eNews Archives

2021-2022 eNews

eNews 8-26-21

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Full calendar: http://www.ridgeline.org/calendar

Fri. 8/27 Back to School Forms Open

Thurs. 9/2 Board Meeting 6:30-8:30pm

Fri. 9/3 Back to School Forms Due

Sat. 9/4 RCO Grounds Work Party 10 am

Mon. 9/6 Labor Day - Office Closed

Tues. 9/7 Staff Work Day

Wed. 9/8 Staff Work Day

Thurs. 9/9 First Day of School for all students

NEW NEWS –

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year everyone! If you are new to Ridgeline this is the weekly eNews that is sent out on Thursdays (or occasionally on a Friday, like this week)! Each week the eNews will be posted on our website so if you wish to refer back to a certain week, you can always find it there. In fact, if you want to know anything, it is likely on our website.

Calendar - Each week we will highlight the upcoming week’s calendar in the eNews. We encourage you to regularly check the calendar at www.ridgeline.org as dates have been known to change. Please note that Ridgeline’s calendar is slightly different from 4J elementary calendars.

Electronic Back To School Packet! - This year you do not need to check your mailboxes as all back to school information prior to the start of school will be electronic! Included in this first edition of the eNews for the 2021-22 school year you will find back to school forms that need your attention. Please alot a period of time to complete all forms by Friday, September 3. Permissions are needed for students at the start of school. Please fill out the forms by the deadline so that our child does not miss out on things like school lunch, classroom walks on Amazon Trail, using the computer, etc. (Pay special attention to auto fills that put your name instead of your student’s name in the name field!)

Abridged Handbook - Please read the Ridgeline Abridged Handbook 2021-2022 before the first day of school as we have made many changes to reflect current procedures and practices.

BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS - DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Please Complete and Submit the following forms by September 3, 2021:

Required for all families:

Ridgeline Family-School Community Agreement

Ridgeline Montessori Public Charter School-Annual Permissions Form

Family Income Survey

Technology Access Survey

Ridgeline Montessori Computer Internet User Agreement For 2021-2022

Families that would like to participate in the meal program:

Meal Program Form

We encourage all families to participate in weekly Screening and Diagnostic Testing. Click here to get started: Instructions for signing up for COVID-19 Testing

Prepared Meals - Similar to last spring Ridgeline is offering meals at no cost to families. Everyone is welcome to sign up! This year students will have the option to receive school meals two, three, or five days per week. All lunches come with a cold take home sack breakfast for the following morning. Please fill out the meal form in the back to school forms. In order to receive meals the first week you must sign up by Friday, September 3. Families may sign up throughout the year, however meals will not be available for their students until the week following their sign up.

Supply Fee - We are now collecting the $75 supply fee per student. This year all supply fees will be collected electronically. If paying the supply fee presents a financial hardship for your family please fill out the Financial Assistance Form. Supply Fees are due Friday, October 1.

Back to School Q & A - In response to the questions and feedback we received from the initial draft of our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, staff has created a 2021-2022 Back to School Q&A document that addresses many of your questions.

Weekly COVID-19 Screening Testing - The University of Oregon (UO) has partnered with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to provide free, voluntary COVID-19 screening testing to schools in your county. Ridgeline opted into the program, and we strongly encourage families to opt-in to testing programs for the well-being of our school community.

On-Site Rapid Testing - Should your student develop COVID-19 symptoms while at school, Ridgeline has BinaxNOW rapid tests available. These tests will only be administered if you have completed the Oregon Health Authority waiver and returned it to the school.

Picture Day is Back! - We are super excited to be offering Picture Day again after a hiatus last year. Lifetouch will once again take photos, and Picture Day order forms will be sent home with students once school starts. Photos will be taken outside in the covered area for a mask free smile, on Thursday, September 23.

Substitutes Needed - At this time our substitute pool is very low! We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic to spend a day in a Montessori classroom in the role of the assistant in the event of a staff absence. Subs help with classroom management, assisting students with their work, and tasks assigned by the staff lead for the day. Several of our staff members started their educational careers here at Ridgeline in this role! Subbing is a great way to gain experience and a true understanding of the Montessori experience at all grade levels.

If you are interested in getting on our substitute list, please submit a resume and three references with contact information to careers@ridgeline.org. A substitute training will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Contact Cynthia if you have questions.

Message from Fundraising Chair - Hello, for those of you who I have not yet met, I'm Ann Carney Nelson. I am the mother of two Ridgeline students. Elizabeth will be a 4th grader in Meridy's class and Ella is starting in Kindergarten this year. I'm excited to serve as Fundraising Committee Chair again this year and am grateful to have each of you as part of the Fundraising Team here at Ridgeline! While our committee takes the lead to help plan and organize our annual fundraising efforts, at the end of the day, it is our collective responsibility to work together to reach our goal. This year our fundraising goal is again $75,000 (a goal we exceeded last year!) We will be sharing more information in the coming weeks about ways to help and participate in our fundraising activities. If at any point you have any questions, ideas to share, or are interested in getting involved in any capacity, please contact us at giving@ridgeline.org or just come to any of our meetings (to be held via Zoom after school hours).

Help Us Beautify the Ridgeline School Grounds - On Saturday, September 4, the RCO (Ridgeline’s Community Organization, aka the parent group) is organizing to get the school grounds ready for students to return on September 9. Meet us in front of the main building at 10 am to help us move gravel, pull weeds, install shelves in outside lockers, sweep, etc. Volunteers must wear masks on campus and practice physical distancing from people outside of their household. More details to come. If you are interested in helping, email rco@ridgeline.org.

Volunteering - While volunteering inside the school will be very limited this year, we do indeed have volunteer opportunities and we still rely on our amazing parent volunteers to help with so many different aspects of life at Ridgeline! Teachers will reach out to families in their classroom communications, and Cynthia will include volunteer opportunities in the eNews. Volunteers serve on committees, make materials at home, do grounds work, act as crossing guards, and other projects.

