Grainwood CARES Students of the Week

Way to go CARES heroes!

Lost & Found

Missing something? 

Our lost and found is very full!  If you are missing hats, mittens, sweatshirts, etc...please take a moment to look in our lost and found or encourage your child to look during the school day, with their teacher's permission.

Winter Concert

The Grainwood and Westwood Choirs met again for their annual combined winter concert last Thursday. All their hard work and rehearsal time paid off with a most entertaining production!

Hibernation Day - Friday December 20th!

Come to school dressed to hibernate this Friday, December 20th!
Wear your comfy PJ's or lounge clothes.

CARES Students of the Week

CARES Students of the week!

Winter Break

There will be no school from Monday, December 23 - Wednesday, January 1st for Winter Break.
School will resume on Thursday, January 2.  Enjoy your break!

Grainwood Giving Tree

If you're looking for a meaningful gift idea for your child's teacher or special staff member, please stop by the Giving Tree.  Located in our front hallway, it is decorated with special "ornaments" that are unique to each teacher/staff member.  Each staff member has written down a gift idea or item they are in need of on each of their ornaments.  You may take the ornament of your choice as a reminder.

What a meaningful and conveinent way to thank that special teacher/staff member in your child's life!

CogAT Testing for all 2nd Graders

All second graders who currently attend Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) with their second grade class during the week of January 6-10, 2014.
The CogAT is a group test which appraises the cognitive development of students and requires students to demonstrate their reasoning abilities in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and nonverbal reasoning.
Students will prepare for the CogAT during the month of December and after break in early January.
CogAT practice tests are also available on the district webpage.

The CogAT is one criteria used to determine admission into Gifted and Talented programming, such as the Elementary Synergy program and SAGE Academy - which is a school within a school that provides full-time gifted programming to students in grades 3,4 and 5.

Students currently enrolled in grades 3 and 4 in Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools who are interested in SAGE academy may retake the CogAT if they meet the MAP testing criteria and are recommended for placement by their teachers or parents.

Students who are not currently attending PLSAS schools will also have the opportunity for CogAT testing on Saturday, January 11th at 10:00 a.m. and on Tuesday, January 14th at 10:00 a.m. at WestWood Elementary school.  Please refer to the SAGE Academy website for additional information/forms.

Please contact Pam Winfield, Program Coordinator and WestWood Principle with any specific questions at 952-226-0400.

Early Childhood Screening for 2014-15 Kindergarteners is Required

If you have a child entering kindergarten for the 2014-15 school year, please plan for and schedule their early childhood screening appointment.  The state of MN, as well as the Prior Lake-Savage school district, requires early childhood screenings be completed before kindergarten.  Appointments are required and take place on select Tuesdays and Fridays.  You can call (952)-226-0975 or email ecscreening@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us to make an appointment.  Children can be screened as early as age 3.

Early childhood screening is a comprehensive review of children in three developmental areas as well as a review of the general health, immunizations, hearing, vision, speech, height and weight.
All screenings take place at Edgewood School, 5304 WestWood Drive, Prior Lake.  The phone number listed above can also be called for exemption information if you are opposed to screening your child.

December Nurse's Note

December 2013

Nurses Note

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.

                                  5 Ways to Stay Healthy For the Holidays                           

                                               http://www.kidshealth.org

Follow these 5 tips to boost your body's defenses:

1. Fend off germs. Protect yourself: Get a flu vaccine and wash your hands a lot. People can be contagious before they know they're sick, so even just a sip from someone's drink puts his or her germs in your body.
2. Eat healthy and be merry. Holiday foods can be high in calories and low on the nutrition you need to battle germs and boost energy. Make it a priority to eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day (choose the whole fruit instead of juice so you feel full longer and avoid added sugar). Carry an apple or a bag of baby carrots so you always have a healthy snack available.
3. Chill. If you feel stressed out, stop what you're doing for just a moment. Take five deep breaths. Concentrate on each breath as you inhale and exhale.
4. Beat the blues. Holiday depression doesn't just happen in songs. For some people, it's seasonal, brought on by shorter days, longer nights, and colder weather. Other people are going through difficult life events. If you feel down, go outside. Sunlight and exercise are great mood lifters. Try a seasonal activity to put you in the holiday spirit, like ice skating or neighborhood carol singing. And don't hesitate to talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling.
5. Get some Z's. Getting enough sleep each night can help strengthen your immune system, give you more energy, and make you less vulnerable to stress.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

CARES Students of the Week

Way to go Grainwood CARES Heros!

Outdoor Weather Policy

Students will be going outside for recess unless the "Feels Like" temperature falls below a -5 degrees or it is steadily raining.  All elementary schools will use the KARE 11 website to determine the "Feels Like" temperature.

Students must have snow pants and boots on in order to play in the snow at school.  Students without snow pants 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.

Emergency School Closings

For information on emergency school closings or delayed starts, tune into WCCO radio (830 AM) and WCCO 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.

Grades 4 & 5 Choir Concert

Our Grainwood Choir will perform along with the WestWood Choir on Thursday, December 12th 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 1:00 p.m. on December 12th 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 1:00 p.m., please remember to check in at the WestWood office before going to the gym.

We hope to see you there!

PTC Giving Tree

Are you looking at getting your child’s teacher a gift for the Holidays and don’t know what to get?  The PTC has organized a Giving Tree for the teachers at Grainwood.  Ideas on the tree include items the teachers

would like for their classroom; such as, books, school supplies, gift cards, etc.  The tree will be located in the front entrance to the school beginning Dec. 9th.  It will have colored tags hanging on the branches.  Each grade has a unique color and each teacher has a different shape.  If interested, all you have to do is take the tag with the item of your choice on it.  Happy Holidays from the GW PTC!

Reminder - Student Directory Forms Due This Friday

This is a friendly reminder that student directory permission forms are due this Friday 12/6.  If you need another copy please contact our office or follow the link below. 

It is the district's policy not to distribute student information without permission.  However we realize that there are many circumstances where you might want to communicate with other students - playdates, Birthdays and homework help to name a few.  The Grainwood student directory will soon be available to meet these needs for a cost of $2.00.

Click HERE for a digital copy of the permission form.  This form will also be available on the sidebar of our blog through December 6th.  If you have more than one child at Grainwood, please complete a form for each child.  Forms need to be returned to school by Friday December 6th, with payment attached.

Snowy Fun at Wolf Ridge

More fun pictures to share from Wolf Ridge!

Greetings From Wolf Ridge!

Looks like they're getting a lot of snow and having a great time!

Toys for Tots at Grainwood

Toys for Tots will be running December 2nd-13th.  Donations can be for all ages.  There is a large drop off box in the main hallway where you can put your unwrapped gift.  Thank you for helping families in need - you do make the difference in the life of a child!

Honor a Teacher or Staff Member in December

                     Gratitude Greeting!

If you have been wondering how to send thanks to your child's teacher or special staff member this Holiday Season, click HERE for an idea to consider.  You can express your appreciation to that special person along with contributing to the Laker Educational Foundation, which promotes innovative and creative educational initiatives that benefit citizens of all ages in our community.

Greetings and gift certificates will be hand delivered to the person of your choice on Thursday, December 19th and Friday, December 20th.