Parent Engagement Group Meeting TONIGHT at 6:30pm! Special Guest, David Núñez

The Parent Engagement Group cordially invites you to an evening of updates and planning TONIGHT! At 6:30 p.m., Head of School David Núñez will give an update about the new strategic plan and the new expansion/replication committee.

From the January newsletter: “We are proud to announce the successful final draft of our new strategic plan, a collaborative effort that reflects our entire community’s commitment and passion. This comprehensive plan outlines our goals, objectives, and initiatives for the coming five years….The Great River School Board has started exploring opportunities for growth. The school board is now actively considering the expansion of Great River School to a second site. This exciting possibility aligns with our dedication to providing quality education to a broader community. However, we are only at the very beginning of the process of exploration and nothing has yet been decided.”

Come to hear more about this potentially big news. The monthly PEG planning meeting will follow David’s presentation. We will discuss spring conference food for staff, the Blue Heron Bash, Earth Day, and more! Come for as little or as much as you are able.

Join us in person in the Upper Adolescent Commons on the 2nd Floor, or on the Zoom linked below: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84299165563?pwd=UUhEL216dTRPc0laQld2cHprblJjUT09
Meeting ID: 842 9916 5563
Passcode: 932164
Questions? Email peg@greatriverschool.org
Hope to see you!

Happy Lunar New Year, February 10th, 2024! Year of the Dragon!

Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population.

Don’t forget to wish those who observe Happy New Year next week on February 10, 2024!

The Parent Engagement Group (PEG) Meeting; February 5th, 6:30pm

The Parent Engagement Group cordially invites you to an evening of updates and planning on Monday, February 5th. At 6:30 p.m., where Head of School David Núñez will give an update about the new strategic plan and the new expansion/replication committee.

From the January newsletter: “We are proud to announce the successful final draft of our new strategic plan, a collaborative effort that reflects our entire community’s commitment and passion. This comprehensive plan outlines our goals, objectives, and initiatives for the coming five years….The Great River School Board has started exploring opportunities for growth. The school board is now actively considering the expansion of Great River School to a second site. This exciting possibility aligns with our dedication to providing quality education to a broader community. However, we are only at the very beginning of the process of exploration and nothing has yet been decided.”

Come to hear more about this potentially big news. The monthly PEG planning meeting will follow David’s presentation. We will discuss spring conference food for staff, the Blue Heron Bash, Earth Day, and more! Come for as little or as much as you are able.

Join us in person in the Upper Adolescent Commons, or on Zoom: Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84299165563?pwd=UUhEL216dTRPc0laQld2cHprblJjUT09
Meeting ID: 842 9916 5563
Passcode: 932164 Questions?
Email: peg@greatriverschool.org
Hope to see you!

GRS Summer Camp Registration is open!

Our camps are a fun way for your camper to spend a week exploring, building, learning, moving, creating, and having a blast. At GRS, we treat each other and our environment with respect, and we are focused on being safe while having fun. Our programs are run by full-time GRS staff and we are open to all people from everywhere. 

GRS Camps run Monday-Thursday. Half-day camp hours are 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm. You can combine a morning session with an afternoon session and join us for lunch if you'd like! Full-day camps run from 9pm-4pm. You can come for a week of morning sessions or be with us all summer! 

Below are the dates for 2024.  Staffing and themes are still being organized and will be ready by mid January.  Pre-camp Care (8:00-9:00) and Friday Fun Day Add-ons are available this year. 

Week 1 -June 11 -14 (Tues.-Fri.)-One Full Day Camp for 1st-3rd grade and One Full Day Camp for 4th-7th grade

Week 2 -June 17 -20-Full Week of Programs

Week 3 -June 24 -27-Full Week of Programs

Week 4 --July 8 -11-Full Week of Programs

Week 5 -July 15 -18-Full Week of Programs

Week 6 -July 22-25 -Full Week of Programs

Week 7 -July 29-August 1 -Full Week of Programs

Week 8 -August 5-8-One Full Day Camp for 1st-3rd grade and One Full Day Camp for 4th-7th grade

For more information, go to https://www.greatriverschool.org/summercamp or email Brent Cummins at bcummins@greatriverschool.org

We are dedicated to making summer camp possible and affordable for ALL through our early-bird pricing, sibling discount, multi-program discount and our Pay What You Can program.

PEG Monthly Newsletter, January 2024

Did you know PEG has a parent volunteer-composed Monthly newsletter to keep you updated on all the events, volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved in the GRS Community? Take a look! 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 February! Happy reading!

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

Boxes of Tissues Needed!

Great River School is in need of boxes of tissues! With the winter weather changes, and various illnesses that can occur, the need for tissues increases and we run out of tissues very quickly. If you would like to donate, families can bring the boxes of tissues to your student’s individual classrooms or to the front office.

Thank you for your help!

No School, Monday., January 15th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. On this holiday:

• Engage with your community and create constructive action.

• Act on Dr. King’s legacy of social justice and equity.

• Recommit by volunteering to serve others. You can clean up a public space, mentor a young person, or help those who are food insecure.

If you are looking for more volunteer opportunities, explore the link below:

https://www.handsontwincities.org/mlk-in-person-volunteer-opportunities

If you are looking for ways to celebrate MLK Day with the children in your life, click the link below for suggestions from the Minnesota Children’s Museum:

https://mcm.org/celebrating-mlk-day-with-kids/

Calling all GRS small (or large) business owners!

We would love to give you an opportunity to advertise your business and support the Lower Adolescent J-Term experience by purchasing Ad space in the J-term playbills. $25 for a half page, $50 for full page. Send all inquiries or advertisements to Alexis/Civics & Economics guide: alexis@greatriverschool.org.

REMINDER: Broomball is back!! Starting, January 9th!

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.

REMINDER: 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.

REMINDER: 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.

Winter Spirit Week! Tuesday, December 19 - Thursday, December 21

Per student request, students are now invited to participate in our staff spirit week this week through Thursday! The days are below and remember to have fun!
Winter Break is just around the corner!

No School, Friday, December 22nd, 2023

Lost and Found items: Claim by December 20th; unclaimed items to be donated

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.

LAST DAY TO DONATE: 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.

REMINDER: 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.

REMINDER: 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.

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