Upcoming Events
Administrator's Message
Dear Village School Families,
The building is a buzz with creative projects as well as the rigor of completing academic assignments. As school administrators we have the privilege of being able to walk around campus, visit classrooms, and see the passion, joy and determination the children bring to their academic and creative arts projects. This also includes the skill and artistry they dedicate to Choir, Handwork, Movement, Spanish, playing musical instruments and the special projects germain to their grade level.
At minimum three things are necessary for a school; students, staff and a place to meet. Let’s take a minute to celebrate our place to meet – the school building and grounds. In 2015 we purchased our site from 4J, and with funding scraped together over the years, began a series of renovations and improvements. More recently, our site planning committee, board members, and administration have given a high priority to dedicating American Rescue Plan funds and other one-time sources for lasting improvements. We are also thankful for the gifts donated by families and community members for specific improvements, such as the Howard Igber outdoor classroom, to name just one.
In today’s issue of The Village Voice we begin a four part series profiling forthcoming facility improvements over the next few years. Several of you may remember that we completed a site master plan with the enormous efforts and guidance of Kristina Koenig, 1st grade mom and partner to Justin Boe, our grades 7-8 math, science and art teacher.
You may recognize that some components including the outdoor classroom, the playing field, and a retaining wall have been completed. A major focus of this year's planning is a redesign of our courtyard. The design offers Covid-safe amphitheater and lunch seating, handicap access to the Commons through the courtyard, doorways into the Commons from the courtyard, and several flat gathering spaces for classes and events.
Our next steps are to develop construction documents and put the various elements of this project out to bid. It may require a few summers to complete the work, but in time we hope to have a truly welcoming and beautiful central courtyard for our school.
Warmly,
Shannon, Sue, Bob and Andy
Snake's in the Fourth Grade!
Today's 4th grade zoology main lesson literally came alive as local snake expert and advocate, 6th grader Alice Bruckner, presented her Ball Boa snake, DJ Glitterbug to the class. Alice shared a variety of important lessons about snakes and really wanted the class to learn how important they are to the local ecosystem and how we should celebrate snakes rather than be afraid of them. A highlight for the children was having the opportunity to hold snake urine (it looks like a salt crystal!) and have a chance to touch, or for the brave, to have DJ wrap its body around their necks. It was a sweet moment...
Volunteering is Back!
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 Becky Fay (once again wearing the hat of volunteer coordinator!), 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.
One of the ways to contribute to our school community is by attending Parent Council Meetings! 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!
Don't forget to sign in to HelpCounter and report your hours so we can see the amazing contributions from our Village School Families
Health and Safety
Priorities
As a school, we want to ensure the safety and wellness of our students and staff.
We prioritize equity in making decisions.
We place a high value on creating the conditions where students may attend in-person learning with as few disruptions to the rhythm of their day as possible.
We are dedicated to allowing our students to play, learn, and enjoy being with their peers. We are taking measured steps to resume the activities that make the Village School unique, such as festivals, field trips and parent meetings.
Together we will gradually reconnect those interpersonal relationships and reestablish those in-person meetings and school wide celebrations.
Updated Village School Protocols:
Please keep in mind that while the State lifted the mask mandate as of March 12, 2022, schools are still allowed to make their own local decisions on health and safety matters. At times our decisions may be more conservative than what is mandated by state or county authorities, but our mitigation policies can never be less restrictive.
Face masks became optional starting March 19th for all Village School classes and activities as long as CDC COVID-19 Community Level for Lane County is in the low or moderate risk levels. As of today, Lane County is in the low risk zone. If the county moves into the high risk category, we will set a timeline to reinstate the indoor mask mandate. (Click here for more explanation about this change).
Children are allowed to play, learn, and socialize without distancing restrictions, both indoors and outdoors, except in cases of very close contact. (For example, a knot of children climbing together, creating a huddle and other close contacts of multiple children). We will continue 3 foot minimum spacing of classroom desks.
There will be no changes to snack and lunch protocol. Students will eat snack outdoors and should remain stationary and 6’ apart while eating. Lunch seating arrangements will stay the same. Kindergarten will continue eating outdoors with 4-6’ of distance between students.
Library News
Congratulations to the Bookish Butterflies!
The Village School's OBOB team, the Bookish Butterflies, came in 3rd place in the regional tournament that was held this weekend!
