Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 3rd, School Resumes
Tuesday, January 9th, 6pm, Parent Council Meeting in the Library (For those who would like to join virtually, here is the Zoom link)
Monday, January 15th, No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Thursday, January 25th, 6pm. Prospective Parent Info Meeting
Quick Links
In the interest of reducing the sheer length of the Village Voice, we have replaced several repeating items with links to shortcuts:
Administrator's Message
Greetings Village School Community!
Welcome to what is sure to unfurl as the very best year yet! Hopefully everyone is well rested and ready to hit the ground running. We know we’re ready to go with an all school sing-a-long and a Rules Rodeo in the next few days.
Our Rules Rodeos are skits and presentations that aim to remind students about the rules and expectations on school grounds. We are placing more time on ensuring that all students understand our school rules, to reduce confusion and unsafe behaviors on campus. We have signs posted in various areas throughout the school campus, letting everyone know what our expectations are, in the hope that everyone will stay safe and happy.
On the note of school safety, another reminder: we’ve noticed an ever increasing number of students remaining after school. We’ve also noticed the increase in energy and intensity of play that accompanies larger groups of children, despite parents attendance on the playground. Due to this, and a need for more coherent policy and procedure after school, we would like parents and students to be off campus by 3:30pm. This gives students some time to socialize after school, leaves space and safety for our aftercare provider and aftercare attendees, and reduces the risk of injury with different sized and skilled students participating in competitive sports together. Since parents often don’t know the playground rules, this also reduces the amount of time students spend practicing activities that aren’t allowed during the school day. Thanks for helping to keep our school grounds safe for all.
May the first week of the new year be filled with happiness, health, and fresh starts!
Roz, Shannon, and Andy
8th Grade Play
The 8th graders put on two amazing performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Bravo 8th Graders, their teacher, Jesse Gammon, and Shakespeare director (and alumni dad), Kirk Boyd.
Tale a look at the photo slideshow below:
6th Grade Fundraiser
Please see below to see how you can support the 6th grade fundraiser! Click this link or scan the QR code to sign up for the Christmas Tree pick up.
Annual Giving Campaign
Our Annual Giving Campaign is solidly underway with our plans of installing a new pyramid climber on our playground. As we saw right after the concert, student interest is very strong. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, we have raised $3,300 towards our goal $20,000 for this campaign. The Village School and Village School Foundation will help fund any costs that go beyond this level. You can donate by card without fees or by check. We hope you will join us in bringing more excitement and fun for students on the playground.
Importance of 100% Participation: Unlike regular district schools, The Village School receives no dedicated funding for facilities improvements. With the expenditure of the last pandemic funds, we will be relying more on local grants & donations for facilities improvements. If everyone contributes, regardless of amount, this helps grantors know that our school is appreciated by our community and thus worthy of their grants.
More work on the playground: Please note that several other improvements to the playground are also anticipated in the near future including expansion and upgrades to the asphalt playing area, a ramp allowing ADA access to the playground, climbing features by the sand play area, a dry creek bed, and more. If you would like to know more about or help support any of these improvements, please let us know.
After School Enrichment Signups
The Village School
After School Enrichment Program
Winter Session 2024 (January 8 - March 15)
Dear Village School Families,
We are pleased to announce that the Village School will be offering the second 10 week session of complimentary after-school enrichment classes beginning the week of January 8 through March 15 for grades 1 - 8. Class size is limited, and fill up quickly, so please fill out the registration form as soon as possible to ensure a position. Registration forms are due no later than January 3. If your child was placed on a waitlist last session you will still need to fill out a registration form as soon as possible and no later than January 3. Please click the following link and fill out one form for each Village School child in your family that is interested in attending the After School Enrichment Program.
REGISTRATION LINK:
Please contact Rachel Burk-Bayer bayer@eugenevillageschool.org if you have any questions, or are unable to access the form on-line.
