4J Schools Guide 2004-05
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Table of Contents Welcome Introduction ..................................................................................................1 4J facts ..........................................................................................................1 4J philosophy ................................................................................................1 4J on line ......................................................................................................1 General Information Instruction/curriculum overview ....................................................................2 Oregon Act for the 21st Century ..................................................................2 Testing............................................................................................................3 State School Report Cards..............................................................................3 Test results and choosing a school ..................................................................3 Special needs and support programs ..............................................................4 Alternative education......................................................................................4 Child care ......................................................................................................5 Transportation................................................................................................5 School safety ..................................................................................................5 Harassment and discrimination......................................................................5 Students rights and responsibilities ................................................................5 Calendar and Handbook................................................................................5 Choosing A School Getting started ..............................................................................................6 Choices and possibilities for parents ..............................................................6 Important note on residence ..........................................................................6 Neighborhood school enrollment ..................................................................7 Transfers between neighborhood schools........................................................7 Alternative schools..........................................................................................7 Charter schools ..............................................................................................7 Important dates..............................................................................................8 Enrollment ....................................................................................................8 Immunizations and health requirements ........................................................8 School Descriptions Elementary schools ........................................................................................9 Middle schools ............................................................................................41 High schools ................................................................................................57 Charter schools ............................................................................................67 District map & schools index..................................................................70-71 Eugene School District 4J, 200 North Monroe Street, Eugene, OR 97402 (541) 687-3123, fax: (541) 687-3691, www.4j.lane.edu Welcome! Eugene School District 4J features 26 elementary school programs, 13 middle school programs, 10 high school programs and three charter schools. This guide offers a chance to get acquainted with these many options. Introduction School District 4J is proud of its history of excellence. That history is built on the work of outstanding students, dedicated, creative staff members, involved parents and a supportive community, all working together to create a system of remarkable schools. Schools, of course, are the core of any school district, and 4J is pleased to offer parents an array of choices in education. 4J Facts The district, formed in 1854, covers approximately 155 miles — slightly larg- er than the City of Eugene. About 17,000 students attend school in 4J in nearly 50 school programs. Some residents of northwest Eugene live within the Bethel School District, which has about 6,000 students. The neighboring city of Springfield is primarily served by the Springfield School District, with about 11,000 students. 4J Philosophy 4J employees — teachers, support staff and administrators — believe strongly in the worth of public education, and the difference caring people can make for students. The district’s motto is “Investing in students, creating the future.” Understanding that students will flourish in a supportive system that promotes creativity and high achievement, staff use three guiding principles to help them in their work: “Do what’s best for students, continue to learn and grow, respect and care about each other.” 4J believes that all children deserve an excellent, well-rounded education. 4J on line 4J’s website is www.4j.lane.edu. It includes links to individual school web- sites, school board policy, state school report cards and other information. 1 General Information Instruction/curriculum overview It is 4J’s goal to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills neces- sary to effectively meet the challenges of life, work, and citizenship in the 21st century. 4J’s curriculum stresses reading, writing, and computations but also the importance of life-long learning. We teach listening and oral communication skills, negotiation and teamwork, creative thinking and problem solving, career development and positive self-esteem. These skills are developed in a curriculum that has a strong base in English, social studies, math, science, music and the arts, career and technical training, health, foreign languages and multicultural understanding. Many courses in the curriculum are inte- grated — woven together so that students may see how their lessons relate to many facets of life. Curriculum guidelines for all grade levels in 4J is developed at the district level in accordance with Oregon Department of Education requirements and guidelines. Questions about 4J’s curriculum should be directed to the 4J Instruction Department, (541) 687-3246. Oregon Act for the 21st Century In 1995, the Oregon Legislature passed an act to change the way students are evaluated in K–12 schools. The goal of the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century was to raise the standards by which we judge student achieve- ment, hopefully to produce better-educated and better-prepared graduates, and also to have a way to track the effectiveness of the public schools. The Act enables students in the 10th grade to receive Certificates of Initial Mastery (CIM) in language arts and math, if they meet certain standards. Students, usually in 12th grade, can also obtain Certificates of Advanced Mastery (CAM). These certificates may be earned in addition to a regular diploma, showing a thorough mastery of several required areas of study. Recently, Oregon’s State Superintendent of Schools has said that the CIM and CAM programs may change in the future. Indeed, the certificates are not required for graduation nor for entrance to colleges. However, the state will likely continue to emphasize Performance-Based measures in tracking student achievement. For more information on CIM and CAM and state standards, go to www.ode.state.or.us or contact the 4J Instruction Department at (541) 687-3246 or 4J High School Services at (541) 687-3327. 2 General Information Testing 4J students take tests periodically throughout their school careers. Oregon State Assessment Tests are given to all students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. The purpose of these Oregon Department of Education tests is to assess individual student progress toward meeting the Oregon Standards in various subject areas. For results, parents should contact their child’s school. In mid- August, the Oregon Department of Education releases district and school- wide scores on-line and to the media. Go to www.ode.state.or.us for more information. The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a voluntary exam for students inter- ested in going to college, and is not connected to the Oregon Department of Education nor Eugene School District 4J. The SAT is used by many colleges and universities as part of entrance standards. The test is given at intervals throughout the year, often at 4J high schools. Check with high school offices for exam dates. For more information on testing, contact 4J’s Instruction Department, evalu- ations, at (541) 687-3483. State School Report Cards Each year in the fall, the Oregon Department of Education releases School Report Cards that measure school performance. Most of the ratings come from student performance on the Oregon State Assessment tests, relying mainly on the scores from the previous school year and the progress of scores over the last several years. That test performance is added with data on the percentage of students taking the test, daily attendance and other information to create a rating for each school. For more information on the report card criteria, and to see ratings, go to www.ode.state.or.us and look for the link to School Report Cards. Test results and choosing a school It’s