Principal
April 13, 2021
Dear EHS Families,
Recently, we were notified that a person in the school community tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. We understand that this might raise concerns, alongside a caring response.
While we are not able to share personally-identifiable information, we care about keeping our community informed.
Each situation calls for different protocols. In this case:
- The school was notified on April 12, 2021 that a member of the community had tested positive.
- The person who tested positive has not been in the school during the time they would be considered infectious.
The District has been in contact with the Lane County Public Health Department and is following the recommendations from the County.
- The person is staying at home and self-isolating.
- There was no contact at the school during the time the person could spread the virus. This eliminates the need to do contact tracing/notification in the school.
The District continues to follow all of the safety protocols including all persons entering the school building wearing a face covering/mask, maintaining the 3-6 ft distancing and encouraging hand hygiene.
Keeping COVID-19 out of the schools and the students in school takes everyone in the Community. The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is by wearing a face covering, staying 3-6 feet from others, practicing good health habits which includes washing your hands and staying home if sick.
Because any medical information is considered confidential, the District will provide information related to a positive case, only to people who may be impacted by a positive case within the District.
More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page, and the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19.
As many FRSD families may have heard by now, the U.S. Department of Education recently denied the Oregon Department of Education’s request for a waiver of summative testing for the 2020-2021 school year. Due to this decision, the Fern Ridge School District is currently beginning the process of readying our staff and students for state assessments.
ODE’s window for state assessments is April 13-June 11, however, each individual school will set their own testing dates within that window. Due to the nature of this school year, ODE has shortened the blueprint and the time each assessment takes, as well as reducing the number of required assessments at each grade level. The table of required assessments, optional assessments, and approximate test time frame is below. All students will have the opportunity to take all available grade level assessments.
If families do not want their child(ren) to participate in state assessments this year, the link to opt-out of the Math and ELA assessments is below. Please fill out and return to your child’s school as soon as possible. They will be accepted until the day before testing begins (dates vary by school). Science has a separate student exemption procedure. See note below for an explanation of that process. If you are not opting your child out, your child will participate in the required (not optional) state testing with their grade level. If you wish for your child to participate in the optional assessment opportunity, please contact your child’s teacher and/or school.
Thank you for your continued support!
Oregon Department of Education Summative Assessment Administration Information:
| Grade Level | Required Administration (except students opted-out of ELA and/or Math per ORS 329.479 or exempted from Science per OAR 581-021-009) and Approximate Testing Time per ODE (Hrs: Min) | Additional (Optional) Assessment Opportunity and Approximate Testing Time per ODE (Hrs: Min) |
| 3 | English Language Arts (ELA) (1:10) | Mathematics (1:00) |
| 4 | Mathematics (1:00) | ELA (1:10) |
| 5 | Science (1:20) | Mathematics (1:00)ELA (1:10) |
| 6 | ELA (1:10) | Mathematics (1:05) |
| 7 | Mathematics (1:05)ELA (1:10) | N/A |
| 8 | Mathematics (1:05)Science (1:20) | ELA (1:10) |
| 11 | ELA (1:00)Mathematics (0:50) | Science (1:30) |
Opt-Out Link for ELA & Math Assessments:
https://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/?page_id=6919
If choosing to opt-out your child from state testing, please fill out and return to your child’s school before the start of the testing window (as designated by your child’s school).
Information on Exemption from Science Assessment from ODE’s Website:
Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-022-1910 allows school districts to excuse students from a state required program or learning activity, including state testing, to accommodate a student’s disabilities or religious beliefs. This rule governs exemption requests for the state tests in Science and Social Sciences, the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA21), and the Kindergarten Assessment.
- Are there eligibility requirements? Yes. Parents may request exemptions under OAR 581-022-1910 based on the student’s disability or religion.
- What is the process for a parent to make this request? The authority to exempt students from state testing belongs to local school districts. In order for a school district to excuse a student from testing under Oregon law, the student’s parent or guardian must submit a written request to the school district listing the reasons for the exemption and proposing an alternative individualized learning activity for the student that meets the same goals that would be accomplished by participation in state testing. Appropriate school personnel must evaluate and approve the parent request.
