Ridgeline eNews

JANUARY

Thursday 1/22 Pastathon at Pastini (dine-in or call-in & take-out)

Thursday 1/29 Ridgeline Student Talent Show 5:30 -7:30 p.m.

Friday 1/30 No School - Grading Day

FEBRUARY

Monday 2/2 No School

Wednesday 2/4 Equity Committee 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Saturday 2/7 Lottery Tours (K-8) 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Monday 2/9 Fundraising Committee Meeting 9-10:30 a.m., Ridgeline Library

Thursday 2/12 Board Meeting 6-8 p.m.

Friday 2/13 Middle School Winter Dance 6:30 p.m., Ridgeline Gym

Saturday 2/14 Eugene Concert Choir at Hult Center 2:30 pm (Lower El classes)

Monday 2/16 No School - President's Day

Tuesday 2/17 Lottery Tours (K-3) 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday 2/21 OBOB In-School Battles - time TBD

For Quick Access:

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

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.

Join us on Thursday, January 29, at 5:30 PM in the Ridgeline Gym for an evening of incredible student performances!

Last Call!

• Talent Show video submissions are due TONIGHT, January 22, by 5:00 PM.

• Click here for the link to sign-up your student or a group of students.

Know Before You Go

• Rehearsal: Participating students should plan to stay after school on the day of the event for a practice run-through. Please watch for an email from Sarah & Chauncey Mauney, our Talent Show Coordinators, with additional details and instructions.

• Free admission: this event is open to the community - Ridgeline students and families are welcome to invite grandparents, neighbors and friends!

• Snacks: Bring cash if you'd like to support the Middle School Cookie Crew, by purchasing cookies or popcorn during admission. All proceeds support the Middle School end-of-year Adventure Trip!

• Seating: students are expected to sit with their families. Student-only seating (on the large mats) will not be offered this year. This is a great opportunity to practice performance etiquette.

We can't wait to see everyone there, cheering on every participant, and enjoying great talent!

Questions? Contact Sarah & Chauncey Mauney at sarahrosemauney@gmail.com or alexanderdmauney@gmail.com.

Remember back in December when we welcomed a KVAL videographer into classrooms to capture b-roll and footage of the school? Fun news–that wonderful behind-the-scenes work has officially paid off!

The first KVAL Lifestyle Matters video aired on January 15, and the second video will air in early February (we will share this one soon). A huge thank you to everyone who bravely stepped in front of the camera to represent Ridgeline so beautifully.

These videos (along with short clips) will be posted on Ridgeline's YouTube channel, linked on the homepage of our website, featured on Ridgeline’s Video page, and shared on social media as part of our outreach and education efforts during lottery season. We’re so grateful for your partnership in helping tell Ridgeline’s story!

Ridgeline has engaged Northwest Leadership Associates (NWLA) to support a thoughtful, mission-aligned search for our next principal. NWLA brings deep experience with school leadership transitions and will help center Ridgeline’s values and public Montessori foundation throughout the process.

Families are invited to share their perspectives by completing the Principal Search Leadership Profile Survey by Wednesday, January 28. Your voice matters, and your input will help shape the qualities and priorities we seek in our next principal.

Thank you for your partnership in this important work. We will continue to share updates as the search moves forward.

Ridgeline’s Student Art Show & Silent Auction will be on Friday March, 13 from 5:30 - 7pm in the gymnasium. As we gather donations, and start to put together several art & wellness-themed silent auction baskets, and would love to feature Ridgeline community businesses and services.

How to Help

• 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

Donation Info

• Email us at donations@ridgeline.org and let us know what you’d like to give OR;

• Simply provide contact information to your community connection.

• Drop off gift basket items including gift certificates or in-kind donations to the Ridgeline office by February 13, 2026.

The auction is part of our Direct Donation Drive (March 3–13), our biggest fundraiser of the year. 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

Thank you for making a difference—together, we’re continuing to build a stronger community.

We’re excited to offer the Ridgeline school yearbook again this year 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 today 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.

For all the planners out there, here’s an early look at Ridgeline’s approved 2026-2027 school calendar! 🗓️✨

✅ Staff Input: Checked & considered

✅Board Approved: December 11

📆 Save the graphic below

🔍Ridgeline aims to stay closely aligned with 4J’s schedule to maximize specialist resources & student services.

A big thank you to Brad Quillen for editing the Middle School Info Session video! Your time, talent, and creativity—especially in helping produce a series of short videos for our YouTube channel—are truly appreciated. 💛

Student Talent Show - Chair-pick Up Needed

We are renting 50 additional chairs to provide enough seating for our incredible family members and supporters. If you have a van, suburban, truck, or large vehicle and can help pick up and deliver folding chairs to the school on the day of the event, Thursday, January 29 then this NEW volunteer job is for you!

Email bethany.dilla@ridgeline.org and also click here to access the link to sign-up as a volunteer.

Middle School Dance - Food Sign-ups & Volunteers Needed

Click here to sign up to help bring snacks, to set up, chaperone, or clean up!

Art Show

Our Art Specialist, Merideth Turner, will need lots of helping hands mounting student artwork for our big spring event. If you are interested in assisting with this take-home work in February and early March, email bethany.dilla@ridgeline.org. Stayed tuned for more info!

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 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 for a regular (and full!) meeting on January 15. We heard from our Principal's Advisory Committee about ongoing activities in our Ridgeline classrooms, learned from Meridy Wheeler about the Science of Reading in Room 8, and heard from our Executive Director and Principal about recent goings-on at Ridgeline.

We approved a recommendation to begin a banking relationship with Summit Bank. We heard from Chrystell about her progress toward her annual goals, got an update about a newly revised Principal Job Description, and approved a recommendation to work with Northwest Leadership Associates as we undertake a search for a new Principal. We heard from our Facilities Evaluation Team and discussed proposed changes to our administrative salary schedules. We discussed a draft version of a Disruptive Public Comment Procedure and adopted one new policy.

You are warmly invited to join us at a meeting if you are interested in what your Ridgeline Board is up to!

Lottery season is here and we are pleased to offer several opportunities for families to learn more about Ridgeline.

We will host two guided school tours in February:

• K–8 Tour: Saturday, February 7, 10–11:30am

• K–3 Tour: Tuesday, February 17, 5–6pm

Why It Matters:

These events offer visitors a chance to see Montessori in action, explore our classrooms, and learn more about what makes Ridgeline a truly unique public education option. Lottery information & tours sign ups are available on our website.

Applications Dates:

• Lottery applications for the 2026–27 school year opened on January 9 at 9:00am.

• The application deadline is February 22 at 11:59pm.

• All available seats are filled through this process, which is independent of the 4J School of Choice lottery.

Thank you for partnering with us to help families learn about public school options.

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.

The Lost & Found Station is located on the front porch of the school! We will be donating sweatshirts and hoodies at the end of this month (specifically ones that have been here for a couple months). Come claim your stuff and please take it home! 💙

National Civics Bee Application Portal

Little Mermaid: The 80s Pop Ballet at the Hult Center!

Get Mermaid TIX now and use the special family discount code below.

Watch the sneak preview 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: Jan. 30, Feb. 2, Feb. 16, Mar. 30, Apr. 10, Jun. 5

Register Now