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Ridgeline eNews
May 2, 2024
RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Full calendar: http://www.ridgeline.org/calendar
Thursday 5/2 Middle School Dance 6:30-8:30pm
Friday 5/3 No School - Professional Development
Saturday 5/4 May the 4th Be With Us 10am-2pm, at Ridgeline
Monday 5/6 Staff Appreciation Week starts
Wednesday 5/8 - Spring Bike, Walk, & Roll to School Day
Thursday 5/9 Board Meeting 6-8pm
Monday 5/20 Site Council Meeting 5-6:30pm
Thursday 5/23 Handel’s Ice Cream Fundraiser 11am - 10pm
Thursday 5/23 Board Meeting 6-8pm
Monday 5/27 No School - Memorial Day
Thursday 5/30 End of the Year Picnic - 5:30pm
Be sure to check the full calendar at https://www.ridgeline.org as some dates may change. Please note that Ridgeline’s calendar differs slightly from 4J elementary and middle school calendars.
NEW NEWS
Reminder: No School tomorrow, Friday, May 3
This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow, Friday, May 3 is a pre-planned Professional Development Day. There is no school and Ridgeline Staff will be in an all day training.
There have been some questions recently about additional hazardous weather make-up days. Ridgeline had one make up day, and that was Presidents Day. Our last day of school will still be Thursday, June 13. If you have other questions, please check the school calendar here.
May the 4th Be With Us - THIS Saturday, 10am - 2pm
Sign up here to join the amazing work crew on May 4, from 10am - 2pm. After a series of fun and productive grounds work party victories, the team may face its greatest challenge yet: the staff lunch area between the two buildings and creating a beautiful space that will serve as a place where we can memorialize Betsy Brandenfels. Here are some of the tasks we will be working on:
The area was just weeded but it is Spring, so, weeders
Pruners for the bushes
Oregon Grape eliminators
People to dig and rework the round rock edging around the curved bed
Knowledgeable people to fertilize, spread compost, plant bulbs and possibly a big plant or two
Diggers and retaining wall finishers if need be, this is CRITICAL
Wheelbarrowers and shovelers of dirt and mulch
The forecast is showing rain - so please bring good gear and extra layers! We also recommend bringing a water bottle and any gardening tools that you like using.
Staff Appreciation - Next Week!
Next week is Ridgeline's Staff Appreciation Week! Please sign up here to volunteer. There are still some sign-up spots left to contribute on Thursday and Friday. We only have a few sign ups for the staff potluck lunch on Friday! This is a greatly loved annual tradition. Thank you to our amazing volunteers who have already signed up to shower Ridgeline staff with goodies and acts of service!
We also want Ridgeline's non-classroom teaching staff to feel the love on Tuesday and Wednesday. Does your student love art or PE? Do they run around on freshly cut grass? Has your student brought home calm-down skills? Do they receive school lunch? Please encourage your student to write a card or bring in a flower from your yard for our incredible staff at Ridgeline.
Here are some additional people who make a big impact:
Principal: Michelle
Executive Director: Chrystell
Operations Manager: Yaeko
Admissions and Office Coordinator: Cynthia
School Community Coordinator: Bethany
Bookeeper Shu
Art Specialist: Merideth
PE Specialist: Kyle
Facilities Coordinator: Jesse
Meal Coordinator: Laurie
IT Support: Julian
Wellness: Jon & Jenine
Speech: Amy &John
Tier 3: Paula & Jes
Learning Center: Robyn, Megan, & Leah
Floating Classroom Assistant: Andrea
Oregon BottleDrop: Matching Funds - Drop Off Your Full Blue Bags by this Saturday, May 4!
Do you have full Blue Bags at home? Turn it in now and then grab a new one because Ridgeline Montessori is registered for BottleDrop’s Earth Week Give matching promotion! We’ll receive a 20% match from BottleDrop Give on funds raised from April 22 – May 4. This matching campaign also benefits from online donations from your BottleDrop Green Bag accounts if you don’t have a blue bag on hand.
As a reminder, fill your Blue Bag with Oregon 10 cent deposit containers. Plastic, aluminum, and glass can go in the same bag. Please keep bags under the 20 lb. weight limit and do not put any trash inside your Blue Bag. When your bag is filled, please return your bag to a local BottleDrop location. You can find one such location at 2105 W. Broadway in Eugene and others by searching your zip code on the location tab of the BottleDrop website. In case you need it, each bag is printed with easy-to-follow instructions. At the bottle drop location, use the QR code printed on the bag to open the drop off door and leave your bag inside.
The Ridgeline office has extra tagged blue bags. Reach out if you need one sent home with your student. Thank you in advance to those who choose to participate!
Every dollar matters and helps us get closer to our annual fundraising goal. We've raised just under 75% of our fundraising goal for this school year. With just 10 weeks left in the 2023 - 2024 school year, this match is a great way to give participation in the school fundraising effort a boost.
