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10-28-2024

10-28-2024

New Announcements

School News

  • Principal's Message
  • Conference sign up, coming soon!
  • 4J Student Cards for Eugene Public Library


Community Activities + Events

  • Celebrate Día De Los Muertos with 4J!

Roosevelt Important Dates

This Week:

OCTOBER 28 (M)
  • Spirit Week: Adam Sandler Day
  • 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice
OCTOBER 29 (T)
OCTOBER 30 (W)
  • Spirit Week: Barbie vs. Wednesday
  • Early Release - 2:35 PM
OCTOBER 31 (TH)
  • Spirit Week: Dress to Impress/Costumes
NOVEMBER 1 (F)
  • Spirit Week: Pajama Day
  • 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Activity Night


Next Week:
NOVEMBER 4 (M)
  • Student-led Conference Scheduling Begins
NOVEMBER 5 (T)
NOVEMBER 6 (W)
  • Early Release - 2:35 PM
NOVEMBER 7 (TH)
NOVEMBER 8 (F)
  • No School: Mid-term Grading

School News

Principal's Message

Hello Roosevelt Families,


I hope this message finds you well!


Week eight is upon us— one week before the mid-semester– and it promises to be a fun-filled week with Spirit Week, Halloween, and Activity Night. This week’s update contains information about:


  • Steps we are taking at school to support respectful and appropriate conflict resolution

  • Guidelines for costumes

  • Student-led conferences

  • The Anxious Generation book club


I reached out on two occasions last week following events at school. I want to share steps we are taking as a staff to support our students. On Friday in House, Kelsea and I addressed students and staff via video and students and their House Advisors engaged in a follow-up discussion.


Kelsea and I highlighted the reality that the vast majority of all RMS students are doing the right thing all of the time… they are engaged, connected, and regularly following school rules in ways that support our community of learners. It’s awesome! We let students know we notice and see them being thoughtful and supportive students. We see them helping each other. We see them caring for each other. We see them working hard in their classes, and we see them letting us know when they need help. We see them, and we appreciate all the great things they do every day at RMS.


In House, Kelsea and I also shared that at school, we never put our hands on other people. We reminded students that each of us has a right to bodily autonomy and safety and no one gets to invade our bubbles. We emphasized that at RMS, we are a community together. We need to take care of each other, and this means keeping our hands and bodies to ourselves, always.


In addition, we shared that when conflict does happen, we resolve it through respectful conversation. We shared strategies for how to resolve conflict, including using a “stop, talk, and walk” protocol. Students and their House Advisors talked about how they can respectfully and appropriately support themselves and others if and when conflict occurs.


This week in House, we are continuing this topic. Our focus is on setting and respecting appropriate emotional and physical boundaries. These are life skills that will help our students not just in school, but in every area of their lives any time tensions might arise.


I’m also sharing our district’s Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook along with Roosevelt’s Student Handbook. We review items from these documents in House from time to time and with individual students when the need arises. I want to make sure our families are aware of these documents and have an opportunity to access and review them. Please also note that when events happen on campus, we cannot share specific information about individual students and do have a practice of communicating directly with our families when there is an event that has a wide impact at school.


As this coming week is Spirit Week, Halloween, and Activity Night, I’m sharing again a reminder about Halloween costumes and Spirit Week outfits. Below are guidelines; please keep the following in mind as you are helping your student plan costumes. Please also be sure to review these guidelines with your student.

  • Costumes should follow the regular 4j dress code as outlined in the Roosevelt Middle School Student Handbook (search for “dress code”).

  • Costumes should show sensitivity to and awareness of our culture of safety and belonging.

  • In accordance with the 4j school district's discrimination and harassment policy, costumes cannot perpetuate harmful stereotypes about groups of people.

  • Halloween costumes should not include masks, excessive amounts of fake blood, internal organs and/or fluids on the outside of the body, nor fake or real weapons of any kind.

