Ridgeline eNews
September 19, 2024
RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Full calendar: http://www.ridgeline.org/calendar
Thursday 9/19 Ridgeline 101: New Family Orientation 6-7:15 pm
Friday 9/20 Picture Day
Monday 9/23 Site Council Meeting 5-6:30 pm
Friday 9/27 All-Volunteer "Power Hour" Meeting 8:30-9:30 am
Friday 9/30 Monthly Donor Campaign ends
Wednesday 10/2 Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day 8am
Wednesday 10/2 Equity Committee Meeting 7-8:30 pm
Thursday 10/3 Parent Education Night 6-7:30pm
Friday 10/4 No School: Professional Development
NEW NEWS
🎉 RIDGELINE 101 TONIGHT – Don’t Miss This! 🎉
Welcome to Ridgeline—we’re thrilled to have you! 🌟 Get ready to dive into all things Ridgeline at Ridgeline 101: New Family Orientation on Thursday, September 19, from 6–7:15 pm. It’s your one-stop shop to learn the ropes, meet other new parents, and get all your burning questions answered!
Plus, we’ve got you covered with free childcare for toilet-trained kiddos. 😉 Space is limited, so sign up here and secure your spot!
S-M-I-L-E: Picture Day is coming 🙂😄😃😀😃😄😁😆😁
New Leif Photography will be coming to Ridgeline on Friday, September 20th for Picture Day in the gym. Pictures can be ordered online at https://newleifphoto.inter-state.com/. Ridgeline's order code is 87844QB. Please stop by the front office if you’d prefer a physical flier and want to pay by check or with cash.
Families can order one week past picture day with the flier code. After pictures come back, parents/guardians will get a second chance form to order with a code designated for their kiddo so they can go online and order. Paper order forms are available in the office for anyone who wants one. Picture Retake day is October 25th.
🚨 Exciting News! 🚨
Join us for All-Volunteer Power Hour! 🎉
We’re rolling out volunteer teams—small groups with a specific focus. Whether you're a pro at organizing events, love classroom support, or want to lend a hand in other ways, there's something for everyone! 💪
Come to the info session to learn how you can join a team, make a difference, and have fun while doing it! 👏
📅 Date: Friday, September 27
⏰ Time: 8:30-9:30 am
📍 Where: Ridgeline Library
Let's get involved and power up our Ridgeline community together! 🔥
There is something for everyone!
CLOSING THE GAP
Thank you to the 10 new monthly donors who signed up! We have 15 more to go!
Each time a new monthly donor pledges $25 or more, we remove a star from the display on the front of the school, showing our progress until the end of the campaign. Click here to read more!
Ridgeline T-Shirts & Hoodies: Ordering Opens 9/20!
Get ready to gear up! Ridgeline is offering awesome t-shirts for just $16 and cozy hoodies for $45. 🎉
We want every student to have the chance to rock a Ridgeline t-shirt. If your family qualifies for financial assistance or is facing tough times, your student can get a FREE t-shirt!
Important Dates to Know:
🗓 Batch 1:
Ordering window: 9/20 - 11/1/24
Delivery by: 12/9/24
If you miss this, don't worry!
🗓 Batch 2:
Ordering window: 11/2/24 - 1/10/25
Delivery by: 2/21/25
Order now and show off your Ridgeline pride! 🎒
Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB): A Reading Adventure!
📚 Get ready, Ridgeline 3rd-8th graders! This year's Oregon Battle of the Books is about to begin, and it's going to be epic! We’re offering two divisions: one for 3rd-5th graders and another for 6th-8th graders.
Start reading now!
The 2024-2025 OBOB books are available in the Ridgeline Library, ready for checkout!
What’s OBOB?
It’s an exciting team competition where students dive into great books, form teams, and take part in thrilling quiz show-style battles at local, regional, and state levels! 💥
Want to help out?
OBOB is powered by amazing family volunteers, and we need one coach for every 4-5 students. If you're interested in being a coach or learning more, fill out the Google form below, and our coordinator, Amie Chaudoir, will guide you through the process. Reach out to Amie via phone or text at 541-393-7054, or email at amieOBOB@hotmail.com for more info.
