Donate today! Music is a powerful learning tool!

Dear GRS students, friends, and family:

Here at Great River School, we as 10th graders were given the opportunity through FlightPath–a new creative action-based program–to create and envision a brighter future for our music community. In partnership with guides Zack Scott and Caroline Miesle; we have developed a program that can be used in the classes to assist students in exploring their creativity through digital music.

Studies have shown that music increases cognitive function, leading to a range of physical and mental health benefits and critical thinking skills. Music is also the passion of many adolescents here at Great River. Together with your help, we are looking for upwards of $5,000 to purchase HP Pavilion laptops, to produce new digital music independently, with a one-time purchase of FL Studio - a high-rated musical production software - along with headphones and microphones. Once we reach that goal, we can expand our music program further, and increase the capability of the students to explore their passion for music through new, exciting ways. You can either donate here or at the QR code below!

Thanks, 

Edgar Rozenfeld, Max Reiter, and Vincent Christy.

School Menu Updates, February 18 - 21, 2025 (School closed on Monday, Feb. 17)

The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, February 18 - 21.

Check back occasionally to view new details. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. Please note, the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

Spring Boys Volleyball Registration!

Spring Boys Volleyball 7-12th grade registration is open! Practices begin at Twin Cities Academy the week of March 17th. A practice bus from GRS to TCA is provided daily. Both beginners and advanced players are welcome. GRS teachers Lindsey Weaver (UA), Kalen Krown (LA), and Mary Sollitto (UE) can help answer questions.

Registration form here: https://twincitiesacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/24-25-Spring-Sports-Registration-COMBINED-Packet-v3.pdf

GRS Student Civics Project: Donations wanted!

Hello GRS Families,

I am Skylar Sennewald, a great River School student. My project for civics was to make a change in a community or organization you are interested in, I am working with THRESA, a women's support organization. My goal is to get donations from the families of GRS after school or before school. How that will work is that would will drop off your (clean donations) at the front office from 8 am to 5 pm. We will be taking donations within the last three weeks of February. The list of needs is down below:

New or gently used household goods such as:

Pots and pans and bakeware

Silverware and Kitchen utensils

Dishes, bowls, and mugs that are microwaveable

Small kitchen appliances:  such as mixers, blenders, or crockpots in good working condition

Twin bedding:  New or used & clean sheets, pillowcases, and blankets without stains or tears.  Occasionally we accept other size bedding for families living in our community apartments. Throw blankets are welcome but no baby blankets right now, please.

CLOTHING appropriate to the season:  

Clean used items without stains or tears are often accepted but seasonal clothing only, please.  All sizes are needed especially for children For example, right now we do not need any clothes for infants through 18-month-olds. 

New items needed:  We like to provide new residents with robes and slippers or shower shoes and to have a supply of sweatshirts, sweaters, casual t-shirts, sweatpants or leggings, socks, bras, and underwear available in various women’s sizes.  Spring, fal,l and winter coats are welcome in season.

 Miscellaneous  hygiene & household products commonly needed:  

Donations of deodorant, body wash, combs/brushes, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, lotion, size 5, 6, or 7 diapers/pullups, detergent, and dishwashing liquid are often needed...  Apartment families very much appreciate cleaning supplies and paper products.

Summer Camp Early Bird Pricing Ends Soon!

Summer Camps are filling up quickly and our Early Bird Pricing ends on February 18. We have great camps for our adolescent students including a rock band camp with Chad Hofland, Art camps with Randi McClure, Ultimate camps with Scott Alsleben, Urban Biking with Derek Damron and more!  Take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing and go to Our Summer Camp registration page to check out all of our camp options ranging from preschool to 12th grade.  Contact Brent Cummins, bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions.  

No School, Monday, February 17th - Presidents' Day

UA Science Lab Donations request!

Hello GRS Families!

I'm writing to make some requests for the UA Science Lab. We have some projects going on that could use your support!

