Ridgeline eNews

DECEMBER

Friday 12/19 All-school PJ day

Monday 12/22 Winter break begins

JANUARY

Monday 1/5 No School - Planning day

Tuesday 1/6 School resumes

Friday 1/9 Lottery Applications open

Thursday 1/15 Board Meeting 6-8 p.m.

Monday 1/19 No School - MLK Jr. Day

Tuesday 1/20 Middle School Info Session 6-7 p.m.

Thursday 1/22 Pastathon at Pastini

Thursday 1/29 Student Talent Show

Friday 1/30 No School - Grading Day

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.

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Ridgeline Student Talent Show in both live performance and video formats! Join us on Thursday, January 29, at 5:30 PM in the Ridgeline Gym for an evening of incredible student performances. Admission is free—and don’t worry about staying out a little late—there’s no school on January 30.

A few key details:

• Performance Time Limit: To make room for everyone, acts must be 3 minutes or less.

• Act Limit: Students can participate in up to two acts (e.g., one solo and one group piece).

• Special Acts: No live performances involving aerial rigging, pets, or students from other schools—these must be submitted as videos. Stay tuned for more details on video submissions.

• Intermission Snacks: The Middle School Cookie Crew is planning to sell cookies at intermission to raise funds for their end-of-year trip.

Sign Up Information:

• Discuss ideas with your student over winter break.

• Here is the link to sign-up your student or a group of students.
• Live act sign-ups are due by 5:00 PM on Monday, January 19.
• Video submissions are due by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 22.

We’ll need volunteers to make this event a success! Look for opportunities on Track It Forward below.

For questions, contact Sarah & Chauncey Mauney at sarahrosemauney@gmail.com or alexanderdmauney@gmail.com.

We can’t wait to see the amazing talents of our Ridgeline students.

Save-the-date and get ready for Ridgeline’s largest annual fundraiser, our Student Art Show & Silent Auction. This event will be held on Friday March, 13, 2026 in the Ridgeline gymnasium.

All proceeds directly support Ridgeline's special programs & facilities which include:

• Specialists like Art, PE

• Montessori materials and programs

• Facility maintenance and safety

• Student wellness and enrichment activities

Planning this event takes a lot of time, coordination, and generosity. And we're already starting to prepare several art & wellness-themed silent auction baskets, and would love to feature Ridgeline community businesses and services.

Here’s where you come in:

• Do you own a business, or know someone who does, that is willing to donate to our spring Silent Auction?

• Or do you work for an employer that may like to donate to support your student’s school?

• If yes, we are seeking in-kind donations that provide services or products related to: local art, art supplies, social connection, physical movement, stress reduction, physical or mental wellness

• Think gift certificates or services that promote community connection, health, and self-care—anything from 30-60 minute massages and yoga class passes to health coaching sessions and spa gift cards.

• We also want to add some larger items that include weekend away experiences, family vacations, hotel stays (think about time-shares, Airbnb connections, etc).

• See photos below for basket item examples

How to Donate In-Kind Gifts

• Email us at giving@ridgeline.org to coordinate your contribution OR to simply provide contact information to your community connection.

• Drop off donations at the Ridgeline office by February 6, 2026.

The auction is part of our Direct Donation Drive (March 3–13), our biggest fundraiser of the year. Stay tuned for more details and get ready for a fabulous community event!

Thank you for making a difference—together, we’re building a stronger, happier community!

We continue to hear from our neighbors about frustrations related to driving behaviors on the streets surrounding our campus, particularly during arrival and dismissal times. We appreciate your partnership in helping us address these concerns and maintain positive relationships within our shared community.

Please take a moment to help keep everyone safe and supported by:

• Observing & abiding by the posted 20 mph speed limit

• Avoiding honking at pedestrians and neighborhood pets

• Not blocking driveways or mailboxes

• Responding respectfully if a neighbor raises a concern

Your care and consideration make a meaningful difference for our neighbors, our staff, and our students—and help ensure our school remains a welcome and valued part of the neighborhood.

Thank you for your continued attention and support.

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.

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!

Talent Show Sign-Ups Below

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. Here is 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 - volunteer sign-ups available!

• 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 met on December 11 for our regular monthly meeting. It was a full agenda! We were lucky to hear from Room 5 Assistant Teacher Kyndle Young and Ridgeline parent Sarah Mauney about life at Ridgeline. We heard from the Principal's Advisory Committee, our administrative team, and our committee members. Representatives from Summit Bank joined us to discuss how banking with their small, community-focused bank could benefit Ridgeline. We learned about the recent 4J site visit, ongoing work our Organizational Continuity Planning Committee is doing, and the Possibility Project. We reviewed our Executive Director Performance Review materials and process, approved the 2026-27 school calendar, and discussed proposed changes to Ridgeline's administrative salary schedules. And we elected Amanda Donofrio as Treasurer!

We warmly welcome interested Ridgeline comm

We invite everyone to stop by the Lost & Found Station before the start of winter break. It's conveniently located on the front steps of the school. This week, our mission is to find the owner of this adorable lost bear, who tumbled out of a car during drop-off. If it belongs to you please email ridgelineoffice@ridgeline.org and we will return him to you!

We will likely be donating sweatshirts and hoodies in late January (ones that have been here since the start of the school year). If you see something that belongs to your student, please take it home! 💙

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

Eugene International High School (Eugene IHS) is a choice school for students in grades 9-12 offering a 4-year interdisciplinary humanities curriculum focused on international studies. Students are dual enrolled in both Eugene IHS and their host school.

ANY student can enroll. They must go through the online 4J School Choice Lottery, regardless of attendance area: 4j.lane.edu/schoolchoic. The in-district deadline to apply is February 15, 2026.

IMPORTANT DATES for the 2026-2027 School Year:

January 15……Online application period for 4J School Choice Lottery opens for in-district students
February 15…..Deadline to submit in-district 4J School Choice Lottery Applications

Spanish and French Immersion students from Monroe and Roosevelt will be enrolled in Eugene IHS without the lottery process because they entered immersion through the lottery in elementary or middle school. However, immersion students do need to submit the Eugene IHS Enrollment Form to the Eugene IHS office at South or Sheldon by the January 31, 2026. This form will be included in a special mailing to immersion families over winter break.

We hope you will consider becoming a part of our Eugene IHS community!

For more information contact one of the Eugene IHS offices below, or visit the Eugene IHS website at ihs.4j.lane.edu

Eugene IHS @ Churchill: 541-790-5225
Eugene IHS @ Sheldon: 541-790-6636
Eugene IHS @ South Eugene: 541-790-8030