The Tuesday Notice

History and Vision Night was truly a special time to gather and listen to the stories shared by our founding families (thank you Karen O'Dougherty), alumni (thank you Ainsley Gibbs), and current parents and teachers. Your presence, curiosity, and care for our school community help keep these stories alive and carry our vision forward. Here's the our school's next 20 years!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for History and Vision Night last week! It was such a meaningful time to come together, connect, and hear heartfelt stories from founding parents, alumni students, board members, and current faculty about how the Siskiyou School has enriched our community.

Our Annual Giving total has grown with donations both large and small bringing us within $25,000 of our goal! With 45% of our families still yet to contribute, I’m confident that, through our collective effort, we can reach this goal together.

We are striving for 100% participation from all families. This not only strengthens our eligibility for grants but also ensures the continued vitality of our school. For those who haven’t yet had the opportunity to give, I encourage you to use this campaign as a moment to reflect on what this community means to your family. Every contribution—no matter the size—brings us closer to our goal and supports the exceptional education we are committed to providing. Thank you for being part of this important effort!

Katherine

This 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, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for our community, 6:30 pm

Fri, Jan 30: Raven Class Play, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for our school, 8:45 am

Next Week

Thurs, Feb 5: NO SCHOOL - First Semester Conferences (sign up below)

Thurs, Feb 5: Conference Camp

Fri, Feb 6: NO SCHOOL - First Semester Conferences (sign up below)

Fri, Feb 5: Conference Camp

Looking Ahead

Tues, Feb 10: Family Enrichment Evening: From Wonder to Wisdom: The Middle School Years at The Siskiyou School, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

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

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 below.

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.

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 THIS Wednesday at 6:00.

Save the date! Join us in Pine Hall on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 for an Enrichment Evening with Christine Benson and our middle school teachers to learn about how Waldorf education meets the needs of middle school child. More to come!

The Star Class came back from winter break ready to dive into our new block: Helpers of Humanity. The learning has been so rich and filled with stories of incredible humans who have made a difference in their lives and have helped humankind. Saint Francis, Wangari Maathai, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller and Louis Braille. We touched braille in books and even found it on our bathroom signs at school! Jesse, a friend of Kelle Lovett’s, who is deaf and helps students all over the Valley as a school counselor, visited our classroom and shared about his experience from early childhood on. Kelle taught us ASL and we are practicing it now every day. At this moment we are learning about Jane Goodall and her encouragement of all of us to make a difference for our Planet Earth. We are busy reading, spelling, drawing, painting and learning how to be helpful to others in our classroom. We look forward to seeing our Buddie’s play, the 7th grade play, this Friday. We hope everyone is well and we sending sparkling, bright star greetings to All!

~ Mrs. McNamara

Step Inside the World of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Dear Siskiyou Community,

The Raven class is thrilled to invite you to their upcoming performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this Thursday evening at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm)! This play is truly a treat for the whole family. It is filled with wild twists of fate, colorful characters, and a very happy ending for one very deserving young dreamer. The students have poured their hearts into this production, memorizing lines, mastering their blocking, and bringing their characters fully to life. There’s even a surprise new character in this year’s show, but you’ll have to come on Thursday night to find out who it is!

Behind the scenes, our incredible parent and student volunteers have worked wonders with set design, costuming, and creative details that will transport you straight into Willy Wonka’s whimsical world. Their collaboration and craftsmanship have been inspiring to watch, and the classroom buzzes daily with excitement and laughter as we prepare to share this story with you.

In addition to preparing for the play, the Ravens have also been hard at work on their independent studies of European countries. Each student has been learning to research using reliable sources, design creative Google Slides, and develop confident presentation skills. This study encourages curiosity, independence, and pride in their learning, all qualities that shine through in everything they do.

We hope you’ll join us Thursday evening for a magical performance that celebrates imagination, teamwork, and joy. You won’t want to miss it!

~ Ms. Chlebowski

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.

Chrysalis is a performance concert by local company TANDEM DANCE - their fourth original show. It features 12 highly trained dancers, executing choreography in a style that blends contemporary, modern, ballet and jazz elements. The company is characterized by grounded, athletic movement and intricate partnering, and aims to represent high-caliber dance in the Rogue Valley.

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The theme of the concert is emergence from the cocoon of struggle into the blossoming of life. With themes of water throughout the show, and the use of several unique props, the story is a mesmerizing journey of death, rebirth, and patiently becoming one's true nature.

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The evening begins at 6pm at the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall, and will run to approximately 7:30pm with a brief intermission halfway through.

Doors will open at 5:30pm. Children are welcome! There is no ticket price for children, but donations are welcome at the door.

Tickets at tandemdance.org

Songwriters and storytellers, Annie Macleod (mom of Georgia in 6th and Wilder in 1st) and Maggie McGovern (mom of Odin in 5th and Jack in 1st), perform February 6 & 7 at White Rabbit in the plaza.

Event description: Artist-Mother returns with an intimate, powerful show celebrating transformation, truth-telling, and fierce creativity. After the last Artist-Mother events sold out and received standing ovations both nights, we’re thrilled to welcome back the same spellbinding headliner, Artist-Mother Annie Macleod. Through raw storytelling woven with original songs that underpin each story, Annie shares honest reflections on womanhood and becoming. Opening the night is Maggie McGovern—an Artist-Mother whose stories and songs invite courage, humor, and heart. This show is for those craving art that mirrors real life and deep feeling. Come be moved, seen, and inspired in a community of those who create, question, and transform together.

Join us!

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

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