Hope Happenings

Home Visits are THIS WEEK, October 16-17th!

A few details for Home Visits:

• Please leave your apartment or house light on if it is dark to help our teachers find you!
• Teachers will spend approx. 30 minutes at your home
• This is a time to get to know you. No need to talk about anything academic!
• There is NO SCHOOL during Home Visits
• Home Visits are a required parent covenant event
• If you have any questions regarding scheduling please reach out Yvette Davis at 612-540-2089 or Gloria Reyes at 612-540-2039

We are excited to see you!

We’re excited to share that construction on our new 3rd Gym begins next Monday, October 13! This phase involves the arrival of a large crane, steel beams, and roof trusses, which will cause some temporary changes.

Here’s what you need to know:

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Parking Lot Closures

• Both visitor parking lots (main entrance lot and teen challenge lot) will be closed for at least the week of October 13.
• The parking ramp will remain open with the ramp arms up, and all visitors will still have pedestrian access to the 710 entrance by crossing 24th Street.

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Remember to submit your reading tracker for the K-5th grade fall reading challenge! Students who submit their completed sheets to their teachers by Fall Break (October 14th) will receive a medal!

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‍K-2nd Grade: Sunshine Reading Tracker

Read at home and complete your sun sheets reading tracker!  Click here for the reading tracker (English & Spanish).

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3-5th Grade: Reading Bingo Board

Read at home and complete the reading bingo board! Complete the entire board, with student and parent signatures confirming completion.  Click here for the Bingo Card (English & Spanish).

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Basketball season is right around the corner! Interested in playing Basketball this winter? Join us for a captains practice!

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• Girls captains practices start October 27th 4:30-6pm.
• Boys captains practices start November 3rd 4:30-6pm.

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You must have an updated sports physical to come to the first day of official practice/tryouts. These are good for 3ys. The link for the form is here or stop by the athletic office. Don't wait until the last minute! If you have a returning player, they will be notified them if they need a new one. For more questions, please email Heather Timm. Heathertimm@hopeschool.org

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10th and 12 grade families, please join us for our initial meeting for our sophmore and senior mission trips on October 20th at 7pm.

The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is the official test for high school juniors to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards millions of dollars in scholarships each year.  It assesses Reading and Writing and Math skills, using the same format and question types as the SAT but with a lower maximum score of 1520. Students use the PSAT to gauge their readiness for the SAT and to qualify for recognition and scholarships through the NMSQT.

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These test results are not sent to colleges and do not affect college admissions, making it a good way to get a baseline score without pressure.

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We will test during the morning of October 22nd and complete testing before lunchtime.

Join us for the Pathways Fair on Thursday, October 23rd! This is a great opportunity to look at multiple pathway options after high school all in one place. You and your student will have the opportunity to talk with our partner colleges, military branches, and local organizations that offer apprenticeships, work opportunities, trades options and more.

At Hope Academy, we have a number of groups for parents to connect, grow, and encourage one another. We invite you to join one of our parent groups this fall:

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Men of Hope
Join other Hope Academy dads for our monthly Men of Hope Huddles! This is a time of fellowship led by Mr. Bugg and Dr. G. Fathers and students are welcome.
Next Meeting: Saturday, November 1, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. If you would like to recieve text reminders about upcoming Men of Hope events, opt in here!

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Mujeres de Esperanza (Estudio Bíblico de Mujeres Latinas)
Únete a nosotras cada viernes a las 10:00 a.m. para un tiempo de estudio bíblico, oración y compañerismo. Después compartimos un refrigerio y fortalecemos nuestra fe y comunidad como mujeres latinas.

Además, te invitamos a nuestro Almuerzo de Navidad el sábado 6 de diciembre a las 11:30 a.m., con alabanzas, predicación y un intercambio de regalos.

Más información:

• Gloria Reyes: 612-703-6180
• Vilma Barrera: 612-540-2039

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Moms’ Bible Study
The Hope Academy mom's Bible Study meets weekly on Wednesdays, 10am -12pm. It’s a welcoming space to grow in faith, ask questions, and connect with others on the journey. For more information, reach out to Danielle Svobodny at DanielleSvobodny@hopeschool.org.

