The Tuesday Notice

Xie Xie, Zhang Laoshi! As the first semester comes to a close at the end of this week, we are grateful to Zhang Laoshi for bringing Mandarin and Chinese culture to our lower grades. Zhang Laoshi will continue to be on campus leading reading groups, while Señora Diez will now bring Spanish to all grades as part of our world language program. This friday Zhang Laosi will bring a special assembly featuring a Chinese lion (seen here) and a play staring the 5th grade Otter Class.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Brittany for caring for our first graders during aftercare, and we look forward to Ms. Ariana bringing Games Class to our first grade students!

This Week

Thurs, Jan 22: History and Vision Night - Celebrate 20 years with us! 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Next Week

Mon, Jan 26: Second Semester begins

Wed, Jan 28: Evening Enrichment - Growing Up Online: A Parent Conversation led by Elizabeth Walsh, in Pine Hall, 6:00 pm

Thurs, Jan 29: Raven Class Play for our community, 6:30 pm

Fri, Jan 30: Raven Class Play for our school, 8:45 am

Looking Ahead

Fri, Feb 20: Grandparents' Day! Submit mailing addresses for a special invitation to sarah.collins@siskiyouschool.org

Registration due date extended until Friday, January 23!!

We’re excited to announce The Siskiyou School’s Conference Camp, a new childcare option available during our upcoming conference days on Thursday, February 5, and Friday, February 6.

Conference Camp will be led by our Kindergarten assistant teacher, Miss Eden, and will offer a fun, engaging program that includes music, crafts, and outdoor play. Camp is a full-day program, with hours on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Families may sign up for one or both days. The cost is $80 for Thursday and $50 for Friday, $130 for both days. Children must be registered for Conference Camp in advance using the link below.

For families who need care only during their scheduled conference times, we will also offer a quiet, calm, supervised space for reading or coloring. Please note that this is a change from our previous childcare offerings, and no additional drop-in care will be available. Camp sign-up will be available on a “first come” basis, is limited, and due by Friday, January 23.

Thank you, and we look forward to supporting your family during conference days!

Hot lunch order forms for Second Semester are available now! Please download a form below or pick up forms from the front hallway table. We must have a completed form and payment in the office for your child to receive hot lunch. We have 40 students that are not signed up for second semester.

If you are unsure if your child is signed up to get hot lunch for next semester, please contact Amy in the office (amy.bull@siskiyouschool.org). Thank you for supporting our 8th grade trip!

Forms are due TOMORROW, Wednesday, January 21.

You are invited to join us for this year’s extra special upcoming History & Vision Night on Thursday, January 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by class meetings for every grade.

The Board and the Administrative team have been hard at work inviting alum parents, students, and teachers, and planning an engaging evening that will deepen our shared understanding of the school’s vision, plus recognize the sweet story and people that got us here. We hope every child is represented, as time together is an important part of strengthening our school and class communities!

If you are looking for childcare, we encourage you to connect with your student’s buddy. Many of our middle school students babysit and may be a good resource for your family.

History & Vision Night - Thursday, January 22

5:30 to 6:00 – Light Refreshments and Social Time

6:00 to 6:45 – History & Vision Presentation

7:00 to 8:00 – Class Meetings (or Recognition Reception for Alum parents, students, and teachers)

We truly hope you can join us for this special and meaningful evening!

Help support the 8th Grade with their fundraising for their end of the year trip, while at the same time warming the heart of a friend or a loved one. Forms are now available and orders will be available until Monday, February 10. The cost is $25 which includes a friend or loved one being serenaded to on Valentine’s Day and receiving a card and a bar of chocolate. This is an annual tradition for the 8th grade class and our community, and you can really make someone’s day!

Also available, online valentines! Send your out-of-town loved one a cheery greeting from the Forest class via email. The emailed valentine will include a music video of one of the students' favorite songs for a discounted price of $20! See the link below to order.

We're starting our Kindergarten and first grade enrollment process for the 2026-27 school year! Applications are coming in and we're signing families up for interviews! If you have a kindergarten student or know of a family that may be interested in our school, please be sure to contact Kristin at kristin.beers@siskiyouschool.org. The first step is returning an application for admission, available here. Thank you!

Please take a moment to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences by clicking the link HERE. The link will CLOSE on Tuesday, February 3 at 1:30pm and all subsequent changes must be made through the office.

