Yesterday was the first day back for all Fern Ridge School District teachers.  They will be spending the rest of the week getting prepared for our to students return! A reminder that the first day back for students in grades 1st-5th, 6th and 9th is Tuesday September 4th.  Students in grades 1st-5th, 7th-12th will attend on Wednesday, September 5th (an early release day) all students grades 1st-12th will attend on Thursday, September 6th.  The first day for our Kindergarten students will be Monday, September 10th.  Bring on 18-19!

ACCOLADES: At our most recent school board meeting this past Monday night, FRSD Board member Andrea Larson recognized students throughout the Fern Ridge School District for outstanding academic achievement in a wide variety of areas. This included everything from OBOB Teams, to the EHS Valedictorian, and many other academic based competitions and achievements.  Thank  you very much to Andrea for doing this, and congratulations to the many students that were recognized.

CALENDAR:  The 2018-19 School District calendar was approved.  The calendar can be found at the following link: 2018-19 Calendar.  Some important dates include:  School registration, August 22-24, first day of school, September 4th, Winter Break, December 22 – January 7, last day of school is scheduled for June 14th.

POLICIES:  Several policies were updated, added, or removed.  One in particular I wanted to share with folks is a new policy “Weapons in schools-Staff.”  The new policy hasn’t been updated to our policy link yet, but will be soon.  The policy language that was approved however, can be found at the following link:  Policy GBJ  This policy addresses weapons on campus in regards to employees, district contractors and or volunteers.  In short, it prohibits those in the previously mentioned groups from possessing a weapon on campus.  The Superintendent and the School Board considered this policy, various options, and research before coming to the conclusion that this policy be adopted.  If staff or community members would like to provide feedback (either in support of, or against) regarding this policy (or any FRSD policy), please feel free to contact the Superintendent via email at:  gcarpenter@fernridge.k12.or.us and your thoughts will be forwarded to the School Board.

Fern Ridge School District has a policy to inform parents when potential health concerns arise in our schools.  At least 1 individual has been diagnosed with Pertussis (whooping cough) at Fern Ridge Middle School.  We are obliged by law to keep the identity of the ill individual confidential.  This is NOT a medical emergency.  The Lane County Health Department, in partnership with school officials, is responding to the situation.  All scheduled district activities will continue as planned including the student dance at FRMS this evening.

Here is a link to an informational letter for parents: Pertussis Parent Letter

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the district office at 541-935-2253 ext 1203

Thank you doesn’t always seem like enough when it comes to appreciating our Classified Staff.  They are a vital part of the education team that is Fern Ridge School District and we could not do our jobs without them!

Classified Staff are among the hardworking men and women in our school district who do everything from helping children safely cross a road, to keeping our buildings clean, managing school offices, maintaining our fields, assisting with technology needs and working in the business office of the district. They help students learn to read, work on math, science and art.  They supervise lunches and recesses, assist in study halls, work with students in computer labs and complete countless other vital tasks for teachers, administrators and students.

During this Classified Appreciation Week, we would like to take the time to recognize these dedicated individuals who help make Fern Ridge School District a great place to learn and work!

Thank you Michael, Becky, Bob, David, Heidi, Michael B., Laurie, Tony, Victoria, Michael M., Pete, Robin, Michael Mc., Ron, David, Angela, Tammy B., Leiisa, Stacy, Mary, Lorie, Dawn, Jessica, Casey, Melissa, Patti, Janet, Jamie, Raina, Julie B., Trish, Sheila, Devonee, Lisa, Sherry, Cherri, Julie C., Delise, Jessie, Tammy E., Cara, Michael G., Stephanie, Missy, Debbie, Kim, Callie, Kelley, Erika, Kelly,  Kristi, Bonnie, Mollie, Alyssa, Karrie, Cynthia, Cortnie, Brenda, Emilee, Deborah, Kim, Alex, Dani, Sheila, Chris, Becky, Jaime, Kristan, Scotty, Sam, Suzie and Pam!

Enjoy your week and know how much we appreciate all that you do for our staff, students and community!

The Region 3 North Tournament will be held tomorrow, Saturday the 24th, at EHS!  Good luck to our OBOB Team as they compete against teams from Creswell, Cottage Grove, Thurston and Churchill.  The opening assembly begins at 9:30 in the theater, and the first competitions take place at 9:50.

Throughout the school year, State Testing information will be posted under the “Resources” category on the left hand side of the main page.  Please visit this location for general information.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact your student’s school directly.

With the 2017-18 school year well under way, I wanted to take a moment to provide some important information about this year’s state testing that is rapidly approaching.

For the last two years, students in the Fern Ridge School District and around Oregon took state tests in English Language Arts and Math called Smarter Balanced. The tests move away from previous fill-in-the bubble exams that focused on rote memorization to a format which asks students to explain their reasoning and write out their answers. These new tests measure more complex, real-world skills such as critical-thinking, writing, and problem solving so that your child can successfully transition from grade to grade and be prepared for his or her next steps after high school.

Fern Ridge School District will give Smarter Balanced tests this spring.  The tests are not timed so your child can take as long as he or she needs to fully demonstrate what he or she knows and can do.  At the high school level, successfully passing these tests is a requirement for an Oregon diploma.  The practice our students get in grades 3-8 by taking these exams, helps prepare them for the high school exam they will take in the spring of their 11^th grade year.

We know that an end-of-the-year test cannot possibly tell us everything about your child’s academic progress. However, the results do act as a snapshot of your child’s strengths and areas for improvement and can be used as a way to ensure he or she is getting the supports he or she needs. Additionally, the tests help Fern Ridge School District’s efforts to equitably distribute resources and support student learning. When fewer students take the test, we are left with an incomplete and inaccurate picture of how our students are performing, and this limits our ability to address issues, better serve students, and continue to improve our educational system.  The participation of your student is greatly appreciated. 

While we discourage opting-out of the exams for several reasons (a few of them mentioned above), included with this letter is a form that allows you to opt your child out of testing for the 2017-18 school year. The form is also posted online on our district website. Should you wish to opt your child out, please submit the form to your child’s school’s main office. You can read more about your rights to opt-out here: http://tinyurl.com/OR-HB2655.

In Fern Ridge School District, we are deeply committed to ensuring each and every student in our schools has the supports he or she needs to achieve at high levels and graduate prepared for his or her next steps. Our ultimate goal is to make sure that all students are set up to be successful from grade to grade and that will remain the focus of our district throughout the rest of the school year.

If you have general questions or want more information about the end-of-year tests, please do not hesitate to contact the school directly.  I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher(s) with any questions you may have about your student’s progress.

Winter Break for Staff and Students

Wednesday, December 20th – Tuesday, January 2nd

Classes resume on Wednesday, January 3rd

Everyone Have a Safe and Happy Winter Break!