The Blue Heron Bash needs volunteers to make it a success. We need adult & adolescent volunteers as well as donated items. Check out the sign up genius to see how you can get involved. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d49a4a62babf94-under
Having a task at the event is a great way to participate & meet new people. We need greeters, bartenders, child caregivers, decorators, organizers & more!
Looking to connect with other GRS Families? Have you heard about the Blue Heron Bash?
It’s Great River’s annual adult only “Friend”raiser
Tickets are on sale now for the event on March 18. http://www.
This year’s event will feature:
Food made by the Adolescent Culinart Arts CAS
Drinks generously donated by Pryes Brewing Company, Indeed Brewing Company, Saint Croix Vinyeards and Koru Kombucha
Live music by GRS Family musicians Rapid City Rhonda and The Bolos
Spring is right around the corner and it is time to register for Middle School (5th-8th) and High School (9th-12th). Don't miss your chance to be a part of this great sport and GRS tradition. Please check out our GRS Ultimate Website to view the schedule and learn how to register. We always need more girls and non-binary players in middle school! Also, if we get enough high school boys to sign up, we can have a JV team as well!
--Registration Deadline for Middle School (5th-8th) is March 17.
--Registration Deadline for High School (9th-12th) is March 17.
(Late registrations are allowed, but make it more difficult to make teams)
Here is the link to the slideshow from our family night: Ultimate Slideshow--Middle school is first, so keep scrolling for high school info.
If you have any questions, email Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org)
Do you own or work at a business you would like to promote to the GRS Community?
Are you an artist or maker and have goods or services to share?
We would love to feature you at the Blue Heron Bash Auction online March 13 & in person at the event on Saturday, March 18 from 6-10pm at GRS. http://www.bit.ly/GRSBHBTICKETS23
Wine Pull: Drop off a bottle of wine (or more!) at the front desk for the Wine Pull. Bottles will be for sale at the event for $20. If we get just 50 bottles that’s $1000 raised!
Donate items to the Online Auction:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGqKuOBffUJVwalrCVK_R3CHGyXKKGbmMJhn1YY1P_n-RATw/viewform
Donate handmade items to our Makers Market:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvU6gvBlAjD1x9XPxGXwGN6vNOyGa1CpwE5DN20rU8roEF7Q/viewform
Host a Great Gathering:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDdJeviD5dU5gIG0yXSvDj8RDC64JTgivVpvwb0uvB0JHdA/viewform
These are just a few of the Great River Community businesses & makers at this year’s Bash so far!
Sally Palmer - Rocksteady Life http://www.arocksteadylife.com
Melissa Hickman - Shadeflower Divines http://www.shopshadeflower.com
Mike Carina- http://www.mikecarina.com/
Pam Husak, Adolescent Science Guide is looking for some stethoscopes and Blood Pressure cuffs to use in a lab next week (Tuesday, March 7).
The approximate number she is hoping to acquire is 10 or more, but 5 of each will suffice.
Please reach out to Pam Husak at phusak@greatriverschool.org if you have more questions.
You still have THREE MORE DAYS to submit your Great Gathering event! It's the #1 way to connect with other GRS families and these events are one of the most popular ways to support our Blue Heron Bash fundraiser each year!
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, backyard 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- think of some ways you like to spend your time and invite others to join you!
Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Email :greatgatherings@greatriverschool.org
Sign-up form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jAlwTjMmfu3eNDR9izoGKEkvXqlpJd4wRujZ945gXR4/edit
*Taken directly from the National Park Service website
Whether on the picturesque beaches of Hawaii or in the dense forests of the Rockies, pollinators such as bees and butterflies, play a crucial role in maintaining and improving our ecosystems. They help to grow the plants that we eat every single day, are vital parts of the natural food-chain, and serve as ecosystem barometers due to their sensitivity to climate change.
In the past 5 years, bee and butterfly have declined remarkably. Saving these creatures is imperative to humankind since approximately 75% of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat are courtesy of pollinators. Bees and butterflies also beautify our planet; their important role in plant reproduction perpetuates floral growth and provide aesthetically pleasing landscapes for human enjoyment and faunal habitat.
Due to the importance of pollinators in our changing climate, we are taking the initiative to help restore bee and butterfly populations by offering free Black-Eyed Susan and Butterfly Milkweed seed packs.
