From the Office of the Principal...

Dear Grainwood Families,

I hope winter break was peaceful and relaxing for you and your family!  As we begin 2011, I want to share with you two Grainwood initiatives you will be hearing about this winter. 

1) To begin with, in early December we launched Power Half Hour (PHH) in grades K-3.  PHH is a 25-30 minute block of time carved out of the school day for reading intervention or enrichment.  As part of the district's adoption of the Response to Intervention (RtI) framework, PHH provides "more" reading instruction for those students who need it, while also providing enrichment reading opportunities for students already at or above grade level standards.  The concept of "more" for each of these groups is a best teaching practice, which we are committed to implementing here at Grainwood!  For more informantion about Response to Intervention, click here for the RtI Guide or check out information about RtI on the district webpage HERE!  Also, please do not hesitate to ask your child's classroom teacher specifically about Power Half Hour at his/her grade level.     

2) Very soon your family will be introduced to Grainwood's "Healthy Snack Cart."  This snack opportunity will be available to your child(ren) beginning late February/early March for a reasonable cost.  The cart will be filled with a variety of healthy snacks (9 choices) from which your child can choose one a day to consume during his/her classroom snack time.  This opportunity is a result of a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant awarded to Grainwood at the end of last school year.  Through a school health assessment, provided by Wilder Research (a grant partner), an action plan was developed according to their findings and our needs.  More specific information about this option will be available later this month.  We will also be showcasing the snack items at Family Fun Night on the evening of Thursday, February 3rd.  As was quoted in the Star Tribune on December 19 by Ann Hoxie (St. Paul Public Schools) on their healthy food initiatives, "What we model in school is also teaching.  We're trying to set up the best enviroment for kids."  Grainwood is too! Stay Tuned...

New Year's Day Family Fun Event

Want to spend a fun time outdoors with your children over winter break? Come and join the Prior Lake High School Eco Team for their January fundraiser on Saturday, January 1st from 10:00AM-2:00PM!

The funds raised will support Prior Lake High School student travel to Belize for educational and service opportunities. For more information about the fundraiser, please click HERE.

Community Education January News

To access the Community Education January News brochure, please click on the brochure picture link to the right.

For information or to register please visit the Community Education website http://www.priorlakesavagece.com/ or call 952-226-0800.

Building Security

At Grainwood, security and safety are very important. All staff members are required to wear name badges provided by the school district. Please remember that all visitors and volunteers that come into the building must first report to the office, sign in and wear a Visitor or Volunteer sticker. Our staff have been asked to stop any unidentified adult walking in the building and, if necessary, accompany him/her to the office to state his/her reason for being in the building.

All doors to our building remain locked throughout the school day, except for two of the doors at the main entrance, which are monitored by our office staff. Parents who remove students from school are reminded to come to the office to identify themselves and sign their child out on the Student Sign-Out by Parent sheet.

Geography Bee

The Grainwood Geography Bee is quickly approaching! All 4th and 5th grade students are currently completing written qualifying tests in their classrooms. Top scorers will advance to the school-wide Bee which will be held on January 13th. This event is an oral Bee, which is completed in the same style as a Spelling Bee. The winner will have the opportunity to advance to the Minnesota competition later in the spring. Good luck students!

Wolf Ridge 2010

Three classrooms of fifth graders were greeted by some very excited parents last Friday evening as two charter buses returned to Grainwood with their children. We are very happy to announce that all Grainwood fifth graders participated in this year's annual trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learnign Center (ELC). From Monday through Friday, students were engaged in learning activities from dawn to dusk (and beyond), with most classes happening outdoors in the Northern Minnesota woods. Classes included: Outdoor Games, Earth Works, High Ropes Course (a blast!), Weather, Seeds of Change, Forest Ecology, Beaver Ecology, Renewable Energy, White Tailed Deer, Rocks, Basic Winter Survival (outdoors), Beginning Orienteering, Trees and Keys, Owl Pellets, Paper Making, Rock Wall Climbing and Skits (a favorite). Students did not participate in all of these classes, but were able to create a weekly schedule according to their interests.

Please enjoy the slideshow on the front page of the blog and the video below. The slideshow is a compilation of pictures of students, parents, ELC staff and Grainwood staff participating in the events hosted at Wolf Ridge. Thanks to all the parents and staff who contributed to this collection. The video, on the otherhand, was produced by aspiring videographer and Grainwood fifth grader Cole Greenlee. Thanks Cole sharing your perspective and talents.

ELC Video-Fifth Grade Style!

Temperatures hovered in the teens to single digits all week and the scenery was breathtaking. With Lake Superior in the background (very visible while on the high ropes course) and trees blanketed with snow, the site was very much a winter wonderland. Thanks again to all parent chaperones who took time out of their very busy lives to support their own children and all the fifth grade students at Grainwood. This trip could not happen without your help!

Physical Education News

Our 4th and 5th grade volleyball tournaments will be completed by the end of the week.

Our 5th graders here at Grainwood will be going on an all-day field trip to Hyland Hills in Bloomington on Thursday, January 6, 2011. To prepare for the trip, a safety presentation will be given to the 5th graders on Monday, January 3, 2011. At that time they will be talking to the kids about expectations and etiquette while at the ski hill and on the slopes. The kids will be expected to complete the different skill stations before using the chair lift and going to the top of the hills. All of the 5th graders will be expected to attend the field trip for the day. No question about having enough snow this year for our trip! A permission letter and more information will be sent home soon and must be returned by January 3rd.

We are still trying to put Fall fitness scores on Family Access for parents to see. I will keep you informed of the progress.

In January we will be having basketball for all ages and doing some jump rope. Our annual service project for the American Heart Association is coming up in February, "Jump Rope for Heart." Also coming up in late January will be floor hockey. Dressing for the weather will be important in January and February. If Physical Education needs to move from the Gymnasium for some reason, sledding or snowshoeing outside will be the option.

Winter and the Playground

Students will be going outside for recess unless the temperature drops below zero degrees Fahrenheit, calculated using the Windchill Temperature Index.

Students must have snowpants and boots on in order to play in the snow at school. Students without snowpants and boots are limited to playing on the blacktop area.

Keeping track of hats, gloves, boots and even coats can be challenging for our students. It would be very helpful if you could please write your child's name on their outdoor clothing.

If you are missing any items, please remember to check the "Lost and Found" benches in the entryway at school. There are many items in the Lost and Found, so please take a look when you are in the school and claim your lost items.

Getting To School On Time

Please make sure that if you are dropping your child off at school that you do everything to make sure they are on time. Students arriving late are missing out on important learning opportunities. The beginning of the day is an important time when the teachers are setting the stage for learning. It is understood that occasionally there will be times a student may be late. However, please support school expectations by scheduling other activities for your child outside of these hours. According to our elementary attendance procedures, five unexcused tardies are equal to one day unexcused absence.

