5th Grade - Middle School Registration

Middle School registration for 5th Graders is coming up.  On Monday, February 3rd, middle school counselors will be attending the elementary classrooms to talk about registration for 6th grade.  Students will be given a registration sheet to take home, fill out and bring back to their teacher.

The registration guide is posted on both the HOMS and TOMS  websites.

Donuts with Dad

Donuts with Dad is Thursday, February 20th from 7:45 - 8:20am.  Dads (or Uncles, Grandpas, etc....) come with your child to enjoy breakfast together and play some Minute To Win It games.
A flyer came home yesterday, please RSVP to your child's teacher by next Friday, February 7th.

Click HERE for an electronic form of the Donuts with Dad flyer.  If you'd rather RSVP via email to your child's teacher feel free to do that as well.

JA In a Day

Yesterday, Grainwood students and staff participated in JA in a Day.  JA, or Junior Achievement, empowers young people to own their economic success.  This volunteer-delivered, K-12 program "fosters work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and uses experiential learning to inspire kids to dream big and reach their potential."  Employees from United Health Care and McGladrey joined us most of the day in classrooms teaching Grainwood students.  

Each grade level received approximately five lessons related to economics, communities, business or other social studies standards appropriate to the grade level. Make sure to ask your child about their guest teachers yesterday!

February is "I Love to Read Month"!

                                    I Love to Read! 
                                                                Я люблю читать!

February is I Love To Read Month at Grainwood! Our kickoff will be held this Thursday, January 30th at the All School Meeting."Winter Olympics 2014:  Russia" is our theme for the month.  We will be joining the fun in Sochi by using their mascots for our reading minutes challenge.  We'll also be learning a little Russian and some facts about Russia throughout the month.  Each grade level will set a weekly reading minute goal. Each student who has met their weekly goal will be entered into a raffle.

Other events throughout the month will include:

• Thursday, January 29th - Students to wear athletic clothes to school to participate in the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (aka the I Love To Read Kick-Off) as part of our All School Meeting

• Monday, February 3rd - Students will participate in a morning meeting where a little bit of Russian is spoken and taught

• Every Wednesday for the month of February - Students will participate in D.E.A.R. time (drop everything and read!)

Prizes will include:  winter sports bookmark, Russian/English Olympic wristband, Nancy Carlson book or a sled, and a Grand Prize of an Olympic mascot plush toy for the class with the most minutes for the month.  The Grand prize will be presented at February 28th at an All School Meeting.  Winner classes also get a sledding party.

Please click HERE for the link to the I Love to Read calendar for all the details!

A Message from Superintendent Gruver!

Dear Parents,

I know these last weeks have been challenging ones with hour school closures due to severely cold weather. Thank you for your patience. I know the question on your mind now is, "Will the district add make-up days to the calendar?" The short answer, for now, is no. The State of Minnesota requires a certain amount of instructional hours in a school year and our district is still above the State's minimum, even with the latest school closure January 28th.

At the same time, we all know how Minnesota weather is and we have several weeks of winter left that could bring more severe conditions. As a result, I have been talking with the school board, administrators and staff to discuss the possibility of adding some instructional time to the calendar, just in case we need it. Here is what is in the discussion phase at this point for potential added instructional hours:

• Making the early release day on March 20th at the end of the third quarter a full student contact day (not final)
• Changing April 18th from a staff development day to a student contact day (not final)

We are not considering extending the school year. Graduation will still take place on May 30th. The dates listed above are not adopted changes at this time, only alternatives should we experience more school closings due to weather.  

I feel it is important to communicate this information so that parents have time to make plans should we need to take action on additional instructional hours. If we need to add hours back into the school day, I will let you know as soon as possible via email. Principals will also be communicating as we go forward.

Again, thank you for your support throughout these past few weeks. We are excited to have students back in school!

Best Regards,

Dr. Sue Ann Gruver

Superintendent 

Back to School We GO!

Dear Parents,

This has been a very unusual January with our extremely cold weather, thus resulting in an unprecedented amount of days off for your children.  We know they are safe and warm in the comfort of your homes, but everyone is ready for a return to normalcy beginning tomorrow.  I would imagine your children are ready to return too!

Rest assured, Grainwood staff have been modifying teaching plans and making the necessary adjustments to keep pace for the remainder of the school year.  The past two days especially, learning teams have been hard at work preparing instruction and growing their own skills with their assigned new learning this year incorporating Schoology and i-cue (data warehouse) into their daily practices.

