Roosevelt Middle School eNEWS | October 10th, 2022
Below is a quick glance at what you will find in this week’s eNews.
Schedule of Events
COVID testing and kit pick-up and drop-off, early release every Friday, A and B school calendar, No School, Parent’s Equity Team meeting
Roosevelt School News
A message from the principals, attendance, traffic at RMS, PAR info, volunteering info, masks optional, becoming an Observer in Canvas, COVID testing and kit drop-off, EEF Fun Run
Clubs and Extracurricular Activities
Black Student Magazine
Community Resources
Students ride free with LTD
Mental Health Support
Free access to Care Solace, multiple links for support, 15th Night resource guide
Schedule of Events
This Week
OCTOBER 10th (M): A DAY
OCTOBER 11th (T): B DAY
- Drop Off COVID-19 Test Kit
OCTOBER 12th (W): A DAY
OCTOBER 13th (TH): B DAY
OCTOBER 14th (F): NO SCHOOL
- No School, Progress Reports/Professional Development Day
Next Week
OCTOBER 17th (M): A DAY
OCTOBER 18th (T): B DAY
- Drop Off COVID-19 Test Kit
- 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Parent’s Equity Teem Meeting @ South Eugene High School Auditorium
OCTOBER 19th (W): A DAY
OCTOBER 20th (TH): B DAY
OCTOBER 21st (F): A DAY
- 2:35 PM, Early Release from School
**A and B School Calendar for 2022 – 2023
Roosevelt School News
A Message from the Principal and Assistant Principal
Good morning, RMS families:
We are closing in on our first “real” grading period of the school year! Please remember this Friday is a no-school day for teacher professional development and grading. Thanks in advance for supporting your student through this time by checking Canvas and reminding them to reach out to teachers with questions and requests.
This Week in House
In House this week, we will introduce the concept of neighborhoods as we continue to build community and connections across the school. Each House is a member of a six-House neighborhood and will occasionally get together to share activities or have an event. This week, we will host a campus-wide clean-up, something we do once or twice a term to promote pride in place and encourage stewardship across the school. The week will end with neighborhoods getting together, participating in a fun activity and building a foundation for future collaborations. Please ask your student about the concept of neighborhoods at RMS and why they think it’s important to connect across the school!
One of the activities Houses and neighborhoods might choose to participate in is the October 23, 2022 EEF Fun Run and 5K. RMS joins schools from across the district in the first annual On Track for Success fundraising event. You and your family are also invited and you can walk, jog, run or roll at this fun event, designed as a fundraiser for each school that participates. RMS is already in the mix– sign up to run or to give a direct donation by clicking this link. You can designate RMS as the recipient of your donation by choosing our school from the list. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, cheer on your child, and raise money for our school– one of the only times we will ask for direct donations along with our direct drive. Stop by the RMS table to say hi and thanks in advance for your support!
Acknowledging Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Today, we have the opportunity to honor and offer respect to tribal nations across Oregon… It is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, formerly Columbus Day. Many descendants of the original inhabitants of the Willamette Valley live here today, and attend or work in our schools. As educators we collectively acknowledge their vibrant contributions to schools and the community we love and work diligently helping students understand our unique history and relationship with Native American tribes in the state of Oregon.
Roosevelt, like most Eugene school sites, is located on Kalapuya Ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. Following treaties between 1851 and 1855, Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homeland by the United States government and forcibly removed to the Coast Reservation in Western Oregon. Today, descendants are citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians of Oregon, and continue to make important contributions in their communities and across the land we now call Oregon.
Today, we will read a land acknowledgement over the morning announcements. Teachers might choose to discuss the day in classrooms or in House with a focus on history and experience. We also have a small but thriving Native American Student Union that meets twice a month to learn more about our local community and cultures– anyone is welcome to attend. The group has plans in the works to erect a totem pole on our site, bringing and holding an awareness of our past history in the Pacific Northwest– more on this as the details emerge.
RMS Parent Equity Team Postponed: Join Us October 18 at SEHS!
Our first RMS Parent Equity Team was scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30 PM… instead please join us at South Eugene High School at 5:30 PM for a film screening: I’m Not Racist… Am I? Click here to view the trailer and for more information, contact the 4j Equity Team at 541-790-7581. The next RMS Parent Equity Team meeting will be Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30 PM – please look for an email with details if you indicated your interest during Open House in September.
We hope it’s a great short week ahead– enjoy!
Our best,
Mike and Courtney
Air Quality: How We Make Decisions
Unfortunately, it appears that we are in for another round of unhealthy air quality to start off our week. This morning, the AQI is in the unhealthy range across our area, which means that it is above 150.
