Coming this Spring! Great River Folk School!

The Great River Folk School is a new community education initiative open to all: parents, families, friends and connections of Great River School. 

All classes are offered at Great River School. Click the link to sign up!

Contact Karen at kanway@greatriverschool.org with any questions. Scholarships are available to assist with fees, contact kanway@greatriverschool.org for more information. To sign up for any of the classes, click on this link.

Yoga for all bodies and abilities (ages 12 and up)

Mondays, 5:30-6:30 pm, April 24-May 22 (5 sessions)

Instructor: Delany Breitbach

Move, breathe, and sweat for 60 minutes of vinyasa yoga with good tunes and great energy with Delany (Health and Wellness Workshop and Big Canoe Guide). Whether you're a long time practitioner or just getting started, Delany teaches to all bodies and abilities, and empowers her students to move in ways that feel good to them. She is a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher and took her trainings in both Vinyasa/Power Yoga and Hot 26 in 2019 through her old home studio of Muddy Feet Yoga in Iowa City before moving to the Twin Cities. Bring a water bottle, towel, and any other item you may want to use in your practice. The only expectation is that you honor where you're at on that day and spend the 60 minutes taking care of you. 

Cost: $75 (5 sessions)

Sign up here.

Archery for Adults

Wednesdays, 4:30-5:15 pm, April 26-May 24 (5 sessions)

Instructors: Hadley Musselman and Lynn Overvoorde

Why should the kids have all the fun? Come learn the point of this rapid-fire sport.  Instructors will help participants improve their technique, accuracy, and coordination. Arrow repair and care of equipment will also be demonstrated. Come learn why so many people enjoy this accessible and fun sport!

Cost: $75 (5 sessions)

Sign up here.

Plant-based eating/nutrition

Monday, May 1, 6:30-8 pm

Instructor: Lauren Robinson

Are you curious about Plant-Based Eating for yourself and/or your family? Do you want to hear inspiring reasons for eating this way? Learn from a mother and Vegan of 9+ years who feeds a family of five 100% plant based meals. You'll get an introduction into the science of the lifestyle that can revolutionize your health and well being from someone certified in Plant Based Nutrition through Cornell University. You'll take home an information packet with tools to help you begin your journey. Vegan treats will be served. 

Cost: $15

Sign up here.

Spoon Carving

Wednesday May 3, 5:30-8:30

Instructor: Lynn Overvoorde

Learn how to carve a spoon using traditional Nordic carving techniques. We cover tree anatomy, axing out a blank (roughed out spoon shape), knife holds for the hook & sloyd knife, drying, and finishing. This class is great for the beginner or the person wanting to learn Sloyd style carving. Please wear closed toed-shoes, as we are going to make some wood chips!

Cost: $65 (includes materials cost)

Sign up here.

Herbal Salve-Making 

Wednesday, May 3, 6-8 pm

Instructor: Emily Pearson Ryan (www.lowlandplantmedicine.com)

Herbal salves (aka Ointments or Balms) are used topically. They nourish skin, smell lovely and carry strong medicine. Making your own salves/ointments is a great entry point into crafting your own medicine and taking the care of your health and your family's health into your own hands!  

Participants will be given information on some of the many ways to infuse oils with plant material, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different oils, and learn a few easy plants to begin with and what they might be helpful for.  Then we'll try our hand at mixing a 1-oz salve to take home.  

Beginners, including interested children, are welcome! Experienced medicine-makers are encouraged to come and share what they know!

Cost: $40 (includes $10 materials fee)

Sign up here.

Earth Day is almost here!! Join us!

Hello All,

Please join us for 1-3 hours of work on Earth Day, April 22 from 9:00-12:00 here at school.  Kids are welcome!  We will be cleaning up outside, spreading woodchips, fixing fences, adding rocks to our "river", building borders for woodchips and more!  We have 2 truckloads of wood chips and 2 tons of rocks coming and we need your help!  Sign up HERE!  The EggRoll Queen food truck will be here at noon if you want to stay for lunch.  Thanks!