Please note that your child should not be dropped off at school in the morning before 8:20 AM. Our staff have meetings and classroom preparations and are not available to supervise students who arrive before this time, unless previous arrangements have been made with the staff member.

Grainwood School Store

The school store is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-8:45AM. Items we sell are very inexpensive, so students should not need to bring any more than $2.00 from home. Students should always check in with their teacher before going to the school store.

To view the price list, click on the school store price list link located to the right of the Grainwood Gab homepage under Grainwood Links.

"DOGGIE-LICIOUS" YUMMY TUMMY SUPREME Dog Biscuits

The students and helpers from Room 262 are selling "DOGGIE-LICIOUS" YUMMY TUMMY SUPREME dog biscuits for the holidays. Quantities are limited, so place your orders as soon as possible. We have a display item in the office along with order forms and information regarding the pick-up date. Please complete the order form and return it to the office along with your $3.00 donation. One order form per bag. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

For a copy of the newsletter, please click HERE.

Toys for Tots

Grainwood Elementary is joining the Prior Lake High School Junior Optimist Club in the annual Toys for Tots drive. The drive will be held at Grainwood Elementary the week of December 6th-10th. Your donations of new, unwrapped toys and games can be dropped off any day during the drive. Toys for all ages will be appreciated. Thank you for your generosity!

Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Kindergarten teacher, Jessica Pocrnich, for being selected as Grainwood's Teacher of the Year! Jessica has taught Kindergarten in the Prior Lake-Savage School District for eight years. Her time in the district has allowed her to teach Kindergarten at Pond's Edge, Westwood, and now Grainwood. She has enjoyed teaching both half-day and extended-day Kindergarten. She received her undergraduate degree in education from the College of St. Benedict in 2002.

Jessica has served on a variety of committees during her time with the school district. Some of her past committees include SAT, F.I.T., Building Staff Development, and Sunshine. She currently enjoys being a part of the Problem Solving Team and PBIS at Grainwood. She enjoys finding new ways to teach to engage all of her students, often pulling in technology. Her favorite thing about teaching Kindergarten is being a part of each student's growth as they blossom into readers and writers.

Jessica lives in Shakopee with her husband Mike and daughters Abigail (7) and Anna (3). She enjoys traveling with her family and spending time at the family cabin.

Middle School World Language Survey

For parents of current 4th and 5th grade students:

Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, 6th and 7th grade students will have World Language options to choose from as a result of the new 6-period day schedule. To plan for these changes, we are collecting parent input to help determine which World Language courses should be offered in the future.

Please take a moment to fill out this short, online survey before December 10th: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LBCMKXQ

Grainwood's Choir Concert

Dear Grainwood Choir Families,

I wanted to touch base with all of you regarding our work this fall and our UPCOMING CONCERT!!

It has truly been a pleasure working with all the students this fall. They have arrived each Tuesday morning eager to learn and to sing, what more can a choir director ask for! We have been hard at work plugging away at the basics of learning how to read the music they see each week. For the most part we have spent our time preparing five pieces you will hear at our concert on Thursday, December 16th at 7:00PM in the WestWood Gym. We will be joined by the choir from WestWood and perform two pieces together!

Here are the important details you need to know:

1. Our dress rehearsal will be on Wednesday, December 15th at 1:30PM at WestWood. If you are unable to attend the evening concert on the 16th, please feel free to come for our dress rehearsal. Please check in at the WestWood front office and then proceed to the gym.
2. Have your students dropped off at WestWood on Thursday, December 16th at 6:45PM in the Music room. Make sure they have used the restroom and that they have taken care of any other last minute details beforehand. You may then go and find your seat in the gym.
3. We like the students to dress up a little for the concert. They seem to take it more seriously and we find that when they look better, they perform better. To that end we ask that students wear a dark bottom (i.e., black or navy - no jeans) and a white top. Please do not feel you need to purchase something just for the concert; simply do the best you can.
4. Finally, please join us for some light refreshments following the concert in the WestWood cafeteria.

Please do your best to have your student at these last two morning rehearsals. It is important that the students feel really prepared so they can do their best at their performance. While the 5th graders are at ELC next week, the 4th graders will still rehearse on their own.

I will send home our new schedule starting in January before we leave for winter break. Students will also be receiving their T-shirts in January which we will be wearing at our spring concert. The spring concert will be held at Grainwood with WestWood choir as our guests.

Thank you for giving your student the opportunity to be in choir. Education in the arts is a vital part of a well-rounded education for your children, and music education is one of the most enriching curriculum for all students. BRAVO to you for encouraging their efforts!

See you at the concert!

Musically yours,
Jennifer Jungwirth and Monique Rupp (WestWood Director)

Early Childhood Screening

Do you have a child that will be entering Kindergarten in the 2011-2012 school year? Start preparing for this now! The state of Minnesota, as well as District 719, requires that early childhood screening be completed prior to entry into Kindergarten. Appointments are required for the screenings that take place on selected Tuesdays and Fridays. If your child has not been screened, call (952) 226-0975 to make an appointment. Please feel free to leave a voice message and the early childhood screening scheduler will return your call to assist you in making an appointment. You may also email the screening office at ecscreening@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us.

Early childhood screening is a comprehensive review of children in three developmental areas as well as a review of their health, immunizations, hearing, vision, speech, height and weight. The actual screening process takes place at Edgewood School, 5304 WestWood Drive, in Prior Lake. The early childhood screening phone number (952-226-0975) may also be called for exemption information if you are conscientiously opposed to screening.

Call or email Early Childhood Screening today!

P.B.I.S. and C.A.R.E.S.

With Grainwood's adoption of P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), you may see a change in communication home to families pertaining to behavior. While Responsive Classroom functions as our social skills curriculum and classroom behavior model, P.B.I.S. establishes school-wide behavorial norms for all students in all other areas of the building. Within P.B.I.S., it is the C.A.R.E.S. components (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control) that function as our school norms. We have started to increase signage throughout our building, including the addition of the 5-Point scale (a self-regulation visual tool), and have recently launched "HERO Tickets" to reward students who show good behavior throughout the school day.

While students are learning in great detail about these attributes, we are well aware it will take time, maybe up to a year or two, to embed C.A.R.E.S. to be our behavior identity. Thank you for your support and patience as we "tighten-the-ship" with behavior expectations at Grainwood. Please check out the following links below for the newest videos we have been using with the students. (The Assertion and Responsibility clips are now live!) Also, check out the new written communication forms we will be using if C.A.R.E.S. are not being followed. Our fix-it plans have been eliminated and we are now using a "Better Choices" sheet and one "Office Referral" form school-wide. If you have questions about either of these documents, please contact me at your convenience. Thanks! Patrick Glynn

C.A.R.E.S. Video - Assertion (Has Arrived!)

C.A.R.E.S. Video - Responsibility (New This Week!)

