From the Desk of Dr. G Thanks for your extra hard work and flexibility with getting school started this year. We value your support and partnership. Please reach out anytime if there's anything we can help with. Grizzly Dash Our annual PTA Grizzly Dash is back! This year, students will run during their PE classes October 5-21. Distance Choice families are also included in the fun (from home). We'll be sharing more information in the Parent Newsletter sections below as plans are solidified.
Parent-Teacher Conferences This fall our parent-teacher conferences will be virtual. Save the dates! Our school will have shared conference dates on Tuesday, October 13 from 3:20-7:20 p.m. and Wednesday, October 14 from 7:20 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. Our plan is to open up Parent-Teacher Conference scheduling online closer to the actual conference dates. Once conference scheduling is open, families will have quick and easy access to choosing their conference times through Skyward Family Access.
School Pictures School pictures are being postponed until January. At that time, elementary schools across the district will re-evaluate things and determine the best course of action.
In partnership, Brad Gustafson, Principal
Did You Know? Honoring Our Retiree We want to take a moment to recognize Mary Nessen on her recent retirement. Mary served as our school's Health Paraprofessional for 16 years and is one of the most highly-respected people and professionals you'll ever meet. If you or your child have a memory or thank you to share, please email it to Kristen Smith by October 9 and we will be sure to add it to a special memory book that's being created in honor of Mary's retirement. Your connection, sharing, and words mean more than you know. Thanks for helping us celebrate Mary.
Media Center We know that students are eager to check out school library books and we are eager to help! Please read the flyer to find out how book checkouts will work for hybrid and distance learners. Happy reading! Contact Ms. Smith, Media Specialist, with questions.
Culinary Express Did you know the cost of milk is included in the price of a school lunch, but the cost of bottled water is not included? Each bottle of water is an additional 65¢; this cost will be charged to individual student accounts for each purchase.
Reminders Sheridan Story Our school is excited to partner with The Sheridan Story to offer their free weekend food program to all students. The Sheridan Story is a nonprofit organization which strives to make a difference in children's lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, summers, and extended school breaks.
Contact Kristy Maas, LICSW, via email or call 763-745-5507 to sign up or for more information.
PTA News Back-to-School Basket Bonanza - Still Time to Bid! Thank you to those who have already placed bids in our online Theme Basket auction! There is still time to participate, now through next Tuesday, September 29 at 12:00 noon. Thanks in advance for bidding generously!
PTA Student Directory Sign Up Our PTA student directory is a great resource for all families when organizing events, planning play dates and staying in touch. Families must sign up each school year to be included in the directory. Please make sure your current contact information is included by completing the form.
Save the Date: Grizzly Dash is coming October 5-21 The 6th Annual Grizzly Dash fun run, our largest PTA fundraiser of the year, will kick off on Monday, October 5! Like everything else this school year, Grizzly Dash will look a little bit different than it has in the past. All Hybrid and Distance Choice students will have the opportunity to participate in the fun run during their P.E. Specialist times on one day between Monday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 21.
Once again, every student will receive a free Grizzly Dash t-shirt to commemorate this year's fun run! New this year, all fundraising will take place online only – look for additional details coming home from school with your child next week, and in next week's Parent Newsletter.
Please contact Grizzly Dash co-chairs Jenny Terres and Andrea Anderson with questions.
Superintendent Anderson's Zoom Presentation Thank you to all who attended and participated in Dr. Chace Anderson's Zoom presentation last Friday. If you were unable to attend and would like to view the presentation, please contact Kallie Spaulding.
Don't Miss our PTA Meeting Tomorrow! Join us for our first PTA meeting of the year on Friday, September 25 at 1:00 p.m. Due to restrictions on visitors to school buildings this year, the PTA meeting will take place off-site at Hamel Legion Park (3200 Mill St., Hamel). This meeting includes two very important votes – election of our 2020-2021 PTA Officers, and approval of our 2020-2021 PTA Budget. Be sure to attend to share your voice and your vote!
The Greenwood PTA Nominating Committee has presented the following slate of nominees for Officer Elections to serve for the 2020-2021 school year:
Any other interested candidates can submit their names for consideration to the Greenwood PTA Nominating Committee, Becky Sandbulte & Stacy Sellers, prior to September 25, and must be present at the September 25 PTA Meeting.
