Willow Wind's First Day is Monday

Notes From the Office

We have had a VERY busy week getting ready for students to return. All of the teachers and staff have been working long days to make sure the beginning of school is wonderful.

Our FAMILY WORK DAY and CLASS MEETINGS are MONDAY, August 31, 2026.

The first day of regular classes is Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026.

Please plan to spend part of Monday morning at Willow Wind with your children. When you arrive, we will have a list of jobs posted and there are additional jobs posted in each classroom. We can use your help to put the finishing touches on our preparations and it is also a good time to greet friends after the summer break. All Work Day time will count towards Family Service Hours for the year. This is a great time to get a jump start on hours and contribute to a successful start to the school year!

We understand that not all families will be able to attend and teachers will make the information available to all families via email.

Here is a partial list of the jobs that need attention:

Putting away school supplies
Weeding the front lawn area so it is ready for picnics and play
Weeding around the sage by the playground
Repairing the rock wall in Wessler's Circle
Helping clear the trail to the creek: PLEASE BRING ELECTRIC WEED WACKERS TO HELP - Meet the organizers of this task near the basketball courts.
Helping in classrooms to sharpen pencils, assemble folders, etc

The full list will be posted near the office.

All teachers will host CLASS MEETINGS on MONDAY, August 31, 2026. (see details below)

Students are welcome to play on the playground - we will have adults out there to supervise.

We are excited to see everyone on Monday - Have a wonderful weekend!

Please reach out if you have questions.

Note From Zoe about GARDENING HELP NEEDED MONDAY

Thanks for lending a hand! Here are some tasks we will be working on to help get our campus ready:

Food Forest: Weeding and general clean-up.
Food Forest: Do you have experience with pruning? We have some dead branches on fruit trees that need attention
School Greenhouse- Weeding around the Greenhouse.
Back Garden Gate and Fence- The back gate (the one facing N Main Street) on the garden needs some help. It is leaning over and taking the fence down too. If you have experience with building or repairs, we can use your help!
Repairing the wooden garden sign frame at the garden front gate.

There will be gloves, tools, and wheelbarrows out. Please check in at one of these areas and plan to spend at least 30 minutes helping out.

Class Meetings on August 31, 2026

The teachers are hopeful that most families will. be able to attend these meetings to meet the teachers, other families and get details about the year ahead.

If you are not able to come, the teachers will send a summary of the meeting (including all class expectations) via email.

Here is the schedule for the Class Meetings:

Debut (Kindergarten) .............. Open House - Please see the email from Kouba with suggested times to visit so everyone has a chance to meet quietly with Kouba.

Otters (1st Grade) ............................. 9:00 - 9:30 (Room 1)

Stellar Jays (2nd Grade) ................... 9:00 - 9:30. (Room 2B)

Acorns (3rd Grade)............................ 10:00-10:30 (Family Room)

Rainbows (4th Grade) .........................9:30 - 10:00 (Room 7/8)

Green Herons (5th Grade)...................9:30 - 10:00 (Room 7/8)

Salamanders (6th Grade) .... .............10:00 - 10:30 (Room 5)

Chickadees (7th Grade) .....................10:30 - 11:00 (Barn)

Meadowlarks (8th Grade) ..... .............10:30 - 11:00 (Barn)

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

August 31...............Family Workday and Class Meetings (9:00 - 11:30)

September 1.......... First day of Fall Classes

September 7 .......... No Classes - Labor Day

September 9 ..........Barn Coffee- Come & Visit & Ask Questions - 8:30 AM

September 29 ........ Welcome Back Family Bar B Que - 5:30 PM

Family Calendar

Here is a calendar of the events planned for the 2026 - 27 school year.

Family Calendar 2026-27

Barn Coffee - September 9, 2026 @ 8:30 AM

Both new and returning families are invited to come to the barn for coffee or tea and take some time to talk with other parents. Bring your questions, meet new friends and find out more about the Willow Wind community. Stop by to catch up with friends and share your experience and wisdom with new families.

This event is sponsored by the Willow Wind Community Association (WWCA) This group meets monthly to support Willow Wind by raising funds and promoting community events. Please consider joining the WWCA - they are looking for some new members.

2026 - 2027 Supply Lists and Suggested Fees

You can find the supply list for this year below. All supplies for students in grades K-5 (other than personal items) are pooled for community use. Please bring your supplies to the front office or your classroom. We will sort them and put them in the supply room to be used throughout the year.

