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PEG Monthly Newsletter - September 2024

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Check out the new PEG newsletter by clicking on the image above or the following link: https://secure.smore.com/n/f2mqa

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 every month! Happy reading!

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

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PEG Monthly Newsletter - September 2024

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For ongoing PEG news and more details on opportunities to volunteer and connect with other families, check out their monthly newsletter. Happy Reading! https://secure.smore.com/n/f2mqa

Join PEG for the Back to School Picnic on Friday, September 13th, 6 - 8pm at Great River School!

 
 
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GRS all-ages Chess Club–Fall session

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GRS is partnering with the Twin Cities Chess Club once 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, September 25 - December 18  (10 sessions, only meets on school days)

Cost: $150

Space is limited. Scholarships in case of need and discounts for current Big Canoe participants are available; contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org

Registration: Sign up by filling out this form. 

Please pay the fee at this link to complete registration.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Adolescent Key Experiences and Food Donations

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Only a week (and a few days) until our Adolescent students leave on their first Key Experiences. Food Donations & Volunteer support are needed for packing and vehicle pick up. There are many items of food that we use that are difficult to order from our vendors, so we need help procuring those. We also need help from families in packing for the trip and picking up our uhaul, cargo, and minivans. You can sign up using the “Sign up Genius” links below:

7/8 Odyssey Sign-Up Genius

9 Farm Trip Sign-Up Genius

10 Itasca Sign-up Genius

11 Northstar Quest Sign-Up Genius

12 Canoe Trip Sign-Up Genius

Thank you for your support!

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Join Us! NoMythic Robotics Team!

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Do you like working with a group? Solving problems? Building things? Making things happen? Traveling with a group? Then the robotics team might be for you! NoMythic is a collaboration between Avalon and Great River School. Imagine dying your hair late at night in Duluth before an exciting competition, sharing meals together, singing around a bonfire together. Imagine solving hard problems but celebrating solutions, working hard to see smiles on faces of those you work with.

NoMythic is more than a just a family, it is a network that is truly ready to accept all types of people with enthusiasm to be on our team. Experience the Team Nights- Experience the team nights are not a commitment to the team in any way, however anyone interested in the team must attend one of these sessions. They’re perfect if you don’t know if you’d like to join the team - we’ll give you a show of everything we do.

September 5th, 10th, or 12th (first two weeks of school). 4:30-8:30 pm at GRS Idea Lab - be sure to arrange your 8:30 pickup. Dinner is included! Anybody 9th -12th grade is welcome to apply! Talk to NoMythic students at school (look for our signature purple tie dye) or email 2491nomythic@gmail.com to let us know about any dietary needs or to ask questions!

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AUDITIONS FOR GRS FALL PLAY: QUEENS!!!

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Who: Students in 7-12
What: Auditions for Queens by Kristen Doherty: "King Henry VIII is trapped in purgatory, bound to his throne by a sinister Fool and the ghostly Women in White. Here in his gilded cage, he is forced to relive the sins he committed against his queens, mistresses and people of the court, over and over again, for an eternity." When: Tuesday, September 10th, 4pm-6pm, callbacks, Wednesday, September 11th, 4pm-6pm Where: GRS performance space
Additional info: Tech Leads applications due September 5-13 (Lighting, Sound, Stage Manager, Prop Master, Costume Lead) Tech Crew applications due October 7-15 (Costuming, Run Crew/Prop Creation)
Invited dress rehearsal: Thursday, November 21, 7pm, GRS performance space
Performances: Friday/Saturday, November 22/23 7pm, Sunday matinee, November 24 2pm, GRS performance space
Questions: Please contact Lindy Erdmann, lerdmann@greatriverschoo.org and/or Bianca White bwhite@greatriverschool.org

Check out the Performing Arts at GRS page for more information on upcoming shows: https://www.greatriverschool.org/shows

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Bus Cards for Adolescent Students! Fill out an Application today!

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For adolescent students in grades 7 - 12 (or students who have an older sibling in those grades with whom they will ride Metro Transit) AND who live more than 2 miles from Great River School, the school funds Metro Transit cards to provide transportation to and from school. Any student who wishes to obtain a Go-To 10-Ride Card must fill out a new application EACH YEAR.

The application is LINKED HERE and paper copies can also be found by the front desk. Completed applications should be turned in to the front desk or emailed to office@greatriverschool.org.

A Go-To 10 Ride Card Card works like a Go-To Card. Touch the card to a reader on a bus or at a light-rail station and it automatically deducts one ride. Transfers are embedded on the card. Replacement 10-Ride Cards may be returned to the front office when they have zero or 1 remaining ride on the card to receive a replacement. Students will not receive a replacement of a 10-Ride Card without returning a used card. In the case of a lost 10-Ride Card, a student may purchase a new card for $15. Subsequent cards will continue to be at no cost as long as the student returns a used card. Unlimited Ride Cards will be considered for distribution in late October after established patterns of high frequency become established. Students who qualify will be notified by email.

Students who have completed their applications can pick up their cards at the front desk between 8:30-9:00am, during passing times or during lunch on school days.

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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*