4J Parent News

Information for Eugene School District 4J parents and guardians

• Congratulations, ACE Award Nominees! Meet the 294 staff & volunteers; let's celebrate on May 4

• North Eugene Building: Share your thoughts as school board deliberates toward final decision

• Film Series: Documentary examines impact of race on mental health; watch now through April 17

• Family Night: Asian, Pacific Islander Student Union welcomes you to April 21 event at LCC

• Roll With it: 4J schools will participate in National Bike+Roll to School Day on May 3

• School Calendar Reminder: Calendar for 2023–24 school year approved

• Kids in Transition: Deadline today to sign up for free summer program

• In the News: Prom dress giveaway, super Gilham assembly, robotics rockstars

• Meet Francia: Technology management assistant feels at home in community-oriented job

• Work With 4J: Serve local youth and the community—apply for a 4J job today!

4J staff and volunteers make a difference in the lives of students every day. In a show of immense support, a record-breaking 294 outstanding employees and volunteers have been nominated by parents, students and colleagues for the 2023 ACE (A Champion in Education) Awards.

All nominees will be celebrated and champions named at the in-person celebration at South Eugene High School on Thursday, May 4, at 5 p.m. Join us—everyone is welcome!

Congratulations to all of our 2023 ACE nominees! You can learn more about each nominee—and show your appreciation—as they are recognized on 4J's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Teachers & Licensed Specialists

