Upcoming Events
Friday, November 4th, Día De Los Muertos Celebration
Tuesday, November 8th, Walk & Roll
November 14th, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Thursday, December 1st, Reading Celebration Event
Administrator's Message
Greetings Village School Community!
We can feel the fall in the air! The mushrooms are popping, the leaves are dropping and the spirits are bopping!
Día de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1st and November 2nd. It is based on Mesoamerican traditions dating back three thousand years, more recently influenced by European and Spanish religion and culture. On the Day of the Dead, the borders between the spirit world and the physical world dissolve and the spirits of those who have passed travel back to us to celebrate. Traditionally, people place food, and drink, and items that were important to those dead ancestors on the ofrenda to honor them and help them find their way back.
Día de los Muertos is also a celebration that reminds us that death is a natural part of the cycle of life, and that all things pass from the physical world eventually.
We will be celebrating Día de los Muertos on Friday, November 4th. We will be serving dinner at 5:30 pm and the band Mariachi del Sol will be playing starting at 6:00 pm. There will be student performances, the ofrenda, face painting, and craft tables. The different grades will create offerings to place on the ofrenda–sugar skulls, candles, and artwork–to honor those important people who have left the physical realm. Dia de los Muertos at the Village School is always a night to remember!
Also, today and tomorrow are parent teacher conference days. If you haven’t made an appointment to check in with your child’s teacher, there’s still time!
Lastly, the weather is up and down at school as the year turns toward winter. Please ensure your child has a lot of layers AND that they bring them all home at the end of the day! On this note, we are re-homing the lost and found clothes very soon, do a double check that you know where your coats are.
Happy Día de los Muertos and may your honorable ancestors find their way back to you swiftly!
Día de Los Muertos
Celebramos el Día de los Muertos
Students have been busy preparing for our community Día de los Muertos celebration. Each class contributes to the ofrenda in various ways.
Fisher holds a tray of pan de muertos that the 8th grade students formed in Spanish class.
They look forward to sharing their artistic endeavors with you all this Friday evening!
We would still love some volunteers for this wonderful festival. Please visit the sign up sheets outside the office and on the counselor's office bulletin board to reserve a spot! You can also call or email the office to let us know you're interested!
541-345-7285, office@eugenevillageschool.org
Village School children have been learning about the history and the importance of this Latin American holiday. They are learning about the joy and remembrance that this special day brings. An understanding of the indigenous roots of the day along with the fusion of Spanish and Christian European traditions allows students to see how ancient the holiday truly is. Click here for more Día de los Muertos history Our celebration mirrors some of the myriad of wonderful traditions from México.
The Día de los Muertos Celebration at the Village School on November 4th includes:
The traditional school Ofrenda will be placed in the Commons. Students are welcome to place photos of loved ones on the Ofrenda. Please come help us put the beautiful ofrenda together on Wednesday, November 2 starting at 2:00PM. Let Chrissy know if you can help. We also need marigolds, Fall foliage, and other flowers to decorate the ofrenda.
Students will be creating artwork to be displayed in the Commons during the time the ofrenda is up. Paintings, papel picado, and other Día de los Muertos works of art will be up for the evening event.
A community dinner will be available to families starting at 5:30-6:15. Please bring your own tableware. ¡Sabrosísima!
The middle school students (grades 7 and 8) will run face-painting and arts and crafts tables during the evening.
Mariachi del Sol from Springfield High School will perform at 6:00.
Students in grades one through four will be presenting for families starting at 6:45.
We hope that you and your family have a joyous day celebrating those who have passed, lending wonderful memories and much happiness.
Sinceramente,
Maestras Sarah y Toña
Walkathon
Our Walkathon was a smashing success! We had perfect blue skies to walk and run under, and the students accumulated an astonishing number of collective laps! Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who showed up to walk students to and from the track and help out at the event. We couldn't have done it without you! Please turn in your pledges. Funds can be turned into the office or via village.raisely.com
Walk & Roll - November 8th
Our rescheduled Walk & Roll to School Day will be happening on November 8th. 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.
Title I Reading Celebration Event
Mark your calendars! On the evening of Dec. 1, Title I will be sponsoring a Reading Celebration Reading Event. There will be activities, prizes, a guest speaker, Scholastic Book Fair and food!
Watch the Village Voice for more details soon!
Staff Spotlight
Dan Cordova - Math Tutor
It was on Labor Day Weekend of 2020 that Dan drove from his hometown in Colorado to arrive under the Oregon skies. It wasn’t a straightforward path to Eugene, as he had to weather a car breakdown in the high deserts by Bend, where cell phone reception was nowhere to be found. On the other side of this journey, he landed firmly in Eugene, where he would find his way to the Village School.
Dan went to college at UCCS to where he majored in Communications, while minoring in Visual and Performing Arts, and Business Information Systems. Halfway through college he began working on computers, which quickly led to IT work. This was the doorway to working in Education, as he was offered a job as the computer tech at a Title 1 middle school that had a budding technology division. It was a challenging environment, which gave him an inside view into how poverty can affect the foundation of one’s life.