Better Choices Sheet

Office Referral Form

Thanksgiving Feast

Last Wednesday, Grainwood Kindergarten students celebrated their annual Thanksgiving Feast. Kindergartners spent the week learning about the purpose of Thanksgiving, decorating for the event (including costumes) and making butter. During the feast, students also had the opportunity to taste many of the traditional foods that would be served on Thanksgiving Day. Thank you to all the parents and volunteers who helped make this special event complete. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Report Cards

The first trimester ends on Thursday, December 2nd. Teachers will complete report card work on Friday, December 3rd, which is not a school day for students. Student Report Cards will then be sent home with students on Friday, December 10th. ELC students' report cards will be sent home with 5th graders on Monday, December 13th. If you do not receive your child's report card, please contact the school at 226-0300. You can also view your child's report card online through Family Access. Report Cards at the end of second and third trimesters will only be posted via Family Access. No hard copies will be sent with students for the remainder of the school year. Here's to going paperless!

Early Childhood Family Center News

To access the Early Childhood Family Center News Brochure, please click on the brochure picture link to the right.

No School

There will be NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th for the Thanksgiving Break. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

There will also be NO SCHOOL on Friday, December 3rd.

Community Education December News

To access the Community Education December News brochure, please click on the brochure picture link to the right.

For information or to register please visit the Community Education website http://www.priorlakesavagece.com/ or call 952-226-0800.

Safe Spaces

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We will be having a guest speaker from Safe Spaces, a non-profit agency, in each classroom during the last week of November. She will be speaking to our students about personal safety and violence prevention. This will involve discussion around making appropriate choices and understanding personal safety issues. It is important that each child feels emotionally and physically safe when he/she comes to school. It is also helpful for all children to be taught a basic awareness of personal boundaries and appropriate behaviors related to good/bad touch.

As the parent/guardian, you can play a key role in talking to your child in a supportive, encouraging atmosphere and answering any questions he/she may have.

These presentations have been well received and are very age appropriate for K-3 graders. The presentations for 4th and 5th grade classrooms are a bit more involved, and the discussion time is longer since these students are nearing adolescence and there are many issues that come up for that age group.

Safe Spaces classroom visits are paid for through a grant and are presented in all District 719 elementary schools. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Safe Spaces presenter (Claire Newman) at 612-210-2179, visit their website at www.safespacesmn.org, or you may contact Patrick Glynn (Principal) or Cheryl Wendt (School Social Worker) at Grainwood.

Grainwood has SEE!

Click on the icon below for information on Grainwood's SEE Team!

Parent's Night Out

Spend the night out and drop your school-aged child/children off at the Prior Lake High School!

The Prior Lake High School National Honor Society is sponsoring a Parent's Night Out on Friday, December 17th from 6:00 to 10:00PM for kids in grades K-5. The cost for this event is: pre-registration: $15 for the first child and $10 for each additional child; at the door: $20 for the first child and $15 for each additional child.

Crafts, games, fun and healthy snacks will be provided.

Please return the Permission Slip to your teacher by Friday, December 3, 2010 for pre-registration. Make checks payable to "Prior Lake National Honor Society." Please fill out separate forms for each child, but you can staple them together and write out one check.

For questions, please contact Kaitlyn Aragon at zipposrevelation@mchsi.com or 612-636-0544 outside of school hours.

For a copy of the Parent's Night Out Permission Slip, click HERE

School Closing

For information on emergency school closings or delayed starts, tune into WCCO radio (830 AM) & TV (channel 4), KARE 11 TV (channel 11), KSTP-TV (channel 5), KMSP/FOX TV (channel 9) and also KCHK Radio (1350 AM).

The announcement would indicate that all Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools are closed or beginning late. If for any reason school would need to close early, the message would be similar. Officials attempt to make this decision as early as possible in the morning. The message will also run on the school district website, http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/, parent emails are sent and phone calls are made to parents via our rapid-dial phone system.

Optimist Club

Two of our 5th grade students were recently recognized by the Optimist Club of Prior Lake for their efforts in upholding the dignity of youth, as well as showing sincere devotion to the welfare of others.

Way to go Dalton and Allison!

Getting Home Safely

Winter road conditions are here! As the icy roads make driving the buses more of a challenge to the drivers, it's time to review the bus safety procedures.

Each student received training from their classroom teacher and the drivers themselves. Each student took a bus safety test (which State Law requires each to pass). The test and their lessons demonstrate that they understand:

1. Transportation is a privilege and not a right.
2. Danger zones surrounding a school bus.
3. Procedures for safely boarding and leaving the bus.
4. Procedures for safe street and road crossing.
5. School bus evacuation and emergency procedures.

Also with the winter road conditions, it becomes even more important that students monitor themselves so that everyone can have a safe and timely ride to and from school. Thank you for your support and reinforcement of these procedures with your child.

American Education Week

November 15th-19th is American Education Week. We have wonderful teachers here at Grainwood! Celebrate their dedication to your child/children by sending them a note letting them know they are appreciated! Thank you teachers for all of your hard work!

Tyson Project A+

Like collecting Box Tops for Education, milk tops, Campbell Soup labels, Coke Rewards, pop tabs, and ink cartridges, Grainwood is also collecting Tyson Project A+™ labels to help raise additional funds for our Student Activities Budget. Here's how you can help...1)Clip and save Tyson Project A+™ labels from participating Tyson products (I imagine there are a few chicken nuggets eaten out there), 2)Turn in the labels to Grainwood at our collection site (near all the others), 3)Grainwood redeems them for cash. Each label is worth 24¢. Now, I have promised the students I would do the "Chicken Dance" at an All School Meeting when 50 labels have been collected and Grainwood is 2 labels short. So, I need your help! Be saving and turning in those labels! Thanks! Mr. Glynn

Calendar Sales are Here!

Minnesota's favorite calendar goes on sale!

Starting November 15th, students will be selling the 2011 MN Weatherguide Environment Calendars to help raise money for our school's environmental program. These calendars are more than just a way to keep track of the days and appointments. They have educational value and are full of pictures and rich data. Ask your child how they are used in their classroom. Purchasing a calendar allows for you to extend this learning into your home. The wall and desktop calendars are available for $16.95 each. We profit $8.50 of every calendar sold! All proceeds will help to fund the purchase of items such as binoculars, snowshoes, field guides and more. All of this equipment helps us to better investigate and explore our natural environment, allowing students to become stronger and more knowledgeable in all core curricular areas. Please watch for more information as it comes home.

Food Drive Results

Congratulations to Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Worm's classes on their successful Food Drive! The goal of the Food Drive was to bring in 200 food items. The final count was 252 food items! WAY TO GO, STUDENTS!

The two classes will be sorting the items on November 15th and then loading the truck for the CAP Agency on November 19th.

