The Tuesday Notice

Dear Families,

Thank you all for the wonderful Welcome Night last week! It was so nice to see so many of you and spend that time together!

As we start the year, I want to thank you for helping us build strong attendance habits. Now that we’re in the third week of school, we want to gently underscore how much it matters for students to be present on-time at the start of the day. From Kindergarten through Grade 8, late arrivals disrupt the morning rhythm for the teacher and the class, and they don’t feel great for the child, either. We know getting out of the house can present different challenges for different families, but please create a pattern that enables you to have your child on campus at 8:10 (but not before) and by 8:20 so they have a calm five-minute transition before the 8:25 bell. A steady morning rhythm at home is one of the best gifts you can give your child for success at school now and all the way through high school!

Tardy policy at a glance:

• The morning bell rings at 8:25 which indicates the start of Main Lesson. Students need at least a few minutes to get out of the car, enter campus, and make their way to their classroom.
• Kinder–5th: email notifications begin at five tardies per semester and escalate with additional phone check-ins and meetings with teachers and administration for persistent patterns.
• Middle School (6th–8th): at five tardies families receive an email; the seventh tardy may trigger a lunch-recess detention with a parent acknowledgment form. Support meetings with teachers and administration to follow if the pattern continues.

The new 2025–26 Family Handbook (see “Tardy Policy,” p. 47) is available online and in the office; please give it a quick review so we’re all aligned.

We very much appreciate your attention to this and your help in supporting your child(ren) in this way.

Warmly,

Katherine Holden

Administrator

This Week

Mon, Sept 15 to Thurs, Sept 18: Class 8 Orientation Trip to the Oregon Coast

Mon, Sept. 15 to Fri, Sept 19: Picture Week with Bryon DeVore (see schedule below)

Tues, Sept 16: Board Meeting, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Wed, Sept 17: Middle School Wellness Program Informational Zoom Meeting, 6:30 pm (see details below)

Fri, Sept 19: Class 3 to Wandering Roots Farm (www.wanderingrootsfarm.com)

Fri, Sept 19: Class 4 to Crater Lake, 8:00 am

Sun, Sept 21: The Anxious Generation Book Group for Parents, Pine Hall, 6:00 pm

Next Week

Tues, Sept 23: Class 3 to Leonard Orchard, 8:45 am

Wed, Sept 24: Class 7 to Gonzalez-Neale Farm, 8:45 am

Thurs, Sept 25: Apple Crisp construction with Class 5 parents, time TBD

Fri, Sept 26: Michaelmas Harvest Festival, community potluck, and Class 2 play, 3:30 pm

Looking Ahead!

Mon, Sept 29: Class 4 to hike Table Rock, 8:45 am

Wed, Oct 1: Hot Lunch Burrito/Taco Wednesday Begins! (see details and form below)

Thurs, Oct 2: Hot Lunch Pizza Thursday Begins! (see details and form below)

Thurs, Oct 2: Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America to visit our Kindergarten program

Thank you for joining us for this important event heralding the changing of the seasons. A few reminders:

• Please note that this is a family event and PARENTS are responsible for their children, not the school staff. Please WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.
• When the park is closed after activities, the park gates will be shut and we will not go back to the park.
• Students are expected to adhere to all school rules and expected behaviors. No CELL PHONES please.
• Please dress nicely as we are conducting an assembly for our community. We love to see folks in bright fall colors to celebrate the season!
• Please bring your own plates and utensils for the potluck. We're hopeful for a zero waste event!

To run this beautiful festival, we need some extra hands! Please sign up on the sheet linked here to offer some help. If you're not sure of the task, ask Kristin at kristin.beers@siskiyouschool.org. Join the fun!

We're happy to have alum parent Bryon DeVore (www.bryondevore.com) take student and class photos for us this year. Please do all you can to ensure your child can join their class for their morning class photo. Please see the schedule here and mark your calendar.

• Monday, Sept. 15 - Classes 1 & 2
• Tuesday, Sept. 16 - Classes 4 & 6
• Wednesday, Sept. 17 - Classes 3 & 7
• Thursday, Sept. 18 - Kindergarten & Class 5
• Friday, Sept. 19 - Class 8

Please join us Wednesday, September 17, for an evening on Zoom about our developmental Wellness Program. The Wellness Program has become a very important part of the Siskiyou School curriculum, and this evening is an opportunity for you to learn more about it.

