NEW Grainwood Head Secretary!

Dear GW Families,

I want to announce that Mindee Hemann was offered the position of Grainwood Head Secretary and willingly accepted.  She'll be transitioning to her new position in our office over the next few weeks.  Therefore, Grainwood will be searching for a new Building Secretary to replace her ASAP.  The position should be posted very soon and we should expect it filled around Thanksgiving time.  In the meantime, Sandy Hendrix will continue to assist in our office.  Thanks!

Principal Glynn

2-Hour Early Release

Thursday, November 8th is a 2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE for K-5 students.  All students will be released at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 8th.

Kids Voting is Back! Kids can vote November 6th!

Kids Voting Minnesota is dedicated to demonstrating the importance of being involved in our democracy.

Bring your K-12th grade children with you to your local polling place on Tuesday, November 6th, from 4-8 p.m. to vote.

There will be special ballots, special ballot boxes and special giveaways for every Kids Voting participant!

For more information, contact Jenny Nagy jnagy@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us.  To find your polling place, click here.

CARES Students of the Week

CARES students of the week  (for last week). Congratulations ticket drawing winners!

Chip Shoppe Delivery

Chip Shoppe delivery will be on Thursday, November 1st from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the gym.

WCCO Meteorologist Visits Grainwood

This afternoon, Lauren Casey, WCCO weekend meteorologist, visited with Grainwood second graders today and shared a weather presentation.  Weather, a second grade science standard, is the focus of recent science lessons in the curriculum.  Thanks Lauren for sharing your expertise with Grainwood students and answering their questions.    

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 a.m.  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.

A Change in the Grainwood Office

Dear Grainwood Families,

This Friday, October 26, will be Connie Flicek's last official day as Grainwood's Head Secretary.  Connie interviewed for and was offered the Head Secretary position at Twin Oaks Middle school, which she accepted early last week.  We want to thank Connie for her 7 years of service to Grainwood and wish her well on her new endeavor at the middle school level.  A process is in place to fill our Head Secretary position.  When interviews are complete and a candidate has accepted the position, a new Head Secretary will be introduced. Stay Tuned!  

Patrick Glynn
Principal

Fall Harvest Activities - October 31st

As the end of the month approaches, classrooms will be preparing for their annual Fall Harvest Celebrations. We ask that District guidelines are followed regarding students who choose to wear costumes. Costumes are not allowed that depict violence, have weapons, blood, etc. Costumes also 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.

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 prepared for your child, please send a note to your child's classroom teacher ASAP. This will allow him/her to plan accordingly. Thank you!

GW Family Math Night - November 1st

This fall, Grainwood is hosting their annual MATH Night with a twist!  With the adoption and implementation of the new Math Expressions curriculum, we will be offering parents a short presentation about the new curriculum in two half hour sessions.  (We felt this was very important in order to keep our families informed and provide them a chance to clarify expectations and ask questions.  Ultimately, the rigor has been increased!) K-2 teachers will present from 6:00-6:30 PM and 3-5 teachers from 6:45-7:15 PM in the music room.  While the parents participate in presentations, students can play math and board games in the art room and media center.  Popcorn and supervision will be provided for school-age kids.  Come join us for Math Night on November 1st.  Prizes for students and door prizes for families will be provided! (Don't forget to pick up your Chip Shoppe Fundraising orders that night too!)

Attached is the MATH NIGHT flyer HERE!

Picture Retake Day

Picture retakes will be on Wednesday, October 24th.  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.

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network)

Reminder that SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network) will have its first meeting on Tuesday Oct. 23 at 7pm in the WestWood Media Center. The focus will be on presenting our plan for the school year, hearing feedback from parents, and hosting a panel of all elementary school principals to discuss how the needs of gifted kids are being met at the elementary level. Please see our website www.mcgt.net/priorlake for more information about SPAN, and email Apryl at span@mchsi.com with questions.

November Community Education News

Click HERE to view the November Community Education flyer.

Give With Target Promotion

Just recently, Grainwood families, friends and/or relatives voted for Grainwood Elementary in Target's "Give With Target" promotion this past September. We received $75 in Target Gift Cards through the promotion with Target donating $2.5 million nationally.  Thank you to those who supported Grainwood through Give With Target!

