THREE MORE DAYS! Submit your Great Gathering event today!

You still have THREE MORE DAYS to submit your Great Gathering event! It's the #1 way to connect with other GRS families and these events are one of the most popular ways to support our Blue Heron Bash fundraiser each year!

Please consider hosting an event as a fun way to connect with other GRS families!

Examples of Great Gatherings from the past included family events like pancakes in the park, brewery tours, backyard movies, or puzzle and game nights; parent-only events like wine and cheese, themed dinners, a moms weekend at a cabin; and workshops -how to make kimchi, woodworking, yoga. Host by yourself, or co-host with a friend or two!

Really, any opportunity to get together can be a Great Gathering- think of some ways you like to spend your time and invite others to join you!

Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Email :greatgatherings@greatriverschool.org

Sign-up form here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jAlwTjMmfu3eNDR9izoGKEkvXqlpJd4wRujZ945gXR4/edit

National Park Service to Send out pollinator seeds to families upon request

*Taken directly from the National Park Service website

Whether on the picturesque beaches of Hawaii or in the dense forests of the Rockies, pollinators such as bees and butterflies, play a crucial role in maintaining and improving our ecosystems. They help to grow the plants that we eat every single day, are vital parts of the natural food-chain, and serve as ecosystem barometers due to their sensitivity to climate change.

In the past 5 years, bee and butterfly have declined remarkably. Saving these creatures is imperative to humankind since approximately 75% of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat are courtesy of pollinators. Bees and butterflies also beautify our planet; their important role in plant reproduction perpetuates floral growth and provide aesthetically pleasing landscapes for human enjoyment and faunal habitat.

Due to the importance of pollinators in our changing climate, we are taking the initiative to help restore bee and butterfly populations by offering free Black-Eyed Susan and Butterfly Milkweed seed packs.

Helping Restore Pollinator Populations:

• Check out this website to see what pollinator-friendly plants are native to your region.

• Avoid using pesticides in your garden.

• Leave them alone - bees won't harm you if left unprovoked and butterflies should never be captured.

• Buy local and eat more organic, pesticide-free foods to encourage healthy agriculture.

• Purchase local honey prepared by local beekeepers.- Encourage your local council to implement pollinator - friendly policies and to maintain and enhance pollinator habitats.

Available Seeds

• Black-Eyed Susans

• Butterfly Milkweed

Support Us

We are only able to achieve so much on our own, we need your support. You don’t need to do much to help out. From ordering one of our free clean-up kits or pollinator seed packets, purchasing one of our store products, or following us on Facebook, you’re helping us take larger steps to assisting our beautiful environment and wildlife in its urgent time of need!

Winter Archery Sessions coming up for all ages!!

Winter Archery Sessions coming up for all ages!

Archery will meet for 5 sessions beginning the week of February 27 and ending March 31. All classes will meet in the GRS gym.

Lower elementary (grades 1-3) will meet Wednesdays from 3:30-4:15 pm

Upper elementary (grades 4-6) will meet Tuesdays from 3:30-4:15 pm

Adolescents (grades 7-12) will meet Tuesdays from 4:30-5:00 pm

Cost is $100.

Space is limited Scholarships in case of need and discounts for current Big Canoe participants are available; contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org

Use this link to sign up.

Ultimate Information Night CHANGED to Monday, February 27th due to Weather

Due to the impending weather, the Ultimate Information night at GRS will be held on Monday, February 27th in the media lab at 6pm for Middle School (5-8), and 7pm for High School (9-12).

High School official practices begin March 6.  Preseason practices will be in the GRS gym 3:30-5:30pm now through March 6th.  Female-identifying players will be on Thursdays, Male-identifying players will be on Fridays.  We will move outside as weather permits.  

We need parents to help supervise on days coaches aren’t available.  Please sign up here if you are able.  
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d49a4a62babf94-high  

High School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
High School Registration Form

Middle School practices begin the week of April 10th at McMurray Field. Practice days TBD.

