9-16-2024

School News

• Principal's Message
• Upcoming Event

Community Activities + Events

• Learn to Ride a Bike
• Eugene Youth Cheer
• Ophelia's Place Fall Calendar

This Week:

SEPTEMBER 16 (M)

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice Begins

SEPTEMBER 17 (T)

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice
  
• 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Beginning Band Rodeo

SEPTEMBER 18 (W)

• Early Release - 2:35 PM
  

SEPTEMBER 19 (TH)

• Picture Day

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice
  
• 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, Curriculum Night for Families

SEPTEMBER 20 (F)

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice

• Early Release - 2:35 PM
  
• Let's Eat Out: Mod Pizza Fundraiser

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice

• 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM, Cross Country Practice

Hello RMS Families,

I hope this message finds you well! We had a great first full week with students last week, and we are looking forward to another week with them!

Last week, we had an extended House schedule for community building and technology lessons. This week, we begin our regular RMS bell schedule. In House this week we will be teaching and practicing our safety protocols and Affinity Groups will be meeting for the first time on Tuesday and Thursday.

Student safety is our highest priority, and we believe it is important to practice these safety procedures so we are as prepared as possible in the event of an emergency. We also believe that fostering a sense of belonging and community in which all students feel welcomed, valued, and respected for who they are is a critical and important prevention measure. This week, students will learn about our standard response emergency protocols for hold, secure, shelter, lockdown, and evacuate. On Monday during House, we’ll practice a secure drill and on Friday during House we will practice lockdown, shelter, and evacuation drills.

It was really nice to see many of you at our first Parents At Roosevelt (PAR) meeting and Open House last Thursday. We mentioned we will be hosting our Parent Education Nights again this year. If you have suggestions for topics, please let us know here. We also plan to host a book club this year for the book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. If you are interested in collaborating with us in planning for this, please reach out to me directly at yocum_m@4j.lane.edu.

Lastly, I’m sending a little info out about a recent measles outbreak in Oregon… thirty cases were confirmed in Marion, Clackamas, and Multnomah counties as of August 29, all in unvaccinated people and all but seven of the cases are in youth under 20 years of age. While Roosevelt's current two-dose MMR vaccination rate is at or above the 94% threshold needed for herd immunity, it is still important that our students are up-to-date on their immunizations. We are sharing awareness with our families about staying home when sick and staying up to date on vaccinations to prevent the spread of disease.

We hope you and your family have a great week!

- Mike & Kelsea

• Main Office: 541-790-8500
• Attendance: 541-790-8525
• Spanish Attendance: 541-790-8507
• Attendance Email: dialroosevelt@4j.lane.edu

To avoid disruptions to our school day, please email staff to check in or schedule an appointment at anytime. Our staff directory can be found here.

Students Arriving and/or Leaving During the School Day:

Anytime students arrive or leave during the school day they must check in and out of the front office. Students may only be summoned by or leave with a guardian or adult listed in our information system as an emergency contact.

If you know your student will need to leave school during the instructional day, please call the front office to excuse your student at a specific time. We will send a note for your student to be excused from class to come to the office and sign out. Please park and come into the office to pick up your student.

If an unexpected appointment comes up, please call the office as early as possible. Please note, students may not leave school during the school day for appointments or any other reason without a parent/guardian or approved emergency contact coming to pick them up. On rare occasions, administration may work with a parent/guardian to authorize the student to leave without a parent/guardian or emergency contact picking the student up.

In order to excuse an absence, parents must contact the school within 48 hours of the absence. Pre-planned absences for family trips, etc. may be excused if arranged in advance and the student has otherwise maintained regular attendance. Examples of valid excused absences include illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, participation in school or district approved activities or absences resulting from disciplinary action.

Automated calls go out at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day to inform you of your student’s unexcused absences through out the day. Multiple unexcused absences will lead to additional communication by a staff member.

• Food consumption at school is limited to the cafeteria.
• Students may not bring coffee, soda, energy drinks or other beverages except water to school. Water bottles must be plastic or reusable materials with resealable tops (no glass, cups, or cans).
• Students may not have food delivered by vendors via delivery apps or family members.

When: Thursday, September 19

Where: Small gym

Reminder: Please do not wear the color green. Wearing the color green can limit Jostens ability to change the background of your photo. And they have 22 backgrounds to choose from!

Student pictures are used for their ID cards and yearbook photo. Families will also be able to place an order with Jostens. Pictures will be available to be ordered online and will be shipped directly to your house! More information to come.

