Upcoming Dates to Remember |
March 2
MSCS Board Meeting 6pm
March 4 and 5
Vision and Hearing Screenings
March 9
PC Health & Wellness/Hospitality
Committee 4pm
March 10
PC Festivals Committee 4pm
March 14
Daylight Savings Time Starts
March 15
MSCS School Accountability Committee 6pm
March 18
Parent Council Meeting 4pm
March 19
Half-Day Kindergarten
March 22-26
Spring Break
March 23
Futures Committee 3:30pm
March 29
Grades 5-8 Begin “Remote Mondays” for In-Person Schedule
Grades K-4 Resume In-Person
March 30
Grades 5-8 Return to In-Person
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Thank you for your flexibility this week in rolling with the road construction and weather challenges! In responding to the surrounding roads being blocked off, we found the drop-off at curbside to be particularly smooth, and so we will continue that protocol. Pick-up after school will revert to our previous practice of meeting your children on the playground so that parents and teachers have the chance to connect. See more information below.
We are currently working out the details of bringing our older grades to In-Person Learning. If you have a student in grades 5-8, please be sure to let your class teacher know your choice of In-Person Learning or Remote Learning. This informs us of how we need to structure the learning environments.
Finally, we recognize that it’s been a year that we have been dealing with the COVID pandemic. It truly lifts my spirits to realize that we seem to be on the upside of this crisis. Last spring we faced the end of the school year with many cancelled events. This spring, we are cautiously looking toward being able to do more and more in person. I say cautiously, because we all still need to do our parts to contain the spread of this virus. I have such confidence in our mutual efforts to do so. And so as the sun lingers a bit more each day in this spring season, I also feel the inner warmth and light growing as we get this pandemic under control. Thank you so much for your efforts to keep our community safe.
Blessings,
❤
Dr. Teresa Woods
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Volunteers (Greatly) Needed:
Vision and Hearing Screenings
March 4 and 5
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CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Mountain Song's eyes and ears need you!
We need 4 - 5 volunteers to help conduct hearing and vision screenings under the guidance of our school nurse, Kimberly Nowland, next Thursday and Friday, March 4th and 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Ms. Nowland will train all volunteers on Thursday, March 4th, so please do not hesitate if you've never done this type of volunteering before.
Please email Katherine DeLeon (kdeleon@mountainsongschool.com), or leave a message on the attendance line (719-203-6364, option 1) if you are able to help.
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Drop-Off and Pick-Up Routine |
The recent road closures on W. Kiowa and W. Bijou resulted in a different routine this week. We are asking that families continue to follow this new routine for drop off only for the month of March. Please drop off students on the eastside of the school (29th Street). Here's how you can help:
1. Give yourself extra time!
2. Plan to drop off on 29th Street (between W. Kiowa and W. Bijou) - no need to park.
3. Travel north to south on 29th Street from Platte Ave or Uintah Street heading toward Colorado Avenue to drop students off. (See linked map)
4. Do not attempt to drive either in front of the school or behind the school from 7:50 to 8:30. If you need to come into the school please wait until the drop off is over.
5. Parents can resume picking up students in their designated areas by teacher. We will not continue the drive-by pick up lane to allow teachers to touch base with parents when necessary.
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Inclement Weather and School Closures |
With our recent winter weather experiences, we want to inform you how we make inclement weather decisions, and specific adjustments this year.
While Mountain Song is not a District 11 school, it does reside in School District 11.
We generally observe D11’s closure and delayed start schedule for inclement weather during our school calendar days that coincide with D-11, with the following exceptions.
- For days that Mountain Song is in session and D-11 is not, the decision will be made by the School’s Executive Leadership Team.
- This year, we also have a Remote Learning option, and we may call a Remote Learning Day instead of a snow day in order to limit the number of days we might need to add to the calendar if too many school cancellation days occur. Our decision about Remote Learning may not coincide with D-11’s decision. Since the state requires more instruction time for middle school students than for elementary students, we may make different decisions for each level.
We notify families through our automated notification system, post notices on our website and social media, and alert local news stations.
We also recognize that weather in our region may vary widely, and that we have many families residing outside of the D-11 area. We encourage families to make wise decisions about coming to school based on safety. Such absences will be excused.
The Executive Leadership Team
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Mountain Song will start In-Person Learning for grades 5-8 four days per week (Tues - Fri) starting with “Remote Mondays” on March 29. The February 5th letter to families announcing the plan can be found here.
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We are very aware of the stress that Remote Learning places on families. To ease this stress, we are offering an in-person supervised day program for students in grades 5-8 while they continue in Remote Learning, led by Ms. Jessica Knedler, a licensed teacher on staff, here at Mountain Song. If you would like to participate in this in-person option until March 29th, please contact Dan Kurschner, dkurschner@mountainsongschool.com for more information.
