4J Educator

Information for Eugene School District 4J employees

• Graduation Rates: At 80.8%, rate for Class of 2022 is second-highest in 4J's history

• What's Happening: Help us publicize your awesome school events, activities

• First Friday: 4J is co-sponsoring monthly event for networking, social connection

• Blood Drive: Bloodworks Northwest, EEA join for event at Churchill High School

• Email Scammers: Be wary of solicitations related to retirement benefits
• Walker Tracker: Next movement challenges runs from Feb. 5–11; sign up now!

• The Water Cooler: Check out the latest district-level newsletters

4J has reason to celebrate! The graduation rate for the Class of 2022 was the second-highest in 4J’s history, with all but one of more than a dozen student groups making gains compared to the prior year.

The 80.8 percent on-time four-year graduation rate is 1.9 percentage points higher than last year, when the rate dipped after reaching the all-time high, and 6.3 points higher than for the Class of 2018, recently released Oregon Department of Education figures show. All but one 4J student group improved their graduation rate, with some groups showing significant gains. Black and Native students saw their rate jump 12.5 and 31.7 percentage points, respectively.

The upward trend of 4J’s graduation rate is a great news and a testament to your unwavering dedication and resolve to help our students learn, grow and succeed. Work remains done, but take a moment to recognize the vital role you and your colleagues have played in a job well done. We will continue to set our collective sights upward.

We’re here to help! 4J’s Communications Department assists schools and departments in sharing news and information with the local community. We want to help show off your students, your work and your school, whether that's through an awesome classroom activity or school assembly, such as in celebration of Black History Month in February; an interesting visitor or guest speaker; or an amazing student achievement.

Publicity methods may include social media posts, e-newsletter or website articles, events listings, and/or inviting news media coverage. We may not be able to publicize every event or story, but we certainly try to share as many as possible.

It's never been easier to hear from you! Just visit 4J's Let's Talk page and provide us some basic information in the subject and description fields after clicking the "What's Happening" box under Communications. We look forward to working with you!

The communications department invited the media to attend after learning that an internationally renowned taiko drummer and his family would be performing for students at Yujin Gakuen Japanese Immersion Elementary School earlier this week. Videographers for The Register-Guard and KMTR attended and publicized the event after the department sent out a press release.

Watch the R-G's short video by clicking the image below.

The Eugene Education Association has joined with Bloodworks Northwest for an all-day blood drive on Friday, Feb. 3, in the Churchill High School cafeteria. You can sign up online for a time slot in advance.

4J district leaders support employees using time during this work day to donate blood. Please consider professional development obligations and give a courtesy notification to your administrator if you sign up to donate.

Everyone is invited to attend this month's First Friday Event this Friday, February 3, for food, professional networking, music and social connection.

4J is a proud co-sponsor of the February event, held monthly to provide a safe space that fosters friendships and networks for people of color, social justice allies, and equity workers in the local area. The event runs from 5:30–7 p.m at the Atrium Building, located at 99 W. 10th Avenue in downtown Eugene. We look forward to seeing you there!

Be aware that you might receive emails inviting you to schedule a retirement benefits review from time to time. These emails do not come from 4J or the Public Employees Retirement System. 4J is not a financial advisor and doesn't offer financial advice. The emails are from an outside entity soliciting your business at best, or trying to scam you at worst.

Your best course of action is to hit delete immediately. If you are unsure, feel free to contact the benefits coordinator for your employee group. 4J will communicate with employees directly to share details for any district-sponsored retirement presentations.

District-level newsletters:

• NEW! The Equity Extra, February 2023
• NEW! The Library Lowdown, February 2023
• NEW! EdTech (technology tips, teaching strategies and more)
• Student Services Department Newsletter, January 2023
• Hadley Herald (tech tips for 4J educators)

• Eco Experience with Eco Chick (eco tips and more)

2/3 No School

2/3 Blood Drive

2/4 Special Education Job Fair

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

3/20 Budget Committee Meeting