Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 10th, 5:30pm Parent Council Meeting Zoom
Monday, January 16th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
Tuesday, January 17th, 5:30pm Board Meeting - Library
Saturday, January 21st, 10:00am Prospective Parent Information Meeting
Thursday, January 26th, 6:00pm Prospective Parent Information Meeting
Sunday, January 29th, Sibling Applications Deadline
Administrator's Message
Greetings Village School Community!
Our first week back to school, complemented by a big, shiny full moon, came off without a hitch. We hope you took advantage of the good weather yesterday and were able to get outside a bit to breathe in the fresh air.
Last Thursday we welcomed Dion C. Jordan back for his second of four visits as our guest Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion facilitator. He talked us through microaggressions (what to do if you experience one, witness one, or convey one to someone else), which is a perfect segue into our next rollout: The Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Complaint Form. This form is a place for marginalized groups in our community to anonymously (though you can leave your email if you wish) communicate with administrators if they experience a comment, action, or incident that is discriminatory, on or off campus. The results of this form will go to Shannon and Roz, who will then investigate them as fully as is possible. We hope that this added level of feedback will allow us to improve communications with each other, educate ourselves when we offend others (intentionally or unintentionally), and sharpen our awareness of implicit bias in our everyday interactions. You can find the link to this form on the homepage of the Village School website, just under the banner that commits our school to standing with Black Lives Matter and the BIPOC communities.
We hope your 2023 is looking big, shiny, and full so far!
Sincerely,
Shannon, Roz, and Andy
Rules for a Safe Morning Drop Off
Please do not park in the lower North lot when dropping students off in the morning. This lot is for faculty only.
Parking is available on 35th Ave, Glen Oak Dr, Knob Hill Ln, and Donald St.
*We require students in grades K-3 to be walked to their classroom door by a parent or guardian.
If you’d like to drop off your 4th-8th grade student please follow these guidelines:
1. Approach the school from Donald Street. This reduces two way traffic on 35th Ave.
2. Use Drop-Off zone for Drop off only. (At the curb near the stairs leading to the school)
3. Always park in the correct direction and on the correct side of the street.
4. Do not park on the wrong side of the street. Do not stop cars in the middle of the street.
5. Have children exit on Curb side of car, not the street side
6. Please say your “goodbyes” before you stop and avoid lingering
Annual Giving Campaign
Improve Theater Facilities at The Village School Our Commons has been the focal point of many school gatherings. This year’s campaign aims to enhance our theater experience with improved lighting, sound gathering and mixing, video projection, seating and window blinds. From hereon, everyone attending school plays will be able to hear the students’ voices and see the actors with improved lights. The new blinds will allow presentations with video projection any time of day. The larger screen will be visible to everyone in the Commons, and will also create capacity for family movie nights.
We are hoping to raise $20,000 in this campaign. In view of our commitment to music and the performing arts, the proposed changes will greatly improve the experience in our theater. We hope you will join us in our efforts to Improve Theater Facilities at The Village School.
Donations may be made in the office or at ANNUALGIVING.US
Sibling Applications
Priority applications for siblings of current Village School students or children of staff members will be due by Sunday, January 29th. Please submit your sibling application before this date.
School Directory
The Village School Directory is ready and available! Please stop by the office if you would like a copy.
The Office Can No Longer Share OTC Medications
There are some school nursing policies that we are changing. One new rule that goes into effect immediately is regarding the dispensing of over the counter medications in the office. If you would like the office to give your child any kind of over the counter medication (Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, throat drops, etc), please bring in a bottle of that medication with your child's name clearly marked on it, as well as the dosage to be given. (This may not exceed the dosage for their age range/weight that is printed on the bottle.) It must be in original, unopened packaging. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.
Winter Weather
As the colder, winter weather continues, here is some information on how Village School will let families know about closures or delays.
When hazardous weather is a concern, decisions regarding schedule changes are made in the early morning, before school, when current weather conditions can be assessed. Village School follows the district (4J) when making decisions, although there may be instances where we will declare a closure, even if 4J does not.
How To Find Out: If there is a change in the school schedule, it will be announced through our school phone message system, normally before 6:30 a.m.
Delayed Starts and Early Dismissal: The district generally will avoid delayed starts and early dismissal due to weather. However, it is possible that unpredictable or sudden weather conditions will require such a decision to be made. Delayed start times will not alter school dismissal times.
Parent Choice: On any day when inclement weather is a concern and school is in session, families are encouraged to consider road conditions in their areas and make their own decisions based on safety. Please call your school if your child will be absent. Parents’ individual decisions about school attendance for this reason will be honored.
If you are concerned about the weather and have not received a phone call by 6:30 a.m., check the 4J website, radio or TV for information about closures, delays or snow routes.
8th Grade Fundraiser: January 20th
The 8th Grade Fundraiser will be taking place on January 20th at the Village School Commons! A song request link will be available soon. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you plan to attend the event, click here to make a song request for the Kareoke.
