Upcoming Events
Thursday, October 6th, 6:00pm DEI Presentation by Dion C Jordan
Tuesday, October 11th, 5:30pm Parent Council Meeting (Zoom)
Wednesday, October 12th, Walk & Roll
Thursday, October 13th, Walkathon Village.Raisely.Com
Administrator's Message
Greetings Village School Community!
Fall has officially arrived and we are gearing up for the season!! We have a couple of great events planned:
The first of four Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events upcoming on October 6th from 6-7:30 in the Commons. RSVP here! Childcare is available.
Walk and Roll to School Day is coming on October 12th. More on this later in the issue!
Community Service Walk-a-Thon October 13th
Halloween celebration - October 28
P/T Conferences and No School on October 31st and November 1st.
Dia de los Muertos Festival is on November 4th.
Here is your friendly reminder to complete a Free and Reduced Lunch application -- even if you think you don’t qualify. Complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application here or download, fill out and return the following form. (Click here). We need as many parents to apply as possible to secure Title I funding. It only takes a few minutes.
Nurse Coverage
You may have noticed that we have posted a help-wanted ad for a contract nurse here on the Village Voice and on our website. We would also like to take a moment to recognize and address the issue of nursing coverage at the Village School.
We are seeking a nurse in part because District 4J withdrew nursing coverage from our school, due to an extreme nursing shortage and shifts in their funding. At present, 4J has eleven nurses serving 32 schools and over 16,000 students. Last year, we were very lucky to have one RN and one LPN from 4J to serve three students with Type 1 diabetes. One or the other was here for thirty to forty minutes a day and the costs were covered by 4J. The Village School has never had a full time nurse, and according to 4J sources, neither does any public school, charter or otherwise, in the 4J District. We would be surprised to find any public school in the state of Oregon that has a full time nurse.
You may ask why do local schools not staff full time nurses? It’s essentially a matter of financial and logistical prioritization. Running a school like ours requires a staff of main lesson teachers, specialty teachers (music, handwork, movement, Spanish), after school instructors, small group instructors (Title I), Kitchen staff, administration, counseling, and facilities, not to mention maintenance, insurance, supplies and materials. The past year has seen enormous inflation, and paying our staff as well as possible is a very high priority. What complicates this is that our state school funding is ranked about 34th in the country, and charter schools get about 55-65% as much funding as district schools. Low pay and high stress, especially in the last few years, have driven many educators and administrators to leave the profession.
Given the costs of medical professionals these days, first finding and then hiring a full time RN would be like adding the cost of another principal, possibly more given the acute nurse shortage. As a result, most school districts employ just enough nurses to cover the most fundamental, significant needs, and routinely train office staff to address more common health care interventions. The same logic applies to all staffed positions; we hire enough staff to meet the intended need. Our financial stability and ability to buy, improve and maintain our own site has been based on careful cost control and budgeting since we opened 22 years ago.
When 4J confirmed that nursing coverage for Village School would not be renewed this year, we began a massive search to find alternate arrangements for that time. We have been relentless in turning over every rock and leaf to find a solution for this very important puzzle piece. At present, we have contracted with two nursing agencies for coverage while we finish a more permanent plan to put in place by the end of October. We have had dozens of long conversations with 4J nursing staff, the head of Springfield school district nursing staff, various 4J district schools, nursing agencies, local health agencies, Lane ESD, and other charter schools in a similar situation. We have good, strong leads and we feel confident that we will have a solution in place very soon.
We thank you for your patience and your continued confidence that we have your children’s very best in mind with every decision that we make.
Andy, Roz, and Shannon
Reminders from Admin
Please take a look below to see how you can participate in our upcoming walk-a-thon. Our walk-a-thon raises money for our Kitchen, Garden and Eight nonprofits with an environmental education focus. Aside from the paper pledges that the students received, pledging can also be done online with Village.Raisely.Com.
On October 6th, from 6-7:30 pm, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee is hosting a FANTASTIC speaker, Mr. Dion C. Jordan, for the first of four workshops in centering equity, inclusion, and racial justice. Dion C. Jordan is an experienced facilitator, who has worked with schools and institutions to help dismantle the systems of oppression and help foster a sense of trust, safety and belonging. This will be an RSVP only event and each of the four evening workshops builds on the last, so we’re hoping folks will commit to attending all four workshops. The form for RSVP is located on the Village School website at the top of the page. Childcare is provided. Please see more below.
