Ridgeline eNews

MARCH

Thursday 3/5 Equity Committee Meeting 4-5pm, via Zoom

Saturday 3/7 OBOB Regionals for grades 3-5 at ATA

Thursday 3/12 Board Meeting 6-8 pm

Friday 3/13 Last day to give to the Direct Donation Drive!

Friday 3/13 Student Art Show & Silent Auction 5:30-7pm, Ridgeline Gym

Saturday 3/14 OBOB Regionals for grades 6-8 at Kelly Middle School

Thursday 3/19 Board Work Session 1-3pm

Monday 3/23 Spring Break starts

Monday 3/30 No School

Tuesday 3/31 School resumes

APRIL

Wednesday 4/8 Papa’s Pizza Fundraiser - West 11th

Thursday 4/9 Board Meeting 6-8pm

Friday 4/10 No School - Scope & Sequence

For Quick Access:

• Ridgeline 25-26 Events Calendar
• One Page School Calendar
• Ridgeline's YouTube Channel

Attendance:

• Report an absence: attendance@ridgeline.org

• Planned Absence Form (at least 3 days in advance)

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.

Friday, March 13 | 5:30 PM | Ridgeline Gym

Join us for the culminating event of our Direct Donation Drive! It will be an unforgettable evening celebrating creativity, community, and connection at Ridgeline’s Student Art Show & Silent Auction.

Stroll through a beautiful gallery of student artwork, enjoy short and heartwarming student art presentations, savor a complimentary cookie, take a fun family photo, and join in the excitement with raffle tickets and silent auction bidding!

Tell Me More

🍪 Cookies for Everyone - Each attendee will receive a complimentary cookie coupon featuring artwork designed by a Ridgeline student. Redeem your cookie anytime during the event! Gluten-free options will be available.

✨ Community Art Project - Stop by our interactive art station and help us complete a special event-themed collaborative piece.

💫 Family Photo Booth - Strike a pose in front of our colorful backdrop! With fun props and big smiles, this is a perfect way to capture the night.

🎁 Classroom Raffle Baskets - Purchase raffle tickets at the event for a chance to win your favorite themed classroom basket. (Card or cash accepted.)

• $3 each

• 2 for $5

• 5 for $10

• 11 for $20

🛍️ Silent Auction - We’re thrilled to feature incredible baskets filled with local experiences, self-care treats, family fun packages, date nights, wellness memberships, and more! Perfect for spring break adventures, summer plans, birthday surprises, or a little something for yourself.

✨ Special Sneak Peek - CLICK here to preview some of the baskets with descriptions

These items represent only a portion of the auction baskets available at the Student Art Show Celebration on March 13 from 5:30–7:00 PM. Come explore the full collection and place your bids before 6:45 PM—and don’t miss your chance to snag a deal: most opening bids will start at approximately 50% of the item’s value.

🌟 Sponsor Shoutouts

A HUGE thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting this special event:

• Every Kid Pediatric Dentistry

• Roehl & Yi Investment Advisors LLC

• Dartmouth Capital, LLC

🙌 Invite & Volunteer

The more, the merrier! Invite friends, grandparents, neighbors—everyone is welcome. All proceeds directly support Ridgeline’s P.E., Art, and Social Emotional Learning programs.

Want to help make the magic happen? Click here or visit the Volunteer section below to sign up.

We can’t wait to see you on March 13 for a joyful night of art, fundraising, and community celebration! 💛

Last call to order your 2025-2026 Ridgeline school yearbook for students, families, and staff! 🎉 It’s a wonderful way to capture and celebrate the memories of this school year.

📕 How to Order

• Online ordering only: newleifphoto.inter-state.com

• Order Code: 0291HV

• Price: $25 per yearbook

🗓 Order Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026

Don’t miss out—order your yearbook now and enjoy revisiting all the special moments from this year at Ridgeline!

🌟Questions

Contact parent volunteer and Yearbook Coordinator, Heather Riedman, at hcates373@yahoo.com.

As a public charter school that receives State School Fund dollars, Ridgeline is required to participate in state testing for grades 3-8.

One important factor in our school’s evaluation is the participation rate. If we don’t meet the required participation threshold, the number of students who fall below that rate are automatically counted as not meeting state standards. This lowers our overall performance results. This means that even if Ridgeline students excel, a low participation rate can misrepresent our school's true academic success. For the past three school years, Ridgeline has fallen short of the required 94.5% participation rate.

State testing provides us with objective data that informs our teaching practices, allowing us to assess academic growth, identify areas for improvement, and refine our instructional strategies.

By engaging fully in state testing, we not only demonstrate the strength of our Montessori approach but also ensure that our students' achievements are accurately reflected. At Ridgeline, we approach testing in a low-stakes, student-friendly way, ensuring plenty of time, breaks, and a relaxed environment so that students can engage in the process without stress.

By allowing and encouraging your student to participate in state testing, families help ensure that teachers and students have the information and support needed to make learning as effective as possible.

In case you missed it, the February 2025 edition of Ridgeline Revealed, Common Reasons for Opting Out of State Testing and Why You Should Reconsider, goes into even greater detail on this topic.

Combined 30-day notice and opt-out form (English)

Combined 30-day notice and opt-out form (Spanish)

5th and 8th grade only: OSAS Science Testing Exemption (English)

5th and 8th grade only: OSAS Science Testing Exemption (Spanish)

Return completed forms to the office, or to Cynthia via email.

