Ridgeline eNews

DECEMBER

Monday 12/8 Fundraising Meeting 9-10:30 a.m.

Wednesday 12/10 Cookie Crew 1:05 p.m

Thursday 12/11 Board Meeting 6-8 p.m.

Monday 12/15 Last day to give to Joy of Sharing

Wednesday 12/18 Cookie Crew 1:05 p.m.

Monday 12/22 Winter break begins

JANUARY

Monday 1/5 No School - Planning day

Tuesday 1/6 School resumes

Friday 1/9 Lottery Application open

For Quick Access:

• Ridgeline 25-26 Events Calendar
• One Page School Calendar

Click here to view the full calendar as some dates may change. Please note that Ridgeline’s calendar differs slightly from 4J elementary and middle school calendars.

What’s happening:

KVAL’s Lifestyle Matters crew will be on campus Friday, Dec. 5, 2–4 p.m. filming b-roll—natural, no-audio footage of classrooms, students working, and our beautiful campus. This helps us share Ridgeline’s story with the wider community.
(Think: quiet clips of learning, movement, and Montessori magic.)

Why it matters:
This segment helps more families discover public Montessori and strengthens awareness of what makes Ridgeline special. It supports steady enrollment and showcases our unique approach.

What they’ll do:

• Film in several classrooms and outdoor spaces

• Stay escorted by administrative or office staff at all times

• Not interview or interact with students

• Follow our planned location shot list
  
  

Thank you:
Your support helps us highlight the joy, focus, and community that make Ridgeline an extraordinary place to learn.

What’s new:

This year, Ridgeline is reimagining how we build our budget. Your input will help us align our spending with the aspects of Montessori that you value most.

Why it matters:

Instead of listing what we think is possible, we’re asking what our community values most about a Ridgeline education—joyful learning, small-group instruction, connection with nature, peace education, and more.

The big picture:

In a year when tough choices may be necessary, your perspective will help clarify what we fund, what we defer, and how we stay true to our shared Montessori vision.

The ask:

Take the short survey to share what matters most to your family.

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a great time to consider year-end giving!

Many employers offer matching programs for donations to registered nonprofits like Ridgeline Montessori Public Charter School. This is an easy way to double (or even triple!) the impact of your gift.

Here are some common employer match opportunities:

• Dollars for Donors: Some employers will match your charitable donations dollar-for-dollar.

• Dollars for Doers: Others may contribute an hourly rate for time you’ve volunteered with an organization.

If your employer offers a matching program, they may request a verification letter from Ridgeline to confirm your donation. We’re happy to help! Just email us at giving@ridgeline.org, and we’ll send a letter with:

• Donation Details: Amount and date(s) of your donation.

• Donor Information: Your name as the employee who donated.

• Tax-Exempt Status: Confirmation that Ridgeline is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

• Use of Funds: Brief description of how your funds support educational programs, scholarships, etc.

• School Info: Ridgeline’s name, address, and tax ID (EIN).

Thank you for supporting our school!

Are you, or somebody you know, interested in joining our amazing substitute pool for the 25-26 school year? At Ridgeline, substitutes support our Montessori classrooms in the role of classroom assistant, working alongside the lead staff member to help maintain a calm, productive learning environment.

Whether it’s a pre-planned absence or a same-day need, we count on our subs to step in with flexibility, reliability, and care. If you enjoy working with children and being part of a supportive school community, we’d love to hear from you! For more information and to apply, click here.

• A huge heartfelt thank you to Nate Bill and Peak Credit Union for refueling our teachers on Monday night! Your generous Café Yumm meal was both delicious and energizing — the perfect boost for staff after an extra-long day. We’re so grateful!

• And an extra special thanks to Keegan and Rachael McEachern for staying to help clean and tidy up after the conference dinner. Your support and teamwork were truly appreciated!

Volunteer Highlights

• Thank you to our Stone Soup volunteer cooks: Charlie Kelley, Jen Anonia, Amber Lippert, Marci Davis, and Marisa Fairbanks. We are grateful for all your hard work, time, and dedication this year. We had 4 amazing soups for students to choose from (plus seconds!).

