1510 W. 14th Street, Eugene, Ore. 97402

541-790-5300

carey_k@4j.lane.edu

http://chavez.4j.lane.edu

facebook.com/CesarChavezCheetahs

As we enter into the second half of the school year, I would like to give you an update on what's been happening in our Chávez neighborhood.

The biggest change we have seen recently is the closure of the temporary campground across from our school. The City of Eugene closed the site on January 18, offering recognized occupants space at other locations and assisting them with the transition. In its January 26 "Temporary Camping Update," the CIty stated: "Since the 13th Avenue site is now secured and posted as closed to the public, police can act immediately on any trespassing (no issues have occurred yet at the closed site). Police, Parking Services and Public Works continue to monitor areas near the closed temporary camp for unsanctioned camping, and also stand ready to respond to reports in the neighborhood."

What's next for this empty lot? Ms. Angie and I attended a recent community meeting to discuss just that. Plans for building affordable housing on the site are gaining momentum. Both the neighborhood association and the City appear committed to work together to transform the vacant lot into a useful neighborhood asset. I am excited to see how the plans proceed, and I will continue to be part of the conversation as it unfolds.

The location of the camp so close to our school shone a light on the safety and security of our campus. One area I have been working on with our 4J leadership is a way to close off the Emergency Fire Lane during school hours. This Fire Lane, bordering our building to the east, is connected to the Westmoreland Bike Path; it is an access point for many neighborhood folks who want to cut across. Putting a fence there is a complicated project that involves inserting a culvert in the ditch and running electricity to a gate to regulate access. Months ago, planning began and an architect was engaged by 4J to develop the design.

I am happy to announce that the fence is now becoming a reality. There will be a gate that is open to the public outside of school hours. Although the timeline is contingent on the everpresent supply chain issues, we hope to have the fence in place before the end of this school year. I will keep you updated as things firm up.

Finally, I would like to ask for your help. Together with 4J Safe Routes to School, we are creating "Walking School Buses" and "Safe Path Ambassadors" for our neighborhood. Please read the information below and fill out the form to participate.

I appreciate your support and commitment to our kids, our neighborhood, and our community.

Best to you and your family,

Ms. Deirdre Pearson, Principal

There's a very strong correlation between good attendance and success in school. On the other hand, students who regularly miss school are also more likely to struggle in school.

Missed days add up quickly: Just two days a month puts a child's success in jeopardy because students fall behind and disconnect. By third grade, it gets much more difficult to catch up. Students who regularly miss school can quickly feel hopeless, and returning becomes harder and harder.

The reasons for chronic absenteeism are understandable but they must be addressed. Troubleshooting issues that are keeping a student away from school can make a difference immediately and for the long term. Students with solid attendance are much more likely to be successful during school and after graduation.

Need help with getting your child to school, on time, every day? We are here to help. Please reach out to your child's teacher or the office for support.

It's been a wonderful month with classroom visits, small groups getting underway, and our first Conscious Discipline Parent Night on Jan. 27. If you were hoping to attend but couldn't make it, fear not! Ms. Tracy and I will put together a recording covering the information and make that available to everyone by the end of next week. We have our next two Conscious Discipline Parent Nights scheduled if you want to save the dates: Feb. 24 and Mar. 31, both from 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom. Stay tuned for invitations!

In terms of SEL (Social Emotional Learning), the focus in February is on kindness. Most grade levels will be getting into their Bullying Prevention Units this month (building on their work with empathy and safety), and we'll have some school-wide projects emphasizing kindness. One of the tenets in Conscious Discipline is, "What you focus on, you get more of;" we look forward to celebrating acts of kindness and their positive reverberations throughout our community, and encourage you to follow up at home with curiosity about what kindnesses your child saw during the day, how they were kind, or how they might like to practice kindness tomorrow.

I've continued to update my virtual office where you'll find a variety of resources, especially in the caregiver corner. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss your student or family's needs. I'm available via email: sell_s@4j.lane.edu or by phone at 541-790-5383 (direct office line).

Finally, not an official Chávez event, but I wanted to invite you to attend a training I'll be facilitating in partnership with the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Lane County on February 15 from 6:30-8:00pm, called QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), which is an educational program designed to teach the public the warning signs of suicide and how to respond. If you're interested, but unable to attend at that time, SPCLC offers the training about once per month and you can check back for future dates on that same registration link.

Wishing you well,

Ms. Shannon

Shannon Sell, LCSW (she/her – why pronouns matter)

School Social Worker I Chávez Elementary School
Eugene School District 4J
sell_s@4j.lane.edu I 541.790.5383

In 4J, elementary and middle school students will need parent/guardian permission to receive a student transit pass. To get a free LTD student transit pass, fill out the permission form at this link https://forms.gle/XLysqH3JjgCaEXHv6. The student transit pass can be used to get anywhere within the LTD service area, including on weekends and after school.