Lower Adolescent

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Support Great River School

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There are many ways to support to Great River: 

  • Become a monthly sustainer (sustaining donors make the biggest impact by providing a consistent and reliable source of funds)

  • Give a one-time gift

  • Check with your employer about matching gifts - some employers also give monetary gifts based on your volunteer hours

  • Collect Box Tops for Education

  • Shop using Amazon Smile (the program is active through the end of this month)

  • Volunteer - your time and talents are important contributions

All of our giving options can be found at https://www.greatriverschool.org/give. 

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Host a Great Gathering this year!

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Blue Heron Bash is just around the corner and you're probably looking for a fun, entertaining way to support the school and to build the GRS community! Consider hosting a Great Gathering this year!

Great Gatherings are fixed-price social events that bring people together while raising money for our school. We are looking 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, brewery tours, back yard movies, or puzzle and game nights; parent-only events like wine and cheese, themed dinners, a moms weekend at a cabin; and workshops -how to make kimchi, woodworking, 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, but you can plan your event for any time in the next 12 months.

https://docs.google.com/.../1jAlwTjMmfu3eNDR9izoG.../prefill

Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Email greatgatherings@greatriverschool.org

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Support Great River School

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“...my kids' friends are what bind them to the GRS community.  They appreciate their guides' efforts to provide them with lessons that challenge them and help them to understand the complicated and amazing world that they live in.” GRS parent, Upper Adolescent  

Your donations have a direct impact on our school community! With your support, Great River can offer unique opportunities like Key Experiences, the in-school Righty-Tighty bike shop, our urban farm, theater and music, and Montessori classroom materials. 

Visit https://www.greatriverschool.org/give to see all the ways you can give.

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Midsummer Night's Dream, Thurs., Feb. 9; 6:00 pm | Get your tickets today!

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Theater Intensive is back for 7th and 8th grade families! This year we will be putting on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Like last year we are splitting the students into three cohorts, each cohort consisting of about 40 students working over the course of five weeks. Students will participate in the Theater Intensive during Humanities/Occupations time (9:45-11:10) and on Wednesday afternoons.
Theater Rotation 1
January 17 - February 14, 2023
Performance Date: February 9, 2023
2pm (for GRS students) & 6pm (for families)
For more information and for tickets: https://www.greatriverschool.org/midsummernightsdream

The Play

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play with a great many themes: magic, misunderstanding, dreams, but regardless of the production, cast or vision, the theme of love is one that cannot be ignored. Additionally as one of Shakespeare’s conceptually lightest and most overtly magical works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a ball of endless possibilities when approaching it as a director. My goal as a director is to highlight love as an overarching theme across each different plot line within the story, and for each of our three productions to approach the story’s magical elements with an entirely different lens of understanding. Most importantly however, my goal as a director is to create a rehearsal space that my actors are excited to express themselves in and bring ideas of their own as well.

And…introducing Hawken Paul, Theater Director!

Originally hailing from New York City, Hawken moved to Minnesota in 2020 after graduating from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Violin Performance. Currently a Twin Cities-based teaching artist and actor, Hawken has performed with Sidekick Theatre, Off-Broadway Musical Theatre, and the Guthrie Theatre, and has taught with the Children’s Theatre Company, and the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth. Hawken is super excited to be making his directing debut with Great River School, and is looking forward to introducing this timeless story to the next generation of young actors!

Looking forward to seeing you all at the show!

Volunteers Needed!
We need your volunteer help! Here's your chance to get an inside look at the shows and all the amazing work that goes into each production. It's also a great way to fulfill your 20 volunteer hours for the school year. Parent volunteers are an essential part of a success for our students. Sign up here to help, and thanks for making GRS such a wonderful school! 

Click here to Volunteer!

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Summer Camp 2023!

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Our summer camp has full-day camp opportunities for 4th-7th, 7th-10th and even one for 9th-12th graders.  But did you know that for the younger ages, you can combine a morning camp with an afternoon camp, creating a full day of fun!  If you do this, your camper will have an outdoor, supervised lunch and recess in between the two camps.  To see what camps we have to offer, visit: GRS Camp Home Page.  To fill out the Pay What You Can form click Here.

