Top Ten Things You Can Do to Help with the Blue Heron Bash
10. Have a gift card to someplace that you won’t use? Donate it here 2022 BHB Donation Form
9. Donate tickets to a sporting event, concert or show
8. Donate a weekend at a cabin or a timeshare.
7. Donate a bottle (or more) of wine (drop off at front desk or watch for curbside drop off dates)
6. Host a Great Gathering! More info here: 2022 Great Gatherings
5. Own or frequent a business you want to share with the community? Donate!
4. Donate something you made. We love to highlight GRS makers! 2022 Makers Market Donation
3. Give us an hour 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: https://www.signupgenius.com/BHB
2. Buy your tickets and come hang out with new and old friends! Get your tickets here:
https://bit.ly/GRSBHBTickets22
1. Attend the Bash & sign up for Great Gatherings and bid on awesome things!
Urban Farm Fresh Eggs Available
Our chickens are laying! Bring some urban farm-fresh eggs home today by stopping by the black mini-fridge in the main orange lobby.
Students have packaged eggs in four packs for $2. Each four pack is unique and beautiful - just like our sweet chickens. 🐔
BIPOC Caregiver Committee Meeting Tonight
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 tonight Thursday, March 31st at 7:45pm. Want to join the BIPOC Caregiver Committee? Email Anu (adean@greatriverschool.org) to get connected!
*we adjusted April’s meeting to accommodate Spring Break!
Great River School is Hiring a Classroom Assistant
To see the full job description, click here. This is an immediate opening.
For more information and to apply, check out www.greatriverschool.org/employment
Archery for All Grades Starting April 12th
Archery for ALL GRS students grades 1-12 will begin on Tuesday, April 12th for the next 8 Tuesdays ending May 31st.
New this year is an option for Lower Elementary! This group will shoot from 3:15-4pm. Upper Elementary shoots from 4:15 to 5pm. Adolescent shoots from 5:15-6:15pm. All sessions will be in the gym at GRS. Space will be limited, so sign up quickly.
We could use some extra helpers with the Lower Elementary group to assist with full safety and fun (so non-archery-specific positions). If you can lend a hand, contact Jeremy Sartain at sartain.jeremy@gmail.com.
Tuition is just $100 and includes a t-shirt. Scholarships are available.
Seeking Crosswalk Volunteers
Looking to avoid the long pickup line? Remember that caregivers can pick up or drop off on the other side of Pierce Butler and have students utilize the pedestrian bridge to walk a short distance to school. Note - students should be dropped at Pierce Butler & Hamline and cross using the pedestrian crosswalk.
In order to best serve students at this crosswalk, parents have organized a parent/caregiver crossing volunteer group to help kids safely cross Pierce Butler. Get some volunteer hours in when you serve as a crossing guard at the Pierce Butler and Hamline Ave. intersection before or after school!
Sign up here - each month has a different tab on the upper left side.
We want to remind caregivers and students that car pick-up and drop-off should happen only on the south side of the school, off Energy Lane. Click here for a previous announcement about pick-up and drop-off.
The Blue Heron Bash Needs Your Donations
The 2022 Blue Heron Bash needs your donations! There are many ways to participate so get creative. The auction will be April 25-30.
Donate in one or more of the following categories: 2022 BHB Donation Form
LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS : support local restaurants and stores. Buy gift cards and donate them to the auction. Support the businesses and GRS at the same time. If you are a GRS family and own a business we want everyone to know it and support you.
GREAT GATHERING: share your skills by offering a great gathering on cooking, crafting, gardening, beer brewing and more! 2022 Great Gatherings
Or donate an online class (the Loft, local community education, etc.)MERCHANDISE : donate games, gift baskets, art, jewelry, unwanted gifts, unused gift cards and more! Think of things that would be appealing to members of the community.
MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS: support your favorite museums, gyms, state and national parks, online news sources, public media stations, CSA, streaming services by donating a membership or subscription.
READINGS OR PERFORMANCES: offer a poetry reading, musical performance, or donate tickets to an online event from one of your favorite music or theater venues.
SERVICES: offer to build a website, consult on a resume, create a logo, or more!
MAKERS MARKET: we want to celebrate the Montessori tradition of hand work and highlight students and families who create art, crafts, food, etc. in our 3rd annual Makers Market. More info & sign up here 2022 Makers Market Donation
For more information check us out on the GRS website!
