Hello Great River School families!
Do you own your own business or know someone who might want to advertise in our spring musical playbill?
The costs is $50 for a half page 3x5and $75 for a full page5x7 and all profits support the production!
If so please email a pdf of your ad that is either 3” x 5” or 5 x 7” to Anni Amberg (aamberg@greatriverschool.org) and drop off a check at the front office for the corresponding amount.
Thank you and we hope to see you all in the audience!!!
Join us for our kickoff meeting for the 2019 Ultimate Frisbee season. Prospective and returning players (and those interested in learning about Ultimate Frisbee at Great River) and their families should plan to attend
WHEN: 03/12/2019 6:30 PM
WHERE: GRS Gymnasium
WHO: Ultimate Frisbee players (leagues are open to grades 5-12) and their parents or guardians - including prospective players and families that are interested in learning about participating. Ultimate is a fun and inclusive sport that is open to ALL skill and experience levels, and we encourage those "on the fence" or simply interested in ultimate to join the meeting!
Show up to the meeting and learn more! If players or families are unable to attend, check the website for information or contact Kate Indrelie, Ultimate Program Coordinator, at ultimate@greatriverschool.org
written by iRace planning CAS students
iRace is coming up on March 27th. iRace is in its 8th year and was first created by students of color in 2010. iRace started as a student led event and is still a student led event. iRace was created to allow students of color to be able to have a safe space to discuss institutional oppression.
Our Mission:
We, a collective of students, want to make Great River a better place. iRace is a student-led event with the goal of centering voices of the global majority.
This year the selected theme is “Raising Awareness.” The more specific focuses are on intersectionality, BIPOC student experience, and confronting racism at Great River. iRace will be happening all day (8:30am-3:10pm). Students will pick four workshops of their choice to attend for 45 minutes each. All grade levels will participate and we will be having a potluck and we’re asking families to send potluck dishes with their students.
Look for more details and announcements as we get closer to the date!
As our school nutrition program rolls out, we’re finding ourselves in need of parent volunteers to support us as we grow! We’re asking parent volunteers to commit to a weekly shift through the end of the year and are offering different scheduled shifts to work with all schedules. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the GRS community!
Current Volunteer Needs:
Elementary Meal Maestro
Help organize the elementary meal carts and deliver meals to classrooms daily. Tasks would include - sanitizing bins and bags, portioning utensils and dishware, assembling sandwich orders, loading up carts, and delivering to classrooms.
Dish Director
Help dishwashing the trays, silverware, plates, and kitchen equipment used for school lunches.
Point of Sale Powerhouse
Help get students through the lunch line. Tasks would include utilizing our POS system EZSchool to enter in student information as they receive lunch.
Waste Management Wizard
At the end of lunch periods help students, parents, faculty, staff, and visitors put waste in the appropriate receptacle and inform them about what can be recycled, composted, or what needs to be sent to the landfill. Help with other tasks in between.
End of Day Zero-Waste Wizard Spend time outside near the dumpsters for recycling, compost, and landfill near the north main entrance on Energy Park Drive. Your job is to help GRS staff supervise and divert items to appropriate waste stream containers based on whether it’s recycling, compost, or landfill.
Click here to sign up for kitchen shifts and here to volunteer to help our zero-waste initiative!
Email any questions to lunch@greatriverschool.org.
YOU'RE INVITED!
The next Parent Engagement Group (PEG) meeting is this Monday, March 11, from 6:30-8 pm. Childcare will be available!
Please join us to hear updates on school events and volunteer opportunities, along with an engaging talk by Head of School Sam O'Brien. Sam will answer questions that community members have submitted about Montessori practices and GRS policies and procedures. There's still time to submit questions--see the link below.
We'll also be joined by school nutritionist Jenny Breen for an update about the hot lunch program, and we'll have the chance to taste the delicious food coming from Chef Leah's kitchen!
Bring your questions and your appetites--along with any spare bottles of wine you'd like to donate to the Blue Heron Bash. Hope to see you there!
***
"Why can’t I walk my child into school? Why doesn’t my child bring work home? How is my child’s progress being measured by their teacher? What are the curricular goals at my child’s level?"
