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Lane County Public Health has let us know that there has been an increase in the number of school age children who are testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. The County has completed contact tracing and has found the increase is not because students have returned to the classroom but because more school age children are going out and about.
Reported cases are related to visiting with friends and family, attending parties, sleepovers or play dates.
This is a confusing time for students. It is hard to understand why they can go to the school, but cannot go to be with their friends. As a parent, trying to explain this to your child can be difficult.
Some talking points that might help:
- At school, masks are required to be worn by everyone in the building; when you are out with friends or family not everyone may wear a mask.
- At school, staff help students keep their masks on; when out with friends or family you may forget to wear your mask.
- Masks / face coverings help to keep you, your friends, and family safe.
- At school there are reminders to stay 3-6 feet apart; it is hard to say 3 feet from your friends and family.
Parents of teens: If you would like some additional talking points for teens, email me at tparsons@fernridge.k12.or and I can share some ideas with you.
Remember just because you cannot see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
A person can be infected with the COVID-19 virus and not have any symptoms. This is one of the reasons it spreads so easily. With the County numbers going back up, it can impact students being at school and being able to be out in the community. It is not being at school that spreads the virus. Spread happens when we stop guarding and protections against the virus. As a parent we have to make choices for our children, sometimes they are hard but needed choices.
Keep up the good work and help to keep our community safe.
Nurse Teresa
As many FRSD families may have heard by now, the U.S. Department of Education recently denied the Oregon Department of Education’s request for a waiver of summative testing for the 2020-2021 school year. Due to this decision, the Fern Ridge School District is currently beginning the process of readying our staff and students for state assessments.
ODE’s window for state assessments is April 13-June 11, however, each individual school will set their own testing dates within that window. Due to the nature of this school year, ODE has shortened the blueprint and the time each assessment takes, as well as reducing the number of required assessments at each grade level. The table of required assessments, optional assessments, and approximate test time frame is below. All students will have the opportunity to take all available grade level assessments.
If families do not want their child(ren) to participate in state assessments this year, the link to opt-out of the Math and ELA assessments is below. Please fill out and return to your child’s school as soon as possible. They will be accepted until the day before testing begins (dates vary by school). Science has a separate student exemption procedure. See note below for an explanation of that process. If you are not opting your child out, your child will participate in the required (not optional) state testing with their grade level. If you wish for your child to participate in the optional assessment opportunity, please contact your child’s teacher and/or school.
Thank you for your continued support!
Oregon Department of Education Summative Assessment Administration Information:
| Grade Level | Required Administration (except students opted-out of ELA and/or Math per ORS 329.479 or exempted from Science per OAR 581-021-009) and Approximate Testing Time per ODE (Hrs: Min) | Additional (Optional) Assessment Opportunity and Approximate Testing Time per ODE (Hrs: Min) |
| 3 | English Language Arts (ELA) (1:10) | Mathematics (1:00) |
| 4 | Mathematics (1:00) | ELA (1:10) |
| 5 | Science (1:20) | Mathematics (1:00)
ELA (1:10) |
| 6 | ELA (1:10) | Mathematics (1:05) |
| 7 | Mathematics (1:05)
ELA (1:10) |
N/A |
| 8 | Mathematics (1:05)
Science (1:20) |
ELA (1:10) |
| 11 | ELA (1:00)
Mathematics (0:50) |
Science (1:30) |
Opt-Out Link for ELA & Math Assessments:
https://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/?page_id=6919
If choosing to opt-out your child from state testing, please fill out and return to your child’s school before the start of the testing window (as designated by your child’s school).
Information on Exemption from Science Assessment from ODE’s Website:
Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-022-1910 allows school districts to excuse students from a state required program or learning activity, including state testing, to accommodate a student’s disabilities or religious beliefs. This rule governs exemption requests for the state tests in Science and Social Sciences, the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA21), and the Kindergarten Assessment.
- Are there eligibility requirements? Yes. Parents may request exemptions under OAR 581-022-1910 based on the student’s disability or religion.
- What is the process for a parent to make this request? The authority to exempt students from state testing belongs to local school districts. In order for a school district to excuse a student from testing under Oregon law, the student’s parent or guardian must submit a written request to the school district listing the reasons for the exemption and proposing an alternative individualized learning activity for the student that meets the same goals that would be accomplished by participation in state testing. Appropriate school personnel must evaluate and approve the parent request.
Cameron Robertson has worked as an instructional assistant in the Structured Learning Classroom at Fern Ridge Middle School since September of 2018.
Cameron helps out with small group instruction in reading and math, supervises students during lunch and has Zoom meetings to assist distant learning students one-on-one.
When not helping students, Cameron enjoys watching movies, playing Pokémon, writing music and poetry, and reading. His favorite things are burritos and his least favorite thing is stubbing his toe (we hear ya on that one!).
On Friday evenings, Cameron runs a free drop-in time for teens at the Veneta Alliance Church. This is a place where kids can hang out, eat snacks, and even play a vintage Star Wars arcade game.