We recommend students who are navigating costume decisions try dressing up as someone they admire, as a fictional character in a movie or book, or as an animal or an inanimate object instead. Students may be asked to modify their costumes, change out of or have a change of clothing brought from home if necessary-- thanks in advance for your help and we’re excited to have a little fun together as a school! These same guidelines also apply to Activity Night, if your student is considering dressing up that evening.


Spirit Week (themes chosen by our Leadership Class):

  • Monday: Adam Sandler Day

  • Tuesday: Twin Day

  • Wednesday: Barbie vs. Wednesday

  • Thursday: Dress To Impress/Costume

  • Friday: Pajama Day


We look forward to a fun week ahead, culminating in the first Activity Night of the school year on Friday.


I also want to share information about our upcoming Student-Led Conferences. This year, we are once again holding student led conferences. Our desire is for students to take ownership of their learning, engage with their families about their areas of strengths and challenges, and show off the hard work of middle school. If your student was at RMS last year, we are using a similar format. Over the next few weeks, students will be assembling portfolios of their school work in all of their classes, including reflections on each class. At conferences students share their work with their parents/guardians and also have an opportunity to speak with teachers. The feedback we received from families last year was very positive. Conferences are scheduled on 11/25 from 9:30am - 8pm and 11/26 from 8:15am - 12pm. Families will schedule their conference times in Parent Square beginning on 11/4. We’ll send more specific information out soon..


The final piece of information this week is about our Anxious Generation book club. I’m including it again as we’d like to be sure any parent/guardian interested attends. Helping our young people negotiate phones, social media, and internet content in a healthy way is super important. At school, we see how these devices, when not stored off and away in lockers, can create off ramps from learning that distract students from their studies. With that in mind, our Parents At Roosevelt (PAR) group is hosting a book club focused on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Our first meeting will be on 12/5 following our Parents At Roosevelt meeting, which begins at 6:30pm. Our format will be to hold a roughly 30 minute PAR meeting followed by a roughly 30 minute book club discussion. For the 12/5 book club meeting, we’ll be discussing the first two parts of the book, The Tidal Wave and The Decline of the Play-Based Childhood. All are welcome to attend. Please reach out to Mike or Skye if you need a copy of the book.


Have a great week, all, and please reach out if there’s anything we can support with!


Mike Yocum

Interim Principal | Roosevelt Middle School

Eugene School District 4J

yocum_m@4j.lane.edu | 541.790.8500

Fall Activity Night!

What is Activity Night?

Activity Night is a fun and safe opportunity for all Roosevelt Students to socialize in a supervised and familiar place.

  • When: Friday, November 1, 2024
  • Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Where: RMS


What are some of the activities?

  • Bingo
  • Karaoke
  • Chill Craft Room
  • DJ/Dancing in the Small Gym
  • Concessions – pizza, chips, fruit snacks, cookies, and juice
  • AND MORE . . .


All activities are in the Dining Hall and C Hall only. The rest of the school will be closed, including all lockers. We suggest you don’t bring much of anything with you! Entry is ONLY through the dining hall doors.


Who is invited?

Activity Night is for Roosevelt students only. No visitors are allowed. Students who do not attend school on Friday may not attend Activity Night.


Price:

Activity Night Cards will go on sale in house Monday, October 28.

  • $3.00 in advance
  • $5.00 at the door
  • Free for those who qualify for the Federal Free & Reduced Meal Program.

If you purchase admission in advance, you must bring your Activity Night ID Card with you.


How is the money used?

Proceeds from Activity Night are first used to cover the expenses of Activity Night and any remaining funds are used to support various school programs, including field trips, teacher classroom grants, student scholarships and similar uses.