• Click on the tabs at the bottom of the page to get to your class teacher’s page.
• After entering your information, click to another location to “save” your work.
• These times have been carefully chosen by the teachers, please do not alter them.
• If you cannot make the times available, please contact your teacher. Please note, make-up conferences are reserved for emergencies only. Two household families, please sign up for ONE conference time.
• If you need help signing up, please call or email the office.
• Upper grades math conferences are upon request of teacher or parents
• Parents are expected to be available on the designated Thursday or Friday rather than asking to schedule a conference on another day.

• OHANA FAMILIES: Please sign up for your conference in the highlighted times available. You will meet with both class teacher and Ohana teacher.

PLEASE REMEMBER drop-in childcare will be indoors for quiet reading or coloring. Conference Camp sign-up is open, see the post above.

Elizabeth Walsh is a parent, consultant, and former leader in data science and consumer insights.

This casual, parent-focused talk explores how today's digital platforms work and what that means for our kids' attention, identity, and online experiences. We'll cover:

• Why technology feels more addictive than it used to (what's actually happening behind the scenes with AI-curated feeds)
• Digital footprints and why they matter
• Your rights as a parent: a plain-English overview of COPPA and what you should know
• Resources and conversation starters for talking with your child about navigating the digital world
• A few simple tips on how to "train" your algorithm instead of letting it train you

The goal is to provide parents with practical insights and shared language so we can guide our kids toward healthier online habits. Elizabeth Walsh is a parent, consultant, and former leader in data science and consumer insights. She focuses on helping families understand the systems behind modern technology, from algorithms to digital identity, so they can make thoughtful, informed choices at home. Join us in Pine Hall next Wednesday at 6:00.

It feels as if, as a class, we planted a tiny seed back in September, and over the past few months, that seed has sprouted and continues to grow strong and bright toward the sun. I am continually impressed by how much this class has grown in such a short time.

We have learned all of our letters, are diving into our math facts, and are developing a growing understanding of our four processes gnomes. Our handwriting, painting, form drawing, and block crayon work have all blossomed alongside us. In circle, we are practicing more partner dances and hand-clapping games, and I believe we have collectively perfected the art of jump roping!

I am delighted to watch our sprout continue to flower over the rest of the school year.

The Butterfly class returned from Winter Break ready to work and it has been so fun to see what their efforts can help them comprehend. We began our Business Math block with a survey of types of economies. The children were able to consider the complex process a society takes to transition from a self-sufficient, to barter economy, and eventually a become an economy that exchanges goods and services with money. They were able to bring practical reasoning to the advantages and disadvantages of each. We then considered the role of banking in our lives which led the class into solving equations for interest; given principle investment, interest rate, and time. These math problems test all the skills they have developed over their years of math study. While we study at school, the class is hard at work developing their own idea at home for our entrepreneur project.

Since we’ve been back in the new year, the class had their first middle school dance, and the first two weeks of Middle School Fridays have given them new opportunities to mix with the upper grades and to experience learning from new teachers.

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.

It's a New Year! Does your child need some extra academic support to build skills and confidence? Experienced Waldorf class teacher turned one-on-one tutor available for online tutoring and curriculum support for grades 1-8. Expertise includes math, reading, writing, and early intervention as well. Check out my website and feel free to reach out! catherinehdixon.com

ASHLAND CHILDREN'S THEATRE - has classes starting soon! Still some room in our improv classes.

Play time for grownups! That's right, it's not just for kids.

Take one, take both. Contact Eve at grimmgirl@gmail.com to hold a spot or if you have any questions.

Beginning Improv: Part 1
Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00pm
3 weeks: Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3
$60 // At the Peace House, 543 S. Mountain Ave, Ashland

This three-week workshop is a great introduction to the spontaneous thrill of improv. It will cover some of the basic concepts, as well as focusing on specific improv skills. You'll tap into your imagination and creative instincts in a safe, playful, and supportive environment. Students will learn improv games, as well as develop tools to create stories on stage. Laughter guaranteed.

Beginning Improv: Part 2

Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00pm
3 weeks: Feb. 17, 24, Mar. 3
$60 // At the Peace House, 543 S. Mountain Ave, Ashland

Another three weeks of fun! Moving deeper into skill building; character development, narrative structures, and defining your locations. Plus more games!

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