The Tuesday Notice

Today, thanks to the wonderful work of our Grants Committee, we received a generous check for $3,000 towards our Middle School science program from AgWest Farm Credit! This gift will help our Middle Schoolers dig into hands-on, real-world science, the kind of learning that sparks curiosity and sticks with them.

We're so grateful to AgWest Farm Credit for believing in local education, and to our Grants Committee for their tireless work finding opportunities like this one. As a non-profit, private school, we thrive when our broader community invests in our children, families, and school, and gifts like this remind us how much that support matters.

Know a business or organization that might want to support Siskiyou School? We'd love to hear from you. And remember, there are so many ways to give, from cans, to used office supplies, to a few hours helping out in our Kindergarten. Every bit helps us keep offering the kind of education that shapes curious, capable, grounded kids.

August 3 to 21: 9:00 - 3:00

August 24 to 28: 8:00 - 3:00

Mid-August: Back-to-school Letters sent to 2026-27 families

Fri, Aug 28: Family work party, help us spruce up the campus for the start of the school year!

Wed, Sept 2, to Fri, Sept 4: Kindergarten Cubby Days (sign up coming in Mid-Aug)

Thurs, Sept 3 & Fri, Sept 4: 1st Grade Cubby Days (sign up coming in Mid-Aug)

Thurs, Sept 3 & Fri, Sept 4: Optional Check-in Conference for 2nd through 8th Grades (sign ups coming in Mid-Aug)

Mon, Sept 7: No School - Labor Day

Tues, Sept 8: First day of the 2026-27 School Year!

Please find below a link to our 2026-27 School Events Calendar. Do note that not all trips and events are listed, and these dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope to see you on campus with us soon!

During our Siskiyou School Welcoming Days, our teachers meet one-on-one with children or parents to start the year off knowing them well and what challenges they might be facing. A link will be sent to sign up for meetings in the Back-to-School letter from the school in mid-August.

Cubby Days (Kindergarten & 1st Grade Classes): This is a time for children to greet their teacher, see the classroom, and get a quick walk-through of what the first day will be like. This calm and quiet time is an important step in preparing for a smooth first day.

Optional Check-ins (2nd through 8th Grade Classes): Time for those families who would like to meet for about 15 minutes. This is generally for a “summer update” on family and student developments.

When my family attended our first Waldorf Lantern Walk, we showed up with a gas camping lantern and flashlights. Surrounded by magical, wispy lanterns of tissue paper and glass, we knew we had landed in a strange new culture. It took some time, but we began to learn the pace and essence of Waldorf.

For families new to Waldorf education, The Siskiyou School highly recommends Jack Petrash's Understanding Waldorf Education. It's exactly what a family new to Waldorf education needs: a jargon-free, clearly written picture of the key components of Waldorf education, written by a teacher with more than 25 years of experience in the classroom. Mr. Petrash spent much of his career at the Washington Waldorf School in Maryland, taking three classes of children from first grade all the way through eighth, so the book speaks from lived classroom experience rather than abstract theory. He focuses especially on how children's learning experiences develop thought, feeling, and intentional, purposeful activity, giving parents a grounded, common sense way to understand why a Waldorf classroom looks and feels the way it does.

What makes this book such a good starting point is its accessibility. Rather than leaning on Anthroposophical terminology (say that three times fast!), Mr. Petrash translates Waldorf's philosophy into everyday language, making the "why" behind practices like handwork, movement, and storytelling feel intuitive rather than mysterious. As a warm, readable first doorway into understanding what your child's education will actually look like day to day, it's a lovely choice, and one I'm glad to put in front of our incoming families.

The school has 3 copies in the front hall. If you'd like to borrow one, just come in and sign one out. Thank you!

Our Blue Bag program takes your recyclable cans and bottles and turns them into books, projectors, and field trips for our school, a grateful thank you for all those families participating! Now, to build on this successful fundraiser, we're streamlining the program: just bring in your cans and bottles! No blue bagging required. Simply drop a plastic bag of recyclables off at the front of the school, and we'll take care of the rest.

If you'd like to keep using our QR coded blue bags, we'll have plenty on hand in the front hallway. We've raised thousands of dollars so far, and we're looking forward to many more!

Inspired by Mrs. Cooley's wonderful summer challenge chores for her 6th grade Otter Class, here are a few more ideas for building confidence and independence in your children, one small adventure at a time:

• Write and mail a real letter to a friend or grandparent, stamp and all
• Plan and cook a full meal for the family, from grocery list to table
• Learn to sew on a button or mend a small tear
• Ride a bike to a nearby destination solo (with a grown up's blessing)
• Call to make an appointment (dentist, library holds, whatever fits)
• Pack your own bag for a trip or outing, and remember everything
• Introduce yourself to a neighbor you don't know yet (with a grown up's blessing)
• Read a map (a real paper one!) and navigate somewhere new
• Do a load of laundry from collection off the floor to folded and put away
• Call your upper or lower grade class buddy using your parent's phone

These little challenges build real world confidence, and they make for great dinner table stories too. We would love to hear how our students take these on this summer!

Calling All Closet Cleaners! 🎨

As we gear up for a new school year, we're hoping to restock our art and office supplies, and we need your help! If you're doing any back-to-school tidying, please keep an eye out for:

• Art supplies (paints, brushes, paper, colored pencils, you name it)
• Office supplies (tape, staplers, folders, sticky notes, etc.)
• And especially those beautiful student watercolors that never quite made it to grandma's fridge! If you've got a stash of extras tucked in a drawer somewhere, we'd love to give them a second life in our school. We use them for so many things!

