As with much of everything else this school year, Outdoor School will be different.  Due to health regulations, overnight camps are not currently allowed in Oregon. However, we are pleased to be working with Camp Wilani (located 5 minutes from Veneta) to offer a 4-day program to ALL 5th grade students, as well as all 6th grade students who were unable to have an outdoor school last Spring!  Camp Wilani’s Leadership Team was trained at the BEETLES Institute at UC Berkeley and are excited to teach our FRSD students!

May 4th – 7th: ALL 6th grade students (FRMS, OPTIONS)

May 11th – 14th: ALL 5th grade students (EES, VES, OPTIONS)

Important Details:

• This is a DAY Program only, students (A day and B day) will report to school every day TUES-FRI for the week of their Outdoor School
• Outdoor School will happen rain or shine- outside! Please plan and dress accordingly
• Students will be in small cohorts at Outdoor School based on their A/B schedule
• Students, staff, and volunteers will be required to wear masks throughout the day
• Look for more information to come (permission forms, volunteer forms, etc.)

More Information Needed?

• Visit the Camp Wilani Outdoor School link: https://wilanicouncil.org/outdoor-school/ 

•  Call or email the school with any questions:
  • Elmira Elementary– 541-935-8214                   Michelle Marshall – mmarshall@fernridge.k12.or.us
  • Veneta Elementary – 541-935-8225                  Lisa Leatham– lleatham@fernridge.k12.or.us
  • Fern Ridge Middle School – 541-935-8230      Olivia Johnson– ojohnson@fernridge.k12.or.us

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!

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

To further mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in Oregon’s K-12 schools, The Oregon Health Authority is supporting COVID-19 testing in public and private K-12 schools.  Oregon schools offering partial or full in-person instruction may provide testing  for students and staff who display symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to COVID-19 in the school setting. The Federal Government has allocated Abbott BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care antigen tests to states to support COVID-19 testing. These tests are available to support testing if needed  in K-12 schools during the 2020-2021 school year.

The Fern Ridge School District now has these tests on site and will be using them as required.  Currently, they are ONLY required for contact sports (football) when as described above, a participant is exhibiting symptoms while ON-SITE!  Our District Nurse and EHS Athletic Trainer are our two trained school testing administrators.

Testing for students in grades K-12 will only occur (after March 1st), and IF, our schools are operating with in-person instruction while the County is outside of the recommended metrics (over 350/100,000 for elementary, or over 200/100,000 for grades 6-12).  An additional example of when using these tests MAY be possible would be when in conjunction with Lane County Public Health (LCPH), it is determined that a cohort is required to quarantine, and LCPH recommends using these tests to help shorten the length of quarantine for exposed individuals.  This can only be done at the direction of LCPH.

In order for any student to be tested, a “consent” form must be on file.  In preparation for potential testing that may occur, it is recommended you print the consent form and drop off at the school.  The forms are also available in every front office.  Below is a link to the consent form, as well as a COVID-19 Testing in Oregon’s Schools FAQ Document.  These documents will also both be located under the “2020 School Year” tab at the top, right of the District website.

COVID-19 School Testing Consent Form

COVID-19 School Testing FAQ

Again, at this time, FRSD will only be using the on-site tests as required.  Currently, this ONLY applies to our football players and the coaching staff.  We ask that families continue to support our schools, students, staff, and community by keeping their child home when they are exhibiting symptoms. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your school.

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

FRSD Students and Families of 6th-12th grade students:

Yesterday around 2:00 PM, updated infection rate data for Lane County was released.  It shows that we are below 200/100,000 for the first time in several months (at 194.5).  In addition, data for our specific zip codes here in Fern Ridge, has consistently been about 60-70% of the County rate and that remains consistent with the current rate within FRSD being 121/100,000.  To ensure we are using both current and accurate information, I spoke to the K-12 education liaison at Lane County Public Health yesterday and she confirmed that the number of infections in Lane County has consistently dropped over the last 10 days. She added that on this trajectory, at a minimum, we should expect the rate released next week to again be lower.  With that information in hand, we are ready to execute our plan to get more students back to in-person instruction.  Below are the details:

February 25th and 26th:  6th grade students will return to FRMS in a hybrid model.  Following the same model as our elementary schools, students will return on an A/B format.  Approximately half the students will attend all day on Tuesday/Thursday (A Day) with the other half attending on Wednesday/Friday (B Day).  The school day will be a full day, and students will leave each day with work for their “off-day”.  6th grade students will attend the 25th or the 26th and again on March 2nd or 3rd (based on being either A or B day).  This will allow all 6th graders to be introduced to the Middle School and oriented for the year.