NoMythic Robotics team seeking to go to World Championship!

Hello All!
A few weeks ago, NoMythic, the high school robotics team, competed in our second competition of the year, the 10,000 Lakes Regional presented by Medtronic. We had a blast at this competition working with lots of teams from all across the state and deepening our connections with many teams within the Twin Cities. During playoffs, our alliance placed third overall, a fact we are quite proud of. Perhaps, though, an even greater highlight of the tournament was winning the prestigious FlRST Impact Award, an award that honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. We are so thankful that we got this award, especially because we then advanced to the World Championship through it. 

The World Championship is down in Houston starting April 19th. With this new competition comes a lot more work though, most of which is securing funds so that everyone on the team that wants to can go. Because of the high price tag associated with travel and lodging, NoMythic is hoping to raise $24,910 by the time we leave. Can you contribute $24.91 or $249.10 or $2,491 to help us using this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/send-team-2491-nomythic-to-world-champs-2023?

Thank you so much!
NoMythic 2491

GRS Food Program Town Hall | Wednesday, April 19; 6:00pm

This Wednesday, April 19th at 6pm we are having a town-hall style webinar meeting about our lunch program.  This is because of the new legislation around free lunch for all MN students and we want to talk about the impact it will have on our nutrition program.  On that evening we will be sharing all the information we have, answering questions, and offering caregivers a survey to collect opinions on this topic.
Here is the Zoom link to join the meeting at 6pm on Wednesday!

Family Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program - 9th and 10th Grade

Great River School 9th and 10th grade families, 

Adolescence can be marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions: challenging for teens, their families, and educators. As we work back to life after a global pandemic, it can be easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression appears to be occurring at a higher rate post pandemic, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double.

To address this issue proactively, Great River School will offer a depression screening and suicide prevention training as part of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program. Our goals in participating in this program are straightforward:

• To help our students understand depression is a treatable illness and to help them assess whether they may have symptoms consistent with depression;

• To explain suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs because of untreated depression;

• To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in a friend;

• To impress upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.

All Great River School 9th and 10th graders will participate in the SOS program on Wednesday, April 19th.

Seth Tupper, Megan Miliaresis, Adolescent School Social Workers, as well as Michelle Flannery, School Psychologist, and Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional and Wellness Coordinator will be facilitating a 30 minute-long lesson for 9th and 10th grade students during the beginning of the day on April 19th. Students will watch a short video that presents the signs and symptoms of depression and suicide, and educates teens about how to respond if a friend is at risk by telling a responsible adult about their concerns. 

Following the video and class discussion, each student will be asked to complete a short questionnaire designed as a screening tool for adolescent depression. Students who are at serious risk for depression or suicide will be contacted on the day of their screening by our mental health team, along with their parents/guardians, and offered help and referral information.

The depression screening tool that we are using concerns thoughts and feelings parents may be unaware their child is having. This tool cannot provide a diagnosis of depression, but does give an indication of whether a young person should be referred for evaluation by a mental health professional.

If you do NOT wish your child to take a written screening test for depression and participate in the SOS program, please let the team know by Tuesday April 18th  by emailing stupper@greatriverschool.org . If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate. 

NOTE: If your child opts out of the screening, they will still view the education portion of the program, but they will NOT take the survey.

Attached is an information sheet for families to review and better understand the core concepts and resources offered by SOS.

If you have any questions or concerns about this program or the enclosed screening form, please do not hesitate to contact the mental health department at mentalhealth@greatriverschool.org.

If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the national mental health crisis line at 988 or visit your nearest emergency department immediately..

Adolescent Great River School Mental Health Team

Saleha Erdmann, MSW, LICSW

Michelle Flannery, EdS, NCSP

Seth Tupper, MSW, LICSW

Megan Miliaresis, MSW LGSW

Coming this Spring! Great River Folk School!

The Great River Folk School is a new community education initiative open to all: parents, families, friends and connections of Great River School. 

All classes are offered at Great River School. Click the link to sign up!