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Boys’ Volleyball Spring Team

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Join the fastest growing sport in Minnesota!

Boys’ Volleyball Spring Team

All GRS 7th-12th graders welcome!

Season takes place late March-early June

Interested?
Sign-up here to receive more information on Open Gym times and Registration.

Questions? Email Program Director, Lindsey Weaver: lweaver@greatriverschool.org

When and where will practices and matches be held?
Days: 3-4 days per week
Locations: Twin Cities Academy and Minnehaha Academy

Will I make the team? Will it be competitive?
We anticipate all beginners and players with experience will make either JV or Varsity. Last year, both teams were very competitive in the conference and tournaments.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Midsummer Night's Dream, Thur., Feb. 9, 2023

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The four lovers, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena, living in a modern suburbia, under the reign of the Mayor, Theseus. But little do they know of the mythical creatures that live not so far away from their peaceful and love-filled town. This is a modern twist of the classic Shakespeare play, Midsummer Night's Dream, turned into a high school. Follow the GRS ⅞ Theatre Rotation with a three different renditions of a Midsummer Night's Dream, each with a new take and a different perspective. 

Volunteers Needed!
We need your volunteer help! Here's your chance to get an inside look at the shows and all the amazing work that goes into each production. It's also a great way to fulfill your 20 volunteer hours for the school year. Parent volunteers are an essential part of a success for our students. Sign up here to help, and thanks for making GRS such a wonderful school! 

Click here to Volunteer!

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Spring Sports Registration, Sign up today! (Online only)

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The Baseball deadline is February 8!

We still have five more Saturday winter sessions: Feb. 4, 11 and 18, and March 4 and 11.

Below is the registration link:

Spring Registration Link

If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, your fee is $125.

Please pay via a check payable to Twin Cities Academy.

Please let Coach Lindholm know if you have any questions. slindholm@twincitiesacademy.org

All registration is to be done online. There will be no hard copies of the forms.

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Lego League Spring Club (Open to students in 5 - 8 grades)

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Calling interested 5-8 graders and parent coaches! GRS plans to host a Lego League club this spring. The goal for this club is to learn more about Lego robot design and programming and to build skills in preparation for next fall’s competition season. 

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 should fill out the Lego League student application at this link.

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! 

The club will meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-5:30. The first meeting will be Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

The fee is $150 ($75 if a student’s parent volunteers as a coach). Scholarships are available--contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org for information. The fee goes towards materials, equipment, and GRS staff resources. 

Registration is complete when the student application has been submitted and approved and fee paid.

Contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

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Wanted: Community Folk School teachers!

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Do you have a craft, sport, hobby, art or other skill that you would like to share while earning some extra income? We are planning to pilot a folk school program for adults and families in our school community. 

Classes will be offered in the evenings and weekends beginning in February or March.

Past offerings and ideas have included wood carving, yoga, family meal prep, seasonal home remedies (cooking), jewelry making, and bicycle repair. We have gym, kitchen and classroom spaces available for use. 

Please send your proposals to Karen at kanway@greatriverschool.org by February 10.

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Coaches needed for upcoming archery classes

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We’re hoping to offer archery to all grades starting in late February. Tentative plans are for archery to meet Tuesdays from 3:30-4:15 and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:15. If you are available and interested in helping out with coaching, your child is guaranteed a spot free of charge and we will provide orientation, no experience needed. You can participate as a volunteer or get paid a stipend for your time. Please contact Karen at kanway@greatriverschool.org for more information about helping coach archery classes this spring.

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Is your child interested in Chess Club at Great River School?

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We are considering a partnership with the Twin Cities Chess Club to organize a club after school for Great River students. If your student is interested in chess club at Great River, please fill out this interest form and we will contact you with more information. Thank you!

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Lego League Spring Club (Open to students in 5 - 8 grades)

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Calling interested 5-8 graders and parent coaches! GRS plans to host a Lego League club this spring. The goal for this club is to learn more about Lego robot design and programming and to build skills in preparation for next fall’s competition season. 