March 2nd and 3rd:  9th graders only will attend EHS, without 10th-12th graders.  They also will be on an A/B schedule as described above.

March 4th and 5th:  The remaining grades (7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders) will return on an A/B schedule, similar as described above.

Other important information:

1.  LIPI:  At FRMS, the last day for 2 hour LIPI will be this Friday, February 19th, to allow the rooms to be configured and teachers to prepare for this transition.  At EHS, the last day for LIPI will be Friday, February 26th.
2. BRIDGES and RESOURCE ROOM AT FRMS (Mrs. Gardner and Mr. Brummett):  Both of these programs will have slightly different schedules, the school/teacher will be communicating with individual families.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out.
3. CHROMEBOOKS:  At FRMS, for now, students will keep their Chromebook at HOME, and not bring them back and forth.  At EHS, students WILL bring their Chromebook to school each day!
4. BUSSING:  We will post updated routes/times as soon as they are ready.  In the mean time, we need to gather information from those that WILL be riding the bus.  At FRMS, there will be a website post with information, and a google form to fill out.  For EHS, please call the school and share that you will, or will NOT be riding the bus.  Elementary students that ride the bus should pay attention to the new routes/times when they are posted, as the time they get picked up might be pushed back a couple minutes with the buses making more stops.  They should not change significantly.
5. A Day or B Day:  For FRMS students, this can be found in Home Access (after logging in, click on registration tab, look for “house/team” – this is near the top-left under demographic), students can ask a teacher, or families can call the office. For EHS this information can be found in Home Access, or on the EHS website in the coming days.  You can also call the school. FRMS 541-935-8230 or EHS 541-935-8200.
6. Lunchtime and Meals:  This will look different at each school (M.S. and H.S.)
   1. FRMS:  When students come for  “in-school” days, they will receive a hot sack-lunch from the cafeteria and then proceed to their designated eating area (or they can bring a lunch from home).  At the end of the day they will receive a take-home bag (for those that want it) with two breakfasts in it (one for their off day and one for their next in-person day).  For lunch on the off-days, students/families will have the ability to utilize the high school drive through for that day’s lunch service.
   2. EHS:  When students come for “in-school” days, before the start to the school day, they will have the opportunity to receive a sack breakfast from the high school kitchen to be eaten on-site in the cafeteria.  Only those eating breakfast will be allowed in the cafeteria at that time.  During their lunch period, students will be able to receive a hot sack-lunch in the cafeteria and then proceed to a designated eating area (or they can bring a lunch from home).  On their off-days they will also have access to the drive through site at EHS for that day’s lunch.   The EHS campus will be a CLOSED campus for all students to assist with cohorting of students.
   3. Families who do not want to participate in the on-site meals or the drive through meals, will be able to pick up a week worth of breakfasts and lunches from the H.S. drive through that occurs on Monday evenings from 5-6 PM.  A reminder that you cannot “double dip,” and can only participate in one or the other.
   4. As  mentioned earlier, the H.S. lunch drive through will continue to operate Monday-Friday for now.
   5. Finally, a reminder that through the end of the 20-21 school year, all school meals are FREE!
7. More Information-Community zooms: Zoom meetings to allow for Q and A sessions with Mr. Carpenter, FRSD Superintendent, as well as the building principals at FRMS and EHS have been scheduled.  See below for specific links and days/times:
   1. Superintendent Q and A with Mr. Carpenter: Thursday, February 18th, at 6:00 PM link here:  https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/88970897706
   2. FRMS Q and A with Ms. Johnson: Tuesday, February 23rd, at 6:00 PM link here:  https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/88330691646?pwd=UjZjRm5rYnlsRmhXUmlPakdxRFZEUT09
   3. EHS Q and A with Mr. Gardner: Thursday, February 25th, at 6:00 PM link here: https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/84823255124?pwd=QTdCbWxEWFJrT2F0L2U0M3NqU2grZz09 

