Harvest Fest Volunteers Needed

Harvest Fest is back!  This is a time for us to come together as a community and celebrate the season.

We need lots of volunteers to make the event a success. Adolescent volunteers are welcome!  You can donate items, paint faces, keep the soup fire going, and more! 

What should I bring? 

• a mess kit (bowl, spoon for eating the soup) 

• prepared vegetables or a small stone to add to our soup (bring pre-cooked veggies or tender greens that cook quickly - make sure they are chopped small or pre-sliced for the soup! Stones should be small & clean) 

• an attitude of hospitality 

What will be happening? 

all free of charge: 

• Bouncy Houses for fun leaping and bounding!

• Face painting for wonder and whimsy!

• Coffee House open mic style music 

• Caramel Apple stand

• Leaf Crowns

• Bird feeder making

• Stone soup making

• A chance to buy from student micro-economies (student-made crafts, foods, etc) 

BIPOC Caregiver Committee Meeting TOMORROW

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 TOMORROW, October 7th at 7:45pm. Want to join the BIPOC Caregiver Committee? Email Anu (adean@greatriverschool.org) or Cassie (curbano@greatriverschool.org) to get connected!

Art Club Kick Off Meeting

Looking for Math and Reading Tutors

Make a difference in your community and join our team as a math or reading tutor. Great River School is looking for reading and math tutors (through the Minnesota Math & Reading Corps) to give their time and talent to help kids become successful.

Math Tutor – Minnesota Math Corps

Reading Tutor - Minnesota Reading Corps

Tutors work one-on-one or in small groups with students during school hours throughout the school year. No matter if you’re a recent grad, career changer, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, you can make a great tutor. No experience? No problem. Math Corps provides comprehensive training in strategies proven to help students learn, so tutors are well equipped to help students grow.

Perks as A Tutor

•  Receive a stipend every two weeks (comparable to $15/hour)

•  Earn up to $3,172 for college tuition or student loans. Tutors 55 and older may gift the award to their child, grandchild, stepchild or foster child.

•  Free health insurance and child care assistance for those who qualify

Ready to be the change for struggling students? Learn more at join.readingandmath.org. Questions can be sent to join@servetogrow.org or call 866.859.2825. You can also connect with Nicole Anderson at GRS: nanderson@greatriverschool.org

Drivers Ed Starting October 12th

Great River School will be hosting A+ Driving School again this fall for an in-person, after-school Driver’s Education course.

When: Oct. 12,13,14,15, 18,19, 26,27,28,29, from 3:30-6:30pm
Where: Great River School campus, Abby Mesnik’s classroom

Want more information or to register? Check out the A+ Driving School’s website!
Or email amesnik@greatriverschool.org with questions.

Wednesday, October 6 is International Walk to School Day

On Wednesday, October 6, parent volunteers will make it easier for families to try a “drop and walk”. Students who come to school in family vehicles can receive help from parent volunteers crossing streets near Great River if they are dropped off at McMurray Fields at Como Park or on Taylor Avenue & Hamline Avenue south of school. Students are already familiar with these routes due to frequent walking field trips in the neighborhood. Parents are welcome to walk with students.

North of school/McMurray Fields at Como Park

Gather by 7:55am at the McMurray Fields parking lot in Como Park. Karen Solas and Sam Olson will walk with students all the way to school, assisting at intersections and driveways. There will not be walking support after school. Contact Karen (ksolas@gmail.com) with questions. 

South of school/Taylor Avenue at Hamline Avenue

Be sure to travel westbound on Taylor so your kids can hop out of the car on the passenger side, reducing the number of streets they need to cross. Students may walk along Taylor Avenue to the sidewalk adjacent to Hamline Avenue. Join parent volunteers to find out about helping as a crossing guard at Pierce Butler on a daily basis. Crossing guards will be there from 8:00am to 8:30am. Contact Susan (susan.sochacki@gmail.com)with questions. 

Alice in Wonderland Auditions

Interested in participating in GRS’ production of Alice in Wonderland? Auditions will be held on Monday, October 4th, from 3:30-5:30pm in Room 209A for students in grades 7-12.

YOU MUST HAVE A SIGNED AUDITION FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A ROLE.

If you are interested in auditioning for a singing role, make sure to prepare an audition song. Folks interested in non-singing roles do not need to bring any prepared audition materials.

Volunteer Morning at GRS - Tomorrow

Our Outdoor Education guide Brent Cummins is hosting a volunteer morning TOMORROW, Saturday, October 2nd from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Jobs could include spreading wood chips, finishing picnic tables, building a big octagonal bench for community meetings, weeding the garden, and more!

As part of our community-minded mission, we ask that all families give 20 hours of volunteer time per year. Interested in coming to the volunteer morning? Let us know by registering here!

Harvest Fest Volunteers Needed

Harvest Fest is back!  This is a time for us to come together as a community and celebrate the season.

We need lots of volunteers to make the event a success. Adolescent volunteers are welcome!  You can donate items, paint faces, keep the soup fire going, and more! 

What should I bring? 

• a mess kit (bowl, spoon for eating the soup) 

• prepared vegetables or a small stone to add to our soup (bring pre-cooked veggies or tender greens that cook quickly - make sure they are chopped small or pre-sliced for the soup! Stones should be small & clean) 

• an attitude of hospitality 

What will be happening? 

all free of charge: 

• Bouncy Houses for fun leaping and bounding!