Helping Restore Pollinator Populations:
Check out this website to see what pollinator-friendly plants are native to your region.
Avoid using pesticides in your garden.
Leave them alone - bees won't harm you if left unprovoked and butterflies should never be captured.
Buy local and eat more organic, pesticide-free foods to encourage healthy agriculture.
Purchase local honey prepared by local beekeepers.- Encourage your local council to implement pollinator - friendly policies and to maintain and enhance pollinator habitats.
Available Seeds
Support Us
We are only able to achieve so much on our own, we need your support. You don’t need to do much to help out. From ordering one of our free clean-up kits or pollinator seed packets, purchasing one of our store products, or following us on Facebook, you’re helping us take larger steps to assisting our beautiful environment and wildlife in its urgent time of need!
NoMythic, our high school robotics team, is heading up to their first regional competition in Duluth on Wednesday, March 1st. During this competition we will talk with judges, compete with our robot, and have fun as a team together! Practice matches start on Thursday at Noon, and, on Friday, at 9:00 AM, official qualification matches will start. Once the matches have started, the livestream can be found at https://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2023mndu2 if you want to watch! We also will be posting on our Instagram, @2491NoMythic, if you want to follow along. If you have any more questions about NoMythic, robotics at GRS, or our upcoming competition, find someone on the team or email Michael Flood at MFlood@greatriverschool.org.
College Night for 11th-grade Students and Families- join us on March 6th at 5:30 via zoom for a presentation about all of the support offered here at GRS for the class of 2024 looking ahead to college and/or careers. We'll go over the timeline for applications and all the things families should know moving forward.
The presentation will be recorded. Please email Teresa Hichens Olson, Director of College and Career Access @ thichensolson@greatriverschool.org if you have any questions.
Winter Archery Sessions coming up for all ages!
Archery will meet for 5 sessions beginning the week of February 27 and ending March 31. All classes will meet in the GRS gym.
Lower elementary (grades 1-3) will meet Wednesdays from 3:30-4:15 pm
Upper elementary (grades 4-6) will meet Tuesdays from 3:30-4:15 pm
Adolescents (grades 7-12) will meet Tuesdays from 4:30-5:00 pm
Cost is $100.
Space is limited Scholarships in case of need and discounts for current Big Canoe participants are available; contact bigcanoe@greatriverschool.org
On March 1st, the Upper Adolescent Students are taking an offsite field trip to the Charles M. Schulz-Highland Arena for a morning of ice skating and broomball!
This student-planned winter retreat is a way for the students to celebrate winter, to play and have fun in groupings they are not often in. We are asking families to Please fill out a permission slip and return it with fee by Tuesday February 28th. The trip will be on Wednesday, March 1st. This fee covers the cost of transportation and rink rentals.
Students will take a bus from school at 9AM to the Highland Arena, enjoy activities at the arena and then bus back to school by 11:45AM. Students will then check out for their Wednesday afternoon CAS experiences. If your student needs to drive themselves or take metro transit from the arena to get to their CAS on time, please fill out the permission as soon as possible. Students that miss the bus or cannot attend, will remain at school and have a normal Wednesday schedule.
To make this trip possible, please have your student bring $7 to GRS Front Desk or Checks can be made out to Great River School. This fee is on a sliding scale - please pay what is comfortable for your situation.
Please feel free to contact Randi McClure with any questions or concerns.
Hello Households,
If your student is looking for a homework free night, support them in taking advantage of our bi-weekly Homework Help sessions! These are (free) after school hours in which students can come as able and crank out some of their academics before heading home for the night. There are always staff present to offer *snacks* AND support for those willing to come give it a solid effort.
What: Homework Help
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm
Where: GRS, room 255
Who: Any 7-12th graders
Questions? Email Kathleen Maloney: kmaloney@greatriverschool.org
Hope to see your student(s) there!
-Homework Help Faculty
Due to the impending weather, the Ultimate Information night at GRS will be held on Monday, February 27th in the media lab at 6pm for Middle School (5-8), and 7pm for High School (9-12).
High School official practices begin March 6. Preseason practices will be in the GRS gym 3:30-5:30pm now through March 6th. Female-identifying players will be on Thursdays, Male-identifying players will be on Fridays. We will move outside as weather permits.