Yearbooks For Sale
The last few school years have been strange - and we want to make sure that everyone who wants a yearbook can order one!
Need to reorder a 19/20 or 20/21 yearbook? Want to order a 21/22 yearbook to be delivered later this year? Order on our website!
Call for Artists to Feature at the Blue Heron Bash
Do you own or work at a business you would like to promote to the GRS Community? Are you an artist or maker and have goods or services to share? We would love to feature you at the Blue Heron Bash April 25-30!
Donate items to the online auction:
https://bit.ly/grsonlineauctionDonate handmade items to our Makers Market:
https://bit.ly/grsmakersmarketHost a Great Gathering:
https://bit.ly/grsgreatgatherings
These are just a few of the Great River Community businesses & makers at this year’s Bash so far!Tia Keobounpheng - silvercocoon - http://www.Silvercocoon.com
John Stumme - http://www.John-Stumme.com
Mike Carina - http://www.Mikecarina.com
Great River School is Hiring a Classroom Assistant
To see the full job description, click here. This is an immediate opening.
For more information and to apply, check out www.greatriverschool.org/employment
Student Seeking Air Brush Donation
An adolescent student is seeking an airbrush to complete an art mural project and is asking the community for help. Do you have an airbrush you could lend or give to the school?
Contact Randi McClure (rmcclure@greatriverschool.org) if so!
Pickup and Dropoff Reminders
We have continued to see caregivers picking up and dropping off students directly on Energy Park Drive - this is very dangerous for moving traffic and blocks the bike lane.
We are also continuing to hear from our neighboring businesses that caregivers are using their parking lots as pickup and dropoff locations. Please help us to be good neighbors by not trespassing on neighboring businesses’ property. This includes the hotel across Energy Park, as well as the parking lots on either side of Great River’s campus.
We want to remind caregivers and students that car pick-up and drop-off should happen only on the south side of the school, off Energy Lane.
Looking to avoid the long pickup line? Remember that caregivers can pick up or drop off on the other side of Pierce Butler and have students utilize the pedestrian bridge to walk a short distance to school.
Spring Conference Sign Up - No School Thursday or Friday
Conferences this fall will be held on Thursday, March 24th and Friday, March 25th. There will be no school these days.
This spring, we will offer a hybrid model of conferences for those families with an increased need for COVID-19 protection. If you are vaccinated, comfortable and able, we request your presence for an in-person conference (everyone must wear a mask and be COVID-symptom-free). Should you need a virtual conference over Zoom, you will have that option. We ask that all unvaccinated caregivers sign up for a virtual conference.
Students in grades 4-12 are with the student, caregivers, & the student's advisor or classroom guide.
Students in grades 1-3 are with caregivers and the guide only.
If you require an interpreter for conferences, please email office@greatriverschool.org with the language required so we can set that up.
Sign up Here with your student's advisor (adolescent) or classroom guide (elementary). Unsure who their advisor is? Ask them! Or you can email office@greatriverschool.org and we can look it up for you.
Multiple Households/Families - if your child splits time between two households and both caregivers want/need to attend the conference, please schedule it together. If this is not possible, exceptions can be made by emailing the Program Director of your level.
If you have specific concerns that you want to discuss with a guide who is not your student's advisor, please contact them directly to discuss via phone or email, or set up a meeting before or after conference days. All guides will be able to talk with you about students' overall academic standing. Guides will be booked all day on both days in conferences with their own advisees.
More than one child at GRS? Sign up early to maximize your chances of getting back-to-back appointments!
Want to help support our faculty potluck? Our faculty work long days during conferences and families traditionally support them with meals. Click here to donate time or food for the potluck!
Remember, you can always find all volunteer opportunities linked on PEG’s website! Thank you for your help!
Archery for All Grades Starting April 12th
Archery for ALL GRS students grades 1-12 will begin on Tuesday, April 12th for the next 8 Tuesdays ending May 31st.
New this year is an option for Lower Elementary! This group will shoot from 3:15-4pm. Upper Elementary shoots from 4:15 to 5pm. Adolescent shoots from 5:15-6:15pm. All sessions will be in the gym at GRS. Space will be limited, so sign up quickly.
