Board Elections for the 2024-2025 school year are coming up! Thank you to everyone who applied to serve on the board! Voting will start Monday, May 6th at 8:00am. Voting will end Friday, May 10th at 11:59pm. All parents, faculty, and current board members are able to vote. Voting will be open digitally from Monday through Friday of that week! Election results will be shared the following week.
Questions? Email executive@greatriverschool.org.
Safety is the top priority in preparing and executing the bike trip. A large part of this requires all individuals to have properly operating bikes. All students MUST have their bike tuned-up by the Great River Bike Shop or another bike shop before the trip. Sign up for a tuneup at the GRS Bike Shop Here This is a long-standing policy that keeps everyone safe. If you have questions about getting your bike repaired, please e-mail Johnny Wakefield: jwakefield@greatriverschool.org
We have 5 awesome Great River School students competing on the spring Boys Volleyball team this year! Justin (12th), Soren (11th), Finnian (11th), Zack (10th), and Sam (9th). We would love for our community to come cheer us on!
Here is our match schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y77Y9z07tzZTOxUjRaSS3xFfS3Bk3Rtkg1ITtcg_uQo/edit?usp=sharing
GRS is excited to announce the Spring Music concert “GRS Celebrates the 90s” featuring songs from your favorite 90s music artists such as No Doubt, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and more! A passionate and talented group of student musicians in grades 8 - 12 have been jumping in to learn some nostalgic tunes over the past few months and are excited to share their work with you!
Amsterdam Bar and Hall on Wed May 2nd at 7:00pm.
All Ages show
Student tickets are $10 now / $15 at the door and general tickets are $15 now / $20 at the door.
This is a fundraiser for our music program to help purchase much needed equipment! Donations are welcome at the event as well. See you there!
Tickets available at the following link: https://www.amsterdambarandhall.com/Tickets
The Auction is open with Items from our Generous Donors, including:
Plus, there’s a Maker’s Market featuring handmade goods (pottery, knitting, jewelry, woodworking, baked goods, and more) from Great River family artisans!
And, a special Goats & Grounds Fund A Need, with donations going toward a new goat enclosure and an expanded elementary play space and garden area.
Last but not least, you’ll get a sneak peak at all the Great Gatherings that will be available at the Blue Heron Bash on April 20th.
GRS Community,
Earlier this month we had to reschedule the monthly BIPOC caregiver meeting. This meeting has been rescheduled and will be held virtually on Thursday, April 25th, from 5:30-6:30 and can be accessed by clicking the link below.
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ecc-bhoc-erk
Or dial: (US) +1 646-632-2630 PIN: 548 875 991#
Please contact Jordan Samejima with questions.
There will be a SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) meeting on Monday, April 29th at 6pm.
All parents / guardians of students currently receiving special education services are invited to attend and share constructive feedback.
The meeting will be in the media lab at Great River School. If you are unable to attend in person, you can attend via Zoom. Please contact Jeremy Sartain for a Zoom link at sartain.jeremy@gmail.com or 612-414-5224. If you arrive late and can't get into the building on the day of the meeting, call or text Jeremy Sartain at 612-414-5224.
A SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is an acronym for Special Education Advisory Council, which is a group that provides input on special education issues to its local school district. Its purpose is to advise and advocate, not to decide policy. Minnesota law requires each school district in the state to have a SEAC although it does not specify how the groups should be organized or what duties they should perform. As a result, each SEAC may have a unique mission and structure.
(Source www.pacer.org)
Parents give many reasons for joining a SEAC, including these:
I may be able to help other families and children with disabilities in my school district.
I can share what I’ve learned since my child began his education.
I can support the school professionals in my district.
I will be a good role model for my child.
I feel good when I make a contribution to this community.
I will learn information and skills that may help me work more effectively with my school district.
I will meet others with similar goals, both parents and school professionals.
I may build positive relationships with others in my district.
I will become more knowledgeable about special education.
By sharing my unique perspective and insights as a parent, I may help the school district work more effectively with families and improve outcomes for children.
