Eagan High School Newsletter
Freshmen Newsletter, Welcome Wildcats! August 2025
The first day of school for Eagan High School students is Monday, August 31, 2026. Buses will transport freshmen, 9th grade students, to school as scheduled for a typical school day. School begins at 7:40 a.m. for freshmen, who will report to the Student Commons (cafeteria). We use this morning to welcome and support our freshmen class!
All 9th graders will begin the day with a large assembly, followed by students working together in small groups with juniors and seniors who are LINK Crew Leaders. Freshmen and LINK Crew members will enjoy fun and informative activities throughout the building including a tour and classroom visits.
Parents/guardians of all 9th graders, and the 9th grade students should attend the evening orientation for 9th grade students on Wednesday, August 26th. (see info below)
Sophomores, juniors and seniors will report to school at 11:00 a.m. the first day, Monday, August 31st. Buses will run 3 hours later than normal for the 11 a.m. start for grades 10, 11 and 12.
ALL students will follow a modified schedule for the remainder of Monday, August 31st that will allow everyone to eat lunch and meet all their teachers; follow their daily schedule, through all assigned classes. The day concludes at its usual time for this school year, 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Thursday, Sept. 3 will be a regular school days for all students from 7:40 - 2:30.
No school for students on Friday, September 4th. School resumes on Tuesday, Sept. 8 for all students, after the Labor Day weekend.
Freshmen Class Parent/Guardian and 9th grade Student Orientation and Information Evening
Wednesday, August 26th
For Incoming Parents/Guardians and Students in our Freshmen Class
Plan to be at EHS for the Freshmen Class Orientation Evening from 5:30-6:30 p.m. or 7-8 p.m.- attend one of the sessions, please, on Wednesday, August 26th for all Freshmen parents and guardians and students.
Parent and guardians will receive information on how to have a smooth and successful transition into high school for themselves and their students.
Freshmen student schedules and building maps will be distributed. All 9th graders will be given more information provided by LINK Crew students during this evening. Counselors and Special Education department leadership will be available to answer questions regarding scheduling concerns. More specific information will be shared in our August Newsletter.
What to Purchase?
We do not have a ‘list’ of required supplies for our high school students. We do recommend that students “stock up” at back-to-school sales on the following items:
- Spiral notebooks, college ruled, one subject
- Ballpoint pens, black & red
- Protractor and compass for Geometry students
- #2 Pencils or mechanical pencils
- Pocket folders. (Many students choose to match colors of notebook & folder to a specific class)
- A stylus for use with the iPad
- External battery for charging iPad as needed during the day.
- If your student wants a graphing calculator they should get a TI-83 or TI-84, but they will primarily use DESMOS on their iPad because they are allowed to use DESMOS on AP Tests and the ACT and MCA’s.
Please know that free school supplies will be available in the Counseling Office at EHS.
Please do not purchase a planner when you are shopping - we will provide them to our freshmen!
STUDENT LINK CREW
Eagan High School is entering its 20th year in the Student LINK Crew program. LINK Crew is a national program designed to provide incoming freshmen students with junior and senior class mentors who will help them successfully navigate through their first year of high school. Student LINK Leaders will receive 10 hours of training this summer to learn skills for building connections with our freshmen.
The Student LINK Crew will sponsor several events throughout the school year including the Freshmen Tailgate Party, Girls Flag Football game, Dodgeball, the Amazing Race and more, all designed to promote successful outcomes for our freshmen. Parents and guardians – please encourage your students to attend these events and become involved at EHS.
Are you interested in being a member of the nationally award-winning Eagan Wildcat Debate Team? We will be holding a two-day tryout camp for all interested students new to the team. On Wednesday August 26th and Thursday August 27th from 6 to 9 PM in Lecture Room C, at Eagan High School, we will meet to introduce the different debate events as well as teach prospective team members how to try out for a spot on the team. This year we are instituting tryouts due to the increasing size of our program. There is no cost to attend the two-day introduction and training for debate. We ask that you sign up for the debate team tryout camp on EduTrak. While there is no cost you will still have to complete the registration by checking out on EduTrak. We look forward to meeting all new prospective debater at our tryout cam
District 196 is once again offering an optional Protection Plan to families for $20 per iPad to cover the cost of potential theft/damage throughout the 25-26 school year. As was the case last year, families that qualify for the Educational Benefits Program can participate for free so we encourage families to sign up for the Educational Benefits Program which benefits the district many other ways. Available now, parents can purchase the iPad Protection Plan in EduTrak Connect as explained in this letter (Spanish and Somali translations included via links at the top of the document.) Reviewing and acknowledging the Student iPad User Agreement is now part of the annual review process required to be completed the first time families log into Campus Parent.
Friday, September 11th marks our annual Freshmen Tailgate Party. Freshmen are invited to meet their LINK Leaders and fellow classmates at 5:30 p.m. for a meal and other activities near the Wildcat Stadium. Following the party, freshmen Wildcats and LINK Leaders are invited to attend the football game at 6:30 pm against Prior Lake H.S. Cost is $5 and includes admission to the party and food, plus a ticket to the game. Further details will be sent in the August Newsletter.
Freshmen will be taking school photos - for the Yearbook and for Student ID's on:
Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Picture Day ID: EVTFHQVVV
Link to preorder pictures.
RETAKES will be October 5, 2026.
- Students in grades 9, 10 and 11 will receive order information for photo packages in PAWS on August 31st.
- Students are NOT allowed to wear hats or sunglasses in the photos and shoulders must be covered by clothing.
Freshmen students will be assigned to a PAWS (People Achieving Wildcat Spirit) class. PAWS is our daily homeroom period each day from (9:24-9:39 a.m.) that consists of members from every EHS class -- freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors -- with the same homeroom teacher throughout their four years of high school. The goal of PAWS is to make a large school smaller, and to provide our students with an adult advocate in the building.
Some of the PAWS activities include school-wide spirit competitions, grade checks, Eagan AM broadcasts, Armful of Love holiday donations and food shelves donations. It is also an appropriate time for students to take 15 minutes out of their busy day to “catch their breath” as they move through a full 7-period class schedule.
Eagan High School
Email: EHSNews@district196.org
Website: ehs.district196.org
Location: 4185 Braddock Trail, Eagan, MN, USA
Phone: 651-683-6900