Raven’s Call January Newsletter
Happy New Year to you all!
We hope you have been enjoying the crisp, sunny weather as much as we have. Our resident raven family is quiet this time of year, as is our calendar. On our daily walks, we’ve been savoring the stillness of this season and noticing the subtle hints of longer days returning.
We are thrilled to share that our End-of-Year Giving Campaign was a resounding success, surpassing our goal by an incredible 2950%! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors for their generosity, kindness, and unwavering support.
Every day, our school community inspires us through countless acts of giving—from random acts of kindness to supporting members in need, from engaged families invested in their children’s education to teachers who go above and beyond for their students. Whether it’s a kind voice at the office door asking, “Is there anything I can do to help?” or collaborative efforts across our community, we are reminded of the truth that it takes a village to raise and educate the leaders, creatives, and academics of tomorrow.
We have much to look forward to this year. Our new board is heading to Bend this weekend to collaborate with our consultant and his team on a new admissions, marketing, and communications plan. It is our hope that these efforts will enable us to serve more children in our area in meaningful ways.
The update that our students are the most excited about is our eggs hatched over winter break! We are participating in the Egg to Fry program with OFW. This year when they reach maturity we will get to release them on campus into Slab Creek!
Recently, we transitioned to a new communication platform called Give Butter. During this process, we manually transferred all contacts and did our best to ensure accuracy. However, we noticed that some hard copies did not clearly indicate newsletter subscription preferences. If you’d like to update your subscription, please use the link at the bottom of this email. You can also resubscribe by visiting our website.
Looking ahead, we have ambitious goals for 2025 and the 2025-26 school year. We can’t wait to share our progress and achievements with you as they unfold.
May this year be nourishing and inspiring for you and your children. Stay tuned for exciting updates from Neskowin Valley School!
With gratitude,
Kelsey Leatherman
Board Chair
Interim Executive Director
Upcoming Events
January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
January 17-19: Board Working Retreat
February 4: Student Reports go home
February 14 - 17: Presidents day 4 day weekend - NO SCHOOL
Spotlight on Learning
From our Trackers (preschool-prek):
Trackers have been soaking up the January sun! We read our bookmobile books in the Ravens Nest and had lunch picnics outside. We have been discussing social skills at carpet time. We are learning about shadows and Groundhogs Day, and we makde shadow art in the Great Room. Up next, we will be doing a unit on friendship and Valentine's Day! - Teacher Miss Annie (what her students like to call her)
From our Explorers (lower school):
The Explorers have been learning about human body systems. They have studied the digestive and circulatory systems so far and are looking forward to making a model of a heart as we move towards Valentine's Day! Weekly, they have an in class share out of what they appreciate about one another. They take turns sitting in the middle of the circle and having their peers tell them positive things they have noticed. It's heartwarming to see how much they love hearing good things from classmates. Being outdoors as the weather changes is wonderful. We have seen many animal tracks and are considering where we should put our trail cam. Most recently, we spotted bear tracks by Lewis Creek. We have increased out small motor skills by making jewelry. Ashley donated beads and Bridgette came to teach us how to make earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. - Rhonda
From our Upper School:
Upper schoolers are halfway through their math curriculums; they're studying the theory of evolution in science, reading sections of Darwin's On Natural Selection. We finished Sophocles' three-part tragedy and have begun reading The lliad in humanities. The two new electives are band and graphic design, which students chose by rank choice vote. We are working on our first piece repertoire in band; and in graphic design we area learning to make websites. Upper schoolers are also learning to rollerblade during our activities segment of the day, working to become confident enough skaters to play hockey on wheels. - Sam
Volunteer Opportunities
School Librarian:
Our school is seeking a dedicated volunteer librarian to support our library’s weekly/monthly operations. This role involves organizing and shelving books, assisting students in locating resources, and helping to maintain a welcoming and orderly learning environment. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about literacy, enjoys working with children, and has strong organizational skills. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our students' education and foster a love of reading within our school community. For all inquiries please email info@neskowinvalleyschool.com