Gary Carpenter
Information for parents/families regarding the District Wellness Policy.
The policy can be found at: http://policy.osba.org/fernridg/E/EFA%20G1.PDF
Every three years we do a triennial evaluation report, and post it to the website on the “District and State Reports” page: http://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/?page_id=5734
Parents that are interested in becoming more involved in the district’s wellness policy monitoring and implementation can contact building principals regarding becoming a member of the building ESSA teams. These teams meet monthly at each building and discuss a wide range of topics, including the District Wellness Policy.
CHILD CARE AVAILABLE!!
WE NEED PARENT, COMMUNITY MEMBER AND STUDENT FEEDBACK!
Signed into law in May of 2019, the Student Success Act is a game-changer for our schools! As part of the Student Success Act, the Student Investment Account is non-competitive grant money for Oregon school districts. The focus for these funds is on key areas for improvement — from reducing class size, increasing instructional time, addressing health and safety needs and ensuring a well-rounded education. In order to apply for these funds, our district is required to meaningfully engage stakeholders! We need ALL voices in this conversation. The Fern Ridge portion of this allocation could be in excess of 1 million dollars.
The first and easiest way to get involved is to complete the survey, at the following link: https://lesd.link/FR_Parent_Student_2019
The survey in translatable to Spanish through a drop down menu in the upper right hand corner. Please take a few minutes to complete!
The second way to become involved would be to attend our Community Input Session. The date for this is Tuesday, October 8th. The exact time and location is yet to be determined. As soon as we finalize this information, we will get it out.
Thanks for taking the time to participate and become involved in the future of Fern Ridge Schools.
One in 6 Oregon children is chronically absent. Being chronically absent is defined as missing 10% of the school days throughout the course of the year. Over the last year our district has been working closely with the Oregon Department of Education to try new and innovative things to encourage regular school attendance for all of our students.
Attendance matters for students at all grade levels. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to read at grade level and to build a strong foundation as they move from preschool and kindergarten to high school. On the other hand, students who are chronically absent are at risk of falling behind. Chronically absent students in Fern Ridge perform lower academically than their peers, have lower GPA’s, and are at a higher risk of not receiving their high school diploma.
The link below has lots of information for not only educators, but families and students as well. Things such as attendance trackers and tips for “getting out the door.” Each school in Fern Ridge has these attendance trackers in magnet form, for your refrigerators, that you can use at home. If you would like one, please contact your school. Also, here at the District Office we have “Every Day Matters” yard signs. If you are willing to put one up at your home or local business, please stop by and pick one up.
Being absent from school is sometimes necessary, life happens! However emphasizing the importance of regular school attendance is an important and valuable gift you can give your student!
https://every-day-matters.org/
August 5 – August 8, the Elmira Falcon Football Team and coaches will be hosting their Future Falcon Football Camp. Camp registration is August 5 at 5:30pm. Camp will be from 6pm – 8pm on the practice field. This is for incoming 2nd – 8th graders. The cost is $40 and checks must be made to EHS. Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt at the end. We will learn the basics of offensive positions, defensive positions, and tackling techniques. We also will play some fun games at the end of each day. Visit the link below to see the camp flyer.
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
See the flyer below for information regarding a 4 day “jump start” to EHS. This program summer program helps support all incoming 9th graders. For more information, please contact the High School.
FRSD schools will remain open on Wednesday, May 8th.
Dear Fern Ridge families,
Many of you may have heard reports regarding some Lane County School Districts being closed on May 8th. In Fern Ridge, schools will remain open.
The Oregon Education Association has called upon its members to make May 8th a “Day of Action” to advocate for legislative action to significantly invest in K-12 education so that Oregon schools have adequate resources to serve all students. Union’s planned activities include many districts participating in one-day teacher strikes (“walkouts”). In Fern Ridge our teachers and union leadership have elected to participate in this Day of Action in a way that is least disruptive to families and student learning time.
Our teacher union leadership has been transparent and communicating with me the last few weeks regarding their planning, and I recently have been informed that teachers that participate will be “walking out” after students are released on Wednesday, May 8th. This type of action shows their support for the larger “Day of Action”, while being least disruptive to our students and families.
The missed hours of work/professional development time will be unpaid strike time for teachers, or they must take a ½ day of their personal leave. The Fern Ridge School District and I share our teacher’s goal of convincing the Oregon Legislature to make a significant investment in education to provide smaller class sizes, more learning time, increased health and safety services and a well-rounded education. However, the district does not endorse or condone walkouts that disrupt the work day.
I have been informed that during this walkout many of our licensed staff will be at the corner of Territorial Highway and 126 sharing positive signs regarding supporting students and increased K-12 funding to serve all students.
If additional information becomes available, or something changes, we will communicate immediately with our families.
FRSD is on a 2 hour delay for today, Thursday March 7th due to icy road conditions.
Buses on snow routes for route numbers 4 and 13 only.