Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Hello 6th Grade Homeroom Families!
I can’t believe we are already one month through 2026! So much is happening in the classroom and around campus as we embark into the second half of the school year.
ACADEMIC UPDATE: In the classroom we have launched our informative writing unit, where students are practicing how to write a strong thesis statement, present facts and support their claims with evidence. Students are also learning how to properly cite a source to avoid plagiarism and create a bibliography. Quite the contrast from the creative writing unit we completed in the first trimester! We have begun reading Braiding Sweetgrass (adapted for young readers) by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This book intertwines beautiful stories of Indigenous knowledge with Science, challenging the reader to reimagine our relationship to and with nature and underscoring the connectivity between us all. I am blown away by the thought- provoking conversations and writing this book has inspired in our classroom thus far. In mathematics, we are working with absolute value, rational numbers, integers and whole numbers, converting decimals to fractions, and beginning to play with variables. We have also had some fun exploring the scientific process with “Prof” Nate on Fridays that integrates seamlessly into our reading curriculum. In Mr. Robbin’s History block, they have reached WW1 and will begin working on our Middle School Spring Play in the coming weeks.
SERVICE: We are running service projects slightly differently this year. Students are working in small groups on campus, during school hours to complete this requirement. I encourage you to ask your students about their specific service project group. We also have a collective Middle School mural in the works for the first time ever! I am so excited to get that underway as well. If you happened to miss it in the buletin, here is the link to sign up to contribute to our VCS Middle School CSA box project:
IMPORTANT DATES:Our school-wide Scripps Spelling Bee will be held this Friday, January 30th in the MPR at 1:45pm. Families are welcome to come and support! .
The Middle School Valentine’s Day Pot Luck will be held on Friday, February 13th. Please visit this link if your student would like to sign up to bring a tasty treat or beverage. It is not required.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DA4AF2CA5FFC70-61901167-valentines
CONFERENCES: Caregiver/Teacher Conferences begin next week and will run through February. Conferences are optional unless I find it prudent to your student’s success to have
one. In such cases I will be reaching out in a separate email. Students are welcome to attend these conferences, but it is not required.
Below is the link for sign ups. If none of these slots work for you, please feel free to reach out and I will do my best to accommodate you.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44ADA92CA4F5CE9-61903450-caregiverteacher
I Hope everyone’s 2026 is off to a great start!
Thank you for reading,
Miss Rachel
Friday, August 29, 2025
Hello Everyone!
Just a Friendly reminder that VCS Middle School sports practices begin next week, Tuesday, September 2nd from 3:30-4:30pm.
Moving forward practices will be held every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm. This fall we are offering Girls Basketball, Boys Flag Football and Co-ed Cross Country. I am pleased to report that
almost the entire class has expressed interest in being a part of one sport or more! We understand that students may not be able to attend every practice/game/meet or have to leave early on occasion and
that is totally fine, please just communicate with the appropriate coach.
Please make sure that your student has a physical on file as this is a requirement in order to participate.
Looking forward to a great season!
Warmly,
Miss Rachel
Friday, August 29, 2025
Welcome Incoming Middle School Families!
WOW! I can’t believe summer is coming to an end and soon enough we’ll be back in the swing of things on campus! I am so thrilled to be embarking on this exciting milestone journey with your student. In collaboration with Mr. Robbins, we have created a schedule and curriculum that emulates a true middle school environment, complete with homeroom, shared academic blocks, identity exploration, PE, recess/lunches and of course, music! We have some amazing projects and field trips planned this year; stay tuned for more detailed information in the weeks and months to come! Academically and socially this can be an intimidating time for some students. One of my main goals is to make this transition from Elementary to Middle School smooth (some bumps to be expected) and comfortable (there will also be some discomfort, but that is truly where growth happens). Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to share any information with me that you feel would be helpful in acclimating your student.
EMAIL is my preferred method of communication. I generally check it once a day during the school week and will respond within 24 hours, weekends being the exception. If you have a pressing concern that needs immediate attention during the week, please email or call Carolyn at the front desk. I am also happy to meet in person when time allows, but please refrain from coming into class before and after school without making prior arrangements.
SUPPLIES AND READINESS: Please make sure your student comes to school with one large (3-4”), three ring binder with at least 5 dividers and one small (1-2”) 3 ring binder. Some students prefer to take notes in a notebook and that is fine, just make sure it is 3 ring hole punched and can fit into a binder. Please let me know if you need assistance acquiring these items. Middle school is certainly a milestone and with that comes added responsibility. I would love for your student to come prepared with their own pencils, pens, erasers and highlighters. That said, I will always have some on hand, but the goal is to practice being responsible for their personal items. Lined and graph paper will be provided in class.
CLASSROOM JOBS: For those who are able and willing, I would love to delegate a few class jobs such as filing the classroom water bottle (generally 1-2 times a week during the warmer months, and once a week during the winter) and laundering our hand towels once a week. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out for one or more semesters!
A FEW REMINDERS…
DRESS CODE: Please send your students to school in clothing and shoes that are functional, weather ready, and socially appropriate for school. Students should be comfortable running, jumping, doing yoga, getting dirty, gardening, playing sports, etc. without having to worry.
FOOD: Please make sure students come with a full water bottle and enough food for 1-2 snacks and a lunch. Healthy, low-sugar, protein rich foods are encouraged. Please defer to the VCS handbook for more details. Due to the high number of food allergies and dietary restrictions, I will be enforcing our “no food sharing ” policy. I also encourage students to eat a substantial breakfast before arriving to class so that their brains are fully supported and ready to engage.
CELL PHONES are strictly prohibited for students on campus and will be confiscated if found and held in the office for a trusted adult/parent/caregiver to pick up. Please contact the front desk if you need to immediately get in touch with your student.
FINALLY, if there is another person or alternate email that you would like me to add to this list, please reply to this message with that information. Thank you for reading! I am looking forward to a fantastic school year!
Warmly,
Miss Rachel
About Miss Rachel
I believe the classroom should be a place where curiosity leads the way and students feel connected to themselves, their communities, and the wider world. As a middle grades teacher, I love designing learning experiences that cross subject areas—blending literacy, social studies, science, and the arts—through themes like local history, environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and music. Whether we’re interviewing community members, learning outdoors, or preparing for a student-led exhibition, I want learning to feel real, meaningful, and rooted in experience.
Building relationships is at the heart of my teaching. I focus on creating a supportive, inclusive classroom where every student feels seen and heard. Social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and reflection are woven into our week, helping students grow not just as learners, but as compassionate members of a community.
I graduated with honors and distinction from SSU in 2023 with a B.A. in Early Childhood Studies, double concentrated in Development and Education, and recently completed my Preliminary Teaching Credential at North Coast School of Education. Though my certifications are new, I bring over eight years of experience teaching music and working with children. My own love of music sparked my passion for teaching, and eventually led me to Village, where I feel so grateful to be part of this vibrant community.
Outside of the classroom, I love spending time with family and friends, playing music, hiking, swimming, paddle boarding, and tending to my tiny urban homestead—complete with two dogs, eight hens, a garden, and fruit trees.