Families with students in grades 6-8 are asked to bring individual supplies this year. Please make sure your child has the items on the list at the link below. They will be bringing their own supplies to class each day

We are also requesting a project/art supply fee for each student. For full time students, this fee is $30.00, for part time students, it is $15.00. The fee can be paid online or in person with Dannette. These fees are used to support the cost of the materials used in projects and art classes.

If your family wants to purchase a Yearbook, we request a $5.00 fee towards the cost of this publication. The WWCA has generously covered the additional cost of the books.

All students are welcome to register for classes and receive a yearbook regardless of their ability to pay fees.

2026 - 2027 Supply List for K-5

2026-2027 Supply List for 6 - 8

Interested in Volunteering with students at Willow Wind?

We are excited to welcome volunteers for the upcoming school year! All volunteers working with students (helping in your child's class, chaperoning field trips, etc) must be cleared by the Ashland School District. This needs to be completed each school year.

Classroom teachers will reach out to families during the first month of school to share volunteer opportunities by class. We will also be reaching out about other Family Service opportunities on campus for events. Get your application in early so you are cleared and ready to go!

It often takes several weeks for the clearances to come through so PLEASE complete the VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION FORM EARLY. All volunteers must be cleared each year.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, including the application, please click here.

HUGE THANK YOU to our families who have already helped out this year........

A number of families have been busy helping out over the summer to make our campus beautiful and ready for the students to return.

Thank you to our "early bird" volunteers!

Russell Hatch, Lee Sanderson, Jack Olsen, Jason Eaton & Clint Caffee worked to construct the new pergola and paved surface.
Shanann Higgins & Amy Snyder put a fresh coat of paint and repaired the spindles on the gazebo
Jack Olsen assembled the new furniture for the pergola area.

You hard work is greatly appreciated!

Family Service Information

To ensure the success of Willow Wind the energy of all families is needed to provide a thriving program in a well-cared-for environment. Parent involvement and participation help enrich the student’s experience by building community and providing a bridge between home and Willow Wind.

Willow Wind asks all families of enrolled students, home school, part-time and full-time, to fulfill a total of sixteen hours of family service (volunteerism) per year.

When your family registered for classes, you also completed a Family Service Form with your preferences for jobs. You will receive an email with information about the family service jobs you expressed interest in.

If you offered to help with an event or festival, you will receive information right before the event with volunteer options.
Zoe will be contacting everyone who volunteered to help with gardening and Homegrown Lunch.
Teachers will be contacting people who volunteered to help in the classroom.

Please make sure you submit your Volunteer Forms (see above article) SOON. The process for approval can take time and applying early will ensure you are cleared when opportunities arise.

You are welcome to start helping out at anytime. Just record your hours in the binder that is in the foyer of the main office. Please reach out with questions. Your volunteer hours help support Willow Wind and all of the learning that takes place here.

Willow Wind Community Association (WWCA)

The WWCA is like a PTO for Willow Wind. They are a non profit entity made up of volunteer parents who work to support Willow Wind with community building and fund raising. They meet monthly. Please consider joining the WWCA - they are looking for some new members. If you are interested in finding out more, or volunteering, please contact Russell Hatch (President, WWCA) Russellhatch@gmail.com or Debbie Pew debra.schaefferpew@ashland.k12.or.us

BUS AVAILABLE TO AFTER SCHOOL CARE

Willow Wind students who go to the YMCA or Creative Connections after school are able to ride the bus! We have arranged to have the bus swing by and pick up the students.

Willow Wind will provide supervision for the students until 3:00 pm when the bus will arrive.

STUDENTS MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED AT THE YMCA OR CREATIVE CONNECTIONS.

The Transportation Supervisor receives lists from these organizations and can only transport students who are on the list.

Please let me know if you have questions!

Upper School Athletes Participating in Sports at AMS

Upper School students who are planning to participate in Fall Sports at AMS will need to stay on campus at Willow Wind until 3:00 so they do not arrive on the AMS campus too early. Please notify Dannette that your child is on of the participants by email her at: dannette.catropa@ashland.k12.or.us. All students staying for sports will check in with Stacy at 2:30 and she will supervise the group until it is time for them to walk to AMS.

Reminder - No Dogs On Campus

Please remember that Ashland School District policy prohibits dogs from being on campus at all times. Please leave your dogs at home or in the car if you are coming to Willow Wind. Thanks!

Willow Wind

Email: debra.schaefferpew@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/o/wwclc
Location: 1497 East Main Street, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 488-2684
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Willow-Wind-Community-Learning-Center-100146758840089