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 should fill out the Lego League student application at this link.

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! 

The club will meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-5:30. The first meeting will be Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

The fee is $150 ($75 if a student’s parent volunteers as a coach). Scholarships are available--contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org for information. The fee goes towards materials, equipment, and GRS staff resources. 

Registration is complete when the student application has been submitted and approved and fee paid.

Contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

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Box Tops for Education

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According to the Kids in Need Foundation, teachers reported that supplies positively impacted their ability to:

1. Create a more equitable learning environment
2. Meet students' educational needs through daily activities
3. Focus on other areas of need in the classroom
4. Increase the variety and breadth of projects they could offer students

Your scans can make a difference for a school in need! Tap the profile image at the top of the Box Tops app home screen, then select "Manage Schools" to get started.

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Baseball and Softball clinic registration to run through February 9th

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Here's our latest reminder that for any students interested in enhancing their baseball or softball skills, we will be holding Saturday winter training sessions at TCA on the next five Saturday dates, as well as two at Nova:

January 21 and 28

Feb 4, 11 and 18

March 4 and 11 (These two dates are going to be at Nova Classical Academy).

All of the training sessions are FREE and will start at noon and end at 1:30pm.  They will be led by current varsity players. Coaches can only supervise.  We'd love to see some more of our veteran ballplayers show up and get to know some new teammates. 

Batting practice, pitching practice and utilizing the TCA weight room will be the primary areas of focus this winter. Bring your baseball glove and some good athletic shoes and clothes. Feel free to bring a bat if you have one.

Please help recruit some new, young athletes for our programs.

Please reach out to Coach Lindholm or baseball captain, Alex Ehlebracht with questions (slindholm@twincitiesacademy.org).

If your family qualifies for free/reduced lunch, you pay 50% of the fee.

If your family is in need of baseball equipment/uniform pieces of any kind, please let me know. I am well aware of the hefty expense to play a team sport these days.

Our registration will close on Feb. 9, at which time you will receive a formal greeting email with lots of key information and dates, including our online team store, that will be open Feb. 10-23.  I will inform families to know when costs will be coming as well as I can.

If you are curious about our game schedule, please reach out.  Our 20-game varsity regular season schedule is set, as well as our 18 JV games, which is an outstanding # of JV games, weather permitting, of course.

Speaking of V/JV, we truly have some legit competitions on the horizon for some V spots and playing time.  Competition is a great thing! 

I hope to see you one of these Saturdays.

Coach Steve Lindholm

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Summer Camp Registration!

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GRS Summer Camp Registration is now open!  Our registration home page with schedules is Here!  This year we have camps that focus on sailing, ultimate frisbee, Lego robotics, art, pottery, and new this year, THEATER!  Be sure to sign up to get the early bird discount.  Also, click here to fill out the Pay What You Can Program form.  Email Brent Cummins at bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions.

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Addams Family Musical opens on Friday, February 17!! Tickets on sale now!

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Tickets are now available for our winter musical, The Addams Family! Buy your tickets now on the GRS website.

In the kooky, spooky world of the Addams Family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, and death and suffering are the stuff of their dreams. Nonetheless, this quirky family still has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by any other family, and the spookiest nightmare faced by every family: the Addams kids are growing up. The Addamses have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years and Gomez and Morticia would be only too happy to continue living that way. Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter Wednesday on the other hand, has different plans. She has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a sweet, smart boy from a normal, respectable Ohio family — the most un-Addams sounding person imaginable! And to make matters worse, she has invited the Beinekes to their home for dinner. Can this family be normal for just one night? Come find out in Great River School’s production of The Addams Family, opening on February 17th, 2023!

Synopsis adapted from stageagent.com

Recommended for ages 10 and up due to some suggestive material including brief sexual references. Please note that this is just a recommendation and not a strict age limit. Feel free to do whatever feels right for your family.

While masks are not required, we strongly recommend you wear one for the safety and health of our cast and crew. There will be masks at the door if you need one.

Have a question or an accessibility need? Email us at grstheater@greatriverschool.com!