Community
All children and youth ages 2-18 are welcome to come and have a free meal at the FOOD for Lane County’s Summer Food Program sites. Designated sites in the Fern Ridge area are: Veneta City Park, 25192 Broadway, Veneta – 6/22/15-8/21/15 and Elmira Open Bible Church, 88899 Territorial Road, Elmira – 7/20/15-7/24/15 only. For more detailed information please click here.
A ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction at Veneta Elementary School will take place on Tuesday, June 9th at 12:30 pm. The building’s contractor, architects, elected officials, staff and students will help mark the start of construction. After the dirt has been ceremonially turned, the big equipment will be ready to move in and start construction of the renovations and new additions.
The District’s number one goal during construction is to maintain the safety of the public, students, staff, and the construction crews. As such, the building’s contractor will have dedicated access to the north portion of the property and the south portion of the parking lot starting June 15th. Temporary chain link fence will be installed in those areas to prevent any interaction between construction traffic and non-construction traffic. The south portion of the parking lot will be turned back over to the District prior to school starting in September, but the north portion of the property will remain closed until the classroom addition is completed in December.
Each year US News and World Report puts out an article that ranks the nations top High Schools. A few years back, EHS made the list and earned a silver medal. The list of 2014 schools just came out and 28 Oregon High Schools made the list. Once again, EHS has made the cut, ranking as the 24th High School in the state of Oregon. For perspective, we are also the highest ranking 4A school on the list, and one of only two Lane County schools on the Oregon list (with the other being South Eugene). Thanks to all the teachers, staff, parents, students, and volunteers that make this possible. Go Falcons!
May 3-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week. I have been astounded at the passion, commitment and compassion of our teachers throughout the District. They care so deeply for their students and go the extra mile trying to meet all of the separate needs of each one. We are fortunate to have such caring individuals working with our students. I honor the work they do on a daily basis, and appreciate each and everyone of our teachers. – Dr. Sally Storm, Superintendent
During the upcoming Spring Break, the Maintenance Department will be applying herbicides to fence rows and planter beds district-wide while school is not in session. Under State law, licensed professionals are allowed to apply registered low impact products to school facilities provided notification and posting of affected area is given. If you have questions regarding products used, application methods or safety protocols please contact Jeff Thiessen in the Maintenance Department at 541-935-2253 ext. 1216.
The Oregon Legislature is currently discussing a State School Fund appropriation of $7.235 billion for the 2015-2017 biennium. This level of funding is significantly inadequate and would do nothing to restore previously reduced staff or programs, or to reverse the effect that less instructional time and large class sizes have on student achievement.
Per Oregon Department of Education estimates, Fern Ridge Schools will receive $96 less per student next year then what we are currently receiving. We will continue to operate at a deficit, and shifting more of our already limited resources to implement full-day kindergarten will come at the expense of all our students. When combined with increased costs and the addition of full-day kindergarten, the scenario being considered by the Legislature means we are facing more lost school days, higher class sizes, and further reduction of what few programs we have left. In the last twelve years we have eliminated all music and PE programs at our elementary schools, and over 20 course offerings at the middle school and high school.
Below is a link to a one page handout describing what a $7.235 billion funding level means for our district. Also provided is information on what a $7.5 billion and a $7.875 billion funding level means for our district, some facts about Oregon’s education system, and contact information for the senator and representative that represent our district. Superintendents from across the state are asking their staff, parents, community leaders and school board members to contact legislators and advocate for better school funding. Please consider reaching out to our legislators; our students deserve stable and adequate funding. Thank you for your support and action!
Fern Ridge School District is excited to announce that we will be offering full day kindergarten programs at both Elmira and Veneta Elementary Schools beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Both elementary schools are planning Parent Nights and other activities for parents and incoming kindergarten students. Elmira Elementary School will be planning school tours in April. Veneta Elementary School is offering school tours for interested parents and children on March 10th at 6:00 p.m., March 12th at 8:30 a.m., and March 19th at 8:30 a.m. Keep watching our website for more information that will be available in the coming months!!!
The EHS Mr. Falcon Contest is just around the corner!! Put Friday, April 3rd on your calendars for a fun filled evening. The cost is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students if purchased before the night of, at the door, tickets are $10.00/$7.00. Good luck to contestants Tucker Barnes, Tristan Cornelius, Seth Johnson, Gannon Jones, Ramasas Labastida, Carlos Robertson, and Arashi Wahl. Head Coordinator is Bailey Mills. All funds raised stay in the Fern Ridge Community.
Come join us for the FRMS Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser tonight, February 20th at 5:00-7:30 PM at the EHS Cafeteria! The money raised will be used to fund field trips for the middle school students. There will be door prizes and entertainment. Click here for more information.
The open enrollment process provides an additional method of school choice for Oregon students which allows them to apply f
or a permanent admission to a school district. Non-resident students may apply to transfer from their resident district to attend Fern Ridge School District through the open enrollment process.
Interested non-resident students must submit a completed Fern Ridge School District Open Enrollment form to the Fern Ridge School District Office beginning March 1, 2015 and closing on April 1, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. Accepted applicants will be notified no later than May 1, 2015. For further information contact the Superintendent’s Office at 541-935-2253 ext. 1203.