Community Service Walk-a-Thon
For students, our Community Service Walk-a-thon is one of our truly fun events for grades 1 through 8. Students set realistic lap goals based on age and development. Our goal is to raise at least $12,000. Half of this will help The Village Kitchen and our garden. The other half will support the following eight organizations, which were chosen for co-sponsorship due to their commitment to community values and ecological awareness:
1st Grade: Nearby Nature 2nd Grade: Cascades Raptors Center 3rd Grade: Food for Lane County Gardens 4th Grade: Huerto de la Familia 5th Grade: Walama Restoration 6th Grade: Chintimini Wildlife Rescue 7th Grade: Whole Earth Nature School 8th Grade: Our Children’s Trust
Students have received pledge packets, but pledging can also be done with Online Pledge System: Village.Raisely.Com. You can set up your own site, create a family team, and refer people to it via email, Text, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. It's easy to circulate this to a circle of family members or friends. We hope that each family will participate in the walk-a-thon to the best of its ability. If each family raises $50, we will achieve our goal, but don’t stop at that. The more contributions you raise, the more successful we’ll be at achieving our goal of giving back to the community and helping our school. Thank you very much for your participation!
We are looking for some parent volunteers to help out with this fantastic event! Please reach out to the office to let us know if you're interested.
8th Grade Fundraiser
The 8th grade class is holding a PUMPKINS & TREATS SALE on Friday, October 14th after school (outside of the school and not on campus!) All proceeds will go to the 8th grade class trip. Thank you for your support!
Staff Spotlight
Sarah Hartman - 1st Grade Teacher
Sarah is our new 1st grade teacher, and she not only brings cheer to the classroom and our breezeways, but is also known for her clear and compassionate communication with her students. We are lucky to have her!
Sarah is originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, where her love for the natural world was nurtured. Growing up, she always adored going to school. An Alaskan education meant an immersion in one's natural environment. Indoor recess only happened when it was 20 below or colder!
She got her Bachelors of Science in Alaska, where she participated in a Science Outreach program for kids. This experience inspired her to become a teacher. After college, she went on to get her teaching credential and Masters in Teaching in the Bay Area of California. She taught at a charter school in Redwood City, CA, which valued project based and social emotional learning--something she strongly believes in. When her family moved from Alaska to Eugene, she decided to also make the move. Oregon has a familiar feeling to her--similar to Alaska, but with milder seasons!
As someone who values family, Sarah appreciates how supportive The Village School is of families, and how involved parents are. She loves that we have a strong and welcoming school community connected to the larger community of Eugene. As a teacher, she is passionate that kids learn about their natural environment from both a science and a social studies perspective. She loves that The Village School is a place where these priorities are built into the education.
A fun fact about Sarah is that she is not afraid of insects at all! She told me this as she held up one of the 1st grade class pets--A Madagascar Hissing Cockroach! It calmly hung out on her hand while she explained that there were 12 others nestled in the tank behind her. It seems that they only hiss when they are feeling threatened, and are easy going pets otherwise. Clearly, they feel secure and happy in the 1st grade classroom.
Her favorite meals from the Village Kitchen are stacked enchiladas and orange tofu sushi bowls, and she is always impressed with the array of homemade dressings available at the salad bar.
Sarah is so happy to be teaching at Village School, and we are thrilled to have her here. When you see her in our breezeways, please give her a warm welcome!
DEI
Announcement!
We will embark on four 90 minute presentations, which will promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice. This is an interactive learning experience that helps to bring participants on a learning journey that leads to racial justice, access, equity, and a sense of belonging for all. RSVP only, RSVP link is on the Village School website. Childcare is available.
October 6th: 6-7:30 pm “The Awakening stage”
● Introductions and trust-building
● Rules of Engagement: How to have difficult conversations around race and what to do
when the conversation goes wrong.
● Learning how to be comfortable being uncomfortable talking about Race
January 5th: 3:15-4:45 “Moving from The Awakening to the Woke stage”
● Learn where you may have implicit Bias (and we ALL have it), and how to override that
default thinking.
● What it means to be an Ally: Examiningprivilege and how to be a champion for equity
March 9th: 3:15-4:45 “The Woke stage”
● Speed Hating: A date with microaggressions and discrimination. Learn what to do when
you have caused, witnessed or have become a victim of microaggressions and
discrimination.
May 11th: 6pm-7:30 pm “Moving from The Woke stage to the Work state”
● Understanding the elements of White Supremacy Culture and how to build a culture of
inclusion and belonging.
● What to do with what was learned: Putting words into actions
Walk & Roll
Walk & Roll to School Day will be happening on October 12th. We'll be joining children and adults worldwide in a celebration of walking and biking to school! There are so benefits to taking alternate modes of transportation, and we're lucky to live in a fantastic city for getting around by foot or by bike. The class with the highest participation will get to proudly display the Golden Bicycle, and will also get to make and enjoy some refreshing smoothies!
If you are interested in helping out with this morning event, please let the office know.
See below for a map of safe routes to school.
Student Helpers
Opal and Fisher take care of our recycling!
Owen and Gwen help out around the office, as well as in the music room!
School Photo Day is Around the Corner!
Make sure to mark the day on your calendar, and order your photo packages on the Lifetouch website.
Library News
National Hispanic American Heritage Month is September 15-October 15. For more information and media from the Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution, click here. Here are some recommended books by Latinx authors you can find in the Village School Library:
Picture Books
Island Born by Junot Díaz
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third
I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Ada
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
Middle Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12)
Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
YA/Recommended for Grades 7-8
The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina
The Circuit: Stories From the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez
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:
Spanish Happenings
¿Quién tira seis?
