Happenings (October 14, 2025)
Hill-Murray Yearbook Named “Yearbook of the Year” Finalist!
Congratulations to Brock Buesing and the Hill-Murray student yearbook team! Their hard work and creativity have earned the yearbook a spot as a finalist in Pictavo’s “Yearbook of the Year” recognition. This honor celebrates the incredible effort and talent of our students in bringing the yearbook to life.
Hill-Murray Fall Open House
We’d love your help in inviting future Pioneers to our 2025 Hill-Murray Fall Open House on October 20th! The evening begins with an Activities Fair at 6:00 PM, followed by our Opening Program at 6:40 PM. It’s a great opportunity for families to explore our campus, meet teachers and coaches, and experience the Pioneer community firsthand.
If you know families who might be interested in learning more about Hill-Murray, please share THIS invitation – thank you!
Missed Picture Day? Schedule a Studio Pop-Up!
If your student was not able to attend our picture re-take day, Slow Road Photo is offering some Pop-Up options for your student to have their school photo taken. Please make sure they are wearing a Hill-Murray polo shirt for the photo.
The Studio Picture Day Pop Up will take place at the Slow Road New Brighton studio on a Saturday morning in October, November, or December. You can sign up using this LINK! There is no fee to sign up for the Pop Up, and Slow Road will deliver those images back to the school (as well as include them in the yearbook!). The setup will be the same as it was at school, and families will have the opportunity to purchase prints or digitals, if they wish.
Winter Sports Registration NOW OPEN
Click HERE for Winter Sports Registration!
2025-26 College Counseling Events
The College Counseling Team would like to inform you about some important events scheduled for the 2025-26 school year. Please click HERE to learn more!
September World Language Star Students
Congratulations to our World Language Star Students. Click HERE to view the full list.
HM Students for Change – Refugee Drive
We have partnered with Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota to collect donations to help refugees settling in Minnesota.
We will collect donations in the bins at the front entrance from October 20-28
Click HERE to see what you can donate!
We’re also going to watch Disney’s “Encanto” on October 23 & 24 during WIN. This movie is about a family escaping violence in Colombia, similar to many of the families that we’ll help with our donations to Catholic Charities.
The Certificate in Benedictine Formation
The Certificate in Benedictine Formation is an offering available to current juniors and seniors. This experience provides students with an opportunity to learn more about Benedictine spirituality and make a deeper connection with St Paul’s Monastery. Students do not have to be Catholic to join, and the time commitment is reasonable. Students go on an overnight retreat at the Monastery on Tuesday, November 11 – Wednesday, November 12 and also attend five WIN sessions between January-April. The WIN sessions are part of the regular school day. Click HERE to see more detailed information. Encourage your junior or senior to participate – the certificate is noted on the student’s transcript and is also presented at the awards ceremony in the spring. Your student can email me at sskinner@hill-murray.org if they are interested. There is limited space, but spots still remain open. Thank you, Sue Skinner, Ed.D., Vice President for Mission.
Italy Trip Information
We have some exciting news, we are planning an amazing HM student trip to ITALY, this summer!!
This trip is open to current 9th-12th grade students. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Italian history, art, and theology! This trip starts in Venice, then off to Florence, and we’ll end in Rome! We will be able to see things like the famous Canals and Bridges of Venice, The Duomo and the David in Florence, and the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Vatican with the beautiful Sistine Chapel, while in Rome! We will enjoy Italian food such as authentic pizza and gelato! See a glass blowing demonstration, and explore these beautiful cities!
We encourage you to come contact Ms. Fandrich or Mr. Misenor with any questions! If you are interested in registering, please do so as soon as possible. Instructions on how to register are on the flyer HERE!
As the weather has shifted from summer to fall, it is natural that our rhythm starts to slow down as well.
As parents/guardians, we have the ability to set the tone for our homes and for our kids as it relates to our values and what family means to us. While there is no perfect answer or solution to setting this tone and finding a rhythm, it can be helpful to explore ways to promote family connection.
Each season of life brings about its own challenges and new situations to navigate. As adults, we are able to model how we want our family to function when these seasons change. Fall Break provides a great opportunity for reflection, conversation and intentional time to determine what, if any, changes may need to be made to allow your family to slow down and find a rhythm that supports everyone’s needs. Principal Liz Marin shared this booklet that was provided by the Archdiocese: Reclaiming Sundays (English Version), Reclaiming Sundays (Spanish Version). This can be a great place to start with this reflection and conversation. In this booklet you will find monthly themes and activities to explore as a family to build connection and create opportunities for time spent together.
