School News

• Principal's Message
• RMS Says Goodbye… and Hello to Key Staff
• Changes to House System for Next Year

Community Activities + Events

• South Region Book Club
• SHIFT: Bicycle Safety Summer Camp
• Axe Football Mandatory Parent Meeting
• Youth Lacrosse Summer Camp
• GirlCon 2024!
• Competitive Youth Cheerleading

This Week

JUNE 10 (M): B DAY

• 3:45pm- RMS Debate Club

JUNE 11 (T): A DAY

JUNE 12 (W): B DAY

JUNE 13 (TH): A DAY

• 2:00PM- 8th Grade Promotion Rehearsal- Mandatory
• 6:30PM- 8th Grade Promotion
• 7:30PM- 8th Grade Dance

JUNE 14 (F): B DAY

• Last Day for Students (School Closure Makeup Day)
• 8:30AM- Yearbook Distribution
• 2:40PM- 8th Grade Summer Social

Welcome to the last installment of the 2023-24 RMS family newsletter and welcome summer!

We have much to celebrate as we close out this last week. Our students, teachers and parents have navigated this ‘magical middle’ year with poise and perseverance, and our students continue to grow and change in beautiful ways. We could not be more proud of how our staff, students and families have stepped up and stepped in to be together in our incredible community.

Three years ago, our current 8th grade students’ first year at middle school, our year started with a strange energy. Masked and distanced, we came together in September to learn how to ‘do school’ again after eighteen months of not being together ‘normally.’ Though no one believed we would be able to reset immediately to a time before Covid, it has taken the last few years to understand deeply and respond accordingly to our students’ academic and social-emotional needs.

By focusing on student growth, consistent classroom strategies, social-emotional learning via House and finding new ways to help students foster patience and curiosity while re-gaining academic resilience, slowly, we have continued to emerge from the post-Covid years stronger, with more perspective and understanding.

This week, we take time to wrap up classes with projects and activities and there is still plenty of time to complete academic work for the school year. Teachers have taken great care to end the year with specific kinds of closure activities that support student reflection with a look ahead to the following year. In House, for example, students will complete a time capsule project and write letters to themselves for next year. This is the kind of community activity that characterizes House and cross-school experiences.

One of the closing events we are most looking forward to happens this Thursday night: 8th Grade Promotion, followed by an 8th-grade only dance. Eighth grade students also have a fun summer social on Friday afternoon beginning at the end of 5th period. For all students, we’re looking forward to a regular Monday - Friday schedule, with an additional special extended House session on Friday for celebrations and Yearbook signing.

We wish all of our families and friends a restful and joyful summer vacation and thank you for your continued support of our RMS community. We are grateful and appreciative of the magical middle we’ve created together.

Courtney and Mike

The end of the year often brings changes in anticipation of the following school year. June 2024 is no exception and we have some giants stepping away as formidable new staff step in.

With affection and respect, RMS celebrates two retirements this year: Marty Smith (Social Studies) and Craig Wiebe (French Immersion/Social Studies). It is a sad, sweet moment for a life-long educator to step away from the classroom and collectively, Marty and Craig have more than 50 years of school experience between them. Marty began her teaching career in Oregon at South Lane and made RMS her home the 21 years. Craig has taught all levels of French, from the very youngest students at Charlemagne Elementary to college, and middle school and high school at South Eugene and the International High School. We will miss them both, their unique styles and approaches and each of us at RMS wishes them all the best in their retirement endeavors. And, if any of you would like to send well-wishes to Marty and Craig, you can reach out via email: smith_ma@4j.lane.edu and wiebe@4j.lane.edu.

We will announce in the fall new teachers for both of these positions.

Kellie Salinas, RMS Registrar, has an exciting opportunity to return to school to complete her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Though she was with us a short time, Kellie made herself indispensable to our front office and quickly learned the intricate technicalities of the position. We wish her all the best as she puts her talents to use with the youngest among us!

And, it is goodbye to Courtney Leonard and hello to Mike Yocum in the principal position for next year. Courtney is headed to the district office as a secondary curriculum administrator and Mike is stepping in as interim principal for the 2024-25 school year. We are sad to see our experienced and well-aligned admin team dissolve and are pleased to know Mike and Courtney will still be working together in the years to come in a different capacity.

