The kitchen has released the new menu for this week, February 3 - 7. Starting this month, we will be rolling out the new menu week by week. The changes will be posted weekly here on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students! Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. note the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.
Spring High School Ultimate Registration Now Open!!
Calling all 9th-12th graders interested in playing Ultimate this spring, registration is now open! GRS Stars will have a female matching varsity team, a boys/open varsity team and a boys/open JV team. For info about GRS ultimate and registration guidelines, please visit our Stars Website: https://sites.google.com/view/grsultimate/high-school-registration. As explained on the website, in order to complete your registration, you’ll have to fill out the GRS Form, pay the GRS fee, register with MN Ultimate and order new uniforms. The deadline is February 17 so we can get our new uniforms before our first game. Contact Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) with any questions.
If you want to try ultimate before you commit to the team, please join us at the Conway Community Center Dome for practice from 7:00-8:30 AM on most Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Fridays. Our dome practice schedule is also on the Stars Website. See you on the field!
Donation Forms are open for the 2025 Blue Heron Bash, April 26, 6 - 10pm.
The Blue Heron Bash (BHB) is Great River School’s biggest fundraising event of the year! It features a weeklong online auction and an in-person, adults-only (21+) evening of great conversation, live music, friendly bidding competition, activities, appetizers, and drinks.
Donate items for our online auction or a bottle of wine for the Wine Pull, Craft an item for the Maker’s Market, Host a Great Gathering, or Contribute to an elementary classroom themed raffle basket. The 2025 BHB supports the general operating budget at Great River School and will also feature a special Fund A Need: Goats and Grounds. Donations to this fund will support a new goat enclosure as well as an expanded elementary play space and garden area. Check out our website for more information https://www.greatriverschool.org/blueheronbash
We look forward to seeing you there!
https://forms.gle/Crwz9fMfEp9ttDq26 (Donate link)
https://forms.gle/yXm4yjBLTDCGpsez8 (Maker Link)
https://forms.gle/LVJsgT2KNff2rRf66 (Great gathering link)
Save the date! The 2025 Blue Heron Bash!
The 2025 Blue Heron Bash is just three months away: April 26, from 6pm to 10pm.
For those new to Great River, the Blue Heron Bash (BHB) is our school’s biggest fundraising event of the year. It features a weeklong online auction and an in-person, adults-only (21+) evening of great conversation, live music, friendly bidding competition, activities, appetizers, and drinks.
GRS families can help make the BHB a success in many ways, including donating auction items, volunteering, and hosting a Great Gathering. Check out our website for more information about how you can get involved in the coming weeks! https://www.greatriverschool.org/blueheronbash
Menu for January 29 - 31st (Changes due to Teacher Professional Development)
Due to No school for students and Teacher Professional Development on Mon., Jan. 27th and Tue., Jan. 28th there will be a modified menu during that week. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly for next week.
Starting in February, we will be rolling out the new menu day by day. The changes will be posted weekly on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students!
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new menu.
We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,
Your friends in the Great River kitchen
Tickets are now on sale for the GRS Theater Production of Les Misérables!
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
March 7th, 7:00 pm
March 8th, 7:00 pm
March 9th, 2:00 pm, Pay What You Want Matinée
March 14th, 7:00 pm
March 15th, 7:00 pm
March 16th, 2:00 pm
Links:
Menu for January 29 - 31st (Changes due to Teacher Professional Development)
Due to No school for students and Teacher Professional Development on Mon., Jan. 27th and Tue., Jan. 28th there will be a modified menu during that week. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly for next week.
Starting in February, we will be rolling out the new menu day by day. The changes will be posted weekly on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students!
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new menu.
We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,
Your friends in the Great River kitchen
PEG Meeting, and Fundraiser, Tues., January 21
Our next PEG meeting is coming up the evening of January 21st. A speaker from MN Association of Charter schools is coming to help us all better understand our school and ways to advocate for GRS. There’s also a Chipotle fundraiser the same night to make dinner a snap.
GRS Summer Camp Registration is Open!
We have amazing programs and staff lined up to have a great summer with your kids! Registration is now open. Sign up today to reserve your spot and take advantage of the Early Bird Discount. The large majority of our camps are led and supported by GRS staff. Go to Our Summer Camp registration page to check out all of our camp options ranging from preschool to 12th grade. Contact Brent Cummins, bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions.
GRS Summer Camp 2025 Registration Opens Soon!