David Adee, River Road/Camino del Río • Holly Albone, Churchill • Michelynah Anderegg, Buena Vista • Aline Baissac, River Road/Camino del Río • Scott Baker, Cal Young • Kendallyn Ball, Holt • Kare Batten, Buena Vista • Mathilde Bégu, South Eugene • Katie Burns, Fox Hollow Campus • Neil Callahan, Chávez • Gloria Carbajal, River Road/Camino del Río • Sebastian Catlin, South Eugene • Lisa Chinn, Awbrey Park • Courtney Christensen, Spring Creek • Katie Christian, North Eugene • Kyle Chunn, Willagillespie • Mike Churchill, North Eugene • Jacob Clark, South Eugene • Meredith Coelho, Roosevelt • Timothy Coleman, Arts & Technology Academy• Jim Conaghan, Student Services • Sara Connors, Cal Young • Jessyka Cook, Spring Creek • Kelley Coplin, North Eugene • Annette Corbeau, Gilham • Jill Corrigan, North Eugene • Tom Cramer, Camas Ridge • Vanessa Crane, Spring Creek • Elysabeth Cummings, Monroe • Ben Dechter, Camas Ridge & McCornack • Kim Deleon, McCornack • Julia DiFiore, Chávez • Josh Dillow, Monroe • Louisa Dorsch, Churchill • Bea Downes, Buena Vista • Carmen Duato, Cal Young • Sara DuBose Shepard, Yujin Gakuen • Gregory Dunkin, South Eugene • Michelle Dunn, Student Services • Shannon Edwards, Gilham • Dene Eller, River Road/Camino del Río • Haley Ellis, Buena Vista • Dani Emrick, Howard • Mariah Engle, Chávez • Simon Estifanos, North Eugene • Sara Farmer, Kennedy • Zach Farnell, North Eugene • Catherine Field, Cal Young • Angela Finneran, Eugene Online Academy • Tina Fisher, Instruction • Alex Franz, Holt • Selena Frazier, Spencer Butte • Ayhana Gaines, Adams • Vanessa Garcia-Badillo, Monroe • Katie Gates, Howard • Erica Goulding, Edgewood • Rebecca Gourgey, South Eugene • Amanda Greene-Chacon, Buena Vista • Katie Hansen, Sheldon/Transition Education Network • Lesli Harmon, Holt • Jennifer Harris, North Eugene • Laura Harris, Edison • Jacob Havner, River Road/Camino del Río • Joanne Heidel, Eugene International High School • Marcela Hellman, River Road/Camino del Río • Elizabeth Henderson, Churchill • Emily Henson, Holt • Katie Herzberg-Hachimoto, Kelly • Heather Hickcox, Student Services • Justin Hollander, Kelly • Meaghan Holst, Gilham • Christie Hoogendoorn, South Eugene • Shay Hurlocker, Churchill • Kami Icenhower, Gilham • Katrina Irwin, Gilham • Melissa Ivan, Monroe • Kathyrn Johnson, Student Services • Sarah Johnson, Gilham • Stephen Johnson, Buena Vista • Lara Kincaid, North Eugene • Jenny Kneale, Yujin Gakuen • Codie Kostechka, North Eugene • Allison Kreider, Howard • Sally Krueger, Edgewood • Jill Lancaster, Gilham • ErinMarie Langsdorf, Charlemagne • Michael Leahy, South Eugene • Rebecca LeDuc, Edgewood • Tracy Lightner, Camas Ridge • Ricardo Llamas, Buena Vista • Kenny Long, Howard • Clarice Loo, Cal Young • Kelsy Loyd, Spring Creek • Melissa Lutsch, Spring Creek • Barb MacWilliam, Cal Young • Megan Marsh, Buena Vista • Davina Mattox, Roosevelt • Suzie McLauchlin, Madison Middle School • Brad McLean, Sheldon • Esther Moen, Camas Ridge • Teresa Montes Cervantes, ECCO • Kelsey Moore, Willagillespie • Jennifer Mora, Kelly • Trieva Morgan, Willagillespie • Daniel Morphis, Arts & Technology Academy • Courtney Morris, Edgewood • Toni Mucker, Edgewood • Sarah Murchison, Sheldon • Alexia Murphy, Charlemagne • Teresa Myers, North Eugene • Gene Newbold, Monroe • Katie Niemeyer, North Eugene • Chelsea Norris, Family School • Jackie Ochoa Cuevas, Buena Vista • Rachel Parac, Charlemagne • Ellie Pascoe-Long, Edison • Niels Pasternak, Student Services • Megan Perdue, Sheldon • Amy Petty, McCornack • Scott Pierce, Willagillespie • Mary Poppen, Willagillespie • Erin Prescott, Edgewood • Bryan Prideaux, Howard • Shasta Quigley, Equity, Inclusion & Instruction • Mary Recker, Gilham • Kim Reinhardt, Howard • Joe Renaud, Sheldon • Danielle Renken, Chávez • Stephanie Riley, Gilham • Samantha Ritchie, Adams • Lisa Robbins, Willagillespie • Suzy Rock, Howard • Lizette Rodgers, South Eugene • Mark Rodgers, South Eugene • Krystle Rodriguez, Student Services • Beth Saxon, Willagillespie • Sarah Schiltz, Howard • Scott Schirmer, Churchill • Sara Scholten, Edgewood • Zak Scotton, Churchill • Alexis Screen, River Road/Camino del Río • Mike Seager, Roosevelt • Matt Sharkey, Churchill • Tana Shepard, 4J/EWEB Education Partnership • Shelly Silver, Howard • Roxanne Simpson, Gilham • Jennifer Slater, River Road/Camino del Río • Magdalena Sloniger, Buena Vista • Shaun Smith, Kelly • Antje Snawder, Adams • Hannah Stamp, Willagillespie • Barb Stroh, Yujin Gakuen • Kelly Stroh, Yujin Gakuen • Kim Sullivan, Howard • Kevin Summerfield, Sheldon • Jay Swanson, Chávez • Aaron Thomas, North Eugene • Gwen Thorne, Camas Ridge • Carrie Tilson, Monroe • Kristina Trujillo, North Eugene • Nick Van Bloem, Spring Creek • Julia Von Holt, Eugene International • Christina Wagner, Awbrey Park • Stephanie Waples, Willagillespie • Jasmine Ward, Howard • Shelley Watson, Howard • Robin Wellwood, Student Services • Timothy Wilcox, Madison • Clair Wiles, North Eugene • Anne Wilson, Edison • Bree Wyatt, Adams • Anthony Yakovich, North Eugene

