Elementary

School Menu Updates, February 24 - 27, 2025 (School closed on Fri., Feb. 28)

The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, February 24 - 27.

We are over half way through our menu change!

We are making minor changes to the menu this week, switching a few breakfasts and adding a different salad. We are going to use this week to test a few new menu ideas and then continue on with the day changes the following week 3/3/2025.  Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) Monday, February 24th; 6pm

There will be a SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) meeting on Monday, February 24th at 6pm.  All parents / guardians of students currently receiving special education services are invited to attend.  The meeting will be in the media lab at Great River School. If you are unable to attend in person, please contact Jeremy Sartain at jsartain@greatriverschool.org or 612-414-5224 or if you prefer attend via Zoom. If you arrive late and can't get into the building on the day of the meeting, call or text Jeremy Sartain at 612-414-5224.

What is a SEAC?

A SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is an acronym for Special Education Advisory Council, which is a group that provides input on special education issues to its local school district. Its purpose is to advise and advocate, not to decide policy. Minnesota law requires each school district in the state to have a SEAC although it does not specify how the groups should be organized or what duties they should perform. As a result, each SEAC may have a unique mission and structure.

(Source www.pacer.org)

Volunteer Build Day! GRS Theatre Help needed! Come Join us!

Do you enjoy building, painting, or sewing? This Saturday, February 22nd, the theatre department will be hosting a Volunteer Build Day from 10am - 4pm to work on sets, props, and costumes for the upcoming production of Les Misérables. Helping hands are greatly appreciated to help us put on a truly epic musical for our audiences, and folks are welcome for a few hours or the full day. If you'd like to help paint, please dress appropriately. Snacks, beverages, and lunch will be provided. Please reach out to our technical director Katie with any questions (katie@outstandingteam.org). We hope to see you there!

PEG Meeting, Tuesday, February 18th; 6pm. with Special Guests!

Please join us for our upcoming Parent Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 6:00 - 7:30pm.  This month, our first guest speaker is Matt McElrath, GRS Director of Student Services.  He will be talking about the student support process at GRS.  Our second guest speaker is Mel Hammond, GRS Director of Nutrition Services.  Time for questions will follow each presentation.  Here is the full agenda.

PEG meetings are a great time to connect.  To join the meeting in person, please park in the pick-up line area on Energy Lane and use the garden door labeled "G" in the SE corner of the school.  Follow the stairs to the Upper Adolescent Commons space on the second floor.  

You can also join the meeting via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3976588186

Grab dinner at the Roseville Parkway Pizza and GRS will receive 5% of all sales throughout the day on Feb 18!

We look forward to seeing you!  

Snack Donations for Elementary Social Work Team

Our social work and behavioral support team in the Elementary is looking for donations of snacks to use with students throughout the day outside of the classroom. We are in need of peanut free snacks. These include- beef sticks, fig bars, nature valley granola bars, soft and chewy granola bars, graham crackers and other nut free snacks. Donations of snacks can be dropped off at the main office or brought to the classroom given to your child’s guide. Thank you on behalf of our growing students!

School Menu Updates, February 18 - 21, 2025 (School closed on Monday, Feb. 17)

The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, February 18 - 21.

Check back occasionally to view new details. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. Please note, the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

GRS Student Civics Project: Donations wanted!

Hello GRS Families,

I am Skylar Sennewald, a great River School student. My project for civics was to make a change in a community or organization you are interested in, I am working with THRESA, a women's support organization. My goal is to get donations from the families of GRS after school or before school. How that will work is that would will drop off your (clean donations) at the front office from 8 am to 5 pm. We will be taking donations within the last three weeks of February. The list of needs is down below:

New or gently used household goods such as:

Pots and pans and bakeware

Silverware and Kitchen utensils

Dishes, bowls, and mugs that are microwaveable

Small kitchen appliances:  such as mixers, blenders, or crockpots in good working condition

Twin bedding:  New or used & clean sheets, pillowcases, and blankets without stains or tears.  Occasionally we accept other size bedding for families living in our community apartments. Throw blankets are welcome but no baby blankets right now, please.

CLOTHING appropriate to the season:  

Clean used items without stains or tears are often accepted but seasonal clothing only, please.  All sizes are needed especially for children For example, right now we do not need any clothes for infants through 18-month-olds. 

New items needed:  We like to provide new residents with robes and slippers or shower shoes and to have a supply of sweatshirts, sweaters, casual t-shirts, sweatpants or leggings, socks, bras, and underwear available in various women’s sizes.  Spring, fal,l and winter coats are welcome in season.