REMINDERS ABOUT ACTIVITY NIGHT:

  1. ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY AT ACTIVITY NIGHT.
  2. Students who purchased ID Cards in advance must bring their ID Cards with them.
  3. No outside food or drink is allowed at Activity Night.
  4. If you do not come to school on Friday you may not attend Activity Night.
  5. No taking pictures or videos during Activity Night.
  6. Students may not go to their lockers during Activity Night.
  7. No one may leave early unless pre-arranged with admin and parents MUST pick up at the south Dining Hall doors.
  8. All students must be picked up promptly at 8:00 PM.

Spirit Gear on sale now!

RMS sweatshirts, t-shirts, and tanks are on sale now! The online shop will run from Monday, October 21 through Sunday, November 3. Upon ordering, you'll have the option to pick up your items at school or shipped directly to your home!


The online store will be open through Sunday, November 3rd.

https://threadbare.printavo.com/merch/rmsspiritwear

Conference sign up, coming soon!

Log into Parent Square now!

Conference scheduling will be done through Parent Square again this year. If you haven't already, please sign in now to get familiar with the platform.


More information regarding conferences to come next week!

Picture Retakes

To order ​pictures:

  1. Visit www.jostenspix.com

  2. Register for an account https://shop.jostenspix.com/register

  3. Enter Event Code: FE169224

  4. Search for your student's name


If you are still running into trouble, please contact Jostens Customer Service: 1-877-515-1447

4J Student Cards for Eugene Public Library

All Eugene School District 4J students receive their own Eugene Public Library (EPL) card as part of a partnership with Eugene Public Library! Library cards were delivered to all 4J students last year and will be automatically renewed yearly until they graduate or leave the district.


New library cards are being offered to all new students and kindergarteners this year. If your student does not receive a card once your home school has delivered library cards, please contact or visit Eugene Public Library.


Below is information regarding EPL student cards. Student cards:

  • Provide immediate access to Eugene Public Library's online resources and the ability to borrow five physical items at a time.

    • Online resources include ebooks, audiobooks, research information, live homework help by professional tutors, streaming movies including documentaries and instructional videos, music, and more.

    • Physical items include books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, art and technology tools, games, educational toys, puppets and more.

  • Will be distributed by each school's library or administration office.

  • Are free of charge, including for students who live outside the City of Eugene.

  • Can be upgraded to a standard library card with higher borrowing limits at no charge.

  • Are automatically issued to all K-12 students enrolled at 4J neighborhood and alternative schools unless they or their parents choose not to participate. Charter schools are not included.

  • Are automatically renewed each school year for continuing 4J students. New cards will be issued to students joining the district (kindergarteners and new students).

The initial account password is the student’s 4J ID number. We encourage patrons to change their password upon first logging into their account and record it in a safe place. Teachers, 4J librarians, and school secretaries can assist with ID numbers as needed. Please note that Eugene Public Librarians cannot access 4J student ID numbers.


4J students who already have a standard Eugene Public Library card may choose to keep and use both cards or cancel one of their cards.


For preschoolers: Eugene Public Library offers free library cards to all children ages 0-5 who live in the 4J district, regardless of home address.

We appreciate your patience as cards are distributed. Should you have questions about getting a Student Card, please contact your school's administration office.


For questions about using, upgrading, or canceling a Student Card account, please contact Eugene Public Library online, in person, or by phone at 541-682-5450. EPL’s website posting.

Changes to the SEHS Football Games Attendance Policy

**Supervised Attendance for Middle School and Under Students**


To enhance safety and the overall experience for our younger community members, middle school and under students will be required to be accompanied by their parents or another responsible adult. Students without their parents or another responsible adult will not be allowed into Friday Night Football Games.


We firmly believe this measure will create a safe environment for everyone who attends our Friday night football games. We value your support and participation in our community events, and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming games. Let us come together to celebrate our local student athletes, build lasting connections, and ensure that these events remain a source of pride and unity for years to come. We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to enhance the experience for all members of our community.


Go Axe!

Community Activities + Events

Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos with 4J!

Young Writers Contest!

We wanted to let you know about Fiction Fantastic–a short story contest for youth open to all Lane County students in grades K-12.