The team, consisting of fifth graders Trinity Carmichael, Moira Gammon, Ella Scarola, and Juniper Vold, competed against fifteen other Lane County schools' top teams. After the first four battles the Bookish Butterflies tied for the highest point score. They went on to reach the "final four" before falling to eventual winners St. Paul. They then came back and won their last battle to claim third place. Back in March, the Bookish Butterflies claimed the role of Village School Champions by earning the most points against teams from the third and fourth grades. Well done, Bookish Butterflies!
Is State Testing Happening this year?
Yes, For the 2021–22 school year, state testing will return to normal. The Village School is required to administer annual statewide assessments of language arts and math for students in grades 3–8 and science in grades 5 and 8. Testing at The Village School will begin after April 11. You will be notified which days the test will be administered once the actual days are determined. One bit of good news is that the assessments are much shorter than they were several years ago.
All public schools in the U.S. are required to systematically assess student learning and report participation and results in school accountability systems. Students in Oregon are assessed periodically to measure proficiency in state and district standards, including completing statewide assessments in certain grades. State test results provide important information for students, parents, teachers, schools and districts.
Can students opt-out of state testing?
Yes. Under Oregon law, a parent or adult student may opt out of Oregon’s summative statewide assessments of math and language arts for any reason, by annually submitting a form. 2021–22 state testing notice and opt-out form (English / Español). For students who opt out of a particular assessment, their test score will default to a “Non-Proficient” rating. This could affect our proficiency ratings in subject areas across the grades as it is used as a performance indicator in our annual state Report Card. Further, our participation rate is evaluated by the 4J School District and is part of our compliance requirements. If we do not meet 4J’s participation expectations, our evaluation could be negatively impacted. Parents may submit an opt-out form at any time. Preferably the forms are submitted 30 days prior to the administration of the tests. If you have any questions please send an email to principal@eugenevillgeschool.org
For the science assessment, there is no opt-out form. Requests for exemption must
Be submitted in writing to principal@eugenevillageschool.org
Include the reasons for request (disability or religion)
Propose an alternative learning activity for the student
Exemption requests are subject to review and determination whether to approve.
Village School Kitchen
We love our student helpers! Today Ella Galas from the 6th grade helped assemble tacos for lunch.
Thank you Ella!
On Friday we made a beautiful slaw with cabbage, carrot, kale, red bell pepper and apple all mixed up with a magical slaw dressing. Our beloved parent volunteers enjoyed it with their free lunch after they helped serve the children. They called it "award-winning" and we happily passed the recipe along.
We are still in need of a food prep volunteer on Monday mornings and a napkin folder on Thursday mornings. Come in for a bit after you drop off your child, contribute towards your parent volunteer hours and be a part of our fun community!
Thanks to Tread Light, a VS family owned business, for their generous contribution to our World Central Kitchen fundraiser. We were able to send over $4,000 to WCK. WOW! What a caring and giving community we share.
Toña Aguilar
541-510-8604
Please join us at the April Parent Council Meeting!
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!
Don't forget to sign in to HelpCounter and report your hours so we can see the amazing contributions from our Village School Families
Monthly LGBTQ+ and Allies Gathering!
Sarah Maxwell and her family will be "hosting" a monthly gathering at Tugman park, the first Sunday morning of each month at 10:00 am, at the picnic tables on the Hilyard side of the park. The meetings are open to all LGBTQ families & allies, with the simple mission of just building community.
There is no need to RSVP or commit to bringing anything, and masks are welcome but optional. Students of all ages and their families are welcome and encouraged to join in! The dates of the gatherings will be Sunday May 1, and June 5.
Searching for people to lead meetings of
The 1619 Project Book Club!
We are hoping we can hold a meeting on Thursday, April 7th!
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Book Study
The Parent Council is sponsoring a book study of the text The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story created by Nikole Hannah-Jones and the New York Times.
The project which led to the book, sought to reframe the United States history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the U.S. historical narrative.
It has been proposed there will be six group sessions that will be held every two weeks via zoom. The group will read between one and three chapters in preparation for each meeting. Each chapter is an essay so a person may attend all the sessions consecutively or any of the sessions that their schedule will allow. The goal is to make a welcoming environment for all that want to attend all or in part.
When conditions permit the group will consider when to shift to in-person meetings. A limited supply of the book is available for check out at the school office.
LTD Passes Available!
If you have signed up for your child, their touchpasses are waiting! Come on into the office and pick it up this week!
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.