When this happens, we receive notification from our district, requiring us to hold activities indoors. PE classes meet in the gym, and we close the courtyard for break and lunch.
When the range is unhealthy for sensitive groups, we open the Forum for lunch so students can eat inside if they fall into that category.
It is not a school-level decision to put a hold on activities when the AQI is in the unhealthy range but it is at our discretion to open up options for students who may be unduly impacted by poor air quality when the range is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
We keep a close eye on air quality and are hopeful it will clear up soon.
Thanks for staying connected with us when you have concerns.
Traffic Updates: Accidents and YMCA Construction
Construction at the Y will be ongoing for the next two years which will continue to impact traffic to and from RMS and other local schools. Last week, a number of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings closed.
Please help us support your student! If they walk or bike to and from school or are walking to meet you elsewhere after school, remind them to *exit down the front steps* and *across 24th* where we have a crossing guard to stop traffic.
Many students are still attempting to cross at Patterson Street or they are walking east in the bike lane on 24th Avenue– pretty dangerous without a protected sidewalk.
The closures include:
- The east-west crosswalk at Hilyard Street south is closed and the north-south crosswalk at 24th Avenue east is open.
- The north-south crosswalk at 24th Avenue west is closed and the east-west crosswalk on Hilyard Street north is open.
- Pedestrians can cross from west to east, on 26th Avenue to the east side of Hilyard Street. It’s best if students travel on the east side of Hilyard Street before 26th Avenue because traffic stacks up at that intersection during drop-off and pick-up.
As always, it’s best to walk, bike, or arrange for a different pick-up and drop-off location for you and your student including the Very Little Theater or the SEHS track/tennis courts. Thanks for your patience and attention!
RMS Parent Equity Team Postponed: Join Us October 18 at SEHS!
Our first RMS Parent Equity Team was scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30 pm… instead please join us at South Eugene High School at 5:30 pm for a film screening: I’m Not Racist… Am I? Click here to view the trailer and for more information, contact the 4j Equity Team at 541-790-7581. The next RMS Parent Equity Team meeting will be Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30 pm.
Attendance Updates and Appointments: Please Dial 541-790-8525
- Please use the RMS attendance line to report student absences, including if you are running late, have a family illness, or your student has an appointment, etc.
- If you know your student needs to leave school during the instructional day, please send them with a note to present to the office asking to be excused at the appropriate time.
- Families may also call the morning of to request a student be excused. We will send a note for your student to be excused from class to come to the office and sign out while you stay in your car and wait. This minimizes disruptions in our office and our classrooms and reduces your wait time.
- If an unexpected appointment comes up, please call the office as early as possible to give us time to send a note to class for your student.
Please note, students may not leave school during the school day for appointments or any other reason without a parent/guardian or approved emergency contact coming to pick them up.
On rare occasions, administration may work with a parent/guardian to authorize the student to leave without a parent/guardian or emergency contact picking the student up
Thanks for your help!
PAR News
As we have talked about in the past few weeks, PAR exists to support Roosevelt parents, teachers/staff, and students. Thus, here are a few save the dates for some coming events that you won’t want to miss!
For parents:
On Tuesday, October 18th at 5:30pm at South Eugene High School, we will be hosting a showing of “Am I a racist?” followed by discussion for parent equity night. We would encourage you all to join in with us.
For Teachers and Staff:
On Wednesday, November 9th, we want to remind our teachers and staff how thankful we are for them and how “Souper” they are. So, we will provide them a soup and bread dinner during parent teacher conferences. We will post a sign up genius two weeks before the event for families to consider bringing an item to bless the teachers and staff. We will also be looking for some helping hands to do the set up and take down. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jamie Harms at jamieharms@gmail.com.
For Students:
On Friday, October 28th, we will be hosting a student activity night so that the kids can gather and have a fun and safe evening of food, music, dancing, and games. In order to make this happen, we are looking for volunteers to host the different areas of activity. If you are interested in helping, please contact Laura Fuhriman at fuhriman_l@4j.lane.edu.
PAR Slides from the 9/20 Meeting
Save the date:
- Next PAR meeting: Tuesday, January 10th
Thanks,
Roosevelt PAR
RMS Parent Equity Group
We invite you to participate in our RMS Parent Equity Group, focused around a series of book studies about educational equity, access and inclusion. We’ll meet the third Tuesday of each month– at 6:30 PM in the Library at school. Titles we’ll consider appear below and we welcome your additional suggestions. Thank you!