 Miscellaneous  hygiene & household products commonly needed:  

Donations of deodorant, body wash, combs/brushes, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, lotion, size 5, 6, or 7 diapers/pullups, detergent, and dishwashing liquid are often needed...  Apartment families very much appreciate cleaning supplies and paper products.

Summer Camp Early Bird Pricing Ends Soon!

Summer Camps are filling up quickly and our Early Bird Pricing ends on February 18. We have great camps for our adolescent students including a rock band camp with Chad Hofland, Art camps with Randi McClure, Ultimate camps with Scott Alsleben, Urban Biking with Derek Damron and more!  Take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing and go to Our Summer Camp registration page to check out all of our camp options ranging from preschool to 12th grade.  Contact Brent Cummins, bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions.  

PEG Meeting, Tues., February 18th; 6 - 7:30pm

Connect with other families at our monthly meeting. February’s meeting will be Tuesday the 18th from 6 - 7:30pm.

You can join the meeting in person at GRS. Meetings are held in the Upper Adolescent Commons (park in pick up line & use garden door G in the SE corner) or online via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3976588186 Grab dinner at the Roseville Parkway Pizza & GRS will receive 5% of all sales throughout the day (11am -8pm).

School Menu Updates, February 10 - 14, 2025

The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, February 10 - 14.

Check back occasionally to view new details. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. Please note, the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

EXTERNAL: Cleaning service option: Ashley Home Clean

Osiris and Antonio are the incredible mother-and-son team that work so hard to clean our school every evening. They also clean homes! If you need a house cleaner, please consider supporting their business! https://www.ashleyhomeclean.com/

Please note, Osiris says the prices on the website are not currently accurate, so call the number on the website to get an estimate.

School Menu Updates, February 3 - 7, 2025

The kitchen has released the new menu for this week, February 3 - 7. Starting this month, we will be rolling out the new menu week by week. The changes will be posted weekly here on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students! Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. note the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

Donation Forms are open for the 2025 Blue Heron Bash, April 26, 6 - 10pm.

The Blue Heron Bash (BHB) is Great River School’s biggest fundraising event of the year! It features a weeklong online auction and an in-person, adults-only (21+) evening of great conversation, live music, friendly bidding competition, activities, appetizers, and drinks.

Donate items for our online auction or a bottle of wine for the Wine Pull, Craft an item for the Maker’s Market, Host a Great Gathering, or Contribute to an elementary classroom themed raffle basket. The 2025 BHB supports the general operating budget at Great River School and will also feature a special Fund A Need: Goats and Grounds. Donations to this fund will support a new goat enclosure as well as an expanded elementary play space and garden area. Check out our website for more information https://www.greatriverschool.org/blueheronbash

We look forward to seeing you there!

https://forms.gle/Crwz9fMfEp9ttDq26  (Donate link)

https://forms.gle/yXm4yjBLTDCGpsez8 (Maker Link)

https://forms.gle/LVJsgT2KNff2rRf66 (Great gathering link)

Save the date! The 2025 Blue Heron Bash!

The 2025 Blue Heron Bash is just three months away: April 26, from 6pm to 10pm.

For those new to Great River, the Blue Heron Bash (BHB) is our school’s biggest fundraising event of the year. It features a weeklong online auction and an in-person, adults-only (21+) evening of great conversation, live music, friendly bidding competition, activities, appetizers, and drinks.


GRS families can help make the BHB a success in many ways, including donating auction items, volunteering, and hosting a Great Gathering. Check out our website for more information about how you can get involved in the coming weeks!  https://www.greatriverschool.org/blueheronbash

 
 

Menu for January 29 - 31st (Changes due to Teacher Professional Development)

Due to No school for students and Teacher Professional Development on Mon., Jan. 27th and Tue., Jan. 28th there will be a modified menu during that week. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly for next week.

Starting in February, we will be rolling out the new menu day by day. The changes will be posted weekly on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students!

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new menu.

We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,

Your friends in the Great River kitchen

Tickets are now on sale for the GRS Theater Production of Les Misérables!

Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

March 7th, 7:00 pm

March 8th, 7:00 pm

March 9th, 2:00 pm, Pay What You Want Matinée

March 14th, 7:00 pm

March 15th, 7:00 pm

March 16th, 2:00 pm

Links:

https://www.greatriverschool.org/shows

https://www.greatriverschool.org/lesmistix

Menu for January 29 - 31st (Changes due to Teacher Professional Development)

Due to No school for students and Teacher Professional Development on Mon., Jan. 27th and Tue., Jan. 28th there will be a modified menu during that week. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly for next week.

Starting in February, we will be rolling out the new menu day by day. The changes will be posted weekly on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students!

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new menu.

We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,

Your friends in the Great River kitchen