Spartan Update 2/17/25

Hello SBMS Community!

This is a relatively short edition of the Spartan Update. We are very excited to open registration for the 2025 track and field season! This is a huge sport for our school and we know that this is going to be a spectacular season!

1. February is Black History Month.
2. Track Registration is Now Open - Tentative start 3/3/25. Click here for a direct link to our track and field webpage.
3. Erin's Law Child Abuse Prevention Lesson on Tuesday the 18th in Advisory

Thank you for your time in reading this week's Spartan Update. If there is anything that I can do for you, please feel free to contact me at nolan_p@4j.lane.edu, 541-790-8300, or by clicking the Contact Paula button at the bottom of this newsletter.

Have a nice day,

Paula

Paula Nolan

Principal

Spencer Butte Middle School

If we can get our coaches hired in time SBMS track practices will begin on 3/3/25. Our Track 2025 webpage is updated with the latest information about what families need to do to register,

• One of the biggest barriers and headaches for families is the requirement for a current physical to be on file with SBMS for any track athlete. Physicals are good for 2 years. If you have questions about physicals or if you are unsure if your child's physical that SBMS has is still current, please contact Heather at 541-790-8300 or acharya_h@4j.lane.edu.
• The OSAA physical form is also linked on our track webpage.

We are also looking for two assistant coaches. If you are interested in applying for one of those positions, you can learn more about the assistant coach positions here. We are also happy to have volunteer coaches. If you have questions about those positions (paid or volunteer) please contact Carlos Sequeira at 541-790-8300 or sequeira_c@4j.lane.edu.

On 2/12/25 I sent an email to our school community sharing about Erin's Law Lessons. That information is copied below:

Erin’s Law and Child Abuse Prevention

Information for Parents

What is Erin’s Law?

Erin Merryn is a woman who was abused as a child. She has advocated and helped create legislation to ensure that all students be educated about child abuse and what to do if it is happening to them or someone they know. For more information about Erin’s Law you can watch her video or read the law here.

The purpose of Erin’s Law related lessons are to provide students, in a nurturing and caring environment, the tools needed for personal safety.

In compliance with SB 856 (Erin's Law) and OAR 581-022-1440 (9), Eugene School District 4J will implement four sexual abuse prevention lessons each year in grades 6-8 during Advisory on the following dates: 1/18, 3/18, 4/29, 6/4

These lessons will address the following topics and skills:

• Topics Addressed:

  • Consent

  • Healthy/Unhealthy Relationships

  • Sexual Abuse

  • Safe Touch, Safe Secrets

• Skills Addressed:

  • Effective Communication Skills to Establish Boundaries

  • Skills to Tell a Trusted Adult

  • Techniques to Recognize Sexual Abuse

  • Identifying Safe Touches & Safe Secrets

Please know that in accordance with OAR 581-022-1910, parents (and students 18 and older) can elect to “opt-out” of these specific learning activities via this form. That link can also be used to review lesson materials. If you have questions about these materials, please contact your school's office. If you are looking for community resources regarding this topic, please see below.

Who should report child abuse or suspected child abuse?

Anyone can report child abuse or suspected child abuse. You need to report when: you have a reason to suspect, you have observed the abuse, and you know or have a reasonable cause to believe. You don’t have to prove it to make the call. Make the report right away. Agencies are available 24/7.

To Whom do I report abuse?

You can report it to local law enforcement, Department of Human Services - Child Protective Services, a teacher, or your school’s building administrator. Ideally, the person that suspects or has firsthand knowledge should make the call directly to Child Protective Services. Here are our local phone numbers:

Agency

Oregon Department of Human Services – Child Protective Services

Eugene Police Department

Springfield Police Department

When immediate threat presents - CALL 911

Repeat- Black History Month

February marks Black History Month, a month where special recognition is paid to the contributions of African Americans. Although Black history is not limited to being taught and celebrated just in February, recognition months are important because they "provide us with an opportunity to delve into the rich historical, cultural, and social dimensions of various identities, while amplifying voices that have often been marginalized." (Source). Black History Month was the brainchild of Dr. Carter Woodson (the second Black American to earn a PhD from Harvard University). His work started in 1926 and 50 years later the government of the United States began to recognize February as Black History Month. If you are interested, you can learn more about Dr. Woodson here and more about Black History Month 2025 here (last accessed by me on 2/2/25 at 1:30 PM).