When asked about his family, Cameron describes them as rambunctious but very, very close. He has two brothers, two sisters, and a baby nephew.
He tells us the best part of his job is when he gets to interact with kids, building relationships with them and being able to help out.
Thank you Cameron, our staff and students appreciate all of the work you do to be a positive role model for our students. Congratulations!
All Fern Ridge Schools will be closed from Monday, March 22 thru Friday, March 26 for Spring Break. Classes resume for students on Tuesday, March 30.
Food service staff are also taking a break next week – there will be no meal service March 22 – March 26. They will start serving meals again on Monday, March 29.
There will be no tech support during the break and the district office will be closed on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26.
Everyone have a safe break!
Starting Monday, March 8th, FRSD’s food service will begin offering an additional weekly meal pick-up option.
Families with students who have returned to in-person learning are able to order an Add-On Meal Kit which will supplement the hot lunches our students are able to receive during their in-school days.
Each meal kits include 5 breakfasts & 3 cold lunches. We hope this will help to alleviate some of the logistical concerns for families’ meal options on their student’s non-school days.
If you’re interested in an Add-On Meal Kit for your family, please email Food Service Director, Alan Fullerton at afullerton@fernridge.k12.or.us and include your last name, how many kits you would like to order and if your student(s) are on an A or B day schedule.
These Add-On Meal Kits will be available for pick up during our normal weekly pick-up time in the back EHS parking lot on Monday evenings from 5-6pm.
To minimize waste, we will only be producing as many of these kits as are pre-ordered so please be sure to reach out if you would like to participate!
The ever changing environment of the past year has created an opportunity for our March Employee of the Month, Emily Bliven, to shine and take a leadership role at Veneta Elementary.
Emily has been a kindergarten teacher in our district since August of 2018. In her three years she has already made a big impact!
As online learning became a reality, Emily stepped in with both knowledge and patience as staff members sought help for technology training. From our PE teacher to our principal, staff at VES have turned to Emily for help. She’s always willing to drop everything to take care of any request.
Emily has taken on a leadership role this year by serving on the re-opening committee and serving as the union representative for VES licensed staff. She also lends a hand on the Talent Show Committee, Earth Day Committee and the Equity Committee. In the classroom, she tells us she loves getting to build relationships with students and witness their learning in action. She also enjoys learning from and collaborating with her co-workers “who make me a better teacher.”
When she is not teaching, helping out another staff member or serving on a committee, Emily is busy completing her Masters Degree and planning a July wedding with her fiancé, Chase. She loves to be outdoors walking, hiking, playing with their one-year old retriever, Revel, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Congratulations Emily and thank you for always being willing to lend a helping hand to your VES team!
March 1 – 5 is the week that we take extra time to show our classified staff just how much they mean to our district.
These folks support our teachers at every building, they ensure our operations run smoothly, they take care of our offices, student schedules, and state testing.
They mow lawns, maintain and clean buildings. They help with food and staff our libraries, and district offices.
There isn’t a single aspect of the Fern Ridge School District that doesn’t involve a classified employee. We are grateful for each and everyone of these staff.
The work they do makes a world of difference for every student in our district.
Thank you
Fern Ridge Middle School will open for 6th grade students this week. On Thursday/Friday February 25th/26th, 6th graders will be back in the classroom on an A/B schedule.
9th grade students return to Elmira High School next Tuesday/Wednesday, March 2nd/3rd with all grades in session on their A/B schedule beginning Thursday/Friday, March 4th/5th.
For more details on plans for returning to in-person instruction please visit this recent website post.
Bus routes can be accessed on the district transportation page, or by clicking on the links below:
Elmira Elementary Bus Routes as of 3/3/21
Veneta Elementary Bus Routes as of 3/3/21
Fern Ridge Middle School Bus Routes as of 3/3/21
Elmira High School Bus Routes as of 3/3/21
Superintendent Carpenter recorded the community-wide question and answer session from Thursday, February 18 which is now available for playback.
Ms. Johnson will be talking with middle school parents on Tuesday, February 23 at 6:00 pm. Zoom Link
Mr. Gardner will be talking with high school parents on Thursday, February 25 at 6:00 pm. Zoom Link
Recordings will be published here as they are available:
Community Q & A with Superintendent Carpenter
Return to In-Person Instruction with Principal Olivia Johnson
Return to In-Person Instruction with Principal Rick Gardner
Feb 1 – Feb 5, 2021, is our time to focus on the contributions of school counselors in Fern Ridge School District and across the nation.
Mr. Ryan Chambers at Fern Ridge Middle School and Mrs. Brittney McMillan at Elmira High School work hard through the year to actively engage students, help them to focus on positive ways to enhance their academic and social/emotional development and plan for a future after high school.
Join us in thanking Mr. Chambers and Mrs. McMillan for all of the work they do to ensure our students can reach their greatest potential!