Village Voice - Volume 25, Issue 31
- Chrissy Barry
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
Upcoming Events
Thursday, May 7th, 5th Grade Science Fair
Thursday, May 7th, 1st Grade Play
May 4th - May 8th, Staff Appreciation Week
Friday, May 8th, No School, Professional Development Day
Wednesday, May 13th, 8th Grade Mentorship Evening
Thursday, May 14th, 4th Grade Field Trip to Jordan Schnitzer Museum
Friday, May 15th, Fire Drill
Monday, May 18th, 6:00pm, Village Community Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 19th, 5:30pm, Board Meeting
Wednesday, May 20th, 5th Grade Field Trip to Nearby Nature
Wednesday, May 20th, 7th Grade Play
Friday, May 22nd, Volunteer Appreciation Coffee and Pastries
Quick Links
In the interest of reducing the sheer length of the Village Voice, we have replaced several repeating items with links to shortcuts:
GoFundMe for Village School Family
Administrator's Message
Greetings Village School Community!
First off, new news! As we continue planning for next school year, we have an update to share regarding our middle school staffing transitions. Last week, we shared that we would be hiring for a sixth grade teaching position next year as we conclude our current principal/sixth grade job-share model.
Since then, another exciting opportunity has emerged within our faculty. Our current 7th/8th grade teacher, Jesse Gammon, has expressed interest in moving into the sixth grade position next year! We are excited about the possibility of keeping his experience and strong relationships within the middle grades while supporting this transition. As a result, we will change the posting to a 7th/8th grade language arts and humanities teaching position for next year. We look forward to finding a strong candidate to join our middle school team and will continue sharing updates as plans develop.
Hopefully you made it to the May Day Celebration last Friday, it was AWESOME. The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, the children were adorable and a ton of fun was had. In many old Celtic traditions, Beltane marked the turning of the year toward summer. It’s a threshold moment between seasons, filled with fire, growth, uncertainty, and change. One story connected to Beltane tells of the rivalry between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr ap Greidawl, figures sometimes understood as representing winter and summer, darkness and light, each taking their turn in the cycle of the year.
Rather than one side defeating the other forever, the story reminds us that seasons come and go and return once more. What recedes makes way for what is emerging, and each season carries its own work, challenges, and gifts. Spring at Village School often carries that same feeling of transition. As we begin looking ahead to next year, we also find ourselves honoring what has been built, and making space for new possibilities to take shape!
May your runway into summer be smooth and restful!
Sincerely,
Roz, Shannon, and Andy
May Day
Thank you so much for helping to make this year's May Day such a gorgeous celebration!
We truly appreciate your generous gifts of flowers, enthusiasm, and your time to make this beautiful tradition possible for our students.
In a fun twist, the Maypole decided it did not want to come out of the ground this year, and Andy and a few incredible parent volunteers put their heads together, came back over the course of a several days to help wrangle it out of the ground, and got it back to its yearly resting place.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
Coming Together for a School Family
Our Village School community is coming together to support Ashley and her children after a sudden death in their family. This fundraiser helps provide stability and care during a difficult time. If you're able, please consider donating or sharing to help surround their family with support.
Link:
3rd Grade House Projects
The 3rd graders got to present their traditional house projects today! Each student researched, wrote a report about, and built a model of a traditional home from a specific community.
Village Community Council Updates
Funding Request Update: The Obstacle Course that was emailed out in a school wide vote had an overwhelming 'yes' approval! Construction will hopefully begin within a month.
We LOVE our staff, so let's come together and celebrate them next week for Staff Appreciation Week!
Teacher Appreciation week! May 4th-8th
Families will celebrate staff by showing appreciation every day of the week!
