Family Night and Youth Clinics

Greetings Grant Football Friends and Families! 

On May 2nd, 6-8 pm Grant Football will be hosting a Family Information Night for families whose children are interested in tackle football with a few goals in mind:

  • Provide safety education, enrollment, training details and expectations for fall tackle football for new and returning families

  • A Question and Answer with Coach Melson

  • Build community among all families before our busy season begins

Come mingle and, most importantly, bring a new or interested family with you to meet fellow parents and players and see what we are all about!

We hope to see you there. Please RSVP here:  Grant Youth Family Info Night

For all of you who signed up for the April Skills Clinics, thank you! We appreciate you! We have three more sessions happening in May, starting May 11th. Please join us! 

Youth Skills Camp Registration — Friends of Grant Football

Update from Coach Melson, important dates and youth updates

Grant Football Families

I hope this email finds you well. It's that time of the year again to start preparing for our 2024 season. Over the last couple of weeks the coaching staff has been working and planning to engage our student athletes for a positive football experience. It is important that every member of the Football family is on the same page and taking steps to contribute to another successful season. The calendar for the 24 season has been set and can be found at Friendsofgrantfootball.com/calendar Please be sure to view the calendar and make notes of important events. These opportunities will be the foundational building blocks for a team and the approaching season. 

One opportunity that has already started is “0 Period Training”. Starting last week we began our yearly 0 period training sessions. These sessions are before school and give our students athletes opportunities to train and prepare their body for the upcoming season. We have already completed four of the forty one sessions we will host before Spring Ball kicks off. Please encourage your student athlete to join these sessions at 6:45am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Grant weight room.


The Grant Bowl was recently reopened to welcome back Grant Athletes. We thank you for all the individuals that took the time to fight and advocate for this important resource to our community and school. The fight is not over yet. A few very important events are happening in the next two weeks:

1) PPS Facilities and Operations meeting this Wednesday 2/28 at 6pm. During this session they will be talking about the cost of the lights and will determine if it should go for board approval

2) PPS School Board meeting on 3/5. If the Facilities and Operations committee agrees to have the lights go for board approval, that approval will likely happen during the March board meeting.

Coach Melson

Youth Update

Grant Football would like to introduce its new president Bryan Butcher. Bryan is a 2008 Grant graduate who competed in Football and Baseball. Today Bryan is a Math teacher at Beaumont Middle school. Bryan is happy to return to the program and assist in supporting Grant Youth Football and its families. Be on the lookout for communications from him pertaining to youth events and upcoming seasons.

Information Night 5/2

Grant football information night will be May 2nd. Please join us to hear about the opportunities Grant Football provides for the student athletes in our community. There will be a meet and greet and a Q/A session for potential new and returning families. 

Where: Nohos

When: May 2

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Clinics

Youth Clinics are back! We are excited to announce that Grant Football will be hosting youth clinics in April and May. We will host two different sessions that each will include three sessions. These sessions give our youth the opportunity to build skills and confidence before the pads go on in August. They will get the opportunity to work with the High School staff and players while continuing to build relationships with teammates and coaches. It is also a good opportunity for current 8th graders to come and jumpstart their transition to highschool football. Registration will open on March 1st

Clinics dates are:

  • April 13 20 27

  • May 11 18 25

We are excited to get the ball rolling for the 24 season. It will be another opportunity for our student athletes to grow and forge relationships that can last a lifetime. As always please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have about the upcoming events and season. Continue to encourage your athletes and push them to follow our three core rules and values.

Register Here

  1. Be Accountable

  2. Do Everything To the Best of Your Ability 

  3. L.E.A.D

January Board Meeting 1/10

Friends of Grant Football is gearing up for another exciting year supporting our beloved Grant Generals Football program. We invite you to the upcoming board meeting:

Date: 1/10

Time: 6PM-7:30PM

Location: Nohos 4627 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213

We are currently seeking volunteers to take on the crucial roles of Treasurer, Secretary and voting members within the board. Having active family participation is vital in shaping the success of Friends of Grant Football. Together, we can make a significant impact on the Grant High School Football program!

If you have a commitment to our football community and are interested in contributing your skills, please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball or join us at this months board meeting to learn more.

Go Generals!! 🏈

Post Season Update

Grant Football Families, 

We are excited to be back at school and getting the kids back into the building! We know getting kids back into their daily routines and engagement is critical. Returning to school may be hard for some after the unexpected break, but It is very important that players are checking in with teachers and refocusing to finish the term strong.

Due to the timing of the strike we have had to postpone the regular end of the year process. Now that we are back it is crucial that we "put the season to bed" as soon as possible. This means we need to start the process of gear check in and locker room clean up. This also includes holding an end of the season meeting. During the meeting players will get more information about gear and locker room check in. We will also have the end of the season voting for team recognitions and awards (food provided). This meeting will take place on Wednesday 11/29 during lunch in the south forum. The end of the season banquet will also take place on December 9th in the upper commons (more information below).

I have also sent out this information to all of the student athletes through our team communication platform.

Go Generals!

Coach Melson

Coaches Thank You Gift and Coach Melson’s Baby Gift

As the football season comes to a close, it's time to express our gratitude to the amazing coaches who have dedicated their time and effort to our players' growth. We're organizing a collective effort to give them a token of appreciation. Please consider donating towards the coaches' end-of-season gifts. Your generosity will help us show our heartfelt thanks for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

As many of you know Coach Melson and his wife will be having their first child in January. A few people have asked about his registry. His registry can be found here. Friends of Grant Football is also sending a gift from the team that we are accepting contributions for.

To contribute to the coaches gifts or coach melons team baby shower gift, send a Venmo to Stephanie-antipov-kennedy or text Stephanie at 503-871-7501 to cooridnate dropping off your donation. Every little bit counts, and together we can make this a memorable gesture for our coaches.

Key Reminders

Team Meeting - Wednesday 11/29 (Food provided)
Gear Check in - Friday 12/1
Team Banquet - Saturday 12/9

Please support your student athlete in making sure they are prepared to turn in all their gear. Gear that is not turned in will be charged to your student account. Students with outstanding balances may be restricted to attend school events including graduation. 



Week 9/18 update

Can you believe we are already at week 4! Lots of growth happening and we are excited to see such big improvements each week.

