Ridgeline eNews

OCTOBER

Thursday 10/9 Board Meeting 6:00 - 8 p.m.

Friday 10/10 No School

Saturday 10/11 Board Retreat 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday 10/15 End of Normalization

Thursday 10/16 Fall Mini Work Party #1, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday 10/18 Ridgeline Tee Party 10 a.m. (volunteer t-shirt prep party)

Saturday 10/18 Autumn Campus Clean-Up at Ridgeline, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday 10/22 Picture Re-take Day

Thursday 10/23 Read-a-thon begins

Thursday 10/23 Fall Mini Work Party #2, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday 10/23 Curriculum Sharing at Ridgeline, choose 3:05-4:05 p.m. or 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Monday 10/25 Spirit Week starts (see public calendar for dress up themes)

Wednesday 10/29 School Vision Screening, Ridgeline, 9-10 a.m.

Thursday 10/30 Fall Mini Work Party #3, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

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.

Classroom volunteer opportunities will be available after Normalization ends, October 16. Look for these sign-ups through your classroom organizer's emails. There’s a place for everyone to get involved and make this year amazing!

Take 3 Minutes & Complete the Volunteer Interest Survey (or Volunteer Skills Inventory)

• There is a special section about our Spring Silent Auction. Don't miss this!

• Your responses will help us learn more about you—your interests, talents, and the ways you might like to support Ridgeline this year with your time, skills, or resources.

• CLICK HERE to complete the Volunteer Interest Survey!

Thank you for helping us build a strong and connected school community!

A huge shoutout to Lillian Groff, Ridgeline’s Volunteer Lost & Found Coordinator, for taking extra time to sort, organize, and photograph lost items.

🧤 If you spot something in the graphic below that belongs to your student, please contact the Office — we’ll help reunite them with their missing treasure!

Ridgeline parents and families—especially those new to our program—you’re in for a treat! 🎉

Curriculum Sharing is a special opportunity for your child to guide you through their classroom and show off their favorite work. This informal, student-led event lets kids shine while sharing the confidence and independence they’ve been building since the start of the school year. 🌟

📅 Thursday, October 23
Classrooms will be open for two sessions:
1️⃣ 3:05 – 4:05 pm

[4:05-6:00 pm Teacher dinner break]
2️⃣ 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Choose the time that works best for your family and come celebrate your child’s growth and learning! 🏫

On Wednesday, October 29, Ridgeline will partner with the Lions Club to provide FREE, one-minute, non-invasive vision screenings for all students.

We encourage every student to participate—even if they already receive regular eye exams. Results are kept in student files and can be a valuable resource for teachers, specialists, and families. They may also help identify when a student should receive a more comprehensive eye exam.

If you have any questions or would prefer that your student not participate, please reach out to Cynthia at cynthia.friedman@ridgeline.org by Thursday, October 9.

About the Screening

The Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) partners with local Lions Clubs to provide screenings in more than 80% of Oregon school districts. Screenings are done using a Welch Allyn SPOT Vision Screener—a tool that works like a digital camera, using infrared light to quickly measure a child’s eyes and detect potential vision problems. To learn more this vision screening, click here.

📬 Results: Families will receive results within a few weeks, along with community resources for follow-up care if needed.

🌟 Big Thanks To...ALL of our Walk & Roll to School Day participants! 🚴‍♀️🚶‍♂️We had a fantastic turnout Wednesday morning, and we couldn’t have kept everyone safe and smiling without your help. Thank you for waking up extra early to make the morning such a memorable one!

• A special shoutout to Chris Mauksch for leading the bike group and a big round of applause to Sarah Whitsell for guiding the walking train — you both rocked it! 👏

• More gratitude goes out to our awesome parent volunteers who served as chaperones and route guides: Gabe Tabak, Blaise Cooper, Michelle Dressler, Devin Hughes, Zach Wilson, and Jenny Noyce.

