CARES Students of the Week!

CARES Students of the Week!  Happy Holidays!

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network)

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network) will host its next meeting on Thursday January 10 at 7pm in the WestWood Media Center.  Our focus will be on advanced middle school programming.  Both middle school principals and a panel of middle school teachers teaching advanced sections will be in attendance.  Our second annual Synergy/SAGE Family Night will be on Thursday Feb. 7 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Hidden Oaks cafeteria.  Representatives from The Works (www.theworks.org ) will be setting up stations where kids can build and explore STEM concepts.  We may also have some district teachers setting up their own stations with science experiments.  Please see our website (www.mcgt.net/priorlake ) in January for more information and to RSVP.  Questions?  Please email Apryl at span.priorlake@gmail.com (note the new email address).

Lost and Found

Missing something?

Hats, mittens, coats, sweatshirts, and more are located on two tables in the hallway by the gymnasium.

Please stop by to take a look for missing items, or ecourage your children peek at the table for something that might just ring a bell!

Friday December 21st is Hibernation Day!!!

Come to School dressed to hibernate this Friday, December 21st!

Wear your comfy PJ's or lounge clothes.

The Connecticut Tragedy

Dear Parents and Guardians of Grainwood Students,

I know that you, like me, are hurting from the news that continues to come out of Newtown, CT about those who lost their lives. It may have been difficult for some of you to send your child to school today.

Please know that while the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary will not be part of our regular classroom discussions today or this week, our staff is keeping an extra vigilant eye on students’ emotional well-being throughout the week. Our school social workers will be available to help any students in need of extra support.  

In follow up to Superintendent Dr. Sue Ann Gruver’s email last Friday, the links she sent to parents have now been placed on our website regarding helping children cope in unsettling times. http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/plsas/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=327512

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have at 226-0300.

Sincerely,

Patrick Glynn

Grainwood Principal

CARES Students of the Week

CARES Students of the Week!

Artist-in-Residence Coming to Grainwood!

I am happy to announce that Grainwood recently received news that we are a recipient of a 2012 Laker Education Foundation Grant.  In conjunction with Grainwood PTC and Student Activity dollars, the grant will support Grainwood hosting an artist-in-residence, Greg Preslicka, to work with our second grade students on a media center mural project entitled "Story Walls."  The details of the residency are at this time being confirmed.  However, we do know that community adults (second grade parents???) will be invited to help develop a story as part of the creative process in mid-January.  From the story, 3 layouts will be developed by the artist and the students will have the chance to vote on a first choice sometime in February.  Mural construction in our media center will then take place in March with a completion date by early April.

To learn more about Greg Preslicka and his work, please visit his website HERE.

Safety and Security Reminder

When visiting Grainwood, or simply dropping your child off for school in the morning, please make sure you do not leave any valuables in your car.  Locked doors will not deter everyone.  Thanks and have a safe and joyous time with family and friends this Holiday Season!

Pop Tabs!

Just a reminder to keep saving those pop tabs for the GW pop tab collection in the front hallway.  This fall we purchased a new container to match our recycling bin and want to remind families that all pop tabs are dedicated to our local Ronald McDonald House Charities.  This winter, as part of a more coordinated effort throughout the district, a middle-schooler, Danielle (past Grainwood student) is helping launch similar collections at other schools and has agreed to help advertize our collection and deliver any of the aluminum directly to the Ronald McDonald homes in Minneapolis.  Keep those collections going this Holiday Season!   

Winter Choir Concert

The Grainwood and Westwood Choirs met again for their annual combined winter concert this afternoon.  130 performers, the most ever in the past 4 years, put on quite a show!  Come join us tonight at Westwood for the family show beginning at 7 PM!

Help Find a Cure for Diabetes Fundraiser Results

Thank you for the wonderful support on $1 Hat Day to raise money for Diabetes research.  We raised $278.20.  Thank you for participating and making a difference!

Wolf Ridge Fundraiser

Friday December 14th! Bring a dollar and wear something to school that has a wolf or something wolf-like on it! (A siblings' old Wolf Ridge t-shirt or sweatshirt, a Timberwolves t-shirt or jersey, etc.) You can also bring a stuffed wolf animal if your teacher says it's ok!

Don't have anything wolf-related? The bookstore is selling Wolf Ridge bandanas in blue or yellow for only $3!

The money raised will go to help support the Friends of Wolf Ridge! (A group of  families dedicated to seeing the trip continue for ALL our elementary school children!)  Thanks for your support of this fabulous growing and learning opportunity!

Winter Break

There will be NO SCHOOL from Monday, December 24 through Tuesday, January 1 for the Winter Break. School will resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Enjoy your break!

Laker Spirit Wear

Just in time for the Holidays, Grainwood will be taking orders for Laker Spirit Wear (click HERE for the order form).  Coordinated by our PTC, Laker Spirit Wear is offered as an opportunity for students and staff to purchase Laker items at a reasonable cost.  Laker Spirit Wear forms are also available in the office.  Please make sure all order forms are returned to the Grainwood office by Friday, December 7th.

Toys for Tots

Grainwood is teaming up with Prior Lake High School’s Junior Optimist Club to sponsor Toys for Tots.

We will have a box located in the main entry to place new and unwrapped toys the week of December 10 – 14. These new and unwrapped toys will be distributed as gifts to needy children in the community. We appreciate any donations to this great program!

 
Happy Holidays!

4th & 5th Grade Choir Concert

Our Grainwood Choir will perform along with the WestWood Choir on Thursday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the WestWood gym. The fourth and fifth grade choir students will entertain family and friends with an evening of music and fun.

A dress rehearsal concert will be held at 1:30 p.m. on December 13th in the WestWood gym. Parents and guests are invited to attend the dress rehearsal if they are unable to attend the evening performance.  If you are planning to attend the dress rehearsal at 1:30 p.m., please remember to check in at the WestWood office before going to the gym.

We hope to see you there!

December 2012 Nurse’s Note

Give Kids a Smile 2013 

Give Kids a Smile is a charitable program coordinated by the Minnesota Dental Association to provide free care to low-income children in need. The two-day, statewide event is Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. A few clinics plan to provide care on later dates in February.

The Association is committed to doing what it can to make quality care accessible to every child in Minnesota.

After Jan. 1, a list of participating dental clinics will be available on this website or by calling United Way 2-1-1 (or 1-800-543-7709). Once the list is available, you should find the clinic that best fits your needs and location, then call to make an appointment for your child(ren).

http://www.mndental.org/public_home/about_us/give_kids_a_smile/what_you_need_to_know/

Please be sure that your child is dressed for outside recess. Remember that Minnesota weather is variable. Proper outdoor attire includes a jacket, hat and gloves. When it snows you will also need boots and snow pants!

Students will always go outdoors for recess unless the “Feels Like” temperature falls below a -5 degrees or it is steadily raining. All elementary schools will use the KARE11 website to determine the “Feels Like” temperature.

Have a happy and safe holiday!