Information Center

Referendum 2025: Securing Our Future Together

On Tuesday, November 4, Hopkins Public Schools will hold a referendum with two ballot questions:

• A $140 million bond to enhance safety and security and to modernize outdated facilities.

• A Capital Projects Levy renewal to continue supporting technology infrastructure and cybersecurity

Want to see how the referendum would directly impact Hopkins High School? Download the informational flyer.

Early voting is now open! Make your plan today and take part in shaping the future of Hopkins schools. Learn more: hopkinsschools.org/referendum or watch this video.

Hopkins High School Pathfinder Project

The Hopkins High School Pathfinder project is a facility update designed to improve safety, learning, and student support. It will add two learning communities with flexible classrooms, small group rooms, and spaces for career and technical learning projects. The design includes spaces for large group meetings, small group work, and staff-student connections, along with outdoor areas for learning and activities. These features help students and staff work better together, prepare students with real-world job skills, and ensure they have the support they need to stay focused and succeed in school. All additions will meet ICC 500 storm shelter safety standards.

Per our District Student Cell Phone Use Policy that was implemented in March 2025, cellphones, headphones, earbuds, and smart watches are not to be used during class time. They may be used during lunch and passing time. Parents are encouraged to communicate with the main office if there is an emergency and needs to be communicated to the student. Students receiving special services including IEPs and 504 should contact their teachers regarding information that may allow for electronic devices.

Below are the phone policy consequences for the classroom:

• 1st offense: Verbal Warning

• 2nd offense: Taken from student- Return device after class

• 3rd offense: Taken from student- Phone taken to main office: Family pick up

• 4th offense: Taken from student- Device plan put into place with admin and student

Social Media Use

We would like to remind families that social media use is not regulated by the school, but rather by the individual student. However, when online behavior crosses into the school environment and impacts our students or staff, administration will take appropriate action. The Hopkins School District has clear policies in place that prohibit cyberbullying, harassment, and other inappropriate online behaviors. If a student's online activity negatively affects anyone in our school community, the student will be held accountable in accordance with our disciplinary procedures. Potential consequences may include: placement on a restricted cell phone usage plan during school hours, phone not being allowed at school, or suspension, depending on the severity of the incident. We strongly encourage caregivers to partner with us in monitoring and guiding students' use of social media and cell phones. Together, we can help ensure a safe, respectful environment for all.

These will start on September 8th and students will receive plenty of communication around these practices.

1. Students who are late to school after 8:40 will be directed into the auditorium. Unless they have a planned, excused absence, they will remain there until the last 15 minutes of Block 1. This is to encourage students to get here on time. If this occurs 3 times or more, additional interventions will be put into place. A student will have a ‘AUD’ comment in their infinite campus if this occurs.

2. Hot breakfast will end at 8:40. Students arriving after the start of the school day that would like a breakfast will be offered a “Breakfast Grab and Go” starting at 8:45 am.

3. During the rest of the day, we will continue to enforce tardy sweeps. If a student is tardy to class, they will be swept to the Royals Reset Room (RRR space). The first time in a day will be a warning. Their second time will result in remaining in the RRR space for the day working with a staff member on their work for classes. Additional interventions may be assigned for continued tardies. We want to ensure our students are getting to class on time and are ready to learn.

Attendance Reporting

A parent/guardian/caregiver must report all absences and attendance information to the attendance office at 952-988-4530 or submit using your Infinite Campus Parent Portal before 10:00 a.m. Be sure to include your student's name, grade, and the reason for absence. Failure to report absences may require the parent/guardian/caregiver to call or provide documentation for the reason for the absence within 48 hours.

Students Leaving Early

Students with missing courses or seeing, "CONTACT YOUR COUNSELOR" listed on the schedule can see their counselor one week prior to the Term where they need to find a course to fill in on their schedule. For example, a student has "CONTACT YOUR COUNSELOR" Term 2 Block 1. This student would see their Counselor the week of October 27 (or some time in this general vicinity prior to Term 2 starting). We will have a better idea of what is available and what students can take after school gets going and our numbers are more accurate for later Term courses. Our focus as school begins is Term 1. If any students have a schedule need for Term 1 due to an empty block then this student should see the counselor. Included below is a link to our schedule change practice. Thank you, Counseling

Schedule change practice at HHS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13zKWb2eeCN9sakO0csyBph62rb_UkNdoa0ryL0WWq9c/edit?usp=sharing

The Class of 2026 commencement ceremony will be June 10th at 11am at Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota campus.

We want to provide a few important reminders to help ensure a smooth and safe traffic flow around our campus.

Before and After School Drop-off and Pick-up: Students can be dropped off in the morning before 8:40 am or picked up after 3:25 pm using the Royals Athletic Center (RAC) Parking Lot. The RAC parking lot is designated for student drop-off and pick-up before and after school. If you are using this area during those times, please park in an open spot rather than lining up. This allows our buses to move in and out safely and efficiently.

Front Entrance Access: If your student arrives after the start of the school day or is leaving early for an excused release, they must enter and exit through the front doors only (Door A).