Monday 5/4: Write a letter, card or poem for a staff member
Tuesday 5/5: Bring in a flower or piece of nature for a staff member and staff Brunch Potluck
Wed 5/6: Create a drawing for a staff member
Thursday 5/7- Wear your teacher’s favorite color, team or animal
Friday 5/9- No school for students, VCC will pay for lunch at staff in-service
Current STAFF LIST
Alison Cantril | Title I Coordinator |
Amy Roberts | Speech Pathologist |
Andrea Gomez | EA, Recess Supervisor |
Andy Peara | Executive Director |
Angelique Brennan | Registrar/ Records Coordinator |
Anna Szmidt | Handwork Teacher |
Audrey Striker-Lock | Kitchen Assistant |
Blaise Stewart-Bradley | Aftercare and Recess |
Brett Jacobs | Guitar Teacher, Building Manager |
Chrissy Barry | Office Assistant, Volunteer Coordinator |
Emily Nance | Aftercare and Recess |
Hiroko Cooper | Handwork Assistant |
Danielle Kimball-Smith | Kitchen Assitant |
Chris Halaska | 6th - 8th Marimba Teacher |
Denise Huebner | Kindergarten Teacher |
Emily Nance | Recess Supervisor |
Emily Swenson | 2nd Grade Teacher |
Fréderique Chateau | Art Teacher |
Grant Bruckner | Recess Supervisor |
Hailey Duhn | Kindergarten Assistant |
Hiroko Cooper | Handwork Assistant |
Jaime Sutton | 1st Grade Teacher |
Jennifer Horn | 3nd Grade Teacher |
Jesse Gammon | 8th Grade, Humanities/LA 7th & 8th |
Justin Boe | 7th Grade, Math & Science Teacher |
Karen Kirkman | Special Education Resource Teacher |
Katy Williams | Math Tutor |
Kelsey Khatter | Music Teacher |
Laura Griffin | Special Education Resource Teacher |
Logan Flores | Movement Teacher |
Matthew Rutman | 5th Grade Teacher |
Max Ritzow | Title I Coordinator |
Meridith Kidder | Title I & Test Coordinator |
Merrily Ellestad | 4th Grade Teacher |
Molly Bautista | Librarian & Reading EA |
Rachel Burk-Bayer | Kindergarten Assistant |
Rachel Land | Kitchen Assistant |
Rebecca Macemon | School Counselor |
Robin Loehrke | Kitchen Assistant |
Roz Romatz | Principal/6th Grade Teacher |
Sally Grimsrud | Title I Coordinator |
Santi Lopez | Spanish Teacher |
Sara Redig | 1st Grade Assistant |
Sarah Borchers | Handwork Assistant |
Sarah Lewenberg | Reading EA |
Shannon Powell | Principal/6th Grade Teacher |
Taylor Zeigler | Kitchen Assistant |
Toña Aguilar | Kitchen Coordinator |
Zoe Ridge | Recess Supervisor |
State Testing
Spring brings with it OSAS testing… Parents may submit an opt-out form at any time. Preferably the forms are submitted to Angelique in the Village School Office, on paper or via email (angelique.brennan@eugenevillageschool.org) 30 days prior to the administration of the tests. If you have any questions please send an email to principal@eugenevillgeschool.org.
Here are the opt out forms:
We’re hoping you have some fun plans: travel, rest, play, eat, read, breathe in some fresh air, whatever. I’ll leave you with another poem by a favorite of mine:
Annual Giving Campaign - Commemorative Tiles
Our first round of commemorative tiles are on display just outside the office. Our long term plan is to create a more permanent display once we get more tiles. You can order a tile at https://polarengraving.com/eugenevillageschool or use the following QR Code:
With a tile purchase, you will help us towards our goal of raising funds to install a new merry go round. We hope you'll join our efforts!
Village Kitchen News
This term the Village School Kitchen is hosting five University of Oregon School of Education students. These future educators are getting a first hand experience for their Food in School course. As they work alongside kitchen staff and volunteers, they are learning what it takes to run a program like ours and why providing healthy nutrition is important for the developing minds and bodies of young learners.
We warmly welcome parents, guardians and siblings into our cafeteria for breakfast and lunch. Recently, we have been serving more breakfasts to staff and other adults. Please remember that you need to purchase a ticket in the office before enjoying a breakfast with us. We are only able to provide free meals to students.
The kitchen has an abundance of one gallon plastic buckets. They have a super handy handle and matching lids. Think of all the great uses you can provide! They can hold excess legos. They make for a perfect summer blackberry or blueberry picking receptacle. Kora from the 6th grade thinks they would work well to store dry goods in. Please swing by the kitchen for one or a few. Let's give them a second life instead of simply recycling them.
Looking to fulfill your volunteer hours for the school year?
We have a couple of bi-weekly spots we'd love to fill with helpers for the remaining couple months of the school year. Contact Toña at taguilar@eugenevillageschool.org or pop by the kitchen to say hi and get more information.
Handwork Happenings
Check out these fantastic finished projects made by Richard, Clara, Mateus, Paz, Rowan and Orion! (clockwise)
May Birthdays
LTD Passes
Health Reminders
Community Bulletin Board
1 Passes are $60 each and are available online through Willamalane or the City of Eugene. Sales begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 8. With a 1Pass card, kids 18 and younger can access 17 exciting destinations around Springfield and Eugene.
The 2026 1Pass is valid: June 15-Sept. 7, 2026. A limited number of scholarships are available for those who qualify.
NAMIWalks Lane County is a free family & pet friendly community event to bring awareness to mental health. There will be giant yard games, laser tag, face painting, sensory zone, and balloon twisting!
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!
Summer Camps
Summer camp with our very own Ms. Blaise!
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