There’s no cost for students to enter, and the top-placing stories in each category are published in an annual anthology. The anthology is professionally edited and published, and available for sale after the contest, making student winners published authors.


How is this possible?

Because of Wordcrafters in Eugene, a local literary non-profit serving all of Lane County. While we run the contest, Fiction Fantastic made possible through grants and donations, and powered by a wonderful team of volunteer judges.


And…if you want to read some of the stories yourself, we’d LOVE to have you as one of our volunteer judges. You can sign up to be a judge here.


You can learn all about Fiction Fantastic, read past years’ winning stories, and get the submission guidelines at fictionfantastic.org. If you’ve got any questions, send them to bewriting@wordcrafters.org.

Rose Children's Theater: Madagascar

Ophelia's Place After-School Drop-ins & More...

We’re thrilled to announce that the Ophelia's Place Fall 2024 calendar is now available! It’s packed with exciting events, activities, and opportunities to get involved. You can see everything Ophelia's Place has to offer by clicking here. We’re looking forward to sharing this season with you.


You can also explore more about Ophelia’s Place and stay updated by visiting their website: https://www.opheliasplace.net/

Community Resources

Seeking Participants: Developing Brains In Context

ODHS: Seeking Foster Parents

Students Ride Free with LTD

Free LTD Transit Passes for students!

All students in 4J schools can get a student pass to ride Lane Transit District (LTD) buses for free. Student transit passes can be used to travel anywhere within the LTD service area. Student passes can be used at any time—after school, weekends and during school breaks, as well as to get to and from school each day. To get a free LTD student transit pass middle school students can request their own passes at the front office. Passes are valid through September 30 and renew annually.


LTD free student bus passes should work throughout students’ time at 4j. If you try to use your pass and it doesn’t work, please go to the front office right away with your pass to get it renewed. If you lose your pass or it is stolen, the front office at your school can replace it for you.

Mental Health Support

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources

Please click here to find an updated list of community resources for families.

Free Access to Care Solace

4J families, does your student or a family member need help with mental health care? Eugene School District 4J is providing students, staff and their families’ free access to Care Solace, a confidential care coordination service, to help provide an additional layer of care and address the growing need for mental health care and substance abuse treatment.


Care Solace will connect you to verified community care providers matched to your needs, including providers that accept your medical insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or sliding scale options for those without insurance. Their care companion team is always available. Get help finding care providers that meet your needs at caresolace.com/eugene or call 888-515-0595 anytime, day or night, in any language. (Note, Care Solace is not a mental health service provider or emergency response service. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255.)

Learn more: 4j.lane.edu/2022/03/care-solace-mental-health-care-coordination-service/

Helping Out Our Teens in Schools

HOOTS offers mental health support by phone for students, families, and staff of 4J high schools during school closures. The phone line is accessible from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday and is staffed by crisis counselors who normally work HOOTS clinic or work on CAHOOTS. Video support is available from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on weekdays and is accessed by emailing hoots@whitebirdclinic.org with your name and preferred time. HOOTS is able to provide short term counseling and mental health support, resource referrals and OHP sign up. Students, families and staff of 4J please call (541)246-2342.

Earn Free Money for Roosevelt!

Oregon's Bottle Drop Program! Blue bags and tags are available for pick up in the front office.


You can help Roosevelt earn money for our school by registering your credit card with eScrip. Earn money for Roosevelt every time you shop at Market of Choice & other local restaurants. Register your credit/debit cards, designating Roosevelt Middle School—Recipient ID #6723045. Click on the link above to get started.


Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Roosevelt. You can search by our name or by our non-profit number GB554.


Download the Box Top for Education App in Google Play or the App Store, sign up (or sign in) and take a picture of your receipt within 14 days of purchase. It will automatically credit the school for each product. For more information, click on the link above.

| Office: 541-790-8500 | Attendance: 541-790-8525 |

Skye Stier