FROM THE DESK OF DR. G

Principal's Podcast Crew DOUBLE-FEATURE
This past week our Principal's Podcast Crew recapped Valentine's Day, the 1st grade Informances, and much, much more.  This week we are also featuring our fabulous KICKS kids and a Pennies for Patients fundraiser that begins next week.  Be sure to watch both videos to see all the amazing things our students are up to!

Click the link to view principal's podcast crew:
http://youtu.be/lk4P2ZT2rn4
Click HERE to view the 1 minute Pennies for Patients kick-off video!   http://youtu.be/H-sG8LMxvzY

Movie Night - Save the Date
We are looking forward to our 1st movie night of the school year.  Mark your calendars for February 27th, and be sure to read all the details on the attached flyer HERE.  Movie Night is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, and admission is free.  I'm looking forward to catching a show on our new HUGE screen donated by the PTA, as well as spending an evening with our students and Greenwood families.  

Staff vs. Students Basketball Game
Our annual Staff vs. Students Basketball Game and Character Assembly will be on February 27th.  Due to the fact that we need one half of the gym for the actual basketball game and the other half for student seating, there will be some space limitations.  We encourage families to tune in using the link below starting at 1:00pm on February 27th.  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wayzata-public-schools

Kind Regards,
Brad Gustafson, Principal

Pennies for Patients

KICKS students are teaming up with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to run a school-wide "Pennies for Patients" donation drive.  Greenwood's collection dates will be February 23rd-27th. "Pennies for Patients" is a mission to collect spare change to help kids who are sick with blood cancer feel better.  All Greenwood students have received a collection box to carry their spare change to school to donate to this worthy cause.  Last year, our school collected $2,447.73!  Let's try to beat that amount this year!

On Monday, February 23rd, Honey & Mackie's is sponsoring a Community Night from 3:00-7:00 pm to kick off "Pennies for Patients" week.  They will donate a portion of their sales to a former Greenwood student, Ben Puzzo, who was diagnosed with lymphoma last year.  Check out the Community Night flyer HERE to see the schedule of events. Brad Gustafson and other Greenwood staff will be present part of the evening, and may even be scooping ice cream!  Stop by Honey & Mackie's on Monday and join in the fun.

YES YOU CAN STILL ORDER BOOKS BY
AUTHOR MARY CASANOVA!

Yesterday was Author Day and Greenwood students and staff had the opportunity to see award-winning author Mary Casanova's awesome presentation.  We have received rave reviews from many that attended her presentation.  Students asked if they could still order her books so we are doing a second round of orders.  Books can be ordered through MARCH 4TH!  Order forms and payment can be dropped off in the office.  To print the book order form, click HERE.  Ten percent of all book order sales will be donated back to Greenwood by the author.  For more details on this wonderful author, check out her website www.marycasanova.com/  Any questions, please contact Pam Christensen at pamchris@mchsi.com.

 Book Exchange / Drive

The annual Book Exchange is back!  Books will be collected February 17-20th in the Media Center.  During the week of February 23-27th, participating students can select new books and trade them for up to the same number they brought from home (e.g., bring 3, choose 3). Taking books is on the honors system. All remaining books will go to Read Indeed (www.readindeed.org). Contact Jennifer Eisenmann at jjeisenmann@comcast.net if you have any questions about this activity.

Carnival Update

Carnival Fun Fact:  Did you know that over 100 high school students volunteer to help at Greenwood's Carnival? We can't do it without them, and we can't do it without YOU!! Please take a moment to read this week's updates, and donate generously. Only three weeks to go! See you on March 13th!

Volunteers
We need 100 plus adults to power our carnival. For a list of volunteer opportunities and to signup, click HERE.  Questions? Contact Lori Kurman at lmkurman@yahoo.com or 773-895-7974.

Time & Talent
The Time & Talent section of the Carnival is where staff and parents donate their time & talent to be either auctioned off (bidding for limited spaces) or a sign-up for students to spend some time with you.  Did you know last years' Time & Talents section raised over $1,500?! The sky's the limit on what can be shared!  Some creative ideas include: manicures, yoga class, cake decorating or cooking lessons, arts & crafts (e.g. pottery, drawing, scrapbooking, etc.) and sports training (batting practice, triathlon coaching, etc.). This is a great way to showcase your hobbies and passions!  Contact either Ann Empkey at empkey5@comcast.net or Jennifer Vivanco at Jennifer_Vivanco@hotmail.com with your time & talent donation idea.  The deadline for your submission is March  2nd.