This weeks games

JV Monday 9/18 4pm @ Marshall vs Ida B Wells

Vasity Thursday 9/21 7pm @ Marshall vs McDaniel

WE NEED HELP WITH volunteers for the GAMEs

JV parents this is a call to action we need your help! Below are the volunteer spots we need for the games on 9/18. Without volunteers the games cannot happen, so we need parents to signup. Since the games are no longer at Grant it is much harder to have students help out like last year.

9/18

  • 4 volunteers needed for chains

  • 1 score board volunteer

Varsity Games Thank you to everyone who has signed up to volunteer. Most varsity volunteer spots have been filled except below.

9/29

  • 1 volunteer needed for chains

  • 1 volunteer needed for announcing

10/6

  • 1 volunteer needed for chains

  • 1 volunteer needed for announcing


We have yard signs available for pickup.

All football families are welcome to stop by 4032 NE 32nd Ave and grab a yard sign to show support for fixing the grant bowl! The signs are on the front porch.

SENIOR PARENTS

For senior night we will need you to start getting a few things sent in.  We would like parents or guardians to send us a letter that can be read by the announcer when your player is on the field. This is needed the week before senior night 10/20.

Things we need from Parents

  1. Please prepare a 20-30 second  letter by 10/20

  2. Tell us who your player is, 

    • How long he has been playing football.

    •  His position, what he loves about the game etc.

    • Name of Parents/Guardians and family members who may be on field with player for Senior night.  

  3. A picture of your player that will be hung up during the senior night game. Families will be able to take these with you after the game.

  4. Your player’s favorite restaurant (we will be adding gift cards into their gift baskets)

Parents and family will go on field to be presented and honored before the game. This is a really fun night to celebrate our Seniors and the families that support them.

Scheduling error regarding JV Southridge game

We hope everyone is off to a great season! We are writing to apologize for a scheduling error that occurred last night with the JV game against Southridge. Due to a last minute change in the schedule, there was a miscommunication, and we incorrectly informed you that the game would be held next week. The JV Southridge game took place last night, and we understand the inconvenience and disappointment this may have caused.

We deeply regret any confusion or inconvenience this error may have caused you and your athlete. We understand the importance of a clear communication and reliability in our information, and we take full responsibility for this oversight. While there are no excuses this season has been exceptionally hard with scheduling due to the bowl closing. We are building the plane while flying it at times and that can be extremely challenging.

To address the issue, we are taking steps to ensure better communication between all parties involved with scheduling and communications. We will make every effort to ensure parents have as much notice as possible when schedules change. Given the fluidity of our situation with the field and scheduling, we also encourage you to check the OSAA website weekly as updates may be posted there before we are able to get communications out. You can find the Grant schedules here: https://www.osaa.org/teams/52809#tabs-V.

We value your trust and support in the program. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Week of 9/4

We are excited for our first home game this week! Varsity plays 9/8 against SouthRidge 7pm @ Marshall. A meal will be provided before the team leaves Grant. The next JV game is next Monday 9/11.

Hot off the presses — the Grant Bowl Community Coalition has big news!

The Portland Public School Board will vote on new Board Resolution 6755 — to Fix the Field, Build the Bowl — at the school board meeting this Tues., Sept. 5th. Sponsored by Directors Julia Brim-Edwards and Andrew Scott, the resolution supports the immediate and long-term goals of the Grant Bowl Community Coalition.

What’s in the resolution?

  1. The resolution directs the superintendent to identify financial and other resources to replace the Grant Bowl turf and Buckman track (also closed by Parks and unusable for Benson students with no plans to fix it).

  2. The resolution directs the superintendent to work with Parks to secure a contractor to repair and/or replace the Grant Bowl turf immediately this Fall (not Fall 2024 as previous communicated by Parks in a press release).

  3. The resolution calls on the city to expedite the permitting process for said repairs/replacement.

  4. The resolution calls on the city to provide a long-term lease for both the Grant Bowl and Benson Track to PPS so the district can implement further improvements (we have requested that the lights and seating outlined in the Grant Bowl Master Plan be planned for and implemented).

We need your immediate support in two (2) ways:

  1. We need four (4) board member votes at the meeting in order for the resolution to pass. That means we must show visible support for the resolution by packing the the Board Meeting at 6PM sharp (Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center at 501 N. Dixon St.) Parents, students and community members — show up in your Grant gear, bring signs and/or wear blue. Whatever you can do to show your school and/or community spirit works!

  2. Email your support to PPS at publiccomment@pps.net (no later than Noon on Tues., Sept. 5 if possible). Be sure to reference the Grant Bowl and Board Resolution 6755 (also attached) in your subject line. Let’s flood those inboxes!

Thanks for your support — your response to our initial survey was submitted to PPS and the City of Portland — this board resolution is a direct result of your actions. So, let’s Go Generals and get out the vote!

Special Thanks to the volunteers this week

Chains

Geno Zaharie

Julia Causey

Gregg Hale

Jim Deibele

Announcing

Adam Kennedy

Score board

Kevin Rueda

SENIOR PARENTS

For senior night we will need you to start getting a few things sent in.  We would like parents or Guardians to send us a letter that can be read by the announcer when your player is on the field. This is needed the week before senior night (senior night is usually our last Home Game which would be 10/27). I will be confirming the date in next weeks update.

Things we need from Parents

  1. Please prepare a 20-30 second  letter by 10/22

  2. Tell us who your player is, 

    • How long he has been playing football.

    •  His position, what he lives about the game etc.

    • Name of Parents/Guardians and family names who may be on field with player for Senior night.  

  3. A picture of your player that will be hung up during the senior night game. Families will be able to take these with you after the game.

  4. Your players favorite restaurant (we will be adding gift cards into their gift baskets)

Parents and family will go on field to be presented and honored before the game. This is a really fun night to celebrate our Seniors and the families that support them.

ADVICE ON HOW TO CLEAN WHITE UNIFORMS

  • Always air dry, never put uniforms in dryer or stains will set.

  • Do a cold water soak if there are stains for 30 min. Hot water will also set the stains.

  • Scrub with a tooth brush (or soft bristle brush) and use Blue Dawn dish soap (4xs cleaning power) might need multiple scrubbing. 