Below are our current volunteer needs -

Furniture Moving Volunteers Needed - We are looking for strong, masked, vaccinated volunteers who can work in a noisy environment to move classroom furniture back into classrooms Thursday, September 2 or Friday, September 3 between the hours of 11 am-4 pm. Contact Cynthia to volunteer.

Haul Away Volunteer Needed - As we continue with the “Great Purge of 2021” we are in need of a volunteer with a truck to help us haul away items for donation and the transfer station. Contact Cynthia for details and to set up a time to help.

Free Piano/Haul Away Volunteer - We have an old piano slated for removal and need your help! If you are interested in taking away the piano please contact Cynthia.

Crossing Guards - Crossing guards needed to help guide Ridgeline students as they cross W. Amazon to access the Amazon trail and the bridge across the creek. Volunteers needed daily at 8-8:30 am and 3-3:20 pm. Safety vests and stop signs provided. Crossing guards need to be fully vaccinated and have a background check within the last 5 years. Sign up for any number of mornings and/or afternoons on Track it Forward

Arrival & Dismissal Volunteers - We are looking for volunteers to help direct both students and cars through the arrival and dismissal process. Safety vests provided. Arrival & dismissal volunteers need to be fully vaccinated, have a background check within the last 5 years. Sign up for any number of mornings and/or afternoons on Track it Forward

Gravel Pick Up Volunteer - Volunteer needed with a truck to go to Lane Forest Products or Rexius to pick up a ½ yard of ¾ minus gravel for the grounds work party on Saturday, September 4. Contact Cynthia to volunteer.

Track it Forward - Ridgeline will continue to utilize Track it Forward for volunteer sign-ups and to log your volunteer hours. If you are new to Ridgeline or have not yet created an account, please do so! Last year we had a lot of folks forget to log their hours. Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district.

Track It Forward app can be added to your phone!

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. If you already have an account, skip to step two.

Step One:

Go to https://www.trackitforward.com/site/ridgeline-montessori

Select sign in

Create your account.

Step Two:

Go to the app store on your device and search for Track It Forward.

Download the app

Log In

You are all set!

Medication - Students requiring medication are requested to take all doses at home if possible. If medication must be given during school hours, or while students are on school sponsored field trips, a medication distribution form must be completed and signed by the parent. Medication must be given to school staff in the original container, including prescription label attached, and only the amount to be given by school staff in the container. School staff must keep a log of the date, time, and amount of medication given to the student. All medications are kept secured in the school office. Contact the office to make arrangements and complete paperwork. Students are not to have medications elsewhere on the school grounds without prior written approval including a Self Medication Distribution form. This includes over the counter medications and cough drops.

eNews 9-2-21

eNews: Ridgeline Montessori’s Weekly News

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Full calendar: https://www.ridgeline.org/family-resources/calendar

Thurs. 9/2 Board Meeting 6:30-8:30 pm

Fri. 9/3 Back to School Forms Due

Sat. 9/4 RCO Grounds Work Party 10 am

Mon. 9/6 Labor Day – Office Closed

Tues. 9/7 Staff Work Day

Wed. 9/8 Staff Work Day

Thurs. 9/9 First Day of School for All Students

NEW NEWS

Welcome to week two of the eNews! Things are moving quickly around here. If you are still on this email list and your student is no longer enrolled at Ridgeline, please reply to this email and ask to be removed from the list.

Getting Ready for School - The first day of school is less than a week away! Now is a great time to start getting up early, putting the morning routines in practice so everyone in the family is ready to leap in the car, walk out the door, or hop on their bicycles on that first day. It’s been a long time for many of us since there has been a daily routine, and we may be a little rusty! If your kids will be bringing their own lunches to school, make them the night before and set out clothing, masks, and other items needed for a successful school day. Remember an extra change of clothes and mask in the backpack can be helpful for unexpected spills at school.

Help Us Beautify the Ridgeline School Grounds – We are still looking for more volunteers for this Saturday’s School Beautification Day! Thanks to those who have already replied to volunteer. In addition to the various clean up and getting ready jobs, we are looking for someone who would like to donate and plant flowers in the planters near the Kinder/Lower El playground as well as a few pots that will be placed in front of the office. As a reminder, we will meet at 10 am on Saturday, Sept 4, in front of the main building. Please email rco@ridgeline.org if you are interested in helping; a detailed email about the jobs will go out to those who respond. Volunteers must wear masks on campus and practice physical distancing from people outside their household. See you on Saturday!

Health and Safety Protocols – We are looking forward to welcoming all Ridgeline students back to school on Thursday. To keep everyone as safe as possible, we ask that you take the time to read through and familiarize yourself with the following information, which is also available on our website under Parent Resources.

Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures – Please read the drop-off/pick-up procedures carefully prior to the first day of school. We recommend leaving home extra early to allow yourself plenty of time to either get through the drop-off line or to park and walk your student to the school grounds. It often takes longer the first few days of school, so please err on the side of being early.

Broken Link – We apologize for the broken link in last week’s eNews. Click here to sign up for COVID-19 Testing. We encourage all families to participate in weekly Screening and Diagnostic Testing.

Sewing Volunteer Needed – Volunteer wanted to make a handful of fabric masks with clear panels. Instructions provided and supply reimbursement available. Contact Cynthia to volunteer.

BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS – DUE TODAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Please complete and submit the following forms by September 3, 2021.