Fish Tank

The LA classes have been busy with their ongoing aquaponics project and have experienced great success! So much so, that the fish they are raising have outgrown the 200 gallons allotted to them. We'd love to adopt some for display in UA biology, and the water treatment process makes for an excellent and practical chemistry application. However, we need a tank to house these fish. If you have a fish tank that is not being used, we'd love to re-purpose it for our classroom! We have room for up to 50 gallons, and would need a minimum of 20. Please reach out to me if you have a tank your family is willing to donate.

Egg Shells

In our process of designing engaging labs for chemistry students we are often looking for materials. I am planning a simple lab where students can observe a reaction that creates crystals made of calcium acetate. There are a few ways to derive these ionic compounds, but the easiest could be using leftover eggshells. The trick is making sure they are well washed so no membrane (inside or out) remains. This ensures that the reactant in the shell (calcium carbonate) is pure and the shells won't emit an odor while stored. Once washed and dried, they can be pulverized into a powder for easy storage and transport (not required). If your family is able and interested in helping me collect shells for classroom use I'd appreciate it greatly!

Thanks for your consideration!

-Ken Schuster

UA Science Guide

kschuster@greatriverschool.org

PEG Meeting, Tues., February 18th; 6 - 7:30pm

Connect with other families at our monthly meeting. February’s meeting will be Tuesday the 18th from 6 - 7:30pm.

You can join the meeting in person at GRS. Meetings are held in the Upper Adolescent Commons (park in pick up line & use garden door G in the SE corner) or online via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3976588186 Grab dinner at the Roseville Parkway Pizza & GRS will receive 5% of all sales throughout the day (11am -8pm).

School Menu Updates, February 10 - 14, 2025

The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, February 10 - 14.

Check back occasionally to view new details. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. Please note, the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

EXTERNAL: Cleaning service option: Ashley Home Clean

Osiris and Antonio are the incredible mother-and-son team that work so hard to clean our school every evening. They also clean homes! If you need a house cleaner, please consider supporting their business! https://www.ashleyhomeclean.com/

Please note, Osiris says the prices on the website are not currently accurate, so call the number on the website to get an estimate.

Great River’s First Career Fair - Feb 19th

Hello GRS parents,

This month we will host our first Career Fair! We are excited to start a tradition where our 7th - 12th grade students can learn about a wide variety of careers. 

The Career Fair will be Wednesday, February 19th from 9:00 am to 11:30 am in the gym. We have people signed up from a variety of careers including those in Healthcare, Service(s), Science, Arts, IT and the Trades/Construction. Here is the list of the job titles and the organizations/companies that have said yes so far. If you or someone you know are interested in participating we would welcome additional participation.  Please fill out or send the following link to sign up here. 

I hope this will be a great start to a long standing tradition. I appreciate everyone who has signed up so far to participate and their willingness to share their career with our students. 

Lara Christley
Career Pathways Coordinator

School Menu Updates, February 3 - 7, 2025

The kitchen has released the new menu for this week, February 3 - 7. Starting this month, we will be rolling out the new menu week by week. The changes will be posted weekly here on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students! Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly. note the kitchen will put out a new menu every week, changing one day at a time each week. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.

Donation Forms are open for the 2025 Blue Heron Bash, April 26, 6 - 10pm.

The Blue Heron Bash (BHB) is Great River School’s biggest fundraising event of the year! It features a weeklong online auction and an in-person, adults-only (21+) evening of great conversation, live music, friendly bidding competition, activities, appetizers, and drinks.

