Ridgeline eNews

SEPTEMBER

Tuesday 9/30 Monthly Donor Drive ends - Give Here!

OCTOBER

Friday 10/3 No School

Friday 10/3 Extended Deadline: Last day to Order Ridgeline Gear!

Monday 10/6 Fundraising Committee Meeting 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday 10/8 Walk+Roll to School Day 7:45 - 8:15 a.m.

Wednesday 10/8 Equity Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

Thursday 10/9 Volunteer Power Hour 8:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Ridgeline Library

Thursday 10/9 Board Meeting 6:00 - 8:00 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. (T-shirt Prep Party - sign up below to volunteer)

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 Fall Mini Work Party (#2) 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.

Order deadline: extended 1 week to Friday, October 3 (NOTE: this is a short ordering window for a quick turnaround)

👉 Place your order here!

👕 This year’s options:

• T-Shirts: $15, black or light blue

• V-neck: $24-32, available in black only
  

• Crew Neck Sweatshirts: $40–$52, black or light blue

💙 Every student should be able to show Ridgeline pride! Families who qualify for financial assistance and have completed the Benefit Program Eligibility Survey can request a FREE t-shirt. E-mail Cynthia.friedman@ridgeline.org for more information.

Show your spirit and order today! 🎉

This is the final push in The Art of Giving Monthly Donor Campaign--AND we are ALMOST there!

Where We Are

• 14 new monthly donors joined

• 8 current donors increased their gifts

• That’s 22 gifts bringing us nearer to reaching our monthly donor campaign goal!

What’s Left

• We still have $400 in matching funds on the table

• We still need 8 new or increased donors

Please take 3 minutes to fill out the short survey below. 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!

To help students build independence, we encourage families to use the Hug & Release Station in the morning—give your child a hug, say goodbye, and then leave campus, allowing your student to walk into the building on their own.

We know this can feel especially tough during the first few weeks as students adjust to new routines.

Lingering, waving from afar, or walking onto campus can actually make it harder for children to enter the building independently.

Tips for success:

• Talk with your child about your morning routine at home or over the weekend (rather than during the rush to school).

• Aim to arrive on time—or even a little early. Students who have time to hang up backpacks, settle in, and join the morning meeting start their day on a calmer, more positive note.

We know this can be challenging, but it’s a goal worth working toward. Supporting students as they gain independence in the mornings makes a big difference in how their day begins.

Did you know kids need one hour of physical activity each day to stay healthy? Walking, biking, and rolling to school is a fun way to get moving—and connect with friends! Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs bring together community members, school staff, and public health professionals to support student well-being and encourage safe, active commuting.

About The Bike, Walk & Roll Challenge

• Students who walk, bike, or roll to school will have a chance to win prizes and make new connections.

When Is It?

• Wednesday, Oct 8 – starting at 7:50 a.m.

🚴 Bike Route Info

• Meet at Amazon Park/Pool (by the restrooms) at 7:50 a.m.
  

• Ride is 1.8 miles along the bike path, crossing at the Hilyard and West Amazon cycle light (intersection) to access the two-way cycle track.
  

• A parent volunteer will lead the ride, with others biking alongside for safety.
  

• Parents are encouraged to ride with their child!
  
  

🚶 Walk & Roll Route Info

• Meet at Kincaid Park at 7:50 a.m. for the .5-mile walk.
  

• The group will leave at 8:00 a.m.
  
  

Want to help lead or volunteer? Sign up in Track It Forward.

You are invited to the upcoming Volunteer Power Hour meeting! 🎉

📅 Date: Thursday, October 9
⏰ Time: 8:45-10:00 am
📍 Where: Ridgeline Library

We’re starting to build our 2025-2026 volunteer teams! During this hour, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with team leads, ask questions, and meet other folks with similar interests.

Event Teams

• Walk + Roll to School

• Read-a-thon

• Parent Education Team

• Middle School Events

• Stone Soup

• Student Talent Show

• Silent Auction & Art Show

• Student Marketplace

Ongoing Teams

• Library Team

• Community Engagement

• Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)

• Hospitality (Staff Care and Teacher Appreciation)

• Office Support (book covering, sign making, etc)

• Crossing Guard Team

• Groundskeeping & Outdoor Work Team

Parent volunteers and school staff will share ways you can get involved—from community engagement and hospitality to helping with special events like Stone Soup and the Spring Art Show.

There's a place at Ridgeline for everyone to get involved and volunteer. Come learn more and find the team for you. We can't wait to see you there!

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Fall can be a difficult season for Oregon youth, with data showing suicide attempts and deaths often rise during this time. This Call to Action offers practical resources to help staff, caregivers, and trusted adults support students and link them with qualified providers.

