Widji

Hello, 

• Please plan on being at school at 7:00, the bus will leave at 7:30! 
  
•  Amanda will be collecting all medications, please make sure to clearly label everything.  
  
• Your child should have a bag lunch, we will stop on the way.  
  
• Make sure your child had a water bottle with his/her name on it.
  

See you in the morning,

Jean and Amanda

UEW Update with Widji information

Hello UEW Families, 

 

Widji Update:

 

We have had a change for Tuesday.  Widji is not able to provide us with lunch when we arrive, so we are asking that you send a bag lunch with your child for Tuesday.  Please send cold food in disposable containers as we will stop at a rest stop to eat and will not have access to dish washing or microwave facilities.  We will provide snacks as well.  Kids cannot eat on the bus, but are welcome to bring additional snacks for when we stop.  Everyone should bring a reusable water bottle!

 

Children are able to bring a small amount of money to spend at the Widji store.  They cannot spend money on anything else during the week, but many kids enjoy having a water bottle or tshirt that says Camp Widjiwagan to remember the trip.  If you want to send money for your child to spend at the camp store, please put it in an envelope or ziploc bag labeled with their name.  

 

A reminder, it is likely we will not return in time for kids to take the GRS bus home Friday 9/30.  If you are unable to pick your child up, please let us know the arrangements you have made to have another family take them so we will know how everyone is getting home.

 

The current weather forecast for Ely next week shows some light rain and highs in the upper 50s and low 60s.  Please pack rain gear and layers for your child.  If you don't have these things, Widji has many items to lend, but your child will have to seek them out.  Please help them prepare by going over with them what they should ask for when we arrive.  

 

We're so excited to head north!  Thanks for all your help getting ready!    

 

Volunteer opportunities:

 

As your child may have reported, we are using a new lunch procedure four times a week.  Children set up "beautiful lunch" on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  They lay out table cloths, centerpieces, and plates for each other, then select a quote to read to start lunch.  Our laundry needs have increased significantly, and we're looking for families to do classroom laundry over the weekend.  If you are willing to do laundry for our community, please sign up here:

https://goo.gl/AKhTII

 

 

We're hoping to start up weekly healthy cooking!  If you are willing to support our students in cooking new recipes, please sign up for one or more Wednesdays. The commitment is roughly 2 hours, 9am-11am are best, and the primary needs are supporting new techniques and skills, and helping with time management.  There's a separate prompt on the sign up to indicate whether or not you are able to do grocery shopping for your shift (the kids choose a recipe and make a list).  Any groceries can be reimbursed by GRS if you save the receipt.  Here's the link:

https://goo.gl/WLZtnS

 

Community Event:

Kids Judge!

 

Saturday, November 19 th 12:55 – 4:15

Macalester College - Olin Rice Science Building

 

Great River School 4 th , 5 th and 6 th graders are invited to join Macalester College neuroscience students for an educational afternoon that combines interactive learning with fun experiential presentations and pizza. The event is to excite and inspire children to learn more about science. They will judge college students' presentations about the brain, nervous system and senses. It's fast paced, exciting and lots of engaging fun.

 

To sign up your child, please contact Lee Olson (GRS parent) at 651-

 

696-6223 or lolson4@macalester.edu

 

 

 

Have a great weekend, 

Jean and Amanda

UEW Update 9/21/16

Hello UEW Families,

 

We leave for Widji on Tuesday!  Important info below:

 

Widji Health Forms are due!  If you haven't turned in a youth health form for your child, please do so immediately.  They are required for all campers and we need some time to get them organized and check our records.  If you have dietary concerns or your child requires a special diet, please add that information to your form and the Widji kitchen staff will accommodate your child.  They make food from scratch for us!  You can get the form here:

https://www.ymcamn.org/sites/d efault/files/wi_OLP%20Health%2 0History%20Youth.pdf?145622046 8=

 

There has been a change in MN state law regarding medications administered at school.  If you would like your child to take any medication at camp or at school including over the counter medications, you must submit a form with your signature and your provider's signature on it.  Here's a link to the form: 

https://drive.google.com/file/ d/0ByXtjxjC707UaWdSbTh3aE1KMlE /view

Please arrive by 7:00am Tuesday.  We will load up buses, take attendance, and hope to be on the road before 7:30.  We will return around 3:30pm on Friday, depending on traffic.  We will keep in touch with GRS about our specific ETA on Friday, so please watch for updates.  

 

Your child may not have electronic devices on this trip.  If you'd like to send a camera, we recommend a disposable film camera.  We can allow ipods if you'd like your child to use them as a camera (please send an email confirming this), but considering how many children fell into puddles and bogs last year (fell = jumped), we recommend finding another photo option.  

 

Please help your child pack a bag of quiet activities for the bus.  Handwork, books, playing cards, madlibs, and sudoku are all great options. 

 

Please pack extra socks and ziploc bags for your child.  Many things will still be wet Friday morning, and they'll need a way to take soggy shoes and clothing home.  

 

If you need to contact us in case of an emergency, call GRS and they'll get in touch with us via cell phones or the camp office.  

 

 

A reminder about our attendance/tardy policy:  Children that arrive later than 8:30 will be marked tardy.  Three tardies equals an absence.  We realize that it is difficult for many families to get their children here on time, but we highly value our work time and believe that the work children do in our community cannot be made up or replaced in another context.  Please see page 28 of the student and family handbook for our attendance policy: https://drive.google. com/file/d/ 0ByXtjxjC707UbVpLR2tOWEUyRVE/ view

 

A note from our artist in residence:

Hello, Parents of Upper Elementary Students!

I'd like to reintroduce myself. My name is Mariann Bentz. I had the pleasure of working with the Upper and Lower elementary students last year as the weaving teacher. This year, I will be teaching the students embroidery and quilting Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. We've already had a few sessions, and it is going very well. Your student is hard at work on a name tag. After that, each student will be embroidering their own napkin, for use during "beautiful lunch" at school. Our final project will be a group quilt. I'll be updating you periodically in this newsletter.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. You can contact me at mariannbentz@earthlink.net.

 

The students are busy finishing up their first round of research.  This research will be presented on Monday.  In addition to working on research, they are practicing their letter writing skills and working on prefixes and synonyms. We are all so excited for Widji!

 

Best,

Jean and Amanda

Greeting from UEW

Dear Upper Elementary West Families,

The first week of school was filled with smiles and greetings as old friends greeted each other and new friends were welcomed.  We really enjoyed hearing about exciting summer travels and other adventures.

This time before Widji is being spent with stories, assessment, reviews and talking about classroom norms.  Everyone is very excited about the upcoming trip.  If you have not filled out the necessary forms, please do so.  It is also important to review the packing list to ensure you have all the necessary gear.  But don't worry, Camp Widji does have extra gear if it is needed.

 

Stay tuned for a volunteer sign up.  Upper Elementary West is in need of volunteers to come and cook with students, to help with our classroom laundry, to help with pet supplies and accompany students of Going Outs!  A Going Out is trip planned by a student or a group of students to further explore something they are interested in learning more about.  This is different from a field trip which is planned by the teacher. 

The UEW is starting to have a Montessori Beautiful Lunch!  We are still searching for some  plates.  We are looking for any style Corelle plates, these are really sturdy and stack easily. If you have any to donate, we would appreciate them!

 

Upcoming important dates:

9/27-9/30        Trip to Camp WIdji

10/3/16            No school

10/15/16          Harvest Festival  

10/20-10/21    No school MEA

Best,

Jean and Amaanda