Required for all families:

Ridgeline Family–School Community Agreement

Ridgeline Annual Permissions Form

Family Income Survey

Technology Access Survey

Ridgeline Computer Internet User Agreement 2021-2022

Families who would like to participate in the free meal program:

Meal Program Form

We encourage all families to participate in weekly Screening and Diagnostic Testing. Click here to get started: Instructions for signing up for COVID-19 Testing

CONTINUING NEWS

Calendar – Each week we will highlight the upcoming week’s calendar in the eNews. We encourage you to regularly check the calendar, at www.ridgeline.org as dates have been known to change. Please note that Ridgeline’s calendar is slightly different from 4J elementary calendars.

Electronic Back to School Packet! This year you do not need to check your mailboxes as all back to school information will be electronic. Included in this first edition of the eNews for the 2021-22 school year you will find back to school forms that need your attention (above). Please allot enough time to complete all forms by Friday, September 3. Permissions are needed for students at the start of school. Please fill out the forms by the deadline so that your child does not miss out on things like school lunch, classroom walks on Amazon Trail, or using the computer. (Pay special attention to auto-fills that put your name instead of your student’s name in the name field.)

Abridged Handbook – Please read the Ridgeline Abridged Handbook 2021-2022 before the first day of school, as we have made many changes to reflect current procedures and practices.

Prepared Meals – Similar to last spring, Ridgeline is offering meals at no cost to families. Everyone is welcome to sign up! This year students will have the option to receive school meals two, three, or five days a week. All lunches come with a cold take-home sack breakfast for the following morning. Please fill out the meal form in the back to school forms. To receive meals the first week, you must sign up by Friday, September 3. Families may sign up or make order changes throughout the year; changes will take effect the following week.

Supply Fee – We are now collecting the $75 per student supply fee. This year all supply fees will be collected electronically. If paying the supply fee presents a financial hardship for your family, please fill out the Financial Assistance Form. Supply fees are due Friday, October 1.

Back to School Q & A – In response to the questions and feedback we received from the initial draft of our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, staff has created a 2021-2022 Back to School Q&A document that addresses many of your questions.

Weekly COVID-19 Screening – The University of Oregon has partnered with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to provide free, voluntary COVID-19 screening testing to schools in your county. Ridgeline opted in to the program, and we strongly encourage families to opt-in to testing programs for the well-being of our school community.

On-Site Rapid Testing – Should your student develop COVID-19 symptoms while at school, Ridgeline has BinaxNOW rapid tests available. These tests will only be administered if you have completed the Oregon Health Authority waiver and returned it to the school.

Picture Day Is Back! We are super excited to be offering Picture Day again after a hiatus last year. Lifetouch order forms will be sent home with students after school starts. Photos will be taken outside in the covered area for a mask-free smile on Thursday, September 23.

Substitutes Needed – At this time our substitute pool is very low! We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic to spend a day in a Montessori classroom in the role of the assistant in the event of a staff absence. Subs help with classroom management, assisting students with their work, and tasks assigned by the staff lead for the day. Several of our staff members started their educational careers here at Ridgeline in this role! Subbing is a great way to gain experience and a true understanding of the Montessori experience at all grade levels.

If you are interested in getting on our substitute list, please submit a resume and three references with contact information to careers@ridgeline.org. A substitute training will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Contact Cynthia if you have questions.

Message from Fundraising Chair – Hello, for those of you who I have not yet met, I'm Ann Carney Nelson. I am the mother of two Ridgeline students. Elizabeth will be a 4th grader in Meridy's class and Ella is starting in kindergarten this year. I'm excited to serve as Fundraising Committee Chair again this year and am grateful to have each of you as part of the Fundraising Team here at Ridgeline! While our committee takes the lead to help plan and organize our annual fundraising efforts, at the end of the day, it is our collective responsibility to work together to reach our goal. This year our fundraising goal is again $75,000 (a goal we exceeded last year!). We will be sharing more information in the coming weeks about ways to help and participate in our fundraising activities. If at any point you have any questions or ideas to share, or are interested in getting involved in any capacity, please contact us at giving@ridgeline.org – or just come to any of our meetings (to be held via Zoom after school hours).

Volunteering – While volunteering inside the school will be very limited this year, we do indeed have volunteer opportunities, and we still rely on our amazing parent volunteers to help with so many different aspects of life at Ridgeline! Teachers will reach out to families in their classroom communications, and Cynthia will include volunteer opportunities in the eNews. Volunteers serve on committees, make materials at home, do grounds work, act as crossing guards, and take on other projects.

Below are our current volunteer needs:

Free Piano/Haul-Away Volunteer – We have an old piano slated for removal and need your help! If you are interested in taking away the piano, please contact Cynthia.

Crossing Guards – Crossing guards needed to help guide Ridgeline students as they cross West Amazon to access the Amazon trail and the bridge across the creek. Volunteers needed daily at 8-8:30 am, and 3-3:20 pm M-Th and 1-1:20 F. Safety vests and stop signs provided. Crossing guards need to be fully vaccinated and have had a background check within the last 5 years. Sign up for any number of mornings and/or afternoons on Track it Forward.

Arrival & Dismissal Volunteers – We are looking for volunteers to help direct both students and cars through the arrival and dismissal process. Safety vests provided. Arrival & dismissal volunteers need to be fully vaccinated, have a background check within the last 5 years. Sign up for any number of mornings and/or afternoons on Track it Forward.

Gravel Pickup Volunteer – Volunteer needed with a truck to go to Lane Forest Products or Rexius to pick up 1/2 yard of 3/4 minus gravel for the grounds work party on Saturday, September 4. Contact Cynthia to volunteer.

Track It Forward – Ridgeline will continue to use Track It Forward for volunteer sign-ups and to log your volunteer hours. If you are new to Ridgeline or have not yet created an account, please do so! Last year we had a lot of folks forget to log their hours. Volunteer hour reporting is important for us to show support for Ridgeline when applying for grants and for reporting to our sponsoring district.

Track It Forward app can be added to your phone!

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. If you already have an account, skip to option two.

Option One:

Go to https://www.trackitforward.com/site/ridgeline-montessori.