We could use some extra helpers with the Lower Elementary group to assist with full safety and fun (so non-archery-specific positions). If you can lend a hand, contact Jeremy Sartain at sartain.jeremy@gmail.com.
Tuition is just $100 and includes a t-shirt. Scholarships are available.
Curbside Wine Donations for the Blue Heron Bash NEXT WEEK
Blue Heron Bash organizers are seeking donations of wine bottles for the wine pull! Please consider donating one or more bottles of wine in the $20 range for the fundraiser!
You may drop off the wine donations with Holly at the front desk, or when you drop off your student on Monday, March 21 as we’ll have volunteers collecting wine bottles. If you have a large donation, text or call Jennie Hardman (218-213-7476) and she can come pick up from you!
To see more information about the Blue Heron Bash, check out the website!
Spring Conference Sign Up
Conferences this fall will be held on Thursday, March 24th and Friday, March 25th. There will be no school these days. This spring, we will offer a hybrid model of conferences for those families with an increased need for COVID-19 protection. If you are vaccinated, comfortable and able, we request your presence for an in-person conference (everyone must wear a mask and be COVID-symptom-free). Should you need a virtual conference over Zoom, you will have that option. We ask that all unvaccinated caregivers sign up for a virtual conference.
Students in grades 4-12 are with the student, caregivers, & the student's advisor or classroom guide.
Students in grades 1-3 are with caregivers and the guide only.
If you require an interpreter for conferences, please email office@greatriverschool.org with the language required so we can set that up.
Sign up Here with your student's advisor (adolescent) or classroom guide (elementary). Unsure who their advisor is? Ask them! Or you can email office@greatriverschool.org and we can look it up for you.
Multiple Households/Families - if your child splits time between two households and both caregivers want/need to attend the conference, please schedule it together. If this is not possible, exceptions can be made by emailing the Program Director of your level.
If you have specific concerns that you want to discuss with a guide who is not your student's advisor, please contact them directly to discuss via phone or email, or set up a meeting before or after conference days. All guides will be able to talk with you about students' overall academic standing. Guides will be booked all day on both days in conferences with their own advisees.
More than one child at GRS? Sign up early to maximize your chances of getting back-to-back appointments!
Want to help support our faculty potluck? Our faculty work long days during conferences and families traditionally support them with meals. Click here to donate time or food for the potluck!
Remember, you can always find all volunteer opportunities linked on PEG’s website! Thank you for your help!
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!
Last Week of Performances for 9 to 5 - Get Your Tickets Now
9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic.
Recommended for ages 13 and up. This performance contains adult themes.
As compliant with GRS guidelines, masks are required for both audience and performers. Audience members should be vaccinated or have a negative test result within 72 hours of the performance.
Our actors will be performing unmasked and will be tested daily for COVID-19. The show’s crew will remain masked and the audience will be more than 6 feet from the stage.
The Blue Heron Bash Needs Great Gatherings Hosts
Great Gatherings are fixed-price social events that bring people together while raising money for our school. They have been on pause for the last two years, but we're ready to bring them back, and we need to add new hosts and experiences. Please consider hosting an event as a fun way to connect with other GRS families!
Examples of Great Gatherings from the past included family events like pancakes in the park, back-yard movies, or puzzle and game nights; adult only events like wine and cheese, a hosted weekend at a cabin; and workshops -how to make kimchi, woodworking, arts and crafts, yoga. Host by yourself, or co-host with a friend or two! Really, any opportunity to get together can be a Great Gathering!
Here's the Google form to register your gathering idea -we'll be offering the gatherings for folks to sign up to attend at the Blue Heron Bash next month but you can plan your event for any time in the next 12 months.
Email greatgatherings@greatriverschool.org if you have questions.
GRS Summer Camp - Early Bird Discount Ending Friday
Our Summer Camp Early Bird pricing ends this Friday, March 18 (just before spring arrives), so be sure to sign your camper up soon to get in on the savings. We still have spots for our super fun Camp of All Camps (full day camp every week for 4th-7th graders). Our ultimate frisbee camps are starting to fill up, so act fast.
We are dedicated to making summer camp possible and affordable for all through our early-bird pricing, sibling discount, multi-program discount, and our scholarship program.
Check out all our camps at www.greatriverschool.org/summercamp.