Spring Walk & Roll to School Day - Volunteers needed on Wednesday, May 8 from 7:45am - 8:15am
It's that time again–Walk & Roll to School Day is this Wednesday, May 8th from 7:45am - 8:15am.
Join other Ridgeline families in the bike-to-school commute that morning at 8am, starting at Tugman Park on Hilyard between 36th and 38th Ave. Note: due to road construction, cars can't access the park from the north on Hilyard. Cars will need to approach Tugman from the east on 37th, or from the south on Hilyard. Bikers can access the parks from all directions.
The walking group will be meeting at Kincaid Park located at 3839 Kincaid Street, and will walk the .6 miles on the bark path to Ridgeline starting at 8am. Students will be accompanied by their parents at this event, so you do not have to sign up to participate. Some volunteers are still needed to help support everyone as we make our way safely to the school. Sign up here to be a walking or biking helper!
Staffing Update for 2024-25
We would like to update you on additional staffing changes for 2024-25.
We are excited to announce that Jes Feather will be joining the Ridgeline team in the role of classroom assistant. Jes has been a part of the Ridgeline community for many years, has served as a substitute assistant, and most recently served as our tier III instructional assistant. We are elated to finally welcome Jes as a permanent Ridgeline team member.
It is with a mix of sorrow and gratitude that we announce Katie Dahill, our room 5 assistant, will be departing at the end of this academic year to support her family business. Despite her departure, Katie expresses a desire to maintain ties with our community and potentially serve as a substitute assistant at Ridgeline. Students and staff will miss Katie and will welcome her back as a substitute as often as she is available. Click here to read a letter from Katie.
In other exciting news, Jonathan Sternberg, our upper elementary assistant will be serving our tier III students in a new capacity next year. Jonathan’s recent graduation and accreditation in elementary education make him the ideal candidate as the tier III instructional assistant. He and Christa Nova, our tier III coordinator, will make an ideal team to support our learners who benefit from additional support.
We are happy to announce that our reliable substitute Ryan Carwile has accepted the floating assistant position for next year. Ryan has filled in as a classroom assistant, SEL assistant, and floating assistant throughout the school year. He finds great fulfillment in working with students and watching them grow. We are eager to have him serve Ridgeline in a more permanent capacity.
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream - Thursday, May 23
Save-the-date: Thursday, May 23 is our first all-school ice cream fundraiser! You will need to bring the flyer to Handel's, located at 550 Pearl St, in the 5th Street Public Market and hand it to the cashier during checkout. We will be sending flyers home with students the week before the event.
This fundraiser goes all day from 11am to 10pm. Invite friends, arrange for a class meet up, or bring your neighbor--this will be a fun one!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer Thank Yous
This Student Marketplace was a success and we want to give a big shout out to all the incredible people who helped this year! Thank you to Jillian Hoy, Claire Alderson, Elizabeth Zeltmaier, Erin Wagner, Jess Wood, Ruth Tabak, Jessica Lynch, Paula Luginbuhl, David VanScoy, Chelsea Whitney, Tammy Nezol, Amie Chaudoir, Emily Caldera, Adam Hickcox, Heather Hickcox, and Amanda Bedortha. We appreciate all the volunteer hours that went into creating Marketplace signage, assisting with donation pick up, helping with event prep, arriving early for event set-up, greeting families at the event, cashiering, serving continental breakfast items, and cleaning up at the end of the event.
Even with intermittent drizzles, we had a wonderful turnout, smiling students, and 2.5 hours of steady business transactions. So far we have raised close to $1700. As a friendly reminder, if your student participated as a vendor and has not yet donated the minimum 20% of their total sales, please bring your donation to Ridgeline's front office at your earliest convenience. We are eager to calculate a grand total!
Last but not least, we want to say thank you to the many Ridgeline families and parents for helping your students prepare for Marketplace. We know making arts and crafts was a big investment of your time and resources, and most importantly your amazing support!
It's time to log your volunteer hours!
There are several amazing volunteers, who have not yet logged all their volunteer hours this year (see the colorful graph below). Please take a moment and do that at your earliest convenience. If you know that you volunteered in the classroom but aren’t sure which days, simply log: classroom volunteer, 15 hours. It is easy to add your name to Track it Forward, just click on the link and follow the instructions. It is even available as an app if it is easier for you to use your phone!
Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district. Right now is the perfect time to check your calendar and jog your memory and log past hours. Don’t worry too much, estimates and bulk logging are fine. As a reminder, we encourage each family to aim for 40-hours a year. Thank you for giving your time to Ridgeline - it means so much!
Track it Forward
Ridgeline uses Track it Forward for volunteer sign-ups and to log your volunteer hours. If you are new to Ridgeline or have not yet created an account, please do so! Last year we had a lot of folks forget to log their hours. Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district.
If you are a first-time Track It Forward user and have not set up an account you will need to create an account first. If you already have an account, skip to step two.