Please note, to adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions, attendees are asked to bring their own chairs, practice social distancing, and wear a face covering if/when social distancing is not possible. Contact PTA President Karin Helmey with questions.
New! Purchase Your Greenwood PTA Membership Online The Greenwood PTA is made up of parents, guardians, and teachers committed to making more happen at our school. Together, we bring dozens of unique programs and experiences to Greenwood throughout the school year to help our students grow and flourish. We encourage all parents to join the PTA and attend our meetings throughout the year. New this year, our memberships are available online only, for $13 per member. Join today! Contact PTA Secretary Cady Mattson with membership questions.
New! Printable School Calendar now available We are excited to be launching a printable digital calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. With the continued uncertainty around school and event dates, this will give us more flexibility to provide you with up-to-date information, as it will be updated and sent out frequently. The new calendar format also includes great offers from local businesses that you can print at home. The digital calendar will replace the old format that your child brought home from school.
Box Tops for Education has gone digital! To help raise funds for our school when you purchase Box Tops for Education products, now all you have to do is scan your receipt in the new Box Tops app - no more clipping! Just search for Greenwood Elementary School, Plymouth, MN, and start scanning today!
Support the PTA all year through AmazonSmile One of the simplest ways you can support the Greenwood Elementary PTA year-round is by selecting us as your beneficiary organization through AmazonSmile. It's super easy! Visit smile.amazon.com today, select "Greenwood PTA - Plymouth, MN" as your charity of choice, and Amazon will automatically donate a percentage of every purchase you make to our PTA.
Follow us on social media! For the most up-to-date information from the Greenwood PTA, follow our social media.
Volunteer Needs
Around the District How to Access Your Child's Culinary PIN Planning travel out of the state or country? Regardless of whether your students are attending Wayzata Public Schools through hybrid learning or through Distance Choice, the district is required to account for students. Please ensure that the Welcome Center has a copy of your family's Extended Vacation form on file prior to your travel. Stay Home When Ill and Be Prepared to Quarantine It is important to be prepared as we begin the new school year in the midst of a pandemic. Our new reality will require students, families and staff to check daily for symptoms and stay home if you are ill. If you or someone in your family is ill, please reference the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Decision Tree document to learn what your next steps should be. Report any student absences into Skyward Family Access, specifying if the absence is COVID-19 related. Our school nurses will follow up with any COVID-19 related cases. If you are tested for COVID-19, even if you feel well, it is important that you remain home and away from others until you receive the results. Everyone must be prepared to stay home and quarantine for up to two weeks if you become ill with or are exposed to COVID-19. We know being quarantined for two weeks will be extremely challenging, but it is absolutely necessary to stop the spread of the virus. Learn how you can prepare for a possible quarantine. Our nurses will be working closely with MDH to notify students and staff as soon as possible if you have been exposed to COVID-19 at school. Always answer your phone if MDH is calling. If you have questions, please contact the licensed nurse at your school. More detail and helpful information can also be found on our Wayzata Learns webpage. Staying Safe at School We are busy preparing our buildings and staff for the start of the new school year, with a big focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19 within our staff and student body. All of our buildings have optimal ventilation and enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures are in place. Our school principals have established new guidelines for everything from entering the building to eating lunch. We need you to understand and follow them so that we can all stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus. Staying Safe at School Overview Bus Safety in Wayzata Public Schools Students demonstrate how to ride the bus and what to do in the event of an emergency.
Community Ed Join us in our online classrooms! We have many opportunities for our youth and adult learners. You can find all our class options on our registration site. Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids - Navigating the stress and isolation of COVID-19 has presented added challenges for parenting our kids. How can we as parents support each other in our efforts to help our kids build and maintain resilience, self-esteem, and mental health in the midst of a pandemic? Parents of elementary-age children are invited to join a parent support group facilitated by Judy Hoy, DSW and Chithra Binoy. Financial assistance is available or call 763-745-5200 for more information.
Calendar School Events District Events Wednesday, November 18, 2020 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM School Board Meetings |