Just a reminder that Family Fun Night is this Thursday evening from 5-7 PM.  Please join us for some winter neighborly socialization and a chance for your child to be active.  Hope to see you here!

Patrick Glynn
Principal

CARES Heroes

CARES Heroes selected Friday, January 24th

Grainwood CARES T-Shirts

Grainwood CARES t-shirts will be on sale Thursday January 30th from 5:00 - 7:00 for a reduced price  (formerly $7.00, now only $5.00!) during Family Fun Night....... until supplies run out!!!!

You're invited! SYNERGY/SAGE Family Fun Night

You and Your Family are Invited to a

Synergy/SAGE Family Fun Night with

The Works Museum!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

6:30-8:30pm

Twin Oaks Middle School Cafeteria

$5.00/family-payable at the door

Staff from The Works Museum (www.theworks.org) will lead

students in explorations of fun, hands-on learning stations:

Crazy Cars: Join us for a different type of picnic. Come on in and grab some picnic supplies to build a crazy car. Then test your design.

Squishy Circuits: What is a conductor? What is an insulator? Explore circuits and the flow of electricity as you experiment with an unlikely material: play dough!

Mini Hovercraft: Use air power to make a CD glide smoothly across the table on a small cushion of air.

Members of the Prior Lake robotics teams will also be there to display their robots!

Please RSVP to http://mcgt.net/priorlake/calendar to help us plan accordingly.

Questions?  Contact us at span.priorlake@gmail.com

Sponsored by SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network)

For more information on how to become involved with SPAN, go to http://mcgt.net/priorlake/

Family Fun Night Reminder!!!

You and your family are invited to attend Grainwood's Family Fun Night! It will be a Beach Party Theme again this year with inflatables in the gym, dance-dance revolution, face painting, tattoos, photo booth (new this year!), pizza, cookie and drink ($3.00 a person), a visit by our C.A.R.E.S Heroes, and much more!  The new Grainwood T-shirts will also be on sale for $5.00 per shirt.

Please come join the fun!

Grainwood's Family Fun Night

Thursday, January 30th

5:00 - 7:00 PM

In order for Family Fun Night to be a huge success, we need volunteers!  We are especially looking for people to help with face painting, a favorite for the kids! Click the SignUpGenius link below to sign-up for a time to volunteer. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Please click HERE to help!

Report Card Information

Student Report Cards will be posted online and available through Family/Student Access on Wednesday, January 22nd at 12:00PM.  Please go to the Prior Lake-Savage website where you can review and print your child's second quarter report card.

Follow these steps to access your child's report card:

1.  Go to  http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/parents

2.  Click on Family/Student Access.

3.  Enter Login & Password (if you need help accessing your username or password, there is a link to assist you)

4.  Select Report Cards on the left.

5.  Select the report card for 1/22/14 to view and print your child’s second quarter report card.

If you have questions, please contact us at 952-226-0300.

Thank you!

SPAN (SYNERGY/SAGE Parent Action Network) Meeting

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network) will host our next meeting on Monday February 3 at 7pm in the WestWood Media Center.  The meeting will feature Dr. Karen Rogers, professor in gifted education at the University of St. Thomas, who will speak on and answer questions about how to meet the needs of twice-exceptional children both within and outside of school.  Twice-exceptional children are gifted and face some other challenge (ADHD, learning disability, etc.).  Teacher relicensure CEU’s will be available.

SPAN will also host our 3^rd annual Synergy/SAGE Family Night on Thursday February 6 at from 6:30-8:30pm in the Twin Oaks Middle School cafeteria.  We are pleased to welcome back The Works (www.theworks.org ). The Family Night will include a variety of hands-on activities as well as demonstrations by members of the PLSAS robotics teams.  Please see http://mcgt.net/priorlake/calendar for more information and to RSVP.

Email Apryl at span.priorlake@gmail.com with questions!

Paraprofessional Appreciation Luncheon

We are grateful for all you do for our school!!

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and showing

appreciation to those around us and for the gifts in 

our lives.  It is a mindful acknowledgement of all that

we have been given.  When we focus on the 

abundance in our lives, we discover a greater

capacity for generosity, cheerfulness and contentment.

This week was Paraprofessional Recognition Week and as an end to their week, paraprofessionals enjoyed a pizza luncheon with their colleagues.  

