Lower Adolescent

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Blue Heron Bash 2023: Auction donations wanted!

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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

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Spring Sports Registration - Sign up today! (Athletic Director Victor Vondracek)

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High School Spring Sports are now available and all electronic online!
Sports included are:
Boys volleyball
Girls softball
Boys baseball
B/G track and field
Girls badminton

Please fill out (registration link) and submit to Athletic Director Victor Vondracek at tiger.hs.athletics@twincitiesacademy.org

All registration is to be done online. There will be no hard copies of the forms.

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Spring Sports Registration - Sign up today! (Coach Lindholm)

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The Baseball deadline has passed.

We still have three more Saturday winter sessions: Feb. 18, and March 4 and 11.

Below is the registration link:

Spring Registration Link

If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, your fee is $125.

Please pay via a check payable to Twin Cities Academy.

Please let Coach Lindholm know if you have any questions. slindholm@twincitiesacademy.org

All registration is to be done online. There will be no hard copies of the forms.

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Support Great River School

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There are many ways to support to Great River: 

  • Become a monthly sustainer (sustaining donors make the biggest impact by providing a consistent and reliable source of funds)

  • Give a one-time gift

  • Check with your employer about matching gifts - some employers also give monetary gifts based on your volunteer hours

  • Collect Box Tops for Education

  • Shop using Amazon Smile (the program is active through the end of this month)

  • Volunteer - your time and talents are important contributions

All of our giving options can be found at https://www.greatriverschool.org/give. 

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Host a Great Gathering this year!

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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!

Here's the google form to register your gathering idea -we'll be offering the gatherings for folks to sign up to attend at the Blue Heron Bash, but you can plan your event for any time in the next 12 months.

https://docs.google.com/.../1jAlwTjMmfu3eNDR9izoG.../prefill

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

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Support Great River School

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“...my kids' friends are what bind them to the GRS community.  They appreciate their guides' efforts to provide them with lessons that challenge them and help them to understand the complicated and amazing world that they live in.” GRS parent, Upper Adolescent  

Your donations have a direct impact on our school community! With your support, Great River can offer unique opportunities like Key Experiences, the in-school Righty-Tighty bike shop, our urban farm, theater and music, and Montessori classroom materials. 

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

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Midsummer Night's Dream, Thurs., Feb. 9; 6:00 pm | Get your tickets today!

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Theater Intensive is back for 7th and 8th grade families! This year we will be putting on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Like last year we are splitting the students into three cohorts, each cohort consisting of about 40 students working over the course of five weeks. Students will participate in the Theater Intensive during Humanities/Occupations time (9:45-11:10) and on Wednesday afternoons.
Theater Rotation 1
January 17 - February 14, 2023
Performance Date: February 9, 2023
2pm (for GRS students) & 6pm (for families)
For more information and for tickets: https://www.greatriverschool.org/midsummernightsdream

The Play

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play with a great many themes: magic, misunderstanding, dreams, but regardless of the production, cast or vision, the theme of love is one that cannot be ignored. Additionally as one of Shakespeare’s conceptually lightest and most overtly magical works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a ball of endless possibilities when approaching it as a director. My goal as a director is to highlight love as an overarching theme across each different plot line within the story, and for each of our three productions to approach the story’s magical elements with an entirely different lens of understanding. Most importantly however, my goal as a director is to create a rehearsal space that my actors are excited to express themselves in and bring ideas of their own as well.

And…introducing Hawken Paul, Theater Director!

Originally hailing from New York City, Hawken moved to Minnesota in 2020 after graduating from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Violin Performance. Currently a Twin Cities-based teaching artist and actor, Hawken has performed with Sidekick Theatre, Off-Broadway Musical Theatre, and the Guthrie Theatre, and has taught with the Children’s Theatre Company, and the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth. Hawken is super excited to be making his directing debut with Great River School, and is looking forward to introducing this timeless story to the next generation of young actors!

Looking forward to seeing you all at the show!

Volunteers Needed!
We need your volunteer help! Here's your chance to get an inside look at the shows and all the amazing work that goes into each production. It's also a great way to fulfill your 20 volunteer hours for the school year. Parent volunteers are an essential part of a success for our students. Sign up here to help, and thanks for making GRS such a wonderful school! 

Click here to Volunteer!

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Summer Camp 2023!

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Our summer camp has full-day camp opportunities for 4th-7th, 7th-10th and even one for 9th-12th graders.  But did you know that for the younger ages, you can combine a morning camp with an afternoon camp, creating a full day of fun!  If you do this, your camper will have an outdoor, supervised lunch and recess in between the two camps.  To see what camps we have to offer, visit: GRS Camp Home Page.  To fill out the Pay What You Can form click Here.

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Boys’ Volleyball Spring Team

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Join the fastest growing sport in Minnesota!

Boys’ Volleyball Spring Team

All GRS 7th-12th graders welcome!

Season takes place late March-early June

Interested?
Sign-up here to receive more information on Open Gym times and Registration.