Contact Karen at kanway@greatriverschool.org with any questions. Scholarships are available to assist with fees, contact kanway@greatriverschool.org for more information. To sign up for any of the classes, click on this link.

Yoga for all bodies and abilities (ages 12 and up)

Mondays, 5:30-6:30 pm, April 24-May 22 (5 sessions)

Instructor: Delany Breitbach

Move, breathe, and sweat for 60 minutes of vinyasa yoga with good tunes and great energy with Delany (Health and Wellness Workshop and Big Canoe Guide). Whether you're a long time practitioner or just getting started, Delany teaches to all bodies and abilities, and empowers her students to move in ways that feel good to them. She is a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher and took her trainings in both Vinyasa/Power Yoga and Hot 26 in 2019 through her old home studio of Muddy Feet Yoga in Iowa City before moving to the Twin Cities. Bring a water bottle, towel, and any other item you may want to use in your practice. The only expectation is that you honor where you're at on that day and spend the 60 minutes taking care of you. 

Cost: $75 (5 sessions)

Sign up here.

Archery for Adults

Wednesdays, 4:30-5:15 pm, April 26-May 24 (5 sessions)

Instructors: Hadley Musselman and Lynn Overvoorde

Why should the kids have all the fun? Come learn the point of this rapid-fire sport.  Instructors will help participants improve their technique, accuracy, and coordination. Arrow repair and care of equipment will also be demonstrated. Come learn why so many people enjoy this accessible and fun sport!

Cost: $75 (5 sessions)

Sign up here.

Plant-based eating/nutrition

Monday, May 1, 6:30-8 pm

Instructor: Lauren Robinson

Are you curious about Plant-Based Eating for yourself and/or your family? Do you want to hear inspiring reasons for eating this way? Learn from a mother and Vegan of 9+ years who feeds a family of five 100% plant based meals. You'll get an introduction into the science of the lifestyle that can revolutionize your health and well being from someone certified in Plant Based Nutrition through Cornell University. You'll take home an information packet with tools to help you begin your journey. Vegan treats will be served. 

Cost: $15

Sign up here.

Spoon Carving

Wednesday May 3, 5:30-8:30

Instructor: Lynn Overvoorde

Learn how to carve a spoon using traditional Nordic carving techniques. We cover tree anatomy, axing out a blank (roughed out spoon shape), knife holds for the hook & sloyd knife, drying, and finishing. This class is great for the beginner or the person wanting to learn Sloyd style carving. Please wear closed toed-shoes, as we are going to make some wood chips!

Cost: $65 (includes materials cost)

Sign up here.

Herbal Salve-Making 

Wednesday, May 3, 6-8 pm

Instructor: Emily Pearson Ryan (www.lowlandplantmedicine.com)

Herbal salves (aka Ointments or Balms) are used topically. They nourish skin, smell lovely and carry strong medicine. Making your own salves/ointments is a great entry point into crafting your own medicine and taking the care of your health and your family's health into your own hands!  

Participants will be given information on some of the many ways to infuse oils with plant material, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different oils, and learn a few easy plants to begin with and what they might be helpful for.  Then we'll try our hand at mixing a 1-oz salve to take home.  

Beginners, including interested children, are welcome! Experienced medicine-makers are encouraged to come and share what they know!

Cost: $40 (includes $10 materials fee)

Sign up here.

Bike Information Session Follow-up

Dear 7/8 Families,

On Tuesday, we had our informational session on the bike trip. If you missed it or want to review the information, Linked here and attached you will find the slideshow with information on routes, packing, and preparation. 

 2023 Bike Trip Orientation.pdf

Q&A Session with the Board: Becoming a Board Member | Wed., April 12; 3:30pm

Just a reminder that the application deadline has been extended the application deadline to Friday, April 21st and postpone the elections from April 10-14 to May 1-4. Please consider applying!

As of April 10th, we are in need of at least 2 more teacher applicants, and 3 more caregiver or community applicants.  Maintaining a staffed board is an important part of maintaining our charter.

