The Como Cookout for 9th and 10th grade is happening on June 4th from 12:30 - 2:30! Wear clothes that can get wet (there will be some water activities), remember to bring a mess kit and a positive attitude.
Unlimited Summer Rides on Metro Transit
Metro Transit just announced an exciting offer for students at eligible high schools (Great River is one!). For just $29, your students can get a special SummerStudent Pass that gives them unlimited rides on buses and light rail all summer long! It’s perfect for summer jobs, recreational activities and all the other fun that summer brings.
The Summer Student Pass is valid from June 1st through September 3rd, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Students can use it on any bus or train in the metro area with a fare up to $3.25 (for fares high than that amount, like some Northstar commuter rail trips, students will need to add value to their passes.)
How to get a pass:
You can go to metrotransit.org/summer-student-pass to get more details about the pass and order one online with a credit card or purchase a pass with cash or a credit card at either of our two Metro Transit Service Centers. We do not sell these passes at the school!
If your student is in grades 8-12 this year, they have been entered into the system. You will just need your student's school Student Number in order to purchase the discounted ticket. Check your email for a communication with your student’s number.
Affinity Groups at Great River School
Hello Great River Families!
Announcement below about events for students for end of the year events specific to affinity groups.
See a frequently-asked-questions document about affinity group events at Great River School here.
What: Affinity group events designed for students who share marginalized experience.
Why: Research has repeatedly shown that students do better when in a supportive, reflective environment. Affinity groups and teachers sharing identities with students are two concrete ways we can support our students as they journey into adulthood.
When: There are multiple year-end events for school-wide GSA* and BIPoC** student affinity groups. school-wide affinity event May 22nd for PoC students, & May 29th is a year-end GSA event.
Who: These are affinity events open to all students, and designed for students who have a shared experience.
As with all interactions at Great River, we hold students to the standard of being honest and respectful with each other.
Next year, there are plans for additional affinity groups including:
- student mental health, family experience (divorce, adoption, multi-home experience)
- specific identity groups
- race and ancestry
- gender expression
- family income
- physical ability
Great River is also working to set up partnerships for students at our school to connect with city-wide organizations at other high schools such as Black Student Union and Asian Student Union.
*GSA: Gender & Sexuality Alliance - student group centered on support & solidarity of queer adolescents
**BIPoC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color - acronym recognizing that “Black”, “Indigenous”, and “People of Color” are phrases that center the experience of peoples in North American society and history.
End of Year Reminder to Pick-Up Medication
This is a reminder that all medication housed at school must be picked up at the end of the year. Please note: If your child will be participating in an end of the year overnight field trip, those medications will be returned at the end of the field trip.
If your child has a medication at school, please fill out this form to indicate how you will retrieve your student’s medications. Submit this form by June 3rd.
Any medications not picked up by 12pm on June 13 will be discarded.
Great River Yearbooks
The Great River School yearbook team is busy completing the 2018-19 yearbook, which we expect to be available during the last week of school! The GRS yearbooks are designed by students, including the yet-to-be-revealed cover.
Click here to pre-order online! You can also pre-order your yearbook at spring conferences, April 11th and 12th.
Unsure if you've ordered? Ask us at conferences or email office@greatriverschool.org to ask!
Great River School Re-Enrollment
It’s that time of year where we confirm with families that their student is planning on returning to GRS in the fall. Whatever the answer, please fill out this quick form to help us plan for the coming year!
Here Comes the Sun: Sunscreen at Great River School
As we enter the summer/sun-intense season, Great River School would like to notify parents of some sun safety measures and how to keep your children “Sun Safe”.
Great River School is aware of how damaging UV rays from the sun can be to your child’s skin. Between May 1 - September 30th, please encourage the application/reapplication of sunscreen under the following circumstances:
Your student is participating in a field/swim trip that takes place outdoors
The outdoor activity lasts longer than 4 hours and/or takes place during the peak hours of 10am-2pm
It is the parents’ responsibility to apply sunscreen to their child before the beginning of the school day when an outdoor excursion is planned. Please send in sunscreen (labeled with your child’s name) in your student’s bag each day. GRS views sunscreen as a preventative, not a medicine, and allows sunscreen to be carried without any medication forms. Sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 or higher is also available in the Health Office.
In the event that student is showing reddened skin or sensitivity and sunscreen was NOT provided from home, sunscreen will be provided and encouraged. If your child has a sensitivity/allergies to certain sunscreens, please be sure to send your own sunscreen or send the health office an opt out request by emailing health@greatriverschool.org.
We expect and encourage children to apply/reapply their own sunscreen. When necessary, a guide or school staff member may assist any child that may be unable to personally apply his/her own sunscreen. When a child needs such assistance, the counselor will apply sunscreen on only the exposed parts of the child’s skin.
Please be aware that sunscreens are not 100% effective. As such, Great River School will encourage sun safety but is not responsible for any sunburn experienced. Please note that we also recommend taking breaks in the shade, combining sunscreen with other sun protection measures such as long sleeved, light shirts, wide-brimmed hats or shades and sunglasses to avoid burns and skin damage.