Minnesota Chemical Health Week

The week of November 15th-19th we will be recognizing Minnesota Chemical Health Week (MCHW). This is an annual event that focuses on the effects of using drugs and alcohol. Throughout the district, different schools will be participating in various activities related to this event in order to heighten the awareness of substance abuse. At Grainwood, students will have the opportunity to participate in short classroom activities related to chemical health. The theme for Grainwood's Chemical Health Week is..."I Have the Power to be Drug Free!" The theme for this year goes along with our CARES for the month: Assertion. On Wednesday, November 17th, schools across the nation will be wearing red as a way of showing they are chemical free. Students and staff at Grainwood are also encouraged to wear red on this day, so mark your calendars!

Ski Club

Elementary Ski Club is open to 5th grade skiers and snowboarders. Ski Club dates are all Mondays after school on Dec. 20th, Jan. 3rd, 10th, 24th and 31st. Parents pick up students at 7:30pm at Buck Hill Ski Area.

For more information, please contact Martha Walz at 952-226-0010.

Wolf Ridge ELC

For those of you who have 5th graders, it is no surprise that they are headed north for a terrific week long field trip from December 6th-10th. All fifth graders, their teachers and parent chaperones will head north along the beautiful North Shore to Finland, MN to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center for a week long experience.

As the 5th graders are busy getting ready for their exciting trip to ELC, if you have any items you wish to donate such as winter boots, long underwear, sweatpants, sleeping bags or other items for those who do not have the supplies needed, please contact Cheryl Wendt, our Social Worker, by Wednesday, November 24th at 952-226-0367.

Grainwood Family Math Night

Thanks to all families and staff who participated in Grainwood's Family Math Night last Thursday evening. There was a great crowd, some healthy math competition between family members, popcorn snacking and prize winning going on. Congratulations also to the 25 students who walked away with a game from our prize drawing. I hope the coordination with the Chip Shoppe fund-raiser pick-up made the evening more convenient for families. Enjoy the video!

Baby News....

Congratulations to Mrs. Anderson and her husband, Jeff, on the birth of their new baby girl, Jocelyn Rae. Jocelyn was born on September 14, 2010. She weighed 7lbs. 3oz. and was 21 inches long.

Congratulations to Mrs. McGraw and her husband, Matt, on the birth of their new baby girl, Olivia Kathryn. Olivia was born on October 21, 2010. She weighed 8lbs. 6.4oz. and was 21 3/4 inches long.

Daylight Savings Time

Don't forget to "Fall Back" your clocks on November 7th - Daylight Savings Time Ends!

Early Release Day

Students in grades K-5 are scheduled for an early release day on Wednesday, November 10th. Classes will be released 2 hours early - for Grainwood that means the students will be dismissed at 1:00PM. Please remember to work this day into your family's schedule in order to provide for your daycare needs.

One of the things teachers will focus on that afternoon will be looking at test data and making plans to provide specific instruction to help your child be even more successful. The most recent testing, the MAP test and AIMS data, provides us with a snapshot of where your child is at this point in school. That information is vital to our programming, and we will take time on the 10th to plan some of the upcoming year's instruction, interventions and enrichments.

Notes from the Office....

ATTENDANCE
If your student is absent or going to be late - please be sure to call our 24hour Attendance Line in the morning: 952-226-0301.

STUDENT PICK UP
When students are not getting picked up in a timely manner at the end of the school day (3:00PM), they will be taken to Kid's Company for supervision. Our work day ends at 3:30PM and the office staff and teachers end their day at that time. The child's parent/guardian will need to sign them out at Kid's Company and will be responsible to pay a fee for their child's attendance.

WINTER IS COMING...
Please talk with your child about the importance of coats, hats and mittens to stay warm in this frozen tundra that we live in. You would be surprised how many attempt to go without their outerwear at recess and when heading to the buses.

Students will be going outside for recess unless the temperature drops below zero degress Fahrenheit, calculated using the Windchill Temperature Index.

Please make sure that your child's lunch box, coat, hat and mittens are labeled. This will make it much easier to return lost items to the right student.

We have MANY items in our Lost & Found at this time. Please have your child check for lost items. All remaining items will be donated at the end of the trimester - December 2nd.

Target and some staff FUN!

Last Friday, many Grainwood staff participated in their own dress-up and spent the day as Target employees. While appropriate for the day, due to the students and their costume parties that afternoon, it was two-fold in nature. Target is a huge supporter of schools and each year Grainwood receives thousands of dollars in donated funds due to families using their REDcards. 72 Grainwood families, or families affiliated with Grainwood, have linked their REDcard to our school through their "Take Charge of Education" Program. Therefore, Target donates 1% of all REDcard purchases at Target or Target.com to Grainwood. Thank you to everyone who has made the commitment to link their REDcard to our school. If you have not, but would like to, please click the following Target picture link and follow the simple directions. Thanks again for your support.

The Grainwood Galaxy Newspaper

The students at Grainwood Elementary school, along with Mrs. Retzer, Ms. Hanson, and Mrs. Russell, have published the Grainwood Galaxy Newspaper. The newspaper will be published and posted on the Grainwood Elementary school webpage at the end of each month. To access the newspaper, just click on the School News picture link.

Food Drive

Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Worm's classes are working together to sponsor a food drive the week of November 1st. A yellow flyer is being sent home today with more information. Non-perishable donations can be brought to school in grocery bags and placed on the table outside the office.

Book Fair

Thank you to all of the volunteers and shoppers who helped make our fall book fair a success! This is an important fundraiser for our media center and allows us to buy many books and materials that are used by students and staff every day. Thank you for your support!

Everyone Needs a Flu Vaccine!

This year for the first time ever, there is a universal flu vaccination recommendation for everyone 6 months of age and older! While children most often receive their vaccines at a medical clinic, the influenza vaccine is the one vaccine where a school or other public venue is a better fit because it is a yearly vaccination. Scott County Public Health will be offering a school-located clinic in our district as follows:

Thursday, November 4th

5 - 8 pm

Prior Lake High School

_________

FREE Vaccine to all children & uninsured adults

$10 donation suggested

Insured adults - $25 for injection - $35 for FluMist (Cash or Check Only)

__________

Pre-register online at

http://www.co.scott.mn.us/communityservices/vaccineregistration

Register each person who will attend.

Walk-in registration at clinic will be available.

This year's flu vaccine protects against 3 strains: the same H1N1 strain and the same B strain as last year, a new type A strain. Due to this formulation, certain children between 6 months and through 8 years should receive two doses of 2010-11 vaccine spaced at least 4 weeks apart:

- Who did not receive at least one dose of H1N1 2009 vaccine,

- Who have never received a seasonal flu vaccine before,
- Who were vaccinated for the first time with the 2009-10 seasonal vaccine, but received only one dose, or
- Whose previous season's vaccine history is unclear

If a child falls into one of these categories, parents could time the doses so that one dose is given at the school-located clinic.

