Elmira High School

The annual S.A.N.T.A. Toy Giveaway is Saturday, December 11th from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Veneta Elementary School.  Please refer to the attached flyer for more details.

S.A.N.T.A. Flyer

Winter sports begins on Monday, November 15th.  Registration for winter sports will open on Monday, November 1st in Family ID.  Please contact the front office if you have any questions.

UO SAIL Financial Aid Night, for students and parent/guardians, on Thursday, Nov. 4th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Spanish interpretation is available. This session is hosted by the University of Oregon, however, it is intended to be a general financial aid session for all 2-year and 4-year colleges your student is considering.

Click the link to join: https://uoregon.zoom.us/j/95957680927

If you have additional questions please contact the SAIL office at 541-346-4668

Our journalism class has been hard at work creating a student-led on-line newspaper this year.  The newspaper features stories about staff, students, athletics and activities.  Please check out Falcon News at Falcon News Link

Dear Families,

Recently, we learned that a student on campus has tested positive for COVID-19.  As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns alongside a caring response.

At this time, we are conducting contact tracing (if they have been on campus during the infectious period) which includes but is not limited to: reviewing cohort logs, interviewing  staff, and checking cameras.

If contact tracing determines that your child is a close contact and needs to be quarantined, you will be personally contacted by school staff within 24-48 hours of the school being notified.

While it is our goal to keep students in school, please be vigilant in regards to watching for primary COVID symptoms. Primary symptoms include: fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, congestion, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or loss of smell.

We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone’s right to privacy.

If you have any questions, please contact the school principal or Nurse Elliott, our district nurse, at selliott@fernridge.k12.or.us.

FALL REMINDER

Dear FRSD families,

    As we are now spending more of our time indoors we would like to  remind you that it is still important to take precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The district is working non-stop to keep kids in school and we need your help!  Following are some important steps that you can continue to take to help keep your child in school for in-person learning. 

1. Proper mask wearing when you will be within 6 feet of people you don’t live with
2. Wash hand or use hand sanitizer frequently
3. Keep sick kids home
4. Limit contact in social indoor settings such as sports, sleepovers, birthday parties and fall gatherings. Ask if anyone your child will be socializing with has had any recent illnesses
5. If your child is in out on Quarantine please limit the number of other people they have  contact with to limit the spread of illness

Thank you all for your hard work as we continue to navigate this challenging time.  You have all done a great job!   

Dear Families,

Recently, we learned that a student on campus has tested positive for COVID-19.  As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns alongside a caring response.

At this time, we are conducting contact tracing (if they have been on campus during the infectious period) which includes but is not limited to: reviewing cohort logs, interviewing  staff, and checking cameras.

If contact tracing determines that your child is a close contact and needs to be quarantined, you will be personally contacted by school staff within 24-48 hours of the school being notified.

While it is our goal to keep students in school, please be vigilant in regards to watching for primary COVID symptoms. Primary symptoms include: fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, congestion, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or loss of smell.

We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone’s right to privacy.

If you have any questions, please contact the school principal or Nurse Elliott, our district nurse, at selliott@fernridge.k12.or.us.

There has been a recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in our student population.  As our goal is to keep kids at school for in-person learning, we have partnered with Lane County Public Health to offer a free “DRIVE-THROUGH” testing clinic this Saturday 10/16 from 10-2 in the Veneta Elementary School parking lot.

As the seasons change many of our students are coming down with ‘mild symptoms’ like runny noses, coughs, and sore throats.  These can be symptoms of a ‘regular cold’ and can sometimes also be symptoms of COVID-19.   We experienced students coming to school with minor symptoms for several days then ended up being COVID-19 positive this week. We’d like you to take the opportunity to do a free drive-through test this weekend if you or your child are having any cold-like symptoms or have been around anyone who has been sick.   This clinic will also be available for anyone who is NOT having symptoms but would like to be tested “just to be sure”.

Anyone in the community can go to this clinic. The test is a swab in the nostril and the results will be called to you in 3-5 days. There are no insurance or ID requirements to get tested.

Covid Testing Drive Through Clinic

I am so sorry to tell you all that one of our students, Corbin Sexton, has died. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends.

All of the students were given the news of the death by their teacher in first period this morning. I have included a copy of the announcement that was read to them.

The manner of death was suicide. Suicide is a very complicated act. Although we may never know why Corbin ended his life, we do know that suicide has multiple causes. In some cases, a mental health condition is part of it. But these conditions are treatable. It’s really important if you or your child are not feeling well in any way to reach out for help. There are resources in our community to support your child and family. I am including some information that may be helpful to you in discussing suicide with your child.

Members of our Crisis Response Team are available to meet with students individually and in groups today as well as over the coming days and weeks. Please contact the school office if you feel your child is in need of additional assistance. Note that children who have serious thoughts of suicide already may be at greater risk due to exposure to the suicide of a peer. If you or your child needs help right away, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the Lane County Child and Adolescent Crisis Line at 541-689-3111, call 911, or take your child to the nearest crisis center or emergency department.

It is safe and healthy to talk to your child about suicide and grief, while these conversations may be uncomfortable they can also be lifesaving.

Information about the funeral service will be made available as soon as we have it. If your child wishes to attend, we strongly encourage you to accompany him or her to the service. If the funeral is scheduled during school hours, students who wish to attend will need parental permission to be released from school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or one of the school mental health professionals. We can be reached by calling 541-935-8200.

Sincerely,

Rick Gardner

Principal

Elmira High School

Message to EHS Students