Classified Staff
Faten Abdelhamid, Sheldon • Juan Abril, River Road/Camino del Río • Kelly Ayres, Roosevelt • Tyson Biggerstaff, Charlemagne • Kathy Boozer, Facilities • Sarah Borton-Dreyer, Willagillespie • Brian Bowen, Facilities • Ana Boyd, Cal Young • Emily Brown, Adams • Racheal Bryant, Willagillespie • Henny Buditjahja, North Eugene • Tanya Bunson, Edgewood • Ricki Campbell-Siebers, Edison • Kathrine Carnahan, Charlemagne • Rosa Castro, North Eugene • Jennifer Coats, Sheldon • Sophia Durant, McCornack • Theresa Elmore, Roosevelt • Kaisa Erickson, Spring Creek • Don Evans, ECCO• Keith Fjordbeck, Churchill • Kirsten Frazer, Edison • Pat Frees, Facilities • Livia Fremouw, Edison • Elsa Gallegos, River Road/Camino del Río • Angie Gee, Chávez • Lisa Goff, Holt • Elayne Goodban, Yujin Gakuen • Perla Grado, Buena Vista • Ruth Guzman Sanchez, Buena Vista • Machiko Hadwen, Yujin Gakuen • Wendy Harris, Edison • Jason Harter, Arts & Technology Academy • Zoe Haupt, Madison • Christian Hill, Communications • Jenna Hoagland, Twin Oaks • Morgan Houghton, Human Resources & Financial Services • Emily Iverson, Spring Creek • Lisa Jenkins-Easton, Sheldon • Heather Kendrick, Spring Creek • Debora Kovensky, Roosevelt • Sandy Krupicka, Camas Ridge • Darin Lomsdalen, Risk Management & Safety • Jennifer MacPherson, Churchill • Lindsay Manley, Willagillespie • Fabiola Marroquin, North Eugene • Michele Marzullo, South Eugene • Gerry Morgan, Edison • Jane Morgan, Churchill • Marcus Morris, Risk Management & Safety • Denice Mullaney, North Eugene • Haley Myers, Willagillespie • Kelly Oberfoell, Roosevelt • Guy Okili Da Graca, Risk Management & Safety • Jana Ouimet, Gilham • Danny Parlette, Charlemagne '• Nicole Patrick, Chávez • Stephanie Perez, Monroe • Jael Perez Diaz, River Road/Camino del Río • Mary Peterson, Madison • Pete Peterson, Roosevelt • Jennifer Potterf, Cal Young • Julia Rice, Charlemagne • Steve Rogers, Yujin Gakuen • Izumi Sakimoto, Yujin Gakuen • Fabi Salgado Aradillas, Camas Ridge • Grace Salud, Spring Creek • James Samora-Walker, Buena Vista • Maria Schaad, Eugene Education Options • Kimo Sears, Transportation • Debbie Serra, Willagillespie • Hollie Service, Gilham • Debra Short, Cal Young • Mollie Smith, Monroe • Christina Snyder, Cal Young • Janesta Sola, Yujin Gakuen • Abby Spencer, Spring Creek • Jennifer Stark-Plueard, Cal Young • Brenda Sturgis, Transportation • Campbell Trangmar, South Eugene • Becky Uhler, Twin Oaks • Alison Wagner, Edison & Roosevelt • Judy Weber, Edgewood • Mallory Whitaker, Chinese Immersion • Stefan Williams, South Eugene • Ari Windstein Nayak, Willagillespie • Nora Young, Chávez • Alex Zuniga, Buena Vista

Administrators and Supervisors

Bernadette Adeniran, Human Resources • Eric Anderson, Instruction • Peter Barsotti, Madison • Hobie Blackhorn, Camas Ridge • Dana Brummett, McCornack • Regine Childs, Sheldon • Ann Christianson, North Eugene • Laura Clark, Churchill • Missy Cole, Churchill • Josh Davies, NATIVES Program • Lancelot Falcon, Churchill • Ricci Huling, South Eugene • Carey Killen, South Eugene • Roger Morris, Technology • Lavinia Page, Gilham • Adrienne Pierce, Instruction • Karen Ramirez Guiterrez, River Road/Camino del Río • Stephanie Randall, Buena Vista • Alma Reyes Guillen, Sheldon • Sun Saeteurn, Monroe • Travis Sheaffer, North Eugene • Kari Skinner, Risk Management & Safety • Jared Tiecke, Awbrey Park • Brian Watson, Monroe

Volunteers
Jordan Blair, Buena Vista • Amy Lee, Gilham • Tom Mohr, Yujin Gakuen • Sara Nelson, Spencer Butte • Michael Rangeloff, South Eugene • Lindsay Selser, Camas Ridge • Caroline Snider, Spring Creek • Kalleen Stoddard, Cal Young • Lisa Wahi, Gilham

This Wednesday, April 19, the school board will discuss its options regarding the existing North Eugene High school building.

The board meeting begins at 7 p.m., and the meeting agenda can be found here. Board members will review the fiscal and field space analysis presented at a prior meeting, evaluate input and questions received from the community, and work towards a decision that honors the values of our district.

As they work toward that decision, the board invites a final round of thoughts on things that they should consider when determining whether to keep or remove the existing building. If you have thoughts, please take a moment to share them here.

4J students and families can watch for free the documentary film RACE To Be Human, examining the impact of race and racism on mental health.

