Minnesota River Newsletter

Hello Minnesota River Families!

This week has been another busy week and what great work we have seen!  The snow is adding excitement to recess time but brings up a few reminders.

Please help your student remember snow pants, gloves, hats and warm jackets when the weather requires them.  The will be much more comfortable with appropriate clothing.

A few changes to note.  Our life celebrations will be on Mondays now the week following your scheduled time.  For example, this Friday, October 27 will be postponed until Monday, October 30th.  This is a necessary change due to time restraints on Fridays.

From the office:  

We are writing to communicate about celebrating Halloween at school. We will be doing harvest related activities with the children on Tuesday, October 31^st. These will vary from classroom to classroom, but all will involve some fun, hands-on activities and experiences to celebrate this time of year. Some classrooms may do activities with the Upper Elementary students who will be doing presentations on famous individuals and biography stories.

We would like to request the following from you:

-          Please do not send the children in costumes; regular school dress is expected

-          Please do not send candy to school in lunch boxes or as gifts to share both on Halloween or in the following days

Lastly, we are in need of more small paper plates, and napkins.  Also, I would like to humbly ask again if there is anyone who would be able to donate some airdry clay and medium crates to the classroom for book storage, something similar to this,  http://www.michaels.com/artminds-wood-crate-carry-all/10228808.html

And in conclusion, a quick note about academic lessons this past week.  These are the lessons that were given.

First Years

Cursive Booklets

Quadrilaterals

Math (various, differentiated)

First Calendars

Globes / Oceans

Second Years

Distributive and Pointing Adjectives

Math (various, differentiated)

Parts of a Straight Line

Land and Water Forms

Culture Folder Sentences

Third Years

Pronunciation Marks

Math (various, differentiated)

Sides of a Right Triangle

Fundamental Needs with Culture Folders

Best wishes to all of you!

In Partnership,

Patrick and Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

snack link

Here is the snack link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14BrIZ3v4qmdDoB_KvPEa52-YDKpVoit--Stptc-oyXw/edit?usp=sharing

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

reminder regarding snack

Hello All!

I just thought I'd send out the snack missive again (link forthcoming), for those of you who don't have it or have misplaced it in the black hole that is GoogleDrive.

Please do NOT purchase any food that has nuts or nut ingredients of any kind.  There is a severe allergy in our room, and we do not serve nuts at snack.  The food will go to waste.

The snack list we sent (below) was written by a guide in another classroom, and I could not edit it; sorry about the confusion.  The "almonds" on the list should be ignored.

I fear I have been lax in communication about this, and I apologize.

Best,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Minnesota River Classroom Updates

Dear Elementary Families

 

We have a historical practice at Great River to provide snack for lower and upper elementary students. Generosity of families has been essential to sustaining this practice over the years. This year, we have a grant that is supporting the elementary program expansion, and we have recently been informed that a classroom snack cannot be funded by our grant. 

 

Due to this adjustment in funding, we will have to adjust the scope of the snack we can fund in our classrooms. Budget for maximum reimbursement will be set at $30 per week. If you are able to donate your snack contribution, that is sincerely appreciated by the school

 

The goal of classroom snack is to bind the community together through shared responsibility for practical life.

 

Examples of snack are simple items:  and one of: sliced oranges, crackers, string cheese, etc. (This is an adjustment from earlier communicated examples.)

This past shortened week the students were busy catching up on their work and beginning new projects.  First years continue to work on cursive handwriting and the decimal system along with identifying their geometric shapes.  Second years are busy working on adjectives, a variety of math activities and the fundamental concepts of geometry.  Many third years are busy working on multiplication, roles of the adjectives and right-angled triangles. 

We are excited to begin our reading groups during literature time this week.  Please start a conversation with your student about what they are working on.  If yo can sign up to volunteer, please click on this: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E054BA5AF2AA5FC1-reading

Thank you,

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

pizza boxes?

Hello All,

The second years will be doing a project on land and water forms next week, and some of them will be using clay models on pizza boxes to show their work.  If any of you have extra pizza boxes at home, please send them in with your child!

Thank you, as always!

Best,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Specific Change in Snack

Dear MN River Families,

I am contacting you to let you know that we do have some specific snack needs every week.  This is a new development, and I apologize about inserting it into an already-established snack schedule.

Every week, please include in your purchase (as a part of the total, not as extra):

a bag of baby carrots

clementine oranges

a box of cheesits

a bag of pretzels

This should take care of two days' snack, so three days would remain (see previously sent snack sheet).