  • Rinse by hand as well as possible and then run through regular washing machine cycle with powdered detergent (works better than liquids or pods) and powdered oxiclean.

September Update

Hi Generals

Last weeks Jamboree was a great warm up to the season! All Varsity and JV home games will be @ Marshall this season. We wanted to thank everyone for all the support shown as we figure out how to best advocate for a solution to fix the Grant bowl (update below).

This week both the JV and Varsity game is against Newberg, in Newberg. Thursday JV will play @ 4pm and Friday Varsity will play @ 7pm. Traffic can be hairy so plan accordingly.

We recommend bringing cash for the gate. Not sure of the exact cost to get in, but it should not be more than $10 per adult or $5 for students.   

Meals & snacks will be provided for both teams this week. JV will have a snack before their game and a meal after the game. Varsity will have a meal before they leave Grant and a snack for the bus ride home.

If you are interested in donating to support the cost of game day meals please do so soon at https://www.friendsofgrantfootball.com/give and add “for food” in notes of the donation. 

Snap! Raise & Fundraising

This seasons SnapRaise campaign started this week. Our hope is this campaign is the only fundraiser where we need student athletes participation. The goal is to generate enough funds to cover our costs for the entire season. These costs include: coaching stipends, food, team activities, tutoring and much more. Please share the below QR code with family and friends who might be interested in donating!

Don’t forget about employer matches

Many companies will match donations that employees make to non-profit organizations. We recently had a family that works at Nike donate. Their $500 donation ended up being almost $2k! Many companies use Benevity and we are an available organization through that site. If your company uses Benevity please donate directly through the Benevity site and not snap! Raise. Reach out to Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com if you need a receipt or any other documentation from Friends of Grant Football.

Volunteers

All interested volunteers can sign-up for shifts here. After you sign up please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball so she can coordinate training.

Game day

We need the below volunteer help for all games. It is so much fun to be a part of the Game!

Volunteer spots needed:

Varsity: Chains (all games still open), Score board (one game left) & Announcing (3 games still open)

JV: Chains (all games still open) & Score board (all games still open)

Moda Center Parking lot fundraiser volunteers

One of Grant Football’s main fundraisers is managing a parking lot for Moda Center event parking. The Youth and High School Friends of Grant Football Board members have been running the lot this entire year, but we now need additional volunteers. Each volunteer shift is 1.5-2hrs & all volunteers will have training. This fundraiser brought in over $20K last season and we desperately need help to keep it going!

Volunteer spots needed:

All Moda Center events (at least 2 volunteers per event)

Grant Bowl

Once again thank you to all the families who have e-mailed city officials, done interviews with the news stations and advocated for getting the Grant Bowl fixed.

We do not have any updates as this time, but if you want to stay updated on whats happening join Grant Bowl Community Coalition on Facebook. Also, if you have not already done so please:

  1. Complete this survey from the newly-formed Grant Bowl Community Coalition. The goal of sharing this survey is to explore ways to expedite immediate repairs after a "critical safety test failure" that includes advocating for the transfer of ownership + operations of the Grant Bowl to PPS.

  2. Email the following public leader: Commissioner Ryan, Parks Director Long and our city council demanding that they do better for our students and community. To demonstrate the depth of our support, we urge you to send an e-mail to the City of Portland expressing your concerns about condemning the field and the impact it will have on students. A template email has been prepared to make this process easier for you (here). Feel free to personalize the email with your own thoughts and experiences.

Urgent Action Required: It is time to rally together to save the Grant Bowl

Dear Football Parents and Community Supporters

As valued members of our football community, we are reaching out to you with an urgent request for your support. Our beloved Grant Bowl has been condemned by the city which is going to deprive our students of a vital space for sports and community connection. By not allowing Grant athletes to use the field at all, a larger group of teams than in the past will require that student athletes miss class to be bussed to other fields to practice and play games - which will negatively impact our students, our entire community and the environment.

We believe that together, as a united force, we can make a difference and ensure that our students continue to have access to the field. To achieve this, Friends of Grant Football is asking for your help in two crucial ways:

  1. Complete this survey from the newly-formed Grant Bowl Community Coalition. The goal of sharing this survey is to explore ways to expedite immediate repairs after a "critical safety test failure" that includes advocating for the transfer of ownership + operations of the Grant Bowl to PPS.

  2. Email the following public leader: Commissioner Ryan, Parks Director Long and our city council demanding that they do better for our students and community. To demonstrate the depth of our support, we urge you to send an e-mail to the City of Portland expressing your concerns about condemning the field and the impact it will have on students. A template email has been prepared to make this process easier for you (here). Feel free to personalize the email with your own thoughts and experiences.

Time is of the essence, as city officials are currently deliberating on this issue. We encourage you to take action as soon as possible and share this message with fellow parents, friends, and community members who share our commitment to preserving this valuable resource for our students.

Let’s show the city the strength of this football community and rally together to protect the field our students deserve to have access to. Please e-mail admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com if you have any questions. If you are looking for regular updates on this situation, join the Grant Bowl Community Coalition FaceBook group to be kept up to date on what's happening.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Antipov

Friends of Grant Football President

Fall Camp Update

Grant Football Families 

This week there will be some adjustments to football practice due to the extreme weather we are anticipating this week. Practices from Monday - Thursday will be held at 11:30am on the upper turf. This will move our pre practice meeting to 10:30 am. Players who need to check out gear can do so starting at 8:00 am. Please note the attire for the practices is as follows 

Monday - Helmet + Practice Jersey 

Tuesday - Helmet + Practice Jersey 

Wednesday - Helmet + Shoulder pads + Girdle + Practice Jersey 

Thursday - Helmet + Shoulder pads + Girdle + Practice Jersey 

Attire may be adjusted to accommodate for heat. 

Practice will resume on its normal schedule this Friday unless communicated otherwise.


Reminder: You must be cleared via family ID to receive gear. If you do not have approved status on Family ID you will not receive gear until you are cleared. Athletes must also register on WarRoom. This is our platform where students will check out their gear. Players who have not created an account can do so using the following link. 

https://secure.prepwarroom.com/Access/Control

Gear check out start at 8:00am in the wrestling room. 