- Ijeoma Oluo: So You Want to Talk About Race
- Ta-Nehisi Coates: Between the World and Me
- Ibram X. Kendi: How to be an Antiracist
- Heather McGhee: The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone
- Isabel Wilkerson: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
The next RMS Parent Equity Team meeting will be Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30 pm.
Volunteering Info
Many Thanks
Thank you to Katie Jo LaRiviere, Melissa Graboyes and Camilla Johnston our front desk volunteers.
Thank you to Anni Katz and Tanna Giroux our library’s volunteers
Join our incredible volunteers group
We still have open shifts (weekly) for the front office and the library. Activity Night is coming up as well as different projects that we would love for you to join us to lighten the work.
If you are interested in volunteering at RMS please contact Laura Fuhriman, fuhriman_l@j4.lane.edu, as soon as possible, as the process to become a volunteer can take more than two weeks.
Get to School Safely!
We encourage students to get to school using active transportation like walking, biking, skating and scooting, or shared transportation like busing and carpooling. It’s great for their health and the environment and makes the space around our school safer and less trafficked.
Please take a look at the safety tip sheets for walking and biking on our regional Safe Routes to School website, and go over some of the safety tips with your student: https://www.eugenespringfieldsrts.org/local-resources
Finally, when choosing a walking or biking route, try a route other than the one you would use to drive to school. Sidewalk riding on busy streets is dangerous because people driving don’t expect people biking on sidewalks. Quieter neighborhood streets may be a better option. Safe Routes to School has walking maps on their website, here: https://www.eugenespringfieldsrts.org/maps-for-biking-and-walking
You can also connect with our Safe Routes to School staff for route planning assistance at mazze_s@4j.lane.edu or 541-790-7539.
¡Llegue a la escuela con seguridad!
Alentamos a los estudiantes a llegar a la escuela utilizando medios de transporte activos, como caminar, andar en bicicleta, patinar y andar en patineta, o medios de transporte compartidos, como autobuses y vehículos compartidos. Es excelente para su salud y el medio ambiente y hace que el espacio alrededor de nuestra escuela sea más seguro y menos transitado.
Eche un vistazo a las hojas de consejos de seguridad para caminar y andar en bicicleta en el sitio web de Rutas seguras a la escuela de nuestra región, y repase algunos de los consejos de seguridad con su estudiante: https://www.eugenespringfieldsrts.org/local-resources
Finalmente, cuando elija una ruta para caminar o andar en bicicleta, pruebe con una ruta diferente a la que usaría para conducir a la escuela. Andar en bicicleta en las aceras es peligroso porque las personas que manejan no esperan que las personas anden en bicicleta en las aceras. Las calles más tranquilas del vecindario pueden ser una mejor opción. Safe Routes to School tiene mapas para caminar en su sitio web, aquí: https://www.eugenespringfieldsrts.org/maps-for-biking-and-walking
También puede conectarse con nuestro personal de Safe Routes to School para obtener asistencia en la planificación de rutas en mazze_s@4j.lane.edu o 541-790-7539.
Join Us: October 23 @ 9:30 AM- EEF Fun Run and 5K
Don’t miss out on the fun! On October 23, RMS joins schools from across the district in the first annual On Track for Success fundraising event. You and your family can walk, jog, run or roll at this fun event, designed as a fundraiser for each school that participates. RMS is already in the mix- sign up to run or to give a direct donation by clicking this link. You can designate RMS as the recipient of your donation by choosing our school from the list. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, cheer on your child, and raise money for our school. Stop by the RMS table to say hi and thanks in advance for your support!
Steps to participate
- Register and pay for Fun Run or 5K via Eugene Education Foundation. Registration fee $5 for Fun Run or $20 for the 5K before Oct 17- the registration fee goes up after that.
- Bib packets will be distributed to schools October 17; registrants after this date can pick up bibs at the 4J District Office on October 22 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM.
- Help students get pledges! Share the registration link far and wide to encourage participation and donation.
- If you want to donate at any point, we will also accept check donations made payable to Eugene Education Foundation with Roosevelt Middle School in the memo.
- Send donations to the school or make online donations by Thursday, October 27.
Observing Your Student in Canvas
Would you like to be able to see what your student is doing at school in Canvas? Become an Observer on Canvas. As an Observer you will be able to check grades, monitor assignments and due dates, as well as communicate directly with your student’s teachers.
**To be set up as an observer, use this link to request a pairing code. Then click here for step by step instructions on setting up an Observer account. The same instructions can also be found by watching this video in English or Spanish.