The popular Amazon Path in south Eugene will be closed from 24th Avenue to 19th Avenue beginning the week of August 20 as part of the Amazon Creek Restoration Project. The path is expected to reopen in late September.

Amazon Path users should follow the signed detour around the project area. The detour includes a temporary path installed on the east side of Amazon Parkway up to the new Kidsports facility, where path users will cross the street to continue along the sidewalk. People biking can use the path detour or use the existing bike lanes on Amazon Parkway.

There is a detour map at this page: https://www.eugene-or.gov/5264/Amazon-Park-Renovation-Projects

Log In to ParentSquare to Receive School & District Communications

• This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with their school and 4J district.

• Log in to ParentSquare TODAY!

• Please opt-in to receiving text messages in your settings to stay up to date with any announcements or changes at RMS!

• ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information

• Share pictures and files

• See calendar items

• Sign up to volunteer

• Schedule parent-teacher conferences

• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

• Parents—Getting Started Video

Exciting news! Middle School Cross-Country is back!

Meets and Practices

Practice begins on Monday, September 16th and will be held four times a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We will meet from 3:45-5:15 PM in the small gym and use the RMS field and surrounding neighborhoods for practice.

We will compete in four meets with the option of a State Meet depending on qualifications! Our first two meets will be:

• 10/2 - King of the Hill at Lane Community College
• 10/10 - Corvallis Meet
• More information to come!

Registration

The District has decided to transition to a new registration platform for the 24-25 school year! FinalForms allows you to complete and sign athletic participation forms for your students. The most exciting news is that FinalForms saves data from season-to-season and year-to-year, meaning that you will never need to enter the same information twice! FinalForms also pre-populates information wherever possible, for each of your students, saving you time.

• You may review your data at any time to verify it is current. You will be required to sign your forms once per year and after any update.
• Click on the Parent Playbook (attached) to get started in FinalForms. If you require any support during the process, scroll to the page bottom and click “Get Help”.
• You will have to pay the $50 registration fee seperately through SchoolPay which is linked here.

We are asking the parents/guardians of all students planning to play sports to create accounts in FinalForms and register your student(s).

Please register at: https://eugene-or.finalforms.com/ and follow the prompts to create your account, create your students and sign your forms.

Hope to see you out at the races!

The look of our parking lot has changed significantly since school began in September. Please remember the following when you pull in and out of the RMS lot:

1. Please slow down. No need to go over 5 miles an hour for everyone's safety.

2. Exiting the lot onto 24th? RIGHT TURN ONLY, please! When you enter our parking lot, you can turn right at the first entrance to complete pause parking loop. You can also go straight through to the YMCA parking lot. However, when you leave the RMS parking lot, right turns only are permitted onto 24th Avenue. Thank you! Otherwise, everyone behind you has to wait in order for you to navigate students and cross-traffic from all directions and it slows *everything* down.

Turning right out of the parking lot has always been the rule and we're taking this opportunity once again to offer the reminder.

3. No Y parking. The Y has kindly asked their patrons not to park in the RMS lot. This may change in the future, but for now, the RMS parking lot is for school traffic only. By the same token, please do not park in the lot southeast of RMS-- that is entirely for the YMCA which is still seeing a record numbers of members daily!

Thanks for your continued patience and support and for sharing your concerns!

Exclusion from School Per state regulation OAR 333-019-0010, if there is an exposure to a contagious illness like measles, schools are required to temporarily exclude students or staff who are deemed susceptible, such as those who are undervaccinated. This exclusion could last up to 21 days or more, depending on the situation, to prevent further spread and to ensure everyone’s safety.

About Measles Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It poses a serious health risk to those who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or pregnant. In fact, nine out of ten unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will contract the virus.

Symptoms include fever (sometimes over 104°), cough, sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, red eyes. Tiny white spots may appear in the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin. A rash starts 3-5 days later, typically on the face and neck, spreading downward. If you suspect measles, call your primary care provider or local public health department immediately. Call 211 for questions about measles or vaccines.

While we respect individual beliefs and the right to make personal healthcare choices, it’s important to understand that measles can lead to severe complications, including hospitalization or, in rare cases, death. Protecting the health of our students, staff, and community members is our top priority.

Up-to-date information on the current measles outbreak and public exposures can be found on the OHA website.

Health Support and Resources If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s health or vaccinations, we encourage you to contact your healthcare provider. The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) offers support to all children and teens under 19, regardless of immigration status, who meet income and other criteria. You can find help enrolling in OHP here.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community safe and healthy. Together, we can help ensure that our children stay protected and continue learning in a safe environment.