• Face painting for wonder and whimsy!

• Coffee House open mic style music 

• Caramel Apple stand

• Leaf Crowns

• Bird feeder making

• Stone soup making

• A chance to buy from student micro-economies (student-made crafts, foods, etc) 

The Great River School Foundation is Hiring

The Great River School Foundation is seeking applications for the position of Great River School Foundation Coordinator. This position will be a part-time, contracted position, and will focus on donor data systems management. For more information and how to apply, check out the job description: Great River School Foundation Coordinator.

Alice in Wonderland Auditions

Interested in participating in GRS’ production of Alice in Wonderland? Auditions will be held on Monday, October 4th, from 3:30-5:30pm in Room 209A for students in grades 7-12.

YOU MUST HAVE A SIGNED AUDITION FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A ROLE.

If you are interested in auditioning for a singing role, make sure to prepare an audition song. Folks interested in non-singing roles do not need to bring any prepared audition materials.

Back to School Spiritwear Sale

Grab some new Great River spiritwear during our Back to School sale!

We’re excited to offer some new merch this year - windbreakers, flannel shirts, baseball caps, & more! Check out what we have on our spiritwear site (always accessible through our website under the “Current Families” tab) and get 15% off everything with code GRSBTS21 now through October 13th.

Seeking Substitute Teachers

Know someone looking for a job? There is a national shortage of substitute teachers and we are no exception here at Great River. Having a good supply of substitute teachers helps us ensure that our faculty can take needed time off - all the more important after the last 18 months.

We are looking to hire:

• Multiple full-time substitute teachers to work across all levels (benefit eligible)

• Many occasional substitutes to work as their schedules allow 

Great River offers a competitive benefits package, including free/discounted Big Canoe care and faculty child enrollment preference. For the job descriptions and more information on how to apply, check out our employment page. 

No substitute license? Any adult with a college degree can apply for a substitute license in Minnesota and we will support you in the process. Please share widely with your networks!

Junior and Senior CAS Internship Opportunities

11th and 12th-grade students should begin thinking about what they might do with their CAS Wednesday experience.

CAS Wednesday experiences must be an experience interning, working, or volunteering within Great River or another organization. Leading student clubs or planning events (voter drive, blood drive, Mental Health Awareness Week, Community Meetings, etc) count!

Students may find their own internship or can choose from our 2021-2022 Wednesday Internship Opportunities.

Any questions? Email Lindsey Weaver (lweaver@greatriverschool.org).

Drivers Ed Starting October 12th

Great River School will be hosting A+ Driving School again this fall for an in-person, after-school Driver’s Education course.

When: Oct. 12,13,14,15, 18,19, 26,27,28,29, from 3:30-6:30pm
Where: Great River School campus, Abby Mesnik’s classroom

Want more information or to register? Check out the A+ Driving School’s website!
Or email amesnik@greatriverschool.org with questions.

No Drop Off or Pick Up in Front Parking Lot

We want to remind caregivers and students that pick-up and drop-off should happen only on the south side of the school. When the main entrance parking lot is used for pickup and dropoff, it quickly becomes dangerous to have so many cars attempting to turn around in such a small space and limits our accessible parking options. Please only use this lot for accessible or visitor parking (such as attending a meeting at school or picking up a sick child).

Caregivers could also drop their students on the other side of Pierce Butler and utilize the caregiver-staffed crosswalk to walk over the pedestrian bridge. To see more details on the parent-organized initiatives at the Pierce Butler crosswalk, click here.

Thank you for helping us with traffic flow during these high-congestion times!

IB Exam Registration

Grade 12 Families- IB Exam Registration season is here! All 12th-grade students have the option of taking IB exams in their subjects for potential college credit. Lindsey Weaver (IB Coordinator) will be visiting with seniors this week to talk about the advantages of taking IB exams and how to register. More information is linked here. Email Lindsey Weaver (lweaver@greatriverschool.org) with any questions.

Seeking Lid Donations for Math Project

Seeking lids for a math project!

Please bring well washed lids to GRS and drop off at the from office! We are seeking many of the following plastic lids:

• Extra small: Found on Swanson’s broth boxes and some water bottles

• Small: From your standard 20 oz. pop bottle

• Medium: Screw-top milk jugs

• Large: Simply Natural juice bottles

Parent Organized Coffee at the Crosswalk This Wednesday

Drop-off and pick-up got you down? Come to Coffee at the Crosswalk. Wednesday 9/29 at 8AM.

Come meet other Great River School parents and learn about an alternative drop-off and pick-up option.

There is a pedestrian bridge over the railroad yard north of Pierce Butler. Students often cross the bridge and pass through the crosswalk at Pierce Butler and Hamline Avenue on walking field trips. Parents are volunteering to ensure an adult crossing guard is there daily between 8:00-8:30am and 3:00-3:30pm. Stop by Wednesday, September 29th between 8:00-8:30am. Say hi, get involved. BYOC.

Questions? Contact Susan Sochacki, susan.sochacki@gmail.com or 651-775-7166.

Picture Day is Tomorrow

Picture Day is TOMORROW, Monday, September 27th.

Students will have the option to take their masks off for the picture. Photos will be taken in the gym with the external doors open for ventilation and all students will be 6+ feet from anyone else when they can unmask.

You can order online now at inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/60055ZF