Masks are Optional
Masks are optional, AND, students who are experiencing symptoms of any illness should stay home. Please call school to share about students who have tested positive and students who are feeling sick.
Here is the latest Oregon Health Authority guidance in use at schools:
Any student or staff can be at school if after exposure (regardless of vaccine status) as long as they are symptom free and well.
Any student experiencing ONE PRIMARY SYMPTOM may return after symptoms are improving and any fever has been resolved without medication for at least 24 hours.
Any student experiencing TWO OR MORE PRIMARY SYMPTOMS may return:
- If Negative COVID test result: same as one primary symptom
- If no test result: after 5 days exclusion
- If Positive COVID test result: see below for student who tests positive
PRIMARY COVID SYMPTOMS:
- COUGH
- FEVER 100.4 OR HIGHER OR CHILLS
- DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH
- LOSS OF SENSE OF TASTE OR SMELL
TESTING POSITIVE
If your student tests positive, please call your student’s school to let the staff know. Students who test positive are required to isolate at home for at least 5 days before returning to school.
Isolation calculator: Day 1 is the first full day after the symptoms developed or the positive test result is received. Isolation may end after 5 days if the individual is fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms have improved.
It’s recommended, but not required that individuals should wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public, including at school, for 5 additional days (Days 6-10) after the end of the required 5-day isolation period.
To calculate the 5-day isolation period, see Lane County Public Health’s isolation calculator.
Other, related OHA guidance:
- Diarrhea: ( 3+ watery stools in 24 hours OR sudden onset of loose stools OR student unable to control bowel function when previously able. may return 48 hours after last episode.
- Vomiting: (one or more episodes that can’t be explained): may return 48 hours after last episode.
- Fever only: may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
COVID-19 SUPPORT HOTLINE: call 866-917-8881 or text OHACOVID to 6122
This service is available Mon-Friday 8-6 and Sat 10-4.
**Click here to read a guidelines for keeping students home from school due to illness.
COVID-19 News
Sign Up for COVID-19 Testing
RMS has enrolled in the OHA/UO COVID-19 Screening Testing Program this year. This is an optional, weekly saliva test, via a take-home test kit. Please review this info/registration-flyer for more information.
If you would like to participate, please sign up by completing these two steps:
- STEP 1: Complete the UO K-12 Student Information Survey at https://tinyurl.com/k12covidscreening. The registration survey can be viewed in English or Spanish. We have a rolling enrollment; students can sign up anytime. Testing can begin about 1-2 weeks after student sign-up begins.
- STEP 2: Complete and return the OHA Consent Form. This form is required for all participating students and must be completed and returned to the school at the start of the program – plan to bring this form on your first test pick up day. If you do not have a printer, your school can provide a printed copy at test pick up. Schools are required by OHA to retain these consent forms.
Ages 5 – 14
Test Kit Drop off Info
Students should return the kits every Tuesday morning. Collection bins are located at the front office for sample drop-offs. Students should have their test kits in hand when arriving at school so they can be quickly and easily dropped in the designated bins.
**Check out the flyer (French and English) for more information.
Clubs and Extracurricular Activities
Help Create Black Student Magazine
Join Black middle and high school students from across Oregon in creating the next edition of Black Student Magazine!
This fall you have an opportunity gather weekly on Wednesdays via Zoom to celebrate Black culture and make new friends statewide while improving your writing and multimedia skills.
Participating students receive mentoring and writing support from University of Oregon journalism undergraduates who are also students of color. Learn photography, writing, layout, design and leadership skills. No prior journalism experience is required.
COME JOIN… IT’S FREE!
Meeting Time: Zoom Meeting on Wednesdays from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Schedule:
- 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Guest Speaker
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Editorial Sessions
Contact: Jael Calloway, Director of Student Publications
jael@journalisticlearning.com
**Click here for more information or click here to register.
Community Resources
Request your child’s free LTD pass!
In 4J, elementary and middle school students need parent/guardian permission to receive a student transit pass. To get a free LTD student transit pass, fill out the permission form at this link or request a paper copy from the front office.
The student transit pass can be used to get anywhere within the LTD service area, including on weekends and after school.
¡Solicite el pase LTD gratuito para su hijo!
En 4J, los estudiantes de escuelas primarias y secundarias necesitan el permiso de los padres/guardián para recibir un pase de tránsito. Para obtener un pase de tránsito estudiantil LTD gratis, complete el formulario de permiso en este enlace o solicite una copia impresa en la oficina.
