Elementary

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Fall Fund Drive: Key Experiences

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Key Experiences are a hallmark of the Great River education—and they are provided free of charge for all students. An important student bonding and learning experience during the school year, students embark on trips where they learn to work together as a community, develop trust in each other, try new experiences, and gain independence. As many of you heard at the start of the school year, the trips are a big expense for the school. Depending on the trip, it costs between $300-$400 per student. This cost includes transportation, food, community camping gear, campground fees, and experiences like museum admissions. Donations from families help provide these unique learning opportunities and life-changing experiences that define the Great River education. No amount is too big or too small—give at a level that is comfortable for your family. greatriverschool.org/give

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PEG Bi-Monthly Newsletter, Oct. - Nov. 2023

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Did you know PEG has a parent volunteer-composed Bi-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 if more events are added throughout November and come out again in December! 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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GRS 2nd Annual Logo Contest!!

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Who: Any current GRS student 

What: Design a fresh logo for Great River School that reflects community themes such as the heron, our animals, our neighborhood, or our experiences

Why: To use on limited-edition spiritwear to raise funds for Great River

How: To enter, please submit your entry to Karen Anway (kanway@greatriverschool.org) by December 8, 2023 in one of the following formats:

  • A vector, EPS, or high-resolution picture format; Procreate app is one recommended option for online drawing

OR

  • A freehand drawing on plain white cardstock with marker or acrylic paint colors or dark colored pencil with clearly defined lines

Winner will receive a free T-shirt featuring YOUR LOGO!

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2023 Fall Fund Drive!

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The 2023 Fall Fund Drive is on now! Help us reach our goal of 150 donations from November 2-17. Great River is a unique school—a tuition-free public Montessori institution, open to all students, and community-supported! However, as a charter school, Great River receives 87 cents to every dollar received by district public schools. It is up to all of us to make up that difference so we can continue to provide the education that makes Great River such a special place. All Fall Fund Drive gifts support the GRS general operating budget. Your contribution helps provide the unique learning opportunities and life-changing experiences that define the Great River education, from Montessori educational materials and athletic equipment, to food for classroom pets and camping gear. Your gift also supports the everyday needs to run a successful school: buses, utilities, our nutrition program, and paying faculty a fair wage. If you are able, now is a great time to give: greatriverschool.org/give

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LIST League sign-up and Coach needed!

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LIST League basketball coach wanted

Are you interested in coaching basketball for grades 5-6?. The season is mid-November to mid-February. The team will practice after school one day per week from 4-5:30 pm (Mondays or Tuesdays) and have games on Wednesdays at 4:30 or 5:30.. We are able to offer a stipend for coaching duties. Please reach out tokanway@greatriverschool.orgfor more information about this opportunity.

LIST League basketball signup for grades 5-8

LIST co-ed basketball will run from mid-November through mid-February. We anticipate offering one 5-6 team and one 7-8 team. 

We need a coach for the 5-6 team, so please reach out to kanway@greatriverschool.org for more information.

5-6 team: Practices Mondays or Tuesdays (TBD) and games on Wednesdays.

7-8 team: Practices Wednesdays and Thursdays and games on Fridays.

Coaches: Brent Cummins (7-8 team) and TBD (5-6 team)

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. 

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Help us build a shed!

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*Shed pictured is not the shed being built*

We are getting a bigger and better shed to replace our broken plastic one by the garden. Brent and Todd could use 1-3 skilled volunteers to help build this wooden shed during the week of November 6. The plan is to start this on Tuesday, November 7. Any number of hours between 10:00am and 3:00pm from November 7-9 would be very helpful. Please email Brent Cummins at bcummins@greatriverschool.org if you are able to help and list your availability.

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BIPOC Caregiver Meetings 2023 - 2024

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BIPOC Caregiver committee meetings will be returning this month with some minor changes for the year. Meetings will be held in person on the final Thursday of each month. Our first meeting will be held on Thursday October 26th at 4:30pm.

As a reminder this meeting is for any caregiver that has a student of color attending Great River. Future meeting dates can be found on the GRS calendar. If you have questions please contact Jordan Samejima at jsamejima@greatriverschool.org

Mandate/Objective of the group: This group provides an opportunity for caregivers with students of color attending GRS to come and build community by voicing suggestions, support, care, and concern. This group is a working group of the board which means that the caregivers' voices are being heard from a board member who monthly will bring their suggestions, concerns, and comments to the board. 

