YG Family Newsletter- April 7, 2022

Tournament of BOOKS!

We have a winner for the Tournament of Books! By a fairly close vote, ZEN SHORTS is our winner (54% to 46%). We want to thank all the students who participated!

To celebrate our awesome Tournament of Books, Yujin Gakuen has planned to have a, “Dress Like your Favorite Book Character” day, this Friday!

We encourage all students to dress-up like a character from their favorite book. This will not be limited to the books from our tournament. Please check your grade-level newsletters to learn additional details for your students.

Happy Reading!

Electronics Recycling Competition 

Community Service Drive- Supplies for Pets

Kelly Middle School’s Community Service class has just started its first drive of the spring trimester on Monday, April 4th. We are collecting supplies for pets of those who are homeless/unsheltered. All supplies will be donated to Pro-Bon-O clinic at the Eugene Mission.

We are collecting collars, leashes, pet food, bedding, flea/tick medicines, toys, treats, litter and pet clothes.  We are collecting supplies through Tuesday, May 3rd.

If you have any questions, please contact Katie Hachimoto at herzberghachimoto_k@4j.lane.edu.

SparkLab

Join us at SparkLab on Friday April 15th for an interactive, hands-on non-school day workshop: MakeCode Arcade.

Description and Details:

Youth will learn how to use MakeCode Arcade from a special guest instructor from Microsoft MakeCode. They will get personalized tips on creating a game to be proud of. Each participant will leave with a game that they can share with friends and family. Lunch, snacks, beverages, and all the necessary equipment and supplies will be provided, free of charge.

Date: Friday, April 15th
Time: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Grades: 5th – 8th

No school: All Eugene 4J, and Springfield Secondary Schools
Cost: FREE

Register here: https://connectedlane.org/makecode/

Please contact Justin Thibedeau, jthibedeau@lesd.k12.or.us, 541-780-5173, with any questions.

Superintendent Selection: Be a Part of the Finalist Interview Process 

Thank you to everyone who has participated and provided input in the Eugene 4J superintendent selection process so far. The school board is committed to the authentic engagement of our community and valuing everyone’s voice in the superintendent selection process. You are invited to participate in the next stage of the process in two ways:

1. Interview Panel Nominations, due April 10

The board is calling for nominations of stakeholders to take part in a series of panel interviews with the superintendent finalist candidates. Interview panel participants can be nominated by themselves or others by completing the nomination form. Learn more and submit a nomination: bit.ly/3uHaskp

2. Interview Question Submissions, due April 25

All members of the community are invited to submit questions for the interview panels to consider. What do you want to ask candidates to be the district’s next permanent superintendent? Learn more and submit a question: bit.ly/3uHaskp

Thank you. We look forward to your involvement!

Selección del superintendente: Sea parte del proceso de entrevistas de los finalistas

Gracias a todos los que han participado y aportado información en el proceso de selección del superintendente de Eugene 4J hasta el momento. La junta escolar está comprometida con la participación auténtica de nuestra comunidad y valora la voz de todos en el proceso de selección del superintendente. Se le invita a participar en la siguiente etapa del proceso de dos maneras:

1. Nominaciones para el panel de entrevistadores, vence el 10 de abril

La junta está solicitando nominaciones de voces diversas para participar en la serie de entrevistas de panel a los candidatos finalistas a superintendente. Los participantes en el panel para entrevistas pueden ser nominados por ellos mismos u otros completando el formulario de nominación. Obtenga más información y envíe una nominación: bit.ly/3uHaskp

2. Envío de preguntas para entrevistas, fecha límite: el 25 de abril

Se invita a todos los miembros de la comunidad a enviar preguntas para que se consideren para las entrevistas. ¿Qué quiere preguntarles a los candidatos para ser el próximo superintendente permanente del distrito? Obtenga más información y envíe una pregunta: bit.ly/3uHaskp

Gracias. ¡Esperamos su participación!

Parenting Groups

Scott Sensei found several wonderful parenting groups that families can sign up for. Some of the groups cover topics like: learning the importance of taking care of yourself so you can better care for your children, managing stress, positive discipline, early childhood development, and building a support network.

Check out the flyers below for more information.

Parenting Through COVID-19

Spring Parenting Groups

Program for Young Parents

Oregon Ducks Spring Game Volunteers

State Testing 2021-2022

For the 2021–22 school year, state testing will return to normal, with the addition of a remote testing option for students who are learning online. State tests in 4J schools in spring 2022 will be completed between:

• Elementary: April 11–June 3

Under Oregon law, a parent or adult student may opt out of Oregon’s summative statewide assessments of math and language arts for any reason, by submitting a form provided each year by the Oregon Department of Education. Parents can submit a written request to opt out of science testing on the basis of accommodating a student’s disability or religious beliefs. Students who opt out of state tests, beyond a certain threshold, are counted as “not proficient” in their school’s reported test results.

To meet graduation requirements, high school students who opt out of completing state tests will need to demonstrate their proficiency in the essential skills of reading, writing and mathematics through a different standardized assessment or enroll in a class to complete work samples for assessment. (Oregon has waived this requirement for graduates in the Class of 2020 through the Class of 2024.)

2021–22 state testing notice and opt-out form (English / Español)

Annual Yellow Jacket Trapping

Every summer yellow jackets become a safety issue for 4J students, staff and community members, requiring risky nest removal, extensive labor and occasional chemical treatments. As a preventative measure, Facilities is placing non-toxic pheromone yellow jacket traps out at schools to reduce the number of nests that are established annually. Though these traps are intrinsically safe for staff, students and beneficial pollinators, they are considered a pesticide by ODA and we are required to notify all staff, faculty, adult students, parents or guardians of minor students of their use.

Keep Schools Safe, Stay Home When Sick

Check for wellness each day before coming to school

To help everyone at school stay healthy, students and staff need to be healthy when they come to school. If your student is feeling unwell, or if they or anyone in their home has symptoms of COVID-19 or other communicable diseases, they need to stay at home.

Symptoms that should keep a student home include:

• Fever of 100.4º or higher
• Chills
• Cough
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting – home for 48 hours after or release by healthcare provider

If your student has any of these symptoms, please keep them at home and call your school’s attendance line.

If your student has been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, or is waiting for test results to check on COVID symptoms, please keep them home and notify our office.

If your student has a chronic health condition that could look like COVID symptoms—including conditions that cause a cough or shortness of breath, such as asthma or allergies—please talk to our nurse and document it in their health history, or they may be sent home from school if they are showing these symptoms.

Thank you for helping students and staff stay healthy in our school buildings. More Information: Health & Safety Protocols