Broomball is back!!

Broomball is back for 2024!  Our high school Ultimate teams (players and families) are running a broomball program as a fundraiser for 4th-8th graders.  Brooms, balls and rink time are provided.  Bike or ski helmets are required to play.  Here are the details:

Who: Any 4th-8th Grader

What: Broomball-There are 2 rinks and players will get divided by grade/skill to play their games.

When: Tuesdays, 4:15-5:15 from January 9-February 20.

Where: Players will walk together from school to McMurray Fields where there are 2 broomball rinks.

Why: To get outside, do something active and have fun with classmates!

Cost: $65 donation to our Ultimate Program

How to register: Fill out this FORM and pay through PayPal-- paypal.com/paypalme/StarsUltimate (include student name/broomball in note) or drop off check or cash at the front office.

This will fill up, so be sure to sign up soon!  

Email Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) with any questions.

Lost and Found items: Claim by December 20th

Lost and Found

Any unclaimed items will be donated to charity at 6pm on Wednesday, December 20th. The two lost and found locations are as follows:

1)The foyer inside the entrance to the Cafe

2) The hallway by the copy machine near the main elementary entrance.

No School on Friday, December 15th

Musical Items needed for the GRS Elementary Music Department!

Do you have music-related items that are just collecting dust somewhere? If so, consider donating them to the GRS Elementary Music Department. Items you could consider donating:

Instruments of all kinds (especially acoustic/classical guitars and ukuleles!)
Instrument accessories (tuners, capos, picks, guitar stands/wall hooks, mallets, extra strings, cleaning supplies)
CDs/cassettes/records and their players
MP3 players
Headphones
Headphone splitters/adapters
Speakers
Cables/power cords
Batteries
Sheet music/songbooks
Music learning resources
Music-themed artwork/decorations and anything else you can think of!

Donations may be brought to the front desk, or placed outside of Room 130 Silver Creek (across the hallway from Shingobee under the guitars). If you have any questions feel free to email Marty List-Tesdell at mltesdell@greatriverschool.org. Thank you!

2nd Annual Staff Gifting opportunity!

Join our second annual staff gifting opportunity! As a community we were able to give $50 gift cards to all 135 faculty and staff last year. Help us match or exceed this year. You can donate cash or check (payable to Great River School Foundation), in a sealed envelope with GRGG written on it, at the front office.

Venmo to GRSPEG https://account.venmo.com/u/GRSPEG

PayPal to GRSPEG https://www.paypal.me/GRSPEG?locale.x=en_US

A donation of $10 per student reaches our goal of $50 per staff.

Musical Items needed for the GRS Elementary Music Department!

Do you have music-related items that are just collecting dust somewhere? If so, consider donating them to the GRS Elementary Music Department. Items you could consider donating:

Instruments of all kinds (especially acoustic/classical guitars and ukuleles!)
Instrument accessories (tuners, capos, picks, guitar stands/wall hooks, mallets, extra strings, cleaning supplies)
CDs/cassettes/records and their players
MP3 players
Headphones
Headphone splitters/adapters
Speakers
Cables/power cords
Batteries
Sheet music/songbooks
Music learning resources
Music-themed artwork/decorations and anything else you can think of!

Donations may be brought to the front desk, or placed outside of Room 130 Silver Creek (across the hallway from Shingobee under the guitars). If you have any questions feel free to email Marty List-Tesdell at mltesdell@greatriverschool.org. Thank you!

OPENING WEEKEND!! GRS Theatre presents "Guys and Dolls" musical, December 8 - 16, 2023!

ITS OPENING WEEKEND!!!

Fall 2023 Musical: Guys and Dolls | December 8th - December 16th

Guys and Dolls is a musical romantic comedy involving the unlikeliest of Manhattan pairings: a high-rolling gambler and a puritanical missionary, a showgirl dreaming of the straight-and-narrow and a crap game manager who is anything but.

