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)