Enrichment classes with openings: (Note that some times and grade levels may have changed from previous sessions.)
Bookbinding & Printmaking / Frédérique Château - Grades 5 - 8, Wednesdays, 3:15- 4:45 (6th grade class), limit 8, space available Get ready to make fabulous one-of-a-kind prints and showcase them into your own handmade books! This creative class will introduce students to several forms of printmaking, including carving and reduction techniques for block printing, stamping using found objects and recyclables, cyanotype and botanical printing. Using traditional bookbinding techniques, the students will then design and stitch their own journal and make an accordion fold book to showcase their prints. Each class will offer a journey for the artists to experiment with new techniques and materials, explore the various elements of art and composition, and cultivate their artistic expression.
Painting / Frédérique Château - Grades 6 - 8, Mondays, 3:15-4:45 (6th grade classroom), limit 8. This is a 5-week class - last class on 2/12 (no class on 1/15) limited availability Each student will create one medium-size painting of their own design. After discussing their proposal and basic ideas during the first class, the young artists will work on their paintings for the remaining four weeks. Students will explore composition, color mixing and various painting techniques using acrylic paints on a canvas panel. They will have the opportunity to apply their own vision to create a very personal artwork.
Machine Sewing / Sarah Lewenberg - Grades 5 - 8, Mondays, 3 - 4:30, (Spanish room) Limit of 10. We will be using sewing machines to create projects like pillows, bags, and pajama shorts. All materials will be supplied, space available
The Chorus for Us Singing Club / Katie Sontag - Grades 1 - 3, Wednesday, 3 - 4 (Marimba/Choir Room), limited availability Come enjoy the fun of singing together and playing musical games! We will sing our names to each other, play freeze dance, and enjoy songs with and without movement. We’ll sing songs we already know and songs we learn together. We may even write a song! Our time together will culminate in a short performance at the end of the 10 week session. Let’s create, sing, dance and experience our voices together!
*The following classes full, and are not accepting new signups:
Art, All Ceramics classes, Cooking
January Birthdays
Message from the Movement Teacher
Good Day Village School Families,
First and foremost, thank you to all of the amazing, committed family members who are a part of our heart-centered, school community. Though many of you know me by name and heart, I am Logan Flores, your school's Movement Teacher. My teaching career took roots in this community 9 years ago through the City of Eugene Recreation. Before coming to the Village School in 2018, I was a teacher all throughout the city and all year long.
My curriculum has always focused on Movement. Throughout my whole life, Movement has been my primary discipline. I LOVE every and all kinds of Movement. Over my lifetime I have discovered patterns of movement that bring greater harmony to mind and body. Inspired by practice of eastern Movement Arts and the passionate drive of Western Fitness Accolades, I have endlessly sought greater understanding of human health. My time in the City of Eugene Recreation prepared me to bring communities together and my LOVE of Movement inspired me to craft enjoyable Movement experiences for all!
My classroom has Virtues, Traditions and Imagination integrated into every experience. Fall is a time we focus on fundamentals and basic assessments for each grade as it relates to play and movement potential. Winter is a time of deep learning and integration of pretending into lessons. Spring will be a time of epic traditions (Olympiad, etc.), guest teachers, and sports skills. Hopefully your child will experience playful, dramatic, thematic, unifying, and diverse movement opportunities throughout the year.
Lastly, always feel able to reach out to me. I am only here to bring peace and health to our children. I can always improve, I can always offer insight into a situation, and I am always on your side. Children are complex and creative with significant potential for growth. In my classroom, the intensity of kinetic activities gives ample opportunities to encourage respectful and responsible behavior. On the playground or in the gym, I will always be there to guide children toward peace and love for our community.
Till my next update,
Logan Flores, father of Yuna Moonwater in 3rd Grade,
Recess Supervisor and Movement Teacher
@ The Eugene Village School
Sewing Enrichment Field Trip
Maestra Sarah took her sewing enrichment students on a field trip to Piece by Piece to pick out some beautiful fabric!