Looking for reading suggestions to keep your student engaged during the remainder of the summer? Look no further! The official Oregon Battle of the Books title lists for the 2026–27 season were announced a few months ago, giving families and readers a head start before the season kicks off this fall. Whether your student is a returning OBOB veteran or new to the competition, or even just looking for GREAT books, these titles are a great way to build reading habits, discover new favorites, and get a jump on next year's battles.

3rd-5th Division

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn

Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Frindle by Andrew Clements

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett *2026-27 Student Vote Winner

The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat

It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy

Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King

Snow and Rose by Emily Winfield Martin

The Witch Boy by Lee Knox Ostertag (formerly known as Molly Knox Ostertag)

6th-8th Division

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington

It’s All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango

The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day

Peak by Roland Smith *2026-27 Student Vote Winner!

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi and Shazleen Khan

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti

Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas

Wildfire by Breena Bard

Questions about OBOB or interested in participating? Contact Amy Bull, Office Manager, at amy.bull@siskiyouschool.org.

Our Sequoia Rose Kindergarten is looking for an ironing fairy! We have some nice clean crafting aprons that need a good press. If you'd like to help, please email Ms. Caterina to arrange for pick-up of the aprons at our school at caterina.cegin@siskiyouschool.org. Thank you!

The Siskiyou School is seeking a front desk receptionist to support our school the 2026-27 school year. This role is the welcoming face and organizational hub of our school, serving as the first point of contact for students, parents, staff, and visitors while keeping our daily operations running smoothly. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational skills, careful attention to detail, and a warm, professional presence to everything from phone calls and records management to event coordination and support for faculty and administration. We're looking for someone with prior office experience, ideally in a school setting, who is proficient with Google Drive and Microsoft Office, communicates clearly and confidently, and feels a genuine connection to the values of Waldorf education.

Receptionist Responsibilities

• Administrative Support:
• Serve as the initial point of contact for students, parents, staff, and visitors.
• Answer and direct phone calls, emails, and inquiries, providing information and assistance and directing to other staff as appropriate.
• Manage office supplies and inventory, ensuring adequate stock levels.
• Communication:
• Maintain clear and effective communication channels within the school community.
• Records Management:
• Maintain accurate student records, including attendance, cumulative report files, and field trip driver authorization.
• Handle confidential information with discretion and in compliance with school policies.
• Event and Hospitality Logistics:
• Assist with school events, meetings, and activities.
• Coordinate logistics for school assemblies, parent-teacher conferences, and other special events.
• Oversee the kitchen space for daily and event use.
• Support to Faculty and Staff:
• Provide administrative support to the school administrators, teachers, and staff.
• Assist with scheduling, meeting coordination, and preparation of materials.
• Facilitate communication between faculty, staff, families, and contractors.
• Compliance and Reporting:
• Follow school policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and submit reports as needed to the school administration and board.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in office management, preferably in an educational setting.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Google Drive and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• A commitment to the values and principles of Waldorf education.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.

Typical work hours are on school days 7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. with an earlier release on Fridays.

Benefits include health, dental, and vision, short- and long-term disability, a $2500 HRA, as well as tuition remission at the Siskiyou School beginning in the second year of employment. With some exceptions, time off largely mirrors the school calendar.

Annual Salary: $21,000 – $24,000 depending on experience and final work calendar.

To apply, please email Interim Administrator Kristin Beers at kristin.beers@siskiyouschool.org with a resume and a short letter of interest referencing any past experience that has prepared you for this position.

The Siskiyou School is seeking a 6th Grade Math Assistant to support the lead math teacher four days a week, approximately 4 hours total. This assistant will work with students who benefit from additional support, re-teaching, and help with work completion during math class.

The 6th grade curriculum includes ongoing work with fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, business math, measurement, geometry, data and graphs, number relationships, and practical problem-solving. The ideal candidate will bring patience, warmth, clarity, and the ability to support students with both skill development and confidence as they strengthen their mathematical thinking. Pay is based on previous teaching experience.

To apply, please email Interim Administrator Kristin Beers at kristin.beers@siskiyouschool.org with a short letter of interest referencing any past experience that has prepared you for this position.

We are delighted to share some wonderful news from our 6th grade Otter Class teacher, Mrs. Cooley, who graduated this summer from the Micha-el Institute after completing three years of Waldorf teacher training.

This achievement reflects not only her deep commitment to our students and to the craft of Waldorf education, but also strengthens our school as a whole. Each fully trained teacher on our faculty deepens the pedagogical foundation our families rely on, and helps ensure that the Waldorf approach is carried forward with skill and integrity in every classroom.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Cooley on this significant milestone. We are so fortunate to have her dedication and expertise here at Siskiyou School. Congratulations, Mrs. Cooley!

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 Rankin’s are moving out of state, and are looking to rehome their dog (Lucie) and two cats (Noel and Poppy). If you’re interested or know of anyone who may be interested please reach out to me at 907-717-5857 or zrankin09@gmail.com. To assist with rehoming, I can pay a generous rehoming fee.

Thank you! Zac

Hello! I’m Catherine and I provide virtual tutoring and educational support services to students across the country. I offer tutoring instruction in history, English, math, science, and French. Additionally, I provide students with homework support and work with them on study skills and time management strategies.

If your child needs a little support over the summer, I'm happy to help.

Visit: https://www.catherinehdixon.com/

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