Seventh grade game in Spanish class
Operation School Bell
Operation School Bell
The Assistance League of Eugene supports a program of student assistance called Operation School Bell. This program supports families who are experiencing financial hardship shop at Fred Meyer for up to $100 on school clothes or shoes for their children.
This year the Village School has 122 spots available. If you would like your child to be included in Operation School Bell this fall please complete The Village School Parent/Guardian Request form .
The form needs to be filled out and submitted by October 5th. Since spots are limited, if we have more than 12 people apply we will run a lottery and notify you if you receive a shopping spot or not. There will also be paper forms to fill out to the office.
If you have any questions, please contact our Counselor Rebecca Macemon at
541-345-7285 or rmacemon@eugenevillageschool.org
School Pool - Car Pooling
New App helps you form car pools - allows for opting out
The Village School is using a free carpooling web-based tool called SchoolPool that will help set up carpools that can ease traffic congestion, provide options for kids who are not able to walk, bike or roll to school, and help families with the logistics of sharing pick-up and drop-off trips. SchoolPool is part of Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) larger Get There program that helps Oregonians find alternatives to driving alone - including finding a carpool match. SchoolPool is only accessible to families that are verified through their school and there is an opt-out option for families. The program ensures that carpool matches are secure and are not a part of a public carpool matching system. To increase the match pool all Village School families will be added to our private network but you may opt-out by simply filling out this form to indicate that you do not want to be in the program.
Being in the pool doesn’t mean that you will offer rides or that you need a ride, it’s simply a way for families who live near each other (or along a route) to connect and see if ridesharing might work for them or not. After the opt-out period we will send everyone an email with their household claim link to see what matches might be in their area. These matches could also be used for a biking or walking group and don’t have to just be carpools! That email will also include an opt-out option. For questions about SchoolPool contact Shane Rhodes (VS parent and Transportation Options Manager for the City of Eugene) at srhodes@eugene-or.gov or 541-682-5094. To be removed from the SchoolPool program fill out this form. We hope this resource is useful as a tool for helping you plan safe and healthy transportation options for you and your family.
Volunteering!
As we work toward reuniting our Village School community, 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. Some upcoming events that need volunteer help are:
Walk & Roll
Walk-a-thon
Picture Day
Dia de Los Muertos
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, October 11th 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!
Don't forget to sign in to HelpCounter and report your hours so we can see the amazing contributions from our Village School Families
Rules for a Safe Morning Drop Off
Please do not park in the lower lot when dropping students off in the morning. 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
Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!
The Village Kitchen
Happy October!
We hope you are able to soak in these glorious autumn days of sunshine and changing leaves. The kitchen has been busy processing a very generous gift of blueberries and heirloom tomatoes donated by King Estate.
Big thanks to Village School parent Kali Day for making the connection and Village School teacher Jesse Gammon who helped transfer the heavy totes into the walk-in cooler.
When surprise gifts like this happen we need extra helping hands to process the bounty. If you are open to receiving a text invitation to pop by the kitchen to contribute on occasion, let me know!
Toña Aguilar
Free and Reduced Lunch
Please Check and See If You Qualify!
The new free and reduced lunch income requirements have been significantly expanded so please apply, even if you think you may not qualify!
If you have not yet done so, take a moment to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Our school’s Title I funding is based on the number of qualified households we have, so it is crucial that everyone see if they qualify. If you do not qualify for free meals, payments can be made in the office or at schoolpaymentportal.com.
If you qualify via direct certification (ie, food stamps), you should have received a letter confirming eligibility for free meals. Please let us know if you have not received this letter.
Contact Tristin in the office for details at office@eugenvillageschool.org
A Reminder about Morning Drop off
The office team would like to clarify our school policy on late arrivals. If you arrive late for any reason, please make sure to swing by the front office, sign in your child (if they are 4th grade and up, they can sign in themselves) and have them take an orange pass to their teacher. It's considered a late arrival if they are not in their classrooms by 8:25. Thank you for helping us to know that your children are safely in class, and assisting us in keeping accurate attendance records for our school!
Lost & Found
Please take a look outside the office, as we have quite a few jackets and other clothes in the Lost & Found. Thank you!
Parent Council
The Parent Council Online store will be live tonight! Help support your parent council by purchasing Village School shirts and sweatshirts! All proceeds help fund projects and events that support our school community.
We are working with a new local business, Webfoot printing.
Order ends- 10/31/22
Delivery- hopefully before 12/1/22
Thanks for supporting parent council!
-Shannon Boyd
The next Parent Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, October 11th 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.
Contracted Nurse for Diabetes Care
The Village School is hoping to contract with a nurse agency for lunchtime diabetes support. Please call (541) 345-7285 for more information.
LTD Passes Available!
The Village School has worked with 4j and LTD to make touchpasses 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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