Thank you for your partnership in protecting GRS students from damaging UV rays!
Natalie Yaeger
Student Health Coordinator
End of Year Picnic at Newell Park
See flyer below for details on PEG’s End-of-Year Picnic!
We are still in need of parent volunteers - check out the signup here.
Lost & Found Announcement
All Lost and Found items will be donated on Friday, May 31st at 3:30pm. Lost and Found items can be located in the south-facing adolescent foyer by the Heron's Nest Cafe and in the interior hallway of the southwest elementary wing.
Bloggers Wanted:
GRS is looking for a website/blog consultant to help us streamline communications next year. If you have a Squarespace wizard in your networks, please direct them to office@greatriverschool.org!
Summer Camp Spotlight: Fabulously Fantastic Food
This week’s summer camp spotlight is on one of our culinary camps called Fabulously Fantastic Food! In this camp, you will get to learn from one of our professional chefs and create some delicious dishes. Come experiment and create some new lunch ideas for the up and coming school year. Your camper will work with our chef in our commercial kitchen to see what it takes to make the menu at Great River School.
To see our brochure or register for camp, go Here. We hope to see you this summer!
Great River Yearbooks
The Great River School yearbook team is busy completing the 2018-19 yearbook, which we expect to be available during the last week of school! The GRS yearbooks are designed by students, including the yet-to-be-revealed cover.
Click here to pre-order online! You can also pre-order your yearbook at spring conferences, April 11th and 12th.
Unsure if you've ordered? Ask us at conferences or email office@greatriverschool.org to ask!
Bike to School Day is this Wednesday
Everett Thomas models rain preparedness on a bike
Join a group at a meet up spot! Come for the parent coffee social!
The Great River School community is encouraged to bike to school this Wednesday, May 15. Here’s how:
1) Pick your meet-up spot.
2) Contact the group leader for your preferred meet up spot. Let them know that you plan to ride with them so you know the departure time and can get updates in the event of changes.
3) Check your bike tire pressure, brakes, and chain so you are ready to ride.
4) Helmets required.
5) Enjoy a parent coffee social at school.
Parents can support all riders by joining a group ride, especially if your student is a novice rider or needs extra attention. Families must arrange after-school pick up.
Use this link for meet up spots and Ride Leader contact information:
Parents should plan to grab a cup of coffee from the Heron's Nest so we can show our students how to build community. We hope to see you Wednesday.
If you have specific questions or can help greet bikers, contact Susan (susan.sochacki@gmail.com or 651-775-7166) or Karen (ksolas@gmail.com or 651-334-0793)
End of Year Picnic at Newell Park
See flyer below for details on PEG’s End-of-Year Picnic!
We are still in need of parent volunteers - check out the signup here.
Lost & Found Announcement
All Lost and Found items will be donated on Friday, May 31st at 3:30pm. Lost and Found items can be located in the south-facing adolescent foyer by the Heron's Nest Cafe and in the interior hallway of the southwest elementary wing.
Tentative Calendar Draft for 19/20
Hello Families!
We know many families have need the school calendar for next year.
We have a draft that we expect the board to approve this month. In the interest of your planning we are sharing this preliminary draft version with you now.
PEG Meeting on 5/13
Join us for the final Parent Engagement Group meeting of the year - May 13th, 6:30-8pm in the performance space. We'll start out with some PEG updates with upcoming social and other events, recruiting for PEG roles, input on future PEG meeting topics, and Brent Cummins will give an update on GRS Summer Camp opportunities. After the meeting, Jenny Thompson will lead a walking tour of the outdoor environment and talk about the vision for possible future playground projects and how the community can provide input and support to this vision.
Direct any questions to peg@greatriverschool.org
Summer Camp Spotlight: Lovely Clay Days
This week’s summer camp spotlight is on one of our pottery camps: Lovely Clay Days! This camp is for 7-12 year olds and is in the morning or afternoon from July 15-18. In this camp, you will learn to smash, pinch, and score clay to make beautiful creations! During this class, you’ll learn the basics of hand building clay while making fun creatures and objects to take home and share!
To see our brochure or register for camp, go Here. We hope to see you this summer!
Bike to School Day: Postponed Due to Weather!
Due to anticipated rainy, cold weather this week, Bike to School Day will be held on Wednesday, May 15. Watch for more information in blog posts and on Facebook about group ride meet up spots since some Ride Captains may not be available next week.
If you have immediate questions you can contact parent organizers Karen Solas at 651-334-0793 or Susan Sochacki at 651-775-7166.
We still need your help! There are volunteer opportunities the day before and day of including setting up bike corrals, helping greet bikers, and helping with a coffee social for parents. If you can help out with any of these roles, please sign up here. Either way, we hope you stay for a parent coffee social for just a bit.
Great River Yearbooks
The Great River School yearbook team is busy completing the 2018-19 yearbook, which we expect to be available during the last week of school! The GRS yearbooks are designed by students, including the yet-to-be-revealed cover.
Click here to pre-order online! You can also pre-order your yearbook at spring conferences, April 11th and 12th.
Unsure if you've ordered? Ask us at conferences or email office@greatriverschool.org to ask!