Student Helpers
On Fridays, we usually have a couple of students who come by the office to help. 5th graders Opal and Cassidy collected and disposed of our recycling! We always appreciate the help!
Library News
Check out the Book lists for the Battle of the Books!
Book List Grades 3-5
Book List Grades 6-8
Student Book Recommendation
Written by Juni, 5th grade
Book title: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
This book is a (genre): fantasy
Why I liked this book: It is funny, exciting, suspenseful, and has strong characters.
Summary of the book:
Sophie is a 12 year old girl who has a secret. She is a telepath (mind reader) and one day on a field trip, she meets a boy who is also a telepath, and he tells her she is an elf. Sophie goes with him to the Lost Cities and has a new life and makes friends. Then one day, Sophie and her best friend Dex are kidnapped while practicing alchemy. Someone from the rebel group called the Black Swan is sent to save them. Sophie has more adventures in book 2: Exile.
You can find the whole Keeper of the Lost Cities series in our school library!
The Village Kitchen
Thank you Kerstin and Beth for dicing up a mountain of yellow onions for a recent meal! Your laughter and light heartedness in the face of a teary task made for another fun morning in The Village School Kitchen.
January Menus
Counseling Corner
Rose - Bud- Thorn
Every small group I lead starts with students building connection and community. We do this by sitting in a circle and sharing our rose, bud and thorn. Rose - something good that has happened that day or the past few days, Bud- something you are looking forward to, Thorn - something not so good that has happened. This is a beautiful time for each of us to slow down, share and connect.
If you don’t already have a family practice around checking in, give this a try. On the drive home, around the dinner table, at bedtime, ask your child to share their rose, bud and thorn and you share yours as well. See what new insights you have about your child and invite them into your lived experience as well.
Volunteering!
Village School families are asked to contribute and record at least 40 hours of volunteer work at the school each year, and single parent households are asked to contribute 20 hours. It is this support that allows us to offer such strong programs with limited financial resources. We also welcome grandparents and other relatives to volunteer in your place!
More opportunities to volunteer are coming up! Be sure to watch your email, the Village Voice and the Village Vine for messages from Parent Council, your class coordinator, your child's teacher and the Village School Kitchen, to see the volunteer needs that are coming up for you to enjoy.
If you haven't filled out your volunteer paperwork yet, please stop by the office to pick up a packet.
Another way to contribute to our school community is by attending Parent Council Meetings! Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 10th at 5:30 PM. We are still holding these meetings by Zoom so they are easy to attend (even while making dinner or folding laundry) and every parent and guardian's voice is valued in decisions about what Parent Council funds are used for, events that are held and collaborations with departments and teachers at the Village School!
We adore our volunteers! Village School would not be what it is without you. Thank you so much for making Village School the incredible community it is!
Don't forget to sign in to HelpCounter and report your hours so we can see the amazing contributions from our Village School Families.
Village School Lunch Diaries
The weather warmed up just in time for Sandwiches paired with cool and crisp veggies and apples.
There is nothing like the Village Kitchen's piping hot lentil soup for winter comfort.
Scrumptious tacos loaded with beans, cheese, fresh salsa and chimichurri are always a good way to start the week!
Parent Council
The next Parent Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 10th at 5:30pm!
Please join us and send questions and ideas to parentcouncil@eugenevillageschool.org.
The notes from past meetings can be found here.
Every Village School parent and guardian is a part of Parent Council - The Virtual Parent Council Meetings are open to all parents and guardians on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
You can also engage with Village School families on the Parent Council Facebook page, The Village Vine!
Help Wanted
Substitute Teacher & Substitute Educational Assistant
Duties: Serve as substitute teacher or substitute classroom assistant.
Qualifications: Experience working with groups of children. Knowledge of Waldorf curriculum a plus.
Teachers require Valid Oregon Teaching License:
[Main lesson (K-8), Movement/PE, Spanish, Music, Handwork]
Instructional Assistant (BA and fingerprint background check required) Willingness to get CPR training Background check required Complete Covid vaccination records Salary Range: $24 per hour for Teachers, $15 - $18 per hour for Assistants
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Benefits include our healthy lunch service, PERS coverage.
Free Covid Testing
You can still sign up for Free Opt-in Testing through U of O and OHA!
The Village School has joined other schools in a program that makes weekly testing available to our students! U of O has partnered with Oregon Health Authority to provide free, voluntary COVID-19 testing kits to children attending participating K-12 schools.
Use the link below to opt-in:
LTD Passes Available!
The Village School has worked with 4j and LTD to make touch passes available to Village School students!
Fill out the form below to sign up and provide permission for your Village School student to have a card. Then come into the office to have a card assigned to your child!
If you have a child that does not attend Village School, please contact their school to see if they have touchpasses available for students. We are only able to provide passes to Village School Students.
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