Author: Juliana Allen

Students twirled, strutted, dined, and danced together “Under the Sea” at the 12th annual Insights Celebration, a special prom designed for Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) students with special needs and their friends in general education who are their “dates” and “buddies” for the evening. The event was held on April 29 in the school’s main gym, which was decorated for the “Under the Sea” theme with aquatic colored balloons, bubbles, and fish. “This prom is designed for our EPHS students with special needs and their peers in general education who have built friendships through EPHS inclusion experiences such as…

PiM Arts High School (PiM Arts) will host PIMFest this Friday, May 19, in the upper parking lot on the PiM campus at 7255 Flying Cloud Drive. The event will feature live music, an art market, games, a cake walk, Pizza Karma and ice cream food trucks. The evening will be capped off with the final No Shame performances on the PiMFest stage. Rob Thompson, PiM’s director of communications and development, said the event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. “It is a really fun event, and is also family-friendly. The art fair is really cool and…

The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) has recognized five Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) students for their outstanding achievement in a challenging online cybersecurity training program. Seniors Bilal Ahmed and Zachary Kirkeby, and juniors Lisa Thayil, Anjali Marella, and Jasmine Garry were among 12 winners from Minnesota who recently competed against 40,000 other students nationally by solving real-world cybersecurity problems. As part of the honor, each student has earned an invitation to the Cyber Foundations Academy, a multi-week online program based on the nationally-recognized SANS Foundations training course and certification. The Cyber Foundations Academy training is valued at more than…

After months of pushback from students and families, Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) has reversed its decision to eliminate graduation honors for the Class of 2024 and younger classes. Last summer, the school decided to eliminate red cords, which are braided ropes historically worn at graduation to recognize students who achieve at high levels academically and maintain a rigorous course schedule. This change was made alongside other handbook changes in July 2022. However, many students and families objected strongly, saying that students have worked hard for years and, in some cases, designed their course schedules specifically to earn the right to…

Step into the past to shop for unique antiques and fun vintage items at the Eden Prairie Historical Society’s twice-yearly Farmhouse Market & Vintage Sale. The sale, which features everything from vintage art, books, and linens, to toys, clothing, and cast iron pans, also benefits The PROP Shop of Eden Prairie. The PROP Shop currently helps 750 families in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen who need support. The sale is taking place Friday and Saturday at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, 13600 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie. Hours are Friday, May 12, from noon-7 p.m. and Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 3…

After winning the Lake Conference and the state title this year, Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) boys swim and dive head coach Kelly Boston and swimmer Luke Logue have been honored with top awards by the Minnesota Swim & Dive Coaches Association. Boston was named Class AA Boys’ Coach of the Year and Logue, a senior and team co-captain, was named Class AA Boys’ Athlete of the Year. These awards are voted on by coaches across the state and were awarded at the All-State Banquet on April 28 in Minneapolis. The All-State Banquet is attended by 600 All-State (top 8…

Vanessa Barnes, an Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) senior and member of the school’s varsity dance team, was crowned Miss Dance Team USA at a national competition in Irvine, California, last month. After competing in solo, technical skills showcase, and public interview rounds, Barnes was awarded the top national title. She was also voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. Her dance was choreographed by Stephanie Wise Olson-Elm, who directs Summit Dance Shoppe, where Barnes has danced for six years. Jenny Raiche, who is the director of Miss Dance Team Minnesota and a former longtime coach at Eastview High School, said…

Was it Mrs. Peacock in the library with the rope? Or Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the candlestick? The classic Hasbro board game ‘Clue’ has six suspects, six weapons, and nine rooms, resulting in 324 possible solutions. Come see Eden Prairie High School’s (EPHS) play based on the game and try to figure out whodunnit! Performances are all at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, in the EPHS auditorium. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens, and can be purchased here. The plot is as follows: It’s…

Audiences can experience Austria’s hills come alive with “The Sound of Music” this weekend, as Eagle Ridge Academy (ERA) students perform the classic musical. Shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, at the school, 11111 Bren Road W., Minnetonka. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $10 cash or check only. The ERA Booster Club will be selling concessions before the show, during intermission, and for a short time after the show. “This is a familiar tale of finding love in…

Looking for summer enrichment opportunities for your elementary, middle, or high school-aged child? Registration is still open for a local program that seeks to provide students with fun, unique experiences to challenge their abilities and help them grow. West Suburban Summer School (WSSS), which is part of Intermediate District 287 serving Eden Prairie and other area school districts, offers summer classes to students entering grades 2-12 in the fall of the upcoming school year. WSSS serves students who demonstrate an intense interest/passion about a topic, and are comfortable moving at a faster pace or pursuing a topic in depth. Classes…