Questions? Call Scott County Public Health at 952-496-8555.

CLIMB Theatre

CLIMB Theatre will be coming to Grainwood on Monday, November 8th. The play the children will be seeing is "Trash". The play concerns the environment and examines the concepts of conservation, reducing, reusing, and recycling. For more information on CLIMB Theatre and the play "Trash", view their informational flyer HERE

Family MATH Night

Family MATH Night at Grainwood is happening Thursday, November 4th, from 5:30-7:00 PM. Come spend time playing math games with family members or other students. The games, an important component of our Everyday Math curriculum, help sustain and enrich math skill development for your child. Prizes, popcorn and take-home materials will be available. Join the fun and pick-up your fund-raising orders in the gym on the same night!

Tuesday, Oct. 19...Book Fair LAST DAY!

Just a reminder that the Grainwood Book Fair's last day is tomorrow, October 19. The Media Center will be open for sales from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Thanks!

Fall Harvest Activities - October 29th

As the end of the month approaches, classrooms will be preparing for their annual Fall Harvest Celebrations. In grades K-4, students are invited to wear appropriate costumes. Costumes are not allowed that depict violence, have weapons, blood, etc. and need to be culturally sensitive. Please no hair dye or face paint too!

Specific information regarding costumes and classroom activities will be communicated by each classroom teacher near the end of the month.

Alternative activities will be provided for students if parents find any of the Fall Harvest Celebration events to be objectionable. If you wish to have alternative activities provided for your child, please send a note to your child's classroom teacher ASAP. This will allow him/her to plan accordingly. Thank you!

Community Ed Classes & Events for Adults & Youth

Visit http://www.priorlakesavagece.com/ for information and to register. You can also call Community Education at 952.226.0080 or the Family Center at 952.226.0950.

Make Your Own Paper: Recycling Can Be Fun! (Adult/child ages 5-10)
Have fun learning how to reduce waste by recycling! Supply fee included in tuition.
Thursday, November 11th (6-8pm)
McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, 13550 Dakota Ave., Savage
Instructor: Rita Hussman - 1 session $7; family $19

NetSmartz: An Internet Safety Program Presented by Officer Maureen O'Hehir
Educate, engage and empower children and youth to prevent victimization and increase self confidence when online. This program is relevant and important to all parents and other adults who interact with youth that use computers. It's a great compliment to the 7th grade DARE program as well.
Thursday, November 18th (7-8:30pm)
Twin Oaks Middle School Media Center
$5/person or $7/couple

Reading, Writing, and Recalling Facts (1st-5th grade)
This class is jam-packed with strategies that will increase your child's skills in reading, spelling, writing, and recalling information. Please bring 10 pennies to class, which wil be used to make a memorable book. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the class at no additional cost.
Tuesday, November 23rd (6:30-8:00pm)
PLHS Lecture Hall; Instructor: Nancy Kodelka
1 Session: $25

Deck the Halls & Visit with Santa
Come spend an exciting morning getting into the spirit of the holiday season. Be sure to bring your camera! No pre-registration required.
Saturday, December 4th (10-12:00pm)
Edgewood
$4/person or $12/family

Benefits of Physical Education For Our Students

Physical education exposes students to lifetime activities and teaches students how to integrate exercise into their lives.

The increased blood flowing to the brain during aerobic exercise stimulates brain activity. Source: Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF, "Be smart, exercise your heart: Exercise effects on brain and cognition," Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2008.

Researchers have found that students who receive physical activity during the school day pay better attention in class. Sibley BA, Etnier JL. The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: a meta-analysis. Pediat Ex Sci 2003; 15: 243-256.

A high quality physical education program enhances the physical, mental and social/emotional development of every child and helps them understand, improve and maintain physical well-being into adulthood. Learning for Life: Physical Education in Public Schools, American Heart Association Fact Sheet 2008

Benefits extend beyond improvement in health status, studies suggest that children who are more physically fit perform better on Math and Reading test scores. Active Living Research, A National Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity and Academic Performance. Research Brief, Fall 2007.

For the first time in history, children's life spans are predicted to be less than their parents because of the obesity epidemic. We are committed to changing that. Your help and support are critical to keep kids moving, eating healthy and having your students get enough rest.

Additional educational resources for a healthy and active family:
http://www.americanheart.org/healthierkids
http://www.healthychoices.org/
http://www.kidsnutrition.org/
http://www.kidshealth.org/
http://www.bam.gov/
http://www.healthyfridge.org/

Book Fair

The Book Fair is coming THIS WEEK! and we are still in need of parent volunteers to help. If you would like to assist with the fair, please click and sign-up. Thank you to Becky Bartusek, Book Fair Coordinator, for making volunteering so easy! Dates and times are:

Thursday, October 14th (8:30am - 7:00pm)
Friday, October 15th (8:00am - 11:30am)
Monday, October 18th (8:30am - 3:00pm)
Tuesday, October 19th (8:30am - 6:00pm)

Physical Education News

Congratulations to all GW students for working so hard on their fall fitness tests. There are some very good scores, and each student should be proud of the effort they put into their tests to this point. We look forward to the spring testing to see how we've improved and grown through the year. Working at home as well as what we do at school will help build confidence, skills, strength and endurance.

The 4th and 5th graders will be having a volleyball tournament with their volleyball unit coming up in November-December this year. This is always a highlight of the year, along with a floor hockey tournament that will be completed the first couple of months of 2011. Fifth grade will also be looking forward to a ski date at Hyland Hills in Bloomington after the start of the new year. The 5th graders will be bringing home a permission slip with more information and the amount needed for the field trip as we get closer to the date.

Some Physical Education reminders:
1. Dress for the weather. We will be outside when we can for the next few weeks with our soccer unit.
2. Clean tennis shoes for inside gym days is very important, along with being tied tightly (a request that gets repeated many times).
3. Illness notes will work for 1 or 2 days from mom or dad, but a doctor's note is asked for extended injuries or illnesses. With that, please have the doctor put a return to Physical Education date on the note as well, if possible.

Looking ahead: Activities for the next couple of months (weather and gymnasium permitting)
1. October & November: Finish up with fitness testing, football, soccer and work on volleyball.
2. December: Finish up volleyball with a 4th and 5th grade tournament, try to get some scooter work in and possibly some bowling.

Picture Retake Day

Picture retakes will be on Wedneday, October 27th. The student's packet of unwanted pictures must be returned on retake day if you would like new pictures taken.

If your student was absent on our first picture day, please let your child's teacher know, so a packet of picture options can be sent home for you.

The photos taken will also be used in our annual yearbook.

Fund-raising Orders are DUE!