We need parents to help supervise on days coaches aren’t available. Please sign up here if you are able.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d49a4a62babf94-high
High School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
High School Registration Form
Middle School practices begin the week of April 10th at McMurray Field. Practice days TBD.
Middle School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
Middle School Ultimate Registration Form
Ultimate Frisbee is a very popular sport at Great River School. In order to keep the Spirit of the Game alive over the summer, we are offering Ultimate Camps for all skill levels. We have beginner camps for 4th-7th, a beginners and experienced camp for 7th-10th graders and an all day camp for high schoolers, 9th-12th grade, that ends with spending the last afternoon at Como Pool. We also have a full day ultimate camp at the end of the summer for 7th-10th graders that also includes hiking, fishing, and swimming at Como Pool. These will all be led by our very own Scott Alsleben who is an amazing Ultimate player and coach. Check them out here: GRS Camps
The Addams Family opens TONIGHT! The gloomy and grim family we all know and love face an unexpected challenge: can they be normal for just one night? Or will one secret be the end of the family? Find out in this kooky and goofy production of The Addams Family Musical! The cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for this show and are excited for performances to begin.
Tickets are on sale on the GRS website now, $10 for students and $15 for adults. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.
Come support the GRS theater program!
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!
Thank you to all of the families who have contributed to our February fundraising effort. Whether you have become a new Sustainer, given a one-time gift, or contributed in another way, you are supporting our community in vital ways.
Haven’t donated yet? It’s always a good time to give. Visit https://www.greatriverschool.org/give to see all the ways you can contribute. Share this link with other people in your life who are interested in supporting your student’s education and the Great River School community.
Great River has Ultimate teams for grades 5-12.
Come learn more at our Information night at GRS on Thursday, February 23 in the media lab at 6pm for Middle School (5-8), and 7pm for High School (9-12).
High School official practices begin March 6. Preseason practices will be in the GRS gym 3:30-5:30pm now through March 6th. Female-identifying players will be on Thursdays, Male-identifying players will be on Fridays. We will move outside as weather permits.
We need parents to help supervise on days coaches aren’t available. Please sign up here if you are able.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d49a4a62babf94-high
High School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
High School Registration Form
Middle School practices begin the week of April 10th at McMurray Field. Practice days TBD.
Middle School Registration is now open. Here is the link to the GRS registration form:
Middle School Ultimate Registration Form
Do you own or work at a business you would like to promote to the GRS Community?
Are you an artist or maker and have goods or services to share?
We would love to feature you at the Blue Heron Bash Auction online March 13 & in person at the event on Saturday, March 18 from 6-10pm at GRS. http://www.
Donate items to the Online Auction: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGqKuOBffUJVwalrCVK_R3CHGyXKKGbmMJhn1YY1P_n-RATw/viewform
Donate handmade items to our Makers Market: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvU6gvBlAjD1x9XPxGXwGN6vNOyGa1CpwE5DN20rU8roEF7Q/viewform
Host a Great Gathering: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDdJeviD5dU5gIG0yXSvDj8RDC64JTgivVpvwb0uvB0JHdA/viewform
These are just a few of the Great River Community businesses & makers at this year’s Bash so far!
Haley Fruen - Petit Salon https://petitesalon.com/
Kimberly Galvin - Herb & Moon Alchemy https://herbandmoonalchemy.com/
John Stumme - [http://www.John-Stumme.com](http://www.john-stumme.com/)
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!
Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Email greatgatherings@greatriverschool.org
SIgn-up form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDdJeviD5dU5gIG0yXSvDj8RDC64JTgivVpvwb0uvB0JHdA/viewform
“The school goes from grade 1-12, is only ~700 students, has a smaller budget than surrounding schools, and encourages lots of involvement. All this means that we know that students and families are a big part of the school and how it runs.” - GRS parent of Elementary and Lower Adolescent students
GRS depends on our community to continue to provide all the things that we love, from Montessori educational materials and athletic equipment to food for classroom pets and camping gear.
Visit https://www.greatriverschool.org/give to see all the ways you can support the school. Share this link with other people in your life who are interested in fostering your student’s education and the Great River School community.