Village Voice - Volume 25, Issue 4
- Chrissy Barry
- Sep 24
- 7 min read
Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 25th, 5:30pm, Back to School Parent Night for 2, 3, 4, 5 Grades
Wednesday, October 1st, Picture Day for K - 4th Grades, Volunteers Needed!
Thursday, October 2nd, Picture Day for 5th - 9th Grades, Volunteers Needed!
Thursday, October 9th, Walkathon (1st - 8th Grades), Volunteers Needed!
Friday, October 10th, No School, Professional Development Day
Monday, October 13th, 6th - 8th Field Trip to the Hult Center
Volunteers needed for:
Picture Day
Walkathon
Math Night
Día de los Muertos
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!
The equinox has come and gone, and the days are officially shorter than the nights. Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer for many, but astronomical fall doesn’t happen until the sun aligns with the equator. On this day the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west, which is why there are so many cool ancient temples built specifically to align with the sun on these days. The Kukulkán pyramid at Chichén Itzá, the Mnajdra temples in Malta, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt are all designed to allow the sun to illuminate features of the structure. These temples were used for astronomical observation, religious ceremonies, and to track the changing seasons for agricultural calendars.
Here at the Village School, the autumnal equinox marks the time for Back to School nights. Grades K, 1, 6, 7, and 8 held their meeting last week and grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be held this Thursday (childcare IS provided). Thanks to everyone who showed up, or plans to show up for that important meeting!
Also, all students should have their paperwork for the upcoming Walk-A-Thon. Check in with your student and make a plan to gather a few pledges. Walk-A-Thons are more fun when you’re walking with a purpose, and we will be supporting not only our VS kitchen, but a handful of AWESOME local non-profit groups with our earnings. Plus, the highest earning class wins a really cool model of the 1797 frigate USS Constitution, which you can see in person if you stop by the office.
Thanks for showing up and being a part of our beautiful school. We appreciate you!
Community Service Walk-a-Thon!
This past week we launched our Community Service Walk-a-thon. It's one of our truly fun events for grades 1 through 8. Students set realistic lap goals based on age and development. This year's goal is to raise at least $15,000. Half of this will help The Village Kitchen. The other half will support the following eight organizations, which were chosen for co-sponsorship due to their commitment to community values and ecological awareness:
1st Grade: Nearby Nature
2nd Grade: Cascades Raptors Center
3rd Grade: Food for Lane County Gardens
4th Grade: Long Tom Watershed Council
5th Grade: Walama Restoration
6th Grade: Cascades Mycological Society
7th Grade: Whole Earth Nature School
8th Grade: McKenzie RiverTrust
Students have received pledge packets, but pledging can also be done with Online Pledge System: VillageWalkathon.org. Through the online platform, you can set up your own site, create a family team, and refer people to it via email, Text, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. It's easy to circulate this to a circle of family members or friends. We hope that each family will participate in the walk-a-thon to the best of its ability. If each family raises $80, we will achieve our goal, but don’t stop at that. The more contributions you raise, the more successful we’ll be at achieving our goal of giving back to the community and helping our school.
This week we announced the Walk a Thon and the prize for the class that raises the most money, a replica of the USS Constitution built in 1797. It's on display in the office. The ship gained the nickname, "Old Ironsides", when cannon balls were seen bouncing off its hull. As the oldest naval ship afloat, it serves as a museum in Boston harbor. In addition to its storied history, the ship's name has special significance today as our country debates the meaning of our main governing document.
Thank you very much for your participation!
We are looking for some parent volunteers to help out with this fantastic event! Please reach out to chrissy@eugenevillageschool.org to let us know if you're interested.
Volunteering at the Village School
Be sure to watch your email, the Village Voice and the Village Vine for messages from Village Community 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 take part in.
We are looking for Kitchen Volunteers! Please let Toña know if you can help. She can be reached at taguilar@eugenevillageschool.org or 541-510-8604. There are multiple ways that you can make a huge difference in our fabulous kitchen program! She is especially looking for volunteers to help out right after drop off and is also in need of volunteers to serve lunch from 11:30 - 1:00pm.
Picture Days are happening on 10/1 and 10/2. We are looking for a few volunteers to help out on one or more of these days. Here is the sign up.
The Walkathon is fast approaching! This extra fun event is happening on 10/9 and we are looking for many helpers! Please sign up here.
