The Village Voice - Volume 20, Issue 20
Updated: Feb 3, 2021
Upcoming Events
BLACK HISTORY MONTH! Check out the BLM website!
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm - Principal Tea (Zoom)
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - 8th-grade parent OWL meeting (check your email for the link!)
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm - Parent Council Meeting (Zoom)
2020/2021 Calendar (Please see the end of this post for more details)
Administrators' Message
Dear Village School Families,
With Groundhog Day on the horizon, today, February 1st, marks a mid-way point between winter and spring. Today also is the beginning of spring semester. At the Village School we consider it important to celebrate the seasons and the special meaning it holds for individual students, their families, and on a curriculum level, the blocks of study the teachers share with their students.
Black History Month
February 1st also marks the beginning of Black History Month. Please know that our staff is developing an intersectional, anti-racist, social studies curriculum that will weave through all of our grades. This curriculum will also examine the effect of racist policies in our country and state on marginalized populations. We believe it is important to reveal the opinions and contributions, and understand the lives and experiences of people of color in this country and around the world. Let us all celebrate Black History and future not only for one month but throughout the year.
After School Program
We have contracted with Whole Earth Coyote Kids to offer some after school activities. Last week they had a glitch in their registration software. You may get another notice from them as to whether you want to sign up your child for one of their programs. If you were not successful in registering, please try again. You can also call them at 541-937-5437 for registration details. We are still working on additional afterschool programs. We will inform you as soon as we have confirmed instructors.
Gradual Launch of Outdoor Learning
A separate afternoon program will begin February 17 for our 2nd grade students. This will be a very gradual introduction of cohort groups of three students managed by Jennifer Horn, 2nd grade teacher. Under the latest ODE guidance, outdoor learning is possible if certain conditions are met and protocols followed. Within a few weeks, 1st grade students will also begin in-person outdoor learning. And most likely after spring break Kindergarten students will return to campus. We are following ODE recommendations to bring primary students back to campus slowly. We are also working to transition to hybrid learning, which would also begin in the youngest grades. This must be a measured process so we can remain safe, be sure all protocols are followed, and be ready to pivot should conditions warrant.
Sincerely
Bob and Andy
Amanda Gorman: National Youth Poet Laureate
Listen to Amanda Gorman Recite Her Inaugural Poem
Sibling Enrollment Forms
If you would like to enroll one of your children in the Village School for 2021-22, please complete the attached form for sibling enrollment and return by January 28th. The form can be filled out online, saved, and emailed back to us. This form is not required for students who are already enrolled in the Village School.
Village School Kitchen
Hello Friends of The Village School Kitchen.
You will find a different variety of mango in your bags this week. Last week we sent out Kent mangos which vary in shades of green, yellow and red. Tomorrow you will find Ataulfo mangos which are smaller gold blushed yellow fruits which some say are the sweetest mangos of all.
De Casa will be delivering tortillas, bean dip and salsa in the morning so we will include avocados in bags as well as Easter egg radishes and Huckleberry Gold potatoes. Sarah Yapp, from OGC, says "Huckleberry potatoes are my favorite! Their purple skins turn speckled when you get it wet. The insides are so fluffy and yummy. The kids will love these."
Snow on the I5 passes made it so that we weren't able to get all the citrus in this week for our Citrus Tasting Event, but you can look forward to these sunshine fruits in your bags next week.
Eat well and be well!
Toña
The Village School Eugene, Oregon w - 541-345-7285
taguilar@eugenevillageschool.org
Parent Council
Parent Council will be having our next meeting next Wednesday, February 10th. Please join us and send questions and ideas parentcouncil@eugenevillageschool.org.
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86780776570?pwd=aTRjYkhSRlRXT09ySi9PNGRMVjFmQT09
The notes from our last meeting can be found here.
Every Village School parent and guardian is a part of Parent Council - Join in on the Virtual Parent Council Meetings that are open to all parents and guardians on the 2nd Wednesday each month!
Engage with us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevillagevine
Superhero Motivation for Kids!
Use pretend play to encourage children to persevere through difficulty!
Source: UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.
Library News
WANTED: Village School Library books!
I need your help getting back Village School library books that were checked out last year. Some students still had books checked out when in-person school ended in March, and several families came in and checked out books while school was closed. Please check around your home for any books that belong to the Village School. They will have a label on the back that says “The Village School” with a barcode.
There will be a bin outside the office to return books. If you cannot get them back to school, please let me know and we can make other arrangements to have books picked up. Please also contact me if you know books have been damaged or lost. Thank you for your help keeping our library stocked with amazing books!
An example of the Village School Barcode
If your child started participating in OBOB and received a Village School Library book at home but no longer wants to participate, please return the books to the school office. This week's OBOB zoom meetings are tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 1. Grades 3-5 meet from 2:00-2:30 for grades 6-8 meet from 3:00-3:30. This week we will start practicing OBOB questions.
Molly Bautista, VS Librarian
Molly Bautista
Village School New Family Applications
Although we have finished conducting. the parent information meetings, we are still accepting applications for enrollment for 2021-22.
Share this information with families who may be interested!
Free Comcast Internet Essentials - Extended
The Village School is partnering with Comcast to provide free Internet Essentials services until June 30th, 2021 for Village School families that
qualify for free and reduced lunches under federal guidelines,
live in an area served by Comcast
Previously, you could not be an existing Comcast/Xfinity customer, but this condition has been lifted.
Please contact support@eugenevillageschool.org for more information.
Another resource that might be helpful to families is free cell phone service (for those who qualify). It is called Lifeline phone service through Assurance Wireless. Those who qualify will receive a free Android smartphone that can text, access the internet, etc. There is no charge for the phone or service. https://www.assurancewireless.com/lifeline-services/states/oregon-lifeline-free-government-phone-service
Calendar
Please check the full calendar for the dates for future events. We have updated the calendar through the end of the 2020-21 school year. Due to the delayed start the Monday after Spring break is a school day.
Monday, February 15, 2021: Presidents Day (No school)
Tuesday, February 16, 2021: Grading Day (No school)
Friday, March 5, 2021: Grades K-5 Conferences (Regular schedule for grades 6-8)
Monday, March 22, 2021: Spring Break
Monday, April 5, 2021: School Resumes
Friday, May 7, 2021: No School - Prof Development Day (No School)
Monday, May 31, 2021: No School - Memorial Day (No School)
Thursday, June 17, 2021: 1/2 Day Last Day