Next, he was offered a position as the Computer Teacher, where he had the opportunity to craft a brand-new curriculum for this same school. Although this experience was a challenging one, it was ultimately the catalyst that sparked his move to Waldorf education. Teaching computer tech under a traditional educational model did not seem to be designed with the students' interests at heart. Computer systems seemed hardwired for businesses, rather than children. Once Dan got a glimpse of the Waldorf educational model through his nephew’s experience, he was ready to make a change. He visited the local Waldorf school, and observed that the 8th grade classrooms had no desks, the students were learning the ukulele and performing Shakespeare. It was an epiphany that learning does not require a toxic environment.
Soon after, he was invited to work at the local Waldorf School—Mountain Song Community School. He carried a 7th grade class through their 8th grade year, and although he struggled with what he thought he knew about teaching, this experience is what shaped his focus on how to structure his teaching going forward. After this, he worked primarily in the K-5 SPED room for a year before jumping right back into tech support during remote learning.
Dan is happy to be in Eugene, particularly at the Village School, which feels like a positive environment to him. He is the Math Tutor, but he also wears many hats—supervising recess and breakfast, and teaching enrichment classes. He is also working towards his Masters in Science Education, while pondering the question, “How can we be teaching Math and Science differently?” He is cognizant of the delicate balance maintained at Waldorf inspired charter schools of meeting core standards while also teaching the beautiful, hands on and whole person curriculum that Waldorf embodies. He believes that the Village School offers a place where a student’s existing relationships with the world matter.
A fun fact to know about Dan is that he enjoys playing games of all kinds, and is a Karaoke enthusiast. His favorite meal from the Village School Kitchen is our Stacked Enchiladas (a fan favorite), which rival only his Abuelita’s recipe. He is always learning about himself, and discovering new ways to refine his own thinking. As we were concluding our interview, our Village School guitar teacher, Brett said it best—that Dan is someone who laughs easily. He has a friendly and joyful way about him, and is a kind and inspiring presence with the students.
Halloween Hike
On Friday we had our annual Halloween Hike. The students followed a map to different pumpkins that the staff had carved for the annual pumpkin carving competition.
They also got to watch a spooky skit put on by our wonderful Kitchen staff!
Library News
Class library visits are now happening each week. I highly recommend knowing your child's class library schedule and checking in with them about what they are reading. For younger children it helps to have someone at home who can give them reminders about bringing library books back. Please be on the lookout for possible overdue notices in communications with your child's teacher. Wet weather is here, so please be sure to take extra care of books going to and from school. Any dampness on books can damage them beyond repair. Thanks for your help keeping our library books in good condition! Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is starting soon. OBOB is a state-wide, voluntary reading program in which students form teams, read from a set of 16 books, then participate in "battles" where they answer trivia questions about the books. There are two divisions: 3rd-5th grade and 6th-8th grade. As restrictions have eased this year, I am going back to the way I used to run OBOB in previous years with OBOB being an extracurricular activity taking place outside of school hours for all grades above third grade. This will be different than current 4th and 5th graders have had in the past. Be on the lookout for OBOB sign up sheets that students who want to participate bring home. Students may form their own team or sign up and I will place them on a team. I also need at least one parent for each team to be their coach. This involves hosting a meeting, (usually once a week/2 weeks) helping the children decide what books to read, and helping them practice answering questions. If you are interested in coaching, please provide your name and contact information on the OBOB sign up sheet. For more information, you can see the OBOB website or contact me. Third grade families: please refer to upcoming communications from Ms. Emily and me for details about how OBOB will work. Molly Bautista, VS Librarian molly@eugenevillageschool.org
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:
Día de Los Muertos
Walk & Roll
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Reading Celebration Event
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, November 8th 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
The Village Kitchen
The kitchen witches had a wicked fun time on Friday preparing a special pot of Halloween soup alongside grilled cheese sandwiches.
The students watched us as we added interesting ingredients and stirred the giant pot on our back deck.
Special thanks to parent volunteer Kevin Gillooly for all day support in the kitchen enabling us to perform our skit for all the classes!
Many classes have been going on field trips these past few weeks. When a class is gone during their lunch time, teachers ask students (or parents for a younger grade) who would like a sack lunch from the school kitchen. Sack lunches typically include a bagel and cream cheese, a carrot, a fruit and either a VSK granola bar or a bag of our trail mix. Gluten free and vegan options are available.
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions related to our food service program. We are always happy to answer questions!
Warmly,
Toña Aguilar
541-510-8604
taguilar@eugenevillageschool.org
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
Parent Council
The next Parent Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, November 8th 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!
Village School Lunch Diaries
The Village School healthy lunch program is one of the highlights of our school.
The lunch menu is incredible on its own, but to see it and taste is another experience altogether! Our students and staff are so lucky to get to eat this nourishing and delicious food daily. We closed out this past week with a creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese
sandwich combo, with fresh greens and juicy pomegranates.
Lost & Found
Please take a look in the office breezeway, as we have quite a few jackets and other clothes in the Lost & Found. Tomorrow will be the last day that we will have these out before they get donated. Thank you!
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 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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