All unclaimed items in the Lost and Found will be donated after 4pm on Friday, March 21st after conferences.
Blue Heron Bash: Classroom Basket Donations Needed!
The Blue Heron Bash is collecting donations for themed raffle baskets chosen by each class. Please donate if you are able before Spring Break. Conferences are a great time to drop off items including bottles of wine for the Wine Pull. You can also be the first to buy tickets at conferences! More information on the BHB here GRS Blue Heron Bash
Lower Elementary Classroom Basket Donations Needed
Minnehaha: Garden
Spring Brook: Local Black Owned Business
Zumbro: Hand Work
Minnesota: Game Night
Saint Croix: Sports
Rice Creek: Movie Night
Upper Elementary Classroom Basket Donations Needed
Little Elk: Love of Art
Shingobee: Self Care
Blue Earth: Rainbow
Otter Tail: Baking
Swan: Cooking
Crow Wing: Gratitude
Spring Middle School Ultimate (5th-8th) Registration Now Open
Calling all 5th-8th graders interested in playing Ultimate this spring, registration is now open! GRS Stars will once again have 4-5 teams this spring but we need you to sign up! For info about GRS ultimate and registration guidelines, please visit our Stars Website: Middle School Registration. As explained on the website, in order to complete your registration, you’ll have to fill out the GRS Form and register with MN Ultimate. We are getting new uniforms this year as well. The GRS deadline is March 15 so we can decide how many teams we can have. Also, we are in need of 1-2 more coaches, no experience necessary. You would be an employee of MN Ultimate and they pay $700 for the season. Please contact Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) if you are interested in coaching or have any questions.
See you on the field!
School Menu Updates, March 3 - 7, 2025
The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, March 3 - 7. Things that have been changed or updated will be highlighted with a yellow box.
Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.
REMINDER: Join us for Scholarship Info Night!
Dear Students and Families,
We are excited to invite you to Great River School's Virtual Scholarship Night on March 5th at 6:00 PM! This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn about available scholarships and the application process to help support your academic journey.
We encourage you to attend and gather valuable information to help you navigate the world of scholarships and financial aid. Our team will be on hand to answer questions and provide helpful insights.
Event Details:
Date: March 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom info below)
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85450968026?pwd=DLkkCYnLaf81pLH9nlxCTSZ6pINr2o.1
Passcode:122150
Please mark your calendars, and be on the lookout for the Google Meet link closer to the event date. We hope to see you there
Best regards,
Kylie DeGrote
College and Career Counselor
Great River School
TICKETS GOING QUICKLY! GRS Theater Production of Les Misérables!
Tickets are going fast 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 PRESALE SOLD OUT!
March 8th, 7:00 pm (Almost sold out!)
March 9th, 2:00 pm, Pay What You Want Matinee
March 14th, 7:00 pm
March 15th, 7:00 pm(Almost sold out!)
March 16th, 2:00 pm (Almost sold out!)
Links:
Art Department need: Glass Grinder and Soldering Iron
Hello! I have two IB Visual Art students interested in working with stained glass. Wondering if there's anyone out there with a glass grinder and soldering iron they would be willing to lend or donate to our program for the month of March. Please send any questions or comments to Randi McClure at rmcclure@greatriverschool.org
MCAs are coming! Donation Call for Testing Mints!
MCA testing season is upon us and to improve concentration (and as a treat), students get a mint as they begin their test. Please drop off donations at the front office!
We are in need of individually wrapped Lifesaver Wintergreen Mints and Vegan Halal mints.
Thank you for your continued support our our students!
REMINDER: 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
Donation Call for Testing Mints
MCA testing season is upon us and to improve concentration (and as a treat), students get a mint as they begin their test. Please drop off donations at the front office! We are in need of Lifesaver Wintergreen Mints and Vegan Halal mints.
Thank you for your continued support our our students!
Spring Middle School Ultimate (5th-8th) Registration Now Open
Calling all 5th-8th graders interested in playing Ultimate this spring, registration is now open! GRS Stars will once again have 4-5 teams this spring but we need you to sign up! For info about GRS ultimate and registration guidelines, please visit our Stars Website: Middle School Registration. As explained on the website, in order to complete your registration, you’ll have to fill out the GRS Form and register with MN Ultimate. We are getting new uniforms this year as well. The GRS deadline is March 15 so we can decide how many teams we can have. Also, we are in need of 1-2 more coaches, no experience necessary. You would be an employee of MN Ultimate and they pay $700 for the season. Please contact Brent Cummins (bcummins@greatriverschool.org) if you are interested in coaching or have any questions.
See you on the field!