The football game with Junction City on Thursday, April 8th at 7:00 PM has been moved from Cottage Grove to Marist. Please contact the front office if you have any questions.
Fern Ridge School District will be holding a community engagement session for the Student Investment Act (SIA) on Wednesday, April 14th at 6:00 PM. Please refer to the attached flyer for more information.
Purpose: The L.D. and Velna Montgomery Scholarship fund was established in 2021 by Kerry Montgomery, EHS Graduating Class of ‘67 . It enables college bound seniors attending Elmira High School to pursue a college education at any 4-year, accredited Educational Institution.
Description:
Scholarship is for tuition, books, room and board only. Scholarship Amount: $5,000 per year, for a maximum of 4 years. Please complete the application in its entirety. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for the scholarship award. The deadline for this application to be received is: Postmarked Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 by 3pm. No exceptions. Submit completed application to EHS Counselor, Brittany McMillan.
Eligibility:
In order to be considered for L.D. and Velna Montgomery Scholarship, a candidate must:
- Be an Elmira High School Senior
- Be planning to pursue an undergraduate degree at a 4-year accredited educational institution beginning Summer or Fall 2021
- Must have a cumulative High School GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Demonstrate financial need
- Please submit a copy of your Student Aid Report from the FAFSA OR complete the Financial Resource table on the following page.
Renewal Eligibility:
- The L.D. and Velna Montgomery Scholarship is renewable (up to 4 years) IF college GPA remains in “Good Standing” based on the Colleges’/Universities’ criteria.
Interested in applying? Click HERE for an application.
Have questions? Contact Brittany McMillan, EHS Counselor, bmcmillan@fernridge.k12.or.us
During this multi-week virtual event, current HS seniors, youth from partner programs, and 2020 HS graduates are invited to join Connected Lane County to connect with local businesses and job opportunities. The goal is to connect young professionals to local jobs. Dozens of local companies who all have entry-level positions open or project to have them open in late Spring will be in attendance. Registration closes April 15th! Click HERE for the informational flyer.
Here’s the event schedule:
- Week 1 (April 19-22): Students get to know participating companies via a virtual Meet & Greet (M-TH from 1pm-2pm)
- Week 2 (April 28): Student prep: Resume building webinar & 1:1 job application support and/or mock-interviews (Wednesday from 10am-11am–Drop-in Hour and 2pm-3pm)
- Week 3 (May 5): Student prep: Interviewing 101 webinar & 1:1 job application support and/or mock-interviews (Wednesday from 10am-11am–Drop-in Hour and 2pm-3pm)
- Week 4 (May 10-14): Students interview for the jobs they’re interested in! TBD–individual interviews to be scheduled
- STUDENTS register here: https://lesd.link/Register_4_HiringFair
Contact Lizzie Gray, Connected Lane County Project Coordinator, with any question via email lgray@lesd.k12.or.us or by phone 541-517-6497
Here are the links for today’s volleyball matches against Marshfield
JV – https://youtu.be/Pb60itM2_60
Varsity – https://youtu.be/OMHven5aSPo
The Elmira Booster Club is holding a fundraiser. Please refer to the attached flier for more information.
We anticipate that most of our games will be available on the NFHS network beginning next week, but we did create streaming links on youtube just in case we have problems with the camera at the stadium. Please use these links if you can’t access the game on NFHS.
Monday, March 22nd – JV Football
Tuesday, March 23rd – Boys Varsity Soccer
Thursday, March 25th – Volleyball
JV Volleyball vs. Siuslaw @ 5:00 – https://youtu.be/wGrlS6VZ8Q0
Varsity Volleyball vs. Siuslaw @ 6:45 – https://youtu.be/xBNBafhVI-w
Friday, March 26th – Varsity Football
If these links are not active it means that the game will be broadcast on the NFHS Network.
Here is the YouTube link for today’s game: https://youtu.be/ikK45E-hiNs