Questions? Email Program Director, Lindsey Weaver: lweaver@greatriverschool.org

When and where will practices and matches be held?
Days: 3-4 days per week
Locations: Twin Cities Academy and Minnehaha Academy

Will I make the team? Will it be competitive?
We anticipate all beginners and players with experience will make either JV or Varsity. Last year, both teams were very competitive in the conference and tournaments.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Midsummer Night's Dream, Thur., Feb. 9, 2023

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The four lovers, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena, living in a modern suburbia, under the reign of the Mayor, Theseus. But little do they know of the mythical creatures that live not so far away from their peaceful and love-filled town. This is a modern twist of the classic Shakespeare play, Midsummer Night's Dream, turned into a high school. Follow the GRS ⅞ Theatre Rotation with a three different renditions of a Midsummer Night's Dream, each with a new take and a different perspective. 

Volunteers Needed!
We need your volunteer help! Here's your chance to get an inside look at the shows and all the amazing work that goes into each production. It's also a great way to fulfill your 20 volunteer hours for the school year. Parent volunteers are an essential part of a success for our students. Sign up here to help, and thanks for making GRS such a wonderful school! 

Click here to Volunteer!

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Spring Sports Registration, Sign up today! (Online only)

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The Baseball deadline is February 8!

We still have five more Saturday winter sessions: Feb. 4, 11 and 18, and March 4 and 11.

Below is the registration link:

Spring Registration Link

If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, your fee is $125.

Please pay via a check payable to Twin Cities Academy.

Please let Coach Lindholm know if you have any questions. slindholm@twincitiesacademy.org

All registration is to be done online. There will be no hard copies of the forms.

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Lego League Spring Club (Open to students in 5 - 8 grades)

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Calling interested 5-8 graders and parent coaches! GRS plans to host a Lego League club this spring. The goal for this club is to learn more about Lego robot design and programming and to build skills in preparation for next fall’s competition season. 

Lego League gives students a hands-on technical challenge to solve while working as a team to study the problem and find solutions. We're looking for kids who are committed to hard work and building strong, cooperative teams. To apply, students should fill out the Lego League student application at this link.

We are also looking for parents who are able to volunteer their time to coach a team--no experience is needed, just a willingness to help guide the kids in their work! 

The club will meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-5:30. The first meeting will be Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

The fee is $150 ($75 if a student’s parent volunteers as a coach). Scholarships are available--contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org for information. The fee goes towards materials, equipment, and GRS staff resources. 

Registration is complete when the student application has been submitted and approved and fee paid.

Contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

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Wanted: Community Folk School teachers!

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Do you have a craft, sport, hobby, art or other skill that you would like to share while earning some extra income? We are planning to pilot a folk school program for adults and families in our school community. 

Classes will be offered in the evenings and weekends beginning in February or March.

Past offerings and ideas have included wood carving, yoga, family meal prep, seasonal home remedies (cooking), jewelry making, and bicycle repair. We have gym, kitchen and classroom spaces available for use. 

Please send your proposals to Karen at kanway@greatriverschool.org by February 10.

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Coaches needed for upcoming archery classes

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We’re hoping to offer archery to all grades starting in late February. Tentative plans are for archery to meet Tuesdays from 3:30-4:15 and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:15. If you are available and interested in helping out with coaching, your child is guaranteed a spot free of charge and we will provide orientation, no experience needed. You can participate as a volunteer or get paid a stipend for your time. Please contact Karen at kanway@greatriverschool.org for more information about helping coach archery classes this spring.

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Is your child interested in Chess Club at Great River School?

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We are considering a partnership with the Twin Cities Chess Club to organize a club after school for Great River students. If your student is interested in chess club at Great River, please fill out this interest form and we will contact you with more information. Thank you!

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Lego League Spring Club (Open to students in 5 - 8 grades)

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Calling interested 5-8 graders and parent coaches! GRS plans to host a Lego League club this spring. The goal for this club is to learn more about Lego robot design and programming and to build skills in preparation for next fall’s competition season. 

Lego League gives students a hands-on technical challenge to solve while working as a team to study the problem and find solutions. We're looking for kids who are committed to hard work and building strong, cooperative teams. To apply, students should fill out the Lego League student application at this link.

We are also looking for parents who are able to volunteer their time to coach a team--no experience is needed, just a willingness to help guide the kids in their work! 

The club will meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-5:30. The first meeting will be Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

The fee is $150 ($75 if a student’s parent volunteers as a coach). Scholarships are available--contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org for information. The fee goes towards materials, equipment, and GRS staff resources. 

Registration is complete when the student application has been submitted and approved and fee paid.

Contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

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Box Tops for Education

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According to the Kids in Need Foundation, teachers reported that supplies positively impacted their ability to:

1. Create a more equitable learning environment
2. Meet students' educational needs through daily activities
3. Focus on other areas of need in the classroom
4. Increase the variety and breadth of projects they could offer students

Your scans can make a difference for a school in need! Tap the profile image at the top of the Box Tops app home screen, then select "Manage Schools" to get started.