Grant Dispatch
March 2020
Sustainability--School-Wide at Grant
Our school-wide theme this year is sustainability. In working with the district science coordinators, organizations in Columbia, and our grade level teachers and specialists every grade will integrate learning standards to focus on sustainability. One of the new ways to address sustainability throughout the building is a new format for the Grant Dispatch.
To reduce paper usage we will be sending the Grant Dispatch electronically via email. If you would like to receive the Grant Dispatch in paper form please contact the office at (573) 214-3520.
Letter from the principal
Dear Grant Families,
As February comes to an end, so does our second trimester. Thank you to all who attended parent/teacher conferences this week.
This week we kicked off our largest school fundraiser, Readathon! All students are coming home this weekend with a large white folder that explains the details of Readathon, dates to turn the envelope in, and reading challenges for students to complete in order to enter a student raffle. Our theme this year is Read, Reread, Reuse; which aligns with our school-wide focus of sustainability. Students have the next two weeks to read various books, record their reading, and collect any donations to bring to school by March 13. Readathon funds learning tools, classroom materials, and field trips. Your support is appreciated with this important fundraiser.
As spring arrives, we start planning and preparing for summer school. Signing up for summer school provides an opportunity for students to continue their learning and make connections with their peers. Many Grant staff members teach summer school and enjoy the time of getting to know students they may not already know. We are so happy to offer summer school here at Grant and would love to see your student participate in our program. Feel free to fill out the summer school application online at www.cpsk12.org/ssenroll, fill out the paper applications we have sent in Friday folders the past two weeks, or call Stephony at (573) 214-3520 to enroll your student over the phone.
Finally, in April, students in third, fourth and fifth grades will be taking the state MAP test. The students will practice sample test questions as well as familiarize themselves with the online aspects of the computerized tests. The specialist schedules and recesses school-wide are subject to change during the testing window (April 6-May 8) to ensure time is allotted for both testing and specials. More information regarding MAP testing will be coming soon. Please note the dates of the testing period and help your students be successful by planning doctor appointments and other absences around those dates.
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for being a part of our school family!
Jen Wingert
Spring Pictures/Group Yearbook Pictures--next week
March 2: Club and group pictures for the yearbook will be taken Monday, March 2. Please make every effort to be at school so that you will be in the yearbook. Parents may want to remind their students of the clubs they are in so they don’t get left out of the group pictures.
March 6: Picture order forms came home in Friday folders last week. If you did not receive one, extra copies are available in the school office or simply place your order online at WagnerPortraitGroup.com, password: GRANT. If you order online, you must turn in the receipt to the photographer on picture day. Families do have the option to view pictures before you purchase. Proofs will be emailed/texted to you after picture day. If you choose this option, you must indicate this option on the order form or the student will not be photographed. Only students with picture order forms or online receipts will be photographed.
Hall of Fame Deadline March 6
--Ms. Christiansen
Career Day-March 19-Speakers needed
Counselor Connection
Check Out https://grantschoolcounselor.weebly.com to learn about our School Counseling Program, read about what your student is learning during our bi-weekly counselor lessons and find about community resources!
--Ms. Sheets, School Counselor
Coach's Corner
In P.E. we are finishing up some jump roping activities and the students have been working hard to learn some very challenging skills. We are getting ready to work on rhythms and dance activities very soon. Please continue to remind your child to wear or bring tennis shoes to P.E. class as it has been rainy/snowy boot weather and will be sandal weather soon!
Our Family Fun Run will be Saturday, May 2. The race will be in the morning and is open to everyone in the Grant School community. More info to come!
Thank you for all of your support and everything that you do to make Grant the amazing place that it is!
--Coach Wagner
P.E. All stars of the month
Kindergarten - Aidan Augustine
1st Grade - Janielle Allen
2nd Grade - Cristhofer Santos
3rd Grade - Kambell Jensen
4th Grade - Adrianna Purdom
5th Grade - Sydney Hanna
Congratulations and keep up the great work!
Music Notes
Grant ALL Stars Choir performed Snow Biz, a fun filled salute to the joys of winter and it seems winter arrived every time we planned to do an evening performance. The members did a great job February 25, exactly one month after it was originally scheduled. Choir continues and new 3rd, 4th and 5th grade members are welcome to join on Monday, 3/3 for a very short spring season with performances at the end of April.
Grant Drum Ensemble is underway. Members are learning hand drumming and also preparing for performances at the end of April.
2020 Evening of the Arts planning is underway. If you have a talent or art activity you would like to share, please contact Ms. Sisson, psisson@cpsk12.org to discuss participating as a performer or activity leader.
