Village Voice - Volume 26, Issue 2
Updated: Sep 3
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, September 9th, First Day of School! 11:45am release (No lunch service)
Wednesday, September 9th, New Parent Orientation, 8:45am - 10:00am
Friday, September 11th, 9:00am, Rose Ceremony
Thursday, September 24th, 5:30pm, Back to School Parent Night for K, 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 Grades
Monday, September 28th, 6:00pm, Village Council Meeting on Zoom Link
Thursday, October 1st, 5:30pm, Back to School Parent Night for 2, 3, 4 Grades
Thursday, October, 8th, Walkathon
Friday, October 9th, No School, Professional Day
Monday, October 12th, Picture Day for K - 4th Grades
Wednesday, October 14th, Picture Day for 5th - 9th Grades
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
Every Day Counts!
Dear Village School Families,
As we approach a new school year, we want to remind families about one of the most important ways you can support your child’s success at school: regular, on-time attendance.
When students come to school consistently and arrive on time, they have more opportunities to learn, build friendships, participate in activities, and feel connected to our school community.
Why Attendance Matters
Research consistently shows a connection between school attendance and academic achievement. Students who chronically miss school tend to have lower academic outcomes than students who attend regularly. Recent research involving thousands of schools continues to show that higher attendance is associated with academic growth. Higher attendance is also linked to feelings of community connectedness and overall engagement in school activities.
A school year has approximately 165 days.
Missing 2 days a month adds up to about 18 days in a school year.
That means a student could miss about 12% of the school year without ever missing a full week at a time.
10% of missed school days is considered chronic absenteeism.
Being On Time Matters, Too!
Getting to school on time is just as important as being at school.
The beginning of the school day is when students settle in, connect with classmates and teachers, learn about the day's expectations, and begin their first lesson. When students arrive late, they can miss important instruction and may have a harder time getting into the rhythm of the day.
Being on time also helps students develop the habit of being responsible with their time and being ready when others are counting on them.
Some absences are necessary. We understand that children get sick, families have appointments, and unexpected circumstances happen. We want to work with you to make regular attendance and punctuality a priority whenever your child is healthy and able to attend.
How Families Can Help
Shift to a school night bedtime routine now so your child is ready for the first week.
Prepare backpacks the night before so your child can arrive on time.
Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session.
Don’t permit missing school unless your child is truly sick. Remember that stomach aches and headaches may be signs of anxiety.
If your child is anxious about going to school, talk to your class teacher, school counselor, or other parents for advice.
Celebrate your child's consistent attendance at home.
Reach out to us if something is making it difficult for your child to attend regularly. We want to help!
Most importantly, your child's presence matters. Teachers plan meaningful lessons and activities every day, and students contribute to their classroom simply by being there.
Thank you for working with us to make attendance and punctuality a shared priority.
We look forward to seeing your child next Wednesday, ready to start the day at 8:25!
Shannon and Andy
Back to School Packet 2026-27
Please make sure to take a look at your Back to School Packet if you have not done so yet, and fill out all necessary school forms before school begins. Thank you!
Drop Off & Pickup Policy
For late Arrivals, please use the entrance at the bottom of the stairs off of 35th Avenue and ring the intercom.
Bike Map
If you are planning on walking or biking to school, here is a handy map for that:
Operation School Bell
The Assistance League of Eugene supports a program of student assistance called Operation School Bell. This program supports families who are experiencing financial hardship to shop at Fred Meyer for school clothes or shoes for their children.
This year The Village School has 10 spots available. If you would like your child to be included in Operation School Bell this fall please complete The Village School Parent/Guardian Request form. If more than 10 students request to be included in Operation School Bell we will run a lottery for the spots.
The form needs to be filled out and submitted by Monday, September 21st. Since spots are limited, if we have more than 10 people apply we will run a lottery and notify you if you receive a shopping spot or not.
ParentSquare
All school communications will now be shared through ParentSquare. You’ll receive school and classroom updates, attendance notifications, conference and volunteer opportunities, and more.
Download the free ParentSquare app for iOS or Android, or access it online at www.parentsquare.com and make sure you are opted in to receive notifications on both email and text. If you have not registered yet, please do so here.
New to ParentSquare? Watch this short video to learn how to get started: ParentSquare Parent Tutorial
Standard Response Protocol
We will continue to use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) this year to help keep our school safe and prepared. Please take a moment to review the poster below and familiarize yourself with the four standard responses (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate).