August Updates

Message from Coach Melson

Grant Football Families

Just like that we are in the month of August. We have spent the last eight weeks of summer preparing for our 2023 football campaign. Summer has been highlighted by different events including Team Camp, Beach Retreat (pictures below), U of O 7v7 / Lineman camp and most recently our first Beach Retreat. These various events have been great opportunities for the team to grow closer, bond, and identify team goals. During our retreat we wanted to lay a foundation using the 7 C’s. If you are not familiar with the 7 C’s they include; Culture, Contagious, Consistent, Communicate, Connect, Commit, and Care. This is a framework we can use to win in the locker room as well as on and off the field. It is important that we continue to reinforce these concepts at school, on the field and in the home. How well we master the 7 C’s will be a key indicator of our experience and success this year. 

Although the summer months are coming to a close, we still have many opportunities to become better individually and collectively. Team conditioning will resume next week with weight room and field work. Our last conditioning session will be Thursday 8/10. 

Things Coming Up:

Parent Meeting on Thursday : This is an informational meeting for the 2023 season. It is highly encouraged that a representative of each player/family is in attendance. We will cover registration, schedule, safety, participant expectations and other topics pertinent to the season.

When/what time: 8/10 at 6:00 pm

Where: Grant High School South Forum (You can access the building via the front doors. The south forum is to the left on the south end of the building.) 


Fall camp (Mandatory Practice): All participants must be cleared prior to practice on the 14th. You can check your registration status on Family id. 

Player Clearance

  • If a student has APPROVED under the approval status column, they have a current physical on file and are cleared to start sports on August 14th.

  • If a student has NOT APPROVED under this column, they need an updated physical and are NOT cleared to start sports on August 14th   

  • If a student has a DASH (-), they have registered and we have not checked their physical yet and their status is pending until we check.

When/time: 8/14-8/25 Monday-Friday 3p Team meeting/4pm fall camp

* If your athlete has not checked out gear they should arrive at 1pm the first day to do gear checkout


Camas Jamboree: Camp will end with a Jamboree. The Varsity and Lower Level Jamboree will happen on the same day this year.

When/What: 8/25 JV: 5pm Varsity: 6:30pm

Where: Doc Harris Stadium

Volunteers Needed

Below are a few volunteers opportunities we have this season. If you are interested in helping out please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com.

Game day

We need the below volunteer help for all games. It is so much fun to be a part of the Game!

Volunteer spots needed:

Varsity: Chains X4

JV: Chains X4 & Score board X1

Moda Center Parking lot fundraiser volunteers

One of Grant Football’s main fundraisers is managing a parking lot for Moda Center event parking. The Youth and High School Friends of Grant Football Board members have been running the lot this entire year, but we now need additional volunteers. Each volunteer shift is 1.5-2hrs & all volunteers will have training. This fundraiser brought in over $20K last season and we desperately need help to keep it going!

Volunteer spots needed:

All Moda Center events (at least 2 volunteers per event)

Friends of Grant Football Board Position

The Friends of Grant football board meets once a month. We currently have the two below board positions available.

  • Treasurer X1

  • Event Coordinator X1

Fundraisers

Team Snacks and Dinners

To support players and ensure they have the essential nutrition they need before games Friends of Grant Football provides team meals before every game (both home and away). We do this for both JV and Varsity. The size of the meals depends on the length of time players have between school and game time, but we strive to ensure every athlete has some nutrition before game time. For anyone wanting to contribute to the cost of those meals please scan the below barcode and donate through our PayPal account. All donations are tax deductible.

Snapraise fundraiser is starting in August!

We are making preparations for the season and have partnered with SnapRaise to be our fundraising platform. At this time, our hope is that this campaign will be highly successful and the only fundraiser where we need our student athletes participation. Our goal is that this campaign will generate enough funds to cover our costs for the entire season. In late August players will be learning more about this fundraiser.

Spring Updates

GRANT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER REGISTRATION & spring checklist

In order to participate in a sport, all student-athletes must complete an eligibility process each season for each sport. Sign up for Grant High School Generals Football in 5 easy steps:

1) Register Online

First-time users need to set up an account. FamilyID captures all necessary information as well as waivers. Once you have an account in FamilyID, subsequent registrations are easy! UPDATE: There will be no payments or fees at this time. Fees are due after teams are formed during the individual season. When you get to the payment page, you can bypass the screen to finish your registration. We do not use Family ID for payments. Please use the link below at step #4 to access School Pay for all payments. https://pps.schoolpay.com/

https://www.familyid.com/organizations/grant-high-school

2) Physical Clearance

Sports physicals must be current for the entire season. Once a physical is on file, it is valid for 2 years from the date it is signed by the medical provider. You can pick up a Physical Clearance Form in the Athletic Department or download one here.

3) Academic Eligibility

All Freshman begin with academic eligibility for the Fall Season. For Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, eligibility for sports participation is based on GPA from the previous semester. Eligibility for all grades is then based on 1st quarter grades for the Winter season and 1st-semester grades for the Spring season. For more information, check www.pilathletics.com or www.osaa.org

4) Required Fees

Athletic fees can be paid online at www.schoolpay.com. You can also submit payment by cash, check or card in our bookkeeper’s office.

5) Join Friends of Grant Football

Joining Friends of Grant Football allows us to collectively to stay in touch as a community in support of our Grant General Football teams. The primary mode of communication is email and via the content that’s posted on the Friends of Grant Football website. Please join!

Spring Check List-

  • Register on Family ID

  • Update Physical information

  • Complete Team Camp Registration (attached)

  • Communicate any potential schedule conflicts ASAP

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!!

Please reach out if you are interested in one of the many opportunities to be a part of the Grant Football Experience and give back  to the community. 

We are currently looking for 

  • Friends of Grant Football Treasurer

  • Friends of Grant Football Event coordinator. (help the players have fun this season!!)

  • Game Day Volunteers 

Beach Retreat help needed

We are thrilled to be heading to the teams first-ever Beach Retreat, and we need your help to make it an unforgettable experience! Get ready for a weekend of sun, sand, and fantastic team bonding as we head to the beautiful shores of Warrenton, Oregon.

