The Grove Newsletter
May 12, 2026
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Lower School Spring Fling:
Center Stage, Highlights & Alumni Spotlight
Date: May 14-16, 2026
Time: 7 PM
Location: Groves Academy Theater
Please Note: This is a FREE event, no tickets are necessary! Come support the cast and crew.
What do you get when you combine a group of wonderfully quirky students, a high-stakes competition, and a whole lot of heart? You get The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
This musical unfolds in real time over the course of a spelling bee, where each contestant brings their own hopes, anxieties, and hilarious quirks to the stage. It is equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly tender, capturing the awkward, hopeful, and deeply human moments of growing up.
Audiences can expect a night of silliness, sweetness, and standout performances that celebrate individuality, resilience, and the courage it takes to stand up and spell your heart out.
Come cheer on our spellers as they navigate tricky words and even trickier emotions, all under the bright lights of competition.
Stronger Together, One Event at a Time
Take a look back at joyful community events filled with connection, creativity, and fun.
Lower School Spring Fling:
Build, Race, and Soar
From boat races to birdhouse building, our Lower School students showed up ready to create and play. The room was alive with energy, imagination, and proud moments at every turn, along with plenty of sweet fruit kabob creations.
Middle School Bowling Bash
At the lanes, Middle School students brought the fun. Strikes, spares, and plenty of laughs made for an easy, connected afternoon with friends.
Thank you to everyone who helped make these moments possible. This is what community looks like.
Lower School Science Day = Curiosity Unleashed
On May 5, our Lower School students dove headfirst into one of the most exciting days of the year… Science Day!
Since 2013, this has been a day full of hands-on experiments, big questions, and awesome surprises. It’s all about exploring, trying new things, and discovering just how fun science can be.
This year, we had amazing guests from The Bakken Museum, Snapology, and The Raptor Center. They brought science to life with cool activities, fascinating creatures, and plenty of “wait… HOW did that happen?!” moments.
From wide eyes to big laughs to “whoa, did you see that?!” reactions, it was a day packed with wonder. The kind of learning you don’t just remember, you feel it, share it, and carry it with you long after the day is done.
Upper School Farm Field Trip
Our Upper School students spent a memorable day at Faribault Fox Farm, where hands-on learning, connection, and confidence-building came to life beyond the classroom walls.
Students experienced daily farm operations firsthand by cleaning animal stalls and the pasture, learned how butter cream is made from goat milk, sampled fresh goat milk and homemade ice cream, enjoyed horseback riding, and spent time with the farm’s many darling animals. Through every activity, students had opportunities to build responsibility, curiosity, collaboration, and real-world skills in an engaging, supportive environment.
A heartfelt thank you to Lance and Theresa Meyer for their incredible generosity in welcoming our students to their beautiful farm and sharing such a meaningful experience with our Groves community.
Join Us for a Groves Parent Organization Parent Meeting
As we reflect on another incredible year together, we invite you to join us for our end-of-year parent meeting.
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: 8:30 – 10:30 AM
Location: Groves Academy | Large Conference Room
Together, we’ll celebrate the many meaningful moments, events, and community traditions that made the 2025–2026 school year so special. From kicking off the year with our Back to School Fair to creating connection and joy through events like our Lower & Middle School Fun Nights, Middle School Glow Party, Upper School Winter Social Skate, Lower School Spring Fling, Middle School Bowling Bash, Lower School Fall Festival, Teacher Appreciation Week, conference support, and so much more, this year has been filled with energy, belonging, and community spirit.
We’ll also share a look ahead at exciting plans, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved during the 2026–2027 school year.
Whether you’ve been involved with GPO for years or are simply curious about learning more, we warmly invite you to join us. There are many ways to be part of the Groves community, and involvement does not require taking on a leadership role or major time commitment. This meeting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents, learn more about the GPO, and discover simple ways to get involved and support the experiences that make Groves so special for our students and families.
We would love to see you there and celebrate all we’ve accomplished together as a community.
Thank you for being such an important part of the Groves community. Your partnership, support, and presence help make these moments possible for our students and families.
Groves Alumni Spotlight
Opening Doors Through Confidence,
Creativity and Persistence
At Groves, we often talk about helping students discover not only how they learn, but who they are becoming. For Groves alumna Emma Johnson-Rivard, that journey continues to unfold in remarkable ways.
Emma recently completed her first year in the University of Cincinnati’s PhD program in English, Creative Writing track, and has already achieved two significant literary milestones.
Her debut poetry collection, Mice Inherit Apocalypse, will be released on August 28, 2026, through Finishing Line Press. The collection marks Emma’s first published book and reflects years of dedication to writing, scholarship, and creative exploration.
In addition, Emma was named the winner of the 2026 Lefty Blondie Press Editors’ Choice Broadside Series for her poem “Cicada.” The winning work will be printed as a limited-edition handset broadside by letterpress designer Ryan Kaune, an honor recognizing both literary excellence and artistic craftsmanship.
Emma’s mother, Vivian Johnson, shared these accomplishments with the Groves community as a reflection of the lasting impact of a learning environment that supports, understands, and encourages students to pursue their strengths.
“Groves was an impactful experience for our daughter,” Vivian wrote, “and I wanted the Groves community to be aware of how it can be the start of opening doors.”
We are proud to celebrate Emma’s accomplishments and grateful to witness the many ways Groves alumni continue to lead with creativity, confidence, and purpose long after graduation.
Congratulations, Emma!
Groves Student | 2001-2004