I recognize that purchasing snack is a responsibility that significantly adds to your already busy schedule.  Patrick and I want you to know that we recognize this, and that we deeply appreciate the time and money (if you do not wish to be reimbursed) you spend to help this classroom community.  Many, many thanks to you from us.

Best,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Library Checkout

Hello Minnesota River Families,

The children have initiated a book check-out for our library.  Any book can be checked out, and the book will be due in one week.  We will be sending a short email home to let you know if a book has been checked out, what the book is, and when it is due back to school.  If you would prefer your child not check out books, please let your child know.

Thanks!

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Fwd: Weekly newsletter (please add lessons and send out)

Dear Minnesota River Families,

The highlight of our week came on Friday, at Buttermilk Falls Farm.  It was a day of yellowy fall colors and crisp air, and well-enjoyed outdoor activity.  We planted garlic, turned an antique corn-huller, interacted with animals, decorated gourds, cast buckwheat seeds, and played with abandon in a wide-open space.

Below are attached several pictures from the event.

We continue to build community brick by brick.  The children voted to begin a library check-out system, the details of which they are working out.  I'll send more information when its decided for-sure.  Also, Jenny, our art teacher, came and did calligraphy with us.  The other lessons given this week can be found below.

Patrick and I did reading assessments this week, and we'll begin our reading program beginning October 23.  Our "Literature Time" is in the afternoons.  It would be great to have more reading volunteers for this time.  If you are available, please sign up on the sheet that Amy Shirilla has created: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E054BA5AF2AA5FC1-reading

We wish you the best,

Erik

Preview attachment IMG_2457.JPG

IMG_2457.JPG

150 KB

Preview attachment IMG_2456.JPG

IMG_2456.JPG

199 KB

Preview attachment IMG_2454.jpg

IMG_2454.jpg

167 KB

Preview attachment IMG_2424.JPG

IMG_2424.JPG

183 KB

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Buttermilk Falls Tomorrow!

Hello All; Just a reminder!

• Please arrive at school at 8:15 so that we can depart on time.
  
• Make sure your child has appropriate shoes/boots and clothing that they don't mind getting a little dirty. Layers would be good to wear.  
• Send a lunch and a water bottle (if it's not already here) with your child. We'll be eating at the farm!
• Please do not send your backpack with your child. This helps us save space on the bus. 

Best to all of you,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Field Trip on Friday

Dear Families,

We are excited for the first field trip of the year on Friday.  We haven't talked about it as a classroom community yet, but I have no doubt that there will be jubilation.  We will be going to Buttermilk Falls Farm, a sustainable farm by Osceola, Wisconsin.  There are woods, farmland, an animal barn, and a stream with a waterfall.

Please remember the following for the trip.  Each item is very important.

• Please arrive at school at 8:15 so that we can depart on time.
  
• Make sure your child has appropriate shoes/boots and clothing that they don't mind getting a little dirty. Layers would be good to wear.  
• Send a lunch and a water bottle (if it's not already here) with your child. We'll be eating at the farm!
• Please do not send your backpack with your child. This helps us save space on the bus. 

My best to you all.  Let me know if you have questions!

Best,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Last week in the Minnesota River Classroom

Dear Minnesota River Families,

It has been such a wonderful week in our community; I can't tell you how pleased I am to be back with these children.

A primary focus this week has been to build community and bring the children together as a group.  "Everyone belongs" has been a stated and unstated mantra for the week, and all of us are responding.

We did a lot of music this week, learning a new song ("If You Want to Sing Out Sing Out" by Cat Stevens) and polished up our "Community/Circle Song" that we started during those first three days of the school year.  As always, we sing "The Goodbye Song" at the end of each day.  Next on our list is learning "Country Roads" by John Denver, an old GRS favorite.

Without creating an epic email, I will just say that I see us coming together in a way that is really healthy, and it's a joy.

Note: We have a field trip to Buttermilk Falls Farm in Wisconsin this coming Friday, and if you're available to chaperone for the whole school day (from 8:15 to 3:10), let me know on a separate thread only to me, and we'll see if we can fit you in!  I apologize for the late notice.  More information on the field trip is forthcoming.

Information about the curriculum comes from Patrick, below.  Patrick has been delivering the lessons, and he will be doing so until October 22.

