Mountain Song has been buzzing these last months with summer camps ranging in topics from nature immersion, cooking and baking, skill building, gardening, and more. As they come to a close, we now turn our attention to starting the 2021-22 school year, which we are all so excited and hopeful for!
I am optimistic this will be a somewhat normal year, despite the COVID-19 challenges. We are prioritizing in-person learning for our traditional programs, and we also now offer an online homeschool option that includes parent coaching. Please contact Sarah Kreger (skreger@mountainsongschool.org) and see our webpage for enrollment information. And check out our media stories below about homeschooling at Mountain Song!
We’re including many other updates below, and more information will be sent in the coming days as we gear up for a new school year.
From my heart, I ask that everyone please be careful regarding COVID spread. We will still need to follow isolation and quarantine restrictions, and so we hope that community spread is minimal. It is so important that students enrolled for in-person learning stay in-person. Thank you for your care.
We look forward to seeing you soon for a rich and healthy school year!
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Teresa Woods, Ph.D.
Executive Director
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School Building Closed
Monday, August 9th
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Due to the power being shut off for routine maintenance, the school building will be closed next Monday, August 9th. Thank you for your understanding. |
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Back to School Nights
August 18th and 19th
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Please mark your calendars for the following Back to School Nights:
- Wednesday, August 18th, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. -- Kindergarten and Homeschool
- Thursday, August 19th, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. -- Grades 1-8
We are still working out the details of how much will be in-person given that we are trying to minimize large crowds. Thank you for your patience as we work out those details, which will be coming soon.
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2021-2022 Calendar and Schedule |
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Please find the 2021-2022 school calendars and daily schedule for grades 1-8 at the links below. Start dates for school are:
Wednesday, August 25th -- Grades 1-8
Thursday, August 26th -- Kindergarten
Week of August 30th -- Homeschool
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Earlier this week, we sent a letter to families with updates that included COVID protocols at school. If you missed it, you can access it here at the link below.
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Welcome 2nd Grade Teachers! |
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We are delighted to share that we have hired our two second grade teachers! Please help me welcome Ms. Madalynne Pritchard as the Linden Class Teacher, and Mrs. Elizabeth Longfield as the Catalpa Class Teacher. |
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Ms. Madalynne Pritchard (Linden Class Teacher) has taught in Montessori schools since 2016, and is drawn to Waldorf education for its arts-integrated curriculum, hands-on learning, intentional development of the imagination, and cultivation of community in the classroom. Madalynne holds a B.A. in Theater from UCCS and Elementary Education Praxis qualifications. She comes to elementary teaching highly recommended by those who have worked with her. She brings her joyful relationship-building skills to the classroom, holding academic focus and creativity in her teaching style, while leveraging her warm classroom management skills. |
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Mrs. Elizabeth Longfield (Catalpa Class Teacher) has taught in elementary schools in the region since 2004 and has a breadth of experience working compassionately with diverse children of all ages. She brings strong relational skills, social-emotional learning strengths, and also challenges students academically at their appropriate levels. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and comes highly recommended as a positive, energetic, and collaborative teacher with a passion for serving with excellence. She recently taught first grade online during the pandemic, and impressed others by building warm and strong relationships even in the remote environment. She has experience working as a reading specialist, a special education paraprofessional, as well as an elementary teacher.
It is gratifying that such warm, intelligent, creative, and compassionate teachers have joined Mountain Song to carry the second grade classes forward. Please join us in warmly welcoming and supporting them - they are very happy to be with our school and working with Waldorf education.
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K-5 Social-Emotional Health Grant Award |
We recently learned that Mountain Song is one of eight schools in the state to be awarded a 3-year grant by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to focus on K-5 social-emotional health! This is such welcome news, and it will provide an infusion of resources to support an additional mental health provider and programming at Mountain Song to help our students thrive. This has never been more important as we know the pandemic has created so much stress and anxiety.
We are deeply grateful to the Colorado State Legislature for creating this program, and to CDE for their tireless efforts in implementing the program. You will hear more about the award and our efforts as we put the pieces in place.
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In the News with Homeschooling! |
Mountain Song’s homeschool programs have been featured recently in our local news.
Homeschool teacher Ms. Claudia Martin shared with FOX21 news audiences the value of homeschooling yesterday morning. Take a look:
Also, new homeschool teacher Mrs. Shannon Lang shared insights about recent homeschool trends in CS Kids Magazine, which you can find on page 19 at this link:
Thanks go to Ms. Lauren Ferrara, who helps keep Mountain Song a good news story in our broader community, including in the above features. She also shared her expertise with other non-profits in her Indy Give! class yesterday, “Making the Most of Your Media Exposure.” We are so fortunate to have her shining a light on our beautiful school!
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Seeking Matching Grants for Indy Give! Campaign |
From November 1st thru December 31 st , Mountain Song will participate in Indy Give!
During this community-wide philanthropic effort, we’ll raise funding to renovate our new building. Right now, we’re looking for individuals and businesses willing to step up and offer a matching grant to attract donors and increase the impact of each and every gift. Those who offer a matching grant will be recognized on the Give! website, in the Songbird, and on all Mountain Song social media. If you are interested in committing to a matching grant for this effort, please contact Lauren Ferrara at lferrara@mountainsongschool.com.
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We are sad to report that this week we received the resignation of Ms. Brandy Robinson, Handwork Teacher. We were aware that she would not be with Mountain Song after its move to a new site, and she has now accepted another position.
Ms. Robinson has been a deep strength to Mountain Song in her incredible devotion to the students in nurturing their skills and creativity in Handwork. She has also poured herself into the work with our seasonal festivals and community life. Those who have had the joy of interacting with her know the care and attention she gives to small details that might go unnoticed, but that make the difference between an ordinary situation and an extraordinary one. Her magical touch truly elevates beauty and richness.
We wish you all the best in your next steps, Ms. Robinson, and we will miss you very much!
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Mountain Song Community School | 2904 West Kiowa St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 |
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Looking for past issues of the Songbird or to sign up new recipients click here.
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