WHAT: Virtual screening of RACE To Be Human
WHEN: Now through April 17, 7:30 p.m.
LINK: Included in April 5 email from 4J Equity Dept
If you did not receive the link, email equity@4j.lane.edu

The 46-minute documentary, which features interviews from students, experts, and educators, explores how to foster healthy conversations about race and racism, and how we can collectively move our society to one rooted in dignity and respect for individuals of all races and backgrounds. The film is recommended for students in grades 4 and above, but younger students are encouraged to watch with their parents to spur conversations regarding the topics.

This is the last in a series of documentaries that 4J has offered this school year to encourage conversations about important social issues faced by today’s youth.

WHAT: Asian and Pacific Islander Culture Celebration

WHEN: Friday, April 21, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

WHO: 4J students and families

WHERE: Lane Community College Multicultural Center, Building 1, Room 206, 4000 E. 30th Ave.

COST: FREE

RSVP: Please RSVP to ensure enough food is ordered!

APISU Family Night is a joint collaboration between Asian and Pacific Islander student groups and programs at 4J and Lane Community College.

Bike, skateboard, scooter, or walk, skip and jump to school on Wednesday, May 3 to celebrate national Bike+Roll to School Day!

Get out, get physical and enjoy an adventure on your journey to school. It's the perfect opportunity for parents and kids to improve physical and mental health, create a healthier environment, promote safer streets, make friends and have fun! Need help with safe route planning? Email saferoutes@4j.lane.edu.

4J schools are working with the district's Safe Routes to School program to organize events with prize giveaways and will provide details directly to their families. If you are interested in helping organize an event at your school, please email saferoutes@4j.lane.edu or call 541-516-0887.

The calendar for the coming school year has been finalized. After reviewing feedback from families regarding the draft calendar, school will again start after the Labor Day weekend.

First day

• Wednesday, Sept. 6: Kindergarten + Grades 6 & 9
• Thursday, Sept. 7: Grades 1–5, 7 & 8, 10–12

Other notable dates

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 20–22

• Thanksgiving Break: November 23–24

• Winter Break: December 18–January 2

• Spring Break: March 25–29

• Last Day of School: Thursday, June 13

Thank you for your input as we finalized the calendar for the coming school year.

Is your child starting kindergarten this fall? Help them get ready with Kids In Transition to School's free summer program. Request to enroll in KITS by Friday, April 14.

KITS is a fun, interactive evidence-based school readiness program that builds children’s academic, self-regulation, and social skills, plus helps parents develop positive strategies to support learning at home and school. The two-hour classes are held Tuesdays through Thursdays from June 27–August 17 at three 4J locations. Enrollment is based on lottery system.

Learn more & apply by April 14: bit.ly/40aooBJ (English) • bit.ly/3YzY0Qq (español). For questions or assistance, please call (541) 790-5929.

• Prom Prepping: Students host prom dress giveaway at NEHS on Saturday, April 15

• HOUSE Rules: Superintendent and district administrators join Gilham House assembly

• Greatness SERT-ified: South Eugene robotics teams earns spot in world championships

• School Board Elections: Hear candidates at City Club of Eugene election forum

Technology Management Assistant

"One of the core values I have is being community-oriented. Working at 4J allows us to have a connection with the community. I’m happy that as a member of the 4J Technology Department, I can share in that connection."

SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY & LOCAL STUDENTS. JOIN TEAM EUGENE!

Accounting & Business Systems Specialists • Bus Aides • Bus Drivers • Coaches • Elementary School Principal Pool • Equipment Operator • Food Service Assistant • Food Service Coordinators • Groundskeeper • Human Resources Administrator • Human Resources Director • Human Services Coordinator • HVAC Registration Technician • Nutrition Services Supervisors • Plumber Specialist • Registered Nurses • Safety Specialist • School Principal, Yujin Gakuen • Special Ed Educational Assistants • Special Education Teachers • and more

4/17 Budget Committee Meeting

4/19 School Board Meeting

5/3 School Board Meeting

5/4 ACE Awards Celebration

5/5 No School: Middle & High Only (Progress Reports/Professional Development)

5/8 Budget Committee Meeting

5/17 School Board Meeting

5/29 No School: Memorial Day

6/7 School Board Meeting

6/9 No School: Elementary Only (Grading Day)

6/9 High School Graduation: Eugene IHS
6/10 High School Graduation: North Eugene & Sheldon
6/12 High School Graduation: Churchill

6/13 High School Graduation: South Eugene

6/14 High School Graduation: ECCO

6/15 Last Day for Students

6/21 School Board Meeting

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