• Thank you to our Bread Team Volunteers: Blaise Cooper, Jessica Lynch, and Amanda Bedortha. You did a fantastic job slicing, sorting, and preparing bread baskets for all the classrooms and staff.

• Thank you to our two incredible all day helpers, Meghan Rogacki & Noah Enelow. Your willingness to do whatever and help with everything made a big difference throughout the day!

• Round of applause goes to Garret Zallen for volunteering as this year's Stone Soup photographer - thank you! It's a gift to share these beautiful photos with our Ridgeline parents and caregivers.

• Finally, thank you to our super duper clean-up team: Jennifer Weaver, Nasim Talebreza-May, & Lillian Groff - we appreciated this end of the event help more than you know!

💙 Community & Family Business Thank Yous!

• We also want to thank David & Jess Grebner, from Red Tail Organics, for sending a literal suitcase full of fresh veggies. We had more than enough for everyone to wash, peel and slice!

• Thank you to Noora Derrington-Via and Winter Green Farms for donating all of the beautiful acorn squash for Stone Soup.

• Big thanks to Amber Lippert at Camas Swale Farm for donating so many lovely butternut squash for the soup too.

• Thank you to bread sponsor, Erica O-Grady, at the Bread Stop Bakery (a former Ridgeline parent).

• One final BIG thank you goes to current Ridgeline family, Jess and Gordo Wood at Great Harvest Bread Co. Thank you for generously giving many delicious loaves of honey whole wheat bread. Yum!

Talent Show Sign-Ups - Coming Next Week!

Get ready for Ridgeline’s Student Talent Show, where students showcase their amazing skills—from singing and dancing to comedy and more! It’s a fun-filled event celebrating creativity, courage, and school spirit on Thursday, January 29. More information is coming next week, including how students can sign-up, and the link to sign-up as a volunteer!

Muddy Day Clothes Needed!

Rainy weather is here, and with it comes the occasional soggy kiddo! Please remember to pack an extra set of weather-appropriate clothes, including socks and underwear, in your student’s backpack—this is especially helpful for our younger students in kindergarten and lower elementary. Kids feel most comfortable in their own clothes when they need a quick change.

We also maintain a bin of clean, borrowable clothes at school, but it’s running low! We’re especially in need of gender neutral pants and leggings in all sizes (5–14, Youth Small–XL, K–8th grade). If you’d like to donate, please drop off clean, gently used, or new items at the front office during school hours.

Thank you for helping keep our students warm and dry! 🌧️

We’ve officially launched our 2025–2026 volunteer teams and there's always room for more volunteer power! Click on the links below if you want to be part of one of the fun volunteer teams! These groups are a great way to connect with other Ridgeline families and get in your volunteer hours!💌

Event Teams:

• Student Talent Show - Coming in December 2025

• Student Marketplace - Coming in February 2026

• Spring Walk + Roll to School - Coming in April 2026

• Hospitality Team (staff appreciation week ) - Coming in April 2026
• Stone Soup - Complete for this year!

Ongoing Teams:

• Lunch Bunch

• Library Team

• Crossing Guard Crew

• Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)

• Helping Hands Material Prep Team (book covering, sign making, etc)

• Campus Care Crew

There’s a place for everyone to get involved and make this year amazing! If you have questions or want to learn more about any of these teams email Bethany at bethany.dilla@ridgeline.org or visit Track It Forward.

***Classroom volunteer opportunities are now available. Look for these sign-ups through your classroom organizer emails.

Volunteers are an essential part of the Ridgeline community, and there are many ways to get involved!

• From serving on committees, preparing materials at home, and helping with grounds work, to assisting in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, acting as crossing guards, and more—your time and talents make a big difference.

Each family is asked to contribute 40 volunteer hours per school year and we’d love to help you find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule and interests.

• To participate, all volunteers must first complete a background check and sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct.
• Once these two steps are complete, the School Community Coordinator will notify you by email that you are green badge approved and ready to volunteer!
• Visit our website or contact Ridgeline’s School Community Coordinator, Bethany Dilla, or learn more.