1. Go to https://www.trackitforward.com/user
-Select sign in
-Create your account
2. Go to the app store on your device and search for Track It Forward
-Download the app
-Log In
You are all set!
Volunteering
Volunteers are an integral part of the Ridgeline Community. Families pledge to complete 40 hours of volunteer time per school year. There are a myriad of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Volunteers serve on committees, make materials at home, do grounds work, act as crossing guards, help in classrooms, chaperone field trips and much more. To help us get to know you better and your areas of interest, please fill out the Volunteer Interest form here.
To fully participate in most volunteer opportunities, volunteers are background checked. In addition to the background check, volunteers need to complete the volunteer code of conduct. After that, they will be issued a green badge with their name on it and notified that they are ready to go! Visit our website for more information on volunteering.
CONTINUING NEWS
Kindness Campaign - Concludes May 17
Families can assist students by noting acts of kindness performed at home. Have your student share their acts of care and kindness with you and then write them on the provided strips of paper (check your students backpack by Friday). Your student should bring their completed links back to the classroom each Monday, now through May 13th. Every link will contribute to the classroom ’s kindness campaign chain. Each classroom aims to create a paper chain long enough to encircle the gym.
Examples of acts of kindness include:
"I smiled and said good morning to our neighbor Mrs. Jones" and “I helped mom unload the groceries."
RIDGELINE COMMITTEES & ORGANIZATIONS
Ridgeline Board Meeting
The Ridgeline Board will have a regular meeting on May 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm over Zoom and in person in the library. Action items on the agenda include: Election of New Officers, Gym Roofing Recommendation, and Certified Staff Contract for 2024-25. Information and Discussion items on the agenda include Facilities Report, Board Officer Roles, Instructional Resources and Materials Policy Research, Policy First Reads, Letter to 4J: Training Schedule & Communication, and Contract Days for Executive Director 23-24. All are welcome to join the regular board meeting and there is time at the beginning of our agenda to make a public comment.
The agenda will be finalized and posted here by Tuesday, May 7th the Zoom link to join is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88176985729?pwd=UDFvdGk0blZhZzVVbHR0RzlHWmFlUT09 Meeting ID: 881 7698 5729 Passcode: 766547.
You can always reach the board by email (board@ridgeline.org). Members of the public may also provide comments to the board in written form by emailing board@ridgeline.org prior to the meeting. The board will read (not aloud), review, and take into consideration all comments. In order to be fully considered at this meeting, comments must be received by noon on the day of the meeting. Please clearly label the email subject line as: "Public Comment."
Ridgeline Board of Directors - Seeking Board Members
Hello!
Do you want to give back to your community? Are you energized to work on a variety of diverse projects? Do you enjoy working collaboratively within a group? If so, consider joining the Ridgeline Montessori Board of Directors! We are a diverse group of thoughtful, inquisitive community members who enjoy serving the Ridgeline community. Prior experience is not important. If you'd like to learn more, please read this letter from the Board.
We will have several openings on the Board going into next school year. I would like to personally invite interested community members to join our meetings (virtually or in person), or to meet one-on-one. I can share information about Board responsibilities and insight about how we support the public Montessori education that allows our children to thrive. If you are curious about Board work, please get in touch via email at april-kay.williams@ridgeline.org
Warmly,
April-Kay Williams, Board President, parent, Ridgeline Equity Committee member
COMMUNITY NEWS
NAACP Fundraiser- Requesting Donations for Youth Thrift Store
It’s time for spring cleaning! This week we will begin collecting donations again for our second annual Pop Up Thrift Shop. Similar to last year Lane County youth will be able to download a voucher for $20 per day to shop in the thrift store. Our goal is to send Youth into summer with a few new items to help them feel good about themselves and prepare for summer activities. The thrift store will also be open to the general public and funds raised go towards the NAACP Youth Council and scholarships. We will be accepting donations for the next six weeks and hosting our 3 day thrift shop the second week of June. This event is youth led and this year they even designed the flyer below.
Below is a list of items we are hoping to receive via donations -
Bikes, Helmets, Protective gear
Clothing, Shoes, Eyewear, Jackets
Camping gear, Heaters, Fans,
Exercise equipment and apparel.
Electronics, Cameras, Laptops,
Art, Instruments & Art supplies
Books, Backpacks, School supplies
Small home furniture, Vacuums, Dishes
Etc …
Thank you for your continued support of the Eugene / Springfield NAACP and our programs for youth. Your donations and participation made our first pop up thrift shop a huge success! Let’s come together to support our youth in this endeavor to give back to the community.
Oregon Youth Suicide Prevention Resources
The rates of suicide attempts and related deaths among Oregon's youth often increase each spring. There is a call to action from ODE, OHA, and Lines for Life to provide resources and action items to equip trusted adults, with skills to support students who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors and refer those students to qualified mental health providers. See below for resources to review.