Just a reminder that Chip Shoppe fund-raising orders are due to the Grainwood Office no later than Wednesday, October 13. This is the final return date, for orders will be placed that afternoon. Thanks a million to the parent volunteers who have been here already preparing the orders! This is Grainwood's largest fund-raiser of the year and goes directly to students supporting activities, interventions and enrichments. Thank you for participating!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for:

Thursday, October 14th - 3:30-7:30PM
Friday, October 15th - 7:30-11:30AM
Tuesday, October 19th - 3:30-7:30PM

A reminder notice indicating the time of your conference will be sent home.

The purpose of this fall conference is to gather information regarding your child's educational strengths, interests and needs. Then, appropriate goals will be identified for your child so he/she can have the best year possible.

Frequently Dialed Extensions

Attendance (24 Hrs)...................... 226-0301
Main Number ................................ 226-0300
Health Office .................................. 226-0306
Community Ed .............................. 226-0080
Kids Company................................ 226-0090
P.L.A.Y. .......................................... 220-6055
or www.playinfo.org
District Office................................. 226-0000
Transportation............................... 226-0050
Bus Dispatch.................................. 440-1166

You may access the Grainwood website at: http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/
Go to: Schools then Grainwood
Information includes, Teacher Web Pages, e-mail addresses, lunch menus, and much more.

October School Breaks

There will be no school on the following days in October:

No School for Kindergarten ONLY - Thursday, October 14th
No School for K-5 - Friday, October 15th
No School for K-5 - October 20th - 22nd (MEA Break)

Grainwood C.A.R.E.S. - Updated!

Grainwood Elementary students and staff are embarking on an initiative to strengthen behavorial expectations building-wide. Our Problem-Solving Team is participating in two years of training in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) through the Minnesota Department of Education. While Repsonsive Classroom practices govern most of the behavioral expectations and successfully provide social skills instruction in the classrooms, PBIS will become the larger behavioral umbrella encompassing the entire school.

As an over-arching theme, Grainwood will be using its C.A.R.E.S. (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control) identity more extensively throughout the school, becoming a larger presence in the building. To launch C.A.R.E.S. with some pizazz, the C.A.R.E.S. Heroes were created this summer and star as Grainwood's school-wide behavioral role-models. They will be making frequent visits to Grainwood this year promoting C.A.R.E.S. Check them out in their first, of many, video appearances.

Meet the C.A.R.E.S. Heroes! (Video now with sound!)

October 2010 Nurse's Note

Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Domestic violence and abuse can occur within all age ranges and in any ethnic background. Both women and men can be victims of abuse. No abuse, whether physical, emotional or verbal is acceptable. Domestic abuse often starts with verbal abuse and threats, leading up to violence. A person deserves to be respected, appreciated and safe. The first step is to recognize the abuse, acknowledge it as real and get the assistance you need. If you are in danger, please call the MN Domestic Violence Crisis Line at 1-866-223-1111 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

(Domestic Violence and Abuse at HelpGuide.org/NCADV.org/files/Minnesota.pdf)

School-Located Flu Vaccinations
This year for the first time ever, there is a universal flu vaccination recommendation for everyone 6 months of age and older to get the flu vaccine. In support of this change, Scott County Public Health will be offering a school-located clinic in the Prior Lake District on Thursday, November 4th from 5 – 8 pm at the High School. For more information go to the Health Services website: http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/, click on Services, click on Health Services, click on School Located Flu Vaccinations 2010.

Head Lice Information
As always please remember to check your student for head lice periodically throughout the year. Information about head lice is available on the Health Services website: http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/, click on Services, click on Health Services, click on “Is my child ill…” or “head lice”.

We encourage you to review these websites with current evidence based practices. If you do not have access to a computer, please call the Health office for a hard copy. Harvard’s information was recently moved to http://identify.us.com/head-lice/head-lice-FAQS/

http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/parents.html
http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/factsheet.html

New Universal Flu Vaccination

Please check out information about a Universal Flu Vaccination at the Grainwood School Homepage.

Peaceful Playground Dedication

Today we dedicated the Grainwood Peaceful Playground at our outside September all school meeting. The weather cooperated beautifully, minus a noticeable breeze, as students and staff participated in a simple THANK YOU to staff and parent volunteers who helped make it a reality. A very special thanks to the dedicated parents who participated in the numerous painting sessions adding color to the blacktop. This was quite an undertaking and would not have been completed this fall without your help!

To support the Peaceful Playground activities, Mr. Larson also has taken time out of his Physical Education classes this September to explicitely teach some of the games. Having recently started our PBIS initiative (previous blog post), our implementation of the Peaceful Playground is timely and will help Grainwood stretch its C.A.R.E.S. theme throughout recess too.

PLSAS Healthy Food Choices

At Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS), learning doesn't stop when students enter the lunch line. The food services program is helping students make healthy choices that are good for kids and the environment.

With childhood obesity rates soaring, choosing healthy meal options is becoming more important than ever before. That is just one reason PLSAS is launching a new initiative to offer healthier foods that are lower in fat, salt and sugar while serving meals kids love to eat.

The following are some ways PLSAS is beginning to change the way they offer school lunch to students:

* In all six of the district's elementary schools, the a la carte options including fruit roll-ups, baked chips, flavored water and more are no longer being offered.

* Schools, K-12, are no longer offering 2% milk. The three choices available are skim white milk, 1% white milk, and skim chocolate milk.

* All schools are embracing the Farm to Table philosophy of supporting locally based agriculture through purchasing apples from AppleWood Orchard in Lakeville, watermelon from Prior Lake and rice blends from Indian Harvest in Bemidji.

* Grainwood and Redtail Ridge Elementary have implemented a Birthday Book Club to replace student birthday treats. Instead of students bringing treats to school, they now have the option of purchasing a "birthday book" for the media center with the child's name featured in the front of the book.

*Grainwood is a host school for a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant and will be working this fall and winter to develop a sustainable healthy breakfast or snack option for students during the school day.

"These are just a few initial steps we are taking to get students to think before they select a food option and strike a healthy balance in their food choices," says Director of Food Services, Jean Winters.

PLSAS is also working to reduce its impact on the environment. All schools have switched from using Styrofoam trays when dish machines are down to a totally compostable tray. PLHS is also using eco-friendly cleaning agents in its kitchens from Minnesota-based company, Sunburst Chemicals.

These are some of the ways PLSAS is working to improve healthy choices and educate students throughout the district.

2010-11 Junior Naturalists

The Junior Naturalists (JN) will begin another season at Grainwood very soon. Each classroom in Grades 3-5 has between 2-4 representatives participating in this eco-friendly leadership program. Junior Naturalists exhibit the following characteristics:

• Have strong environmental ethics and can be a role model of environmental stewardship for the Grainwood community, as well as all of Prior Lake-Savage.
• Follow the Grainwood C.A.R.E.S. at all times and in all places.
• Are willing to speak in front of the classroom.
• Are organized and have good teamwork skills.
• Are up-to-date with classroom work and assignments.
• Are responsible, respectful, listen well and follow directions.
• Enjoy being outside.
• Are willing to get dirty!
• Are a hard worker.
• Are able to attend monthly meetings after school.