We also know some families will prefer to stay in full Remote Learning after Spring Break. Please let your class teacher know your choice. We allow switching options in the first week. Otherwise:
- All students must stay in either In-Person Learning or Remote Learning.
- Any switch from one environment to the other requires approval from the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) as it may impact staffing.
In addition, if your child is sick or develops COVID symptoms for more than one day, we will also allow a switch to Remote Learning as long as the front office is notified by 3:30 p.m. the previous day. Before requesting this switch, please consider whether your child truly needs to rest rather than participate online if illness is evident.
Safety measures at school will continue to be in place, and include:
- Face-coverings
- Daily health pre-screenings
- Frequent handwashing
- Maintaining cohorts
- Enhanced cleaning
The Executive Leadership Team
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Materials for Remote students are available at the Main School Entrance for pick-up on Thursdays and Fridays from 12pm to 4pm.
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Please park on the street (not in the school parking lot) and walk to the Main Entrance doors.
- Ring the bell and let the staff member know you are here for Packet Pick-Up.
- The staff member will take the name of your child(ren) and classroom while you wait.
- Your student(s) supplies will be delivered to you at the front door.
Teachers will communicate directly with you about any supplies available for pick-up weekly.
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Parent Council Meeting Dates |
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The mission of the Parent Council is to facilitate parent involvement and to support teachers in preserving the vision of the school. Please support Mountain Song by joining one of these Parent Council committees.
Festivals Committee
Meets 2nd Wednesday each month at 4pm
Health and Wellness/Hospitality Committee
Meets 2nd Tuesday each month at 4pm
Parent Council
Meets 3rd Thursday each month at 4pm
All Parent Council committees seek volunteers. Remember, involvement in Parent Council committees satisfies volunteer requirements for Mountain Song! Please reach out to Cambria at pcchair@mountainsongschool.com if you are interested.
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Substitute Teacher Position(s) |
Mountain Song is looking for a few good substitute teachers. Ideal candidates will be available and able to teach either in-person and/or on-line. Previous classroom teaching experience is important. A Bachelor's degree is desired, but someone with an Associate’s degree and classroom experience could qualify. Pay is $125 per day.
Contact our Director of Operations,
Dan Kurschner at dkurschner@mountainsongschool.com or call 719-203-6364.
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Farm Volunteers Needed in March! |
Winter chores continue in the garden. We have March slots available for volunteers in the garden - including Spring Break! We need volunteers to help us keep our animals fed and their habitats clean and tidy. We have 2 bunnies, 4 chickens, and many fish that require our warmth and attention. In addition, we have some seedlings that need watering in the greenhouse.
This is a wonderful way for you and your family to engage with our school garden. If you haven't volunteered in the garden before, please contact Mr. Adam at awright@mountainsongschool.com so he can arrange a time for you to be trained.
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Road Construction Near School |
Please allow extra commute time to ensure students’ timely arrival to (and pick-up from) school. Road construction near the school may interfere with normal commute times. There are active Cone Zones on W. Colorado Ave. and N. 30th St.
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SPRING 2021 Donated CSA Shares for Families in Need |
Ahavah Community Initiative donates up to 30 free CSA memberships of local farm-fresh food to families in need. If you need assistance, or know someone who does, please apply to this wonderful program! Applications for Spring 2021 are now available. Donated share recipients remain anonymous. The Spring Season runs for 12 weeks in April - June, with the first share pick up being in April.
Application deadline is March 1st. Applicants will be notified no later than March 15th.
Click the application link below.
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Looking for ways to stretch your grocery dollars or learn about healthier menu options?
Cooking Matters is offering free Cooking Matters at Home online classes! Participants receive a FREE $10 gift card to the grocery store and a FREE workbook! This program is geared toward families in need, but anyone can participate in the classes and decline the gift card if it is not needed.
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If you are struggling to make ends meet, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you put food on the table. Even if you are also receiving assistance from food pantries and soup kitchens, you may still apply for SNAP.
Colorado Springs: (719) 434-5723
Pueblo (719) 418-4305
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Get Social with Mountain Song |
Please take a moment to follow, tag, and support our Instagram account @mountainsongschool! Encourage friends, family and community members to do the same!
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Article or announcement contributions must be submitted to Ms. Sŏnia Cruz by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for inclusion in each week’s Songbird newsletter, typically distributed on Fridays. (scruz@mountainsongschool.com)
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Mountain Song School Calendar |
Mark your calendar with these important Mountain Song Community School dates.
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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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