Select sign in.

Create your account.

Step Two:

Go to the app store on your phone and search for Track It Forward.

Download the app.

Log in.

You are all set!

Medication – Students requiring medication are requested to take all doses at home if possible. If medication must be given during school hours or while students are on school sponsored field trips, a medication distribution form must be completed and signed by the parent. Medication must be given to school staff in the original container, including prescription label attached, with only the amount to be given by school staff in the container. School staff must keep a log of the date, time, and amount of medication given to the student. All medications are kept secured in the school office. Contact the office to make arrangements and complete paperwork. Students are not to have medications elsewhere on the school grounds without prior written approval including a Self-Medication Distribution form. This includes over the counter medications and cough drops.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Oregon approved to issue an additional $167 million in Pandemic EBT food assistance to 430,000 children

Need to know:

Current recipients of P-EBT benefits for the 2020 - 2021 school year will automatically receive an additional $389 per child in food assistance that will be received as two payments in September and October. There is no need to apply.
If your child has not applied and been approved for free or reduced price meals at school, you can still receive P-EBT food assistance for the summer if you apply online at the Oregon Department of Education website by September 4.
Oregon will provide approximately $591 million in food assistance for children from July through October 2021.
P-EBT is a benefit program separate from meals currently provided at no charge to children and students. These meals do not impact P-EBT eligibility or benefits.

(Salem, Ore.) – The State of Oregon received approval from the federal government to expand the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program and provide an additional $167 million in food assistance to approximately 430,000 children in Oregon.

Oregon was previously approved to provide approximately $424 million in food benefits to children in Oregon. Combined with the summer expansion of the program, Oregon will provide approximately $591 million in food assistance to children from July through October 2021.

P-EBT provides food benefits to families whose children were eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school or daycare, but did not have access to these free meals because of COVID-19 closures.

Children currently receiving P-EBT benefits for the 2020 - 2021 school year will automatically receive an additional $389 per child in food assistance that will be received as two payments in September and October.

Eligibility for additional P-EBT food assistance

Students eligible to receive P-EBT benefits for the 2020 - 2021 school year will receive additional P-EBT food assistance for the summer of 2021. There is no need to apply.
Children age six or younger whose families participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program will receive P-EBT food assistance for the summer of 2021. There is no need to apply.
If your child has not applied and been approved for free or reduced price meals at school, you can still receive P-EBT food assistance for the summer if you apply online at the Oregon Department of Education website by September 4.

Two ways children receive P-EBT food assistance

There are two ways children receive benefits:

If the child’s household currently participates in SNAP or TANF, their P-EBT benefits will be deposited into the household’s EBT account.
Children who already have a P-EBT card will continue to receive food assistance on their current card.
Children new to the P-EBT program whose household does not participate in SNAP or TANF will receive a P-EBT card in the mail at the address on file with their school.

P-EBT cards look different than the Oregon Trail EBT cards issued to SNAP households.

Visit pebt.oregon.gov for more information about the P-EBT program.

P-EBT does not replace any child nutrition program already offered and families are encouraged to continue to participate in meal programs in their communities.

P-EBT is separate from SNAP benefits including emergency allotments that are also being issued due to the impact of COVID-19. P-EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test.

Resources to help meet basic needs

Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211), www.211info.org
Oregon Department of Human Services Resources

About SNAP

Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.

About the Oregon Department of Education

The Oregon Department of Education fosters equity and excellence for every learner through collaboration with educators, partners, and communities. ODE oversees the education of over 560,000 students in Oregon’s public K-12 education system. While ODE isn’t in the classroom directly providing services, the agency (along with the State Board) - focuses on helping districts achieve both local and statewide goals and priorities through strategies such as:

Developing policies and standards
Providing accurate and timely data to inform instruction
Training teachers on how to use data effectively
Effectively administering numerous state and federal grants
Sharing and helping districts implement best practices

eNews 9-9-21

eNews: Ridgeline Montessori’s Weekly News

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Full calendar: https://www.ridgeline.org/family-resources/calendar

Thurs. 9/9 First Day of School for All Students

Fri. 9/17 Student Profile Edits Due

NEW NEWS

Board Meeting Recap - On behalf of the board, welcome to the 2021-22 school year! Ridgeline's board of directors unanimously endorsed the school's fall plans last Thursday evening. Ridgeline will once again offer full-time, in-person, public Montessori education this fall. While we would love nothing more than for Ridgeline to be able to offer limitless public Montessori options, the Board and the school must work to balance that dream with the real constraints that we operate within. Ridgeline will not be offering a remote learning option or holding seats for students who are unenrolled. We recognize that not everyone agrees with these choices. We empathize with those facing difficult decisions. Regardless of your choice, we want you to know that we value each Ridgeline student and family, past and present. Thank you all for your thoughtful, caring engagement over the last month. If you'd like to listen, the audio recording of the board meeting is available here. You can always contact the Ridgeline board at board@ridgeline.org.

Back to School Forms - If you have not yet completed your back to school forms they are now past due. Please fill them out ASAP! See continuing news for the links to the forms.

Friday Handouts - Tomorrow we will be handing out several things for students to bring home. These include: classroom pick up signs for your window (unless those go home Monday), Lifetouch picture day order forms, and the Student Profiles.

Classroom Pick up Signs - In order to improve the efficiency of the drive through pick up circle, we are trying something new! Each student will be sent home with a colored classroom sign. Please add the name of your student and put these signs in your car window so staff can see who you are picking.

Student Profile - Friday we will be sending home each student’s profile from Synergy. Please read the Reference Guide and make any updates to your student’s profile with a RED pen. Note, that addresses cannot be changed in Synergy without two proofs of address. If you need to update your address, contact Leauriy to make arrangements. Return student profiles with clearly marked changes to your classroom teacher by Friday, September 17th. Please sign, date and return the Student Profiles even if there are no changes. It is very important that we have accurate contact information for your student so we can reach you during the school day.