Hello Ridgeline community! The Ridgeline Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, December 11, at 6:00 pm in the Ridgeline library and over Zoom. All Ridgeline community members are welcome to join our regular board meetings, and to make a public comment. The designated time for public comment is at the start of meetings.

Our meeting agenda includes reports from Room 5 assistant teacher Kyndle, the Principal's Advisory Committee, our committee members, and our administrative team. We will learn about the recent 4J site visit, the ongoing work our administrative team is doing on the Possibility Project, highlights from the Oregon Department of Education Statewide Report Card, and an update from our Organizational Continuity Planning Committee. We will discuss the 2026-27 school calendar, administrative salary schedules, the Executive Director Performance Review process, and a proposal from Summit Bank. We will also hold a closed executive session at the end of our meeting.

You can find the agenda here.

In order to attend virtually, please use this Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84074040106pwd=R6PzazBjJFrxabUMtT92ZabaJ7bptn.1

Meeting ID: 840 7404 0106 Passcode: 824778

Community members can also reach the Board of Directors via email (board@ridgeline.org). Public comment may also be made in writing and emailed to the board prior to the meeting. In order to be fully considered at this meeting, comments must be received by noon on the day of the meeting. Please clearly label the email subject line as: "Public Comment." Prior to the meeting, board members will read, review, and take into consideration all comments.

We recently attended the Oregon School Board Association Conference in Portland, and it was a valuable experience. One significant takeaway was the critical need for advocacy that includes both charter schools and broader educational policies.

Workshops provided insights into the State School Fund, clarifying the differences between local and state funding and the caps that limit access to essential resources. The Strategic Planning sessions emphasized the importance of linked goals from the board down to the classroom, particularly as we plan for the future of Ridgeline Montessori. Additionally, various talks offered actionable strategies for supporting new board members and enhancing our recruitment efforts. This experience reinforced our collective responsibility to engage and lead effectively.

Best,

Jenny Noyce & Rachael McEachern

Ridgeline Board Members

We invite you to stop by the front porch of the school — if you see something that belongs to your student, please take it home! Let’s get those jackets, water bottles, and hoodies back where they belong! 💙

Taught by longtime Eugene art instructor Matt Hawk (15+ years experience, illustrator & designer, and former Ridgeline parent).

✅ Ages 8+ (younger by readiness) • Individual or small group
✅ 1 hr/week • Flexible scheduling • Year-round or school-year only
✅ In-person in SE Eugene (near Ridgeline) or virtual via Microsoft Teams

Cost: $25 per lesson (paid in 4-class blocks).
Sibling rate: $85/month • Low-income rate: $75/month (SNAP).
Group lessons available (each student pays individually).

Lessons are customized to student interests — animation, digital art (Photoshop/Procreate), comics, painting, sculpture, perspective, anatomy & more. Fun, project-based learning with optional long-term mentorship and portfolio building.

Contact: Kesha Hawk – thehawksaerie@gmail.com for full info & scheduling.

See Matt’s work: Instagram @thepopshopillustration | Facebook: The Pop Shop Illustration
Book series: Fontenot and LaFleur (Amazon)

Our Coyote Kids After School program is back! This is a fantastic opportunity for your students to connect with nature in their own neighborhood, disconnect from screens, and build meaningful relationships with their peers- all while playing games and learning new skills. This program will run Wednesdays from 2-5pm at Tugman Park and is open to kids from any school. All of the info is on the flier I've attached, but please let me know if you have any questions!

No School? No Problem! We have your upcoming No School days covered here at Kidsports. Kidsports is excited to offer PeaceHealth Play Days for kids when school is not in session. Your kids will get to spend the day having fun, being active, trying new sports & games, being creative and playing with friends.

Grades: 1-5

Cost: $60 per day

Extended Care: additional $15 per day

Days/Times: No-school days 9am–4pm

Extended Care: 8–9am and 4–5:30pm

Location: Kidsports Fieldhouse 2054 Amazon Parkway, Eugene, OR, 97405

Dates: Jan. 5, Jan. 19, Jan. 30, Feb. 2, Feb. 16, Mar. 30, Apr. 10, Jun. 5

Register Now