4J Educator

Information for employees of Eugene School District 4J

• From the Supe's Desk: Success in the new year
• Get Involved: Sign up to provide feedback on 4J's initiatives and projects

• Step To It: 4J's latest movement challenge starts Sunday; can you get to 56,000 steps?

• Tax Season: ACA 1095-C tax form mailed soon; you can opt-out of receiving a paper copy

• The Water Cooler: Get links to department-level newsletters

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all were able to ease back into the rhythm of the new year refreshed from the winter break. As we begin the new year, I wanted to reach out to wish you the absolute best and express my appreciation for all of your hard work and dedication to the students and families our district serves. Beyond the inherent nobility of the work, committing one's professional life to public education regardless of the role played is not an easy path to follow. Rather, it is a consistently difficult path with, at times, punctuated periods of amplified difficulty. This has always been and will always be the case. We serve every dimension of society and, as a district, do so honorably. I submit that these last few years have been those punctuated periods of amplified difficulty.

I have been honored to work here in Eugene 4J and cannot overstate my sense of optimism with the work that lays before us. I look forward to continuing our work together, looking for ways to deliver on a promise of equitable outcomes for all of our students.

Andy

Last month, many of you completed an online employee climate survey as part of our renewed commitment to regularly check in and help us gauge the current culture and morale in 4J school buildings, district office and other locations. We very much appreciate your time and feedback.

One of the major takeaways from that feedback is that we must do a better job communicating with our employees and involving them more in the important initiatives underway at 4J to provide the best possible working environment for our staff and learning environment for our students. We want all 4J employees to feel seen and heard.

Toward that end, the district will provide numerous opportunities in the coming weeks and months for employees to get involved and provide their input on district projects and initiatives. We are seeking employees who would be interested in actively being part of those conversations.

The first opportunity occurs next week as the district is seeking employees interested in serving on focus groups for the ongoing in-depth communications review. The hour-long sessions will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and Wednesday, Jan. 11. We want to gather opinions and feedback from a broad representation of 4J employees to ensure communications coming from schools and the district office are timely, clear and relevant.

Please fill out this short online interest form if you are interested in participating in a focus group for the communications review or being involved in future employee engagement opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for all your hard work in support of the students and staff at 4J.

Looking for challenge that improves your health and well-being to start the new year?

4J's benefits department is kicking off its next weekly movement challenge starting Sunday through 4J's Walker Tracker program. The goal is to achieve the equivalent of 8,000 steps a day through walking or other physical activities, for a total of 56,000 steps from Jan. 8–14. Two participants who sign up for the challenge will be randomly selected to receive a prize.

Once you are registered online, click on the "Challenges" tab to select the "Mellow Your Mood With Movement" challenge to participate. The mobile Walker Tracker app can automatically track your daily steps if you carry your smartphone with you.

The Walker Tracker program is funded by a Oregon Education Association wellness grant. Good luck! This challenge is sure to keep you on your feet.

4J's benefits department will begin preparing all 1095-C Affordable Care Act (ACA) forms this month to meet the mail-out date of March 2, 2023. You will have the ability to access an electronic version through BusinessPlus’ employee portal as soon as they are available. Form 1095-C is issued by large employers required to offer insurance coverage to employees.

You also have the ability to opt out of receiving a paper 1095-C form. If you would like to opt out, please sign into the employee portal before the mid-January and click the opt-out box.

• NEW! The Library Lowdown, January 2023
• EdTech (technology tips, teaching strategies and more)
  
• The Equity Extra, December 2022
• Student Services Department Newsletter, December 2022
• Eco Experience with Eco Chick (eco tips and more)
• Hadley Herald (tech tips for 4J educators)

If you would like your newsletter in The Water Cooler, please add information@4j.lane.edu to your subscription list.

1/12 School Choice Informational Session (Spanish)

1/16 No School: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (Observed)

1/18 School Board Meeting

1/31 School Choice Application Deadline

2/1 School Board Meeting

2/3 No School

2/15 School Board Meeting

2/20 No School: Presidents Day (possible school closure makeup day)

3/1 School Board Meeting

3/15 School Board Meeting

3/16 No School: Middle & High Only (Grading Day)

3/17 No School: Staff Workload Relief Day