Last Week Reminders

Greetings,Families!

We hope many of you had the chance to connect at the All School Picnic Friday night.

Here's what to expect and here are a few requests for the last week:

1. Please have your child bring 2-3 books to enjoy or the remainder of the week. We have had to pack up most of our books in the classroom :( so it would be wonderful if your child could bring in a couple of books to read during our silent reading time in the afternoon. 
2. Como Pool on Wednesday! Please help your child remember to bring the following: backpack, walking shoes, swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, packed lunch, and water bottle. They may also bring goggles or a life jacket (they will also supply life jackets at the pool). Please do not send pool toys or money.  
3. Clean up day on Thursday. The children will be helping with clean up around the room and they will be bringing home all of their work on Thursday. If you can, please send in an extra bag, just in case.  We will be spending the afternoon at the park on this day.
4. Noon Dismissal on Friday! Can you believe this is only 4 days away!? Please do not send a backpack or lunch on this day. They will be dismissed right from the ceremony.  The children will be gathering and dismissed from a designated spot (in our recess area), after the ceremony, so please come and pick up your child from this area if you are joining us for the ceremony.  

Wishing you all the best and more,

Nadine

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind). 

Reminder for Tomorrow

Dear Families,

We are excited for a fun day outdoors tomorrow afternoon.  The seniors have been hard at work planning a Field Day for our elementary students.  Please remember to send along the following with your child:

-water bottle (if not already at school)

-good shoes for active play (a hat for good measure)

-sunscreen (please apply at home and feel free to send along if your child will reapply at school)

Thanks so much.  

Nadine

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind). 

Work Share Reminders

Hello Wonderful Families,

It was lovely to see so many of you at work share last week and we look forward to seeing more families tomorrow afternoon for our second work share event.  The South door (to the elementary building) will be unlocked at 1:25.  We ask you to wait until this time to enter so classrooms can prepare and continue their afternoon work periods.  Also, we will be enjoying time outside, on the playground, after work share.  We ask you to join us there if you are waiting for a sibling.  Students will be dismissed at the regular time.  Please read here for a reminder on work share details this year.

We hare excited to welcome you tomorrow and have the children show you all they can do!

Thanks,

Nadine

PS-  In case your child is excitedly talking about our Mystery Guest today, here is a picture​

 0516181440.jpg

​.  They really enjoyed it!

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind). 

Como Pool Correction

Hello Families,

I wanted to clarify a note from my most recent reminders.  The field trip to Como Pool is not optional, however, the donation is optional.  Hope this is more clear.  

Thanks

Nadine

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind). 

Rice Creek Notes and Reminders

Hello Families,

We just have three notes and reminders for you today:

1. Como Pool - June 6th: Yesterday, we sent home permission slips with your children for our trip to Como Pool on Wednesday, June 6th.  It's an optional field trip, but please take a look at the form when you get the chance. 

2. Parent Appreciation Day: Due to lack of space, unfortunately, we have decided as a level that we will not be able to host parent appreciation day at school.  But keep an eye out for a little appreciation coming your way...

3. A note from the administration:

Dear Elementary Parents,

The end of the year is quickly approaching!  Many classrooms are planning off campus adventures and we want to make sure that families are aware of a safety protocol that was developed in elementary this year to ensure the safety of all students.

In order to participate in off campus activities, students must follow community norms.  If a student demonstrates a significant challenge to follow adult instructions that could lead to safety concerns, the student will remain on campus doing an alternate activity.

If there are safety concerns regarding your child, you will be contacted by your child's classroom guide.  Additionally, if behavior challenges happen while off campus, parents will be notified that there is a concern and the possibility that they will need to pick up their child.

We look forward to finishing off the year in ways that are joyful and safe for all students!

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind). 

Rice Creek Updates

Hi All,

Happy May!  We have enjoyed the sun and warmth with outdoor picnic lunches, garbage cleanup around the school, and extra time outside for community games.  We hope the warmer weather is providing some fun at home too.  Following are some reminders and important dates.

Events

May 7-11-Spirit Week :

PJ Monday: Wear your PJ's or comfy clothes! Make sure to wear something that covers your feet (Slippers, Shoes, Ect)

Rainbow Tuesday: Dress Up in as much of one color as possible. If you don't have all of one color wear as many different colors as possible. 

Wacky Wednesday: Go Crazy. Some Examples: Crazy Hairdos, Wear Clothes inside-out, mismatched colors, accessorize, ect.

Dress Up Like a Book Character Thursday: Dress up like your favorite book characters: Some Examples: Curious George, Dr Seuss Characters, Fancy Nancy, Hermione, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Tintin, Pippi Longstocking, Clementine, Narnia characters.

Formal Friday: Dress up Fancy! Some examples: Suits, Dresses, Ties, Suspenders.

  

May 10 and 17th (1:30-2:30pm sign up here)- LE Workshare

May 23rd- 2nd grade Going Out to Como Zoo

May 31-Field Day (an event put on by seniors for elementary students; more details to come)

June 5th-Parent Appreciation (details to come)

June 6th-Como Pool (permission slip to come home soon)

Notes:

Lost and Found will be cleaned and donated this Friday.  Missing something?  We will give children time to find their things this week, if needed.

Nadine

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind). 

Rice Creek Newsletter

Hello Dear Families,

We hope your time together as families was rejuvenating and full of connection.  We were happy to see bright, smiling faces this morning as the children reconnected, shared stories of their adventures, and got back into the flow of work.  We have some fun lessons planned this week to get motivated and energized.  First graders will be building land and water forms with salt dough clay (look for a recipe to come home this week in their Thursday folders), second graders will begin a large study of the Timeline of Life (a huge hit and and central to the Montessori curriculum), and third graders are eager to begin planting peas and grasses (as a part of their plant classification work).

Below are some coming events and reminders.  Remember school events can always be found on the GRS calendar and announcements blog.

• First Grade Families-Please return the timeline form (attached below) with your child tomorrow, so they may participate in lesson.  Thanks!
• Tuesday, April 10 (tomorrow)-MCA Reading Makeup (3rd-grade only)
  
• Wednesday, April 18th-MCA Math (3rd-grade only)
  
• Monday-Friday, Week of May 14th-Rising Up Day (3rd-grade only, visiting Upper Elementary)
• Please help your child remember to return with their indoor shoes and water bottle this week.
  
• A wish list of books we would love to have for our classroom.
• Some learning for us adults.
• Coming in mid-May is the Lower Elementary Work Share (details coming at the end of the week).

In Gratitude,

Nadine McNiff

--

Nadine McNiff

Lower Elementary Guide

Great River School

1326 Energy Park Drive

651-305-2780

"The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children." (The Absorbent Mind).