Superintendent’s End of School Year Message

Fern Ridge School District Families, and Staff:

As we close out the 18-19 school year, I want to thank our families, students and staff for a fantastic school year.  A little over a week ago I was fortunate enough to shake the hands of all our 2019 graduates.  Many people in our community supported these students along the way, and they leave prepared to enter a career or continue with their education.

A school year is demanding, as this one draws to a close I want to reflect on many of our accomplishments.  First, thank you to our staff.  Your dedication, energy and commitment to ongoing professional development and growth is clear.  Our high school continues to excel in both graduation rates and state test data.  Our middle school made noticeable improvements in both math and language arts test scores in 18-19, and both of our elementary schools made significant improvements in regards to our math and language arts test scores in 18-19.  I appreciate and thank you for this work.  We need it to continue in the years to come.  The students that come to Fern Ridge deserve quality schools, and we have  classified, certified and administrative staff that work hard to ensure they receive just that.  The “extra” things our staff do on a daily basis to provide extended learning and extracurricular opportunities are too numerous to list.  Please know that whether it is clubs or outdoor school, field trips or assemblies, or simply one-on-one extra student academic support….these things are noticed and appreciated by many.

To our parents, thank you for your support.  We have numerous parents, grandparents, or simply community members in our District that volunteer in our schools in a wide variety of ways.  If you are one of the many folks that spend time supporting or volunteering in our schools, on behalf of all the staff, students and School Board, thank you.

Both reflecting on 18-19, and looking ahead to 19-20, I am excited about many things:

– Student attendance in Fern Ridge improved in 18-19

– Student academic achievement K-12 improved in 18-19

– We look forward to additional resources  in our District in 19-20, to include:

– Elementary Physical Education Teachers at both VES and EES

– An additional core content classroom teacher at FRMS

– Some added instructional assistant and secretarial time across the District

– The addition of a District funded Athletic Trainer at EHS

– Additional student access to technology

As we wrap up 18-19, the work here at the District Office is already beginning for 19-20.  I look forward to helping us move forward and continuing to grow with the District’s vision in mind:  “Provide excellence for every student so that each will reach their greatest potential.”  Have a restful summer with your families, and be proud of a job well done in 18-19.  I am already looking forward to a great 19-20.

Gary E. Carpenter, Jr.

Superintendent, FRSD 28J