New AM DROP-Off Routine Reminder!

Dear Grainwood Families,


About two months ago, we changed our drop-off routine at Grainwood in the AM to help improve safety for our students and families.  Drop-off in front of the building can be hectic, even though the time period is only about 10-15 minutes long.  In establishing the new routine of NOT parking in front of the building between the two new signs from 8:15-8:35 AM, families should be able to pull over traveling east on Minnesota Street, let their child(ren) out and leave immediately in a safe and orderly fashion.  (We would ask that children NOT be dropped off by vehicles traveling West on Minnesota Street, to avoid anyone crossing the street in front of potentially moving traffic. We also ask that you please DO NOT double park in the street and let your student(s) out to walk between cars or park in the handicapped parking areas.)

Some mornings, however, cars are either parked in the drop-off area or families are waiting with their child(ren) there until the bell rings.  Obviously, some families (and substitute staff) are still learning the new routine.  You can help!  First of all, please inform any members of your family that might help with drop-off about our NO PARKING parameters between 8:15-8:35 AM.  Sometimes different family members or neighbors might assist with transportation and they need to be informed.  Secondly, feel free to inform our office if you witness a repeat offender.  I have spoken with many families the past few weeks and all have been very receptive.  We are aware that change takes time and eventually all families will become accustomed to the new routine.  Thanks for your patience and commitment to safety.    

Your Friendly Safety Enforcer and Principal

Patrick Glynn

Early Release and No School Reminders

• We will have a 2-Hour Early Release this Thursday, Jan 16th (students are out at 1:00pm).  This is the last day of the second quarter.

There will be

• NO SCHOOL this Friday, January 17th (Staff Day) 
• NO SCHOOL Monday,  January 20th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

Please call our office if you have any questions:  952-226-0300

Transitioning to Middle School - Student and Parent Information

Dear 5^th Grade Families,

There will be a parent information night for families on Tuesday, January 28th, 2014 at 6:30 PM in the Twin Oaks Middle School Jerabek Hall.  All future middle school parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. You will have a chance to learn about middle school structure, student scheduling, ways your child will be supported, and given the opportunity to ask questions.

In May, when building placement for your child has been determined, the fifth graders will tour their middle school for next year, followed by a parent orientation night at your child’s 6^th grade middle school building.

Sincerely,

MS Administrators

Jump Rope For Heart

The Grainwood PE Department is preparing for its community service project to help the American Heart Association, our 7th annual and the 35th Anniversary of the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser on the national level. We will have our Kick-off during the specials time on January 16th and have the Finale during the specials time on February 18th.  Grades 1 through 5 will be invited to participate this year.  Each student will be given a pledge envelope to try to raise funds for the AHA at the Kick off.  These envelopes will need to be turned into their homeroom teacher on or before February 18th.

Overflowing Lost and Found

Our lost and found is bursting at the seams, so we are displaying all items in our front hallway.  If you are missing something, please come check it out!

You're Invited: Teacher of the Year Celebration

Please join us in honoring Cortney Buck, Grainwood's Teacher of the Year on January 16th, 3:30 - 5:00pm  at the Twin Oaks Middle School media center.

This event is free and open to the public.

"Being named Teacher of the Year for Grainwood is a big honor.  It’s amazing to be recognized by a staff that’s full of so many talented and dedicated people.  I feel incredibly lucky to get to go to work here every day and some days I can’t believe I get paid to have this much fun!  Getting to do what you love is a privilege, and I’m so grateful I get to do that at Grainwood.  Thanks!"

Community Education News

For more information on the upcoming "Daddy Daughter Dance" and the "Childhood Anxiety and Depression Seminar" (part of the Successful Students Series) please click HERE.  

Both events take place in February, and early registration for either event has benefits.

Please call Community Education with any questions at 952-226-0080 or follow the Community Education link on the left sidebar of this blog.

CARES Students of the Week

Yesterday, January 8th, Grainwood fourth and fifth graders participated in our annual Geography Bee. There were seven rounds of questions and each participant was asked one question in each of the seven rounds of competition (much like a spelling bee). Questions ranged from choosing between United State's cities and states, to providing answers related to continents and other countries. Scores were so close that a tie-breaker between the two finalists (below), Avi and Bella needed to be done.

Congratulations go out to fifth grader Bella for winning the competition. Bella will now take a written test and the 100 top scorers in the state will advance to a state competition later this year. We wish her the best!