For More Information: GRS Board Information 2023
To apply complete this link or scan the QR code to the left: GRS Board Application Form

GRS Bike Tune-ups

Bike Tuneups for the 7/8 Bike Trip

While it may not feel like it, spring has sprung and Bike Trip preparation start this week! All bicycles going on the trip need to be tuned up. The GRS bike shop offers full tuneups for $70, about half the cost at a typical bike shop. All bikers must fill out the 2023 Bike Shop Tuneup form; this will take you through the process of signing up for a GRS tuneup, or document if you will do a tuneup at a local shop. 

Great News! GRS Board application deadline has been extended to April 21st!

Due to our need for members next year, and the convergence of the Blue Heron Bash, Conferences, and Spring Break, at the same time as our planned communication and recruitment, the GRS Board voted to extend the application deadline to Friday, April 21st and postpone the elections from April 10-14 to May 1-4. Please consider applying!

As of March 29th, we are in need of at least 2 more teacher applicants, and 3 more caregiver or community applicants.  Maintaining a staffed board is an important part of maintaining our charter.

For More Information: GRS Board Information 2023
To apply complete this link or scan the QR code to the left: GRS Board Application Form

Great News! GRS Board application deadline has been extended to April 21st!

Due to our need for members next year, and the convergence of the Blue Heron Bash, Conferences, and Spring Break, at the same time as our planned communication and recruitment, the GRS Board voted to extend the application deadline to Friday, April 21st and postpone the elections from April 10-14 to May 1-4. Please consider applying!

As of March 29th, we are in need of at least 2 more teacher applicants, and 3 more caregiver or community applicants.  Maintaining a staffed board is an important part of maintaining our charter.

For More Information: GRS Board Information 2023
To apply complete this link or scan the QR code to the left: GRS Board Application Form

Ultimate is looking for more players! Is that you?

We are looking for a few more High School Ultimate players so we can have enough for a Varsity and JV team in the Open/Boys Division!  We need you to register as soon as possible so MN Ultimate can create a JV schedule for us.  Please check out our GRS Ultimate Website to view the schedule and learn how to register.  Email Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) if you have any questions. 

Thank you Spring Conference Volunteers!

We had some amazing volunteers for this years conferences! We put in 100 hours and had a great time in the kitchen getting to know each other, and preparing meals! 

Thanks to our donors who contributed $1521 already to cover expenses for snacks, beverages and food! The venmo donations made it so easy to coordinate purchasing! We still have a deficit of $421 if you still want to contribute, you can venmo @sagewellbeing, last 4 of phone number 5781. Anything additional will go toward our end of year teacher gift fundraising. 

Our next PEG Planning meeting is tuesday April 4, (yes over spring break), 6:00 - 7:30pm

Topic: Planning for the Earth Day Clean Up Event. on April 22, 9am - 12 noon. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81880261294?pwd=MUhzUit4OWF4V1RUS2gwTWJ3VmpmQT09
Meeting ID: 818 8026 1294 | Passcode: 934910

Earth Day Clean Up Event Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D49A4A62BABF94-earth1

Future Dates for GRS Parent Engagement Group (PEG) Meetings
        May 2, 2023 06:00 PM
        Jun 6, 2023 06:00 PM
        Jul 4, 2023 06:00 PM
        Aug 1, 2023 06:00 PM

For more information contact:
Mary Sage, Sage Wellbeing

sagewellbeing.org

marysage108@gmail.com

805-801-5781

Family S.O.S Prevention Program - 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grades

Dear Great River School 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade families, 

Adolescence can be marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions: challenging for teens, their families, and educators. As we work back to life after a global pandemic, it can be easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression appears to be occurring at a higher rate post pandemic, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double.

To address this issue proactively, Great River School will offer a depression screening and suicide prevention training as part of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program. Our goals in participating in this program are straightforward:

• To help our students understand depression is a treatable illness and to help them assess whether they may have symptoms consistent with depression;

• To explain suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs because of untreated depression;

• To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in a friend;

• To impress upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.