IDEAS FOR OCTOBER:
- Refrain from house projects and tasks centered around productivity.
- Choose activities focused on recreation, leisure, and rest (such as reading a book,
listening to music, doing a crossword puzzle, going for a long walk, playing a game,
or playing outdoors together). - Build community by inviting another family over or by visiting a friend or relative.
- Kids love traditions and they are great for building family identity. Create a Sunday
tradition such as brunch after Mass or flowers and candles with dinner. Or, on the
flip side, adopt a quiet, simple dinner. In the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary,
a Sunday family rosary could be in your living room, but also could be prayed on a
walk, around a campfire, or in the car on the way back from visiting that relative. - A recommended resource to assist in building habits of prayer is the Hallow App.
We hope that you find some time to relax, reset and renew as a family during this Fall Break.
Middle School Halloween Party
The Middle School Student Council is sponsoring our Middle School Halloween Party on October 24th from 6-8 pm. Activities include music, games, crafts, prizes, a haunted house, and fun with classmates! The cost is free. Costumes encouraged for our costume contest!
Tipsy Pumpkins
Join us for a festive evening filled with:
🍷 Sips
🎃 A Pumpkin activity (optional)
😄 Laughs & light bites
This is your perfect fall escape! 🍁
🗓️ Wednesday, Oct 22nd in the Hill-Murray Staff Lounge at 6 pm
🎟️ FREE! Just RSVP so we have enough pumpkins:
👉 https://formstack.io/39F72
Let’s make it a fun, fall night!
Holiday Porch Pot Make & Take
🎄 Holiday Porch Pot Make & Take
Create Your Own Winter Greens Container
🗓️ Sunday, November 16, 2025
2 sessions 12:30 and 3 pm
📍 Gertens Retail Store
5500 Blaine Ave, Inver Grove Heights
Join us for a hands-on, holiday-inspired workshop where you’ll design and create your own 17-inch spruce tip container, filled with fresh winter greens and beautiful seasonal accents. Led by Gertens’ expert design team, you’ll choose from a wide variety of decorative elements to make your creation truly one of a kind.
What’s included:
• One large 17-inch container
• A curated kit of fresh greens and festive accents
• Hot cocoa and seasonal treats
🛑 Limited spots available!
28 participants per sessions
📩 Register through this link, https://formstack.io/D1CA8
As our holiday gift to you, the Hill-Murray Mothers Club is subsidizing the cost! You’ll play $85 and we’ll pay the remaining $30. Tis’ the season of giving!
The 2026 Senior All-Night Party
Help plan the Senior All-Night Party. We will be meeting at The Burrow in Oakdale on Tues., Oct. 28th from 6:30-8:00. Join in on the planning and help make this a memorable evening for our seniors. If you can’t make it, and still want to be a part of it, don’t worry. Send us an email, and we’ll keep you updated.
Follow on Instagram @hm26seniorallnightparty
Who doesn’t love a Butter Braid? The Seniors will be selling Butter Braids to help raise funds for their Senior All Night Party. The sale runs from Oct. 13th – Nov. 7th. The Butter Braid orders will be delivered to Hill-Murray Nov. 20th so you’ll have them in time for Thanksgiving! Visit our Hill-Murray Senior All-Night Party Butter Braid site to order online or you can place an order with any senior.
Questions? Email us at HMSeniorParty@gmail.com
2026-27 Tuition Assistance and Scholarship Applications are Now Open
* Need-Based Tuition Assistance & Scholarships:
If your family is interested in applying for Need-Based Tuition Assistance, please click HERE to begin your 2026-27 TADS application.
Completion of a TADS application grants a student’s eligibility for all Need-Based Scholarships.
* Non-Need Based Scholarships:
Our Non-Need Based Scholarship application is live for 2026-27. Please click HERE to begin your application.
Families of students applying for Non-Need Based Scholarships are NOT required to complete a TADS application.
The submission deadline for TADS and Non-Need Scholarships is January 15, 2026; however, the Hill-Murray Scholarship Committee will begin reviewing applications and allocating awards as they are submitted.
Founders Speaker – October 21
