Celebrating the Season at River Grove

“Experience Friday” held a food drive

Every Friday designated classes at River Grove pair up to work on an outdoor, place-based project called “Experience Fridays.” With guidance from the teaching staff, students design and complete their projects, taking ownership of each step of the process. The projects incorporate reading, language arts, science, social studies, and math standards along with additional skills such as planning, organization, time management and teamwork. Students get the opportunity to share these experiences with family and friends by presenting their projects twice during the school year. 

For the latest project, fifth graders buddied up with kindergarteners for a local food drive. The students contacted all the other classes at school to collect a variety of food. The items will be donated to Valley Outreach and students will be delivering the donations to the organization on Friday, November 19th.

In addition to the food drive held by students, the front office at River Grove will be holding a mitten and hat drive. Items will be donated to Valley Outreach and the school staff is also partnering with the Lion’s Club to identify and provide donations for families in need.

Outdoor Winter Poetry Walk 

Enjoy a winter nature walk featuring handmade and heartfelt inspiration. River Grove students are participating in a school wide project where older students are writing poems and younger classes will create illustrations for the poetry. With the help of parent participation, these luminaries will be placed at seven different locations along a hiking trail.  

Enchanting Forest

After an inspirational winter walk through the woods, grab a cup of hot chocolate and take a stroll through a collection of Christmas Trees. Each year, dedicated parents of the PTO works with local businesses to transform Gazebo Park downtown Marine on Saint Croix into an Enchanting Forest. Purchase a tree and join the fun festivities! 

This year’s event was organized by Gwen Roden of The General Store and sponsored by the Lions Club (who generously purchased the trees.) The Lions Club will also have their food truck on hand “selling beverages and something for the other hand.” River Grove students will be making bird and bird seed shaped ornaments to decorate the tree. The event will be held on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Decorating starts at 10 a.m. 

Santa Claus is coming to town - and will be there to greet guests and take pictures. 

Visitors can wrap up the winter-themed, adventure-packed afternoon with a bowl of chili and beverage at the Brookside. If you can’t make it on Saturday, all are welcome to decorate their tree the following week. “Tis the season!