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To ensure the safety of all students, any parent who wishes to enter a lower school classroom during the school day (for volunteering, events, birthdays, chaperoning, lunch visits, etc.) must first complete a free background check at the front desk. Please bring a photo ID to complete this process as soon as possible. The background check must be completed 48 hours before your visit.

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Effective immediately:

• Parents will not be permitted to a lower school classroom during school hours without a completed background check.
• While in the classroom, parents must remain within the line of sight of teaching staff.
• Example: To join your child for a birthday, the background check must be completed in advance. Otherwise, staff will deliver items to the classroom.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our school safe and welcoming for every child.

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Click below to see the menus for October!

Have an allergy? Fill out our special diet form and send to our Nutrition Director janettetakata@hopeschool.org

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Kindergarten parents: Join us for monthly parent groups! These are required groups that meet the first Tuesday of the month for an hour at Hope Academy or virtually on the first Wednesday of the month. Classes are led by Dr. Darrell Gillespie and cover topics like sibling rivalry, tough conversations, community building and much more! They will go from October - May. Students do not need to attend. One or both parents may attend the sessions. Sign up below!

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Upcoming dates: Tuesday, November 4th & Wednesday, November 5th (zoom)

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Please note: We do not yet have translation for these classes. If you are in need of translation, we will be announcing the class times for Spanish speaking families soon. Thank you for your patience!

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Our First Lego League Challenge robotics team just started! The team will be meeting every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-9:45 AM until we compete in mid-December. If your child from 3rd-8th grade is interested in joining the team, please fill out the form linked here. There are limited spots so we will follow up with you to confirm.

At Hope Academy, our school uniform reflects unity, belonging, and a commitment to excellence. Wearing the correct uniform each day communicates a readiness to learn and fosters community.

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This year, we want to emphasize one area in particular: shoes. For Lower School students. As stated in the Lower School Parent Handbook, students must wear solid black athletic shoes every day. Please see the attached Uniform Flyer for details and images.

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We recognize that this has been a challenge in the past, and that enforcement has not always been consistent over the years. Moving forward, we will be more intentional in upholding this standard. To support families, we are providing a grace period. All Lower School students must have the correct all black athletic shoes by Monday, January 5, 2026 (the first day after Christmas break).

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We appreciate your partnership as we work together to uphold consistent expectations for all students.

Home Visits are a cornerstone of fostering strong relationships between teachers and families at Hope Academy. As an institution that prioritizes relationships, we recognize that understanding your student's home life and cultural background is integral to their education. These visits aren’t about academics, but about understanding your child’s world more fully. We see this as part of our covenant commitment to walk alongside you in your child’s educational and spiritual journey. When teachers and parents come together in partnership, scholars thrive not just in the classroom, but in life.  

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This alignment is essential in our Family Ministry, where we strive to cultivate impactful relationships among parents, children, and the broader community. Home Visits serve as a vital link in this process, bridging the gap between home and school, encouraging collaboration, and ultimately fostering growth both academically and spiritually. In doing so, we embody our core value of relationships, ensuring that every student feels supported and connected in their educational journey.

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As Deuteronomy 6:6–7 reminds us: "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  

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This verse beautifully reflects our desire to engage with families in meaningful conversations that nurture both learning and faith. We’re honored to step into your world, listen to your hopes, and celebrate the journey we’re on together. Thank you for opening your home to us!

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~Dr. G

Stay tuned for more features in the Hope Happenings from Dr. G, Head of Family Ministry!

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As we enter a new school year, please read below as a reminder of what each entrance is for:

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Peavey Doors (22nd St.): This entrance is for parent drop off and pick up (including before school care).  Access this door by heading north on Park Ave. and take a right on E. 22nd St.

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Chicago Ave Entrance: This entrance is for bus drop off ONLY. There is NO entry through this door other than busing.

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Main Entrance (24th St): Use this entrance for school events, late drop offs, and after school care pickup.

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South Loop: All Upper School Students exit the school through the South Loop for Parent Pick-up ONLY.

Be sure to save these numbers in your contact list:

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Save 67587 as "Hope Academy" for:

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• Hope Happenings & parent announcements
• Important reminders and updates

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Save 443-842-7197 as "SchoolPass" for:

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• Event QR codes for event sign-in

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