2026 - 27 Electronic Device Policy
Teaching students to use technology safely and appropriately continues to be part of everyday learning; however, cell phones and smartwatches have proven to be a distraction in the classroom and detrimental to the learning environment. We are actively working to maintain the physical and mental health of our students, which has led to the re-evaluation of our cell phone policy. Given current research and data, we believe that removing the phone from the student’s physical presence is best practice. Students may freely use/access their phones before and after school. Our middle school students are assigned a computer each year, therefore, there is little need for additional personal devices.
Village School students in grades 3-8 will be required to place their phones/smartwatch in a
locked box that will be stored safely by their home room teacher. An exception will be made for students who use a cell phone for medical needs. Teachers will return devices at the end of the school day. Cell phones and smartwatches are not allowed for students in grades k-2, unless as a part of a medical plan.
We hope this procedure will reduce instances of inappropriate use of phones during transition times, reduce anxiety in students who don’t have cell phones or specific apps that other students have, reduce distractions, and increase community connectedness during the school day. Here is a link to a 500 student survey that found significant correlations between high cell phone use, anxiety, and lower grades.
IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR STUDENT DURING THE DAY FOR AN EMERGENCY OR FOR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, CONTACT THE OFFICE (541 345-7285) AND WE WILL GET A MESSAGE TO THEM.
**Students who do not lock up their cell phones at the beginning of the day and are found
to be in possession of their device will be required to lock it up and the class teacher will
check in with a parent or guardian. The second instance, the device will be held in the
office and a parent/guardian will be required to pick it up.
Headphones/AirPods
All electronic headphones are prohibited during the school day unless the student has a medical exemption, or when directed by a teacher.
Village Kitchen
We are excited to be back in the kitchen, serving nutritious and delicious meals to students and staff!
As you look over the monthly menus with your child, please keep the following in mind:
Each lunch includes a generous offering of fresh fruits and vegetables from our salad bar as well as organic milk.
We make our meals from scratch using mostly organic ingredients and prioritizing purchasing from local farms, producers and distributors.
We follow nutrition guidelines set forth by the USDA and ODE.
In order to maintain an affordable and sustainable program all meals are vegetarian. Vegan options are available upon request.
If your child has a medical food allergy and needs accommodation, you must submit a complete dietary restriction form and speak with us before they go through the meal line. The form can be found on our school website and in the school office. We do not provide alternative meals without this form on file.
We offer a sit-down, hot breakfast in the cafeteria before school. Service starts at 8:00 and ends at 8:20 so children can arrive at their classrooms on time. Students may also pick up a breakfast to go for their morning snack before school starts.
Menu items are subject to change if unforeseen circumstances occur.
Menus are available on the school website every month. Paper copies are available in the office. We share information and photos every week in the family newsletter.
Our school participates in the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision which enables us to provide breakfasts and lunches at no charge to all Village School students regardless of household income. We follow an Offer versus Serve model. This allows students to choose from a variety of food components to create a complete meal. Students must choose enough offerings to create a complete meal in order to receive meals for free.
Our nationally recognized, award winning food service program relies upon volunteers. To maintain our offerings of amazing food, lovingly prepared for staff and students, we need help. Please consider contributing to our school community by volunteering in the kitchen.
If you have any questions about our food service program or you would like to learn more about volunteering, contact Toña at taguilar@eugenevillageschool.org or 541-510-8604. Thank you for your ongoing support!
September Menus
Village School Lunch Diaries
We are so beyond lucky at the Village School to get to eat the Village School Kitchen's gorgeous and nourishing food every day! Today, Toña and kitchen staff made a breakfast and lunch spread for staff to enjoy on Preview Day, and they completely outdid themselves. Just look at this beautiful breakfast table! Thank you also to our new kitchen staff members, Jamie and Robert. One of the very best parts of starting a new school year is getting to eat the Village School meals again, staff and students alike!
Thank You for Cleaning Up Our Campus!
Thank you so much to the families who came to help clean up and spruce up our school campus! We are so grateful for your hard work. Our campus is looking beautiful thanks to you, and it was wonderful to see you all! Thank you also to Maestra Sarah for organizing the cleanup party (and feeding us with the best bagels in town!)
Volunteering at the Village School
Welcome to a fresh new school year!
We ask families to contribute 30-40 hours of volunteer hours per year, and single parent households to contribute 15-20 hours. Many of our programming and events are made possible by your support. Thank you for supporting our school!
We are asking all volunteers to fill out our new online form and background check for the 2026-27 school year. Register to be a Village School volunteer here.
*Please always make sure to sign in, grab a volunteer badge, and sign out at the office when you volunteer
Reach out to chrissy@eugenevillageschool.org with any questions about volunteering!
541-345-7285
Title 1 Reading/Math Services 2026-27
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.
Health Reminders
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