Student Parking Lot Access: After 3:00 pm, the entrance to the student parking lot in front of the school will become exit-only. Both sides of the lot will be used by students exiting the parking lot to help improve overall traffic flow.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in keeping our campus safe and accessible.

We love connecting with families and welcome the opportunity to meet with you about your student. To make sure we can give you our full attention, please schedule a time in advance by either emailing your student’s administrator directly or calling the main office. For everyone’s safety, we aren’t able to accommodate walk-in meetings.

Interim Co- Principal Lisa Thao: Lisa.Thao@HopkinsSchools.org or 952-988-4508

Interim Co- Principal Gene Ward: Gene.Ward@HopkinsSchools.org or 952-988-4581

Interim Co- Principal Lorenzo Farley: Lorenzo.Farley@HopkinsSchools.org or 952-988-4509

Dean of Students Dr. Mitchell Schank: Mitchell.Schank@HopkinsSchools.org or 952-988-4648

If your student would like to use our prayer time during the day, they will need to fill out the paper copy of this form. Passes will begin to be checked starting on September 8th. During the first week of school, the form must be completed by their parent/guardian. Families will be contacted to confirm information and expectations. Students will not be permitted to participate in prayer time without the completed and confirmed form.

Senior Photos

If you would like to utilize Lifetouch on Sept. 4 or on their retake day in October for the senior portrait for the yearbook, they will provide a free picture on either of those days. If you have your own senior photo you would like to submit, please follow these instructions, which include an upload link.

Please note:

1.) Upload only one photo. Make sure you choose the photo you like that meets our requests and upload ONLY that photo. If you upload more than one photo, we will not reach out to you, we will choose a photo for you.

2.) Select a photo that is styled after a professional head shot. We will crop all photos so that faces are about the same size, and that means that any props, trees, cars, athletic equipment, instruments, or walls you may be peaking around will not be included in the photo will only serve to distract from your head and shoulders shot once we crop it.

Yearbook Tributes (Senior Ads)

We are proud to continue the popular tradition of the senior yearbook tributes. Here’s how it works:

1. Find an adorable photo of your graduate from a much younger age

2. Create a 40-50 word message honoring who they have become

3. Purchase and upload the yearbook tribute at jostens before January 31.

Yearbook Ordering Information

Order your yearbook as early as possible to take advantage of the lowest prices to help us gauge an accurate order by our deadline. Please email jeff.kocur@hopkinsschools.org if you have any questions or would like to coordinate a cash or check payment. This is the lowest price of the year.

​​All requests for guest/friend bus passes must be pre-approved by the Transportation Department. With increasingly full vehicles, transportation must first ensure there is appropriate room for an extra scholar.

Parents should request a bus pass from the school front office at least one full day before the desired ride. The front office can be reached at 952-988-4500. It is NOT guaranteed there will be space on the bus. If it is approved, the Transportation Department will send a bus pass to the school for your child.

Bus passes will not be processed on a recurring basis. They are intended for infrequent use, or emergency situations only.

Are you interested in pursuing a career in safety and security? Do you want to make an impact on the safety and security program at Hopkins Public Schools? Our Emergency Management and School Safety Coordinator, Cheenou Moua, wants to hear from you! Two student volunteers from each grade will be on the committee.

Here is a link to the application form which includes a description of the S3AC position.

Give yourself some time to relax and let your children enjoy an evening full of fun activities and new friends. Our Parents Night Out event offers a safe and welcoming space where kids can unwind and have a great time.

Drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30 and 8:30 in the evening. Activities will include movie screenings, arts and crafts, sports, and gym games. Pizza will be served at 6:30 p.m. along with snacks and refreshments. Please let us know about any allergies or special needs ahead of time.

All children must be signed in and out by a parent or guardian. Parents Night Out will be offered November 14,and December 12.

Preregistration is required. $35 each. More information and registration can be found at https://hopkins.ce.eleyo.com/course/14956/youth-fall-2025/parents-night-out

Student Council Fall Elections

Hopkins High School has vape detectors installed in every restroom as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students, staff, and visitors. Safety is a top priority at HHS, and we expect everyone in our building to follow all school expectations. While we have seen a significant reduction in vape usage due to our monitoring efforts, our goal is to make our school 100% drug-free. As part of this ongoing effort, we will continue to respond to vape detections by identifying and searching students who are present in the restroom at the time of the alert. Any guests found in violation of our policies will be removed from the building and may face a no-trespass order. We ask parents and guardians to speak with their students about the dangers of drug and tobacco use, and the importance of not bringing these products into school. While we do not aim to dictate behavior outside of school, we require that once individuals enter the building, all school rules and expectations are respected. This message applies to both HHS students and the guests who care about and support them.

The 2025/26 Hopkins High School Clay Target Team has opened its pre registration link for new members. For Spring 2026 only 5 openings are available and will be filled on a first come first serve basis. Any new athlete wishing to participate on the team this season must fill out the pre registration form in order to be considered.