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Montessori Matters: Support the programs that define GRS

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This school year, our fundraising goal of $250,000 will help close the gap between our state funding and the cost of supporting the unique learning opportunities that define the Great River experience. As a charter school, Great River receives less than 87% percent of the funding allocated to traditional district schools, and the amount is designed to decrease over time. Financial support from families, grants, and corporations has always been critical to fully fund our school, and our strength in fundraising will need to grow alongside our charter. 

Our goal this year is big. But we are a powerful community of almost 800 students and their families, and reaching our goal is achievable. There are several ways you can join in to support:

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GRS Spiritwear Back to School Discount!

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Did you know that you can buy GRS spirit wear from our online school store?

Check out the wide variety of options available here.  And, we’ve arranged to have a special back to school discount for all families from August 30th - September 13th!  Just enter the discount code of GRSBTS24 upon check-out for a 15% discount on anything you order.

Did you know that these two designs were made by GRS Students? Recent graduate, Elise Barros, designed the heron with the sunset background and current 5th grader, Axel Beermann, designed the constellation heron.  These designs will only be available through this spring after we complete our design contest this year.

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Adolescent Back to School Night and Elementary Open Houses!

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Adolescent
Back to School Night
Wednesday, August 28th

Come and join us for a revamped August Key Experience and Back to School Night.

Parking:  Please do not park in neighboring lots.  The school’s north lots are likely to fill up quickly, but you can park south of the school on Energy Park Lane (including in the pick-up lane).

4:30-5:30 Informational sessions & Meet your adolescent guides!
These sessions are directed at New families or Rising families, but anyone can attend! Come learn about the program and Meet your guides.

7 / 8 Parent Info Session
7 / 8 New/Rising student session
9 Parent Info Session
9 New/Rising Student Session
10-12 Parent Info Session, IB Info Session
10-12 New/Rising Student Session

5:30-6:30 Key Experience Orientations

These sessions are for ALL ADOLESCENT FAMILIES. Please attend in person. 

7 / 8 Grade Odyssey Orientation - Performance Space

9th Grade Farm Trip Orientation - Gym

10th Grade Itasca Trip Orientation  - 278

11th Grade North Star Quest Orientation - 274

12th Grade Canoe Trip Orientation - 270

A Big Reminder: Join us for Back to School Night & Key Experiences Orientation on Wednesday 8/28 from 4:30-6:30. More information on this event is below. 

Elementary Open House
Thursday, August 29th

5:30-6:15 - Lower Elementary

6:30-7:15 - Upper Elementary

Bring your student, meet with your guide, and see the classroom. For classrooms with a new guide this year, this is your first opportunity to meet them!

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Sailing Team for 6th through 12th graders

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Great River is once again putting together a sailing team, open to anyone in grades 7-12.

Minneapolis Sailing Center on Bde Maka Ska hosts area high schools and provides instruction, coaches, boats and equipment. We will carpool to the lake on T/W/Th after school for practices. Sailing is a great sport that combines brawn and brains, strength and strategy, teamwork and trust, and is truly gender inclusive. No sailing experience necessary. Registration in through Minneapolis Sailing Center. Contact Jessica McDonald jmcdonald@greatriverschool.org (GRS) or Collin Mueller collin@sailmpls.org (MSC) for more information.

https://sailmpls.org/high-school

Please let Jessica know if you are registering to get connected with the carpool.

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Sailing Team for 7th through 12th graders

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Great River is once again putting together a sailing team, open to anyone in grades 7-12.

Minneapolis Sailing Center on Bde Maka Ska hosts area high schools and provides instruction, coaches, boats and equipment. We will carpool to the lake on T/W/Th after school for practices. Sailing is a great sport that combines brawn and brains, strength and strategy, teamwork and trust, and is truly gender inclusive. No sailing experience necessary. Registration in through Minneapolis Sailing Center. Contact Jessica McDonald jmcdonald@greatriverschool.org (GRS) or Collin Mueller collin@sailmpls.org (MSC) for more information.

Please let Jessica know if you are registering to get connected with the carpool.

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Box Tops for Education! Earn Money for

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Earn Free Money for Great River School! The Boxtops4Education Program allows our school to earn cash from commonly used items your family already purchases. It is NO LONGER necessary to cut out the physical proof of purchase on participating items and send them in to school. Just download the Boxtops App and scan your receipts! The rewards will go directly to Great River!-you don't even need to track which items might qualify! You can apply in person, online and pick-up orders to our earnings! For directions on how to download the free and easy-to-use app, click on the provided link. https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/get-the-app

THANK YOU for supporting Great River School!

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LIST League soccer signup for grades 5-8

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LIST co-ed soccer will run from September-November. We anticipate offering one 5-6 team and one 7-8 team.

Practices will be at McMurray fields north of Great River Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:30 pm, with games on Wednesdays (gr 5-6 team) or Fridays (gr 7-8 team). 

Grade 5-6 coaches: Joe Brennan and Chris Bock

Grade 7-8 coach: Corey Peterson (and 2nd coach if there is interest)

Cost is $150 (jersey, league and coach fee)

Sign up here to indicate your interest, and you'll be contacted with team and payment information. Please note that space is limited and we will create a waitlist when teams are full. 