More Resources

• Visit ODE’s Adi’s Act webpage for tools and information.
• Contact: Nole Kennedy, ODE Student Wellness & Safety Specialist — ODE.SIS@ode.oregon.gov

🚶‍♀️🚴 Fall Walk+Roll to School Day - Wednesday, October 8

Walk+Roll to School is coming up! Mark your calendars for October 8, at 7:45 a.m! If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, this is a fun way to get involved and help build connections within the Ridgeline community. If you are green volunteer badge approved, click here to sign up.

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🙌 Fall Mini Work Party Series - 3 Thursdays in October

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.

The Equity Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, October 8 at 7pm via Zoom. Stay tuned for more information about this committee!

📚 Each week, students may bring home up to 2 library books.

✅ Tips for families:

• Check your student’s backpack to see which books they’ve checked out.
  

• Decide together which night books go back into the backpack for their library day.
  

• Talk about the importance of keeping track of borrowed books.

• Double check for books that need to be returned to the Eugene Public Library.
  
  

🔍 If a book goes missing:

• The first reminder will come from your child’s teacher, encouraging a deeper search at home, in the car, or anywhere else books may hide.
  

• If the book still isn’t found, a second reminder may come from the office, giving families an additional 2–4 weeks to locate it.
  

• If the book cannot be found, a replacement cost will be charged, plus a $6–$8 processing fee (to cover cataloging and reshelving).
  
  

🎯 Our goal is not to charge families—it’s to help students build responsibility in keeping track of and returning their books, while keeping our library shelves full for everyone.

Thank you for your support in helping our students become responsible library users!

Hey Ridgeline families! We'd love to hear about the fun things you have been doing in the community! Maybe you’ve taken your kids to an event and thought, "This would be even more fun with more Ridgeline friends!" 👫🌟

Great news! 🎉 You can now send activity suggestions to the Community Engagement Team at CET@ridgeline.org (one of Ridgeline's awesome volunteer teams!) 📧. We’ll share your ideas through grade-specific channels so everyone can join in the fun! 🙌

🏀 Planning to attend a UO game?
🥾 Thinking about a hike up Spencer Butte?
🎨 Visiting an art exhibit?

Let us know! The more, the merrier! Just try to give us 1-2 weeks heads-up so we can spread the word through the weekly eNews, Ridgeline's Facebook page, and our fabulous Classroom Organizers. 💡 Let’s keep building community and connection through the activities we already love to do with our kids.

See you out there! 🌈💙

Marty Wilder & Laura Allen

On Behalf of the Community Engagement Team
📧 CET@ridgeline.org

Lane County Public Health announced they will follow the Oregon Health Authority’s latest vaccine recommendations:

• Children 6–23 months
• Children 2–18 with risk factors or never vaccinated
• Children living with at-risk individuals
• Anyone who chooses protection

Key Updates

1. Prescriptions are no longer needed for COVID-19 vaccines at your provider or pharmacy.
   

2. Lane County Community Health Centers will offer flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines based on this guidance.
   

3. Oregon Health Plan members are covered for all three vaccines; check with your health plan or pharmacy for other coverage.

4. Vaccines may take a few days to become available at pharmacies.

For help finding a COVID-19 vaccine: call 211 or visit 211info.org.

Emerald Valley Ultimate is starting a new middle school Ultimate Frisbee team in Eugene!

• Who: Students in grades 5–8

• When: Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:30–5:00 pm

• Where: Tugman Park

• Start: Practices began Sept 8 (late registrations welcome)

Students are invited to try two practices for free before registering.

👉 See the attached flyer for details and registration information.

💦 Starting Wednesday, Sept. 3, we’re adding new Rec Swim hours perfect for early-release days!

Details:

• 📅 Every Wednesday (throughout the school year)

• 🕐 1:00–3:45 pm

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Open to all ages

• 📍 Small Pool

• ✅ No registration required (standard Rec Swim policies apply)

A great way for kids (and families) to enjoy those extra Wednesday afternoon hours with fun in the pool!

Check out this amazing opportunity to register for children’s art classes - taught by a former Ridgeline family. Can be facilitated online or in-person - location is close to Ridgeline.

Check out the flyer below, highlighting some fabulous creative classes in Eugene hosted by an Art Therapist for kids ages 7-11.

Does your teen or tween love the outdoors and want to learn survival skills? Whole Earth Nature School has a transformative program called FOREST Understory that does just that! This unique opportunity is an eight-month program that immerses 6th to 10th grade students into the world of ancestral wilderness skills. On the first Saturday of every month, we focus an entire day on a unique skill and improve on lessons from the month before. FOREST Understory builds confidence, creates strong friendships, and deepens nature connection. Come join us for this amazing experience!