Tuesday Notice

Dear Siskiyou School Parents,

Today is GivingTuesday, a global day of giving to support causes we value. All non-profits in the world acknowledge this day, and so do we.

I’m deeply grateful that I got to attend a Waldorf school from kindergarten to 12th grade; it was a true gift. I often reflect on this and always feel such gratitude that my work at this school allows me to help bring this wonderful education to children of this time. May all our students reflect back at some point in their lives to recognize the gift of this school, this education, and their teachers. Our teachers work hard every day towards the goal Rudolf Steiner described as follows: “Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives”. Our students leave the school with this capacity for finding purpose and direction as they venture into high school and beyond. You, parents, are the vehicles for giving this gift to your children, and our school would not be where it is without your commitment to giving this gift to your kids. A huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you from our whole Siskiyou School Team!

On this GivingTuesday, please remember the Siskiyou School for what it means for your children and families, now and for the future. With many thanks in advance for your generosity.

My best, Aurilia

This Week:

Tues, Nov 30: Giving Tuesday.

Fri, Dec 3: Holiday Market & Faire setup, 12:45pm.

Sat, Dec 4: Holiday Market & Faire, 11am - 5pm.

Sun, Dec 5: Holiday Market & Faire cleanup, 10am.

Looking Ahead:

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

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

Sun, Dec 12: Family Sing-A-Long, Zoom, Time: TBD

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 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.

This year we will have entry tickets for the Holiday Market & Faire. Below are the details of the tickets:

• Event Pass, $100 each: All-day ticket that gives a family of entry and a wristband instead of tickets. The wristband is good for all activities, excluding the Holiday Market vendor booths. 60 passes available.
  
• Time Slot Tickets, $10 each: This year we are doing our best to reduce overcrowding at the event. We are selling "time-slot" entry tickets for 11am-1pm, 1pm-3pm, 3pm-5pm. The entry ticket is good for a whole family.
  

Each activity is an additional ticket price and tickets are available at the door.

Thank you to everyone that has signed up to volunteer! If you are available to volunteer, please do signup or let Lora know if you are available to "fill" spots if someone is unable to make it on the actual day.

Please also sign up for Sunday volunteering! We will need to get the campus back in order.

Parents, Alum Students/Families, and students are all welcome to sign-up to volunteer. Please sign-up below or contact Lora at Lora.Wilde@siskiyouschool.org.

These are the guidelines for parents, vendors, alum, and additional volunteers (excluding Siskiyou School students):

Vaccinated Volunteers/Vendors:

• Copy of current vax card by Wednesday, December 1st, 2021: Please send a copy of your current vaccination card to Aurilia McNamara, Aurilia.McNamara@siskiyouschool.org by the above date.

Unvaccinated Volulnteers/Vendors:

• Sign a religious exception form by Wednesday, December 1st, 2021. Please sign and return to Aurilia by December 1st. Aurilia.mcnamara@siskiyouschool.org

• Show proof of a negative test between Thursday, 12/2 and Friday, 12/3:
  

• Either: Get a test anywhere in the valley and email a picture of the negative test results to Aurilia on either Thursday, 12/2 or Friday, 12/3.
• Or: Bring your own testing kit (with the test packet and swab unopened) to our school testing site. You will be given further instructions at that time by our volunteer Melissa Marks-Ladd who can then sign off on the negative test result. We will have tests available on site for $10 for you to use. Please come to campus to sign your form and administer your test on either Thursday, 12/2: 3:30-5:00pm or & Friday, 12/3: 12:00-2pm. If these times don’t work for you, please contact Melissa at 541-840-9988.

The same guidelines apply to all family members of vendors at the Market and for all alum volunteers. Siskiyou School students who will be volunteering are exempt from these guidelines.

Thank you for your help and attention to these details; we are so very grateful and we look forward to working together to make this a most wonderful and magical event for our families.

