SEC Meeting Tomorrow

The Student Experience Committee (SEC) of the Great River School Board is seeking more members! We identify, monitor and evaluate key aspects of the student experience at Great River. If you are passionate about improving student life at Great River School, we highly encourage you to join. Parents, students, community residents and staff are all invited. We need your voice!

The SEC meets the second Thursday of each month from 4-5pm, CST, in person in room 255 and on Zoom. Email Alaina (aszostkowski@greatriverschool.org) for more information if you’d like to join!

This year, we are focused on 3 goals: 

1. Increase diverse community engagement in GRS programming

2. Streamline the teacher evaluation process

3. Develop a plan to collect and analyze data on student experience using an equity lens

We hope to see you at our next meeting!

Last Call for LIST Basketball Signup for Grades 6-8

LIST basketball will run from December- February this winter. We anticipate offering at least one team, and would like to determine potential numbers to see if we could offer a second team.

Practices will be at Great River Mondays and Wednesdays after school, with games on Fridays.

We will follow the GRS sports Covid protocols (linked in our safe learning plan).

Cost is $135 (league and coach fee, includes T-shirt). Scholarships are available; contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org for more details.

Sign up here to indicate your interest, and you'll be contacted about officially registering when we have the final details.

Donation Drive - Last Chance to Donate

Hi GRS Community!

Two GRS seniors are organizing a donation drive running through Wednesday, December 8th. We will be collecting non-perishables and personal care items, options will be listed below. Donation boxes will be located in the front and back entrances and under the table in the Orange Lobby. All items will be donated to Keystone Community Services.

Non-perishables include:

• Milk alternatives (soy/almond)

• Prepared/boxed meals

• Oil

• Jelly

• Rice

• Canned meat/fish

• Sugar

• Flour

• Soup

• Snack items

• Canned fruit and veggies

• Beans (canned or dry)

Personal care items include:

• Toilet paper

• Paper towels

• Dish soap

• Laundry soap

• All-purpose cleaner

• Clorox wipes

• Trash bags

• Shampoo/Conditioner

• Body wash/bar soap

• Lotion

• Deodorant

• Tampons/Tampax

• Toothbrushes/toothpaste

• Razor/Shaving cream

• Size 4, 5, & 6 diapers

• Baby wipes

• Baby food

• Formula

Email rperkl@greatriverschool.org and mhayes@greatriverschool.org with any questions!

Attendance and RoboTexts Reminder

(The below email was sent to all families on 11/8/21. Click here to read the entire message on our website.)

We are exceptionally grateful for your continued caution this year as you keep students home if they are not feeling well. One impact of this (in addition to keeping us all healthier) is that the attendance tracking workload is much heavier than it has ever been.

To manage this increased workload while still preserving the integrity of our communications around attendance, we are instituting a few changes effective Tuesday, November 9th. 

Robo-Texts
At 9am, we will be sending robo-texts to caregivers of ALL students marked absent, whether or not we’ve heard from you.  This notification will let you know if your child is not at school for attendance in the first hour. 

• If you have already reported your absence, you do not need to do anything.

• If you haven’t reported the absence at this point, send an email to attendance@greatriverschool.org to let us know the reason for the absence.

Any student with an absence that was not reported by a caregiver will be marked as “Unexcused.” 

Want to opt-out of all texts from the school? This video shows you how to manage your alert preferences.  We want to hear from you if your student is absent. The reason for the absence is important so that we can help support your student if necessary. 

(keep reading)

Alice in Wonderland Tickets - Performances Start Next Week

***Tickets for Friday and Saturday nights are sold out, but we still have tickets available for Thursday and Sunday’s shows! ***

Alice in Wonderland is the story of a young girl thrown into a world where up is down and down is... a pig? Yes, a pig!

Through song, dance, and a mysterious looking glass, we invite you to join Alice as she discovers the rules of a fantastic new world full of queens and mad hatters in this hilarious Broadway classic. Our 7-12th graders have been working hard to put on a great show for you!

Come see Alice in Wonderland on December 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th. Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7pm, with one Sunday matinee at 2pm. Thursday night is a “Pay What You Want” performance, with no one turned away. You can buy tickets now on our website! 

Recommended for ages 6 and up. This performance contains loud noises, bright lights, and some fairy tale violence. As compliant with GRS guidelines, masks are required for both audience and performers. 

Buy your tickets today!

