Thursday 2/9: Ridgeline Board Meeting

Friday 2/10: Talent Show!

Friday 2/10: Report Cards sent home

Tuesday, 2/14: Return UofO Test Kits

Wednesday, 2/15: RCO meeting

Monday, 2/20: No School, President’s Day

Be sure to check the full calendar at https://www.ridgeline.org as some dates may change. Please note that Ridgeline’s calendar differs slightly from 4J elementary and middle school calendars.

The Ridgeline Board will have an executive session from 5:30 to 6:00 pm and a regular meeting on February 9th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm over Zoom and in person in the library. Action items on the agenda include: June Board Meeting. Information items on the agenda include: Climate Survey Presentation and Facilities Backlog. Discussion items on the agenda include: Shared Language, Retreat Debrief, Onboarding Next Steps, and Policy KGF / EDC Community Use of School Facilities. The agenda will be finalized and posted here by Tuesday February 7th the Zoom link to join is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84542263211?pwd=ank5a0V4d05Zeno5dDRxV2lpYmQyUT09, Meeting ID: 845 4226 3211 Passcode: 709037. Board meetings are open to the public, except when an executive session is indicated on the agenda. All are welcome to attend.

The Talent Show is this Friday, Feb 10th at 6 pm!

Please join us for our in-person screening of the video talent show. Now everyone can enjoy it together, whether at home watching on YouTube, or in person with our school community, watching on the big screen!

The talent show will also be uploaded to an unlisted YouTube page and the link shared just before the live screening. The YouTube show will stay up for two weeks. Keep in mind that this is not a staff-supervised event and all students should be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

With almost a quarter of our students contributing to the show, as well as guest MCs and a performance from T.R.U.E (The Ridgeline Ukulele Extravaganza), you will not want to miss this!

On Friday night, please leave the parking lot near the front doors for those with mobility challenges. There should be plenty of parking in the neighborhood and across the bridge on Dillard.

The Talent Show is BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks). Many hands make light work, so please stick around after the show to help clean up and put away chairs.

• We need volunteers to help clean up the evening of the talent show so head over to Track it Forward to sign up for the event!

Ridgeline currently has openings on its substitute list! When a classroom staff member is out, a substitute steps into the role of the classroom assistant.

Substitutes may be booked ahead of time for a staff member’s planned absence or will be texted first thing in the morning for same day needs.

For more information check out employment opportunities on our website.

If you are interested in getting on our sub list, please send a resume and three references with their contact information to careers@ridgeline.org.

If you have questions about subbing, contact Cynthia in the office.

The Ridgeline Equity Committee is planning to start hosting family events for the Ridgeline Community where families, parents, and Ridgeline community members can deepen their understanding of equity and how to support Ridgeline in further being a welcoming and inclusive school for all student identities.

Please complete this brief survey to share what type of events you are most interested in.

Ridgeline's Direct Donation Drive (aka "The DDD") is coming up in March! This is our once-a-year, just-write-a-check-and-be-done fundraiser. We have some fun theme ideas and are looking for 3 volunteers:

1. a graphic artist who wants to do some design work with the campaign theme and our electronic communications

2. a photographer who can spend some time capturing our students in their classrooms sometime in early to mid February, and

3. writers/storytellers who are interested in sharing a little about why they love our school through a theme-based piece.

Contact Becky Fay if you would like to contribute your skills to these volunteer opportunities!

Hop on into the next RCO (Ridgeline Community Organization) meeting on February 15th!

RCO monthly meetings (including Zoom link) are on the Ridgeline calendar and open to the entire Ridgeline community to join.

As we look to the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year, we welcome any Ridgeline parents who are interested in joining the RCO as a grade-level representative, or who have suggestions or contributions for RCO-led activities.

Feel free to reach out to rco@ridgeline.org with any questions, and be on the lookout for upcoming events!

Sign up and work toward your commitment of 40 hours of volunteering at Ridgeline!

HELP US TO KEEP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SAFE!

• Crossing guards are needed daily at 8-8:30 am and 3-3:20 pm.
  This is one of our largest, ongoing needs as far as volunteers!

You will help guide Ridgeline students to safely cross between building B and the sidewalk, and cross West Amazon to and from the Amazon trail.

Safety vests and stop signs provided. Sign-up for any slot that fits your schedule!

If you would like to volunteer, go to the Volunteer Page of our website and review the requirements.

Fill out a background check form if you have not done so in the last five years.

Directions for how to log your hours on Track it Forward are found at the bottom of this page.

We've heard from several families that they would love the return of our rummage sale fundraiser! In order to make this popular community event happen, we need someone to coordinate organizing it, with training and assistance from experienced folks.

Are you a yard sale fan? Love reclaiming gently used items and the joy of finding them new homes? This could be a wonderful way to fulfill your hours and support our school!

Contact Becky Fay if you are interested.

Student Marketplace returns to Ridgeline April 29, 2023 and now is the time for students to start planning their offerings!

Marketplace is a student inspired fundraising art and craft fair. Students can create art and crafts (sorry no food can be sold by students) either individually or as a group, set their prices and donation amount (minimum 20% of profit donation is required to participate, but students can choose to donate more, up to 100%). All donations go to the school wide fundraising effort.

While historically held in December, we have moved to a spring event in order to allow for the use of outdoor spaces. One exciting change this brings is to allow students who choose to participate the opportunity to explore new craft ideas related to spring activities.

Students and families can submit proposals here: https://forms.gle/UtGHYtabjo3hSaQZ9. Due to time restraints, all proposals will be considered approved UNLESS you hear otherwise from me within 2 business days.

