Dates to Remember
September 2 - Labor Day

September 3 - First Day of School 1-8

September 4 - First Day of School K

September 13 -- K-3 Assessment Day
 
September 9-20 - MAP Testing Grades 3-8


Mountain Song Starts 
September 3rd and 4th
On behalf of all the teachers, the MSCS Executive Leadership Team, and the MSCS Board of Directors, we warmly welcome you to the 2019-2020 School Year! Grades 1-8 begin on Tuesday, September 3rd, and Kindergarten starts Wednesday, September 4th. If you have not completed and turned in your registration paperwork, please do so immediately (see the links below). If you have questions about the listed materials, please contact Sarah Kreger at swhite@mountainsongschool.com or (719) 203-6364.

We ask that you please drive safely around the school, and drop-off and pick-up with care for our children and community. I can’t wait to greet everyone with that first “Good Morning” of the year. We so look forward to seeing your children soon!

Dr. Teresa Woods, Principal


SY 2019-20 Forms for All New and Returning Students: 

Supply Fees   (not for homeschool students)

Medical Records  :
Immunization Records  *  (please contact the front desk for medical or non-medical exemption forms to be signed yearly)
If your child has any medical needs or takes medication at school, please contact our school nurse, Kimberly Nowland, at knowland@mountainsongschool.com  .

For  returning  families, we request that you sign our revised Parent Agreement Letters. The revised letters are below: 

Additional Information:  2019-2020 Parent Handbook

This Year’s Daily Schedule & Calendar
The 2019-2020 Mountain Song Community School daily schedule is below as well as a link to a printable (PDF). In the mornings, doors will open at 8:00 a.m., school will start at 8:15 a.m., and students will be tardy after 8:15 a.m. Please note that the time school starts and the time after which students are tardy will be the same. School will start 15 minutes later than last year, with dismissal in the afternoon also being 15 minutes later.
New Aftercare Provider: Innovation Learning
We are happy to announce our new relationship with the aftercare provider, Innovation Learning. Based on our research of various programs, we feel that Innovation Learning will be able to provide an after-school program that closely aligns with our Waldorf approach while at the same time bringing competitive pricing for you. 

Please see flyer below for information on their program and how to register.

The MSCS Executive Leadership Team
Shoe Requirements for
Agricultural Arts and Games/Movement
Closed toed shoes (preferably waterproof) will be required for all students during Ag Arts. Closed toed shoes that are comfortable to move, jump, and play in will be required for all students during Games and Movement.  

Please talk with your student's classroom teacher about the days your child will be participating in Ag Arts and in Games/Movement. Also consider donating any shoes your child has outgrown to our programs so that we can begin building a stock of shoes for others to use.

Help Us Spread the Word
We have 2019-2020 enrollment opportunities still available for 6th, 7th & 8th Grades.
It's Time To Run!!
The Landsharks Running Club is an after-school running club for students in grades Kindergarten through 6th. Practice times will be 3-4pm Monday and Friday starting September 9th. Practices consist of running games and workouts with a strong focus on fun. Races are held on Sunday afternoons at the Bear Creek Park. Kindergarten and 1st grade race distances are either .5 miles or 1 mile. The 2nd - 6th grade race distances are either 1 mile or 1.5 miles. Race dates are Sept. 22nd, 29th, and Oct 6th. Cost is $60 - Financial Aid is available through Landsharks. Register online at www.Landsharksrunningclub.com . All participants must be registered prior to their first practice. I look forward to seeing our Mountain Song students.  

-- Mr. Dan Kurschner

Congratulations

Sarah White is now Sarah Kreger

Ms. Sarah White, Mountain Song’s Director of School Performance, married Mr. Greg Kreger this summer, and she is now happily known as Mrs. Sarah Kreger. Our most joyous congratulations to the wonderful couple!

Screens and Children
Teresa M. Woods, Ph.D.

Please be mindful of the Mountain Song Media Policy (see Parent Handbook) that is based on the strong body of evidence demonstrating that screen time for children disrupts normal and healthy brain development, as well as negatively impacting social, emotional, and motor skill development.  

Brain development and functioning in children and adults are inextricably connected to environmental stimuli. When we are on screens, our brains function differently. Do you know that “Gaming Disorder” is now on the WHO list of diseases? New studies and documentaries have highlighted the risks of screentime to neurological and social-emotional regulation. Please help engage your children in activities that are healthy for their development, and avoid those that are harmful. We as adults also need to check the amount of time we spend on our own screens, too. Our children need our full-face attention.  

Celebrating 100 Years of Waldorf Education
One hundred years after the first Waldorf School was founded in Stuttgart, Germany in September 1919, over 1,000 Waldorf schools thrive today throughout the world in nearly 90 countries. While many Waldorf schools in the United States are private, Mountain Song Community School is among the growing number of public Waldorf charter schools. As such, Mountain Song belongs to the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education .

Click here if you would like to learn more about this worldwide movement and the 100 year celebrations of Waldorf education. And below, enjoy one of the videos created for this special year, to highlight some of the cultural challenges Waldorf educators meet in different countries.

Notes from the Farm
The Farm is in Need of Volunteers over the summer months! This is a very integral part of our school, so please consider using some of your volunteer hours to keep The Farm up and running. Children are more than welcome to help and encouraged to participate. Links are now live for signing up for Fall/Winter and Winter/Spring volunteer hours. See below:
Songbird Contributions
Article or announcement contributions must be submitted to Dr. Woods by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for inclusion in each week’s Songbird newsletter, typically distributed on Fridays. ( twoods@mountainsongschool.com )
We Need Your Help
As a public charter school, Mountain Song Community School is proud to provide quality Waldorf education at no cost.  Yet the funds we receive as a charter school are less than what a typical Colorado public school receives.

At the same time, we are responsible for additional expenses, such as our facilities and maintenance costs.  The expenses associated with the building lease, instructional and learning materials, staffing, special programs, and field trips continue to increase each year. In order to provide the valuable programming that makes Waldorf education exceptional, we rely on community donations to reach our annual fundraising goals. Please consider signing up for a small monthly recurring contribution today.
Mountain Song Community School | 2904 West Kiowa St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904