Middle School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
Middle School Ultimate Registration Form

Summer Camp: Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee is a very popular sport at Great River School.  In order to keep the Spirit of the Game alive over the summer, we are offering Ultimate Camps for all skill levels.  We have beginner camps for 4th-7th, a beginners and experienced camp for 7th-10th graders and an all day camp for high schoolers, 9th-12th grade, that ends with spending the last afternoon at Como Pool.  We also have a full day ultimate camp at the end of the summer for 7th-10th graders that also includes hiking, fishing, and swimming at Como Pool.  These will all be led by our very own Scott Alsleben who is an amazing Ultimate player and coach.   Check them out here: GRS Camps

Addams Family Musical opens TONIGHT, Friday, February 17!! Tickets on sale now!

The Addams Family opens TONIGHT! The gloomy and grim family we all know and love face an unexpected challenge: can they be normal for just one night? Or will one secret be the end of the family? Find out in this kooky and goofy production of The Addams Family Musical! The cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for this show and are excited for performances to begin.

Tickets are on sale on the GRS website now, $10 for students and $15 for adults. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Come support the GRS theater program!

Recommended for ages 10 and up due to some suggestive material including brief sexual references. Please note that this is just a recommendation and not a strict age limit. Feel free to do whatever feels right for your family.

While masks are not required, we strongly recommend you wear one for the safety and health of our cast and crew. There will be masks at the door if you need one.

Have a question or an accessibility need? Email us at grstheater@greatriverschool.com!

Thank you for supporting Great River School!

Thank you to all of the families who have contributed to our February fundraising effort. Whether you have become a new Sustainer, given a one-time gift, or contributed in another way, you are supporting our community in vital ways.  

Haven’t donated yet? It’s always a good time to give. Visit https://www.greatriverschool.org/give to see all the ways you can contribute. Share this link with other people in your life who are interested in supporting your student’s education and the Great River School community.

Ultimate Frisbee Season approaches!

Great River has Ultimate teams for grades 5-12.

Come learn more at our Information night at GRS on Thursday, February 23 in the media lab at 6pm for Middle School (5-8), and 7pm for High School (9-12).

High School official practices begin March 6.  Preseason practices will be in the GRS gym 3:30-5:30pm now through March 6th.  Female-identifying players will be on Thursdays, Male-identifying players will be on Fridays.  We will move outside as weather permits.  

We need parents to help supervise on days coaches aren’t available.  Please sign up here if you are able.  
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d49a4a62babf94-high  

High School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
High School Registration Form

Middle School practices begin the week of April 10th at McMurray Field. Practice days TBD.

Middle School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
Middle School Ultimate Registration Form

Blue Heron Bash Auction Donations

Do you own or work at a business you would like to promote to the GRS Community?

Are you an artist or maker and have goods or services to share?

We would love to feature you at the Blue Heron Bash Auction online March 13 & in person at the event on Saturday, March 18 from 6-10pm at GRS.  http://www.

bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23

Donate items to the Online Auction: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGqKuOBffUJVwalrCVK_R3CHGyXKKGbmMJhn1YY1P_n-RATw/viewform 

Donate handmade items to our Makers Market: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvU6gvBlAjD1x9XPxGXwGN6vNOyGa1CpwE5DN20rU8roEF7Q/viewform 

Host a Great Gathering: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDdJeviD5dU5gIG0yXSvDj8RDC64JTgivVpvwb0uvB0JHdA/viewform 

These are just a few of the Great River Community businesses & makers at this year’s Bash so far!  

Haley Fruen - Petit Salon https://petitesalon.com/ 

Kimberly Galvin - Herb & Moon Alchemy https://herbandmoonalchemy.com/ 

John Stumme - [http://www.John-Stumme.com](http://www.john-stumme.com/)

Host a Great Gathering at Great River!

Blue Heron Bash is just around the corner and you're probably looking for a fun, entertaining way to support the school and to build the GRS community! Consider hosting a Great Gathering this year!