Ticket Pre-Sales
The pre-sale for Carnival tickets runs through March 9th.   We would like as many people as possible to take advantage of the pre-sale.  Fill out the form that went home or print it HERE and drop it in the Office.  Everyone who orders tickets through pre-sale will be entered into a drawing for a front row parking spot and 25 free tickets!!!  If you have questions, please email Margaret Buechel at mjb5326@msn.com or Kim Lawrence at lawrence.r@comcast.net.

Adopt-A-Pet
If you have stuffed animals that are ready for new homes, please drop them off in the bin in the front hall at school or at 4625 Foxberry Drive, Medina.  They will be laundered and made available in our popular Adopt-a-Pet room.

Theme Baskets
It's classroom theme basket time!! To learn what theme has been chosen for each classroom, click HERE.   All teachers will be accepting donations of NEW items for their baskets immediately.

Junk Food Walk/Pop Toss
To make the most popular games a success again this year, we need your generous donations of salty snacks, sweet snacks and LOTS of 2-liter bottles of pop or soft drinks.  Not sure what to buy?  Ask your child!  Please bring your items to the Greenwood Office by Friday, March 13th.

Box Tops
Calling all Box Tops for Carnival!!  Your unexpired Box Tops can earn Carnival tickets!  Blank collection sheets are available in the Box Tops rolling cart in the front hallway or click HERE to print one.  Please glue or tape down 50 unexpired Box Tops to each sheet.  Bonus Box Tops should be paper clipped to your collection sheet.  Collection sheets may be turned in for tickets on Carnival night.  The Box Tops table will be located by the gym.

Announcing Open 2015-16 PTA Board Positions

The PTA board has two board positions available for next year. The positions are vice president and CFO. If you have been looking to join the PTA board and would be interested in these positions, please contact Jennifer Vivanco  at jennifer_vivanco@hotmail.com.

Connect with the GW Art Department

Parents are invited to join the Grizzly Art Room blog which shares a glimpse into what students are doing each week in Art.  Follow us at http://bjosely.blogspot.com/ or connect with us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/elizabethjosel1.

Parent volunteers are needed to help with an upcoming 3rd and 4th grade event.  If interested, please email Beth Joselyn at ellizabeth.joselyn@wayzata.k12.mn.us.

Applications Being Accepted for
Boundary Reconfiguration Committee

The process to reconfigure school attendance areas, in advance of the opening of the new eighth elementary school scheduled to open in the fall of 2016, will be underway soon. Applications are now being accepted for the Boundary Reconfiguration Committee that will consist of two parent representatives from each of the seven elementary schools and three middle schools, as well as district staff and administrators.
 
The Boundary Reconfiguration Committee will develop an understanding of the factors associated with attendance boundaries including: transportation, enrollment projections and building capacities. Members will review the work of district administration and assist in narrowing and refining scenarios of possible attendance area/boundary configurations. Additional online feedback will be gathered from parents and community residents once possible scenarios have been identified.
 
Members must be willing to view this work from the perspective of the entire community and work collaboratively for the many families and neighborhoods that may be affected. Participants will need to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and have willingness to share and communicate with others with differing perspectives.
 
Please click here to complete the application by February 25th to be considered to serve on the committee. Email Kristin Tollison, director of administration at kristin.tollison@wayzata.k12.mn.us with questions or for additional information.

Mental Health Forum

The Community Wellness Task Force will host a forum on Tuesday, February 24th from 6:30-8:30pm at Wayzata Community Church (125 Wayzata Blvd. E, Wayzata).  

This free event will feature a speaker followed by a panel discussion about how to better address the needs of those living with mental illnesses, with an emphasis on youth. For more information, visit www.namihelps.org or call 651-645-2948, ext. 118.

Mel & Broc's Adventures

Big Red the Red Bell Pepper is getting to know more about Goldy the Pineapple. Read their clever conversation in the latest edition of "Mel & Broc" HERE.

You can get to know more about Goldy, Big Red, and the rest of the group HERE.

Healthy Habits

This month's healthy habits article is titled "Keeping Young Hearts Healthy." To read the article, click HERE.

Enrichment Opportunities Starting Soon!

The new winter/spring WISHES catalogs are available now!  To browse the online catalog visit:
www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/ces/catalogs. To register for classes visit:
https://wayzata.thatscommunityed.com/courses/youth.

• Advanced Artist Acrylic Painting - Use acrylic paint on stretched canvas to make amazing works of art!
• Register now for Camp Invention at Kimberly Lane Elementary, July 13-17th. Register at campinvention.org  by March 20 and save $25!