As we move forward into the school year, we’ll be hiring more PE/HE teachers and elective teachers, too. We’ll have a whole list of new staff for you starting in the fall and we look forward to fresh energy and new ideas from additional staff.

Please join us in congratulating our RMS retirees and those in new positions as we head off to summer!

This year, we are fortunate in that RMS is going to be adding four additional Houses, and this week, current 6th & 7th grade students had the opportunity to volunteer to change Houses next year. Please consider checking in with your student about this.

While this is great news as it reduces the number of students in each House, it also presents a dilemma. We believe the new Houses should be representative and similar to all of the other Houses. Our House system has advisory groups that are heterogenous blends of students in grades six, seven, and eight. In addition, we believe all Houses should be comprised of a mix of students with experience at Roosevelt and students new to Roosevelt. For this reason, we are asking if there are students who are interested in volunteering to join a new House.

Our first priority will be in creating the two new Houses, which will be led by our new teachers, who we are in the process of hiring. We cannot guarantee that if you volunteer to move Houses, you will be moved. Movement will be dependent on the number of volunteers we receive. We will be working to create Houses that are diverse in grade level, gender, and other factors, just as we do when assigning 6th grade students each year to their Houses.

We understand there are many different factors affecting why a student might be willing to leave his or her House, and we do not need to know why a student volunteers. Volunteering will not be seen as reflecting poorly on the Advisor, the other students in the House, the House program, or the student. We are looking for volunteers who will be enthusiastic, open to new relationships and ways of doing things, and a good community member in the new House.

If you are interested in volunteering, please take a moment and complete the questions on a Google Form at this link. The form asks for your student's name, current House, grade in the 2023-24 school year, and gives a space for any additional comments you would like to make about your desires.

Students will be notified if their House changes over the summer.

Thank you! We are looking forward to the upcoming school year!

Yearbook distribution will be Friday, June 14 between 8:30-8:55 AM in the forum. Anyone who arrives late to school will pick up their yearbook in Extended House. Online orders have opened for one more night and a small amount will be available to be purchased with Cash on Friday.

Cost: $30 or $15 for those included in the federal free and reduced lunch program.

• To purchase a yearbook, please click here.
• If your student is included in the federal free and reduced lunch program, please click here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Skye Stier, stier_s@4j.lane.edu

If your students have lost any large items such as clothes, water bottles, or binders, please have them check our Lost and Found area across from the Large Gym.

If they've lost a small or valuable items (jewelries, keys, earphones...) they can ask the front office.

On Friday June 14th, all items remaining in the Lost and Found and front office will be donated to Bags of Love.

Eighth-grade promotion and celebration activities are drawing near! 8th grade families, please make sure to check your email for more information pertaining to activities on the last days of school. We look forward to a safe, fun, and exciting end of the year!

IMPORTANT 8TH GRADE DATES AND EVENTS:

Thursday, June 13:

2:00 pm- Mandatory Promotion rehearsal during 5th period

6:00 pm- 8th grade students arrive for Promotion and stage in the small gym

6:30 pm- Promotion event in the large gym

7:30 pm- 8th Grade Dance– please note: The dance ends at 9:00 pm and we do not allow early exit.

Friday, June 14:

8:30 am - 3:40 pm- Regular school day for all students, including 8th grade students

2:40 pm- Summer Social for 8th graders (gym patio + field)

Complete the form below by Friday, May 31:

1. Promotion RSVP: https://forms.gle/ekFCNRhV8TDCmNVLA
2. Suggested Donation: https://www.schoolpay.com/link/RMS8thPromotion

We need your help! If you'd like to sign up to volunteer, please use this link: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/33045963

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!

4. Lot closed on Wednesday, June 19. Please take a look at the rendering below. In June, the YMCA has contracted to paint arrows and STOP bars and to add a left and right turn lane at the end of our pause parking. Please be aware of all the directions traffic will flow come September.

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

A group of volunteers is working to set up a competitive youth recreation cheerleading program for 4th to 8th graders in the 4J school district. The goal is to have the team start practicing in September and compete at regional competitions in January and February 2025. If you are interested in receiving more information and updates, including details about a potential cheer camp this August, please send an email to EugeneYouthCheer@gmail.com.