Montessori education takes an approach that is nontraditional in many ways and can at times feel unfamiliar (or even uncomfortable), even to seasoned Montessori parents! If you’ve found yourself asking "Is this normal?", here’s your chance to share your question and have it answered. Submit your questions about Montessori philosophy and methods, or about GRS policy and approach by filling out this form. Then, attend the upcoming PEG meeting, where head of school Sam O’Brien will speak to the questions that have been submitted.
written by event coordinators, Briar Weston & Forest Sarver
On Thursday 3.14, students will gather for our annual Pi Day Celebration. For this event students recite pi in a large group - so if your student would like to present their feat a survey is coming around from student organizers Forest and Briar in student email inboxes. During this fun event we also eat pie! Any student that is able to recite from memory 10 digits of pi will also be able to get a slice of pie! We ask that all students 6-9th grades bring pies in to share for the event and a mess kit.
Beer connoisseurs! The Blue Heron Bash is in need of three kegerators to make sure the fabulous craft beer we are pouring tastes as fantastic as it should. Might you have a kegerator, or know someone who does? You can donate the “rental" of your kegerator. Please let us know at blueheronbash@greatriverschool.org.
Everyone! We are collecting wine for the wine pull at the Blue Heron Bash on Friday morning - March 8 - in the drop off line. Remember that cold Monday last week when you dropped off your kids and saw the two crazy people standing out there collecting bottles of wine? Remember how easy it would’ve been to simply roll down a window and hand us a bottle or five of wine? Here’s another chance! We’ll be out Friday morning, March 8!
And don’t forget to get your tickets to the Bash!
Do you have a high school student interested in Spring sports? There is a parent meeting at Twin Cities Academy (690 Birmingham St.; Saint Paul, MN this evening, March 6th at 5 pm. High School sports (with TCA) include Softball, Track and Field, Girls' Badminton and Boys' Volleyball. If your student is interested, they can pick up a registration packet from Holly at the front desk.
Music, Book & Story by STEVE MARTIN
Music, Lyrics & Story by EDIE BRICKELL
Directed by ANNI AMBERG
Music Direction by CAROLINE MIESLE Choreography by DUSTIN NELSON
Thursday, March 14th, 7pm
Friday, March 15th, 7pm
Saturday, March 16th, 7pm
Friday, March 22nd, 7pm
Saturday, March 23rd, 3pm
Tickets: $10 for Students, $15 for Adults (Online Sales coming soon!)
Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steven Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past – and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tight in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.
Produced by permission of Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Inc.
Join us for our kickoff meeting for the 2019 Ultimate Frisbee season. Prospective and returning players (and those interested in learning about Ultimate Frisbee at Great River) and their families should plan to attend
WHEN: 03/12/2019 6:30 PM
WHERE: GRS Gymnasium
Ultimate Frisbee players (leagues are open to grades 5-12) and their parents or guardians - including prospective players and families that are interested in learning about participating. Ultimate is a fun and inclusive sport that is open to ALL skill and experience levels, and we encourage those "on the fence" or simply interested in ultimate to join the meeting!
Show up to the meeting and learn more! If players or families are unable to attend, check the website for information or contact Kate Indrelie, Ultimate Program Coordinator, at ultimate@greatriverschool.org
10. Have a giftcard to someplace that you won’t use? Donate it!
9. Donate tickets to a sporting event.
8. Donate a weekend at a cabin or a timeshare.
7. Donate a bottle (or more) of wine (curbside pickup at Friday morning dropoff March 8!)
6. Host a Great Gathering (we’ll help you figure it out!) Sign up here
5. Donate a frame for elementary art projects (See the signup genius link under item 2 for what we need).
4. Donate anything you can think of that you know someone else would love to bid on!
3. Give us some of your time. There are lots of fun things to do to make this happen. We’d love to use your talents. Volunteer signup is here
2. Buy your tickets and come hang out with new and old friends! Get your tickets here
1. Sign up for Great Gatherings and bid on awesome things at the Bash!
As our school nutrition program rolls out, we’re finding ourselves in need of parent volunteers to support us as we grow! We’re asking parent volunteers to commit to a weekly shift through the end of the year and are offering different scheduled shifts to work with all schedules. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the GRS community!
Current Volunteer Needs:
Elementary Meal Maestro
Help organize the elementary meal carts and deliver meals to classrooms daily. Tasks would include - sanitizing bins and bags, portioning utensils and dishware, assembling sandwich orders, loading up carts, and delivering to classrooms.
Dish Director
Help dishwashing the trays, silverware, plates, and kitchen equipment used for school lunches.