FRSD Community,

The District has finalized its return to in-person instruction plan.  It was reviewed last night at 6:00 PM in a Community Q and A with Superintendent Carpenter.  You can view playback of the meeting here.  In addition, at 6:00 PM this evening, each elementary school principal will be hosting a Q and A for all parents.  Links to those virtual zoom meetings can be found here:

Veneta Elementary Parent Q & A

Elmira Elementary Parent Q & A

To summarize, the District continues to use the Oregon Department of Education/Oregon Health Authority guidance and framework that was updated last week to guide our plans.  The research that informed the recent changes to the K-12 Metrics Framework can be viewed here.  The primary metric that determines when we can bring students back for in-person learning is the COVID-19 case count per 100,000 over the prior two weeks.  When the case count is under 350/100,000 we can bring back elementary-aged students.  When it drops below 200, we can consider bringing back grades 6 and above.  These two week “look-back” rates are released each Monday.

The rates for Lane County for the past 5 two-week periods have been:

12/13-12/26:  289

12/20-1/2:  250.7

12/27-19:  284

1/3-1/16:  292.7

1/10-1/23:  283.5

The last time the case rate in Lane County was below 200 (which would allow grades 6-12 to return) was in mid-November.  We are hopeful that with the rollout of the vaccine and continued adherence to health and safety protocols, the case rate will drop back down again soon, allowing us to expand our return to in-person instruction for our older students.

Below are the specifics of our plan for returning elementary students to in-person learning:

Thursday, February 4th and Friday, 5th:  All K-3 students return to in-person instruction in an A/B Hybrid Model, similar to what was done earlier this year.  Due to transportation changes, whether or not you are an A or B day student may have changed.  This will be communicated soon with our families. The school day will be from 7:55am-2:25pm. Teachers will communicate with families what the expectations are in regards to applied learning, or off days.

Thursday, February 11^th and Friday, 12^th: All 4^th and 5^th grade students return to in-person instruction in an A/B Model. Due to transportation changes, whether or not you are an A or B day student may have changed.  This will be communicated soon with our families. The school day will be from 7:55am-2:25pm. Teachers will communicate with families what the expectations are in regards to applied learning, or off days.

Thursday, February 4^th:  For students in grades K-5 that are a part of our SLC or Bridges classrooms, the opportunity to return all 4 days each week will be offered.  Please work with your student’s teacher and school principal if you have questions.

Returning all of our students in grades K-12 is our highest priority and we will be prepared to do that when the case rates drop.

Below is some additional general information on a wide range of topics around returning to in-person instruction that folks may be interested in:

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS:  Each building has a “blueprint” that outlines all of the safety protocols that will be in place.  The list is too long to review here, but includes things like social distancing, wearing masks, cohort groups, hand-washing, limiting movement in the building, entry screenings upon arrival, dedicated entrances and much more.  The blueprints, once finalized, will be updated on our District website.

TRANSPORTATION:  Transportation is one of the larger logistical issues to solve.  Please be patient as we work through this.  Anyone that has the ability to transport their student, please know that is greatly appreciated. The goal is to have the routes and times up by early next week.

MEALS IN SCHOOL:  Meals will look different.  Breakfast will not be served at school but sent home so that students are able to eat prior to coming to school.  Lunches for off days will also be sent home.  Students will have an opportunity for a normal school lunch, on days they are in session.

VACCINATION:  FRSD staff have begun to receive vaccinations.  We are on-track to have about 20% of staff receive the first vaccination by this weekend.  The vast majority of those staff are at the elementary level.

I DO NOT WANT TO RETURN, OR CANNOT RETURN DUE TO MEDICAL ISSUES: We have begun collecting information from families who do not want or cannot have their student return to in-person learning.  Please inform your teacher and or building principal ASAP if you are in this situation.  While enrolling in our online OPTIONS program is one choice a parent can make, we will also have a CDL (Comprehensive Distance Learning) option for these students.  What it looks like exactly will, in part, be determined by how many students need to access this option.  It may take a few weeks to get up to full-speed as we are waiting on some technology to assist with this that was ordered back in December.  However, we are hopeful that it will include some packet work, as well as some live interactive connection with a teacher and a classroom each day (it might not be through their regular classroom teacher).  More information on this in the coming days.

