An Invite to Wah’ -Sha Academy
With school starting less than three weeks away, Wah’ -Sha Academy is under contract, with earnest money and a loan secured for 189 County Road 13. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging space for both learning and students to connect over interests and passions.
While the Delta variant of the Corona Virus is on the rise, there are currently no public health orders for Gunnison County. I follow the
Gunnison County | Coronavirus Resources (Covid-19) and
Home | Colorado COVID-19 Updates
Regularly, and am committed to safety, both physically and mentally.
As in the public schools, Wah’ -Sha Academy is recommending and following:
1. Adult Vaccination for members of our student’s families. Please do your research, and make the right decision for your family. As a typical vaccine-exempt family, I myself have chosen to be vaccinated as well as my son after much research and personal experience of being in a community of vaccine-exempt people who contracted the flu during a, particularly harsh year. I fully recognize there may be reasons to not vaccinate, and please consider that the Delta variant means people may be more contagious if they contract the virus and that it is more easily spread to others.
Non-vaccinated staff or volunteers will be asked to provide proof of regular covid testing.
2. Daily Health Screenings, which include daily temperature checks.
3. Illness Protocols: Stay Home When Sick
4. Handwashing
5. Respiratory Etiquette: Please refer to
Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette | FAQs | Infection Control | Division of Oral Health | CDC
6. Masks – Currently masks are not required for students, and this practice may change based on Colorado State or Gunnison County
Dept. of Health mandates.
7. Reducing Contacts
8. Physical Distancing
9. Ventilation and air filtration Practices.
10. Cleaning/Sanitizing/Disinfecting Protocols
Please refer to our Covid19 policies: Covid-19 Policies – Wah’-shă Academy (wahsha.com)
In moving forward, I have been spending much time introducing myself to many of the businesses in Gunnison Valley. Numerous residents and families have offered inspiring words of support for alternative education here in the valley. There appears to be a genuine need and relief for this endeavor.
A relationship with the Clark School of Environment & Sustainability is developing to the degree of utilizing Western students as Aids for our Wednesday outdoor education program, and potentially for our Friday multi-cultural education days as well.
For my part, I have been engaging in online professional development webinars through both the Sophia Institute and Age of Montessori, both very credible organizations. For over 20 years, each summer I engage in professional development opportunities because I believe teachers can never know ‘enough.’ Preparation for next year’s curriculum is on course!
This is very exciting, and I am eager to meet our enrollment goals for this to happen. Our children deserve the best and it is my hope that enrollment is easy and possible for all those who are interested.
Gunnison Valley businesses have been offered one referral each to offer one customer or friend a 10% discount off of our tuition. If a 10% discount would make it just possible to join our movement, ask your favorite business if they have received a referral card from me, and if not, I will extend one!
I am offering our Facebook members and newsletter recipients two options: 1) a conversation to agree on tuition that works for both the family and Wah’ -Sha Academy, much like a sliding scale would work, or 2) a 25% off of tuition. Please know that there are carpooling opportunities as well.
Why am I doing this?
First, I love and thrive in the format of this kind of school. Gateway Int’l School which I founded in Japan, is still thriving, and I am honored to watch what some of my original students are now doing on the International scene. These are extremely well-rounded people and I am particularly proud of one who took a position with Rogers Investment Advisors in Tokyo. She quit the very high profile position within a year because “GIC taught me to be happy and make decisions based on my values…” She had been drinking every night with the power players in Tokyo due to the stress level of such a position and is now with a small company working on fundraising events for the United Nations.
When I speak to my predecessors here in the Gunnison Valley who raised their children in similar alternative schools, I hear very similar stories of their now-adult children. It would mean so much for this legacy to cross the bridge to my home country and land in a county ripe for this – A county that has been working on this effort for many years.
Second, I am hearing a current desire for an alternative school DIRECTLY from the people of Gunnison County. As an educator and community advocate for so many years, I naturally respond to this. And we need more people to respond to this call for this movement to thrive.
Wah’ -Sha Academy is offering this work and space as a service of life and to life as well as a service to our community. While regenerative financial practices are important to our future, meeting the needs of those who currently are hoping for this movement to thrive in our community serves our first and foremost intention to serve life. Ultimately, we want our families to give in a way that serves their own intentions for giving to and participating in Wah’ -Sha Academy.
Please do not allow finances or transportation issues to deter from a conversation that can lead to possibilities of your family becoming a part of our community. Consider what is important to you and your family, what would give you joy and ease as tuition and email me at rstafoya@wahsha.com or sign up for a consultation at https://calendly.com/rstafoya/consultation-call