What is the Beach Retreat all about, you ask? It's a chance for our players to strengthen their connections, build team spirit, and foster a positive team culture. We'll be spending three glorious days and two fun-filled nights at Warrenton High School, surrounded by the stunning coastal scenery. More details about this exciting event will be coming your way soon!

Now, here's where you come in! We are seeking parent volunteers to sign up and lend a hand during the Beach Retreat. We need your culinary expertise to help prepare and serve delicious meals for our hungry players and coaches. Rest assured, Friends of Grant football will cover all the expenses for the food, and we have a well-equipped kitchen at our disposal. However, we require volunteers to take charge of meal preparation and setup.

If you have a passion for cooking and would love to contribute to this amazing event, we would be delighted to have your help. Please reach out to Stephanie if interested. You can contact Stephanie via email at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com or give her a call at 503-871-7501.

Remember, this is a fantastic opportunity to support our players, make new friends, and have a blast at the Beach Retreat. So put on your chef hats, grab your aprons, and join us in creating a amazing experience for our players.

Summer Calendars & Youth football clinic

Hi Generals

We wanted to let you know that spring & summer calendars are now live here. A few really important dates:

  • Spring Ball starts May 30th

  • U of O Lineman & Skills camp is June 16th

  • WOU Team camp is June 21st-June 24th

  • Daily Team strength training starts July 5th

  • Passing League starts July 11th

  • Team Beach Retreat is July 14-16th

  • Dead week is July 24th-28th (Great week for vacations)

Youth Clinic registration is now open!

FOGF March Update

Dear Grant Football Family and Friends

We are excited to start preparing for the 2023 season. Over the last month our coaching staff has been evaluating our previous season. Our reflection and evaluation process has allowed us to refine the Grant Football experience in a positive way. We believe that providing the student athletes meaningful interactions on and off the field are a key ingredient to program success. What does program success look like? There are the obvious measurables everyone thinks about. Although wins, losses, championships, and other recognition are nice we have shifted our focus to providing experiences that enrich and grow Grant Football culture. We believe that when a positive culture is at the forefront then the wins and losses take care of themselves.

As we continue to prepare for the 2023 season we will be offering many different experiences that will establish a culture that drives expectations and beliefs. Grant is striving to build a culture that is rooted in Character Development, Connection, and Dedication. We have identified these components among others as key factors to building a culture where students, parents, coaches, and other stakeholders are “All In”.

Below you will find a calendar that outlines these experiences all the way to the start of school next September. Please review the calendar so you can make plans moving forward. It cannot be stressed enough that our student athletes care and invest in the refined culture of Grant Football. To do that they need to be present whenever possible. As always there will be schedule conflicts especially when it's time to travel or when playing multiple sports. We ask that the students keep the coaching staff (Coach Melson) informed on whereabouts and potential conflicts.

Highlighted events include:

Football Leadership Committee

It is important that student athletes get multiple opportunities to develop their leadership skills on and off the field. The leadership committee will allow students to take active roles within the football program while developing positive skills in the process. The leadership committee aims to empower our students to lead by taking time to hone impactful leadership skills through workshop opportunities.. Players interested in assuming captain positions or being included in decision making must be a part of the leadership committee to be considered.

Moms Night

The Grant Football is always looking to grow our football family. The only way to do this is to increase participation.. Understandably some families may have some reserves of their student athletes participating in full contact sports. We often run into the excuse from students “My mom won’t let me!” Mom’s night is geared toward providing information and answering questions about the sport of Football. Whether you are a part of the youth or high school program we encourage you to join us to break down safety stigmas of football participation.

Youth Clinics

This offseason Grant Football will strive to provide more opportunities for our youth athletes to build their skills and aspects of culture. Youth clinics are a great way for our students to get out of the house and have some fun while building skills and relationships with teammates and coaches. Stay tuned for more information as there will be a series of youth clinics starting in April.

Spring Ball

We are about 100 days away from the start of 2023 Spring Football. Eligible student athletes will engage in two weeks of padded and non padded practices leading up to finals. These practices are an opportunity for student athletes to hone fundamentals and get evaluated for Summer Development. Springball will include two college campus experiences. U of O day Camp and 7v7 Tournament, and Western Oregon Team Camp. These activities are usually some of the most talked about experiences of our season for students.

Beach Retreat

This year we will have our inaugural annual Beach Retreat. The Beach Retreat is a bonding opportunity for the players to become more connected and build aspects of team and culture. We will spend 3 days and 2 Nights in Warrenton, Oregon at Warrenton High-School. More details about Beach Retreat coming.

U of O Lineman + Skills Day Camp

This will be the second year that we take a group down to Eugene,OR. The U of O 7v7 and Lineman Skills Challenge was one of the highlighted experiences of the year last season. Skill players will compete in a 7v7 tournament during the day as well as the lineman in a skills challenge. Players will also get the opportunity to tour U of O’s state of the art facilities, as well as meet players and coaches. This is a great opportunity to get on a college campus and get a taste of what collegiate sports are like.

Team Calendars (March-June)

Summer calendars July-August will be updated Here soon.

Moda Center Parking lot

We have been given an amazing opportunity to manage event parking at a Moda Center area parking lot and the funds go to Grant Football. The Youth and High School Friends of Grant Football Board members have been running the lot this winter, but we now need additional volunteers. Please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com if you are interested in volunteering. Each volunteer shift is 1.5-2hrs.

FOGF September Update

Happy September!

We are excited to wrap up fall camp session and kick of the 22’ football season this week. The team has spent the last two weeks practicing and preparing to represent our program families and community. I am excited to start the next chapter in our journey as we gear up for another school year. Please see below for camp recaps and important upcoming dates and information.

August Recap

Youth Camp

Thank you to our Grant Youth Families for attending this year youth camp in the bowl. We were able to host more than 50 youth athletes who spent 4 days learning football fundamentals and techniques. Bridging the gap between our two programs is a top priority for me as a head coach. These opportunities allow us to build and strengthen relationship between current a future Generals. We look forward to continuing to support the youth program in their season and development this season.

Fall Camp 

Fall camp begun on August 15th for more than 75 Grant Student Athletes. This has been one of the most productive fall camps I have witnessed in the last 8 years that I have been coaching at Grant. The student athletes have been able to spark a culture shift that is centered around hard work, discipline, and accountability. It is the foundation that has been laid during this camp that will determine our success and failures as a team. I am excited to build on top of the foundation they have laid as a unit. 