Board Meeting Next Week - The board will have its regular monthly business meeting on Thursday, September 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The meeting will include the regular financial update and news from the first week of school, as well as updates on the facilities work and Ridgeline's charter contract negotiations. The agenda will be finalized and posted here by next Tuesday; the Zoom link will be shared in next week's eNews. You can reach the board at board@ridgeline.org.

Picture Day Order Forms - If you are ordering photos, please send your picture packet order forms with your student on picture day, September 23.

UO Testing - UO weekly testing will start next week. Welcome packets with test kits will be sent home through the classrooms and students will return their tests to their teachers the following day. Tests will be picked up via courier the day they are returned so late test kits will not be included that week. If you are participating in the UO testing program, please instruct your student to put their classroom bin on collection day. If you have any questions about the program contact Cynthia.

Air Quality - Ridgeline will use the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Guidance: School Outdoor Activities During Wildfire Events and the local Air Quality Index (AQI) at Oregon Environmental Air Quality to guide decisions about the use of outdoor space. Air quality will be monitored at 7:45 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. A draft guidance document has been created and once it is finalized, we will share it with you.

Site Council Update - Site Council, a group which includes all stakeholders with interests in the school, had our annual retreat in August via Zoom. We have representatives from parents, teachers, administration and classified staff. We don't yet have a student member. During our retreat, we set goals for the year which are: 1) review the Family Handbook, 2) support the Equity and Inclusion efforts, and 3) continue to update and improve Site Council's internal workings. We are always looking for ways to connect to families and parents. Please feel free to reach out to the parent reps, Sara Mader and Ben Muir. You can contact us by our email at sitecouncil@ridgeline.org.

Because one of the three parent representatives is no longer able to serve, we will be looking for a new parent member. We meet most months during the school year for 1.5 hours. If you are interested, we invite you to our next meeting which will be on September 20 at 6:00 and will be on Zoom or contact us at sitecouncil@ridgeline.org.

Thank You - A huge thank you to RCO lead Meghan Rogacki for organizing the grounds work party that took place last Saturday. Thank you to all the families who participated in doing a variety of projects around school to help get the grounds ready for the start of school. Thank you Meredith Turner for buying and planting flowers, Jennifer Rice for getting the gravel and helping haul away items. Thank you to Rachael McEachernfor also helping to haul away items. Thank you to essential volunteer Tate Kelley for all your heavy lifting and Naomi Friedman for helping to paint arrival/dismissal dots and laminating. And a big thank you to community volunteer Linda Thacker for cutting out laminate and many other at home projects.

Oregon Health Authority & Oregon Department of Education School Health Advisories -

To maintain the continuity of instruction during the first month of school this year, OHA and ODE are issuing the following School Health Advisory, to remain in effect statewide September 7 – October 1, unless otherwise updated:

All eligible youth and adults who come in contact with school-age children should vaccinate to reduce spread in the school community.
Families with school-age children and educators should limit gatherings and non-essential activities with people from other households to the extent possible. If you are visiting people from another household, you should wear a mask, maintain a physical distance of 6 feet, and keep activities outdoors as much as possible.
To the extent possible, schools and other organizations should reduce extracurricular activities and consider holding activities, such as meals, recess, physical education classes, music and choir, outdoors to maximize physical distancing. Likewise, if schools and other organizations proceed with extracurricular activities, they should consider holding them outdoors and implementing additional precautions like face coverings and physical distancing.
Schools should hold beginning of the year family events (open houses, meet the teacher nights, etc.) online, rather than in-person. If events are held in-person, ensure all participants wear masks, hold the events outside, and maintain physical distancing of 6 feet to the degree possible.
Families should check your school’s website or ODE’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners website to review your school’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan.

Review these back-to-school COVID-19 safety tips for more information on how to keep everyone safe as students return to the classroom.

CONTINUING NEWS -

Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures – Please read the drop-off/pick-up procedures carefully prior to the first day of school. We recommend leaving home extra early to allow yourself plenty of time to either get through the drop-off line or to park and walk your student to the school grounds. It often takes longer the first few days of school, so please err on the side of being early.

BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS – DUE TODAY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Please complete and submit the following forms by September 3, 2021.

Required for all families:

Ridgeline Family–School Community Agreement

Ridgeline Annual Permissions Form

Family Income Survey

Technology Access Survey

Ridgeline Computer Internet User Agreement 2021-2022

Families who would like to participate in the free meal program:

Meal Program Form

We encourage all families to participate in weekly Screening and Diagnostic Testing. Click here to get started: Instructions for signing up for COVID-19 Testing

Health and Safety Protocols – We are looking forward to welcoming all Ridgeline students back to school on Thursday. To keep everyone as safe as possible, we ask that you take the time to read through and familiarize yourself with the following information, which is also available on our website under Parent Resources.

Screening Tools:

CDC Self-Screening Tool

COVID-19 Symptom Screener (Printable)

School Checklist

When Should My Student Stay Home?:

COVID-19 Exclusion Summary Guidance for K-12 Schools

Mandatory COVID-19 Reporting Requirements

Safety:

Wearing a Face Covering at School

Handwashing Requirements

Supply Fee – We are now collecting the $75 per student supply fee. This year all supply fees will be collected electronically. If paying the supply fee presents a financial hardship for your family, please fill out the Financial Assistance Form. Supply fees are due Friday, October 1.

Substitutes Needed – At this time our substitute pool is very low! We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic to spend a day in a Montessori classroom in the role of the assistant in the event of a staff absence. Subs help with classroom management, assisting students with their work, and tasks assigned by the staff lead for the day. Several of our staff members started their educational careers here at Ridgeline in this role! Subbing is a great way to gain experience and a true understanding of the Montessori experience at all grade levels.

