire, and the past achievements that have built our strong foundation. These achievements have been small and large, and some of them during my time include expanding to the number of classes for each grade at the Bloomington Campus, replicating grades K-5 at the Richfield campus, blending both campuses into middle school and achieving a National Blue Ribbon Award.

With this acknowledgement of the past we are building from, the Board is excited to announce our updated three year strategic plan that outlines a roadmap to the future we aspire to achieve. This three year strategic plan outlines an ambitious direction for the next three years and focuses on leveraging the current opportunities before us. The plan lays out efforts in seven areas that will be honed and expanded. But there is a phrase in our mission statement that succinctly states the who and the why of this strategic plan, and will drive all of it: “...preparing each one for strong citizenship and life-long learning.”

As board members, we thank each teacher, staff member, parent/guardian and community member for making our school the thriving, supportive and caring educational environment it is for each individual student that walks through our doors on a daily basis.  Our school community wouldn't be what it is without you.

We would also like to remind you that the board is currently taking nominations for community members looking to serve the school by serving on the board.  Email the school board shpaschoolboard@shpamn.org by March 15th, 2023, if you are interested.

Lisa Barnidge
SHPA Board Chair

News

School Board Nominations
On behalf of the Seven Hills Preparatory Academy Board of Directors, we are issuing a call for nominations for the 2023 Board of Directors election. 

The board is looking for one teacher member and three members at large for election this year. You may nominate yourself or someone else for the board by emailing the Board at shpaschoolboard@shpamn.org by March 15th, 2023.

For more details see our prior message here.

February VIP's
Congrats to the February VIPS 

Lost and Found
All items left behind by students are placed in the Lost and Found. Many articles of clothing have been waiting to be worn for a long time. Everything remaining in the Lost and Found at the end of  Trimester II (March 10) will be donated to a non profit organization.

School Website
Please use our current website 
www.sevenhillspreparatoryacademy.org 
to read about many aspects of our school life, including schedules, events, and updates. This is a great place to find information or answer questions that arise. Our goal is to keep open, consistent and detailed communication with everyone and we update the website information regularly.

Counseling Corner

Thanks for taking the time to read about what is happening in Guidance this month. Students have been learning how to control their strong emotions to lead them from making choices that will get them in trouble to making choices that will help them. We talked about how the brain has two parts that deal with feelings: the amygdala (the one that makes impulsive choices like hitting, kicking and screaming) and the prefrontal cortex (the thinking part of our brain that says to make choices that help us ie. breathing, ignoring, taking a break, grounding). We want them to be able to think before they react. They know the three steps to getting their thinking brain in charge including: Stopping (using a saying to get their brain's attention), Naming their feeling (think of your body and situation clues) and calming down with strategies they learned. Your child will be bringing home a toolbox that they made with ideas on what they can do to calm down. Ask them questions about this and practice the steps at home. 

Friendship Group was rescheduled due to weather and will run next week March 6th-9th. 

Our next Group will run in April and the topic will be Family Changes specifically divorces. If you feel your student would benefit from connecting with others whose families have a similar home dynamic please email me at klarson@shpamn.org.

Karissa Larson , LSC 
Seven Hills Preparatory Academy

COVID-19 Update

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please contact Ms. Peters, School Nurse, and follow the MDH COVID-19 Isolation Guide. Contact Mr. Barrios, COVID-19 Coordinator, with any questions and see the SHPA COVID-19 Webpage for resources and information. 

Marcus Barrios
Family Engagement Coordinator
Seven Hills Preparatory Academy

PTA

1. Parent volunteers are needed! Review the volunteer information linked here, and sign up for a time that works for you!
2. Donate to a Teacher eWallet. Teachers will use the funds donated to purchase books for their classrooms. The list of Teacher eWallets is linked here.
3. Preview the books for sale, and set up an eWallet for your student via the SHPA Scholastic Book Fair homepages linked here:
   • Richfield Campus Fair Info: HERE
   • Bloomington Campus Fair info: HERE