Thank you for your continued patience as we begin to roll this plan out next week.  We all look forward to seeing our students in our buildings!–Gary Carpenter, Superintendent, FRSD 28J

FRSD Community,

As you are probably aware, late in the day on January 19th, Governor Brown along with the Oregon Department of Education released updated guidelines around what it takes to return to in-person instruction, and what protocols must be in place.  You can watch a short 10 minute video summary of this new information from Director Gill, at this link:  (click here).  Since that time, I have been working with our staff, administrators, association leadership, and other community partners to formulate our plan here in Fern Ridge.

Since the beginning of the pandemic back in March, our district has relied on the expertise of our health partners to inform decision making regarding the return to face-to-face instruction.  We have collaborated for months to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our buildings.  We will continue to do that, now that the guidance has changed (Click here to review the ODE research informing the change in the K-12 Metrics Framework).

The logistics of our plan are beginning to come into focus.  We will continue to work on some of the more difficult elements (that of transportation and meals) through the weekend.  On Monday night, January 25th, I will share the specifics of the plan with the FRSD School Board and consider any input they may have.

On Tuesday, Jan. 26th I will hold a Community Q & A  Zoom meeting, and the following night, each elementary school will hold a similar Q and A meeting.  All of these will be at 6:00 PM.  Below are the links.

Tuesday, Jan 26th, 6:00 P.M. FRSD Community Q & A Zoom meeting: (CLICK HERE)

Wednesday, Jan 27th, 6:00 P.M. VES Community Q & A Zoom meeting:  (CLICK HERE)

Wednesday, Jan 27th, 6:00 P.M. EES Community Q & A Zoom meeting:  (CLICK HERE)

While I will not have the final details until Tuesday morning following the board meeting, this is what I would expect:

Grades 6-12:  Under the current guidelines, our county needs to be below 200 cases/100,000 before I will recommend to the board that those grades can return.  Absent that, these students will remain primarily in CDL, with some students coming on campus for 2 hours a day of limited in person instruction.  Returning before the county case count drops below 200 cases/100,000 places the district at an unacceptable level of liability, as we would NOT be following the recommendations of the Oregon Health Authority.

Grades K-3:  In early February (exact dates will be known on Tuesday) we will get students in school every other day, all day on an A/B schedule.

Grades 4-5: One week later will will be adding 4th and 5th graders in the same every other day, all day, A/B model.

K-5 Bridges and SLC Classroom Students:  We will be offering all day, 4 days a week of in-person instruction.

What if we do not want to return?  This continues to be a work in progress, and really depends on the number of students and grades of students that need/request this option.  I do know it will be limited, but we will be getting creative to provide something like this for families that need it.  We have some new technology on order to assist in this area, but timely shipments of ANY K-12 technology is extremely challenging these days. Of course the FRSD fully online OPTIONS program will also be a choice.

Thank you for your continued patience, we all look forward to seeing more of our students in our buildings, beginning in February.

In case you missed it!

Here’s the link to the community Q & A session with Superintendent Carpenter: https://youtu.be/gIaXrJhz-Lc

There was one question in the meeting that was unanswered, regarding the end of the Semester at the OPTIONS program, and a change in the availability of content.  The OPTIONS staff will post information regarding this question on their webpage today.  If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to call them at 541-952-7025!

On Monday, January 11th at 6:00 PM, the FRSD will be holding a Community Q and A session with Superintendent Carpenter.  All parents, community members and students are invited.  Some information will be shared regarding our upcoming plans and where we are headed based on the best data at that time, although most of the time will be reserved to answer any questions that folks may have.

For anyone that isn’t available to attend, but is interested in the information discussed, it will be recorded and the recording will be posted and shared the next day.

Access/login information to the meeting is below.

Gary Carpenter is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Community Q and A
Time: Jan 11, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/81030380437

Meeting ID: 810 3038 0437
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