Happenings (October 22, 2024)
Halloween at Hill-Murray
Halloween is right around the corner and HM Student Council is excited to sponsor this year’s Halloween Costume Contest!
While we welcome this fun tradition, we have some guidelines we expect students to follow:
- No masks
- No weapons or items that resemble weapons
- No blow-up costumes
- No cultural appropriation – this includes costumes that reinforce a stereotype or make fun of a culture or cultural tradition
- All costumes must follow our neat, clean, and modest guidelines
Any student who does not want to dress up may wear black and orange or spiritwear.
We can’t wait to see everyone’s creativity and school spirit on display – let’s make this a fun and memorable celebration for all!
Adoration – Nov. 1
One of the spiritual practices we celebrate at Hill-Murray is Adoration, which is held in the Hill-Murray Chapel during the school day typically on the first Friday of each month. Adoration is part of the rituals and traditions of the Catholic Church and is open to all members of the Christian faith. Adoration refers to the time when the Blessed Sacrament is placed on the altar and the faithful spend time with Jesus in the Chapel in quiet prayer and reflection.
Our next day of Adoration is Friday, November 1st. Adoration will begin at 10:30 AM, immediately following the all-school Mass (All Saints Day) and will end at 2:30 PM. If you would like to sign up for a time to attend Adoration, please click here. Future Adoration dates are: December 6, February 7, March 7, April 4, and May 2.
Save the Date for Parent/Teacher Conferences – Nov. 7 & 8
School will be dismissed at 11:50 AM for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 7th. Lunch will not be served that day. Conferences are in person on campus from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM. There is no school on Friday, November 8th and conferences are all via zoom from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM that day. Parents should have received an email on Monday, October 21st with a link to sign up for conference appointments. Another email will be sent early next week.
Winter Sports Registration – NOW OPEN
Winter sports registration is open! Click here to register.
Class of 2025 Senior All Night Party Planning Meeting: Junior and Senior Parents – Nov. 11
Junior and Senior Parents,
Planning for the Class of 2025 Senior All Night Party is currently underway! The party will be on Thursday, May 22nd from 10 PM – 5 AM at the Burrow in Oakdale. Dawn Walker, Laura Smith, Jamie Sampson, and Sara Barker are serving as the Chairs. We have some returning committee members and volunteers, but we need more parents to help pull off this event. You do not need to be a senior parent to participate. Joining the committee this year for junior parents (or parents of any age student) will help with planning for your senior when the time comes.
If you are interested in helping, please join us for our first planning meeting.
When: Monday, November 11th
Time: 5:30 PM
Where: Dukes 1285 Geneva Ave. N. Oakdale, MN 55128
Please reach out to the Chairs with any questions at hmseniorparty@gmail.com.
Follow us on Instagram: hmseniorallnightparty2025
Trunk or Treat – Oct. 24
All are invited to bring their kids to the 4th Annual Trunk or Treat event on Thursday, October 24th, from 4:30 – 6:00 PM. It is hosted by our Hill-Murray students and is a great evening for kids (12 and under). If you want to host a Trunk, set up is at 4:00 PM in the front parking lot!
Middle School Halloween Party
The Middle School Halloween Party is Friday, October 25th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Students will be able to play games, win prizes, complete arts and crafts projects, explore a haunted house, and dance to a DJ. Costumes are encouraged but not required. The cost is $5, and students should use the student Commons entrance for the party.
Middle School STEM I Challenge
The middle school STEM I classes recently visited Anoka Technical School to participate in an engineering design challenge. Teams collaborated with industry professionals to create chain-reaction machines, similar to Rube Goldberg machines, with the objective of ringing a bell. The twist? Students weren’t given a bell—they had to design and build one themselves! They also integrated electrical and coded components into their machines. Each student had a unique role to support their team, and everyone performed exceptionally well. Two out of our three groups were recognized for their creative designs. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, offering our students valuable hands-on learning and a great opportunity to showcase their problem-solving skills!
Deep Portage Learning Center
The Hill-Murray seventh graders embarked on an exciting trip to Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN, where they immersed themselves in nature and environmental education. The students participated in hands-on activities such as hiking, orienteering, and wildlife observation, fostering teamwork and deepening their appreciation for the outdoors. They also engaged in interactive workshops that taught them about local ecosystems and conservation efforts. This unforgettable experience not only enriched their learning but also created lasting memories with their peers.
2023-24 Semester Two Honor Roll
Click here to view the High School 2023-24 Semester Two Honor Roll.
Click here to view the Middle School 2023-24 Semester Two Honor Roll.
Picture Retake Day – Oct. 29
Any student or staff member that would like to have their picture retaken or who did not have a picture taken yet for the 2024/25 school year, we will have picture retake day on Tuesday, October 29th. Students, please come in your school uniform polo shirt.
Any students who were absent from Picture Day will automatically be included. Families who want their students to retake their photo can register HERE.
Senior Panoramic – Oct. 29
The senior all-class panoramic picture is scheduled to be taken on Tuesday, October 29th during WIN B. Mrs. Trembley will ping all the seniors. Please help remind your student! Students may wear Hill-Murray spiritwear for the photo.
Senior Yearbook Photos
Seniors! Please submit your senior pictures, baby photos, senior memories, and parent messages to the yearbook at hillmurrayyearbook.com. Please submit them before the Friday, January 10th deadline. The earlier you submit the better! If you have any questions, please contact Kaylin Gruber at kaylin.gruber@hmstudents.org.
Parent Speaker Series – Nov. 20
Hill-Murray Parents are invited to join us on Wednesday, November 20th to hear from Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, an executive performance coach for athletes, business leaders, and championship teams. As CEO of the Mentally Strong Institute, she empowers individuals to reach new heights in their careers and lives.
Click here to register and to learn more.
Weekly Confession
Father John will be available to hear Confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) on Thursdays (when school is in session) from 7:20 AM – 7:50 AM. No appointment necessary. Students, parents, and staff are welcome. There will be a guide sheet available in the Chapel.
2025 Pioneer Premier Auction
Hill-Murray’s Pioneer Premier Auction presents the 2025 theme… A Night at the Cosmopolitan! Be Bold, Win Big with a Hill-Murray Education.
Please follow @hm_auction on instagram for all things Pioneer Premier Auction!!
Please join the HM Mothers Club at the following upcoming events:
-Friday, October 25th: 8 AM, Coffee & Conversation at Mac’s Diner in North St. Paul
-Wednesday, October 30th: 6 PM, Parents Night Out – HM Mothers Club and HM Fathers Club hosting at Tamarack Taproom in Woodbury
-Sunday, November 17th: 2 PM OR 4 PM – Porch Pot Workshop, Gertens Retail Store – stay tuned for registration details.
Email mothersclub@hill-murray.org to be added to the Mothers Club email list or follow @hmmothersclub on Instagram!
Hill-Murray Scholarship Applications – 2025-26 Academic Year
All scholarship information can be found online this year under the Tuition Assistance tab on the main page of our Hill-Murray website. Scholarships are broken down into Need-Based and Non-Need Based Scholarships. Those families who complete the TADS application for financial assistance will automatically be considered for the Need-Based Scholarships. The TADS application is the only application to fill out for these scholarships. However, If a student is chosen for one of these scholarships, they will need to submit an essay, thank you, and student profile information to accept and receive the award. Regardless of whether or not they fill out the TADS application, any student can apply for the Non-Need Based Scholarships.
The scholarship application can be found and completed online under the Tuition Assistance tab. Completed applications are due by Friday, November 15, 2024. Don’t delay, get your application in today!
If you have any questions about this process, please contact Denise Bates at dbates@hill-murray.org.
