Upcoming Dates to Remember |
April 12 - May 14
CMAS Testing Days
April 19
MSCS School Accountability Committee 6:00pm
April 20-21
School Picture Days
April 23
K-3 No School, Assessment Day
Grades 4-8 School In-Session
April 27
Futures Committee 3:30pm
April 29
May Day - In School Festival
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Having our grades 5-8 students back in person is a breath of fresh air! What a joyous week, with children from different classes waving to each other from across the playgrounds, and the school full again.
Plans are forming in the background to hold our in-person festivals and celebrations this spring. We are working closely with El Paso County Public Health to plan for the necessary safety measures due to COVID, which will likely include limited numbers of people, masks and social distancing. We will share details when we know more. But we are optimistic about being able to celebrate together, even if in a modified form!
I’ve had the distinct joy of seeing some amazing work that students have accomplished at home and here at school this week, and the colors in this photo reflect the richness I see. This rainbow panoply also simply reflects the lovely atmosphere and interactions the children, families, teachers, and staff create as part of this beautiful Waldorf-inspired public school. Thank you for all you do to support your students and the school community!
Blessings,
❤
Dr. Teresa Woods
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We are delighted to see our 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th graders back in-person as well as their amazing teachers who have so magically brought the Waldorf way into your homes these past many months.
We are so grateful for all these students, their families and our teachers!
Explore Mountain Song on social media!
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Ms. Gina brought a teapot full of delicious hibiscus tea to the playground to help the Kindergarten Littles warm up this week. It brought them great joy!
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As a public Waldorf-inspired school, we are committed to fostering a culture of healthy relationships. Our four main expectations reiterated throughout the school are shown here. We remind students of these at school, supporting their actions toward themselves and others that emulate these commitments. These simple principles help us have common language when talking to students of all ages. Thank you for your support in cultivating a safe, kind, and caring environment at Mountain Song!
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Internal May Day Festival
(In-School)
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Mountain Song students are practicing and preparing to bring sunshine and joy to our school for the annual May Day (In-School) Festival on April 29th. May Day is celebrated in many Waldorf schools with May Pole dances performed by each grade. We are currently working with El Paso County Public Health for guidance about conducting a safe in-school festival, and more details will be forthcoming. We are overjoyed to be bringing back, even in modified form, our in-person festivals that celebrate seasonal changes through art, music, story, and crafts. |
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School Picture Days
April 20-21, 2021
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Colleen Harvey Photography is scheduled to take student pictures outside in the school garden on April 20-21, 2021. Please mark your calendars!
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We Will Miss You, Baby Bunny |
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Our beloved “Baby” bunny passed away shortly before Spring Break. This week, our students made goodbye posters that will be displayed in the bunny barn as a way to remember Baby. Our other bunny, Luna, is very happy that all of her human friends have returned to keep her company! |
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Grades 3-8 CMAS State Assessments
April 12 - May 14
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Like all Colorado public schools, Mountain Song has a mandate to assess annual academic progress of students in grades 3-8 through the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments. Because of the pandemic, the state has extended the testing window for CMAS this year, and assessments will be given April 12 through May 14.
A Colorado Legislative Bill (HB-1161) to reduce CMAS testing this year was partially approved in March. Therefore, we only have to test grades 3, 5, & 7 in English Language Arts and grades 4, 6, & 8 in Math. Grade 8 will take the science tests, but not Grade 5. Parents who want their children to take all tests rather than the reduced requirement can contact Sarah Kreger at skreger@mountainsongschool.com.
Grades 3-8 teachers will inform families of their class testing dates and times. These assessments are paper and pencil, and will be administered in the students’ classrooms. Appropriate accommodations will be arranged for students qualifying for accommodations.
Students in Remote Learning do not need to come into the school building solely for testing. All parents who do not wish their child to participate in the state assessments this year for health-related or other reasons must submit an opt-out notice to the School Assessment Coordinator, Sarah Kreger, at skreger@mountainsongschool.com. The opt-out form can be found in our Assessment Policy on our website at https://mountainsongschool.com/assessment-policies/.
