4J Educator
May 2023, Volume 1
Join Us for Former North Eugene Building Send-Off
Join us from 5–9 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, to walk the halls and say goodbye to the building where 4J students and staff have learned, worked and connected since 1957.
Take a trip back in time by visiting classrooms decked out in each decade of NEHS's history (see event map) so visitors can connect with fellow alumni and share stories. Concessions, stickers and commemorative T-shirts also will be sold at the event.
An assembly at 6:30 p.m. will feature the pep band, cheer and dance teams, and bagpipers. At 7:30 p.m., the drama department will host a special alumni night for their spring production of The Addams Family. You can learn more and buy tickets here.
The new, state-of-the-art North Eugene High School building, located next door to the old high school building, will open this fall. Look for information to come about a grand opening this fall.
Honoring Our Teachers and School Nurses
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week and National School Nurse Week!
Here at 4J, we'd like to take the opportunity to honor the 1,074 teachers, school nurses, counselors, school psychologists, and more. They deserve our appreciation every day of the year for the incredible work they do.
In his message of appreciation sent to all 4J employees, Superintendent Andy Dey thanked teachers and school nurses for "being a ray of light for every child."
"Connecting with, caring for, encouraging, supporting, educating and inspiring our students on a daily basis is big work," he wrote.
Thank you, teachers and school nurses, for all you do for every child, every day!
Updates on High School Schedule
Our district has made some changes to the new high school schedule coming this fall. The most notable change is that students will attend all eight of their classes during shorter, 30-minute periods on Wednesday, the "C" day that also falls on the new early-release day, rather than on Monday, as originally envisioned. Students will attend the first four of their classes during longer, 90-minute periods on Monday and Thursday ("A" days) and the other four, 90-minute classes on Tuesday and Friday ("B" days).
The goal is to have a uniform schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to reduce confusion for students and teachers. Additionally, the revised schedule provides a slightly longer lunch to accommodate students who are spending time with their affinity groups.
In December, following several months of work and and input from parents, students and educators, district leadership selected the new high school schedule. A group then convened to work though the major facets of the schedule change, which were approved in March. The revisions followed a listening session with 4J educators late last month and also in response to additional input.
Checking In: Fill Out Employee Morale Survey
Juneteenth Paid Day Off for MAPS, Most Classified Staff
Juneteenth is now a paid day off for all 4J employees represented by the MAPS employee group and most classified staff. The newest federal holiday is commemorated every June 19. This year, licensed staff as well as student attendance day and 192- and 196-day classified staff are not eligible for the paid holiday as they will not be under contract on June 19. However, they could be eligible in the future if school makeup days extend their contract year.
Classified: Dependent Eligibility Verification is Due
Employees who have dependents (e.g. spouses, domestic partners and children) on their 4J insurance plans must submit documents to verify their dependents' eligibility — or risk losing coverage.
Classified employees should have received information about the verification process from OEBB by email and mail. A second communication will go out to employees who haven't yet submitted their documentation during the week of June 1. The deadline to submit the required documentation for classified employees is Tuesday, June 27. (The deadline for licensed and MAPS employees to submit their documentation has passed.)