Donate items for our online auction or a bottle of wine for the Wine Pull, Craft an item for the Maker’s Market, Host a Great Gathering, or Contribute to an elementary classroom themed raffle basket. The 2025 BHB supports the general operating budget at Great River School and will also feature a special Fund A Need: Goats and Grounds. Donations to this fund will support a new goat enclosure as well as an expanded elementary play space and garden area. Check out our website for more information https://www.greatriverschool.org/blueheronbash

We look forward to seeing you there!

https://forms.gle/Crwz9fMfEp9ttDq26  (Donate link)

https://forms.gle/yXm4yjBLTDCGpsez8 (Maker Link)

https://forms.gle/LVJsgT2KNff2rRf66 (Great gathering link)

Save the date! The 2025 Blue Heron Bash!

The 2025 Blue Heron Bash is just three months away: April 26, from 6pm to 10pm.

For those new to Great River, the Blue Heron Bash (BHB) is our school’s biggest fundraising event of the year. It features a weeklong online auction and an in-person, adults-only (21+) evening of great conversation, live music, friendly bidding competition, activities, appetizers, and drinks.

GRS families can help make the BHB a success in many ways, including donating auction items, volunteering, and hosting a Great Gathering. Check out our website for more information about how you can get involved in the coming weeks!  https://www.greatriverschool.org/blueheronbash

Menu for January 29 - 31st (Changes due to Teacher Professional Development)

Due to No school for students and Teacher Professional Development on Mon., Jan. 27th and Tue., Jan. 28th there will be a modified menu during that week. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly for next week.

Starting in February, we will be rolling out the new menu day by day. The changes will be posted weekly on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students!

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new menu.

We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,

Your friends in the Great River kitchen

Tickets are now on sale for the GRS Theater Production of Les Misérables!

Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

March 7th, 7:00 pm

March 8th, 7:00 pm

March 9th, 2:00 pm, Pay What You Want Matinée

March 14th, 7:00 pm

March 15th, 7:00 pm

March 16th, 2:00 pm

Links:

https://www.greatriverschool.org/shows

https://www.greatriverschool.org/lesmistix

Menu for January 29 - 31st (Changes due to Teacher Professional Development)

Due to No school for students and Teacher Professional Development on Mon., Jan. 27th and Tue., Jan. 28th there will be a modified menu during that week. Please see the menu below so you can prepare accordingly for next week.

Starting in February, we will be rolling out the new menu day by day. The changes will be posted weekly on the nutrition page. Check back occasionally to view new details. We are excited to offer new meals to the students!

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new menu.

We look forward to seeing you in the lunch line,

Your friends in the Great River kitchen

PEG Meeting, and Fundraiser, Tues., January 21

Our next PEG meeting is coming up the evening of January 21st. A speaker from MN Association of Charter schools is coming to help us all better understand our school and ways to advocate for GRS. There’s also a Chipotle fundraiser the same night to make dinner a snap.

GRS Summer Camp Registration is Open!

We have amazing programs and staff lined up to have a great summer with your kids!  Registration is now open.  Sign up today to reserve your spot and take advantage of the Early Bird Discount.  The large majority of our camps are led and supported by GRS staff.  Go to Our Summer Camp registration page to check out all of our camp options ranging from preschool to 12th grade.  Contact Brent Cummins, bcummins@greatriverschool.org with any questions. 

Reminder: Broomball is back for 2025!!

Our high school Ultimate teams (players and families) are running a broomball program as a fundraiser for 4th-8th graders.  Brooms, balls and rink time are provided.  Bike or ski helmets are required to play.  Here are the details:

Who: Any 4th-8th Grader

What: Broomball-There are 2 rinks and players will get divided by grade/skill to play their games.

When: Tuesdays, 4:15-5:15 from January 14-February 25 (Minus January 28).

Where: Players will walk together from school to McMurray Fields where there are 2 broomball rinks.

Why: To get outside, do something active and have fun with classmates!

Cost: $65 donation to our Ultimate Program

How to register: Fill out this FORM and pay through PayPal-- paypal.com/paypalme/StarsUltimate (include student name/broomball in note) or drop off check or cash at the front office.

This will fill up, so be sure to sign up soon!  

Email Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) with any questions.