Tuesday Notice

Dear Siskiyou School Parents,

What a beautiful event we had Saturday; the Holiday Market & Faire! A huge thank you to Lora for organizing the event in such a loving, caring and inclusive way. Everyone in our community gave time and attention to making this event run smoothly: current parents and students, alum parents and alum students, faculty, board and staff. We all worked together to set up the event, run the event and clean up on Sunday. It was a true gift for all four pillars of the school to work so closely together once again. The warmth of the season was palpable all around campus during the event and even now as we head into the last two weeks of school before we part for winter break. Thank you, parents, for all you give to the school! We can only run the school successfully with your support and trust in our work with the children.

Yesterday and today we held the “advent spiral” in Pine Hall. Each class had a quiet time with candlelight and beautiful music played by Mr. Cord and Magda as the children walked the spiral to carry their light into the darkness of winter. What a beautiful tradition for us to share with the students. It’s the quiet, introspective moments that help us heal, ground and rekindle our hope in a world filled with light once again.

May every family have a wonderful week.

My best,

Aurilia

This Week:

Fri, Dec 10: Parent coffee with Moriah Mahlstadt & Nina Gallwey, Zoom, 9:00am.

Fri, Dec 10: Open House, 2:00pm.

Looking Ahead:

Sun, Dec 12: Family Sing-A-Long. Glendale yard, 4:30pm - 5:15pm with Mrs. Archer.

Thurs, Dec 16: 6th Grade play.

Fri, Dec 17: 6th Grade play.

Fri, Dec 17: Last day before Winter Break.

Mon, Jan 3: School resumes.

We look forward to welcoming Moriah Mahlstadt, our DEI Coordinator, to our morning coffee chat.

The topic of the coffee hour will be What Is Meant by Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?

Diversity can mean many things; how we look, what we think, our family history and culture, and so much more. We will spend some time talking about the meaning of diversity and acknowledging the unique qualities our different families bring to the Siskiyou School. The Zoom link for the December 10 coffee hour will be sent out closer to the event by your class teacher.

Please join us for the Holiday Sing-A-Long in the Glendale yard on Sunday, 12/12 from 4:30-5:15pm with Mrs. Archer. We look forward to singing all the beautiful holiday songs together.

Please park on Clay Street and walk across the campus to the Glendale Yard. Masks need to be worn for this event. This event is weather dependent. If it rains, we might have to cancel; please stay tuned and we will send out an email on Sunday morning.

We follow the Ashland School District’s lead on calling snow days. If the ASD calls a snow day or a late start, we also have a snow day and/or a late start. Check for their snow-day announcements on the Ashland School District website www.ashland.k12.or.us., usually by 6:00 am. Exception: As Fridays are always half days for us, when the District calls a two-hour late start on a Friday, we do not have school at all. If it’s a one-hour late start, we do have school. On late-start days we adjust the day’s schedule to ensure that the children get main lesson. The school sends out an email with the day’s schedule early in the morning to all parents.

Middle School parents, if your child loves trivia is interested in being part of the Siskiyou School Brain Bowl team, please email coach Kristin Beers at kristin.beers@siskiyouschool.org.

Practices will be one hour after school, once weekly, day to be determined. Matches take place during the school day (probably at lunch), once a week from Jan through Feb. Brain Bowl students are required to keep up with their school work, making up any material missed due to matches. Team members are also asked to do some studying on their own time. All that said, it’s so much fun! Our students travel to different schools, learn a LOT, and have a great time being part of the team!

Brain Bowl is an international competition hosted through SOU Youth Programs. The Siskiyou School Team compete with middle schools in the valley and are current Division B Champions! For more information see their page HERE or watch the 2019 competition HERE.

Dear Siskiyou School Community,

What a wonderful weekend for the Holiday Market & Faire! The air was crisp and cool and the fog brought a sense of magic to the day, but most of all the children were able to PLAY! The cool day was the perfect weather to sip on Hot Cocoa, roast Dragon Bread, enjoy our ever-popular Peppermint Lemons, try our luck with the Giant, and have time with our friends to do so much more!

Being together as a community has always brought me so much joy and this year the feeling was even greater. It was such a pleasure to see new families and alum families; to get to know our first grade parents better and to reconnect with our parents that have such nostalgia for this day. I enjoyed walking around and seeing so many happy faces and children running about. This day is so much about community and our chance to share the magic of Waldorf and of the Siskiyou School… and fundraise while doing so!

Thank you, with my whole heart, to each of you for making this day come to life. Whether you baked cookies, sold things at the Holiday Market, donated an item to the auction, set up a tent and braved the freezing fog, volunteered for a shift or two, cleaned up, attended with your family and friends, or all of the above. You all brought the magic! Thank you to the office staff for all of your support and to my own family for all of their help in supporting me through such a busy time.

With love and gratitude,
Lora

This event takes a village to put together. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, children, and alum that came to the event to volunteer. There were so many people that were willing and able to make sure this very special event took place.