Monday 10/2 Math: 1st Bead chains and golden beads, 2nd Addition with the stamp game, 3rd Addition with the bead frame

Tuesday 10/3 Language: 1st Writing Insets & Cursive, 2nd Nouns & Cursive, 3rd Roles of Adjectives & Cursive

Wednesday 10/4 Geometry: 1st Geometric Solids & Triangles, 2nd From Point to Solid & Types of Lines

Thursday 10/5 Geography: 1st The Earth/Globe & Continents, 2nd Volcanoes, 3rd The Solar System 

Friday 10/6 Biology/History: 1st Living or Non-Living/Time, 2nd Vital Functions of Fish/Culture Study, 3rd Classification of Vertebrates/Fundamental needs

Please use this lesson schedule to start a conversation with your student about their work at school.

Best to you all,

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

snack reminbursement

Dear Families,

Just a reminder, before we put our snack concerns to rest: You may definitely request reimbursement for your snack purchases, should you be purchasing snack for the classroom.  Otherwise it is considered a donation.

Just bring your receipt (preferably in an envelope), and I'll start the process of you getting a check.

Thanks!!

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

RE: Sorry about all the emails...

Ok!

On Oct 5, 2017 4:49 PM, "Andrea Ledger" <akledger@gmail.com> wrote:

OK!  Thanks, Dagan.

 

From: Dagan McCann [mailto:dagan.mccann@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2017 4:25 PM
To: Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org>; rebeccah berry <rebeccahberry@gmail.com>
Cc: Aaron Wampach <aaron.wampach@gmail.com>; Amy Shirilla <ashirilla@gmail.com>; Andrea Ledger <akledger@gmail.com>; Andrea Weatherly <aj_campbell@mac.com>; Britt Geneva Cain <britt.g.cain@gmail.com>; Cate Rysavy <jcrysavy@gmail.com>; Cory Eischen <cory.blueautumn@gmail.com>; Emilie Petersen <Espete@gmail.com>; Gabriella McCann <mccanngsg@gmail.com>; Hawa Jama <hkiin72@gmail.com>; Jason Cain <jason.d.cain@gmail.com>; Jason Rysavy <jrysavy@gmail.com>; Jean Peters <jpeters@greatriverschool.org>; Jessica C <jemcoburn@gmail.com>; Lesley Tupy <lesleymairin@gmail.com>; Mari Richards <Big@smallforbig.com>; Meredith Rose Forbes <meredithrosef@gmail.com>; Nadine McNiff <nmcniff@greatriverschool.org>; Nathan Duffy <nate.c.duffy@gmail.com>; Nick Castellane <nickcastellane@gmail.com>; Nick Perin <nick.perin@gmail.com>; Paul Brohaugh <paulbrohaugh@gmail.com>; Paul McNiff <paulmcniff73@gmail.com>; RHODA RANDLE <rhoda_randle@yahoo.com>; Rachel Kane <rrekane@gmail.com>; Sara Eischen <saraeischen@gmail.com>; Sarah Walker <sarahywalker@gmail.com>; Sinead M Carolan <sineadcarolan@gmail.com>; Thomas Coburn <thomgcoburn@gmail.com>; Veronica Fleury <veronicafleury79@gmail.com>; Walker, Alex <bovikaitis@gmail.com>; cristyjosephs@yahoo.com; crmolloy@earthlink.net; dixon@dixonbordiano.com; forrestwoz@gmail.com; hmj@me.com; infor@greatriverschool.org; kgust22@yahoo.com; me@benfle.com; mkgoalen@gmail.com; nancy fasching <Njfstp@gmail.com>; paul.shirilla@uwrf.edu; rdamiani.minnesota@blogger.com; rhysledger@gmail.com; tbordiano@gmail.com; tom.kane@maguireref.com; tramell23@yahoo.com; twincitieswelding@live.com
Subject: Re: Sorry about all the emails...

 

Dear Minnesota River, Andrea and Rebeccah,
I looked on the schedule and didn't see our name since Stella was a recent addition to the classroom. Please allow me to cover at least this request. I'll get snack for all.

Thanks
Dagan McCann

 

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:19 PM rebeccah berry <rebeccahberry@gmail.com> wrote:

I can send snacks and veggies for Gex!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 5, 2017, at 4:10 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Thanks Andrea; very much appreciated!

 

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:00 PM, Andrea Ledger <akledger@gmail.com> wrote:

We have some leftover crackers and apples from last week that I can send.

