4J Parent News
February 2024, Volume 3
Super Insights: New Podcast Episode Available
The newest episode of Super Insights, our podcast featuring Superintendent Andy Dey, is now ready for your listening pleasure. On this final day of Black History Month, two members and the advisor of Churchill High School's Black Student Union talk about celebrating Black excellence and culture.
Super Insights podcast gives listeners an in-depth look at the major programs, priorities and issues for our district. Happy listening! Submit your questions / topic suggestions for Superintendent Dey.
Thank You, Classified Employees
Next week, Classified School Employees Week, we recognize the work of our dedicated classified colleagues for the instrumental role they play each and every day in helping our students, schools and district flourish.
These nearly 1,100 hardworking, impactful employees take care of our school buildings, drive students to and from school, greet them as they arrive, cook and serve them healthy meals, and support their learning in the classroom and beyond. Across our district, classified staff are vital members of our team, helping prepare our students for success in college, careers and life. Please join us in thanking a classified employee this coming week.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities Open
Is your incoming junior and senior looking for a competitive advantage for college and career this coming school year? Then 4J’s new Center for Advanced Learning and Community Impact (CALCI) may be the place for them. CALCI provides high school students across the district the opportunity to engage in hands-on, community-focused learning, centered around one of several distinct industries: building and construction, digital graphics and video design, engineering, and K-12 education. Additional are pathways planned for the future. Interested? Complete this online form as programs for the coming school year are filling up now. A CALCI representative will reach out to provide more information and assist with enrollment.
Free Library Cards Delivered to All 4J Students
A world of knowledge has opened up for 4J students. Over the winter, schools distributed library cards to all 4J students! If your student didn't receive a card, they can visit a local Eugene Public Library branch with their Oregon driver's license or with a parent/guardian to have a card issued. Schools will distribute cards to newly enrolled students this spring.
The student card provides immediate access to the library’s robust online resources and allows them to check out five physical items at a time. Online resources include ebooks, audiobooks, live homework help by professional tutors, and streaming movies, including documentaries and instructional videos. Physical items include books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, art and technology tools, and more.
Sign Up for Parent Listening Session Next Week
Our district and the Eugene Education Association will hold a virtual parent listening session for parents of special education students this coming Thursday, March 7, from 5–6:30 p.m.
The session will provide an opportunity for parents to talk with educators and share their students' experiences with inclusion. Reserve a spot by completing and submitting this online form. An email with a Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the event. Questions? Email Liz Johnson at johnson_li@4j.lane.edu
A Spanish language parent listening session will be held in-person on Tuesday, April 9. Details will be announced soon.
Tickets on Sale for EEF's Annual Gala
Let's help Eugene Education Foundation continue to support 4J students! Join us at EEF's Annual Gala on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5:30—8 p.m. at the Ford Alumni Center. Tickets are on sale now for the foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year.
The event features a live auction and keynote address by Dr. Laura Lee McIntyre, dean of the University of Oregon's College of Education. Craig Smith, who served on 4J's school board and EEF's board of directors, is being honored for his many years of community service. There will be a live auction with exciting packages to bid on.
- There's two remaining Unified Basketball game nights: North Eugene at Sheldon, Friday, March 8, 6–7 p.m.; and South Eugene at Churchill, Thursday, April 11, 6:30–7:30 p.m. The game joins athletes (students with developmental and intellectual disabilities) with partners (students who are neurotypical) for an evening of competition, teamwork and sportsmanship. Admission is free.
- Our district will offer a final free showings of "The R-Word," a documentary film that explores the history of the word in making the case about why the conversation surrounding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities needs to change. The showings are open to the public: Thursday, March 7, 6–8 p.m., Broadway Metro Cinema, 888 Willamette St. in downtown Eugene.
- SAVE THE DATE! The second annual Strength in Neurodivergence Festival will be held on Friday, March 15, from 5–8 p.m., at Sheldon High School, 2455 Willakenzie Road. Students and families can celebrate neurodivergence, connect to community resources, and enjoy fun activities, music and food. Spanish interpretation will be provided.
That's a Wrap: CTE Month at 4J
Today is the last day of National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Throughout February, we highlighted our expansive CTE offerings here at 4J, checking in on advanced engineering students taking flight at South Eugene High School, the Rachel Carson natural resources pathway at Churchill High School, entrepreneurs at Sheldon High School, the Center for Applied Learning and Community Impact (CALCI), and fourth-grade inventors at Holt Elementary School, to name just a few.
Check out 4J's Instagram and Facebook pages and our website to share in the excitement. CTE Month may be coming to an end, but our CTE programs, as well as our students' and teachers' passion for them, will be going strong throughout this and future school years.
Interdistrict Transfer Requests Open March 1-31
Families who live outside of our school district may request a transfer to attend a 4J school. If you have moved out of the district during the school year or want to enroll a sibling of a current transfer student, you'll need to request a transfer to attend a 4J school. The deadline to be included in the interdistrict transfer lottery for the 2024–25 school year is Sunday, March 31. Transfers will be offered in an order determined by lottery, pending release from the student's district of residence.
Four Years in the Making: 4J Leap Day Trivia
Today is Leap Day, an extra day typically added every four years to keep the seasons in sync with our calendar thanks to Earth's orbit around the Sun taking slightly more than 365 days; 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, to be precise.
It's a rare person who was born on February 29. Did you know?
- Out of 4J's roughly 16,000 current students, just eight were born on February 29: three in 2016 (8th birthday), two in 2012 (12th birthday); and three in 2008 (16th birthday).
- Of the seven (of more than 30) 4J schools with a Leap Day student enrolled, North Eugene High School is the only school with two students born on February 29.
- Out of 4J's roughly 3,600 current employees, just one was born on February 29.
Join The Team, Apply for 4J Jobs
Bus Aides • Bus Drivers • Coaches • Educational Assistants • Food Service Assistants • French Immersion Teacher • Jewish Student Union Program Coordinator • NATIVES Program Tutors • Physical Education & Health Teacher • Plumber Specialist • School Psychologist • Special Ed Educational Assistants • and more!