Building Profile

History

Ellen Hopkins Elementary School was built in 1957 as a junior high school and renovated into an elementary school in 2004.  Hopkins Elementary was named in honor of Ellen “Nellie” Hopkins, an 1896 Moorhead High School graduate who began teaching in Moorhead in 1908. She served as first-grade teacher and principal at the First Ward School from 1910 to 1938. She was well known for her lively approach to schooling and her willingness to try innovative practices. Ms. Hopkins was dedicated to providing children of all backgrounds an excellent education. Her legacy lives on in the vison of Hopkins School: Working together for excellence in learning.

Programs

Students Smiling

Curriculum and Learning

At Ellen Hopkins Elementary, we are focused, like all Moorhead Area Public Schools, on teaching the common core standards for mathematics and reading. To accomplish this goal, we have adopted Benchmark Literacy as a resource for core reading instruction and Bridges Mathematics as a resource for core math instruction. In both reading and math, our district and school have also identified a variety of other strong resources to supplement the core resources. Read more about the elementary curriculum and the district's assessment plans.

Student in Spanish Immersion Class

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a process for establishing a social culture and behavior support needed to improve social, emotional, behavioral and academic outcomes for all students. The staff and students at Ellen Hopkins Elementary have implemented PBIS since the 2008-09 school year. The goals of the program are:

  • Focus on acknowledging students for consistent positive behavior.

  • Teach behavior expectations as specific skills with expectations clearly outlined for students. Skills are taught in relation to real-life situations.

  • Recognize students who demonstrate quality behavior.

  • Engage students in problem solving when problem behaviors occur.

  • Implement routines and language that are consistent throughout the school.

Students with Teacher

Spanish Immersion Program

The Spanish Immersion Program at Ellen Hopkins Elementary is open to all students within Moorhead Area Public Schools entering kindergarten. Spanish Immersion offers students the opportunity to learn a second language and be exposed to a variety of cultural experiences while developing academic excellence. The Spanish Immersion Program offers children an opportunity to learn to read, write and speak Spanish. At Ellen Hopkins Elementary, K-4 Spanish Immersion students are immersed or completely engaged in a second language while learning all subject areas, including reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Using the identical elementary curriculum used by the English classrooms, Spanish Immersion teachers instruct in Spanish rather than English. Read more about the Spanish Immersion Program. Find resources for parents and students in the Spanish Immersion Program.