BIPOC Caregiver Committee Meeting TOMORROW

The BIPOC Caregiver Committee is a group of caregivers who meet the first Thursday of each month to talk about ways that the school can be more inclusive for BIPOC students while also focusing on encouraging everyone in the school to explore their identity. All caregivers of BIPOC students are welcome.

Our next meeting is TOMORROW, December 2nd at 7:45pm. Want to join the BIPOC Caregiver Committee? Email Anu (adean@greatriverschool.org) or Cassie (curbano@greatriverschool.org) to get connected!

Chinook Book Fundraiser

One year digital subscription is a suggested donation of $20 or pay what you can. You can always donate a subscription to a GRS staff member!

The Chinook Book app helps you discover more sustainable ways to live, work, and play through inspiring stories, savings, rewards, and prizes. With mobile offers that can be redeemed online or in-store, plus monthly giveaways of gifts, groceries, and more, you’ll always find a new way to save while helping your community thrive.

Use the QR Code to fill out the google form and pay via Paypal OR fill out the google form and drop your payment at the GRS front desk

A special link with access to your subscription will be emailed to the address you provide.

Funds raised go to support the many wonderful programs that make Great River School such a wonderful place!

Alice in Wonderland Tickets - Friday and Saturday Tickets Sold Out

***Tickets for Friday and Saturday nights are sold out, but we still have tickets available for Thursday and Sunday’s shows! ***

Alice in Wonderland is the story of a young girl thrown into a world where up is down and down is... a pig? Yes, a pig!

Through song, dance, and a mysterious looking glass, we invite you to join Alice as she discovers the rules of a fantastic new world full of queens and mad hatters in this hilarious Broadway classic. Our 7-12th graders have been working hard to put on a great show for you!

Come see Alice in Wonderland on December 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th. Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7pm, with one Sunday matinee at 2pm. Thursday night is a “Pay What You Want” performance, with no one turned away. You can buy tickets now on our website! 

Recommended for ages 6 and up. This performance contains loud noises, bright lights, and some fairy tale violence. As compliant with GRS guidelines, masks are required for both audience and performers. 

Buy your tickets today!

Donation Drive

Hi GRS Community!

Two GRS seniors are organizing a donation drive running through Wednesday, December 8th. We will be collecting non-perishables and personal care items, options will be listed below. Donation boxes will be located in the front and back entrances and under the table in the Orange Lobby. All items will be donated to Keystone Community Services.

Non-perishables include:

• Milk alternatives (soy/almond)

• Prepared/boxed meals

• Oil

• Jelly

• Rice

• Canned meat/fish

• Sugar

• Flour

• Soup

• Snack items

• Canned fruit and veggies

• Beans (canned or dry)

Personal care items include:

• Toilet paper

• Paper towels

• Dish soap

• Laundry soap

• All-purpose cleaner

• Clorox wipes

• Trash bags

• Shampoo/Conditioner

• Body wash/bar soap

• Lotion

• Deodorant

• Tampons/Tampax

• Toothbrushes/toothpaste

• Razor/Shaving cream

• Size 4, 5, & 6 diapers

• Baby wipes

• Baby food

• Formula

Email rperkl@greatriverschool.org and mhayes@greatriverschool.org with any questions!

Spiritwear Black Friday Sale - Ends Tomorrow

Our spiritwear company, Branding Wearhouse, is holding a Black Friday sale on all spiritwear. Use the code “BFW15OFF21” for 15% off sitewide. Now is a great time to grab that spritwear you’ve been thinking about getting!

Check out the spiritwear site now! (always accessible through the GRS website, under the “Current Families” tab)

Spiritwear Black Friday Sale

Our spiritwear company, Branding Wearhouse, is holding a Black Friday sale on all spiritwear. Use the code “BFW15OFF21” for 15% off sitewide. Now is a great time to grab that spritwear you’ve been thinking about getting!

Check out the spiritwear site now! (always accessible through the GRS website, under the “Current Families” tab)

Alice in Wonderland Tickets On Sale Now

Alice in Wonderland is the story of a young girl thrown into a world where up is down and down is... a pig? Yes, a pig!

Through song, dance, and a mysterious looking glass, we invite you to join Alice as she discovers the rules of a fantastic new world full of queens and mad hatters in this hilarious Broadway classic. Our 7-12th graders have been working hard to put on a great show for you!

Come see Alice in Wonderland on December 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th. Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7pm, with one Sunday matinee at 2pm. Thursday night is a “Pay What You Want” performance, with no one turned away. You can buy tickets now on our website! 