We are grateful to the Junior Naturalists, their advisors: Jill Kufrin and Andrea Swanson, and PLSAS's commitment to environmental education.

Homecoming Visitors

Last week, Prior Lake High School Students visited Grainwood as part of their homecoming activities. On Tuesday, the Homecoming Royalty Court stopped by and peeked into a few classrooms. On Friday, football players, some of them past Grainwood students, joined us for lunch. They were present in the lunch room, on the playground and even as part of the food serving line. What a treat to have students serving students!

Newspaper Photographs & Student Information

The Prior Lake American and Savage Pacer newspapers often send photographers to school to take pictures during special events and other learning experiences. Most students are pleased and excited to see themselves pictured in a community publication. However, if you prefer that your child’s picture not appear in the newspaper, or in our school blog, please inform the principal, Patrick Glynn, in writing by October 8, 2010.

In addition to this request, parents may also request that the school not release specific student directory information. Please refer to the Grainwood Parent/Student Handbook for a listing of the student information that is regarded by state law as public information. District #719 does not provide lists of students’ names, phone numbers or addresses to any other organizations or individuals. Thank you for your assistance in this matter!

Written requests regarding release of student information and photographs are due by October 8, 2010.

Box Tops 4 Education

Box Tops 4 Education provides a Grainwood an opportunity to earn extra cash to help fund student activities throughout the year. We are very appreciative of all the families who have taken the time to collect their box tops, cut them out, and send them to school. The collection box by our front entrance to the gym is filled and unfilled throughout the year (Thank You Mrs. Fowler for all your help!) and individual classrooms are recognized monthly at our All School Meeting for having the most box tops each month. (Hosting Thunder and Lightening, Grainwood's pet stuffed horses, is a big deal around here!) To help with the collection of the boxtops, collection sheets are available at BoxTops4Education.com. Look under EARN, then CLIP BOXTOPS, then COLLECTION PROJECTS at the bottom of the page for themed collection pages (in PDF form) to print at home and begin collecting. Or, just tape your boxtops to a piece of scrap paper in groups of ten (just like in the picture). Pre-grouped box tops are greatly appreciated, for this is how they need to be organized when redeemed. Also, please put your child's classroom teacher's name on all donations. I wonder which class will be the recipient of Thunder and Lightning this month? We will soon find out!

Early Release Days

The ultimate worth of professional development for teachers is the essential role it plays in the improvement of student learning. Research states that the best way to improve student achievement is to increase our teachers’ effectiveness.

In order to provide professional development opportunities for our staff, four early release days have been built into the district calendar this year. Please be aware that Sept. 29, Nov. 10, Feb. 9 & April 13 will be early release days for students.

At Grainwood, students will be released from school at 1PM on early release days. Please remember to work these days into your family’s schedule in order to provide for your child’s daycare needs. We appreciate your cooperation!

Lost & Found

The Grainwood Lost and Found is located in the main entrance of the school in benches. Please check often for your child's clothing. At the end of November items in the lost and found will be sent to local charities.

Community Ed Fall Classes & Events

Visit http://www.priorlakesavagece.com/ for information and to register. You can also call Community Education at 952.226.0080 or the Family Center at 952.226.0950.

Blue and Gold make Green
Tree Identification and Exploration (Adults/Children ages 6 and up). Instructor: Jon Allen
Tue., Oct. 5 (6-7 p.m.); McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, 13550 Dakota Ave, Savage 1 session FREE

Nature Printing Adventure (Adults/Children ages 5 and up).
Instructor: Dar Brooks; Mon., Oct. 11 (6-8 p.m.); McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, 13550 Dakota Ave, Savage
1 session $12/Family

Science Night Live
Tues., October 26 (7:00 p.m.); Prior Lake High School; Theme - Astronomy
FREE EVENT

Community Halloween Party (Ages Infant to 12)*
Sat., Oct. 30 from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Twin Oaks - Lower Level
Entrance fee - $2/child
Wear a Costume for the Contest, Participate in Games, Tour the Haunted House, Eat Food, Win Prizes
*Parent supervision required for children under 9

Phones are DOWN!

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but our phones here at Grainwood Elementary and throughout the district are currently not working. We are unable to receive or make any outside calls. We were informed today that our phones will also be down tomorrow, Thursday, September 16th.

To communicate with Grainwood, please use email or make a personal visit until further notice.

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Laker Spirit Wear

Since Back-to-School Night, Grainwood has been taking orders for Laker Spirit Wear. Coordinated by our PTC, spirit wear is offered as an opportunity for students and staff to purchase Laker items at a reasonable cost. Please make sure all order forms are returned to the Grainwood office by Friday, September 24. Orders are being extended until this date. To access a form to print at home, please click on the following link: Spirit Wear Order Form. Samples and different sizes are available in the office for your convenience. (Thank you Manny and 4th Grade Team for the modeling!)

Grainwood Birthday Book Club

In an attempt to instill good nutritional habits at school, as well as to avoid highlighting socio-economic disparities and clamp down on food allergy problems, Grainwood Elementary is requesting that students not bring birthday treats to school. Instead, Grainwood is excited to be expounding on its "Birthday Book Club." This is a positive way for your child to give a unique gift to everyone at Grainwood while celebrating his/her birthday. (It was wildly successful at Redtail Ridge Elementary last year!)

If your family would like to donate a birthday book in honor of your child's birthday, please click here on the Birthday Book Club Form and follow the directions. (Many of you may have already completed the form and returned it to school. It was initially sent out in our classroom assignment mailing in late August.)

If you have any questions, please call Kelly Thormodsgard (parent volunteer) at 226-4066 or Becky Ascheman (media support) at 226-0311. We hope you enjoy this new way of honoring your child's birthday, and at the same time, help grow our Media Center book collection for all Grainwood's students.

MAP Testing

Students in District 719 take the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) reading and math test in grades two through five. Fall testing will take place September 20th - October 1st. The purpose of the test is to assess student performance in both reading and math.

Students in grades 2 - 5 will have scheduled times in the computer lab to complete MAP testing. The MAP test is a computer adaptive test. Questions are generated based on the previous question’s response for each student. As a result, the test is truly individualized. The MAP test is also aligned to Minnesota’s Academic Standards.

Student scores on the MAP will be sent home with parents at fall conferences. Scores are reported in RIT scores (short for Rausch Unit). The RIT score is an equal-interval scale which can measure growth in learning. A chart will also be sent to parents showing the average RIT scores across the nation for students at different grade levels. RIT Charts that show examples of the kinds of questions on the MAP test can be found at http://www.nwea.org/ under Assessment System, then Assessment Product.

School Forms Due!