(Source www.pacer.org)
Some background information about Jeremy Sartain:
”I am currently the Board Chair for Great River School. One reason I joined the Board is to assure special education (staff, caregivers and students) had representation. My wife, Jennie, and I are organizing SEAC meetings this year (with help from Brad and Lindsey). “
The Auction Starts Today with Items from our Generous Donors, including:
Plus, there’s a Maker’s Market featuring handmade goods (pottery, knitting, jewelry, woodworking, baked goods, and more) from Great River family artisans!
And, a special Goats & Grounds Fund A Need, with donations going toward a new goat enclosure and an expanded elementary play space and garden area.
Last but not least, you’ll get a sneak peak at all the Great Gatherings that will be available at the Blue Heron Bash on April 20th.
The Great River School Ultimate Frisbee teams are hosting a fundraiser to participate in tournaments this Spring. This event is April 24, 4-8pm at the Midway location on Hamline Ave & University in St. Paul.
When ordering in the restaurant, mention GRS. Online orders use "GIVING25" in the Coupon Code line at checkout.
Noodles & Company
470 Hamline Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104
The Great River School Ultimate Frisbee teams are hosting a fundraiser to participate in tournaments this Spring. This event is April 24, 4-8pm at the Midway location on Hamline Ave & University in St. Paul.
When ordering in the restaurant, mention GRS. Online orders use "GIVING25" in the Coupon Code line at checkout.
Noodles & Company
470 Hamline Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104
Let us help you with dinner and support the GRS PEG community! The Parent Engagement Group has partnered with Panera to help you with dinner on April 5th (Friday) to raise money for the Parent Engagement group. Win, Win, Win for everyone!
April 5th (Friday) pick up Panera Bread for dinner on your way home or meet some of your GRS friends there to eat. Use the Code FUND4U
The Great River School Ultimate Frisbee teams are hosting a fundraiser to participate in tournaments this Spring. The event originally scheduled for April 3 has been rescheduled to April 24, 4-8pm at the Midway location on Hamline Ave & University in St. Paul. When ordering in the restaurant, mention GRS.
Online orders use "GIVING25" in the Coupon Code line at checkout.
Noodles & Company, 470 Hamline Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104
The Parent Engagement Group invites you to join the monthly PEG meeting TONIGHT at 6 p.m. in the Upper Adolescent Commons (or on Zoom).
The intention is to offer an opportunity to meet other GRS community members, learn more about GRS-related topics, and plan important community-building events. This month, Kate McCreight, Great River Foundation Chair, will be the featured guest speaker. Aja Parham, GRS Communications Coordinator, will also be joining. The Blue Heron Bash is quickly approaching. There’s a lot going on at GRS!
April PEG Meeting Monday, April 1st (TONIGHT!) 6:00 p.m. in the Upper Adolescent Commons Enter Door G by the garden shed and the grow lights.
Or on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84299165563?pwd=UUhEL216dTRPc0laQld2cHprblJjUT09
Meeting ID: 842 9916 5563.
Passcode: 932164 Questions? Email peg@greatriverschool.org
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, April 3 through May 29 (8 sessions, only meets on school days)
Cost: $115
Space is limited. Scholarships in case of need and discounts for current Big Canoe participants are available; contact kanway@greatriverschool.org
Registration: Sign up by filling out this form.
Please pay the fee at this link to complete registration.
The BIPOC Caregiver meeting scheduled for tonight from 5:30-6:30 has been canceled and will be rescheduled to a later date. Please keep an eye out for additional information.
Complete the Board Application here or scan the QR Code above.
Due Date: Board applications are due by April 5th.
All Silent Auction donation forms and items should be submitted by Monday, April 1. (This is no April Fool’s joke!) Please use the following forms for your donations:
*Maker’s Market (Handmade) Items
*General Auction Items
*Great Gatherings
If you need help getting your auction donation to GRS or have questions about your Great Gathering idea, please let us know. Thank you, GRS community!
The next BIPOC Caregiver meeting will be held this Thursday, March 28th from 5:30-6:30pm via Google Meet. The link for the meeting can be accessed below. If you have questions please contact Jordan Samejima at jsamejima@greatriverschool.org
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ecc-bhoc-erk
Or dial: (US) +1 646-632-2630 PIN: 548 875 991#
