mcook
Due to new restrictions from Governor Kate Brown, the FRSD Board of Directors will be meeting virtually during tonight’s schedule school board session.
Public comment can be emailed to mcook@fernridge.k12.or.us and any comments received by 4:00 pm will be read into record during the meeting. Please ensure that your full name and address is included and that the material can be read within the three minute time limit
Meeting Information:
Topic: November 16, 2020 School Board Meeting
Time: Nov 16, 2020 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/84436142479
Meeting ID: 844 3614 2479
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Meeting ID: 844 3614 2479
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Our November employee of the month has been a teacher in our district for a little over a year, but the impact she has made in that time has been substantial.
Heather Hohnstein is a Language Arts teacher at Fern Ridge Middle School. She and her husband of 21 years, Phil, have a 2.5-year-old white German Shepard named Rylee. Her parents live in Roseburg, and she is an only child. When not at school, Mrs. Hohnstein enjoys reading, gardening, baking, cooking, and bike rides.
At the middle school, Mrs. Hohnstein teaches sixth grade Language Arts and works with the structured Options students to help facilitate their Language Arts classes. In addition to her teaching duties, she also leads the school Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports team.
When asked what her favorite thing about her job is, she said, “that’s a tough one; it’s a tie between the amazing people I work with and our students. The people I work with help me become a better teacher, a better colleague, a better employee, and a better person. It’s hard to explain, but I’ve never been in a district where everyone genuinely cares about one another and has a vested interest in doing what’s best for every student.”
Mrs. Hohnstein has proven herself to be a talented educator and invaluable resource in her time here in our district. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.
This fall brought some changes to the FRSD school board. Director Jeb Flowers, made the difficult decision to resign from his role on the Board due to changes with his work. Mr. Flowers began serving on the board in August of 2018. He brought a unique perspective to our meetings and is passionate about supporting the career and technical education opportunities for students in this district.
We would like to thank Mr. Flowers for the time and effort he dedicated to our school community and his family for supporting him in his position. Thank you!
The school board received three excellent applications for the open position and after consideration, appointed Jackie Turle as Mr. Flower’s replacement.
Ms. Turle has been a member of this community for over twenty years and has served as an assistant principal of the high school and middle school and was the principal of Elmira Elementary School. She has also worked with higher education as a Department Chair at Linn-Benton Community College, a Director of Community Education, and the Director of the Business and Training Center.
Ms. Turle is a skilled educator who will bring a depth of experience and knowledge to our FRSD Board of Directors. We look forward to working with our school board as we all continue to navigate one of the biggest challenges we have faced in public education.
Small groups of students are getting the opportunity to practice safety and hands-on technical skills in the Elmira High School shop with their instructor, Mr. Johnson.
This limited in person instruction time supplements the online classwork these students are doing this semester.
Welding & Carpentry in the EHS shop
Hot meals are available in the Elmira High School cafeteria each weekday from 11:00-12:30.
The district has added four additional pick-up sites throughout the community for families to get sack lunches each weekday from 12:00-12:30.
The meals will be picked up and delivered by our bus/transportation staff to the following locations:
- Noti Market Parking Lot
- DS Mart/Farm Store Parking Lot
- Fern Ridge Child Development Center parking lot, located at 25391 Jeans Rd.
- 5th & Woodland Ave. in Veneta
All you need to do is show up at one of these locations between 12:00 and 12:30, give a last name, and you will receive both a breakfast and lunch sack lunch for any child 0-18. A REMINDER THAT ALL MEALS ARE FREE.
Congratulations to Cherri Creach, the Fern Ridge School District Employee of the Month for October 2020! She has worked in our district helping students since 1995 and just received her 25 year service pin!
Cherri is an incredible asset to Veneta Elementary and the Fern Ridge School District. She serves as the building union representative for VES and serves on the VES scheduling committee. This summer, Cherri was part of the district re-entry committee that met during July and August to make decisions regarding the best course of action for re-opening schools to our students. She is often sought after to be a part of interview panels, as her expertise and judgement are highly valued.
Cherri has four adult children that she’s immensely proud of: Clay, Jessa, Jeannie, and Drew. All four of the Core siblings went through FRSD schools. Cherri and her husband, Brian, also have many grandkids. Cherri loves being their cherished “Gigi” and spending as much time with them as possible. She also likes to garden and will do just about anything for you if you offer to buy her a coffee!
Cherri tells us that she loves working with students in small groups. Her co-workers describe her as caring, firm, and animated with kids. She is everyone’s “Gigi” here at school! Congratulations Cherri!
Another small group of students were able to come to school today at Veneta and Elmira Elementary! Teachers welcomed this group of K – 3rd Grade students from 8:00 – 10:00 this morning.
We are excited to have some of our youngest students back in class. Looking forward to seeing these students again next week!
Today, half of our Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students were finally able to come to school. Students had two hours of instruction at Veneta and Elmira Elementary. Our second group of K-3 students will be in for two hours tomorrow morning. Our teachers loved having some of their students back in the classroom and had a few fun projects planned:
Kindergarten students started practicing names. 
Rylin is in 2nd Grade, she wrote a recipe and made Jitter Juice.
Blake, a 3rd Grader, got to start his meal worm project.
He named his worm Flash!
We are excited to announce that we now have a school nurse on staff!
Teresa Parsons, MSN, RN will be working in our district to support our students, families, and staff by providing health assessments, health education/care, and helping us navigate the many health requirements we have during this pandemic.
Nurse Teresa comes to us after serving as a public health nurse, nurse educator, and 11 years of experience as a public school nurse. She will be working out of the health rooms in all four of our buildings as she supports our students and families.
Welcome Nurse Teresa, we are so excited to have you join our Fern Ridge community!
The FRSD School Board Meeting will be held on Monday, September 21, 2020 at 6:30 pm.
Our buildings are closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone who would like to view the meeting can do so by following the Superintendent Carpenter Facebook page. The board meeting will be live streamed on this page, Monday the 21st at 6:30 pm. The meeting agenda and materials can be accessed here.
Public comments for this meeting can be emailed to Michelle Cook at mcook@fernridge.k12.or.us Please submit your comment by 4 pm on Monday, September 21, 2020. Comments must be able to be read into record within the three minute time limit and include your name and physical address.