Happy Holidays!

Dear Grainwood Families,

This week there has been an abundance of positive energy floating around the school.  There is anticipation in the air for both kids and adults.  At our All School Meeting on Tuesday, we were treated to a stellar performance from the Grainwood Choir.  Their song about "misletoe" made us all laugh!  We also recognized our C.A.R.E.S. Students of the Month for Responsibility with a new tradition.  The very next day, those students were invited to eat lunch at the NEW C.A.R.E.S. Hero Table (tablecloth, fake candles, decorations and all.. what a HIT!).  Those recognized could also choose to bring a friend! 

This afternoon, class parties put closure to the week in many rooms. In second grade, their annual gingerbread house building brought out smiles and sticky fingers.  There's nothing like a tub full of frosting and an assortment of candy to make a child happy!  He're a student with his creation:

 
May you and your loved ones have a very safe and Happy Holidays!  We'll see all your children back here at Grainwood on Tuesday, January 3rd!  

Patrick Glynn
Principal

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 952-226-0080.

Physical Education News

Our 5th graders here at Grainwood will be going on an all-day field trip to Hyland Hills in Bloomington on Friday, January 6, 2012. To prepare for the trip, a safety presentation will be given to the 5th graders on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. 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. More information has been sent home and must be returned by Tuesday, January 3.

Winter Break

There will be NO SCHOOL from Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2 for the Winter Break. School will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Enjoy your break!

Caps for the CAP Agency

In January the 4th graders at Grainwood will be working on a community service project. In social studies we have been planning a “food drive.” We will be collecting money for the CAP Agency to help them restock the food shelf after the holidays. The CAP Agency would prefer money rather than food donations because for every $1 donated, the CAP Agency can purchase $9 worth of food! Grainwood students who bring a dollar on Friday, January 13th to donate can wear a hat all day at school!

Laker Educational Foundation's "Summer Smash"

The Laker Educational Foundation (formerly the PLSA Educational Foundation) is looking for volunteers to help plan their Summer Smash event this summer. The event, being held downtown and featuring The Guess Who, is sure to be a great time and all proceeds directly benefit learners in our community. Grainwood alone has benefitted from over 10 grants from the Foundation. So, if you enjoy planning and organizing events, or just want to meet more involved people in our community, please contact Martha Hoover at the Foundation, mhoover@integra.net to help.

Wolf Ridge ELC

The fifth graders returned this week to their regular classroom after a fun-filled, active and outdoor week at Wolf Ridge Environment Learning Center.  From morning until night, students, staff and parent volunteers were kept busy in classes (many of them outside) learning about science concepts, environmental education and challenging classmates to take risks.  What a great week!  Please enjoy these few photos representing a few of the most popular activities at ELC!

Rock Wall

Rock Wall Support

Orienteering

Wilderness Survival

Ropes Course

Ropes Course in Action

From the Office of the Principal

Grainwood is looking to hire a Noon Supervisor to begin after the new year.  This is a 2-hour position, approximately 11 AM to 1 PM, on days when students are in school.  If you are an interested GW parent or know of someone looking for this sort of position, please apply online here at the PLSAS district homepage.  Contact Principal Glynn with any questions.

A Reminder From Health Services...

As the holidays get closer and guests arrive, please remember to check your student for head lice before and after holiday break. 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”. If you do not have access to a computer, please call the Health office for a hard copy. Have a great Winter Break!

Health Services

Grades 4/5 Choir Concert

Our Grainwood Choir will perform along with the WestWood Choir on Thursday, December 15th 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 15th in the WestWood gym. Parents and guests are invited to attend the dress rehearsal if they are unable to attend the evening performance.

Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to 5th grade teacher, Michele Perkins, for being selected as Grainwood's Teacher of the Year! Michele has taught 5th grade in the Prior Lake-Savage School District for 13 years, and she also taught 1st and 3rd grade at Belgrade Brooten-Elrosa School District for 8 years. Her time in the Prior Lake-Savage School District has allowed her to teach 5th grade at Westwood and now at Grainwood. She received her undergraduate degree in education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her master's degree at St. Scholastica.

Michele has served on a variety of committees during her time with the school district. Some of her past and present committees include PBIS, RtI, Report Card, Sunshine, and Student Council Supervisor. She is also the Prior Lake High School Assistant Cross Country Coach.

Michele lives in Lakeville with her husband, Troy, and her daughters Jaya, who is a freshman at U of M-Crookston and Taylor, who is a junior at Lakeville North High School. She enjoys all sports, reading, and spending time with family.

It's a Boy!

Congratulations to Mrs. Dunham, Art teacher at Grainwood, and her husband Tad on the birth of their baby boy, Austin Peter Dunham, who was born on Friday, November 4th!

Early Childhood Screening

Do you have a child that will be entering Kindergarten in the 2012-2013 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.

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network)

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network) will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, January 31st at 7:00 p.m. in the WestWood Media Center. Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver and Curriculum Director Jeff Holmberg will be in attendance to discuss and hear feedback about education of high ability students in our distirct. Please contact Apryl at span@mchsi.com for more information or to be put on the SPAN email list.

December 2011 Nurses Note - Fitness for the Whole Family

If you want active kids, be active yourself. Set a good example! Take the stairs instead of the elevator or park the car farther away from your destination. Talk about physical activity as an opportunity to take care of your body, rather than a punishment or a chore.

To keep your kids interested in fitness, make it fun.

1. Be silly - Let younger children see how much fun you can have while being active. Run like a gorilla. Walk like a spider. Hop like a bunny. Stretch like a cat.

2. Get in the game - Play catch, get the whole family involved in a game of tag or have a jump-rope contest. Try classic movement games such as Simon says or red light, green light. If you don't remember the rules, make up your own!

3. Count your chores - You might even make it a friendly challenge. Who can pull the most weeds out of the vegetable garden? Who can collect the most litter in the neighborhood? Who can shovel the craziest path in the snow?

4. Try an activity party - For your child's next birthday, schedule a bowling party, take the kids to a climbing wall or set up relay races in the backyard.

5. Put your kids in charge - Let each child take a turn choosing the activity of the day or week. Batting cages, bowling and fast-food play areas all count. What matters is that you're doing something active.

More Healthy Lifestyle Tips can be found on the Health Services website:
http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/1684104191658790/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=67274

Original Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/FL00030