Fall camp concluded with our first opportunity for competition with the PIL Jamboree. The Generals had a successful “dress rehearsal” against opponents Franklin and Lincoln. The General’s offense was able to generate 5 touchdowns while keeping opposing offenses to just 1 score. A highlight of the jamboree was the number of different players who were able to play and contribute to overall team success.

The lower level team shared similar success in their own jamboree on Saturday. Their ability to execute and compete was great to see. Looking forward to seeing this group continue to grow and compete as a unit.

2022 Season

Below you will find important information for the 22 season including schedules (subject to change) and important reminders for families and friends.

First game Information:

Due to the shortage of officials there will be some untraditional changes to the Varsity and JV schedules. Our first Varsity contest will be played in the Grant Bowl September 1st at 4:15.

There will be limited bleacher seated. Bringing your own chair is highly recommended.

Admission: $6 for Adults, $2 for students with ID

Entry Points: See map for details. Students will be asked to enter near the third base dugout of the baseball field. There will be two other entry points, the northwest corner of the field off 33rd and the southeast corner of the field off US Grant Pl. 

Games Schedule 

(Concessions provided by Grant Booster Club)

Varsity Schedule:

9/1 vs Newberg 4:15

9/9 @ Southridge 7pm

9/16 vs Ida B Wells 7pm (Marshall)*

9/23 @ Jefferson 7pm

10/7 vs Lincoln (Marshall)* 7pm

10/13 vs Cleveland (Marshall)* 7pm

10/21 @ McDaniel 7pm

10/28 @ Roosevelt 7pm

JV Schedule:

This year the lower level will be using a new format to help remedy the official shortage. Lower level league games will be played the following Monday following the Varsity Contest. For example, when Varsity plays Ida B Wells on September Friday the 16th the lower level will play the following Monday 9/19. This format will ensure there are officials at each contest. This will also give a clear idea of how many quarter swing players will have after the Varsity contest.

9/2 vs Newberg 4 pm (Bowl)

9/12 vs Southridge 4pm (Bowl)

9/19 @ Wells 

9/26 vs Jefferson 4pm (Bowl)

10/3 @ Lincoln 7:30pm (Wells Hs)

10/10 vs Franklin 4pm (Bowl)

10/17 @ Cleveland 4pm

10/24 vs McDaniel 4pm (Bowl)

10/31 vs Roosevelt 4pm (Bowl)

Transportation: 

All students’ athletes will be transported to and from every game via district transportation. It is policy that every student athlete returns to campus with the team after each contest. Students are not permitted to transport themselves or others to and from games. Students can be picked up outside of the locker-room after returning on district provided transportation.

Interested In Volunteers?

Each Home game we are responsible for providing volunteers to help with chains, scoreboard and announcing. It is so much fun to be a part of the Game!  If you are interested please e-mail Stephanie at: admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com

Fall Practice 

As we move into the school year the practice plan and schedule will be as follows.

Varsity 

Monday -Thursday 4-630

Post-Game (Varsity Players) Meeting/Recovery Saturdays 9am-11:45am 

JV 

o   Tuesday – Thursday 4-630

o   Post-Game Meeting/Recovery Friday 4-5:30

 

Important Links 

OSAA Team Page 

https://osaa.org/teams/46466#tabs-V

Team Pictures 

https://www.foreyesphotos.com/f335436513

Team Apparel Store 

Check out our online team store!

https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/EUCcVhtrJN

FOGF August Update

Dear Grant Football Family and Friends;

As moratorium week comes to an end and we transition to August we hope you have had the opportunity to spend time with your family and loved ones. Football activities will be resuming this upcoming week (Aug 1). Please see below about upcoming events and important dates to highlight on your calendar.

July Highlights 

Summer workouts 

The High School and Youth programs have both put in a tremendous amount of hard work on the field and in the weight room over the last few weeks of the summer. It has been a great experience for the staff to get to know new and familiar faces within the youth program. Even more importantly it has been a great opportunity to strengthen the connection between the two programs and create a more cohesive and inclusive environment. We look forward to continued success as we engage in the last weeks of summer training. 

Lineman Challenge 

Summer is often filled with a lot of opportunities for skill players to compete with other schools over the course of the summer. Oftentimes this means that our interactions with our lineman can be limited to just in person workouts on campus. One of the few opportunities that this group gets to engage in is the lineman challenge. This year we took a group of lineman to compete in the Union Titans Annual Lineman Challenge in Camas Washington. In this event our student athletes got to represent our program by competing in different events against other schools. These events include 8 man sled relay, Bench Press, Tire Flip Relay, Farmers Carry, Figure 8 hoops, and Tug of War. This was a great opportunity for us to compete and continue to build aspects of teamwork and cohesiveness. The Generals took 2nd overall just missing the 1st place mark by half a point. This only sheds light on the type of athletes we have and the potential they can reach this season. I am looking forward to watching these young men compete on and off the field.

Shout out to Gabriel’s Bakery!

The Generals want to extend a huge thank you to Gabriel’s Bakery for supplying the student athletes with a meal after summer workouts. These were some of the softest bagels I have had in a long time. Be sure to check them out here! 

Important Dates in August 

Summer workouts

Summer workouts will resume the week of August 1 in The Bowl. Tuesday and Thursday are still open for youth athletes who can attend. This will conclude the youth sessions for our young Generals. During the week of the 8th we will complete the end of the summer training for highschool athletes.

Youth Camp 

The Highschool staff and athletes will host our Annual Youth Camp the week of the 8th. Camp will be from Monday through Thursday in The Bowl from 4pm until 6pm. This is a great opportunity to get our youth athletes prepared for their season while getting the opportunity to learn the Grant Generals Brand of Football. Electronic Registration forms (preferred method) are available here. You can also register on site prior to camp start time. Camp fee is $30 per athlete (scholarship funds may be available but are limited.) Please make checks payable to Friends of Grant Football. Registration and check in table will be available 45 minutes before the beginning of camp. On the last day of camp there will be a BBQ for camp participants and workers.