📚 Library Team

A big thank you to Krista Raasch, Madison McEwen, Mary Johnardt, Aryn Bartley, Elizabeth Zetlmaier, Jennifer Little, and Jen Anonia for keeping our school library tidy, organized, and in top shape AND for keeping our books cataloged, covered, and repaired. Your ongoing care helps make the library a welcoming space for students to explore and discover new books.

🎨 Art Show Support
Many thanks to Sunset Cordero, Kimberly Ritely, Jennifer Little, Heather Riedman, and Heather Evans for helping mount student artwork for next Friday’s Art Show. Your efforts help showcase our students’ creativity in such a beautiful way!

🧺 Silent Auction Crew
Shout out to Blaise Cooper, Jessica Lynch, and Michelle Dressler for assembling over 60 silent auction baskets and items last Friday. They look incredible, and we can’t wait for the community to see them!

Thank you all for sharing your time and talents with our school community—we couldn’t do it without you! 💛

Art Show & Silent Auction - Volunteers Needed 🎨

1. We still need 7 volunteers to help set up the student art gallery in the gym on Thursday, March 12 from 3–5 pm. Click here to sign up to volunteer!

2. We also need volunteers to work 1-hour shifts during the event on Friday, March 13. Help is needed at the:

• Cookie table
  

• Raffle ticket sales
  

• Silent auction tables
  

• Checkout cashiering

Click here to sign up and volunteer at the event

Our 6th graders will participate in Bike Safety with the City of Eugene from March 31–April 9. We need parent volunteers to help on the last two days: April 8 & 9. You do not need to have a 6th grader to help.

Volunteer shifts:

• Wednesday, April 8 | 9:30–11:30 am

• Thursday, April 9 | 9:30–11:30 am

If you’re available to help, please email bethany.dilla@ridgeline.org to sign up. Thank you for supporting our students! 🚴‍♀️

Below is the list of 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 Marketplace - Coming in March 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
• Student Talent Show - 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.

As part of Ridgeline’s commitment to strong leadership and thoughtful organizational continuity, we’ve begun the search for our next Principal. This is an exciting opportunity to welcome a Montessori-aligned instructional leader who will build on our strong foundation and support students, staff, and our school community.

View and share the Ridgeline Principal Brochure

We’re grateful for your partnership in sharing this opportunity with your networks as we plan intentionally for Ridgeline’s future.

• Ridgeline Revealed: How Do We Know We’re Doing Montessori Well? An Outside Review of Our Program

Recent Articles

January 2026

• The Ridgeline Lottery and the Waitlist Why Enrollment Matters (More Than You Think)

• Discovering Our Cosmic Purpose at Ridgeline: Through Preparing, Sharing, & Acts of Service

October 2025

• The Courage to Try: Building Curiosity and Resilience through Friendliness with Error

September 2025

• Normalization in Montessori: What Is It and Why It Matters

If you want to know more about a Ridgeline or Montessori-related topic, please let us know. Simply email your question or suggestion to ridgelineoffice@ridgeline.org with 'Ridgeline Revealed' in the subject line.

Gathering Ferns Preschool, run by Ridgeline parent and experienced teacher Shannon Harty, is enrolling now for fall of 2026! Our program is for three- to five-year-olds and runs Monday-Thursday, 8:45a-12:45p. (Children may attend two or four days per week.) We provide a small and nurturing environment focused on community, nature, and art only a mile and a half from Ridgeline.

www.gatheringfernspreschool.com

Check out the flyer below to learn more about the Summer Days of Wonder and the Arts at the Eugene Waldorf Cedar Summer Camps!

Do your kids love nature exploration and outdoor adventures? Then check out Nearby Nature's Natural Neighbors After School program! K-5th grade participants enjoy hiking, natural science, Earth art, and free time in Nearby Nature's outdoor classroom and Alton Baker Park.

• Programs happen Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:30-5:30 pm and Wednesdays from 2-5:30 pm, rain or shine, with flexible drop off for the first hour of each day and pick up between 5-5:30 pm.

• Online enrollment is ongoing -- details at Natural Neighbors After School.

• Scholarship assistance available. https://www.nearbynature.org/natural-neighbors/.

• See flyer below with more information about summer camps!

Former Ridgeline Learning Center assistant teacher Ruby Nelson runs programs for children’s forest school activities, focused on herbalism and crafting. Her program The Moon School offers one-time weekend workshop days, beginning February 7, a spring break, and a summer camp.

The Moon School creates a space for children to spend time in nature, connect with their creativity, and make botanical medicines. We are a great program for families who value outdoor education, arts and music in a wholesome, whimsical space that feels like a children’s storybook.

For more information, check out www.the-moon-school.com and follow @themoonschooleugene on instagram. To contact Ruby directly, email themoonschooleugene@gmail.com.

In Girls Who Code’s free summer program, Pathways, you'll learn to code over seven weeks of flexible, self-paced learning, and turn your interests into real-world tech projects while exploring exciting tracks like AI and Game Design — no experience required! Plus, this virtual program connects you with Girls Who Code's supportive, global community, and throughout the summer, you'll meet Partners and like-minded peers in live workshops and our exclusive Discord server.

Students who submit a Pathways Application by the Early Decision Deadline of February 25, 2026 receive priority consideration! The final application deadline is April 10.

Pathways is open to high school girls and non-binary students of all experience levels, including rising 9th graders, graduating seniors, and returning participants. Want to learn more? Check out our live webinar recordings and events here.

Spring Break Camps

1. For more info about the 5-day Forest Path Nature Camp click here

2. For more info about the 3-day Old School History Camp for Today’s Kids 2026 click here

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: Mar. 30, Apr. 10, Jun. 5

Register Now