For the well-being of your child, please remember to turn in your updated emergency information as soon as possible. If your child becomes ill or injured at school, this information, along with current telephone numbers, are critical for our health office and office staff! If there are any legal proceedings regarding the welfare of your child, please make sure our office has a copy of the appropriate legal papers as well.

Special Education Advisory Council

Did you know that our district has a Special Education Advisory Council?
The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is a group that provides input on special education issues for our local school district and advises the school district on the development of programs and services to meet the special educational needs of children and families. Our purpose is to:
· Promote collaboration within the district and between the district and parents.
· Advise and advocate for students with disabilities and their parents.
· Inform, support and advise district staff, parents and students in regard to school success for students with disabilities.
· Collaborate with other parents and district staff to promote best practice models district wide for students in special education.

We have a lot of helpful information for families about the special education process, disability resources, and tips for staff and parents. You can access this information at our website and also read back issues of our newsletter that goes out to parents. Our website is http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/168410528115922487/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=58480&168410528115922487Nav=&NodeID=934. We are looking for more parents to be part of our group. If you are interested, please contact Elena Smith at esmith@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us

PTC Meeting - Tuesday!

Please join us for the first PTC meeting of the year. Come and find out what the PTC is all about, how you can help and what's going on at Grainwood.

The meeting is on Tuesday, Sept 14 at 6:30pm in the Grainwood Conference Room.

Childcare is provided. We hope to see you there!

Regards,
Lynda Ericsson, GW Parent Volunteer Coordinator

Grainwood School Store

The Grainwood school store will be open on Wednesday's. Items for sale very inexpensive, so students should not need to bring any more than $2.00 from home. The school store item list is posted on our Grainwood website.

Synergy

Synergy is excited to begin with a new school year upon us. Students, who were identified last spring, received a letter inviting them to participate in Synergy for this school year. There are two Synergy Specialists working at the six elementary schools. Jane Balow will be working at Five Hawks, Jeffers Pond and Redtail Ridge. Greta Soleim will be covering Glendale, Grainwood and WestWood. Students will be able to participate in programs such as Word Masters, Math Olympiads, News Currents, Mock Trial and the Stock Market Game. While these are challenging they are also a good avenue to work with students on the social and emotional aspects of being gifted and talented. In addition, Synergy Specialists will be working with students in Math and Language Arts groups giving them additional challenge connected with their curriculum. They will also be there to support teachers with differentiating materials. We are looking forward to a fantastic year!

News From Back-to-School Night

A big thank you to all the students and families who participated in Back-to-School Night last evening. Grainwood had a tremendous turn-out! If you did not have the chance to participate and sign-up for conferences, please contact your child's classroom teacher directly for a fall conference slot.

With a few staffing changes at Grainwood since last spring, I would like to mention and welcome back Cheryl Holst in a long-term substitute position in first grade this year. (Mrs. Holst taught fourth grade last year upon the retirement of Linda Pickering.) We feel very fortunate she is able to be a part of the Grainwood teaching staff again as Annette Peterson's 1st grade substitute for the school year. Mrs. Peterson, taking a partial leave of absence, will teach part-time for us working as a 3rd Grade math and reading intervention teacher. I would also like to introduce Serafina Gaddo as Susan Anderson's long-term substitute to start the year. Susan is expecting her first child any day now.

Grainwood also has a new classroom configuration in the intermediate grades. Jill Kufrin, veteran Grainwood teacher, will be teaching a 3rd-4th combination classroom this year. I want to thank all the Grainwood families whose children were assigned to this classroom for attending our short informational meeting last evening. We feel very confident in this class arrangement and look forward to providing quality education in this model.

Lastly, if your child participated in our summer reading program and filled out his/her reading log (which we provided to each student last spring), please turn them into your child's new classroom teacher for a free meal at Applebee's.

We look forward to working with your student next week. Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend!

September 2010 Nurse's News

Annual Health Forms
o If you have not yet turned in your form designating individuals to call in case of illness and emergency, please do so as soon as possible. Be aware that when your child is ill, he/she may become very anxious if we are unable to locate a parent or guardian. In addition, if your child has a health condition such as asthma, bee sting allergy, epilepsy, etc. that may require emergency action, if you haven’t already, please complete an Emergency Action Plan/Annual Health Form so we can provide optimal care for your child. If you need a form, please notify the school Health Office.

Screenings
o Will begin soon and continue throughout the school year, please check the Health Services website for more information

To Find a Flu Clinic
Go to http://www.health.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/idepc/fluschedule/fluclinic_search.cgi
or Scott County Public Health to find the clinic near you
http://www.co.scott.mn.us/HelpingPeopleHealth/PublicHealth/Pages/FluShotClinics.aspx

Reminder - Hand washing is our best defense in fighting illness!

Student Placement Letters

Good news! The student placement letters were sent out in the mail today, Wednesday, August 25, 2010. You should be receiving them in your mailbox within the next few days.

From the Office of the Principal....

Grainwood Families,

Beginning next week, "Family/Student Access" should go live on Wednesday, August 25th. This will allow families to check transportation information for the upcoming school year. Please contact transportation if you have particular questions about the posted information at 226-0050.

Also, classroom assignment letters will be mailed sometime next week (with a plan that they will be released next year through Family/Student Access). As I finalize staffing here at Grainwood for the upcoming year, I would like to welcome back Jaime Worm to 4th Grade. Ms. Worm taught with us last year in fourth grade and was able to be rehired upon a late summer district staffing change.

Please make sure to be checking the Grainwood Gab Blog at least weekly before and throughout the school year. Families are offered the opportunty to respond to my posts. The response option is active and I look forward to using it as an additional communication tool throughout the school year.

Lastly, Back-to-School Night takes place Wednesday, September 1 from 4 to 6 PM. I am hoping the later start time will better help accommodate Grainwood families and their schedules. Please also notice on the district calendar that GW is no longer hosting "Curriculum Nights" later in September. Short curriculum presentations will instead take place as part of Back-to-School Night. See you all then!

Just a Reminder!

Bus Schedules will be Posted Online Only
In an effort to save money and be more environmentally friendly, fall bus schedules including pick-up and drop-off times and locations will now be available online. All parents and guardians will be able to access transportation information on Family Access using personal login and password codes. Individual login information will be emailed this summer. Family/Student Access is located on the district website: www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us under the “Quick Guide.” Please note that transportation information will no longer be mailed.

Painting the Peaceful Playground

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Last week, a few Grainwood parents offered up an evening to help paint shapes and lines on the Grainwood playground towards the completion of the Peaceful Playground games. Painting began last spring with a portion of the playground completed in May. Our hope is the project will be finished by the start of school. The new color looks marvelous and definitely sends a message of ownership about our school! If you are available to help, please feel free to join the paint crew on Tuesday, August 17, at 6:30 PM for more painting fun. (There may be future dates as well.)