Set in the Manhattan of Damon Runyon’s short stories, Guys and Dolls tells of con-man Nathan Detroit’s efforts to find new life for his illegal, but notorious, crap game. When their trusty venue is found out by the police, Nathan has to find a new home for his crap game quickly - but he doesn’t have the dough to secure the one location he finds. Enter Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler willing to take on any honest bet with a high enough reward attached. .

Get your tickets for the opening weekend today! Buy tickets in advance or at the door. We accept Cash, Check & all major Credit Cards

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Friday, December 8th at 7:00pm

Saturday, December 9th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm

Friday, December 15th at 7:00pm

Saturday, December 16th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm

Ticket Prices: $10 for students, $15 for adults.

Saturday’s matinee is a “Pay what you want” performance.  You choose the ticket price that best meets your needs and values.  It’s a great way to show extra support for GRS Theater.

Want to do even more to support our young designers, makers, and actors?
Donate to the GRS Theater Program!

GRS is now incorporating students in all aspects of the production process. Through our IB Theatre, Theatre Tech, and Construction Math classes, students are participating in iterative design and academic processes to support our theatre programs.

Your contributions directly support our adolescent productions and give students more tools and materials to make their designs a reality! Thank you!

To keep up with the Upcoming GRS Performing Arts, visit:
www.greatriverschool.org/shows

Gift cards for GRS families

As many families prepare for the holidays and and high costs of food and other basic needs, the social work team is seeking donations of gift cards that can be distributed to GRS families who need them.

We are requesting gift cards for:
-gas
-grocery stores
-large retail chains like Target

Contact one of our social workers to coordinate drop off of gift cards.

Delia Koolick (Lower Elementary) dkoolick@greatriverschool.org

Angela Gaitas (Upper Elementary) agaitas@greatriverschool.org

Gina Carveth (Lower Adolescent) gcarveth@greatriverschool.org

Seth Tupper (Upper Adolescent) stupper@greatriverschool.org

Saleha Erdmann (SEL Coordinator) serdmann@greatriverschool.org

GRS All-Ages Chess Club - Winter session

GRS all-ages Chess Club–Winter session

GRS is partnering with the Twin Cities Chess Club again for a guided chess club.

The Twin Cities Chess Club will provide coaching for any students interested in developing their game. Any skill level is welcome! Open to grades 1-12.

Meetings: Wednesdays, 4-5 pm, January 10 - March 6  (9 sessions, only meets on school days)

Cost: $125

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

Registration: Sign up by filling out this form. 

Please pay the fee at this linkto complete registration.

BIPOC Caregiver Meeting Survey

Our next BIPOC caregiver meeting will be held on Thursday December 21st. There have been many caregivers that have reached out to me regarding the time of the meeting. In order to accommodate more families I would like to find a time that works best for those that would like to attend the BIPOC caregiver meeting each month. Please fill out the survey HERE to let me know your preferred meeting time and place. 

PEG Newsletter, Now Monthly! December 2023

PEG’s parent volunteer-composed newsletter is now monthly!! To stay updated on all the events, volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved in the GRS Community, check out the newsletter below!

Thanks to the amazing work of Parent volunteer, Ashley Beermann, a vibrant PEG Newsletter will be updated if more events are added throughout the month and come out again in January! Happy reading!

New updates, information, and PEG newsletters will also be available on the PEG website: https://www.greatriverschool.org/peg

Youth Book Fair, December 9th, 2023

On December 9th, join the Youth Book Fair at Flava Coffee & Cafe. All books will be FREE! Sponsored by Black Garnet Books and Free Little Library. 

PEG Presents Great River School Caregiver education "Guide to Going Out"

Please join us for this upcoming education opportunity on Going Out!

A Going Out is an important and exciting part of Montessori education.  It is also a very fun part of the GRS community! 

This education will share ...

• What is a Going out?  

• How does this benefit GRS students?

• How can I get involved? 

• How do I get a Background check completed? 

“When the child goes out, it is the world itself that offers itself to him[them]. Let us take the child out to show him[them] real things instead of making objects which represent ideas and closing them in cupboards.””