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FIRST Lego League for Grades 4 - 8

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Calling interested students and parents! GRS hopes to host 4 lego league teams this fall under the direction of head coach Pam Husak.

Teams will practice every Wednesday after school from 4-5:30, and every other Saturday culminating in the all-day tournament in December. 

There is a virtual, mandatory parent meeting scheduled for August 23 at 6 pm. The link is on the application form. 

The fee is $200 (scholarships available--contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org). The fee goes towards materials, equipment, competition fees, and GRS staff resources.

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 and parents should fill out the Lego League application form. 

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! 

Teams fill up quickly, and placement is not guaranteed. Registration is complete upon team confirmation and payment.

Contact legoleague@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

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Great Employment Opportunities at Great River School 2024 - 2025!

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Are you or someone you know interested in working with a great crew at Great River School? Great River School is hiring for multiple positions, including, non-licensure teaching positions as well as volunteer positions! Check out some current open positions below:

Spanish Guide (Adolescent)

This position delivers instruction of introductory Spanish and IB Spanish courses. The Spanish Guide at Great River School monitors student progress, supports students in understanding concepts and skills, manages student goals and assessment within the course, carries out duties related to the operation of Great River School including community meetings, collaboration with student support specialists, special education, and colleagues teaching within the same level and department.

Science Guide (Adolescent)

This position will teach science to adolescent students. A successful hire for this position would be experienced in the teaching of Chemistry and/or Physics.

To apply, go to greatriverschool.org/employment to see the current job openings.

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Get Ready for Fall Ultimate Frisbee 2024-2025!!!

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Fall Ultimate for 5th-8th grade will be a U14 league.  Players are encouraged to play on the GRS Mixed teams (coached by GRS) but do have the option to play on a boys only or girls only teams.  If you don't want to play on the GRS Mixed team, you don't have to fill out the following form. Practices for our GRS mixed teams will be once a week on Mondays or Wednesdays from 4:15-5:30 at McMurray field.  The first official practice will be Wednesday, September 4th at McMurray Field 4:15-5:30.  Games will be on Saturdays at Lake Nokomis Park at 12:00 and 1:15.  Games are from September 7 to October 12. 

Please fill out This GRS Form in order to register.

After you register with GRS, you will be sent info on how to pay the $20 GRS Coaching fee.  You will also need to register with MNU ($60) here: Middle School Link

Tell your friends and spread the word on Social Media if you like!

Please post on Adolescent Blog only:

Fall league will have a variety of GRS coaches present at practice and games. If we get enough players, we will have two teams, but for now, please register with MN Ultimate on our Fall U20 mixed team. Practices will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-6:00 at McMurray field.  The first official practice will be Tuesday, September 5th at McMurray Field 4:15-6:00.  Games will be on Saturdays at Nokomis Softball fields at 9:00, 10:45, or 12:30.  Games are from September 7 to November 2.  After you register, you will be sent info on how to pay the $75.00 fee.

Please fill out this form to get started.  You'll also need to register with MN Ultimate (info in the form).  When you do, choose the Great River School HS U20 Fall Mixed Team.

Feel free to share with friends and/or on Social Media.

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Fall Sports Registration is open!!!

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Registrations for all the following Tiger Fall athletics are due by Friday, August 5th:
Coed Cross Country (Grades 7 – 12)
Girls Volleyball (Grades 7 – 12)
Boys’ Soccer Co-op w/MSA (Grades 7 – 12)
Girls’ Soccer Co-op w/MSA (Grades 7 – 12)
Football Co-op TBD TCA/GRS

Fill out your registration today! https://twincitiesacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/24-25-Fall-Sports-Registration-COMBINED-Packet.pdf

Registrations will not be accepted after the first week of practice. Forms and payment must be turned in to the school office and NOT to the Coach. Registrations submitted after August 5th are not guaranteed an opportunity to tryout/join the team. Activity fees are due no later than Monday, August 5th (or first day of practice). All students participating in our Athletic offerings are required to have a sports physical every three years and it must be on file in the main office.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Tigers First Sport $185; Second Sport/Second Sibling: $165; Third Sport/Sibling: $145. Fee reduced by 50% for Free/ Reduced Lunch Status.

*Registration due by Monday, August 5th.
Send completed forms to tiger.hs.athletics@twincitiesacademy.org*

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Math Corps Tutors Needed for the 2024-2025 School Year

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Help GRS students solve problems - become a math tutor! We are looking for a Math Corps tutor for Elementary students for the 2024-25 school year. Tutors work with 1-3 students at a time to help them build essential math skills. An excellent math curriculum is provided, and you don't need any teaching experience. Refer to this flyer or send an email to nanderson@greatriverschool.org before the end of the school year.

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Summer Camps: New Lego Robotics Camp Just Added!

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Due to popular demand, we have just added another Lego Robotics camp to our summer selections.  This camp is for 5th-8th graders and is July 29-August 1.  Campers will learn a lot about coding, creative thinking and get a chance to build working Lego Robots to accomplish a variety of challenges.  Sign up before June 12 and get the Early Bird Price!  Direct Registration Link

For schedules and registration, go to https://great-river-school.jumbula.com/home or email Brent Cummins at bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

As always, 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.