If you are interested in participating, but do not have the means to get supplies, please contact me and we will try to find a way to get supplies for your student. Families can also utilize community resources to get supplies such as MECCA or Facebook buy nothing groups. This event is open to all grades K-8.

More information to come soon, but if you have any questions contact Heather!

The orders for Ridgeline apparel are up and running! Please enter your information in the website, https://ridgelinemontessorigear.bigcartel.com/ and place your order before February 16, 2023. We will be processing the order mid February. All apparel should arrive by early March!

We continue our “T-shirts for All Students” program which provides a t-shirt at no cost to any student who qualifies on Ridgeline’s Income Survey Form. If you are able to, please make a donation to go towards another child's t-shirt order. If you need any assistance getting a t-shirt for your child please reach out to the Ridgeline Equity Committee. If you have any questions about ordering, reach out to equity@ridgeline.org.

Siblings of students who are currently enrolled and will remain enrolled in Ridgeline in the coming year receive enrollment priority. If space is unavailable, students with sibling-level priority will be the first group selected by an equitable lottery process for placement on the waiting list.

In order to qualify for sibling preference, you MUST complete the Online Enrollment Application for any incoming sibling by February 26, 11:59 pm.

Have you ever wondered how Ridgeline uses the State assessment data? Indeed, Ridgeline does not put a lot of emphasis on the State assessment to our students. We present it as another work they participate in, and generally, our students enjoy taking the test because it is so different from what they usually participate in. It’s a novel activity to them.

Behind the scenes, Ridgeline takes the data collected from the test and level teams look for trends. Teams meet to deep dive into what trends emerge, cross-reference what concepts were taught and how, and collaborate on strategies to improve their teaching practices.

Additionally, the data offers information on students' strengths and weaknesses in those academic areas to help form a pathway for following the child as they progress through their experience here at Ridgeline.

The data is also reported to the district and the state; both use it in their assessment and annual reports for Ridgeline.

Oregon schools are required to have at least 94.5% participation of all eligible students each year. Due to a high level of opt-outs and exemptions last year, we did not meet our participation goal, and the results showed that we had under-representation of various student demographics in our school-wide participation. Please keep that under consideration when making a decision for your child.

Parent information about this spring's 2022-23 state testing, including the linked ELA and Math Opt-Out form and the Science Exemption form are available below:

30-Day Notice and Opt-Out Form (English)

Aviso de 30 días para evaluaciones estatales de Oregón en Artes del Lenguaje Inglés y Matemáticas

OSAS Science Exemption Form-English

Aviso de 30 días para evaluaciones estatales de Oregón en Ciencias

The testing window at Ridgeline will open in early to mid-April and last approximately four weeks (Middle school may test a bit later). While we encourage students to test, parents do have the choice to opt their child out of testing by completing the opt-out or exemption forms and submitting them to the school office by Friday, April 7th. Please note that if you wish to opt your 5th or 8th grader out of OSAS Math, ELA, and Science testing, you must fill out two forms (Opt-out for ELA and Math; Exemption for Science).

The 4J Equity and Inclusion team is pleased to present a virtual screening of the documentary film LIKE, examining the technology behind popular social media platforms, why it’s so powerful, and what you can do about it.

WHAT: Virtual screening of LIKE

WHEN: February 6-13, 2023

VIDEO LINK: LIKE (Valid 2/6–13)

WHO: 4J students, families & staff

MORE INFO: 4j.lane.edu/LIKEdocumentary

LIKE breaks down why we find social media so irresistible, examines who is controlling whom, and gives viewers the tools to pivot to a more balanced and contented relationship. It features Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, including the co-creator of the ‘LIKE’ button, experts in brain science, and teenagers.

But the 49-minute-long LIKE does not leave you with a sense of fear and foreboding. The core of the documentary is built around the kids and teens interviewed, and the empathy that they build with their audience as they look honestly at their usage and dependence on these tiny devices, consider the good that can come from and be transmitted via social media and rethink the relationship to one where they are much more aware and in balance.

To watch the film, starting Monday, February 6th, click here: LIKE Film.

(The website will require you to create an account, but will not share your information.)

Students and families are encouraged to watch the film together and discuss these topics afterward. We also invite you to take a few moments to complete our post-screening survey, this can provide our team with valuable information. SURVEY LINK

If you have questions about the screening, please email equity@4j.lane.edu.

Notably, school would start before the Labor Day weekend, with kindergartners, sixth and ninth graders beginning on Wednesday, August 30, and the remaining grades returning on Thursday, August 31. Thanksgiving break would be extended to three days, from November 22–24. No-school parent-teacher conference days for grades K–8 would occur on November 20–21, with the exact conference schedule varying by school.

No decisions have been made at this time and 4J has asked for feedback regarding the proposed calendar.

We encourage you to review the proposed changes.

Effective February 5th, 2023, LTD will be making schedule adjustments to some of their routes due to driver shortages.

Many students take Bus Route 28 at 1:26 after dismissal on Friday. Schedule changes have eliminated this pickup time and the soonest bus will be available at 1:56.

As this affects a number of students, you may be interested in contacting LTD with your thoughts on this schedule change. Contact information for LTD and comment forms are available on their website.

Ridgeline will continue to utilize Track it Forward for volunteer sign-ups and to log your volunteer hours. If you are new to Ridgeline or have not yet created an account, please do so! Last year we had a lot of folks forget to log their hours. Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district.

• Track It Forward app can be added to your phone!

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.

Step One:

Go to https://www.trackitforward.com/site/ridgeline-montessori

Select sign in

Create your account.

Step Two:

Go to the app store on your device and search for Track It Forward.

Download the app

Log In

You are all set!