If you are interested in getting on our substitute list, please submit a resume and three references with contact information to careers@ridgeline.org. A substitute training will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Contact Cynthia if you have questions.

Crossing Guards – Crossing guards needed to help guide Ridgeline students as they cross West Amazon to access the Amazon trail and the bridge across the creek. Volunteers needed daily at 8-8:30 am, and 3-3:20 pm M-Th and 1-1:20 F. Safety vests and stop signs provided. Crossing guards need to be fully vaccinated and have had a background check within the last 5 years. Sign up for any number of mornings and/or afternoons on Track it Forward.

Arrival & Dismissal Volunteers – We are looking for volunteers to help direct both students and cars through the arrival and dismissal process. Safety vests provided. Arrival & dismissal volunteers need to be fully vaccinated, have a background check within the last 5 years. Sign up for any number of mornings and/or afternoons on Track it Forward.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Oregon approved to issue an additional $167 million in Pandemic EBT food assistance to 430,000 children

Need to know:

Current recipients of P-EBT benefits for the 2020 - 2021 school year will automatically receive an additional $389 per child in food assistance that will be received as two payments in September and October. There is no need to apply.
If your child has not applied and been approved for free or reduced price meals at school, you can still receive P-EBT food assistance for the summer if you apply online at the Oregon Department of Education website by September 4.
Oregon will provide approximately $591 million in food assistance for children from July through October 2021.
P-EBT is a benefit program separate from meals currently provided at no charge to children and students. These meals do not impact P-EBT eligibility or benefits.

(Salem, Ore.) – The State of Oregon received approval from the federal government to expand the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program and provide an additional $167 million in food assistance to approximately 430,000 children in Oregon.

Oregon was previously approved to provide approximately $424 million in food benefits to children in Oregon. Combined with the summer expansion of the program, Oregon will provide approximately $591 million in food assistance to children from July through October 2021.

P-EBT provides food benefits to families whose children were eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school or daycare, but did not have access to these free meals because of COVID-19 closures.

Children currently receiving P-EBT benefits for the 2020 - 2021 school year will automatically receive an additional $389 per child in food assistance that will be received as two payments in September and October.

Eligibility for additional P-EBT food assistance

Students eligible to receive P-EBT benefits for the 2020 - 2021 school year will receive additional P-EBT food assistance for the summer of 2021. There is no need to apply.
Children age six or younger whose families participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program will receive P-EBT food assistance for the summer of 2021. There is no need to apply.
If your child has not applied and been approved for free or reduced price meals at school, you can still receive P-EBT food assistance for the summer if you apply online at the Oregon Department of Education website by September 4.

Two ways children receive P-EBT food assistance

There are two ways children receive benefits:

If the child’s household currently participates in SNAP or TANF, their P-EBT benefits will be deposited into the household’s EBT account.
Children who already have a P-EBT card will continue to receive food assistance on their current card.
Children new to the P-EBT program whose household does not participate in SNAP or TANF will receive a P-EBT card in the mail at the address on file with their school.

P-EBT cards look different than the Oregon Trail EBT cards issued to SNAP households.

Visit pebt.oregon.gov for more information about the P-EBT program.

P-EBT does not replace any child nutrition program already offered and families are encouraged to continue to participate in meal programs in their communities.

P-EBT is separate from SNAP benefits including emergency allotments that are also being issued due to the impact of COVID-19. P-EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test.

Resources to help meet basic needs

Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211), www.211info.org
Oregon Department of Human Services Resources

About SNAP

Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.

About the Oregon Department of Education

The Oregon Department of Education fosters equity and excellence for every learner through collaboration with educators, partners, and communities. ODE oversees the education of over 560,000 students in Oregon’s public K-12 education system. While ODE isn’t in the classroom directly providing services, the agency (along with the State Board) - focuses on helping districts achieve both local and statewide goals and priorities through strategies such as:

Developing policies and standards
Providing accurate and timely data to inform instruction
Training teachers on how to use data effectively
Effectively administering numerous state and federal grants
Sharing and helping districts implement best practices

eNews 9-17-21

eNews: Ridgeline Montessori’s Weekly News

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Full calendar: https://www.ridgeline.org/family-resources/calendar

Thurs. 9/16 Board Meeting 6:30-8:30pm

Sat. 9/18 Board Work Session 9am-12pm

Mon. 9/20 Site Council Meeting 6-7:30pm

Tues. 9/21 UO Test Kits Sent Home

Wed. 9/22 UO Test Kits Returned to School 8:30am

Thurs. 9/23 Picture Day

NEW NEWS

Board Meeting tonight and Work Session Saturday morning - Ridgeline's board will have its regular September meeting tonight (Thursday evening) from 6:30-8:30 pm. Thursday evening's meeting will include regular business updates as well as news from the first week of school and discussion of the school's staff vaccination policy. You can view the full Thursday agenda on the board page of Ridgeline's website. All are welcome to attend the meeting (Thursday Zoom link). You can speak to the board during the public comment portion of the meeting or by emailing board@ridgeline.org. The board will also have its annual fall work session to start planning the year's work on Saturday morning (9 am to noon). The Saturday agenda is available; the meeting is open to the public, although there will not be a public comment period (Saturday Zoom link). The board will share information from these meetings next week.

UO Testing - Those who have signed up for the weekly UO testing will receive test kits on Tuesdays. Tests need to be returned first thing Wednesday morning to the classroom collection bin. No late tests will be accepted. Please help remind your student to drop off their test Wednesday morning when they arrive at school.

Sign up for this program is ongoing and there is approximately a week lag time between sign up and being added to the list. The first week in the program a green welcome folder will be sent home along with the test kit. These folders have individualized student stickers that you will need to adhere to the testing vile.