— Maria Montessori

• December 4th, 2023 at 6 pm to 6:30 (Parent Engagement meeting at 6:30 to 7:30 pm) 

• Great River School Gymnasium (please enter doors on Energy Lane, adolescent entrance, near cafe/gym/Big Canoe)

• Hosted by Parent Engagement Group 

• Led by Jean Peters, Elementary Program Director

Please RSVP to ensure we have enough space. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D49A4A62BABF94-46137701-going

Note and Questions? 

We plan to offer this training again and in the future record it for on demand use. If you are interested in this Volunteer opportunity but can’t attend the training please contact your Classroom Ambassador or Emily McMahon (volunteer parent) at emilynooney@yahoo.com

GRS Theatre presents "Guys and Dolls" musical, December 8 - 16, 2023!

Check out the new season of Performing Arts at GRS!

Fall 2023 Musical: Guys and Dolls | December 8th - December 16th

Guys and Dolls is a musical romantic comedy involving the unlikeliest of Manhattan pairings: a high-rolling gambler and a puritanical missionary, a showgirl dreaming of the straight-and-narrow and a crap game manager who is anything but.

Set in the Manhattan of Damon Runyon’s short stories, Guys and Dolls tells of con-man Nathan Detroit’s efforts to find new life for his illegal, but notorious, crap game. When their trusty venue is found out by the police, Nathan has to find a new home for his crap game quickly - but he doesn’t have the dough to secure the one location he finds. Enter Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler willing to take on any honest bet with a high enough reward attached. .

For more Information on The Guys and Dolls and to purchase tickets:
https://www.greatriverschool.org/guys-and-dolls-2023

To keep up with the Upcoming GRS Performing Arts, visit:
www.greatriverschool.org/shows

Heron's Nest News! Q2 Menu and what's coming in December! Check it out!

Breakfast news!  We are introducing a hot breakfast sandwich on Friday morning:  English muffin with egg, cheese and a veggie patty.  Best way to start the day?  Grab a freshly made brekkie sammie.

Even more breakfast news:   We offer Cheerios every day as an option.  It’s a great choice if you need a gluten free breakfast.  Regular milk and a non-dairy alternative are always available.

Have you checked out the Quarter 2 menu?  Click the image below, or visit the Great River Nutrition page by clicking here →  https://www.greatriverschool.org/nutrition.

Friendly reminder to please remember to add money to your students and/or staff lunch accounts and keep an eye on your lunch balance. Thank you so much for eating with us. 

School Payment Portal Direct Link

School Payment Portal How-To Guide- how to make a lunch account using the school payment portal

Get ready for more sauce:  Bang Bang sauce is back!  This popular house-made condiment went away for a few years but is now available during lunch. 

Crunching the numbers:  In Quarter 1 we served over 11,000 meals to our students and staff!  Also, we were able to provide 483 frozen meals to Feeding Frogtown since the beginning of the school year.  We are proud to serve our community.

Now for a fun fact.  Did you know that Chef Dan doesn’t like many sweets except for ice cream? You can’t pin him down to just one flavor, but his favorite places to get ice cream are Baby Zito’s and the Pumphouse Creamery.  Yum!

We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,

Your friends in the Great River kitchen, Dan, Tess, Julie and Mel

Happy Hmong New Year!

images and Information adapted from the Visit Saint Paul Website

Happy New Year! Happy Hmong New Year that is! A big celebration happens after Thanksgiving at the St. River Centre and you are encouraged to participate in this beautiful series of events! Please check out the Visit Saint Paul Website for more information on this amazing annual celebration!

Guide to the Annual Minnesota Hmong New Year

Each year, Saint Paul is home to Minnesota's Hmong New Year Celebration. Here's what you need to know about this lively event held at RiverCentre.

Who

All are welcome to join in the celebration of the Annual Minnesota Hmong New Year. Thousands of attendees, local and from around the world, attend this amazing annual event hosted by United Hmong Family, Inc.

What

The two-day celebration of the Hmong New Year highlights traditional Hmong dance, music, crafts, vendors and more.