We are still working on final logistics for camp but we will be officially opening registration on January 15 (Wednesday). Here is what I have right now and most things in this chart are pretty solid Camp Names and Descriptions. I know a lot of other camps are already registering, so I hope this helps you plan your summer! We will also be offering a Friday Fun Day (9:00-4:00) add-on for families that need extra child care. If the true cost of camp would add financial stress to your family, please fill out this Pay What You Can Form. Our Early Bird Rates are good until February 18. Feel free to share with others. Here is the link to our Summer Camp Page. Please check this on the 15th for the live link to registration. In the meantime, please contact Brent Cummins with any questions: bcummins@greatriverschool.org.
SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) Monday, January 27th; 6pm
There will be a SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) meeting on Monday, January 27th at 6pm. All parents / guardians of students currently receiving special education services are invited to attend. The meeting will be in the media lab at Great River School. If you are unable to attend in person, please contact Jeremy Sartain at jsartain@greatriverschool.org or 612-414-5224 or if you prefer attend via Zoom. 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.
What is a SEAC?
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)
A Plus Drivers Ed: Take Drivers Ed!
DRIVER’S EDUCATION (Students who are 14 years of age and older) This 30-hour program will be conducted by a certified instructor from the A+ Driving School and will fulfill the state driver’s education requirement. The course will address the “how to” and “whys” of safe driving. The format of the class will be lecture and active discussion. After completion of the program, students will be able to set up and participate in behind the wheel sessions to meet the six hour state requirement. Classes will meet IN PERSON. All registration can be done through: https://aplusdrivingschool.net/register-for-class/st-paul-schools/spps-in-person/
Need to miss a few classes--NO PROBLEM. Easy Make-Up classes! We offer classes all year long with multiple time offerings each day. Take class from ANYWHERE through teleconferencing! LIVE INSTRUCTORS! FUN CLASSES! PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE!
CLASS DATES and REGISTRATION: https://aplusdrivingschool.net/register-for-class/st-paul-schools/spps-in-person/
Great River School
1326 Energy Park Dr, St Paul, MN 55108
Open to ANYONE in the area!
Class Dates: Feb. 2025 10,11,12,13, 18,19, 24,25,26,27
Class Time: 4-7pm
MORE SPRING DATES COMING SOON!
Great River Robotics Teams Rock! Check them out!
Hello!
Great River has awesome Robotics teams! From FIRST Lego League (FLL) in Upper Elementary to FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in the Adolescent program, our robotics program is a great way for students to learn skills in collaboration, engineering, and problem-solving. All of these teams competed a few weeks ago and won great awards! Check out more about the amazing things the Robotics teams are up to by clicking HERE.
Support the Lego League teams! Bucket Cats!
One of our First Lego League teams (the Bucket Cats) is headed to the next level of competition, sectionals, on January 12th. These 5th-7th grade students worked hard to teach the world how human behavior affects coral reefs by creating a prototype for an educational video game, Coral Connections.
The Bucket Cats need our help and support to succeed at sectionals! Play their game and fill out the survey at https://bucketcats.com/
Alumni Panel! Come Join us January 8th!
Calling all GRS Alums: You are invited! We are hoping to have you back (virtually) on the morning of Wednesday, January 8th 9:05-9:45 for a short Alumni panel at UA Community Meeting (Zoom Webinar). Please RSVP via email to Lindsey Weaver (lweaver@greatriverschool.org). Bring other alums, too!
Rainbow Goat Merch returns! Logo Contest!
To usher in our 3rd annual logo contest, we have brought back the popular rainbow goat logo from our first contest. For a limited time in our spiritwear store on the GRS website, you can order your goat themed merchandise while supporting the school.
And all students are invited to enter the GRS logo contest! See the flyer for details.
Winter Break
SAVE THE DATE for Summer Camp Registration!
Great River Summer Camp Registration is set to open on January 15. We'll have Half Day and Full Day camps for PreK/K, 1st-3rd, 4th-7th, 7th-10th, and 9th-12th. Our variety of camps will include ultimate frisbee, Lego robotics, art, crafts, sailing, sports, music, theater and more!
Keep your eyes on our camp web page (https://www.greatriverschool.org/summercamp) and take advantage of our Early Bird Discounts. Reach out to Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) with any questions.
Parent Engagement Group (PEG) Meeting Monday, December 16
Join us for our monthly meeting on Monday, December 16 at 6pm in person at GRS in the UA Commons (use south garden door G) or via zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3976588186
Meeting ID: 861 0098 9386
Passcode: 782021
This is a great way to connect with other caregivers & learn about the school.
Stop by today! Lost and Found items to be donated after December 20th
Any and all items that remain in the Lost and Found after 4pm on Friday, December 20th, will be donated to charity! Please stop by either Lost and Found locations within the building to claim your student's possible lost items.
Lost and Found locations are as follows:
Inside the foyer by the Cafe and inside the Elementary wing by the copy machine.