On Oct 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Dear Families,

 

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

 

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

 

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

 

Gratitude always,

Erik

 

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

 

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

RE: Sorry about all the emails...

OK!  Thanks, Dagan.

Dear Minnesota River, Andrea and Rebeccah,
I looked on the schedule and didn't see our name since Stella was a recent addition to the classroom. Please allow me to cover at least this request. I'll get snack for all.

Thanks
Dagan McCann

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:19 PM rebeccah berry <rebeccahberry@gmail.com> wrote:

I can send snacks and veggies for Gex!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 5, 2017, at 4:10 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Thanks Andrea; very much appreciated!

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:00 PM, Andrea Ledger <akledger@gmail.com> wrote:

We have some leftover crackers and apples from last week that I can send.

On Oct 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Dear Families,

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

Gratitude always,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Re: Sorry about all the emails...

Dear Minnesota River, Andrea and Rebeccah,
I looked on the schedule and didn't see our name since Stella was a recent addition to the classroom. Please allow me to cover at least this request. I'll get snack for all.

Thanks
Dagan McCann

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:19 PM rebeccah berry <rebeccahberry@gmail.com> wrote:

I can send snacks and veggies for Gex!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 5, 2017, at 4:10 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Thanks Andrea; very much appreciated!

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:00 PM, Andrea Ledger <akledger@gmail.com> wrote:

We have some leftover crackers and apples from last week that I can send.

On Oct 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Dear Families,

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

Gratitude always,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Re: Sorry about all the emails...

I can send snacks and veggies for Gex!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 5, 2017, at 4:10 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Thanks Andrea; very much appreciated!

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:00 PM, Andrea Ledger <akledger@gmail.com> wrote:

We have some leftover crackers and apples from last week that I can send.

On Oct 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Dear Families,

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

Gratitude always,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Re: Sorry about all the emails...

Thanks Andrea; very much appreciated!

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 4:00 PM, Andrea Ledger <akledger@gmail.com> wrote:

We have some leftover crackers and apples from last week that I can send.

On Oct 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Dear Families,

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

Gratitude always,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Re: Sorry about all the emails...

We have some leftover crackers and apples from last week that I can send.

On Oct 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Minnesota River <minnesota@greatriverschool.org> wrote:

Dear Families,

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

Gratitude always,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Sorry about all the emails...

Dear Families,

We have found ourselves without snack for the week, and thus without food for Gex as well.  Would anyone be willing to fill the hole for tomorrow with just one snack, and also shredded lettuce and tomatoes?

Forgive the desperate plea; we did not receive snack this week and have run out of reserves.  Ideas for snack can be found on the google document I shared.

If you could help, it would be extremely appreciated.  Please reply all.  Submit a receipt and we can reimburse you.

Gratitude always,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Snack Links

Hope fully this will work for those of you who couldn't access before.

https://docs.google.com/a/greatriverschool.org/document/d/1vZ1mUAse9_pDpI4zsheSRxleG8gtLQ1mx1gfTBw4leE/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14BrIZ3v4qmdDoB_KvPEa52-YDKpVoit--Stptc-oyXw/edit?usp=sharing

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Thursday folders and Picture Day

Hello All!

Today your child will bring home a Thursday Folder that contains your child's work for the past week, as well as the Picture Day order form.  Tomorrow is picture day, and we'd love to have a complete form from you if you decide to order.

Thank you all so much,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN

Snack Schedule

Dear Minnesota River Families,

Thank you for all the kindness and generosity you've shown for the community.  Patrick and I are grateful for all the help we've received from you.  We couldn't do this without you!

I'm attaching the snack schedule, along with a description of how we do snack (and what we eat), because I fear it may have gotten lost in the shuffle of things.  Please refer to it for your family's snack-buying week.  If there are any conflicts, please let us know and we'll gladly accommodate.

We'll be sending out another note Sunday night to let you know more about what's been going on!

Thanks again!!

Erik

Snack Description

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14BrIZ3v4qmdDoB_KvPEa52-YDKpVoit--Stptc-oyXw/edit

Snack Schedule

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vZ1mUAse9_pDpI4zsheSRxleG8gtLQ1mx1gfTBw4leE/edit

If these links don't work, let me know and I'll try again after school today.

Best,

Erik

--

Erik and Patrick

Co-Guides Minnesota River Classroom

Great River School

St Paul, MN