NO SCHOOL - REMINDER

This is just a reminder that there will be NO SCHOOL for K-5 from Wednesday, October 17th to Friday, October 19th for MEA break. Enjoy your time off!

Tuesday, October 16...Book Fair LAST DAY!

This is just a reminder that the Grainwood Book Fair's last day is tomorrow, October 16.  The Media Center will be open for sales from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Thanks!

Watch School Board Meetings and Other School Events on the Web

Our webcasting technology provides convenient access to live and archived streaming of school board meetings through the website.

Residents can review board agendas and minutes posted alongside the video player for live and archived meetings.  Archived meetings are indexed, allowing viewers to select agenda items that interest them instead of watching a meeting in its entirety.

To learn how to watch School Board Meetings and other school events on the web, click HERE.

Book Fair Helpers Needed!

Dear Grainwood Families,

Only 6 more volunteers needed!  Can you help us at the Book Fair???  Please click, view and sign-up to work a shift!  Our media Center is a very festive atmosphere at this time and extremely fun for the students!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054AACA9238-grainwood

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 http://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.

CARES Heroes of the Week!

Congratulations to our CARES Heroes of the Week!

SPAN (Synergy/SPAN Parent Action Network)

SPAN (Synergy/SPAN Parent Action Network) will have its first meeting on Tuesday October 23 at 7pm in the WestWood Media Center and will focus on our plans for the year as well as how the needs of gifted kids are being met at the elementary schools. Elementary principals will be in attendance. Please email Apryl at span@mchsi.com with questions and/or to be included on the SPAN email list. Also, see our website at www.mcgt.net/priorlake for more information about SPAN meetings and events.

Parent Workroom and Volunteer Handbook

Our Parent Volunteer Room (room 240) is up and running! There is a place for you to hang your coat and lockers to place your belongings (see pic). You'll also find a bin with your child's teacher's name on it located on one of the shelves. Please check in with your child's teacher first to see what projects/activities he/she many need your assistance with. You are more than welcome, however, to check additional bins in the Parent Volunteer Room to see if other staff members need projects completed (ie: the office staff, specialists; music, phy-ed, art, media).

Attached is the "Volunteer Handbook" that discusses procedures and guidelines, which will help make your volunteer experience a success. If you are presently a volunteer, or wish to become a volunteer, please read the handbook, complete the "Volunteer Form" (last page), and send it back with your child or bring it with you the next time you volunteer.  If you volunteer in more than one classroom, please make sure each teacher has a copy of the signed form.

The handbook link can be found HERE.  It is also a permanent link on the Grainwood Gab blog under "Grainwood Links" (on the left side) and on the Grainwood homepage under the "Quick Guide." Thank you for volunteering your time and talents at Grainwood!

CLIMB Theatre

CLIMB Theatre will be coming to Grainwood on Wednesday, October 10th.  There will be two different plays being performed for the students:

(1) "Space Baby" will be performed for K-2 students
(2) "Flashback" will be performed for Gr. 3-5 students.

The plays concern the environment and examines the concepts of conservation, reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Click HERE to view "Space Baby" flyer to learn more about the play.
Click HERE to view "Flashback" flyer to learn more about the play.

Grainwood's Book Fair

The Book Fair dates and times are:

Thursday, October 11th (4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m)
Friday, October 12th (8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
Monday, October 15th (8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 16th (8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.)



Students and families will also be able to purchase books through an Online Book Fair beginning October 6th and ending October 26th. Go to http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/grainwood to learn more about it.

From the Office of the Principal

Dear Grainwood Families,

Now that the school year is well underway, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher directly with any questions or concerns.  Conferences are almost upon us and it is important that we address your child’s needs proactively through strong communication between home and school.  Teachers appreciate hearing from families to immediately answer questions and deal with the little, and often easily-solvable, issues that arise before they have time to escalate.  As a partnership in your child’s learning, we rely on you to let us know if something is not right.  Our Goal at Grainwood is to have teachers and parents work together to provide the best education for every child. Thanks and see you soon at Conferences!

Principal Patrick