El pase de tránsito para estudiantes se puede usar para llegar a cualquier lugar dentro del área de servicio de LTD, incluso los fines de semana y después de la escuela.
Mental Health Support
Free Access to Care Solace
4J families, does your student or a family member need help with mental health care? Eugene School District 4J is providing students, staff and their families’ free access to Care Solace, a confidential care coordination service, to help provide an additional layer of care and address the growing need for mental health care and substance abuse treatment.
Care Solace will connect you to verified community care providers matched to your needs, including providers that accept your medical insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or sliding scale options for those without insurance. Their care companion team is always available. Get help finding care providers that meet your needs at caresolace.com/eugene or call 888-515-0595 anytime, day or night, in any language. (Note, Care Solace is not a mental health service provider or emergency response service. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255.)
Learn more: 4j.lane.edu/2022/03/care-solace-mental-health-care-coordination-service/
Familias de 4J, ¿Necesitan ayuda con la atención de salud mental de algún miembro de su familia? El Distrito Escolar de Eugene 4J brinda a los estudiantes, el personal y sus familias acceso gratuito a Care Solace, un servicio confidencial de coordinación de cuidados, para ayudar a proporcionar una capa adicional de atención a la salud mental y tratamiento de abuso de sustancias para abordar la creciente necesidad de atención mental.
Care Solace le conectará con proveedores de atención comunitaria verificados que se ajusten a sus necesidades, incluidos los proveedores que aceptan su seguro médico, Medicaid, Medicare u opciones de pago por escala de ingresos para aquellos sin seguro. Su equipo de acompañantes de cuidados siempre está disponible. Obtenga la ayuda de contactos que satisfaga sus necesidades en caresolace.com/eugene o llame al 888-515-0595 en cualquier momento, de día o de noche, en cualquier idioma. (Tenga en cuenta que Care Solace no es el proveedor de los servicios de salud mental ni un servicio de respuesta a emergencias. En caso de una emergencia de vida o muerte, llame al 911 o a la Línea Nacional de Suicidio al 800-273-8255).
Infórmese: 4j.lane.edu/2022/03/care-solace-mental-health-care-coordination-service/
____________________________________________________________________________________
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health right now, please check out these links for support. You are LOVED, we miss you, and can’t wait until we are all back together again!
- HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) is offering mental health support by phone for students, families, and staff of 4J high schools during school closures. The phone line is accessible from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday and is staffed by crisis counselors who normally work HOOTS clinic or work on CAHOOTS. Video support is available from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on weekdays and is accessed by emailing hoots@whitebirdclinic.org with your name and preferred time. HOOTS is able to provide short term counseling and mental health support, resource referrals and OHP sign up. Students, families and staff of 4J please call (541)246-2342.
- A chat-line for students. Teens are available to help daily from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM Pacific Time via call, text, chat or email (adults are available by phone at all other times). YouthLine is a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line. No problem is too big or too small for the Youthline!
- A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth via call, text, and chat: 866-488-7386 – The Trevor Project
- YouthEra has virtual “drop-ins” from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Discord Streaming live (moderated chat) with two state-certified youth peer support specialists, on Twitch Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
- All of the phone services are free and confidential. See also Youthline as part of Lines for Life.
- Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, about any type of crisis. A live, trained Crisis Text Line Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
- Safe Oregon, the 24/7 statewide school safety tip line, is here for you; for all students and the whole community. Anonymously or confidentially report student safety concerns (suicidal ideation/thoughts, cyberbullying, child abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, etc.) and we will pass this information to school personnel and law enforcement (when necessary).
15th Night Resource Guide for Youth by Youth
The 15th Night Youth Action Council (YAC) is so excited to share their Resource Guide For Youth By Youth. It includes all kinds of resources for young people in our community; from emergency shelter, to job application assistance, reconnection to school, or where to find a meal on Fridays at 4pm, this resource guide covers it all. Read more.
Earn Free Money for Roosevelt!
- You can help Roosevelt earn money for our school by registering your credit card with eScrip. Earn money for Roosevelt every time you shop at Market of Choice, Sizzle Pie (& other local restaurants). Register your credit/debit cards, designating Roosevelt Middle School—Recipient ID #6723045. Click on this link to get started.
Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Roosevelt. You can search by our name or by our non-profit number GB554.
Download the Box Top for Education App in Google Play or the App Store, sign up (or sign in) and take a picture of your receipt within 14 days of purchase. It will automatically credit the school for each product. For more information, click on the link above.
| Roosevelt Middle School | Phone: 541-790-8500 | Attendance: 541-790-8525 |
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