Under the umbrella of our Wellness Program, students in Grades 4th - 8th receive between four to eight Wellness Program classes each year. Different presenters, specialists in their field, come into the classrooms to talk to the students about specific topics and facilitate discussions with the classes around these subjects. The program was established in 2015 with the following goals:

• To support teachers in holding the social & emotional development of the children.
• To ensure that Siskiyou School students are given the tools and language to have conversations around their feelings and challenging topics.
• To ensure that Siskiyou School graduates have accurate information and appropriate guidance about range of “wellness” topics related to healthy relations, healthy choices & self-care, appropriate use of social media, sexuality and gender -- with all topics brought with developmentally appropriate sequencing and language.
• To ensure that the school has protocols and lines of communication in place to properly support students needing extra support socially and emotionally.
• To provide education for parents on issues adolescents in our community are facing and guidance for how to navigate these issues with their kids.

The Zoom link was emailed out to current parents on Monday, September 15.

Please see the link here to view the Family Handbook! It's full of great information about our school and community.

The handbook, our calendars, and lots of our important forms are online here: www.siskiyouschool.org/information-forms-for-parents-guardians

Clay Street is impacted significantly by our drop-off and pick-up times. Thank you for your patience and following instructions of our traffic team.

If you pick up siblings, please do come at the later time. A little later is ALWAYS better. If you come early we will have to have you circle Clay Street while you wait for the second child. Even if you're picking up one child, please be patient and flexible to circle Clay Street if the class is later getting out. We need to keep everything moving to ensure it stays open for our neighbors.

PLEASE USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS/BLINKERS! It's hard for us to see you in the car, to remember if you're picking up or driving by, or sometimes to see the driver at all! Your turn signal helps us understand and anticipate how the traffic will flow. For the safety of our traffic team and to help get you in and out more quickly, please use them at the entrance AND the exit.

Pedestrians & Bicyclists - Please wait at the crosswalks until you've been given the OK from the school traffic directors. We want to keep the traffic flowing as much as possible.

Please keep in mind we need to keep our neighbors happy. Park only in appropriate spots and keep your speed down to 20 mph. Thank you!

Our Blue Heron Class, 8th grade, is happy to announce the return of their hot lunch fundraiser! This year they are offering an two days of hot food. The program allows your child to receive a hot meal delivered by the 8th grade class directly to their classroom for either the rest of the school year or for the first semester. Second semester orders will be placed in January.

Forms are available to sign up for Taco/Burrito Wednesday and Pizza Thursday.

First Semester Hot lunches begins the first week of October.

As our hot lunch program is a fundraiser, we cannot offer refunds for days of student absences. Cancellations for the remainder of the semester can be made at any time if your child no longer is interested in the meal. Both a form and pre-payment for the semester or year must be received in the office for the lunch order to be placed.

Forms are due on Wednesday, September 24, and can be turned in at the table in the front hallway. If you have questions, email amy.bull@siskiyouschool.org. Thank you for supporting the 8th grade trip!

We are excited to offer some new Siskiyou School swag just in time for the fall!

T-shirts in red with a white logo will be for sale at at school events like Michaelmas! Shirts are $15 each, available in size child XS to adult XL. You may pay with cash, a check made out to the Siskiyou School or Venmo.

Sweatshirts in forest green and a white logo are available for preorder for $40 each, in sizes child XS to adult XL. Use THIS FORM to preorder sweatshirts by Friday, September 26th.

First grade is off to a joyful and harmonious start!

We have settled into a lovely daily rhythm, and the children are entering eagerly into both learning and play. Our year began with a form drawing block, where we discovered a “great secret” together: that all shapes in the world are made out of straight and curved lines. The children explored these forms through movement, drawing, and imagination which is laying a foundation for the writing and reading that is to come.

We are now in the midst of our first consonant block. Each letter of the alphabet unfolds through the pictures and wonder of a fairy tale. From the story, the letter arises like a hidden treasure revealed, and then the children deepen their experience of it through movement, art, and form. At last, the letter makes its way to the page, where sound and symbol come together.

It has been a delight to witness the children’s enthusiasm and their growing capacities as we step into this new year together.