• And last but definitely not least, huge high fives to Megan Ary and Jenny Noyce for helping distribute swag! We had many hands to stamp, raffle tickets to collect, and pencils and stickers to give away — so much fun!

• We appreciate you Jess Wood, Amanda Bedortha, Devin Hughes, Cris and Sunset Cordero, Heather Riedman, Madison McEwen, Paula Luginbuhl, Blaise Cooper, Laura Waters, Tanya Lopez, Mica Derrington-Via, Zach Wilson, Joan Swift, Tammy Nezol, Whitney Berkley, and Jenny Noyce!

🙌 Fall Mini Work Party Series - Thursdays in October (starts NEXT week!)

Would you like a short and contained 1-hr window of time to come and help zoom in on an area of the campus that needs attention? Do you have time on Thursdays before school pickup? This volunteer mini-series could be just what you are looking for. Tasks may include: weeding, pruning, raking, mulching, edging, and general sprucing up!

• Thurs, Oct 16, 2:00-3:00pm

• Thurs, Oct 23, 2:00-3:00pm

• Thurs, Oct 30, 2:00-3:00pm

Click here to sign up

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Autumn Campus Clean-Up - Saturday, October 18

Join us on Saturday morning, October 18 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30a.m. for our first weekend outdoor school clean-up day of the year! This is a great way to start volunteering time and it’s a great opportunity to meet other Ridgeline families while you work.

We recommend bringing your own gloves, preferred wedding implements, and a water bottle. We will be doing a variety of outside projects and tasks, which may include wedding, raking, trimming bushes and trees, etc. Kids and other family members are welcome to join in and help.

Click here to sign up

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👕🎉Ridgeline Tee Party - Saturday, October 18

Join us for a Ridgeline Tee Party! We need 5- 7 volunteers to help press, fold, and package school t-shirt orders alongside the fabulous Dandi Turner, former Ridgeline parent and longtime volunteer.

📅 Date: Saturday, October 18
🕙 Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (we’ve set aside 5 hours but anticipate it will take less time)
📍 Location: Ridgeline Library

It’s a fun, hands-on way to earn volunteer hours, support our school, and connect with fellow

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Save-the-date: Fall Work Party 2 will be on Sunday, November 16, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. More information coming soon. Ridgeline families! Click here to sign up in Track It Forward

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, Oct. 9 at 6:00 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 hearing reports from our Principal's Advisory Committee, administrators, and committee representatives. Our Executive Director will share the details of the Revised 2025-26 budget, we will discuss our process for making budget recommendations to the Budget Committee and Executive Director, and approve some meeting schedule changes. We will also approve several policies and vote on adding a new member to the board.

You can find the agenda here: 10-09-25 Ridgeline Board Meeting Agenda

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.

• The queue for the drive-through line only extends to Rosewood Dr. (the “no-name street”). There is space for about 4 vehicles between Rosewood and Ridgeline’s entrance.

• If this queue area is full, DO NOT block Rosewood Dr. or wait in the travel lane on West Amazon. It is unsafe and illegal to impede the roadway.

• If the line is full, please circle around the neighborhood and return when there’s space.

• Many families choose to park up the street or across the bridge and walk over to meet their student. This greatly helps reduce congestion.

• Remember, pick-up lasts 15 minutes—there’s no need for everyone to arrive right at 3:05 p.m.

Thank you for helping us keep drop-off and pick-up safe for all Ridgeline students and families!

To help us keep attendance accurate and the school day running smoothly, please follow these guidelines:

Absences or Appointments

• If your student will miss any part of the school day, notify the office by phone or email at attendance@ridgeline.org, and copy your child’s classroom staff.
  
  

Late Arrivals

• If your student arrives late (after an appointment, etc.) without prior notice, attendance may not be updated before the daily reporting pull, and you may receive an absent notification.
  

• To avoid this, please email attendance@ridgeline.org before the start of school.
  
  

Wednesdays (Early Release Days)

• Early release days are especially busy, particularly between 11:45 a.m.–1:05 p.m. when staff are managing medications and other student needs.
  