SAGE Parent Information Night - DATE CHANGE

The SAGE parent information session has been rescheduled to next Monday, January 13th and will take place in the Westwood Elementary Gym.

Thank you!

School Cancelled for Monday, January 6th and Tuesday, January 7th

Due to the expected wind chill warnings for tomorrow, ISD719 is also CLOSED on Tuesday,  January 7 as well!

Governor Dayton has cancelled school across the state of MN for next Monday, January 6th.

Click HERE for the KARE 11 article posted this afternoon regarding the school closings.

Stay warm and safe this weekend!!

January Nurse's Note

 Give Kids a Smile 2014

Give Kids a Smile is a charitable program coordinated by the Minnesota Dental Association to provide free care to low-income children in need. The two-day, statewide event is Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2, 2014. A few clinics plan to provide care on later dates in February.  The Association is committed to doing

what it can to make quality care accessible to every child in Minnesota.  By clicking the link below, find the clinic that best fits your needs and location, then call to make an appointment for your child(ren).

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

Protect Yourself from Frostbite & Hypothermia

Signals of frostbite include—

• ·         lack of feeling in the affected area;
• ·         skin that appears waxy, is cold to the touch, or is discolored (flushed, white or gray, yellow or blue).

What to do for frostbite—

1. Move the person to a warm place.

2. Handle the area gently; never rub the affected area.

3. Warm gently by soaking the affected area in warm

    water (100–105 degrees F) until it appears red and

    feels warm.

4. Loosely bandage the area with dry, sterile dressings.

5. If the person’s fingers or toes are frostbitten, place

    dry, sterile gauze between them to keep them

    separated.

6. Avoid breaking any blisters.

7. Do not allow the affected area to refreeze.

8. Seek professional medical care as soon as possible.

Signals of hypothermia include—

• ·         shivering, numbness, glassy stare;
• ·         apathy, weakness, impaired judgment;

What to do for hypothermia—

1. CALL 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

2. Gently move the person to a warm place.

3. Monitor breathing and circulation.

4. Give rescue breathing and CPR if needed.

5. Remove any wet clothing and dry the person.

6. Warm the person slowly by wrapping in blankets or    by putting dry clothing on the person. Hot water bottles and chemical hot packs may be used when first wrapped in a towel or blanket before applying. Do not warm the person too quickly, such as by immersing him or her in warm water. Rapid warming may cause dangerous heart arrhythmias. Warm the core first (trunk, abdomen), not the extremities (hands, feet). This is important to mention because most people will try to warm hands and feet first and that can cause shock   http://www.redcross.org

2014-15 Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for the Prior Lake - Savage school district is being held on Thursday, January 23rd.  Each elementary school, including Edgewood school will be holding registration on that day.

If your child will turn 5 on or before September 1st they are eligible for kindergarten in 2014-15 school year. In early January you will receive a Kindergarten Registration Manual in the mail.

Please notify our office if you do not receive your registration manual by mid January.
If you are requesting early entrance for your child you must file a written request to Mr. Glynn, the principle, by April 30th, 2014.

5th Grade Hyland Hills Ski Trip - Rescheduled due to weather!

This year the Three Rivers Park District / Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area in Bloomington is providing an opportunity designed to introduce skiing to fifth graders through the Physical Education Department.

This field trip introduces students to a lifetime of physical activity that can be done during Minnesota winters!

All 5th graders will participate in a safety demonstration, at Grainwood, on January 2nd.

 Due to the extreme cold temperature forecast for Monday, January 6th, the field trip has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 14th.


A yellow informational sheet and permission slip were sent home last week.  Please review this sheet and call your child's teacher with any questions.  The permission slips, with payment, are due back to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

Upcoming SPAN Meeting

SPAN (Synergy/SAGE Parent Action Network) will hold its next meeting on Thu. Jan. 9 at 7pm in the WestWood Media Center.  Join us with questions about your own gifted child or gifted education within the district.  We’ll host an open discussion about whatever issues/questions parents bring to the meeting; other parents can often provide great support and answers!  Our February meeting on Mon. Feb. 3 will feature speaker Dr. Karen Rogers, who will present on how to meet the needs of twice-exceptional children both within and outside of school.  Twice-exceptional children are gifted and face some other challenge (ADHD, learning disability, etc.).  Questions?  Want to be placed on the SPAN email list?  Contact Apryl at span.priorlake@gmail.com .