We ask families to contribute 30-40 hours of volunteer hours per year, and single parent households to contribute 15-20 hours. Please stop by the office to fill out a volunteer packet if you have not already done so (Background checks are valid for 2 years). All parents have been entered into our online volunteer system, HelpCounter. This is where you can track your hours, and is the system you will be signing in on when you come to the office.
*Please always make sure to sign in, grab a volunteer badge, and sign out at the office when you volunteer. We have our new computer system set up in the office (see below). Please make sure to sign in there whether you are a volunteer or visitor.
Reach out to chrissy@eugenevillageschool.org with any questions about volunteering!
541-345-7285
4th Grade Field Trip to Skinner Butte Park
ASEP Update
Dear V.S. Families:
Thank you for your prompt and enthusiastic responses to the After School Enrichment Program. Most of the classes are already full, however feel free to sign your child up until the deadline of October 2. Often times a family will decline enrollment, or drop out the first week. If this happens I will select students who are on the waitlist.
I will send out confirmation, or waitlist letters on Oct 3. Please keep an eye out for an email from me. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Rachel Burk-Bayer
ASEP Coordinator / Kindergarten EA
Village Kitchen
We love serving lunch to students and staff every school day!
First grade student, Asa, shows off her lunch on Friday of nori, rice, tofu, cucumber sticks, orange slices and banana.
We had a surprise visit from a former Village School student on Monday. Azrael served grapes to students then was excited to enjoy a lunch here again.
We love partnering with Hummingbird Wholesale for many reasons, one of which is their strong commitment to reducing waste. Items such as tahini, honey, oils, vinegars and maple syrup are delivered in high quality glass or plastic containers which are returned for cleaning and a deposit return.
Thank you Hummingbirds!
Toña Aguilar
The Village School
Eugene, Oregon
w - 541-345-7285
c - 541-510-8604
Picture Day
Photo Faces Northwest is photographing our school on Photo Days this year on Wed, October 1, and Thur. October 2.
For this year PFNW has streamlined and improved the ordering and delivery process. You should receive your photos sooner, and without the need to preorder. In addition, as some of you have requested, you will now be able to view your student photos, and if not satisfied, schedule a retake. Instead, PFNW will make your photos available for viewing and ordering prints and/or downloads online by Oct 25. You will receive a personalized link from PFNW when your photos are ready, and be able to order online at that time.
Also, when you order, not only can you preview your student’s photos, but also crop them if desired. Photos are delivered to your home, rather than picked up at school, in 5-10 days (sooner if you order expedited delivery).
PFNW has retained the same package selection, pricing, and offerings that were available last year (there is a modest shipping fee).
Please note that the group photo this year comes on an 8x10 sheet. This allows us more flexibility to size the group according to class size. Most groups will still be a 6x9 print, as last year’s, but with a border.
Title I Reading/Math Services 2025-26
Every fall, winter and spring, our Title staff and classroom teachers administer reading and math assessments to each of our students. If a student scores below the 30th percentile, she/he may be recommended by our team to receive instructional interventions in reading and/or math with their progress monitored. At The Village School, all students receive up to 90 minutes of language arts and 60 minutes of math instruction each day. If your child will be receiving additional reading or math instruction, his or her classroom teacher or the title 1 coordinator will notify you.
Job Postings
After School Care Assistant
Health Reminders
Community Bulletin Board
FOR RENT: Clean 4 BR/2 Bath Home close to Village School! Oak floors, new appliances, large back yard with great trees!
Click link for details:
3460 Donald St
Do your kids love nature exploration and outdoor adventures? Then check out Nearby Nature's Natural Neighbors After School program! K-5th grade participants enjoy hiking, natural science, Earth art, and free time in Nearby Nature's outdoor classroom and Alton Baker Park. Programs happen Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:30-5:30 pm and Wednesdays from 2-5:30 pm, rain or shine, with flexible drop off for the first hour of each day and pick up between 5-5:30 pm. Online enrollment is ongoing -- details at Natural Neighbors After School. Scholarship assistance available. https://www.nearbynature.org/natural-neighbors/.
Does your tween or teen love the outdoors and want to learn survival skills? Whole Earth Nature School has a transformative program called FOREST Understory that does just that! This unique opportunity is an eight-month program that immerses 6th to 10th grade students into the world of ancestral wilderness skills. On the first Saturday of every month, we focus an entire day on a unique skill and improve on lessons from the month before. FOREST Understory builds confidence, creates strong friendships, and deepens nature connection. Come join us for this amazing experience!
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