The purpose of these assessments is to track student growth from year to year at Mountain Song. Assessment is helpful in gauging the learning gaps that may exist due to the pandemic.
We ask that you make attendance on testing days a priority. We emphasize with students that these tests absolutely do not impact their grades. We also ask them to do their best because it helps us know how we are doing as a school and how we can improve.
To learn more about assessments at Mountain Song and how to opt your child out of state assessments, please see our Assessment Policy.
Thank you for your support of Mountain Song Community School. If you have any questions about our testing, please contact Ms. Sarah Kreger, Director of School Performance, at skreger@mountainsongschool.com.
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Morning Health Pre-Screening |
Please fill out the Online Health Pre-Screening form before 7:30 a.m. on the days your child will be coming to school. This form is the best option for a quick drop off. (This form is not an attendance form.)
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Each morning between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m., parents or guardians send in health pre-screen information for each student at this link: https://tinyurl.com/mscshealth.
- Parents or guardians will be sent this link each morning by automated email.
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To see an instructional video about the Health Pre-Screening, click here.
- Students without pre-screening will be screened at school.
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Morning Drop-Off Procedure |
Please drop off your child(ren) between 8:00 - 8:15 a.m. on 29th Street (east side of the building) heading south (toward Colorado Ave.). Staff members are present to help students get from the car to the school building. For safety reasons and traffic flow, we ask that you drop off only heading south on 29th Street next to the school in order to avoid having children cross the street. |
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Innovation Learning After School Program for Families |
Innovation Learning is offering an after school program for K-8 in-person students beginning March 29th. If you are interested in joining Innovation Learning, please click here for information about how to register.
CCCAP is accepted. CCCAP is the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) that provides child care assistance to families who are working, searching for employment, or are in training, and families who are enrolled in the Colorado Works program. View the Family Income Guidelines for CCCAP eligibility.
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Farm Volunteers Needed in March! |
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Thank you to our winter volunteers who have kept our animals fed and their habitats clean and tidy! Thank you to our Spring Break volunteers who embraced all four seasons in one week! Soon, we will open up April slots for volunteers in the garden. Please consider becoming part of our team! Seedlings are growing indoors and in the greenhouse, and our animals still require our warmth and attention.
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 Wright at awright@mountainsongschool.com so he can arrange a time for you to be trained.
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Parent Council Spring Festival |
Mountain Song’s Parent Council continues to showcase creativity with remote festivals. Please take a moment to peruse the Festivals page for the current Spring Festival.
Preheat the oven and try making something new! Recipes include Bunny Buns and Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns, as well as a recipe link to an entire meal for Ostara - the celebration of the Spring Equinox. Scroll down the page just a tad to find a few crafts, such as Natural Easter Egg Dye, Paper Flowers and Sprouting Wheat Grass. Below the recipes and crafts, enjoy video stories recorded by our very own Mountain Song teachers: Miss Maple's Seeds, How Fletcher Was Hatched, Festival of Colors, and Rachel's Day in the Garden.
As a Waldorf-inspired school, Mountain Song festivals are a vital part of our education. Festivals mark the rhythms of the seasons with the richness of story and song, light and food, celebrating our shared humanity.
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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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Pikes Peak Permaculture is offering Permaculture Works at the Westside Community Center, 1628 West Bijou Street, 80904, on the following dates:
Saturday April 10th, 2021
Session One: (9am-12pm)
- Intro to Permaculture
- Soil Basics
- Soils Classes w/Composting
Session Two: (1pm-4pm)
- Basic Gardening Class
- Seed Starting
Saturday April 24th, 2021
Session One: (9am-12pm)
Session Two: (1pm-4pm)
Saturday May 8th, 2021
Session One: (9am-12pm)
- Chickens and Backyard Fowl
- Urban Livestock (integrating animals into your sustainability plan)
Each Session is $15, or the entire day $25. Pikes Peak Permaculture is an educational non-profit organization and is able to offer sliding scale fees for those in need. To register or for more Information, please email Brian at truthcoach@yahoo.com or call Becky at 719-685-0290.
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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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