Fall Camp 

Highschool Fall camp will begin on August 15th. For athletes who are registered and cleared practice will begin at 4pm in The Bowl. Please make sure that you or your student athlete is cleared for participation. Those who are registered but not yet fully cleared should have received an email from our athletic office with next steps for clearance. If you are not sure if you or your athlete is cleared you can check with the AD office or with Coach Melson.Those who are not fully cleared by the 15th will not be allowed to participate in practice or check out gear. Follow this link to register your student athletes. For athletes who have not gotten the opportunity to check out gear they can do gear check Aug 15th  from 1-2:30 on campus. Fall camp will conclude with the PIL Jamboree on the 26th of August. Details still to come.

Opening Game 

We are extremely excited to be able to host our first home game of the season in The Bowl against the Newberg Tigers! This game has been moved up to Thursday September 2nd (Due to official shortage) at 4:15pm. This is a unique experience for both the players and the community, it will be an event that you don't want to miss! You can find our full season schedule here on the OSAA website.

Remembering Alex Castagnoli 

The Grant Football Family and Community are saddened to learn of the passing of fellow General Alex Castagnoli. Alex was a bright light within our program and community. He will be missed by his coaches, teammates, mentors and teachers within the Grant community. If you knew Alex you knew he had a contagious smile and a genuine personality. Alex’s funeral will be held at Little Chapel of the Chimes on Aug 6th from 12pm - 4pm. 

SnapRaise fundraiser is starting in August!

We are making preparations for the season and have partnered with SnapRaise to be our fundraising platform. At this time, our hope is that this campaign will be highly successful and the only fundraiser where we need our student athletes participation. Our goal is that this campaign will generate enough funds to cover our costs for the entire season. In late August players will be learning more about this fundraiser. Below are more details:

Important links 

Fall Registration 

Physical Form 

Grant Football Calendar 

Friends of Grant Football Website

Varsity Schedule 

Are you following us on social media? Be sure to follow our pages to get the full Grant Football Experience with updates and inside looks of the program.

Twitter:Grant_fb

Instagram: Grant.Football

Facebook: Friends of Grant Football

FOGF June Update

Happy Summer Generals!

Summer workouts start next week 💪 & we are another month closer to Football Season!!! The Friends of Grant Football board and your coaches are working hard on preparing for next season. To help make sure the season goes as smoothly as possible we are looking for sponsors and volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting, please email admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com or call Stephanie at (503) 871-7501.

Message from Coach Melson

Dear Grant Football Family and Friends

As the weather turns I hope you are enjoying the sun and enjoying time with your loved ones. Our spring ball session is coming to an end this week. I am excited that our student athletes were given the opportunity to participate in Spring Ball practice as well as the WOU Team football camp. These are the experiences that lay the foundation of a season of success on and off the field. Forty of our student athletes were able to attend camp this year. They got to engage in skill development with college coaches and athletes on a college campus. Aside from football specific elements we were also able to engage in team bonding and building activities. Some camp highlights included 4 of our student athletes who were recognized by making the All Camp Team list: 

Zamani Harris - Muldrew: Defensive line

Chuck Bohart: Offensive Line

Jayden Moses: Linebacker/Tightend

Milan Clark: Defensive MVP

We look forward to continuing the tradition of team camp next year hopefully doubling attendance and participation. It is truly an experience that players will remember for years and years to come and can be a catalyst for team success.

There is one activity left on the schedule that will conclude our Spring Session. This Friday (6/24) our Varsity members have been invited to the University of Oregon to compete in a 7v7 competition. Our athletes will get the opportunity to tour the U of O campus and meet campus staff and team personnel. This is a great opportunity for players to get in front of coaches and play inside one of the premiere collegiate football venues Autzen Stadium. Those who are participating should have received information about the competition and visit. Special thanks to Friends of Grant Football sponsoring our student athletes in this event.

As the month of July approaches I want to make sure you are reminded about the important dates and deadlines.

Summer workouts for highschool student athletes will begin next Monday June 27th at 8:30. We will meet every week Monday - Thursday on the turf at 8:30 ending around 10:30. 

Youth Athletes will join us every Tuesday and Thursday starting the week of July 4th. Youth athletes should be signed up with their program. Athletes who are living in a dual enrollment boundary with Jefferson will have to be released from the Jefferson cluster to participate with Grant or will automatically be enrolled with the Jefferson Youth Cluster. I am waiting for more information about this process.

Our High School 7v7 schedule will start the week of July 4th as well. Please refer to the summer calendar for updates and locations. Times and locations are subject to change and I will keep you updated if things change. 

Ice Cream Social: We will be hosting a 7v7 competition in the Grant Bowl on July 12th at 6pm. At the end of this competition we will be hosting an Ice Cream social for all players and families on the youth and Highschool level. This will be a great opportunity to meet coaches and players, ask questions and mingle with the Grant community. There will also be an informational agenda for youth participants and families. Please mark this event on your calendars.

Moratorium Week is the week of July 27th. There will be no activities or contact this week per OSAA rules. WE will resume with the schedule the week after.

Youth Camp will take place the week of August 8th. (More details to follow)

One of my goals this year is that we maximize participation in our program. I have a goal of reaching at least 90 participants this year in our program. Currently we have 60 signed up. If we can reach this goal we can get back to having three true levels of football at Grant. This will give our players the most opportunities to play and develop having all three levels. Please register if you have not done so already. There is a big need for incoming freshmen to register as we need to anticipate scheduling and coaching needs. If you know anyone who may be on the fence or thinking about registering, have them reach out to me ASAP. Links for registration and clearance will be included in this email.

Fall Registration 

Physical Form 

Grant Football Calendar 

Friends of Grant Football Website

As always feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Go Generals 

-Coach Melson

Big Congrats to Max von Arx, Jayden Moses and Marshune Waters for being selected to the Les Schwab Football All Star, State Game North vs South. You can buy tickets at this link. Game is July 2nd at Linfield College. Click the link to purchase tickets → http://www.lesschwabbowl.com/

Team Calendars

Grant Youth Update

We have 34 kids signed up for Grant Youth Football and we hope to see that number more than double during July.  We encourage parents and kids who are still considering to go out for football to attend the Ice Cream Social - July 12th, 7pm at the Grant Bowl.  GYF Coaches, myself,  as well as Coach Melson will be there to discuss safety, practice schedule and time commitment.  We are updating the instragram weekly, so please follow us @grantyouthfootball .