In order to sign up for the program, you need to fill out both the OHA waiver (and return it to Cynthia) and sign up through UO for the testing. Instructions for signing up for COVID-19 Testing Ridgeline does not know who has signed up for testing until the weekly student list arrives. Contact UO directly at c19studentsupport@uoregon.edu if you have any questions about whether or not your student is signed up.

School Lunches - Families may sign up or cancel their school lunches throughout the year. Please note that the deadline to start receiving lunches is Wednesday for the following week. (For example, if you sign up on a Tuesday, your student will start receiving lunches the following Monday.)

DUE tomorrow! Student Profile - Last week we sent home your student’s profile from Synergy. Please read the Reference Guide and make any updates to your student’s profile with a RED pen. Note, that addresses cannot be changed in Synergy without two proofs of address. If you need to update your address, contact Leauriy to make arrangements. Return student profiles with clearly marked changes to your classroom teacher by Friday, September 17th. Please sign, date and return the Student Profiles even if there are no changes. It is very important that we have accurate contact information for your student so we can reach you during the school day.

Site Council Meeting - Site Council’s next meeting is Monday, September 20, 6-7:30pm on zoom. All Site Council meetings are public and visitors are welcome to attend. Here is the link to Monday’s meeting.

Picture Day - Picture Day is next Thursday, September 23. All students will have their photos taken whether or not they are ordering a picture package. If you are ordering photos, please send the picture day order form on Thursday as your child will give the order to the photographer. You may order photos online at Lifetouch.com. Ridgeline’s Picture Day code is EVTTKS2XQ.

Supply Fees - Thank you to everyone who has paid their 2021-22 school supply fee. If you have not yet paid the supply fee, just a reminder that it is due October 1. This year all supply fees will be collected electronically. If paying the supply fee presents a financial hardship for your family, please fill out the Financial Assistance Form.

Pick Up & Drop off Procedures - We see lots of people starting to use the new pick up classroom signs in their car windows. Thank you! We also appreciate walk up parents who are now keeping a distance from one another. We recognize that our property is small and that over 200 students are leaving school in a very short period of time. Walking and biking are great alternative transportation options. Live too far to bike or walk? Consider driving to a location that is closer and walk or bike the rest of the way to school.

Yellow Curb - the yellow curb between the No Named street and the entrance to Ridgeline is a no parking area. Please do not park or stop to drop off students in this area. It holds up the line and creates an unsafe route for students who get out of vehicles in this location.

Traffic Line - We recognize that pick up can be challenging. Please remember that W. Amazon Drive is a street and it is not safe to sit in the pick up line on the street blocking through traffic. If the pick up line extends beyond the yellow curb queuing lane (south of the no named street) please circle around the neighborhood until the line has subsided. We have fielded multiple complaints and reports of angry unsafe drivers as a result of cars waiting in the travel lane. Please be good neighbors and help to keep our students and the street safe.

Circle Around - If you arrive in the traffic circle and see that your student’s class is not out yet, please exit the pick up area and circle around to Snell, E. Amazon, Fox Hollow, and back to W. Amazon Drive. This will also help with the long line on the street as we have noticed situations where the pick up circle is clogged with cars waiting for students who have yet to arrive at the dismissal area. Please be patient. Classrooms are making every effort to dismiss on time. Sometimes things happen when moving 29 people from one place to another!

Background Check Renewals - Volunteer positions that require background checks will now need to be renewed every five years. Since on site volunteer opportunities are limited at this time, Cynthia will be contacting volunteers this fall whose background checks have expired and invite them to renew.

Lotion in Classrooms - The school has purchased moisturizing hand lotion that may be used by students to offset the chapping that might occur due to cold weather and handwashing. The lotion is fragrance free, lanolin free and paraben free, and is formulated for sensitive skin types. Students should not bring lotion from home.

Walking Field Trips - This year classrooms will take advantage of the Amazon Trail across from the school and other nearby outside off campus locations on a regular basis. Students who are not able to participate in these impromptu outings due to an injury, for example, will be placed in an outdoor space in the care of another classroom.

Stump Update - Thank you to everyone who offered to procure stumps for our students. We currently have all the stumps we need. If our stump situation changes in the future we will let you know.

CONTINUING NEWS -

Air Quality - Ridgeline will use the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Guidance: School Outdoor Activities During Wildfire Events and the local Air Quality Index (AQI) at Oregon Environmental Air Quality to guide decisions about the use of outdoor space. Air quality will be monitored at 7:45 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. A draft guidance document has been created and once it is finalized, we will share it with you.

Site Council Update - Site Council, a group which includes all stakeholders with interests in the school, had our annual retreat in August via Zoom. We have representatives from parents, teachers, administration and classified staff. We don't yet have a student member. During our retreat, we set goals for the year which are: 1) review the Family Handbook, 2) support the Equity and Inclusion efforts, and 3) continue to update and improve Site Council's internal workings. We are always looking for ways to connect to families and parents. Please feel free to reach out to the parent reps, Sara Mader and Ben Muir. You can contact us by our email at sitecouncil@ridgeline.org.

Because one of the three parent representatives is no longer able to serve, we will be looking for a new parent member. We meet most months during the school year for 1.5 hours. If you are interested, we invite you to our next meeting which will be on September 20 at 6:00 and will be on Zoom or contact us at sitecouncil@ridgeline.org.

eNews 9-23-21

eNews: Ridgeline Montessori’s Weekly News

RIDGELINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Full calendar: https://www.ridgeline.org/family-resources/calendar

Tues. 9/28 UO Test Kits Sent Home

Wed. 9/29 UO Test Kits Returned to School

Fri. 10/1 Supply Fees Due

Fri. 10/1 Monthly Donor Campaign Starts

NEW NEWS

Sarah & Rachel’s Class Arrival/Dismissal Location Switching - Starting Monday, Sarah and Rachel’s classes will be switching arrival and dismissal locations. Rachel’s class will stand on the purple dots outside the fence and kindergarten students will be inside the fenced area.