All Great River School 7th and 8th graders will participate in the SOS Suicide Prevention Program on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023.  9th and 10th graders will participate in the SOS program on Wednesday, April 19th.

Seth Tupper, Megan Miliaresis, Adolescent School Social Workers, as well as Michelle Flannery, School Psychologist, and Saleha Erdmann, Social Emotional and Wellness Coordinator will be facilitating a 30 minute-long lesson for 7th and 8th grade students during the beginning of the day on April 12th (same for 9/10th grade on 4/19). Students will watch a short video that presents the signs and symptoms of depression and suicide, and educates teens about how to respond if a friend is at risk by telling a responsible adult about their concerns. 

Following the video and class discussion, each student will be asked to complete a short questionnaire designed as a screening tool for adolescent depression. Students who are at serious risk for depression or suicide will be contacted on the day of their screening by our mental health team, along with their parents/guardians, and offered help and referral information.

The depression screening tool that we are using concerns thoughts and feelings parents may be unaware their child is having. This tool cannot provide a diagnosis of depression, but does give an indication of whether a young person should be referred for evaluation by a mental health professional.

If you do NOT wish your child to take a written screening test for depression and participate in the SOS program, please let the team know by Tuesday April 11th  by emailing stupper@greatriverschool.org . If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate. 

NOTE: If your child opts out of the screening, they will still view the education portion of the program, but they will NOT take the survey.

Attached is an information sheet for families to review and better understand the core concepts and resources offered by SOS.

If you have any questions or concerns about this program or the enclosed screening form, please do not hesitate to contact the mental health department at mentalhealth@greatriverschool.org.

If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the national mentual health crisis line at 988 or visit your nearest emergency department immediately..

Sincerely, 

Adolescent Great River School Mental Health Team

Saleha Erdmann, MSW, LICSW

Michelle Flannery, EdS, NCSP

Seth Tupper, MSW, LICSW

Megan Miliaresis, MSW LGSW

Soup for Sale! Available while supplies last!

Stock your freezer with this delicious soup made by students in the10th grade CAS in the GRS Kitchen. Frozen in 3.5 qt bags. All soup is vegan and gluten free. Try all 3 varieties! Available for a limited time while supplies last! 

http://www.bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23

Hearty Miso Soup

Three Bean Chili

Thai Sweet Potato

Soup for Sale! Available while supplies last!

Stock your freezer with this delicious soup made by students in the10th grade CAS in the GRS Kitchen. Frozen in 3.5 qt bags. All soup is vegan and gluten free. Try all 3 varieties! Available for a limited time while supplies last! 

http://www.bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23

Hearty Miso Soup

Three Bean Chili

Thai Sweet Potato

Soup for Sale! Available while supplies last!

Stock your freezer with this delicious soup made by students in the10th grade CAS in the GRS Kitchen. Frozen in 3.5 qt bags. All soup is vegan and gluten free. Try all 3 varieties! Available for a limited time while supplies last! 

http://www.bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23

Hearty Miso Soup

Three Bean Chili

Thai Sweet Potato

Fundraiser for GRS Mythic Robotics Team

American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes Youth Summit 2023

American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes Youth Summit (Saturday, April 15th, 2023)

Join us! Young women and men ages 12-18. 

Do you want to go into medicine? Do you want to be a doctor, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse?

At the American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes Youth Summit, you will:

• Meet and hear from American Indian healthcare professionals

• Engage in hands-on activities using real medical equipment

• Tour Hennepin Healthcare's downtown campus

For information or to register click here 

Thank you for attending the Blue Heron Bash!

Thank you for participating in the 2023 Blue Heron Bash! 

Donors, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who came in person and bid online—we couldn’t do it without you! 

Together we raised more than $26,000 for our school. 
Great Gathering sign ups and Fund-a-Need donations remain open:  bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23

Help is needed with post-event tasks:

Like organizing or writing thank you notes?  We need volunteers to organize auction winnings (Wednesday) & write thank you notes this week during conferences Thursday & Friday.  Please sign up if you can help.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d49a4a62babf94-under#/