RUE'S WRAP: Last week, the Griffin School Board and I had the honor of welcoming the Squaxin Island Tribal Council to our Board work session. Our partnership with the Tribe deeply enriches our school community, and we are grateful for their engagement with our students and staff. Their willingness to share their culture and history helps us grow in understanding and appreciation. Thank you to our Tribal partners for your continued collaboration!
This week, our middle school principal, Erin Hagen, helped lead an important informational meeting for parents about the dangers of social media—specifically how drug dealers are using these platforms to target youth. We were privileged to have a panel of experts, including members of the Olympia Police Department, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Behavioral Health Resources, and the Olympia School District, join us to discuss this urgent issue and answer questions.
A powerful moment of the evening came from the father of Avery Ping, an Olympia High School student who tragically passed away after purchasing a fentanyl-laced pill through Snapchat. His story is a heartbreaking reminder of the real dangers young people face online.
If you missed the meeting, you can still access the recording on Griffin’s website. The information shared could save lives—I encourage all parents to take the time to watch and stay informed.
Yesterday we had Aiden Vincent, posted with parent permission, come down and help out in the kitchen. Aiden prepared some fruit parfaits, help count out breakfast items at the end of that service, we had a produce order come in while he was was here, he helped date & store the produce in the cooler. He was busy! Thank you Aiden for coming down and helping out in the kitchen.
Today is pizza day at The Grizzly Grill. Our made in house pizza, with local flour, or fruit parfaits or Sunbutter & Jam, made in house with local produce, with a string cheese, fresh fruit & veggie bar & milk. Come join your student for lunch, great way to support the Grizzly Grill.
Congrats Griffin Grizzly Boys volleyball players for an undefeated season! Not to mention a demonstration of excellent sportsmanship!! 🏐🏐🐻
Boys volleyball @ Marshall! Go Grizzlies!! 🐻🏐🐻
Our Griffin Middle School staff rocks! 🪨 🐻 🐻 🎸
Rue's Wrap: Last week, our students and staff delivered a powerful assembly, honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It takes courage to speak in front of a large crowd at an assembly, and I'm especially proud of Nysha Jagtiani, Julia Oestreich, and Max Graunke who, inspired by Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, shared their own dreams for the world that they will grow up in. Their themes, grounded in equity, opportunity, and environmental health for future generations, were inspiring. They are tomorrow's future leaders! A big shout out and thank you to the staff who helped organize the assembly, all of our amazing student performers, and the many community members who attended the event to help us honor a great man who left a lasting legacy.
Rue's Wrap: It was an exciting last few weeks of 2024 at Griffin. The 5th graders had their concert debut, our kindergarteners had a parade through the school celebrating that they had learned their alphabet, holiday music abounded, and the kindergarteners caught the administrative team in the act of eating the gingerbread man that they had baked with our Grizzly Grill staff. It was so fun to see students and staff coming together to build fond school memories. As we usher out 2024 and welcome 2025, I want to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season! See you next year!
A wonderful performance by the Griffin Band at tonight's Tree Lighting! It was also fun to see some past students join the performance!🎄🎄🎄
Thank you Griffin students for raising the Squaxin Island Flag in your classrooms as part of celebrating Native American Heritage Month!
Help make the holidays bright for a Griffin Family in need. Select a virtual tag and return the wrapped gift to the main office by December 13, 2024.
Next week (November 18 - 22) is Middle School Spirit Week, join in on the fun!!!
Rue's Wrap: It was an honor to present 3rd grader Max Obrian with a special recognition during our Veteran's Day assembly today. Max was the recipient of TCYFL's "Be Good to People" award for the kindness, care, compassion, and encouragement that he showed not just to his team, but also to the opposing teams. His story touched my heart and made a lot of us at Griffin very proud. Max, thank you for lifting others up through your actions. You are a great role model for all of us.
🇺🇸Photos from our Veteran's Day Assembly🇺🇸 Thank you Veterans for your service! ❤️🤍💙
Please join us for our Annual Veterans Day Assembly this Friday, November 8th at 10:00 AM in the Gym. Griffin students have prepared an amazing program to honor generations of America's veterans!
Will the "REAL" Principal and Superintendent please stand up!
Memories from Middle School Monster Mash dance, it was spookily fun!!
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Rue's Wrap: It's been an exciting week so far, and there is still a "Monster Mash" dance to come tonight, followed by the epic PTO Fall Festival tomorrow evening. It was a big honor this week to make the starting introductions at the Middle School Fall Band concert. It was fun to capture an "ussie" with the 6th grade band to kick off the event! I was so impressed with the musical talent of our students. Way to go, Grizzly Band members, and thank you to Mrs. Palmer for all that she does to support the growth of our musicians. I was also invited to help celebrate with Ms. Jirsa's class today...they are "nailing it" in regard to attendance. Her class has had perfect attendance on 30 out of our 38 school days so far! That's amazing. It was fun to pose for a wacky picture with the class to commemorate the celebration. Way to go, 4th graders! And thank you to all of you parents out there who are helping your kids get to school every day and reinforcing the importance of "showing up." These are life lessons that will pay dividends in the future. That said, if your student is having trouble getting to school, please reach out to our counselors. We want to help and support families in removing barriers to strong school attendance. We stand ready to team with you in the building of great attendance habits! Go Grizzlies!
Proceeds from this year's Book Fair will benefit our students and our school. Thank you for supporting our kids! Happy Reading!
Order now . . .
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/griffinschool1
Just some friendly competition over here in the middle school!! #gohawks
