Ridgeline eNews

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

FEBRUARY

Saturday 2/21 OBOB In-School Battles 1:30-5:30 p.m., Ridgeline Gym

Sunday 2/22 Lottery Applications Close

Thursday 2/26 6th Grade Outdoor School Family Info Night 5:30-6:30 via Zoom

Thursday 2/26 Board Work Session 6-7:30 p.m.

MARCH

Tuesday 3/3 10-Day Direct Donation Drive starts

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

Thursday 3/12 Board Meeting 6-8 pm

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

For Quick Access:

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.

🌟Last call: 2026-2027 Sibling Enrollment Priority Deadline Sunday. Feb 22—🌟

🎉 Got a sibling ready to join the Ridgeline family? Don’t wait—get those sibling applications in and keep the Ridgeline magic in the family! 💫

🎟️Siblings of currently enrolled students (who’ll stay enrolled next year) get priority for enrollment!

🫶 If space runs out, sibling-priority kiddos will be first in line on the waiting list through our fair and friendly lottery process. ✨

📅 Mark Your Calendar! To snag that sibling spot, you MUST complete the Online Enrollment Application by this Sunday, February 22, 11:59 pm—no exceptions! 🕛

Principal Search Update — Help Us Spread the Word

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.

🚗 CRITICAL INFORMATION: PLEASE READ

Within the last week, we received a letter from a neighbor sharing concerns from the Wild Oaks Homeowners Association regarding traffic conditions along West Amazon Drive, including photographs.

In addition, yesterday during afternoon pick-up we witnessed an angry neighbor yelling profanity, stopping multiple Ridgeline cars that were lined up and blocking driveways. This was both alarming and caused parents to call and report it.

Due to these recent events, we want to clarify expectations and ensure everyone understands the safety guidelines.

The Bottom Line

The drive-through queue should extend only to Rosewood Drive (the small “no-name” street)
The curb in this area is yellow (NO PARKING), with space for approximately four vehicles between Rosewood and Ridgeline’s entrance
If the queue area is full, do not wait in the travel lane on West Amazon
DO NOT BLOCK the street or driveways, or mailboxes to the north of Rosewood
DO NOT DRIVE in the left-hand lane of oncoming traffic. It is unsafe and illegal to impede traffic or cross the double yellow line to bypass waiting cars.

Safe Options (Choose One & Please Consider Option 2)

Option 1: If the line is full, CONTINUE DRIVING DOWN West Amazon, TURN LEFT on Snell, CIRCLE BACK by turning left on Fox Hollow, and return to West Amazon when space becomes available.

Option 2: PARK FARTHER UP THE STREET OR ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND WALK OVER TO MEET YOUR STUDENT. Many families choose this option, and it significantly reduces congestion.

Remember that pick-up lasts 10 minutes—there is no need for everyone to arrive right at 3:05 p.m.

Thank you for helping us keep drop-off and pick-up safe, respectful, and smooth for all Ridgeline students, families, and neighbors.

Volunteer Thank Yous

Middle School Dance

The Middle School Glow Party dance was a big success! Special thanks to PAC and Meredith Calzia for coordinating all the details.

We also want to thank all of the parents who helped contribute food, decorations, stayed for set-up, volunteered as chaperones, and cleaned-up after: Jon Wilson, Crystal Huskey, Davin Poole, Jennifer Weaver, Sarah Haven, Vanessa Jackson, Stephanie Schiffgens, Alison Cassin, April Manning, Tammy Nezol, Alder Bartlett, Devin Hughes, Emily Caldera, Shannon Harty, Laura Waters, Marci Davis, Meredith Calzia, Jenna Quillen, Sarah Klein, Janna Hudson, and Corey Swift. This event wouldn’t have been possible without your support and contributions.

Tour Guides

A big thanks to our volunteer tour guides and greeters who helped welcome prospective families to Ridgeline at the Tuesday night school tours. Lillian Groff, Jennifer Little, Jennifer Weaver, your warmth, hospitality, and friendly presence truly made a lasting impression and helped families feel the heart of our community. Thank you for helping showcase what makes Ridgeline so special! 💛

Building A Laundry Rockstars

Thank you to Marlayna Cherisse & Mike Constonguay for helping with the Building A laundry every week! Your willingness to do this every week is an amazing gift!

Library Bulletin Board

Big thanks to Cora Whitsell for decorating the library bulletin board this month, highlighting Black History Month. Great work!

Volunteer Opportunities - New/Coming Soon

Art Show & Silent Auction

Click here to volunteer for helping prep materials for the art show or to help set-up the gallery on Thursday, March 12.

Click here to volunteer at the event on Friday, March 13. We need volunteer help at the Cookie table, selling raffle tickets, and with cashiering.

Volunteer Opportunities - Ongoing

Ongoing Facilities Volunteer Work

Sign up to volunteer on your own time here: weeding and grounds clean up.