• If you need to pick up your student early on a Wednesday:
  

• Please notify the office before 11:00 a.m.
  

• Pick-ups may happen before 12:45 p.m.
  

• We cannot accommodate early pick-ups between 12:45–1:05 p.m. Last-minute requests during this time will need to wait until the 1:05 p.m. dismissal.
  
  

Thank you for helping us make attendance and transitions smooth for all students!

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. We still have some space in our Oct 10th Camp!

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: Oct. 10, Nov. 10, Nov. 11, Nov. 24, Nov. 25, Jan. 5, Jan. 19, Jan. 30, Feb. 2, Feb. 16, Mar. 30, Apr. 10, Jun. 5

Description:

• Kidsports is the perfect place for your kids to spend time being active when school is not in session. Kids will experience an action-packed day of games, such as dodgeball, kickball or basketball, along with other activities like Silent Disco, Gaga ball, Chalk Art, Obstacle course, Pickleball, Yoga and much more.
• Kids should wear active clothing and gym shoes with non-marking soles and bring a water bottle, as well as a lunch/snacks that don’t need to be refrigerated or heated. No phones or smartwatches are allowed.
• Play Days are planned according to the Eugene School District 4J calendar.
• Spots are limited. Scholarships are available to those who qualify; please learn if your child qualifies prior to registering.

Register Now

Join us at the gym for the Eugene Environmental Film Festival’s “Youth Fest”. There will be youth made environmental films, speakers, art, bird-centric interactive games, and a nature walk. Joining the film fest will be: BRING, W.R.E.N., and Cascades Raptor Center! Check out the flyer below to find out more.

This family-oriented series of classes will get you outside learning skills and connecting with nature. Our location is the beautiful Dorris Ranch Living History Village in Springfield, Oregon.

Map, Compass and Navigation 101
Time: 9:30am – Noon
Date: Thursday, October 16 or Sunday, Oct 19th
Cost: $50/family $35/individual
Min 8, Max 15 students (counting ages 7+)

Bring water bottles, snacks, and dress to be outside. Optional: bring a sack lunch and enjoy a picnic at the Living History Village with the group after the class.

Get outside and hands-on with Singing Creek Educational Center and Wild Alive Outside, a family-centered wilderness skills series for all ages. Each workshop focuses on one or more wilderness skills—knots, navigation, shelters, fire-building, basketry, carving, plant identification, nature journaling and more—practical learning in a safe, supportive environment.

Map, compass, and Navigation 101: This workshop introduces the cardinal directions, basics of reading a map, using a compass to take a bearing, and more.

No prior experience needed. Come dressed to get dirty and for the weather. Many activities will not be ideal for young children, but all ages are welcome with parental supervision and guidance. Individual adults and teens are also welcome to join in the fun!

Register here: https://www.singingcreekcenter.org/event/wild-ways-family-days-map-and-compass-oct-16/

Please join us for a magical and wonderful Batty Bash Halloween event for kids ages 4 - 10 at SCEC! Crafts, games, a shadow puppet play and a bake sale ---All with minimal plastic, vintage style crafts made of natural materials, low noise and nothing too scary. Our shadow puppet play with be in the indigenous-style plankhouse and features an interesting tale with beautiful puppets. Perfect for children with sensory issues or fears, this event will be small and highly curated with friendly volunteers at each activity station. We strive to be zero-waste and Earth-friendly.

Date: Sat, Oct 25th, 2pm - 4pm

Place: Dorris Ranch Living History Village in Springfield

Cost: $15 each child, $12 for sibling, or 4 children for $40

Please bring cash at the door (and extra cash for the bake sale!) We can't take credit cards at this time. Adults must stay with their children. No pets allowed, please. Wear warm clothing and shoes and prepare for the weather.

Learn more and RSVP here:

https://www.singingcreekcenter.org/event/hallows-eve-batty-bash-2025/

See Flyer below