Interested?
Please complete this form by Friday, September 27 for each student who wants to join!
We’re so excited to get started! 🎉
Exciting News! Ridgeline Hosts Two Parent Education Nights This Year!
We’re thrilled to announce our first Parent Education Night on Thursday, October 3, from 6-7:30 pm, featuring the one and only Biff Maier as our esteemed Montessori presenter!
With nearly 50 years in Montessori education, Biff Maier is a true legend. He’s been a teacher, school leader, and co-director of top training programs like CMTE|NY and METTC. His global influence has shaped classrooms, conferences, and Montessori training across the U.S. and beyond. Known for his captivating storytelling and deep connections to Montessori pioneers, Biff continues to inspire educators everywhere. He was even honored as the 2021 AMS Living Legacy!
Free childcare (for toilet-trained children) will be provided by the YMCA at Ridgeline—but spots are limited, sign up now!
*Special Education Staffing Update*
We wanted to provide an update regarding our special education staffing at Ridgeline. Ridgeline administration is working closely with 4J to ensure we have consistent, knowledgeable educators in place to support our students with IEPs during this staffing transition. Thankfully, many Ridgeline students know and have worked with Amy Roberts, Ridgeline’s Speech-Language Pathologist, and Jon Boita, our Occupational Therapist.
We are fortunate to have Jane Nordman-Reese, a retired and highly experienced special education teacher who frequently collaborates with the district when needed. Jane will be supporting Ridgeline as a case manager and mentor until the hiring process is finalized. Once we have a new special education teacher in place, Jane will also assist with their transition to ensure continuity of care.
4J Human Resources department has posted the special education teacher position, and they are currently reviewing qualified candidates. They expect to begin interviews early next week and hope to make a hiring decision shortly thereafter. In the meantime, a guest teacher is working with Ridgeline to provide support.
We understand the importance of a smooth start for your child and are committed to securing a compassionate, qualified educator as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and ongoing communication during this process.
7th & 8th Grade Openings – Spread the Word!
Hey Ridgeline families! We’ve got spots available in our 7th and 8th grades! 🎒 Now’s the perfect chance to invite your students' friends who might be looking for a close-knit, supportive middle school experience.
Know someone interested? Point them to our Ridgeline website under Enrollment and let’s grow our amazing community together! 🌟
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer Thank Yous
Walk & Bike to School Day
Save the date! Wednesday, October 2 is Ridgeline’s Fall Walk & Bike to School Day! We welcome everyone to participate in this fun community event. More info to come!
Green badge volunteers, who have a completed background check and the Code of Conduct, can sign up in Track It Forward to participate.
Volunteer Opportunities - NEW
Lunch Line Support - NEW
We need one volunteer to sign up and help from 11:15 am - 12:30 pm, each day of the week. We still need the Friday shift to be claimed. These volunteers will provide support to our meal coordinator and classroom staff during the lunch hour.
Primary tasks include:
-Restocking hot and cold food
-Assisting students making food selections
Visit Track It Forward for more info and click here to sign up.
Crossing Guards - STILL NEEDED
Help Ridgeline students safely cross W. Amazon to access the Amazon Trail and the creek bridge by volunteering as a crossing guard. Your support is needed daily from 8-8:30 am and 3-3:20 pm (1-1:20 pm on Wednesdays). There are shifts still available on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday
We provide safety vests, stop signs, and all the good vibes you need! Just make sure to check in with the front office at ridgelineoffice@ridgeline.org to ensure you have a current background check.
Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift (or two!) by visiting Track it Forward, and make a difference in our community!
More Volunteer Jobs!
To learn more about additional volunteer jobs, check out Track It Forward.
Volunteering - What You Need to Know
1. Volunteers are an integral part of the Ridgeline Community and there are many different ways to get involved. Volunteers serve on committees, prepare materials at home, assist with grounds work, act as crossing guards, help in classrooms, chaperone field trips and much more.
2. Families pledge to complete 40 hours of volunteer time per school year. To fully participate in most volunteer opportunities, volunteers must first complete a background check and volunteer code of conduct.
3. The School Community Coordinator will notify you via email when these 2 steps are complete and you are green badge approved!
