Olivia Johnson
Come join us on Tuesday, December 18th for our Winter Band and Choir Concert here at FRMS. The concert starts at 7:00. Band and choir students should arrive by 6:30 PM. We hope that you will join us for an evening of music and celebration.All of the band and choir students have been working hard to prepare for this concert under the leadership of our music teacher Cameron Siegal. The evening will include performances from the beginning band, the intermediate band, advanced band, and choir. Band and choir students will need to be present for the entire performance. Thank you.
The FRMS Parent Group will meet on Monday, December 10th at 6:30 PM. We will be discussing the upcoming March Madness Fundraiser and 8th Grade Promotion. Thank you.
The 2018 S.A.N.T.A. giveaway is scheduled for Saturday, December 15th from 9 AM to 4 PM in the Veneta Eleme
ntary School Gym. The S.A.N.T.A. giveaway provides presents at no cost for children ages birth to 18. All that is needed is proof of residency within the Fern Ridge or Crow Applegate Lorane School Districts as well as proof of age for each child. No income verification is required. The giveaway is for parents/guardians only- no children are allowed inside the gym during the giveaway.
The S.A.N.T.A. project is an amazing example of neighbors helping neighbors during the holiday season. If you would like to help out, S.A.N.T.A. collection bins are located throughout the Fern Ridge community.
Families can still order fall school pictures online through Lifetouch at MyLifeTouch.com. Lifetouch is currently offering online exclusives that include a free bonus digital image, free shipping, and a free photo book. If you did not order Fall Pictures or you want additional copies, this could be a great opportunity for you. Below is a link to the informational flyer and coupons from Lifetouch. Information flyers and coupons are also available in the office.
Beginning this week, FRMS students will participate in A.L.I.C.E training and drills. A.L.I.C.E is a nationally recognized protocol about what to do in the event of an active shooter an campus. Our students will learn best practices about how to stay safe in the event of a shooter on campus. Below is a link to a letter that will be sent home to all families on Tuesday the 27th with additional information about this important training for our students.
FRMS wants to wish all of our students and staff a very Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy your time with family and friends. We will see you when school starts again on Monday, November 26th.
Just a few reminders and other tidbits to share:
- Canned Food Drive- FRMS is currently holding our annual Canned Food Drive. Students are encouraged to bring in canned and nonperishable items or make cash donations. The first period class that brings in the most items will earn a class party. Thank you to Bob Bruce, retired FRMS teacher extraordinaire for coordinating the drive.
- Starting in December, leadership students will be organizing a toy drive. More information will be posted on the website after the Thanksgiving break
- Don’t forget that FRMS is in session on Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th. There is no school Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We wish all of our families a happy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday.
- Students cannot wear pajamas to school or bring/wear blankets at school.
- On Friday, November 9th we had our first Gold Star event of the school year to celebrate the end of the first quarter. We had 296 Gold Star students- those with no detentions or referrals or bus citations. Those students enjoyed a fun and fabulous performance from world famous juggler Rhys Thomas.
- On Thursday, November 1st we held our first “No Tardy Party.” Students who had no tardies were invited to the commons for some free time, some social time, and a treat. We had 215 students who had no tardies.
- Here is a picture of our “I Am” wall which just went up with the help of our leadership students. In Homeroom, students had the chance to finish the sentence “I am ________________”. Their responses make up our “I Am Wall.” Some of their responses are funny, some are touching, some thoughtful, some brave, and all are reflective of who our students are. Thank you to all of our leadership students who worked hard to put the wall together.
Leadership students show off our “I AM Wall.”
Parents of the Fern Ridge community,
I believe recent events around an incident at Fern Ridge Middle School, the districts response, and the subsequent discussion is necessitating an additional message from me. Serious issues of confidentially are in play here, so know that everything I have written here, just this morning I have received permission from the family involved to share.
The district was made aware of a general threat by a FRMS student on Monday, October 29th. The threat that was made a week or more prior to being reported to us was not specific in nature, was made in a private conversation between two friends, one of whom shared he was having some violent thoughts. The threat was investigated thoroughly over 2-3 days. The parents of the involved student responded to this event as I would hope any parent would. They understood the severity, were concerned for their child, and they furthermore agreed to voluntarily withdraw their student from school and pursue getting him some support. FRMS Principal, Ms. Johnson was in communication with me from the get go, and everything we have done here has been at my direction, and in accordance with Board policy. I can assure folks the following: The FRSD School Board is fully aware of the specifics of this case, and I am confident the Districts response was swift, appropriate, and at no time after being made aware of the threat were students in danger.
I stand by the fact that our response here was appropriate for the specifics of this case, and done so in a way that would encourage, not discourage, others form coming forward if they have concerns about themselves, or their peers. The District will certainly be de-briefing these events and discussing any possible adjustments to our policy or practice in the future. If anyone would like to contact me directly please feel free to do so at gcarpenter@fernridge.k12.or.us or via phone at 541-935-2253 ext 1201. I, as well as your elected School Board members, have no higher priority than doing everything in our power to ensure your children, theirs and mine included, are safe in Fern Ridge School District Schools.
Next week, FRMS staff are working on a short presentation to students that will emphasize two things. First, the importance of reporting to a trusted adult, and secondly the seriousness with which any threatening statement must be taken by school officials. I expect this presentation to take place on Wednesday during homeroom.
Gary Carpenter, Superintendent FRSD 28J
Click here for the original letter that was sent home on Thursday, November 1st.
FRMS will hold their first dance of the school year on Friday, November 9th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The cost to get in is $4. The theme of the dance is Candy Land. Refreshments will be sold by leadership students at the dance.
Funds raised at the dance will go towards our student body funds. Each grade level has a fund specific for them that we add to through dances. When that class becomes 8th graders, those funds are then used for promotion and other end of the year activities for the 8th grade class.
This dance is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. However students who are absent from school on Friday, November 9th will not be allowed to attend the dance.