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)

Lower Adolescent Spirit Week

LA Student Leadership presents Spirit Week!

Monday - PJ Day
Come to school in your cozy PJs and enjoy the warmth.

Tuesday- Twins Day
Find a partner (or two) and dress up the same or as close as you can.

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday
Let’s get wild! Show off your craziest style!

Thursday - Decade Day
Pick a decade and dress like you’re living in it.

Friday - Origin Day
Share your culture and where you’re from.

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!

Lower Adolescent Spirit Week

LA Student Leadership presents Spirit Week!

Monday - PJ Day
Come to school in your cozy PJs and enjoy the warmth.

Tuesday- Twins Day
Find a partner (or two) and dress up the same or as close as you can.

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday
Let’s get wild! Show off your craziest style!

Thursday - Decade Day
Pick a decade and dress like you’re living in it.

Friday - Origin Day
Share your culture and where you’re from.

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!

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!

Lower Adolescent Spirit Week

LA Student Leadership presents Spirit Week!

Monday - PJ Day
Come to school in your cozy PJs and enjoy the warmth.

Tuesday- Twins Day
Find a partner (or two) and dress up the same or as close as you can.

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday
Let’s get wild! Show off your craziest style!

Thursday - Decade Day
Pick a decade and dress like you’re living in it.

Friday - Origin Day
Share your culture and where you’re from.

Lower Adolescent Spirit Week

LA Student Leadership presents Spirit Week!

Monday - PJ Day
Come to school in your cozy PJs and enjoy the warmth.

Tuesday- Twins Day
Find a partner (or two) and dress up the same or as close as you can.

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday
Let’s get wild! Show off your craziest style!

Thursday - Decade Day
Pick a decade and dress like you’re living in it.

Friday - Origin Day
Share your culture and where you’re from.

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!

Adolescent Fall Play - 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!

Calling All Grandparents

This is the week to reach out to grandparents and extended family who might be able to support Great River School. Fall is fundraising time at Great River, and we need help from our extended community to support the unique learning opportunities and life-changing experiences that define the Great River education. This year, fundraising dollars are helping create outdoor learning and dining spaces so that kids can spend more time outside. Please share this link with family—greatriverschool.org/give.

J-Term Theater Intensive Info Night on November 16th

Check in with Tami Limberg about Theater Intensives (formerly known as J-Term) on Tuesday, November 16th from 6-7pm to hear how J-Term is changing this year and what to expect. You'll hear about the programs, the goals, student experience, and family roles. We highly encourage all caregivers to attend  or watch the video which will be sent out afterwards! 

This event will be recorded and shared with families. We hope to see you there. 

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Nov 16, 2021 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Topic: LA Theatre Intensive Info Night

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81161023542?pwd=YjBDU2U1S2tkN090MkM2K2szZ3hHdz09

Seeking Caregiver Volunteers to Support Equity Work

We are looking for caregivers/parents who identify as BIPOC, multiethinic, queer, or neurodivergent (or support a student that identifies as such) to help support Great River’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Convergence affinity group, our GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) affinity group, and possible other supportive affinity groups for shared marginalized identity. 

If you are interested, contact the Student Wellness and Equity Coordinator, Asha Erler, at aerler@greatriverschool.org with what group you’d like to support and what identities you or your student hold. We welcome allies reaching out to offer support as well! 

New School Lunch Menu for November and December

The kitchen has released a new menu for November and December, with the Heron-To-Go favorite Harissa and Chickpea stew as our featured hot lunch option. Please remember to pre-order lunches for your child for these months! Haven’t ordered using our lunch portal before? Find tutorials and helpful links on our Nutrition website.

LIST Basketball Interest 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.

Recruiting Volunteers for Relicensing Committee

To all parents and community members,

GRS needs a community member to serve on our relicensure committee.

We are looking for a community member to serve on Great River's district relicensure committee and help guide our faculty through the process of renewing their licenses. This is a great way to complete your family’s yearly volunteer hours while supporting our faculty!

Who: Adult community member

What: Volunteer to help review professional development packets for relicensure (no experience needed)

Why: To help our faculty renew their licenses

When: 2-3 meetings per school year plus time to review documents (10 hours per school year total commitment)

How: Contact Karen Anway at kanway@greatriverschool.org

Thank you for considering supporting this important work!

Mountain Biking at Carver Lake Park This Sunday

Derek Damron (Elementary Program Assistant) is inviting *all ages* to come ride mountain bikes at Carver Lake Park on Sunday, November 7th at 2pm (weather permitting).

**PLEASE NOTE: Weather looks great right now, but if it freezes overnight for several nights in a row, trails will closed, as the freeze-thaw cycle makes the trails easily destroyed. We will post on the GRS Families Facebook page if we have to cancel!**

Here is a link to the trail map - check it out if you have never been there before! We will meet at the skills area to warm up for a bit, then divide into groups for some trail riding! Plan to be there for a few hours. Bring your own snacks, water bottle, bikes, helmets, etc. We will have some tools, a floor pump, first aid, and water in case anyone needs them!

Please reach out if you have any questions about what bikes would be appropriate for this activity. If you NEED a bike in order to join us, please reach out to ddamron@greatriverschool.org and we can try to figure something out. Hope to see you there!

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!