Character Focus song for February – Cooperative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADmJgCY7StY
On a final and personal note, I have made the decision that this will be my final year teaching music at Grant. Some call it retiring, but I am pretty sure I have some good years left and will surely find some other things I want to do. So, yes, this decision was very difficult and I go from wondering ‘what have I done’ to feeling confident this is the best decision. Grant has been a dear place for me since 2005-06 when I was so fortunate to be hired as the music teacher. It has been a great 15 years of wonderful colleagues, talented students and their caring families. I don’t think there is another school like Grant and it has meant so much to me for all those years.
Fondly, Ms. Sisson
Grant Generals Basketball
Our Grant Generals basketball team is working hard to prepare for the upcoming season. It has been difficult with the weather cancelling so many of our practices, but I have seen the players getting better each and every practice. My coaches and I have remarked at how quickly the players are picking up on the skills that we are practicing in drills. My coaches and I have also shared how impressed we are with the TEAM first attitude we have been displaying. I hope that you are all able to attend all or some of our games in April and May. We play on Saturdays and the schedule will be out soon. The team loves playing for our families and fans! Go Generals!
--Coach Kuensting
Grant Cheerleading
All 4th and 5th grade girls and boys are invited sign up for the Grant Cheer Squad. There is an activity fee of $30 to cover expenses. Practices will be held on most Wednesdays after school beginning March 4. Games will be on Saturdays starting in April and concluding Mother’s Day weekend in May with a championship tournament.
Welcome to the cheer squad:
Jackie Allen
Amari Scott
Ariel Bailey
Megan Nguyen
Maren Merk
Lucy Biedermann
Avah Meister
Olive Werth
Olive Thompson
Grace Maledy
Jessica Jones
Lilah Wagner
Ayonna Pratt
Please turn in your permission slip by March 4 if you'd like to join us! Go Generals!
—Mrs. Cook
Go Grant Girls!
Our G3! running program is starting a new season and we are so lucky to have such an amazing group of young ladies involved. We will be having discussions during our lessons on visualization/mindfulness, positive self-talk, emotional well-being, and how to live a healthy lifestyle along with a variety of other topics. It is very empowering for Dr. Wingert and I to be a part of such an amazing group of young ladies and we look forward to learning from them at each session.
Our Family Fun Run will be Saturday, May 2. The race will be in the morning and is open to everyone in the Grant School community. More info to come!
--Coach Wagner
Kindergarten Registration--March 5
Grant Montessori Preschool Open House
Summer School--June 2-June 26
PTA News
Dear Grant Families,
There is a lot going on at Grant! Thank you to our PTA members and Staff who make all of this possible. Our hard work provides many activities, events, and opportunities for our students that they may not otherwise experience. We are proud to be a part of this amazing school community.
READATHON: Chuck Munter, Julie Wood, and their committee have kicked off the 2020 Readathon at this year’s Book Fair. The theme this year is Read, Reread, and Reuse. The envelopes went out in the Friday folders today, and you can help your student find books for the reading challenges from the list and they will have a chance to earn prizes. The event culminates on March 13 when guest readers read in every class. This is our biggest PTA fundraiser and students actively participate in this effort. Be prepared for celebrity readers, pajama days, and full-on immersion reading!
The next PTA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Media Center (enter through Door #9 - the courtyard close to the main office door). We have 2 speakers scheduled for this meeting, so we will not conduct a regular business meeting. The committee reports and a business summary will be emailed prior to the meeting in order to honor everyone’s time.
5:30 pm CPS Superintendent Peter Stiepleman – April Bond Issue
6:00 pm Suzanne Yonke – CPS World Language Coordinator
Family Game Night – Great job Carrie Elliott for chairing this fun family event. PTA provided a FREE spaghetti dinner, families played board games and Bingo throughout the night. Special thanks to Mr. Terry, Ms. Carol, Ms. Stephony, and Dr. Wingert for setting everything up and staying late to clean up with the committee. Also, thank you to Mrs. Williams and Mr. Kuensting for calling the BINGO games. What a fun night for our Grant community to share.
Language Club: We have had a great start to the 2nd semester of Language Club. Thank you to our parent volunteers for their time to help make this Club possible: Lukin Murphy, Karla Wentzel, and Rebecca Savoie arrive before the students to make sure the instructors have everything they need, greet the students, and are there to assist with any needs during Language Club. Having 3 parents work together with the Language instructors has made this an even stronger program. Thank you!
JOIN GRANT PTA TODAY! Click this LINK to complete the membership survey.
Grant PTA Leadership
Lisa Tye, President
Kalei Holder, Vice President
Carin Huffman Grinch, Treasurer
Laura Page, Secretary
Grant School Year at a glance
A Community of Learners
Website: cpsk12.org/gre
Location: 10 East Broadway, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: 573-214-3520