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VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS NEEDED: Harvest Fest, Sat., October 14th; 2 - 5pm

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Who's excited to be at Harvest Fest on Saturday? It's a time of community gathering, work and celebration and truly a magical day at GRS! We have a lot of support so far, AND we could use a lot of volunteers still. If you aren't able to be there Saturday but want to contribute in advance, let us know----lots of advance prep and shopping can be done! For more information, please contact PEG at peg@greatriverschool.org or click here to view the remaining slots and sign up to volunteer.

We have many lead roles filled but are in need of volunteers in the following areas:

  • Caramel Apples: Assist with Caramel apples and bring gallon jugs of Ghiradelli caramel with pumps, topping and help serve.

  • Cider Press:  Helpers, apple donations and compostable cups. 

  • Harvest soup: Kitchen assisting with roasting and prepping soup Friday after school/Saturday morning and could use some kitchen assistants.

  • Donations needed of lots of root veggies, bouillon and some helper for roasting and preparing soup!

  • Gear Swap: Donations and a few helpers to hang, stage and then clean up.

  • Bounce House: Assist with the kids in line and also pre-fest campus clean up. He's going to need some extra hands with the bounce line as well as helpers with wood chips and campus projects 

  • Face Painters and help with temporary tattoos 

Donations being accepted:
- We will also have some farm stand and bake sale goods for sale----if you would like to share any of your extra homemade jams/jellies, sauces or other fall items, we would gladly receive them (please be sure to label all ingredients)

- Clean clothing for the Gear Swap

-Root Veggies, bouillon

As you can see---it's a wild ride getting to Harvest fest and a lot of fun in the making. It takes a whole community to put on a great harvest fest and it really shows how the Great River works together to do all the things.

PEG Ambassadors and the whole GRS community are excited for this event and look forward to collaborating with you.
Thank you,
PEG

Check out the PEG happenings at GRS in their Bi-Monthly newsletter: https://www.smore.com

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External Volunteer Opportunity: St. Paul Promise and Homework help

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Saint Paul Promise is currently seeking volunteers to help provide homework help to our elementary through high school-age scholars whose families are participating in the PAC. The upcoming PAC launches on Wednesday, October 11, and runs for six weeks – meeting every Wednesday from 5:00pm to 7:30pm – through Wednesday, November 15. The PAC meets in-person at Hallie Q. Brown Community Center (270 N Kent Street) in Saint Paul.

Volunteer homework helpers can sign up for one or more Wednesday shifts by emailing Megan Jekot, Advocacy + Systems Change Program Manager, at megan.jekot@wilder.org. To learn more about Saint Paul Promise and the Promise Advocates Cohort, visit saintpaulpromiseneighborhood.com

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Harvest Fest 2023

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HARVEST FEST, GEAR SWAP, AND MUCH MORE!

Join the GRS community for Harvest Fest 2023 on October 14th, from 2:00pm-5:00pm!

Harvest fest is our annual community celebration of Autumn. We'll create stone soup over a fire, sell micro-economy goods from Key Experience trips, and welcome in the change of the season. Enjoy games, food, caramel apples, face painting, a gear swap, and much more!

Volunteer your time or donations to make Harvest Fest happen! Sign up here!

SAVE YOUR GEAR FOR THE GEAR SWAP!

Bring your used gear (jackets, snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, camping gear, etc) that you no longer need to Harvest Fest at 2:00pm or to the school on Friday, October 13th (at dismissal, a sign will show you where you can drop used gear). Then come to Harvest Fest to browse the racks and grab some new-to-you gear for this 2023-2024 season! All clothing sizes are accepted, including toddler sizes.

Nothing to donate this year? No problem; come see what you could use! We always have extra and lots of leftover gear!

*Leftover gear will be donated to schools/families in need*

Questions? Email Ashley Beermann, ashleyabeermann@gmail.com

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GRS all-ages Chess Club

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GRS is partnering with the Twin Cities Chess Club again this fall 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 27-December 13 (9 sessions, only meets on school days)

Cost: $125

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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REMINDER: First Lego League (4th - 8th grades)

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FIRST Lego League for grades 4-8:

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. The first meeting will be Wednesday September 6. 

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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First Lego League (4th - 8th grades) , and Soccer (5th - 8th grades) Sign ups!

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FIRST Lego League for grades 4-8:

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. The first meeting will be Wednesday September 6. 

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.


LIST League soccer signup for grades 5-8

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). 

Coaches: Corey Pederson and Ricardo McCurley

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.