~Ms. O'Connor

The Butterfly Class has had a wonderful start to their 6th grade year. After a half day start in which we met our 1st grade buddies, we set of to Lassen National Park with Tom Shelstad. There we were emersed in geologic features and bonding opportunities that have shaped the start of our year. We saw a cliff face bursting with water at Burney Falls. We witnessed the sulfur stench and boiling mud at Bumpass Hell. The whole class climbed the cinder cone volcano, from which we could see miles of silica lava beds and the painted dunes below. We experienced the total darkness provided by the subway cave and finished our trip with a tour of Shasta Caverns.

We began our Geology studies with a consideration of our firsthand experiences in Lassen, and now we are learning about the movement of earth, the creation of mountains and land, and how forces shape the rock and layers upon which we live our lives.

~Mr. Criswell

Contact Ms. Leann for more information at leann.joyce@siskiyouschool.org.

Our community classifieds are posted as a service to our Siskiyou School families and our broader community. If you would like to include something in the classifieds, email your text (a few lines in length) or an image file (png or jpg only), to kristin.beers@siskiyouschool.org no later than Monday by 3:00 pm. We may edit it for space purposes. Classifieds are included for two weeks, require a break for a week, and then can be renewed upon request.

The beginning of the school year is here! Does your child need some extra support? Experienced Waldorf class teacher available for virtual tutoring and curriculum support for grades 1-8 and highschool. Expertise includes math, reading, and writing. Check out my website and feel free to reach out.

catherinehdixon.com

Unlock Your Potential: Personal Training for Students (and parents!): Strength, Skill, and Brain-Body Connection—From the Classroom to the Playing Field

Body:

Are you ready to help students move better, perform stronger, and feel their best? I provide personalized training programs designed for students who want to:

• Prepare for Athletic Events: Improve strength, speed, agility, and endurance.
• Master Movement Skills & Core Activation: Learn proper body mechanics, balance, and posture while strengthening the core for stability and power.
• Enhance Brain-Body Coordination: Exercises that promote right-left brain activation, improving focus, coordination, and learning capacity.
• Build a Healthy Relationship with Exercise: Develop lifelong habits that support physical and mental well-being.
• Enhance Overall Wellness: Improve flexibility, posture, confidence, and functional independence.

Why Choose My Training:

• Professional Expertise: As a certified personal trainer with a background in physical therapy since 2004, I combine medical knowledge with functional fitness training.
• Tailored Programs: Every session is individualized to meet the student’s needs and goals.
• Fun & Engaging: Activities are interactive, safe, and designed to keep students motivated.
• Flexible Locations: Sessions available at school, local gyms, outdoors, or online.

I offer:

• Free “meet n greet”.
• Introductory assessments and simple action steps.
• Programs for individuals, small groups, family training, or team preparation.

Contact:

Michael Brown Trainer & Coach: 808-345-1121

Free piano - Wurlitzer spinet, needs tuning and cleaning, but has been good for beginners. Pick it up and it's yours.

Contact Stephen Bárczay Sloan
Mobile +1 (541) 286-5540

ssbarczay@gmail.com

Hello all, we’re a former Siskiyou School family & staff listing our Talent 5 bedroom, 2 bath home for rent, and are hoping to connect with a long term renter. It’s 2450 sq ft w pretty views and a lovely yard! We wanted to reach out to the school community to see if anyone is looking. Below is the link to the Zillow listing. We are offering an open house walk thru this Sunday 2-4 pm for people interested. Thank you! Chris & Tracy John

1323 Lithia Way
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/62655983_zpid/?view=public

The Resilient Youth Internship Program is a paid internship designed for youth ages 14-25 who are interested in hands-on, real-world learning. Interns gain practical skills in regenerative gardening, teamwork, leadership, and creative problem-solving, while contributing to community resilience. Guided by experienced mentors, participants explore projects that connect them more deeply with themselves, their peers, and the land.

The program runs for 6 weeks, Sept 15-Oct 24 for 2 hours, 2 days a week. This fall, interns will take part in outdoor building and painting projects, eco-arts activities, and team-based learning experiences. The program offers opportunities to work outdoors in all seasons (including light rain) while developing resilience, responsibility, and confidence. There are 3 spots left for the Fall session. Youth participants are compensated for their time with a $150 stipend, making this a supportive and rewarding learning experience. For details and registration visit: https://www.sunnyjlindley.com/internship_info_2025

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https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-enrich-starlight-meadows-curriculum

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