2024 Two Week Summer Youth Bridge Program - Lunch Included!

Weekdays, August 12th-August 23rd

9:00am to Noon

Cost: $40

Come on! Learn Bridge! Attend 8 of the 10 lessons get your $40 back!

Sponsored by Emerald Bridge Club Member, American Contract Bridge League.

Questions? Please contact Beverly Roy 541-654-5235 or nedgforman00@gmail.com

• When: June 24 -26th
• Who: Grades 6-8th

• Where: South Eugene Main Gym
• Time: 12-2:30
• What we do:
• -Focus on Fundamental skills development
• -Get to know current coaches and players
• -Have fun!
• Cost: $100 total

How to pay:

1. School Pay
2. QR code
3. Drop off payment at S.E. High School at Finance office with Karen Cook. Make checks payable to South Eugene Girls Basketball until June 21st .
4. Payment at the door. School Pay or QR code.

Questions: Contact Jacob Clark: clark_j@4j.lane.edu

South Eugene High School is organizing a Track and Field summer camp on July 15-19 and invites all RMS students to join. More information can be found here:

https://southeugenetrackandfieldkidsca.godaddysites.com

Open to all rising 7th-12th grade students in Eugene and surrounding areas. No experience necessary!

Week 1 - Mon, Jul 8 - Fri, Jul 12

Week 2 - Mon, Jul 15 - Thurs, Jul 18

Week 3 - Mon, Jul 22 - Fri, Jul 26

Week 4 - Mon, Jul 29 - Fri, Aug 2

Dexter Henley - Sat, Aug 3

All camps are held 9 AM - 2 PM at Dexter Lake

Multi-Week discounts and payment plans are available

Intersquad scrimmage open to all LTR camp participants. For more information and to register, visit www.eugenerowing.org

SIGN-UP today for our Spring Flag Football Season (K-7th Grade). Players will be coached/mentored by Oregon Football Players & Staff. Practice/Games are on Sundays throughout April, May and June. For registration and more information please visit this link - https://www.nextlevelsports.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1024841

We are offering arts and technology summer camps for youth 9-17 yrs, with 50% off scholarships for ALL low income families. We have professional artists from several cities around Oregon teaching this year, creating a quality program to foster creativity and boost confidence, social and technical skills, and are fun!

- The Wonderful World of Web Comics
- Optical Art & Graphic Design: Pattern Play and Illusions
- L'Art du Soleil: Art & Nature
- Figures & Faces
- The Art of Toys
- Watercolor Wonder
- Comics: Fantasy & Adventure
- Fun with Painting

With a maximum of 12 students, these camps provide an intimate setting for individualized guidance and cultivate each person's unique perspective and expression.

Lane County health officials say a recent rise in cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, indicate the respiratory tract infection is spreading in our community. We are asking our families to be vigilant to prevent further spread of the infection in our school and larger community. Families are encouraged to stay up-to-date with their pertussis vaccinations and keep children home from school if they show symptoms of pertussis.

An FAQ with more information is available on the 4J website both in English and in Spanish. If you have further questions, please call your medical provider or Lane County Public Health, 541-682-4041.

Big changes are happening in and around Amazon Park. The City of Eugne is working on restoring natural areas, improving park amenities and increasing pedestrian safety with the following projects:

 Amazon Creek restoration

 Volleyball court renovation

 Amazon and 24th crossing safety improvements

With construction underway, please anticipate some temporary closures and traffic detours between June – November 2024. Signed detours will point the way for northbound vehicle traffic as well as people who use the Amazon Path.

All four volleyball courts will be closed to the public between mid-July and September, with the

exceptions of City of Eugene Recreation evening league and weekend court rentals.

For more information, please visit eugene-or.gov/5264.

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.

The Southeast Neighbors Transportation Committee & Charlemagne PTO have created an online petition asking the City of Eugene for protected crosswalks and flashing lights in front of *all* schools as needed in Eugene.

Please sign and share the petition: https://bit.ly/eugenekids.

We expanded the petition to include all schools in Eugene since there are many school zones that are lacking in street-crossing. We assert that this issue needs attention from the City of Eugene.

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.