Supply Fees - Thank you to everyone who has paid their 2021-22 school supply fee. If you have not yet paid the supply fee, it is due October 1. This year all supply fees will be collected electronically. If paying the supply fee presents a financial hardship for your family, please fill out the Financial Assistance Form.

Rules of the Road - Please remember that all the standard traffic rules of the road still apply when you are picking up your children from school. Do not make a u-turn in the middle of the road. Do not block driveways. Do not wait in line in the middle of the street. Do not block fire hydrants. Do not block the bus stop. Do not park in yellow zones, including the one north of the school’s property. Be respectful to staff or volunteers who are helping to direct traffic and create a safe environment for everyone. Office staff have received more complaints from neighbors and community members attempting to travel down W. Amazon during our pick up times. The drive thru line ends at the end of the yellow curb before the no named street. If the line extends beyond this point, please circle around. A neighbor will be calling the police to patrol the area.

Sick Kids - Cold season is upon us. We recognize that many of the symptoms of the common cold, and other non-covid illnesses, are similar to covid symptoms. We ask everyone to be patient with office staff who ask you to come pick up your sick kiddo and seek professional medical guidance. Schools have strict guidelines and protocols to follow when a student has symptoms. Symptomatic students need to stay home unless they have a doctor’s note. If in doubt, use one of the symptom screeners available on the Ridgeline website under back to school resources.

Absence Reporting - If your student will be missing school, please contact us at attendance@ridgeline.org and let us know why your child is out. Please provide details, including symptoms. This will allow us to follow up with any students that have COVID-like symptoms. Students who are absent without notification will be coded as an unexcused absence and parents may be contacted for details.

Appointment Pick Up/Drop Offs - If you are picking up or dropping off your student in the middle of the school day, please pull up to the front of the school and call us at 541-681-9662. We will call the classroom to have them send your student out or we will meet your student on the porch to check them in. We appreciate you sending appointment communication in advance to attendance@ridgeline.org

Fundraising Progress Report- You may recall that as a Public Charter School Ridgeline receives 20% less in state funding than other similarly-sized public schools. This means that every year we need to fundraise. This year our goal is again $75,000, or $300/student. As of September 23, we have already raised $6,432 towards our goal!

We would like to send a big THANK YOU out to each of our monthly donors whose contributions represent the overwhelming majority of funds raised thus far. Monthly giving is easy, flexible, and one of the most efficient ways to support our school. Small monthly gifts really do add up! A monthly gift of $25 equals that $300 goal over the course of a year!

Monthly Match Campaign Starts October 1 - Thanks to a generous Ridgeline supporter, we will be hosting our 3rd annual Monthly Donor Match next month. For each and every new or increased Monthly Donor who signs up between October 1 and October 31, Ridgeline will receive an additional $50! Look for more information next week about this exciting and easy way to support our school!

Site Council Update - Site Council got off to a good start in our September meeting with updates from all the stakeholders at Ridgeline. We jumped right in to reviewing our documents to make sure we can accomplish our goals for the year. We are still looking for one more parent representative to join us. The commitment is reasonable, with one evening meeting a month and an hour or 2 of reading in between meetings. Reach out with any questions or feedback: sitecouncil@ridgeline.org

Picture Retakes - If your student was absent today for Picture Day they can have their photo taken on retake day on November 3.

Weed Whacking Volunteer Needed - We are looking for a volunteer to weed whack, hopefully this weekend behind building A. Contact Cynthia if you can help so she can get you the key to the gate.

No Waitlist 7th & 8th Grade - If you know of families with 7th or 8th graders who you think would be interested in Ridgeline’s middle school, please encourage them to fill out an application as there is currently no waitlist at these grades. The application can be found here.

Facebook parent group will be up and running in the next few days! Please use this link to ask to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604057500592213. Please take a minute to answer the questions and read over the rules of the group and we’ll get you in as soon as possible. This is a peer run community group for the parents and guardians of Ridgeline Montessori. This group's purpose is to provide connection, share information, ask questions and facilitate conversations. This group is not managed by Ridgeline staff nor does it include members of Ridgeline staff. (Exception would be if a staff member is also a parent).

Board Meeting Recap - Last Thursday evening the board had its first regular meeting of the school year. This is a long recap!!! There is talk of moving to video updates...what do you all think?

Executive Director Chrystell Reed and Principal Michelle Texley shared back-to-school updates with the board. Back-to-school is always a busy time at school, even more so in the time of COVID. As Michelle put it, "things previously labeled as simple are now complex...This is hard!" AND, she shared that as she moves through the classrooms, she sees "laughter, easy conversations, and the clear presence of learning and JOY!" That is why we do hard things! Thanks to all of our families for their engagement, cooperation, and trust as we get this year underway.

Also on Thursday:

the board agreed that all adults (not just staff) working with or in the presence of students at school should be fully vaccinated according to Oregon law and CDC guidance;
the board heard that the school's new ventilation system was operational as of the first day of school and that other facilities work will be completed outside of school hours in the coming weeks and months;
the school is working to finalize a charter contract with 4J and is continuing to work on improving services and supports for Ridgeline students who have an IEP.
Ridgeline's middle school program has openings and we are accepting applications for a PE specialist and substitutes--please direct people who are interested to the Enrollment or the Employment Opportunities tab on the Ridgeline website.

Last, but definitely not least, on Thursday evening and Saturday morning, the board heard and began discussing Ridgeline's first equity audit results. This equity audit was a survey of staff and volunteer leadership completed last spring that focused on personal and professional development, organizational culture and climate, and organizational systems and structures. As we continue our schoolwide equity work, we will share these survey results with staff and families and use them to help set our direction and goals. More to come as we move through the fall!