A Free, All Ages, Drop-In Event For Not-Yet-Riders!

Monday, October 7, 4:30-6:30 pm, 4J Education Center, 200 North Monroe St, Eugene

Do you or your child want to learn how to ride a bike? Join 4J, Bethel, and Springfield Safe Routes to School programs, the City of Eugene, the City of Springfield, and Shift Community Cycles for this fun event with bike checks, free helmets and information about bike share.

We’ll start with balancing and gliding without pedals or training wheels. Some will learn to pedal in one session, while others may need more practice to reach that final goal. You don’t need your own bike to participate, but please bring a helmet and bike if you have one. Contact Safe Routes to School at mazze_s@4j.lane.edu or albee_b@4j.lane.edu with questions or to volunteer.

Eugene Youth Cheer is committed to educating, empowering and energizing youth through the sport of cheerleading. The organization is now enrolling 4th through 8th graders for this year's competitive team, which will begin practicing on September 23. Cheerleaders will learn a traditional cheer routine (dance, cheer and stunts) that will be performed at five Oregon competitions in January and February. For more details, please visit www.facebook.com/EugeneYouthCheer or click this link.

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/

Starts again on September 24th in the Library Forum. Meetings 3:45-4:45PM on Tuesdays. Beginners Welcome! Last year we had a great club. Our team won 2nd place at State after winning 1st place the previous 2 years. Whether you just want to play fun games or wish to grow into being an outstanding competitive player, we welcome you to join one of the best chess clubs on the west coast. https://www.southsidechess.com/school-clubs.html.

With the beginning of a school year comes a host of new Y clubs, programs and events. Check out our upcoming fall offerings by clicking here! As always, your Y is committed to providing engaging and nurturing programming where youth can learn, grow and thrive to EVERYONE in our community. If program fees are a barrier to your family, please apply for financial assistance.

South Eugene Rotary Club is opening their tutoring department again! They have tutors in a series of subjects and are ready to help students however possible.

This club is run by a group of high school students dedicated to making positive changes in the community, their mission is to help students who may be struggling or need some extra help in school.

For more Information and a link to the tutoring interest form, click here.

Available School Year 2024/25 & Beyond! Our art classes are tailored to Individual Student/Small Group - Ages 8+ through high school/college. Earlier ages accepted depending on interest/readiness.

• Frequency: 1 hour/week. Lesson times to be arranged individually.

• Location: In Person At Our Home In SE Eugene or Virtual Available On Skype.

• Cost: $20 per class. Pay for 4 lessons ($80) at a time. $65/mth for siblings enrolled; may be scheduled together or separately. Small group class option as well for students wanting to learn together (each student pays in full separately). Low-income discount of $65/mth is provided for eligible families (i.e. proof of SNAP).
• Contact: Kesha Hawk at thehawksaerie@gmail.com - Please email for complete Art Class Information Blurb details to read before scheduling!

• Instructor: Matt Hawk

Topics range from animation to perspective, anatomy, Photoshop/Procreate digital work, comic panels, painting, sculpture, etc. Usually, each 4 classes will include a small project to learn new skills. One of our main goals is that our students learn by having fun, creating in the realms of what they are interested in and passionate about. Long-term projects are also possible. The sky's the limit!

Matt Hawk has an associate's degree in Illustration & Graphic Design and has taught art to children in Eugene for over 13 years. He has worked with children all of his life and has also worked with a video game company, illustrated several books, and does freelance and custom artwork as well. We work with differing learning styles/learning issues as suited to each student. Most students tend to remain with us long term, gaining the additional benefit of mentorship. This usually includes intermittent classes through the summer according to summer schedules. Many of our students build up work for future portfolios!

🔘Instagram @thepopshopillustration

🔘Facebook under The Pop Shop Illustration at https://www.facebook.com/TheHawksAerieMattHawkIllustration

🔘Red Bubble at https://www.redbubble.com/people/TheHawksAerie/explore

🔘Design By Humans at https://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/HawksAerie/.

Parenting Healthy Preteens (PHP)

PHP is an online series of workshops for parents of kids in 4th-6th grades (ages 9-12). Join other parents and learn ways to support your preteen’s mental health, positive self-esteem, and success at home and school.

Enrolling now for fall:

• Tuesdays (9/17-11/5) 6:30-8 PM
• Wednesdays (10/2-11/20) 6:30-8 PM

PHP Website and Signup, www.healthypreteens.org

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.

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

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.