REMINDER: SEAC Meeting, TONIGHT, Monday, February 24th; 6pm
There will be a SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) meeting TONIGHT, Monday, February 24th at 6pm. All parents / guardians of students currently receiving special education services are invited to attend. The meeting will be in the media lab at Great River School. If you are unable to attend in person, please contact Jeremy Sartain at jsartain@greatriverschool.org or 612-414-5224 or if you prefer attend via Zoom. If you arrive late and can't get into the building on the day of the meeting, call or text Jeremy Sartain at 612-414-5224.
What is a SEAC?
A SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is an acronym for Special Education Advisory Council, which is a group that provides input on special education issues to its local school district. Its purpose is to advise and advocate, not to decide policy. Minnesota law requires each school district in the state to have a SEAC although it does not specify how the groups should be organized or what duties they should perform. As a result, each SEAC may have a unique mission and structure.
(Source www.pacer.org)
Staff Conference Meals Volunteer Sign-up
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D49A4A62BABF94-55209849-spring
Want to show our teachers a little appreciation for all they’ve done? We are continuing our tradition of staff food support during conferences. These two days provide an important opportunity for families and guides to check in about our children's experiences at GRS so far this year. To accomplish this, the teachers will be putting in long days, engaging in focused conversations with all of us. The food that families contribute not only keeps everyone nourished, but serves as an important show of support for all that the guides and staff do for our kids!If you prefer to donate funds you can via Venmo @GRSPEG or Paypal at https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/K4WXAQPN3FHNU
Reminder: Transitions Open House, February 27th; 6 - 8pm
Come learn about the Adolescent Program! Rising GRS 7th Graders (Current 6th graders) and Rising GRS 9th graders (current 8th graders) are invited to the Adolescent Transitions Open house on Thursday February 27th from 6-8pm (6-7 for Rising 7th, 7-8 for Rising 9th). During this event, you’ll learn about the academics and key experiences your student will be engaging with next year. You get to meet the guides and have a tour of the classrooms. Please RSVP here. RSVP is not required to attend, but it does help us to prepare better for the event. After the event, information from the event will be emailed out for families who cannot attend.
School Menu Updates, February 24 - 27, 2025 (School closed on Fri., Feb. 28)
The kitchen has released the new menu for next week, February 24 - 27.
We are over half way through our menu change!
We are making minor changes to the menu this week, switching a few breakfasts and adding a different salad. We are going to use this week to test a few new menu ideas and then continue on with the day changes the following week 3/3/2025. Curious about other things breakfast and lunch related? Find tutorials, helpful links and contacts on our Nutrition website.
SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) Monday, February 24th; 6pm
There will be a SEAC (Special Education Advisory Council) meeting on Monday, February 24th at 6pm. All parents / guardians of students currently receiving special education services are invited to attend. The meeting will be in the media lab at Great River School. If you are unable to attend in person, please contact Jeremy Sartain at jsartain@greatriverschool.org or 612-414-5224 or if you prefer attend via Zoom. If you arrive late and can't get into the building on the day of the meeting, call or text Jeremy Sartain at 612-414-5224.
What is a SEAC?
A SEAC (pronounced “seek”) is an acronym for Special Education Advisory Council, which is a group that provides input on special education issues to its local school district. Its purpose is to advise and advocate, not to decide policy. Minnesota law requires each school district in the state to have a SEAC although it does not specify how the groups should be organized or what duties they should perform. As a result, each SEAC may have a unique mission and structure.
(Source www.pacer.org)
Reminder: Transitions Open House, February 27th; 6 - 8pm
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
Join us for Scholarship Info Night!
Dear Students and Families,
We are excited to invite you to Great River School's Virtual Scholarship Night on March 5th at 6:00 PM! This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn about available scholarships and the application process to help support your academic journey.
We encourage you to attend and gather valuable information to help you navigate the world of scholarships and financial aid. Our team will be on hand to answer questions and provide helpful insights.
Event Details:
Date: March 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom info below)
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85450968026?pwd=DLkkCYnLaf81pLH9nlxCTSZ6pINr2o.1
Passcode:122150
Please mark your calendars, and be on the lookout for the Google Meet link closer to the event date. We hope to see you there
Best regards,
Kylie DeGrote
College and Career Counselor
Great River School
Volunteer Build Day! GRS Theatre Help needed! Come Join us!
Do you enjoy building, painting, or sewing? This Saturday, February 22nd, the theatre department will be hosting a Volunteer Build Day from 10am - 4pm to work on sets, props, and costumes for the upcoming production of Les Misérables. Helping hands are greatly appreciated to help us put on a truly epic musical for our audiences, and folks are welcome for a few hours or the full day. If you'd like to help paint, please dress appropriately. Snacks, beverages, and lunch will be provided. Please reach out to our technical director Katie with any questions (katie@outstandingteam.org). We hope to see you there!