A BIG Thank You to our activity leads:

Winter Market Hall Coordinator: Sarah Collins Sleeping Giant crafting: Kristin Beers, Alicia Welder and Amy Bull Pocket Person Crafting: Kristin Beers and family Fairy Queen Room: Kelle Lovett Marionette Show: Shannon Clery, Anouschka Andresen, Leann Tourzan, Elise Anderson, Magda Paz, Jenny Johnson Candle Dipping with the 8th Grade: Anouschka Andresen, Aaron Smith & Leonidas Smith Live Music: Tate Oliva (Alum), Victoria Lawton-Diez (faculty), Roma Lopatinsky, African Drumming Band Silent Auction: Kara Miller Crystal Cookie Room: Class 2 & 3 parents (along with other bakers) 8th Grade Wreaths: Gretchen Vos 8th Grade Entrepreneur Table: Katie LaCroix Sleeping Giant: Matt & Luke Oliva and Davis Wilkins Dragon Bread: Eben & Trine Ostergaard (plus the dragon bread baking crew) Peanut Butter Bird Feeders: Veronica Ward Candlebases: Mike McGlone Path of Light: Aurilia McNamara

• Thank you to all of our amazing cookie bakers and dough makers! Thank you to all the parents that helped pack the Peppermint Lemons!
• Thank you to the Parent Pillar Reps for all the Holiday Market and Faire brainstorming.
• Thank you to Hudson and Nolan Horvath for stamping all the cups for the hot cocoa.
• Thank you to all the morning Staff kids that would help me in so many ways.
  

Teachers and Board Members- Thank you for volunteering throughout the day!

Thank you to the 8th Grade Families and Students for their amazing efforts in making the 8th Grade Wreaths, Candles and Entrepreneur Table a HUGE success!

Thank you to Rogue Food Unites who ordered 100 boughs from the 8th Grade class to add to their fundraising efforts.

Thank you to the Ashland Food Co-Op for donating over 300 lemons! WOW!

Thank You to Our Alumni that Joined Us. Thank you for coming back and to some of you for volunteering! Plus, the group that stayed to play the drums!

Auction Donors, THANK YOU for all the wonderful item donations!

Market Vendors, Thank you! What a great selection and thank you for braving the cold!

Thank you to Amy Bull for doing so many trips to storage on Friday morning. Thank you to the Sunday storage runners: James Kilgore and Lawrence VanEgdorn!

Thank you to our Dragon Bread crew! Tobias Hatfield for delivering the wood and sticks and starting the fire, Eben Ostergaard for working the booth and tending the fire, Trine Ostergaard for hosting the dough-making party.

THANK YOU to the Setup and Clean Up Crews. The setup and clean-up were so seamless. Thank you to everyone who dedicated their time and showed up!

The Raven Class recently completed a Money main lesson block. The block began with a lesson about the barter system. The children exchanged hand-made goods. The children then learned about the evolution of bartering to using precious metals as a medium of exchange, and finally money as the most current system. The children learned to identify coin and bills. They learned how add up coins and bills, and they also learned how to make change. The highlight of the block was our market. The children worked in groups of 3 to create a shop. They made goods to sell at their shop. The classroom was converted in to a market. I gave the children fake money (bills and coins) for their shop and for shopping. It was so much fun! ~Mr. Alvarez

This week, the 8th Graders will complete their first US History block of the year. Over the last three weeks, the class has studied, in depth, the block we call “The Founding of the Republic.” This block covers US history from the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 all the way through George Washington’s inauguration in 1789. In addition to their academic work, many of the 8th Graders chose to participate in the Holiday Faire by creating goods to sell. I hope that many of you had an opportunity to see their fabulous work and efforts at the Market this weekend. Thanks for all who supported the students and the class in their endeavors, both in the wreath-making and in selling their individual products. ~ Ms. Razi

Is your family coming for the holidays or are you perhaps looking for a temporary change of scenery? We are looking for someone to stay at our sweet home just south of Ashland for winter break. We have some chickens that are still laying eggs, a cat and a hamster that require minimal care and some love. Thanks so much for passing on the word, we are happy to answer any questions at helaine.alon@gmail.com.

In celebration of the holidays, The Collaborative Theatre Project presents The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Performances run from November 26th to January 2nd. (Performances feature Siskiyou School students Lilly and Maddie Dominguez). For tickets and information, please contact The Collaborative Theatre Project, Online: ctpmedford.org, Box Office: (541) 779-1055.

Could your adolescent use more connection, support, and guidance? As a trained mindfulness educator, I provide a safe space to explore emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, while learning new tools and ways of looking at situations through the lens of mindfulness.

Examples of activities: Appreciation for nature, Art activities, Mindful movement, Tools to help with emotions, The importance of the “pause”, Journaling practice, Developing a gratitude practice, Practice using all five senses, Mindful meals, Think outside the box

Where: Held at my private residence located in central Ashland

When: December 7, 2021 – January 27, 2022 / Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Cost: $160 - $240 (based on group size)

*Register by November 23 for a 10% discount

Contact for questions: Sabina Starr (Zobel) 541-951-4373. n8tzmom@yahoo.com

Email: office@siskiyouschool.org
Website: www.siskiyouschool.org
Location: 631 Clay Street, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: 541-482-8223
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siskiyouschool/