Every year, each of the 50 states, U.S. territories, DC, and the Department of Defense Education Activity names a teacher of the year. The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence, with the Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across the state. Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled licensed public school educators in grades preK-12. Thanks to the Oregon Department of Education’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the Oregon Teacher of the Year receives a gift of $10,000 as well as a special fund to cover all travel costs for the year.

Read more about the program

About the Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year Program

Every school community in Oregon is comprised of dedicated professionals who spend their day in support of students and educators, performing a variety of jobs promoting quality education, fostering positive learning environments, offering nutritious meals, providing reliable transportation and maintaining safe and clean schools for all students.

Beginning in 2020, the Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is privileged to facilitate the Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year award. The winner will receive a $5,000 gift, as well as a plaque and banner to commemorate this significant achievement.

Read more about the program

Volunteers are incredible forces in the lives of our students. We have many volunteer opportunities at SBMS- activity nights, field trips, and in-school events are a few examples. To be a volunteer, there's a two-step process:

1. Volunteer Application
2. Background Check

If you've been a volunteer in the past, your background check is good for 2 years.

We will share our volunteer opportunities through the Spartan Update and emails to families. To get the process started, please click the button below.

Questions about this may be directed to Greg Fortner at (347) 236-9088 or

gfortner@umich.edu

We are here as a part of your child's team. Whenever I have the opportunity to speak with a parent about something involving a class I always ask if they've had a chance to connect with the teacher. I ask that question because involving the teacher is the most powerful thing that we can do to help your child in class.

Our teachers love to hear from parents. Whether there is information about something happening in the student's life, a fun story about when your child spoke about the class at home, concerns about academic progress, or questions about the class, connecting with staff is the first and most important step in helping your student to succeed.

There are many ways to connect with staff. Sending an email or message in Canvas is the most direct way of reaching teachers. You can also call the school at 541-790-8300 and leave a message for a teacher to return.

Contacting Teachers Via Email

To find a teacher's email address, please access our directory below.

[Link to SBMS Staff Directory: https://spencerbutte.4j.lane.edu/41178_2 ]

Contacting Teachers Via the Canvas Parent App*

You may find the Canvas Parent app the easiest way to send a message. When in the app you can send a message by tapping on a course name and then the speech bubble emoji in the bottom right corner. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the inbox, tap on the speech bubble emoji, and then select the teacher/course you are intending to send the message to.

Canvas on Desktop*

If you are accessing Canvas via desktop you are able to send a message through the Inbox feature. To use that, follow the directions below:

1. Click on the Inbox logo/name on the left hand side of the screen.
2. Once you are in the Inbox, look at the top of the webpage and then click the pictogram that looks like a pencil writing on paper.
3. After you do that, you can select the course/teacher you are attempting to contact.

*Information about how to access Canvas is below.

Canvas is the online learning platform that parents can use to track grades and what is happening in classes (announcements, due dates, etc...). It is a very important tool to use and I recommend that every parent/guardian uses their Canvas Observer account (accessed via the web or the Canvas Parent app on your phone).

The information below will tell new and returning users how to activate their Canvas Observer account for this school year.

All new and returning users must activate their account before you can start using Canvas Observer (even if you had an account last year). To activate your account , complete the following steps:

1. Visit 4J’s Canvas for Families webpage and click on “Forgot Password?”

2. Enter the email you provided your child’s school and then click the “Request Password” box

3. Enter a password after clicking the reset link you receive in your email

4. Return to the Canvas for Families webpage to log in with your username and new password

One account per email- Canvas Observer will not allow you to activate more than one account if parents/guardians have the same email address on file for their student. In this case, contact your school and provide a unique email address for each parent or guardian associated with your student.

Please contact us at 541-790-8300 or email me at nolan_p@4j.lane.edu if you run into any problems with activating your account.

Having the ParentSquare app will allow you to receive instant notifications from the school (in addition to emails). By going to this site or downloading the app you can get registered in a few minutes. Setup is pretty easy (I did it last year for my own parent account). Basically, you'll create your account and then you'll be asked to link your children to your account. The site or app will walk you through the process. If you need any help with it, please call us at 541-790-8300.

This platform is being used at all schools and I encourage our community to download it so you get the instant notifications in addition to emails.