When

Traditionally held during the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Where

Saint Paul RiverCentre

Why

An annual celebration taking place in the fall, Hmong New Year is a time to honor ancestors and gives thanks for the completion of the harvest. With the largest urban Hmong population in the world, Saint Paul is the perfect place to celebrate this vibrant culture with family and friends, Hmong and non-Hmong alike.

How:

Tickets are available in advance and can be purchased online or at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office Monday, Nov. 21 – Wednesday, Nov. 23 from noon - 5 p.m. for $10.35 (credit card only).

Tickets are available at the door on Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 26 for $12 (cash) or $12.42 (credit card).

• Kids 42” and below are free and measured at the door.

• Seniors 65+ must present ID at the box office for free ticket.

When it comes to parking, there are a variety of ramps and lots in the downtown Saint Paul area. For a map to all parking options, click here.

Most ramps will charge a daily event rate and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Metro Transit's light rail (green line) and MTC buses are also highly recommended over the busy holiday weekend. Visit metrotransit.org for more information.

https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/blog/guide-to-hmong-new-year/

CORRECTION: GRS Spirit Wear Black Friday Sale!

Tis the season! In just a few more days it will be Thanksgiving weekend, the unofficial kick-off to Holiday shopping!

CORRECTION: Great River School Spirit Wear Store, run through The Branding Wearhouse, is offering a seasonal promotion this year to all of our GRS Community!. This sale will run all weekend long starting Thanksgiving Day (11/23/23) through Cyber Monday (11/27/23)! The Black Friday Weekend Sale will be 20% off all orders $50 or more. The code you can use at checkout is: BFW20OFF50 and it is valid ONLY on new orders placed from 11/23/23 - 11/27/23.

Orders placed during this sale will be delivered to Great River no later than Friday, December 8th. If the order is shipping directly to your home through either UPS or USPS we cannot guarantee delivery dates provided through 3rd party carrier tracking services. We do not have control over carrier delays or untimely updates given in tracking details, which we are expecting to happen once again this year. If you would like to purchase spirit wear for someone in your family for the holiday, this is the perfect opportunity to do so! The last day to order is December 7, 2023 in order to get it by the Christmas Holiday.

Visit our GRS Spirit Wear Store today!

We Met Our Goal!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Great River School during our Fall Fund Drive!

We met our goal of 150 donations - and exceeded it by at least 25 more! (We’re still receiving checks in the mail!) With more than 80 gifts made on our Give to the Match Days, we were able to fully utilize all $10,000 pledged by our generous donors! 

Together, we raised more than $30,000. Your generosity is outstanding, and it will go a long way. Thank you for being part of the Great River community! 

CORRECTION: GRS Spirit Wear Black Friday Sale!

Tis the season! In just a few more days it will be Thanksgiving weekend, the unofficial kick-off to Holiday shopping!

CORRECTION: Great River School Spirit Wear Store, run through The Branding Wearhouse, is offering a seasonal promotion this year to all of our GRS Community!. This sale will run all weekend long starting Thanksgiving Day (11/23/23) through Cyber Monday (11/27/23)! The Black Friday Weekend Sale will be 20% off all orders $50 or more. The code you can use at checkout is: BFW20OFF50 and it is valid ONLY on new orders placed from 11/23/23 - 11/27/23.

Orders placed during this sale will be delivered to Great River no later than Friday, December 8th. If the order is shipping directly to your home through either UPS or USPS we cannot guarantee delivery dates provided through 3rd party carrier tracking services. We do not have control over carrier delays or untimely updates given in tracking details, which we are expecting to happen once again this year. If you would like to purchase spirit wear for someone in your family for the holiday, this is the perfect opportunity to do so! The last day to order is December 7, 2023 in order to get it by the Christmas Holiday.

Fall Fund Drive: Employer Match Programs

Did you donate to the Fall Fund Drive? Volunteer your time? There are employer match programs that will match the money you donated and donate money based on your volunteer hours! Make the most of your contributions: check with your employer for more information. Haven’t donated yet? It’s not too late! greatriverschool.org/give