Village Voice - Volume 25, Issue 18

Chrissy Barry
Jan 22
5 min read

Upcoming Events

Monday, January 26th, 6:00pm, Village Community Council Meeting, Zoom Link
Thursday, January 29th, 7th Grade Field Trip to Museum of Natural & Cultural History
Friday, January 30th, Sibling Priority Enrollment Applications Due
Friday, January 30th, Intent to Return Forms Due
Friday, January 30th, No School, Grading Day

2025- 2026 Calendar is available here!

Quick Links

In the interest of reducing the sheer length of the Village Voice, we have replaced several repeating items with links to shortcuts:

January Menus: Breakfast and Lunch
Traffic Safety
Shop & Raise Funds for Village School
Village School Yearly Volunteer Opportunities

Administrator's Message

Greetings Village School Community!

We are hoping that you took some time to rest and reflect during this past long weekend. I spent part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day thinking about civil rights and activists in our country. I was doing a little reading and I learned that MLK was killed on Maya Angelou’s 40th birthday, April 4, 1968. Angelou was so bereaved that she didn’t celebrate her birthday for many years after. Here’s a quote from Angelou’s book about Martin Luther King Jr. Rainbow in the Cloud:

“History, despite its wrenching pain,

cannot be unlived,

but if faced with courage,

need not be lived again.”

-Rainbow in the Cloud

We saw several Village School families at the MLK celebration event at the Shedd. There were lots of great speeches commemorating MLK contributions, the work of local civil rights leaders, and the challenges that lie ahead of us.

A little nut (or bolt, depending on your preference): It’s COLD outside! Please double check that your student has access to whatever warm outdoor layers they need to stay warm at school.

Thanks for being a part of our community!

Sincerely,

Roz, Shannon, and Andy

Sibling Priority Enrollment Applications

If you have a sibling who is wanting to enroll at the Village School for the 2026 - 27 school year, please make sure to fill out the sibling priority enrollment lottery application.

These are due by Friday, January 29th. We also have paper copies in the office if you would prefer to fill it out that way.

Student Intent to Return Forms

If your children are planning to return to the Village School for the 2026 - 27 school year, please make sure to fill out the intent to return form by Friday, January 29th. If needed, there are paper copies in the office, as well.

Annual Giving Campaign - Merry-Go-Round

To date, we have raised $1,700 towards our $10,000 goal for this year's annual giving campaign to enhance our playground with a new merry-go-round.

The Village School and Village School Foundation will help fund any costs that go beyond this level. The proposed changes will bring more excitement and fun for students on the playground. We hope you will join us in our efforts to install new playground equipment at The Village School. You can support the campaign if you go to Annualgiving.us or follow the QR code below:

Handwork Happenings

Grandfriends Day - Friday Feb 20th

Mark your calendars for Grandfriends Day! It is happening this year on Friday, February 20th. Here's the sign up form. The event goes from 8:45am to 11:45am, (and later if you join us for lunch.) More details to come soon.

Heart of the Village - Saturday Feb 21st

Here we go! Just one more month until the biggest fundraiser and festival of the year! See below for details and where to sign up for volunteer shifts and silent auction donations.

Village School Lunch Diaries

Creamy cannellini bean soup. This warmed you up right down to your bones, with such wonderful flavor!

Mac and Cheese Day. Pure comfort on a plate.

Winter Weather

Winter weather is here! Here is some key information families need to know.

When hazardous weather is a concern, decisions regarding schedule changes are made in the early morning, before school, when current weather conditions can be assessed. We follow the 4J District's lead for delays and closures. However, if they choose not to close, we may assess our area, and make our own decision.

Our main concern is the safety of our students and staff. We also believe students and families are best served when schools are open. We will always do our best to make the best decision possible, taking into account all of the factors.

If there is a change in the school schedule, it will be announced normally before 6:30 a.m., by phone and email message.

NO NEWS = NO CHANGE. If there is a change in the school schedule due to inclement weather, we will announce the change.

LTD buses may also be delayed or detoured when there is ice or snow on the ground. Detour information will be posted on the LTD website, www.ltd.org, and publicized to local news media.

Delayed Starts and Early Dismissal: We generally will avoid delayed starts and early dismissal due to weather. However, it is possible that unpredictable or sudden weather conditions will require such a decision to be made. Delayed start times will not alter school dismissal times.

Parent Choice: On any day when inclement weather is a concern and school is in session, families are encouraged to consider road conditions in their areas and make their own decisions based on safety. Please call the office if your child will be absent. Parents’ individual decisions about school attendance for this reason will be honored.

*Be aware: It is impossible to guarantee phone and email message delivery 100% of the time, and your alert may be delayed or blocked. If you are concerned about the weather and have not received a text alert by 6:30 a.m., check the 4J website, radio or TV for information about closures and delays and THEN CHECK THE VILLAGE SCHOOL WEBSITE. At times, our lot and incoming roads are untenable and we may need to call a delay or closure when 4j does not.

LTD Passes

Health Reminders

Community Bulletin Board

If you are looking for ways to support families at risk and in fear due to the increasing presence of ICE in our community, please consider donating to Escudo Latino. They are working long hours and playing an important role in supporting those who need it most right now. Thank you!

Free Dental Clinic for Kids 5 & Up on March 7th(free stuffed animals too).

“Our dental hygiene students love kids,” says Michelle Cummins, Lane Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator. The abundant stuffed animals with toothy grins decorating the entry way of the brightly-lit clinic seem to agree. Both the toys and the students are ready for Lane’s free, upcoming Dental Clinic for Kids on March 7th.

The clinic is part of “Give Kids a Smile,” a nationwide event in coordination with the American Dental Association Foundation. Under the careful supervision of volunteer dentists and Lane instructors, dental hygiene students will give children ages 5 to 18 free evaluations, sealants, fluoride, x-rays, and preventative dentistry.

Free appointments for kids 5-18 are available anytime between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 7th, but expected to fill quickly. Interested parents should call the Lane Dental Clinic at 541-463-5206 to reserve their child’s spot today. Patients of all ages can call the same number to book low-cost appointments during regular hours.

Phone (541) 463-5206