Recommended for ages 6 and up. This performance contains loud noises, bright lights, and some fairy tale violence. As compliant with GRS guidelines, masks are required for both audience and performers. 

Buy your tickets today!

Fall Break November 24-26th

There will be no school or activities November 24-26th. Enjoy your fall break!

Call for Tissue Donations

It’s beginning to get cold outside - and that means we’re in need of tissue donations! Please bring tissues (all sizes, kinds, and brands welcome) to the front office. Our noses thank you!

Pandemic Advisory Team - Community Q&A TONIGHT

The Pandemic Advisory Team is inviting the wider community to attend their next meeting TONIGHT, Monday, November 22nd at 6pm. The Zoom link was emailed to all families last Wednesday. The Pandemic Advisory Team will update the community on their work and answer any questions families bring. We will share the recording with all families. 

The Pandemic Advisory Team is made up of Great River caregivers, faculty, and community members who want to be involved in the school’s COVID-19 policy decisions. Interested in joining PAT? Email dnunez@greatriverschool.org!

Box Tops for Education

Yes - we do collect Box Tops! Yes - they DO contribute to our school!

We're coming to the holiday season and there might be extra cooking happening at your house. Remember to scan your receipts so GRS can earn Boxtops for Education points.

You can follow the new-ish scanning method (see the how-to for a primer on scanning your shopping receipts) AND we still collect any box tops that you can find that you can still cut from the box. Please give those to Holly at the front desk. Any questions? Email Holly at hbell@greatriverschool.org

Attendance and RoboTexts Reminder

(The below email was sent to all families on 11/8/21. Click here to read the entire message on our website.)

We are exceptionally grateful for your continued caution this year as you keep students home if they are not feeling well. One impact of this (in addition to keeping us all healthier) is that the attendance tracking workload is much heavier than it has ever been.

To manage this increased workload while still preserving the integrity of our communications around attendance, we are instituting a few changes effective Tuesday, November 9th. 

Robo-Texts
At 9am, we will be sending robo-texts to caregivers of ALL students marked absent, whether or not we’ve heard from you.  This notification will let you know if your child is not at school for attendance in the first hour. 

• If you have already reported your absence, you do not need to do anything.

• If you haven’t reported the absence at this point, send an email to attendance@greatriverschool.org to let us know the reason for the absence.

Any student with an absence that was not reported by a caregiver will be marked as “Unexcused.” 

Want to opt-out of all texts from the school? This video shows you how to manage your alert preferences.  We want to hear from you if your student is absent. The reason for the absence is important so that we can help support your student if necessary. 

(keep reading)

Call for Tissue Donations

It’s beginning to get cold outside - and that means we’re in need of tissue donations! Please bring tissues (all sizes, kinds, and brands welcome) to the front office. Our noses thank you!

Donation Drive

Hi GRS Community!

Two GRS seniors are organizing a donation drive running from next Wednesday, November 24th to Wednesday, December 8th. We will be collecting non-perishables and personal care items, options will be listed below. Donation boxes will be located in the front and back entrances and under the table in the Orange Lobby. All items will be donated to Keystone Community Services.

Non-perishables include:

• Milk alternatives (soy/almond)

• Prepared/boxed meals

• Oil

• Jelly

• Rice

• Canned meat/fish

• Sugar

• Flour

• Soup

• Snack items

• Canned fruit and veggies

• Beans (canned or dry)

Personal care items include:

• Toilet paper

• Paper towels

• Dish soap

• Laundry soap

• All-purpose cleaner

• Clorox wipes

• Trash bags

• Shampoo/Conditioner

• Body wash/bar soap

• Lotion

• Deodorant

• Tampons/Tampax

• Toothbrushes/toothpaste

• Razor/Shaving cream

• Size 4, 5, & 6 diapers

• Baby wipes

• Baby food

• Formula

Email rperkl@greatriverschool.org and mhayes@greatriverschool.org with any questions!

Pandemic Advisory Team - Community Q&A

The Pandemic Advisory Team is inviting the wider community to attend their next meeting on Monday, November 22nd at 6pm. The Zoom link will be emailed to all families this week. The Pandemic Advisory Team will update the community on their work and answer any questions families bring. We will share the recording with all families. 

The Pandemic Advisory Team is made up of Great River caregivers, faculty, and community members who want to be involved in the school’s COVID-19 policy decisions. Interested in joining PAT? Email dnunez@greatriverschool.org!