See the sweepstakes Details: Boxtops for Education: I love my School Sweepstakes
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Midsummer Night's Dream, Thur., Feb. 9, 2023
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!
Blue Heron Bash! Tickets on Sale February 1st!
Get your tickets now for the Blue Heron Bash! bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23
Read all about the event & how you can help make it a success 2023 BHB 101
Spring Sports Registration, Sign up today! (Online only)
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:
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.
Lego League Spring Club (Open to students in 5 - 8 grades)
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.
No School on Monday, January 30; Teacher Professional Development
Wanted: Community Folk School teachers!
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.
Coaches needed for upcoming archery classes
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.
Is your child interested in Chess Club at Great River School?
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!
Lego League Spring Club (Open to students in 5 - 8 grades)
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.
Box Tops for Education
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.
Baseball and Softball clinic registration to run through February 9th
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
Summer Camp Registration!
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.
Addams Family Musical opens on Friday, February 17!! Tickets on sale now!
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!
January 17th schedule switch to "A Day"
Tuesday, January 17th will follow the A Day (Monday and Thursdays) schedule. On that day students will go to whatever courses they would have on Monday or Thursday.
This decision was made to balance our A Days (M/Th) and B Days (T/F) as Semester 1 comes to a close.
Students should check with their advisors if they have any questions about their schedule that day.
Broomball Club for all genders, Grades 5 - 8
We hope to again offer a broomball club sport this January-February for grades 5-8.
Great River will organize teams for broomball practices and scrimmages within our own community. What is broomball? Click here to find out!
Coach: Parent volunteer wanted, supported by Big Canoe staff
Practices and games: Mondays and Thursdays (tentative) 3:30-4:45
Location: Como broomball rinks at McMurray fields
Cost: $100.
Requirements: a bike or ski helmet, any skill level
Sign up here if you are interested in participating or to receive more information!
Sanneh Foundation Presents "MLK Community Cup", Monday, January 16
The Sanneh Foundation, will be hosting an annual MLK Day Community Cup on Monday January 16th, 2023 at the Conway dome!
This is for all High School students who play soccer. The games are 7 vs 7 and will run from 11am-4pm. All participants will be randomly assigned to a team when they sign up.
Here is the link for players to register, as well as more information:
https://forms.gle/VpwMBot1kL11cKJu5
For more information, please see the flyer below:
Save the date! Blue Heron Bash Fundraiser - Saturday, March 18, 2023
This year’s annual Blue Heron Bash Fundraiser is Saturday, March 18.
Check out the BHB 101 2023 for all the information about the event, how to donate, volunteer & more. You can also email blueheronbash@greatriverschool.org anytime.
Our first planning meeting of the year is tonight, Monday, January 9, 2023 at 7pm via zoom. Please join in if you are able. We hope to see you there!
Reminder: BIPOC Caregiver Meeting, TONIGHT, Thursday, January 5th; 7:45pm
REMINDER: BIPOC caregiver meeting will be held Tonight, Thursday January 5th at 7:45pm via zoom. The zoom link can be accessed HERE.
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.
Please email Jordan Samejima (jsamejima@greatriverschool.org) or Anu Dean (adean@greatriverschool.org) if you have any questions.
Reminder: BIPOC Caregiver Meeting, Thursday, January 5; 7:45pm
REMINDER: BIPOC caregiver meeting will be held Thursday January 5th at 7:45pm via zoom. The zoom link can be accessed HERE.
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.
Please email Jordan Samejima (jsamejima@greatriverschool.org) or Anu Dean (adean@greatriverschool.org) if you have any questions.