Olivia Johnson
Dear Parent/Guardian:
With the 2019-20 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 past four 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 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 11th grade year.
We know that an end-of-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 2019-20 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 schools directly. I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher(s) with any questions you may have about your student’s progress.
Professionally,
Gary Carpenter, Superintendent
S.A.N.T.A. (Sharing 
Among Neighbors Toy Appeal) is once again working to brighten the lives of children and their families this holiday season. An annual tradition for over 20 years, the S.A.N.T.A. Project provides families who live in the Fern Ridge School District or the Crow Applegate Lorane School District toys, books, stuffed animals, and more to help them fill every child’s wish list. They will also have Christmas trees, bicycles, jackets, stocking stuffers, personal care items, and much more for families in need. Any family who could use help this holiday season can come to the S.A.N.T.A. giveaway. Proof of need is not required, but families must bring proof that they live in the C-A-L or FRSD School Districts and that their children live with them. Proof can be a license, mail, medical card, etc.
This year’s giveaway will be in the Veneta Elementary School Gym on Saturday, December 14th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
If you would like to donate to the S.A.N.T.A Project, FRMS will be collecting items through Friday, December 13th.
Fern Ridge Middle School would like to invite you to two very special events featuring performances from our FRMS choir and band students.
First, our FRMS Choir will be performing at Elmira High School on Wednesday, December 11th as part of their Winter Concert. Our choir will be performing on their own and in a joint performance with EHS students. The concert will start at 7:00 PM, but choir students should be there by 6:30.
Second, our FRMS band students will be performing at our Band Winter Concert here at FRMS on December 18th. The performance starts at 7:00 PM but the band students should plan on arriving at 6:30 PM.
FYI: We have had students bringing large handfuls of tacks to school and proceeding to throw them into the ceilings. This is an unsafe practice and one we are working to stop.
FRMS students do not need, nor should they have, thumbtacks at school. Thumbtacks brought to school or in the possession of students at school will be confiscated and only returned to an adult family member.
Just a reminder to parents that FRMS has school on Monday the 25th and Tuesday the 26th. There is no school on Wednesday the 27th thru Friday the 29th. School starts again on Monday, December 2nd. FRMS and EHS are in session while the elementary schools are not because the elementary schools have parent conferences on the 25th and 26th. Parent conferences at the secondary level happened in October.
We are still collecting canned food and monetary donations for the Kiwanis Food Drive. There is a prize for the class that collects the most.
We are also collecting items that will be donated to the SANTA Project and distributed to children and families in our community. The SANTA Project needs unwrapped toys, personal hygiene items like soaps and shampoo, socks, scarves, stuffed animals, books, infant toys, and other stocking stuffers.
FRMS Choir will be performing at the City of Veneta Tree Lighting Ceremony held at Veneta Elementary on December 5th at 6:15 PM. They will be joined by musical groups from other schools in the district. The Holiday Light Parade will be one week late on Thursday, December 12th at 7 PM.
Finally- the Kiwanis Club will be hosting a free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday the 27th at Veneta Elementary School. Doors will open at 11:00 AM. All are invited.
We just want to remind families who use Home Access to monitor their student’s grades, that we are now in second quarter. This means that the RC box needs to be set to 2 for second quarter. If it looks like teachers have not been updating grades, it probably means that your RC is still set on 1 and it has to be changed to 2. The RC box should reflect the quarter that we are in in order to access current grades. Thank you!
For over 30 years, the Kiwanis Club of Fern Ridge has organized a food drive during the holiday season. Fern Ridge Middle School has played a big part in this good work for hungry families in the Fern Ridge area.
Classrooms will be competing to see which class brings in the most pounds of food. We will also include the money donations again this year. For every dollar donated to a class, we will add two pounds to the class’s total weight count. The money will help Kiwanis buy fresh food and goods to add to the family food baskets.
The winning class in each school will get to choose between a pizza party or an ice cream party to celebrate the students’ hard work. The drive continues through Wednesday, December 18th. Collection boxes are in classrooms.
Suggested items include canned meats, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, soups, chili, canned beans, dried beans, canned tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, etc.
Congratulations to the 273 students who made the First Quarter Gold Star List. These students had no detentions, referrals, or
bus citations and had also maintained great attendance. They will be invited to get out of class and attend a Gold Star party with games/treats/movie during 6th and 7th period next Friday. There will also be different privileges and rewards for them throughout the second quarter.
Students who did not make the list for First Quarter have the chance to make the list for the Second Quarter with great behavior and attendance over the next nine weeks!
Ms. Davis needs empty CD cases for a seventh grade science project. If you have any that you can donate, please send them her way. Thank you!
FRMS will host a Staff vs Student Volleyball Game on Thursday, November 7th. Cost of admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Students playing in the game get in free. We will have concessions for sale and a 50/50 Raffle. All proceeds benefit FRMS and will be used to support our PBIS activities. Doors will open at 5:30 and the game will start at 6:00.
Join us for a fun event and help support our school!