Point of Sale Powerhouse
Help get students through the lunch line. Tasks would include utilizing our POS system EZSchool to enter in student information as they receive lunch.
Waste Management Wizard
At the end of lunch periods help students, parents, faculty, staff, and visitors put waste in the appropriate receptacle and inform them about what can be recycled, composted, or what needs to be sent to the landfill. Help with other tasks in between.
End of Day Zero-Waste Wizard Spend time outside near the dumpsters for recycling, compost, and landfill near the north main entrance on Energy Park Drive. Your job is to help GRS staff supervise and divert items to appropriate waste stream containers based on whether it’s recycling, compost, or landfill.
Click here to sign up for kitchen shifts and here to volunteer to help our zero-waste initiative!
Email any questions to lunch@greatriverschool.org.
Due to weather conditions, the spring sports meeting will be held next Wednesday the 6th at 5pm at Twin Cities Academy. Email Victor at vvondracek@twincitiesacademy.org for more information.
from Victor Vondracek, Athletic Director (vvondracek@twincitiesacademy.org)
Attention spring sport athletes, there will be a parent meeting at Twin Cities Academy in the cafeteria this Friday at 4:30 for the following sports; softball, track and field, softball, girls badminton, and boys volleyball.
The Great River School Board is seeking faculty, guardians, and community members to help guide and steward the policy and vision of our school. Skills and experience that the board is looking for: raising families, working with limited resources to solve problems, building cooperation among people with different opinions, speaking multiple languages, and making decisions based on the values of peace education and justice. These experiences can be formal or informal.
We are actively recruiting members - especially those with life experience as a person of color and/or LGBTQ+ folks living in Minnesota. We recognize the importance of seeking to reflect the experiences and backgrounds of our neighborhoods and the students we serve.
Click here for more information and to apply.
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 at Great River School. All registration can be done through: www.APlusDrivingSchool.net
CLASS DATES:
March 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 & 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 (Monday-Friday) 3:30-6:30pm
LOCATION:
Great River School, Room 274
COST: Total Package: $395
Payment Option: class = $240 BTW = $165
REGISTRATION: www.APlusDrivingSchool.net
What: The biggest fundraiser - and “friendraiser” - of the year!
It’s a new year, new school, and a new old name! The Blue Heron Bash (formerly the Soirée) is a fun, adults-only evening of good conversation, games, Great Gathering sign-ups, friendly bidding competition, appetizers, and drinks.
When: Saturday, March 23, 6-10 PM
Where: Great River School Peace Hall (Gymnacafetorium)
Who: Adult (21+) friends of Great River School (You!) Fancy or casual attire are equally welcome.
Cost: $30 in advance, $40 at the door (general admission); more ticket levels & sponsorship packages available.
What is a Great Gathering?
Great Gatherings are events hosted by GRS families. The host sets the event, date, time, and location. Each event has a set number of participants–some are adults-only, some are for families, and others geared for specific age groups. Some past Gatherings have been brewery tours, theme dinners, jewelry making, game nights, and cooking classes. Hosting a Gathering is a fantastic and fun way to support GRS! You don't have to attend the Extravaganza to sign up for Great Gatherings, but it is your first chance to sign up and many sell out quickly. Click here to see previous Great Gatherings from 2018.
Great River School Board encourages all Great River families to consider attending this event hosted by the St Paul chapter of the NAACP:
Title: Community Conversation Building Safe Communities - Combating Colonized Minds
Location: Eastside Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier Street, St. Paul, MN 55106
Time: 6:30-8pm
Eventbrite Invite
Facebook Page
Black Men’s Early Childhood Project - Bringing individual and collective leadership and presence to the fiscal, social and policy discourse and decision making about the impact of early childhood education and development for African American families and the broader community.
NAACP Economic Development Committee - To Build a Movement for Economic Justice. Building a stable community economy by creating a network of knowledgeable activists in the interworking’s of America economic system, (the economic industrial complex), for the sustainability of community economic development.
Great River will be hosting camps again this summer! Our summer camps have been wildly popular in the past and we’re excited to be bringing them to our new building. Expect the first round of camps to be announced 3/8, with registration opening on 3/15.
A reminder that because of the unscheduled snow days, the GRS school calendar has changed to include a full day of school this Thursday, February 28th and a half day on Friday, March 1st.