Great Gatherings are fixed-price social events that bring people together while raising money for our school. We are looking to add new hosts and experiences. Please consider hosting an event as a fun way to connect with other GRS families!

Examples of Great Gatherings from the past included family events like pancakes in the park, brewery tours, back yard movies, or puzzle and game nights; parent-only events like wine and cheese, themed dinners, a moms weekend at a cabin; and workshops -how to make kimchi, woodworking, yoga. Host by yourself, or co-host with a friend or two! Really, any opportunity to get together can be a Great Gathering!

Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Email greatgatherings@greatriverschool.org

SIgn-up form here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDdJeviD5dU5gIG0yXSvDj8RDC64JTgivVpvwb0uvB0JHdA/viewform

Support Great River School

“The school goes from grade 1-12, is only ~700 students, has a smaller budget than surrounding schools, and encourages lots of involvement. All this means that we know that students and families are a big part of the school and how it runs.” - GRS parent of Elementary and Lower Adolescent students

GRS depends on our community to continue to provide all the things that we love, from Montessori educational materials and athletic equipment to food for classroom pets and camping gear.

Visit https://www.greatriverschool.org/give to see all the ways you can support the school. Share this link with other people in your life who are interested in fostering your student’s education and the Great River School community.

LIST League volleyball sign-up for grades 5-7

Volleyball season is starting up for all 5th-7th graders!!

Even if it is your first time playing volleyball or you have previous experience- you are welcome!

Coach: Mary Sollitto

Practices: at Great River School Mondays 3:30-5 pm in the GRS gym

Games: Wednesdays at 4:30 or 5:30 pm. Families are responsible for transportation to games. 

Cost: $150 (jersey, league and coach fee)

Sign up here to indicate your interest, and you'll be contacted with the payment link to complete your registration.

Contact information about games will be sent to the team families every week. Please wear clothes to move in (i.e. tshirt, athletic shorts, flexible pants, and closed toed shoes) and a water bottle.

We have had parents help with coaching, please reach out to Mary Sollitto (msollitto@greatriverschool.org) or Karen Anway (kanway@greatriverschool.org) - we would love it! More information about the season coming on the first practice, Monday, Feb. 27th.

No School, Monday, February 20, 2023 - Presidents Day

Creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky... Addams Family opens Friday, Feb. 17!

The Addams Family opens this Friday! The gloomy and grim family we all know and love face an unexpected challenge: can they be normal for just one night? Or will one secret be the end of the family? Find out in this kooky and goofy production of The Addams Family Musical! The cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for this show and are excited for performances to begin.

Tickets are on sale on the GRS website now, $10 for students and $15 for adults. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Come support the GRS theater program!

Blue Heron Bash Auction Donations

Do you own or work at a business you would like to promote to the GRS Community?

Are you an artist or maker and have goods or services to share?

We would love to feature you at the Blue Heron Bash Auction online March 13 & in person at the event on Saturday, March 18 from 6-10pm at GRS.  http://www.

bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23

Donate items to the Online Auction: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGqKuOBffUJVwalrCVK_R3CHGyXKKGbmMJhn1YY1P_n-RATw/viewform 

Donate handmade items to our Makers Market: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvU6gvBlAjD1x9XPxGXwGN6vNOyGa1CpwE5DN20rU8roEF7Q/viewform 

Host a Great Gathering: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDdJeviD5dU5gIG0yXSvDj8RDC64JTgivVpvwb0uvB0JHdA/viewform 

These are just a few of the Great River Community businesses & makers at this year’s Bash so far!  

Haley Fruen - Petit Salon https://petitesalon.com/ 

Kimberly Galvin - Herb & Moon Alchemy https://herbandmoonalchemy.com/ 

John Stumme - [http://www.John-Stumme.com](http://www.john-stumme.com/)

Elementary Going-Outs: Help Needed!

Hello Elementary Families!