Go Generals!

Trent

(503) 781-8833

FOGF (almost) June Update- Important Dates!

Hello Generals! Please see below for IMPORTANT information and dates from Coach Melson.

Dear Grant Football Families,

I can't express enough how grateful I am as we begin the next chapter of Grant Football. The support is very much appreciated and I continue to feel the love from Generals Nation. As we move closer to the start of our Spring Ball Season I will continue to keep you updated on team calendar events and new information. It is important that all football players make as many events as possible, especially Team Camp. Please see below important updates and reminders. 

Parent Meeting 

  • The parent meeting scheduled for Friday 5/27 has been rescheduled. We have decided to switch this date as there are alot of families who will potentially miss as they take off for the holiday weekend. We have moved this meeting to after our first non padded practice on 5/31 at Grant Highschool. Meeting will start at 5:30. It is encouraged to have at least one parent or guardian at this informational meeting next tuesday.

Fall Registration 

  • All fall registration is now open. Please make sure you start this process as soon as possible. Athletes who are not cleared before fall camp will not be allowed to participate in practice or team competition. Athletes also need a current physical on file to participate in team camp. If you are not sure if your physical is current please check family ID.

  • Youth registration is also open. You can follow this link to register your youth student athlete.

Spring ball

  • Please be sure to review the team calendar as Spring ball activities are approaching quickly. 

  • Spring ball practice 

    • Non Padded practices and meetings start next week 5/31 and end 6/7 (no practices on final days). All athletes who are attending team camp are expected to be present at these practices/meetings. Those who cannot attend should communicate with coach Melson ASAP.

    • Padded Practices will start on 6/13 in preparation for Team Camp. Gear check will be the prior week. All athletes planning on attending team camp will be expected to attend all Padded Spring Practices. These practice times are from 4-6

    • Incoming Freshman

      • Incoming and new players are also invited to all Spring Ball activities be sure to register on Family ID as soon as possible.

    • Team Camp 

      • We are heading to Western Oregon Team Camp on June 17th. This is a great opportunity for our team to travel and engage in activities that will help us establish culture, identity, and cohesiveness. All athletes who do not have schedule conflicts are expected to join us at team camp. We will return on June 20th at the Grant campus. All athletes will be able to ride the bus to and from camp

      • Camp Registration form can be found attached to this email. We will receive a team discount if we have at least 50 athletes registered. Those who may need financial support reach out to Coach Melson to explore your options. Once your registration is complete be sure that Coach Melson receives your registration in either electronic or hard copy. Camp fees will be paid when we arrive on the 20th of June.

      •  Although this is not a mandatory event it is highly encouraged that your student athlete does not miss team camp please contact coach Melson with questions ASAP

    • U of O 7v7/Lineman Camp

      • There is a new event that has been added to the Summer calendar. We were invited to 7v7 and lineman camp at The University of Oregon on 6/24. This will be a great opportunity for students to visit the Oregon Campus, meet the Oregon coaching staff, and compete against various teams in Autzen Stadium. This will not be an all team event as we will be taking only Varsity players. Players who will be attending will receive more information about this event in the future. Please mark on your calendar.

    • Spring Ball Activities will conclude with the U of O camp. With Summer activities starting the following week. I will be sending more information about the summer schedule in June. 

      • All youth athletes will be invited to team workouts starting July 5th. Youth athletes will be invited to attend all summer workouts on Tuesday and Thursdays in the Grant Bowl. Summer workouts start at 8:30 am. Youth players must be registered to participate.

      • There will also be a Ice Cream Social event for all Grant Football Players (youth and highschool) after 7v7 activities on 5/12

We are looking for Volunteers!!!!

  • Please reach out if you are interested in one of the many opportunities to be a part of the Grant Football Experience and give back  to the community. 

  • We are currently looking for 

    • Friends of Grant Football President (Biggest Current Need)

    • Youth Coaches (paid)

    • Game Day Volunteers 

If you or someone you know are interested in volunteering please reach out to Coach Melson ASAP

Spring Check List-

  • Register on Family ID

  • Update Physical information

  • Complete Team Camp Registration (attached)

  • Communicate any potential schedule conflicts ASAP

As always, do not hesitate to contact Coach Melson with any questions. Activities are approaching fast and it is imperative that all families and participants are clear on events and team expectations moving forward. If we continue to focus on the positive experiences we provide our students success will continue to find our football family. 

Go Generals!

Coach Melson 

amelson@pps.net 

Calendar-

Youth Update:

Youth registration is open and we have some exciting news for the 3rd-8th graders to get prepared for the fall season.  Coach Melson is opening up the high school summer workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30am-10:30am at Grant Bowl for youth players, starting Tuesday July 5th!  These workouts are non-contact and focused on speed, agility, and fundamentals.  This is a great opportunity to get the kids moving in the morning, as well as spend time with the Grant High School players and coaching staff.  I would like to emphasize the importance of registering for youth football EARLY - do not wait until July and August.  Many youth programs close registration after May as it is important to know how many players you have for proper season preparation - equipment, coaches, etc.  We will leave registration open as long as reasonably possible, but we certainly do not want to have to push players to other districts because we already have enough for 1 team but not quite 2 in a certain division.   So please get on it!

Youth Registration is open. Please help us spread the word by emailing this to any Friends and Family, social media, neighborhood or cluster school organizations you belong to. 

https://www.grantyouthfootball.com/

We really need help staffing the Youth Program. You may have more fun than you think, coaching little kids!  Or coaching adults to coach little kids, or being in charge of it all! :)

Go Generals,

Trent

Big Congrats to long time Grant High School Football and Track and Field Coach, Eric von Arx for receiving the honors of Assistant Coach of the Year, from the State of Oregon Athletic Coaches Association. We have been fortunate to have him as a part of our athletes lives and are very proud to have him as a part of the fantastic coaching staff at Grant. Thanks for Everything Coach Eric!

Please spread the word to other friends and families that you can find the most up to date information on our website and calendar at www.friendsofgrantfootball.com. If you have any questions please email admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com