To Fern Ridge Community Members and Staff:
We have some very exciting news we want to share with parents and patrons of Fern Ridge School District. The news concerns an improvement in our bond project at Elmira Elementary School.
We are holding an informational meeting at Elmira Elementary School on Tuesday, April 28th at 6:30 p.m. Our Construction Project Manager, Lee Zumwalt, from LCG Pence Construction, and our Owner’s Representative, Rick Rainone, from Cornerstone Management Group will be on hand to share the good news. We hope you will be able to attend!
– Sally J. Storm, Ph.D., Superintendent and FRSD Board of Directors
The school board has approved the academic calendar for 2015–2016.
The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 8. Winter break will be December 21–January 4. Spring break will be March 21–25. The last day of school will be Friday, June 17, unless there are inclement days to make up at the end of the year.
Congratulations to Fern Ridge Middle School’s OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) for being the 2015 Middle School State Champions. The team did a great job. The team consisted of Emily Eagle Eye, Josiah Lorenz, Megan Porter, and Jessica Woods. Thanks to Sherry Cooper for all her hard work as the Coach and also a thank you to Judy Peterson as the Honorary Coach during the competition.
Congratulations, as well, to the Elmira High School team for making it to the 2015 OBOB state semi final round. Having two teams from our District make it to the final round against schools with enrollments exceeding 1,500 students, was quite an accomplishment. EHS team members included Maddi Curtis, Brittany Falconer, Jeremy Cooper, and Cooper Barnes. Thank you to Sherry Cooper for coaching and Forrest Cooper for all his support.
The Fern Ridge School District will hold pre-registration for incoming kindergarten students on Friday, May 1st from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at both Elmira Elementary School and Veneta Elementary School. Parents are encouraged to bring their future kindergartener with them. Forms for kindergarten registration can be picked up at each school or they will be available online beginning April 27th. Forms will not be accepted before 9:00 a.m. on May 1st. Parents should plan on bringing copies of birth certificates, immunization information, proof of residency, and any relevant documentation related to custodial issues.
Parents of incoming kindergarten students are also invited to attend a Kindergarten Parent Information Night on May 13th from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at each elementary school. Kindergarten teachers will share more information about our full day kindergarten program and how parents can help their child prepare over the summer.
Just as the buses were leaving Elmira Elementary School Monday afternoon, the school received a bomb threat by telephone.
Staff and students in our after school program were immediately evacuated to Elmira High School. Lane County Sheriff’s Department was immediately on site checking Elmira Elementary School.
The school has been deemed safe, and no bomb was found. All students and staff are safe. School will continue as normal tomorrow.
During the upcoming Spring Break, the Maintenance Department will be applying herbicides to fence rows and planter beds district-wide while school is not in session. Under State law, licensed professionals are allowed to apply registered low impact products to school facilities provided notification and posting of affected area is given. If you have questions regarding products used, application methods or safety protocols please contact Jeff Thiessen in the Maintenance Department at 541-935-2253 ext. 1216.
The Oregon Legislature is currently discussing a State School Fund appropriation of $7.235 billion for the 2015-2017 biennium. This level of funding is significantly inadequate and would do nothing to restore previously reduced staff or programs, or to reverse the effect that less instructional time and large class sizes have on student achievement.
Per Oregon Department of Education estimates, Fern Ridge Schools will receive $96 less per student next year then what we are currently receiving. We will continue to operate at a deficit, and shifting more of our already limited resources to implement full-day kindergarten will come at the expense of all our students. When combined with increased costs and the addition of full-day kindergarten, the scenario being considered by the Legislature means we are facing more lost school days, higher class sizes, and further reduction of what few programs we have left. In the last twelve years we have eliminated all music and PE programs at our elementary schools, and over 20 course offerings at the middle school and high school.
Below is a link to a one page handout describing what a $7.235 billion funding level means for our district. Also provided is information on what a $7.5 billion and a $7.875 billion funding level means for our district, some facts about Oregon’s education system, and contact information for the senator and representative that represent our district. Superintendents from across the state are asking their staff, parents, community leaders and school board members to contact legislators and advocate for better school funding. Please consider reaching out to our legislators; our students deserve stable and adequate funding. Thank you for your support and action!
Fern Ridge School District is excited to announce that we will be offering full day kindergarten programs at both Elmira and Veneta Elementary Schools beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Both elementary schools are planning Parent Nights and other activities for parents and incoming kindergarten students. Elmira Elementary School will be planning school tours in April. Veneta Elementary School is offering school tours for interested parents and children on March 10th at 6:00 p.m., March 12th at 8:30 a.m., and March 19th at 8:30 a.m. Keep watching our website for more information that will be available in the coming months!!!
The EHS Mr. Falcon Contest is just around the corner!! Put Friday, April 3rd on your calendars for a fun filled evening. The cost is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students if purchased before the night of, at the door, tickets are $10.00/$7.00. Good luck to contestants Tucker Barnes, Tristan Cornelius, Seth Johnson, Gannon Jones, Ramasas Labastida, Carlos Robertson, and Arashi Wahl. Head Coordinator is Bailey Mills. All funds raised stay in the Fern Ridge Community.
Come join us for the FRMS Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser tonight, February 20th at 5:00-7:30 PM at the EHS Cafeteria! The money raised will be used to fund field trips for the middle school students. There will be door prizes and entertainment. Click here for more information.