Lisa Leatham, Principal
Your child may be eligible for free or reduced price meals (Breakfast and Lunch). This federally funded program is completely confidential and was created to ensure children from households that meet federal income guidelines have access to nutritious meals while at school.
• All information is confidential
• Submit one Free and Reduced Application for all students in your household
• Children in households getting Food Stamps or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income.
• Children can get free meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
• Your Children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Guidelines
For more information please read the Q&A
Apply for the Free and Reduced Meal Program
We want to congratulate our kindergarten students from our KITS program who will be graduating from KITS on Wednesday, October 26th at 3:00. Families are welcome to join us for the graduation ceremony and reception.
Fern Ridge’s first KITS program was a huge success. Our KITS (Kids in Transition To School) students attended KITS all for 16 sessions in the Summer and 8 sessions in the Fall. In the KITS program they learned early literacy skills and number skills. They also learned classroom routines like sharing, taking turns, listening, and more. Plus they made friends and had lots of fun making art projects, singing songs, and playing games. Their parents had the chance to network with other parents and share tips and strategies for helping their children make the transition to school.
Kindergarten teachers at both schools noted that students who were in KITS had a smooth transition to school. They were confident and successful from the start thanks to their time in KITS and the hard work of their KITS teachers- Delise, Angi, and Kristi. Thanks also to Amber who facilitated our parent group meetings and Callie who provided child care.
If you or someone you know will have a student entering Kindergarten in the 20017-18 school year, please consider signing them up for KITS next summer. If you call the school now, we can put you on a list to receive a KITS registration form in the Spring. There is no cost for KITS and transportation is provided.
Our Jog-A-Thon is a great way to have 
fun and raise money for our school. Funds will go to support great activities for our students including Outdoor School and Field Trips. The Jog-A-Thon is about raising money for our school, but its also a lot of fun for our students and families.
Students raise money for the Jog-A-Thon by asking family, friends, and people they know to sponsor them. Then on October 26th, each class will take to the track for 30 minutes of walking, running, skipping, and just moving to fun music. Parents and other family members are invited to join their child on the track or just simply cheer from the sidelines. Thanks to PALS, guests at our Jog-A-Thon this year will again include some of our community heroes like police officers, firefighters, doctors, etc.
Students can earn prizes for raising money for our school. Below is a list of the prizes for the 2016 Jog-A-Thon:
- $20 Students will get an extra recess.
- $50 Students will get to participate in a Bingo Party with great prizes and lots of fun
- $100 Students will get a special “Drive In Movie” experience during the school day where they will walk to the library to watch a movie and enjoy popcorn and other treats on the big screen in the Konnie Room.
- $200 Students will enjoy a special event at Putters featuring Laser Tag or Cosmic Bowling with our principal Ms. Johnson. Students can choose Laser Tag if they meet the height requirement or the always fun Cosmic Bowling if they would rather bowl. Parents must transport. Pizza is included.
- Plus every student who participates in the Jog-A-Thon on October 26th will be entered into a drawing for great prizes just for jogging or walking or skipping or just moving the entire 30 minutes.
- The class that raises the most money as a class will get a class ice cream party.
Schedule for October 26th:
8:10 1st/2nd
8:40 Kindergarten
9:15 4th Grade
9:50 5th Grade
12:00 3rd Grade
The Fern Ridge Family 
Resource Center is having a playgroup for 3 thru 5 years on Tuesday, October 25th from 1:00 PM to 2:15. There will be story time followed by science time. The theme for this week’s science time is volcanoes and the kids will get a chance to make their own volcano. The Fern Ridge Family Resource Center will be holding storytime and science playgroups twice a month this school year. November play groups will be November 8th from 10 AM to 11:30 AM and November 29th from 1 PM to 2:30. Come join us for this blend of fun and learning. For more information contact Angi Trent at 541-935-8225 ext 418.
The Flash Alert system distributes emergency messages, such as weather closure information.
To subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages via email from Fern Ridge School District click the link below.
https://www.flashalert.net/id/FernRidge
Once you have a subscribed to FlashAlert, you can download an app to register your device to receive messages via text. The free FlashAlert Messenger app is available on Google Play and in the iTunes app store.
ITunes App Store
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashalert-messenger/id545458058?ls=1&mt=8
Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.flashalert.messenger
The Fern Ridge Library will be starting a Homework Help afterschool program tomorrow, October 18th from 2:30 to 3:30. Children’s librarian Sharon Chittock will be at Veneta Elementary school to help students who want to stay afterschool to work on their homework. We will provide both a quiet location for children to work on their homework and someone there who can answer any questions they might have. Children must be picked up or walk home at 3:30. Please sign and return the form below if you want your child to stay for the Homework Help time on Tuesday, October 18th.
The Library’s goal is to start with a once a month Homework Help session and possibly expand if the program works. We want to thank the Fern Ridge Community Library for reaching out to help our kids.
For further information click here
Tooth Taxi-
To date we have had over 60 Tooth Taxi packets go home, but only a handful returned. This is just a reminder that a completed Tooth Taxi packet must be received by the school before students can be seen by the Tooth Taxi.
Dental Screenings-
We all know how important good dental health is. On Monday November 7th, we will be conducting dental screenings as a service to our students. During the screening, a dental hygienist or dentist will use a flashlight to look at student’s teeth. They will note whether or not they see anything of concern. A report from the screening will be sent home with students. If the issues are severe, families will also receive a phone call. Continue reading
Being a parent is the toughest and mos
t important job there is, especially in today’s world. We want to help. Beginning October 20th, the Fern Ridge Family Resource Center will be offering a series of free parenting classes called “Make Parenting A Pleasure.” The 12 week session will cover topics from stress management to communication to listening to managing behavior to managing challenging behaviors. Classes will be from 6:30 to 8:00 at Veneta Elementary School. Free child care will be provided for children three or older. Parents who attend ten out of 12 sessions will earn a $20 gift card. Each session there will also be other door prizes given away. Plus coffee and desserts for the parents and snacks for the kids.
Contact the school office at 541-935-8225 to register or if you have any questions.
Save The Date- The family of Sullivan Daniel Kirk, the two year old brother of Veneta Elementary students Benjamin, Skylar, and Jaquilynne Kirk, needs our help. Sullivan was born with only half a heart. He has already had two open heart surgeries and needs a third open heart surgery in 2017. There are only a handful of surgeons in the United States who are qualified to perform the surgery Sullivan needs. During the 4 to 6 weeks that Sullivan will be in the hospital, his family will need to relocate to be there with him. As you can imagine, the out of pocket expenses that will make it possible for Ben, Skylar, Jaquilynne and their parents to be there for Sullivan are high.
Luckily Sullivan has an Uncle Dan. Dan Povenmire, Sullivan’s uncle, is the co-creator of Disney’s Phineas and Ferb as well as the new Disney XD show Milo Murphy’s Law. Continue reading
Our Jog-A-Thon is a great way to have fun and raise money for our school. Funds will go to support great activities for our students including Outdoor School and Field Trips. The Jog-A-Thon is about raising money for our school, but its also a lot of fun for our students and families.
Students raise money for the Jog-A-Thon by asking family, friends, and people they know to sponsor them. Then on October 26th, each class will take to the track for 30 minutes of walking, running, skipping, and just moving to fun music. Parents and other family members are invited to join their child on the track or just simply cheer from the sidelines. Thanks to PALS, guests at our Jog-A-Thon this year will again include some of our community heroes like police officers, firefighters, doctors, etc.
Students can earn prizes for raising money for our school. Continue reading