🌟 Volunteer Team Sign-Ups

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.

Volunteering - What You Need to Know

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.

Track it Forward - Information for New Volunteers

Why It Matters

New beginnings prompt the opportunity to form new habits! When it comes to volunteering, we need everyone to consistently track ALL volunteer hours throughout the school year in Track It Forward. Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district, Eugene 4J.

How to Get Started

If you are new to Ridgeline and have not yet created a Track it Forward account for logging your volunteer hours, please take a moment to do so. If you are a first-time Track It Forward user and have not set up an account you will need to create an account first.

Go to https://www.trackitforward.com/user or go to the App store on your device and search for Track It Forward
Next download the App
Create your account/log in
Sign up for volunteer opportunities and log your volunteer hours!

February Board Meeting Recap

Hello Ridgeline Community!

The Board met for our monthly meeting on Feb. 12. We heard reports from our terrific Principal's Advisory Committee, Board committee members, and our Executive Director. Our Operations Manager Yaeko shared the data and analysis gathered during The Possibility Project. and Board members asked questions about the values and priorities shared by families and staff. We will use this information to inform upcoming budgeting discussions. We received and approved a recommendation for revised Administrative Salary Schedules, learned about the 2024-25 4J Annual Review (it was very complimentary!), and heard updates about the Principal Search. We also looked at and discussed a draft version of a Disruptive Public Comment Procedure.

The Board is in the midst of a lot of big, exciting work! Please reach out to board@ridgeline.org if you have questions or would like to chat further about what the Ridgeline Board of Directors does to support our school and our students!

Ridgeline School Counselor Highlight

I’m Ridgeline’s school counselor, Jon Talebreza-May, and I support the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of all students in grades K–8. I provide schoolwide support for our community, while also offering more targeted support for students who benefit from regular check-ins, skill-building lessons, and support during emerging situations. If you have a social-emotional concern about your child, I welcome you to reach out.

For non-urgent concerns, emailing jon.talebreza-may@ridgeline.org is the best first step, so I can understand what you’re seeing and follow up as soon as possible.

For urgent or same-day safety concerns, please contact the front office to help connect you to the best resource.

My goal is to ensure every child feels safe, connected, and equipped with the skills they need to thrive at school.

Cough Drop Reminder

We know there has been quite a bit of illness going around, and sometimes that lingering cough can stick around even after students are feeling better. Cough drops can provide helpful relief during the school day, and we’d like to share a reminder about our school policy, per the guidance of our nurse consultant:

Cough drops must be kept in the front office.
Parents/guardians must complete a Medical Authorization Form.
Please provide the cough drops to the office in a bag clearly labeled with your student’s name.

When a student needs a cough drop, they may come to the office, and we will provide one.

Please note: If teachers or assistants find cough drops in a student’s backpack, they will send them to the office, and we will contact home to review the policy. At that time, we can arrange for a parent/guardian to complete the Medical Authorization Form.

Thank you for your partnership in helping us keep students safe and comfortable during the school day.

2025-2026 Yearbook Photos Needed

Hello Ridgeline families,

We need YOUR help in making this year’s yearbook extra special! 📘💛
Have you chaperoned a field trip, attended a school event, or snapped photos along the way? If so, we would love to include your photos in the yearbook.

We are currently looking for photos from:

Field trips
Walk, Bike & Roll to School
The Talent Show
Spirit Week
Read-a-Thon (including the book swap and Barnes & Noble performances)
General classroom activities
Class presentations

If you have photos you’re willing to share, please contact Heather Riedman to send them in.

Thank you for helping us capture and celebrate the memories of this school year! 📸🌟

📸✨ Order Your Ridgeline Yearbooks! ✨📸

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.

Ridgeline’s Recommended Reading Articles

Ridgeline Revealed is a monthly article series that offers behind-the-scenes insights into the school, providing families with information on key aspects they may not typically see. Our goal is to share timely topics and increase transparency about day-to-day operations in a short, easily digestible format.

Check out the NEW January 2026 article:

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

Recent Articles:

Discovering Our Cosmic Purpose at Ridgeline: Through Preparing, Sharing, & Acts of Service - December 2025
The Courage to Try: Building Curiosity and Resilience through Friendliness with Error - October 2025
Normalization in Montessori: What Is It and Why It Matters - September 2025

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.

Articles from 2024-2025:

Nearby Nature’s Natural Neighbors After School Program for K-5th grade students

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/.

No School Day camps are also available on February 16th.

For more info, go to https://www.nearbynature.org/no-school-days.

The Moon School with Ruby Nelson

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.

Girls Who Code: Don’t miss your chance to receive priority consideration for Pathways!

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.

Ballet Fantastique Presents...

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!

PeaceHealth Play Days @ Kidsports

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: Feb. 16, Mar. 30, Apr. 10, Jun. 5

Register Now

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