We'd love to increase our pool of available adults to help on Elementary Going-Outs! We need adults to accompany our students as they venture out into the world to accomplish a variety of tasks, from observing animals at the zoo, to acquiring cooking ingredients from Target! Don't know what a Going Out is? Check out THIS PRESENTATION to learn more! If you're interested, you'll need to fill out a BACKGROUND CHECK (make a copy, fill out, and send to Maiya Yang ). You'll also need to FILL OUT THIS FORM to let the children know when you're available to accompany them. And finally.....sit back and wait for a lovely phone call from excited students! :)

If you have any questions, please reach out to either your child's classroom Guide, or to Derek Damron. Thanks for your support!

Blue Heron Bash 2023: Auction donations wanted!

The 2023 Blue Heron Bash needs your donations! There are many ways to participate so get creative. The auction will be March 13-19.

Donate in one or more of the following categories: 

LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS : support local restaurants and stores. Buy gift cards and donate them to the auction. Support the businesses and GRS at the same time. If you are a GRS family and own a business we want everyone to know it and support you.

GREAT GATHERING: share your skills by offering a great gathering on cooking, crafting, gardening, beer brewing and more! 2023 Great Gatherings

Or donate an online class (the Loft, local community education, etc.)

MERCHANDISE : donate a bottle of wine for the wine pull, games, gift baskets, art, jewelry, unwanted gifts, unused gift cards and more! Think of things that would be appealing to members of the community.

MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS: support your favorite museums, gyms, state and national parks, online news sources, public media stations, CSA, streaming services by donating a membership or subscription.

READINGS OR PERFORMANCES: offer a poetry reading, musical performance, or donate tickets to an event from one of your favorite music or theater venues.  Donate tickets to a sporting event.

SERVICES: offer to build a website, consult on a resume, create a logo, or more!

MAKERS MARKET: we want to celebrate the Montessori tradition of hand work and highlight students and families who create art, crafts, food, etc. in our 4th annual Makers Market. 

For more information and links to sign up, check out our BHB 101 Doc!

BHB 101 2023

Seeking Nordic Head Coach

The Great River, Twin Cities Academy, Avalon School Nordic Ski team is wrapping up arguably its best season ever - Lots of good snow, weather, a huge roster and an increasingly competitive team in our conference.

The team is seeking a Head Coach for the 2023-24 ski season.  The commitment is generally 3 days a week from 3:30 - 5:30pm from mid-November through mid-February.  Be in touch with Matt McElrath mmcelrath@greatriverschool.org if you or somebody great you know would be interested.

Support and show love for Great River!

We love being part of the Great River community with you! 

“What’s not to love, honestly?! We love that the Great River School community is dynamic and actively trying to reflect and engage the real world our children are living in and the humans they are becoming.” GRS parent, Elementary

Show your love for Great River by helping our school thrive! Financial support from our community makes special programming - like Key Experiences, theater and music, Montessori classroom materials, and our urban farm - possible. 

Visit https://www.greatriverschool.org/give to see all the ways you can give.

Addams Family Musical opens on Friday, February 17!! Tickets on sale now!

Tickets are now available for our winter musical, The Addams Family! Buy your tickets now on the GRS website.

In the kooky, spooky world of the Addams Family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, and death and suffering are the stuff of their dreams. Nonetheless, this quirky family still has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by any other family, and the spookiest nightmare faced by every family: the Addams kids are growing up. The Addamses have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years and Gomez and Morticia would be only too happy to continue living that way. Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter Wednesday on the other hand, has different plans. She has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a sweet, smart boy from a normal, respectable Ohio family — the most un-Addams sounding person imaginable! And to make matters worse, she has invited the Beinekes to their home for dinner. Can this family be normal for just one night? Come find out in Great River School’s production of The Addams Family, opening on February 17th, 2023!

Synopsis adapted from stageagent.com

Recommended for ages 10 and up due to some suggestive material including brief sexual references. Please note that this is just a recommendation and not a strict age limit. Feel free to do whatever feels right for your family.

While masks are not required, we strongly recommend you wear one for the safety and health of our cast and crew. There will be masks at the door if you need one.

Have a question or an accessibility need? Email us at grstheater@greatriverschool.com!