It has been a joy to share fables and animals with the Second Grade. With each story, the children see the drama unfold in a way that lets them reflect on the poor choices, trickery, or lack of follow-through shown by the animals, without their own human shortcomings standing in the way. As we review the stories the following day, the children see the connection to their own world and can naturally discover the meaning of the underlying moral content. They squirm when the fox tricks the stork or gives up when his food just is out of reach, and they beam when the crow ingeniously adds pebbles to a nearly empty pitcher, raising the water high enough to quench her thirst. We compare the animals in the stories to other examples in the animal world, and the second graders always find a route back to how we, as people, behave at our worst and best!

Through these animal stories we have introduced the first representations of form into our watercolor paintings. Just as in previous works focusing on color and tone, painting with animal forms is also held through story. If we live into a known story, our attempts at rendering the forms in our world seem within reach. A bit of red with a swoosh of orange and yellow becomes a fox and its tail, and a mass of golden yellow paint with a small surround of orange becomes a gigantic lion who has traded kind favors with a mouse. Just as learning a new game or story can take some work, the start of a painting can feel challenging or even impossible, but, with a good story, some effort, and follow-through, everyone gets to paint flowers, trees, and animals. ~ Mr. Criswell

This week the 7th grade began their Africa block. In today’s lesson we dove into the physical geography of the continent: deserts, rainforests, and savannas as well as coastal and mountainous regions. Africa is diverse in its climate, which gives birth to a plethora of plant and animal species like nowhere else on earth. Africa even has penguins!

Just one plant species, the baobab tree, is not only iconic, but also a source of sustenance for many animals and humans. Legend has it that millions of years ago the baobab tree, being extremely selfish and having too big of an ego, was plucked from the ground and replanted upside down to teach it a lesson. To this day the tree is also called the upside-down tree. It is a tough plant species, with bark that can regenerate and a spongy inside that can hold up to 30,000 gallons of water. The baobab grows up to 75-feet high with an enormous 30-foot width. Each baobab lives up to 2,000 years and has a story to tell-- tales that reach into the region's long-lost past. Imagine if these trees could talk…what would they have to say?

As we continue our journey into the heart of the continent, we will further explore the land, how the countries came to be, and aspects of the culture of some of the peoples on this vast continent. Our study will include discussions about modern-day Africa and current events happening now. In conjunction to our daily lessons, each student is preparing a slide show presentation on a given topic as their independent project for this block. Thank you to Katie LaCroix for coming in last week and introducing the students to Google slides and other useful keyboarding techniques they can use in formatting their presentations.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our Winter Faire this weekend. Thank you, Lora, for bringing back one of my favorite Siskiyou School traditions. My son, Sylvio, can’t stop talking about the pocket lady.

Please enjoy some photos of the 7th grade during their art class with Mrs. Paz. ~ Ms. Franczak

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

Mrs. Martin is seeking to re-home three bunnies to one or more homes. They need to be kept in separate hutches. All are free to good homes with their hutches included. I have two sweet, grey boy bunnies and one black mama bunny. Only requirement is to love them! Please call for more information. Heidi Martin, 541-625-3464.

For those interested in the Covid-19 vaccine, it is available for ages 5 and older through La Clinica. Please call 541-535-1065 for more information or visit the La Clinica facebook page. ~ Maddy Clark

We are looking for renters for our beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom 2340 sq ft. house up on Valley View Rd. during the month of January. There is a hot tub, infrared sauna, gas fireplace and stunning views of the valley. Only 5 minutes from downtown Ashland. We are asking $4000 for the month. Contact me at 541-301-7456. Thank you!

Holly Berg, Siskiyou School alum mother of three former students, is looking for someone to help care for her mother. Monday through Friday starting at 7 or 8 am until 4 pm. She’s paralyzed on her left side but can transfer with minimal assistance. She’s very sweet, likes having someone with her most of the time. If interested, please call Holly (541) 864-9044. Pay is $20/hr.

Looking for extra academic support for your child? Experienced Waldorf class teacher available for virtual tutoring and curriculum support. Check out my website and feel free to reach out.

catherinehdixon.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/