Staff Block Printing Class
Our amazing art teacher, Fréderique Chateau held a special workshop on block printing for staff! Everyone had a wonderful time designing and carving their stamps, and then making beautiful cards with them. Thank you, Fréderique!
Kitchen News
Happy New Year!
We look forward to seeing students and staff pass through the lunch line tomorrow. Today we soaked the black beans and measured out the brown rice for our traditional Wednesday fare of Yumm Bowls tomorrow.
Big thanks to Parent Council for their gift of new tablecloths for our condiment table and sturdy, new baskets for the 3-4 loads of laundry we do each school day. These will make a practical, positive impact on our daily work.
We were thrilled to hear the news last month that we have been awarded a Farm to Child Nutrition Education Grant for the 2023-2025 biennium. The funds will enable us to purchase additional food items from local growers and producers as well as provide more garden and food based educational activities for our students.
One of our beloved weekly volunteers is no longer with us this term. We are in need of a Wednesday morning prep helper! If you are ready to contribute towards your family's volunteer hours on a regular basis, or are just interested in coming in every once in a while to see what the Village School Kitchen is all about, please email or text Toña at:
541-510-8604
Cheers!
Toña
January Menus
Staff Spotlight
Anchen Texter - Handwork Assistant
Anchen’s last name means “Weaver” or “textile”, which is fitting because she is our new Handwork Assistant! She hails from a line of artists, with both her mother and father holding degrees in the Fine Arts.
Anchen is originally from Oregon, and studied French at OSU. After college she lived in Bend, and then Yosemite, where she worked at the employee wellness center, while also getting to know the local terrain through multi-pitch climbing! She also hosted knitting nights for the community.
Although she has travelled to many places, and even lived for a time in France, she made the conscious decision to come back to Oregon to be near her supportive and wonderful family.
While she was in college, Anchen taught herself to knit, and organically progressed from making hats to sweaters. Her favorite kind of projects are the experimental kind. This love of making things extends to all aspects of her life—aside from knitting, she also enjoys gardening and canning.
Last year, Anchen joined the Village School Community with her daughter Annabelle. She loves that it is a tight knit community, and that also contributed to her decision to join the Village School as a staff member! She feels that students are so lucky to get to attend this school, and really enjoys getting to interact with them in the classroom setting. Her belief is that in handwork, it helps to embrace being fearless. Mistakes happen, and that’s ok!
Anchen adores the Village Kitchen, and especially looks forward to Yumm Bowl Day.
We are so happy to have Anchen here with her kind and patient energy!
Parent Council
The next Parent Council Meeting will be on January 9th at 6:00pm! We will be meeting in the Village School Library. For those who would like to join us from home, here is the Zoom link
Please join us and send questions and ideas to parentcouncil@eugenevillageschool.org.
The notes from past meetings can be found here (updated).
Every Village School parent and guardian is a part of Parent Council - Parent Council Meetings are open to all parents and guardians on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
You can also engage with Village School families on the Parent Council Facebook page, The Village Vine!
Volunteering
Please reach out to chrissy@eugenevillageschool.org with any questions about volunteering! We ask families to contribute 40 hours of volunteer hours per year, and single parent households to contribute 20 hours. If you would like to know how many volunteer hours you have accumulated this year, please let Chrissy know. There are many events coming up, as well as classroom and kitchen opportunities that can help to meet these hours.
Another way to contribute to our school community is by attending Parent Council Meetings! We will be holding our next meeting on Tuesday, January 9th at 6pm in the Village School Library. If you would like to attend virtually, here is the Zoom link
*Please make sure to sign in, grab a volunteer badge, and sign out at the office when you volunteer.
Village School Lunch Diaries
Some recent, beautiful Village School Kitchen meals.
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: $26 per hour for Teachers, $18 - $20 per hour for Assistants
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Benefits include our healthy lunch service, PERS coverage.
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