4. We would love to get you connected in the ways that best fit your time and talents. Please visit our website for more information on volunteering. You can also reach out to Bethany Dilla, Ridgeline's School Community Coordinator at bethany.dilla@ridgeline.org for more information.
Track it Forward - Information for New Volunteers
If you are new to Ridgeline and have not yet created a Track it Forward account for logging your volunteer hours, please take a moment to do so.
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!
Why It Matters
New beginnings prompt the opportunity to form new habits! When it comes to volunteering, we need everyone to consistently track ALL volunteer hours throughout the school year in Track It Forward. Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district, Eugene 4J.
CONTINUING NEWS
What is Normalization?
The first 6 weeks in the Montessori classroom are called the “Normalization Period.” During this time we give our classroom communities the protected time to get to know each other, and settle into their routine with as little outside interruption as possible.
Once this year’s learning journey is well underway, our students and teachers will be ready to welcome volunteers into their classrooms.
Now is a good time to complete your background check and do the volunteer code of conduct on our website, so you are ready to participate once the Normalization period is over on October 24th. Here’s a great article from the North American Montessori Center if you would like to read more about normalization.
LTD Bus Passes for Ridgeline Students
Ridgeline students who ride the LTD Bus can receive a free bus pass through our office. Please send your request to Cynthia via email and give at least 24 hours notice. Passes from last year will automatically be renewed for the 2024-2025 school year.
Drop Off & Pick Up Reminders
Now that you've experienced drop off and pick up, you know it's busy! To keep things safe and efficient, let's all follow the procedures:
Reminders:
Say goodbye to your student at the "Hug & Release" sign by the fence.
Drivers please stay in your vehicle and pull all the way forward in the drop-off line. Do not drop off students in front of Building B.
Pick-up drive-thru opens at 3:05 pm (1:05 pm on Wednesdays). Please don’t enter the fire lane before 3:05 pm, unless for early appointment pick-up (before 2:45 pm please, and before 12:45 pm on Wednesdays).
- Do not park in front of the fire hydrant, or block driveways, or the bus stop.
Watch for students crossing at the crosswalks by Building B and across W. Amazon.
- Show kindness to neighbors and crossing guards—they’re here rain or shine!
THANK YOU!
It's a Head Scratcher
With the return of school, unfortunately, lice are back too. Children with lice will not be excluded from school. We ask that you actively work to eliminate lice and nits.
Please make it a habit to check your child’s head regularly for lice and nits (tiny eggs that look like grains of sand on hair shafts). Lice are small brown or gray bugs that cause itching, especially behind the ears and around the neck.
Prevention Tips
Teach your child about the importance of preventing lice from spreading, by doing the following:
Avoid head-to-head contact with other children
Not sharing combs, brushes, hair ties, hats, etc.
Avoiding laying down on bedding, pillows, and carpets
Use a shampoo with tea tree oil
Treatment
- If lice are found, ask your doctor for recommended shampoos or creams.
- Wash clothes and linens in very hot water (128°F/53°C), and clean/vacuum personal items, toys, your home, and car (car seats).
- For more details, visit this link.
Thank you!
RIDGELINE COMMITTEES & ORGANIZATIONS
Site Council
The Ridgeline Site Council will hold its first meeting and retreat on Monday, September 23, from 5-6:30pm in the Ridgeline Library.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Whole Earth Forest Understory
Is your kiddo looking for an incredibly unique and transformative outdoor program this school year? Whole Earth Nature School has your back with the FOREST Understory program! FOREST Understory is an eight-month educational program that immerses 6th to 10th grade students into the world of ancestral wilderness skills. One Saturday per month they focus an entire day on unique skills that improve on lessons from the month before. FOREST Understory builds confidence, creates strong friendships, and deepens nature connection. Come join us for this amazing experience!
Learn more or sign up at wholeearth.org/forest-understory
Neurodiversity Family Support Night
Check out the flyer below to get all the info! The next gathering is September 19, from 6-8pm at ECCO High School.
Ophelia’s Place - Upcoming Events
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 also explore more about Ophelia’s Place and stay updated on all their offerings by visiting their website: https://www.opheliasplace.net/.