McKenzie School District

McKenzie Families, We had a wonderful first day back to school! It was great to see all of our students filling the hallways of McKenzie. We thank you for your continued patience as our teachers and staff adapt to students back in classrooms with additional health precautions. Reminder: Hours: Students can arrive on campus starting at 7:45 a.m. School runs from 8 - 3:50 p.m. Meals: We are excited to share that all of our students will continue to eat free breakfast and lunch under the USDA Community Eligibility Provision. Bus Routes: Click Here for the latest schedules. Thank you so much for being so patient as we continue to navigate road delays and schedule changes. This year finds us again beginning the school year blanketed by wildfire smoke. The Middle Fork Complex to the south and fires in northern California are providing the majority of the pollution. We are keeping exterior doors and windows closed as much as possible to reduce smoke infiltration. Depending on the Air Quality Index level, outdoor activities such as PE and recess may be limited for all or some student groups. As lunch is not a strenuous activity, we will continue to serve meals outdoors unless air quality rises to the Very Unhealthy or Hazardous levels. Please reach out to us to ensure we have accurate medical records if your student falls into a sensitive group, such as having heart or lung conditions. The protective layers put in place to help protect staff and students from COVID-19 will remain to help keep our classrooms a safe refuge from the smoke. These layers include face coverings, six feet physical distancing, hand hygiene, air movement provided by our HVAC system, and portable HEPA filter systems in classrooms. Wildfire smoke will likely continue to be a concern until we get significant rainfall in the area. Until then, we will continue to monitor local air quality, the Oregon Wildfire Smoke Information website forecast, and forecasts from area fire incident management teams. Should the long-range forecast include days in the very unhealthy and hazardous levels, school may be canceled. When the decision to cancel school is decided, we will communicate the closure through the usual channels, including radio, television, website, McKenzie App, FlashAlert, email, phone call and text. If you haven't updated your contact info with us yet this fall, I encourage you to do so. We have a wonderful year ahead and I am here to answer any of your questions and concerns. Go Eagles! Lane Tompkins, Superintendent For additional information click: https://conta.cc/3l1t6i2

Hello MRCS Families: Please follow this same link, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fiFaYG8fJyq4Uulf3jPsgY7_IYbEpoEfE4WPqNBvjWY/edit?usp=sharing , to find your UPDATED morning times for Ernie and Sherri's routes and the Afternoon times for all routes. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we get the first week underway.

Our apologies for the mix-up for the UP RIVER ROUTE. If you already checked, please go in and double check the times, they have been updated by 25 minutes to get our students here before breakfast. Sorry for any confusion. Thank you!

Good Evening MRCS families: Our apologies for this information reaching you at such a late hour. Please refer to the bus information provided in this link to determine your students bus time: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fiFaYG8fJyq4Uulf3jPsgY7_IYbEpoEfE4WPqNBvjWY/edit?usp=sharing If you are still unsure of your specific time, please feel free to call your building office in the morning, secretaries arrive early! Elementary (541) 822-3315 / Middle and High (541) 822-3313.

Our hearts go out to our community today as we reflect on the first anniversary of the Holiday Farm Fire. We know there is a long way to go in our recovery, but we are lucky to be surrounded by wonderful community members committed to seeing the McKenzie Valley come back. We are #Mckenziestrong Click here to watch the video: https://youtu.be/-GOAQSmYyRs

McKenzie Families, Take a look at this important back to school information Click here: https://conta.cc/3BCyWgz

We welcomed back our teachers and staff to campus today! A huge THANK YOU you to The Hope Project for bringing coffee, breakfast and amazing school supplies for each of our teachers. This was the perfect kick-off to our school year as we look to welcome students back safely next week. The Hope Project Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/E3uXCvFOgtc

Middle School Football Families: We will meet this Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 4 pm in the Old Gym for an informational meeting/practice. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Mike Abrams at (541) 822-3315. Thank you.

Did you know that since 1996 Box Tops for Education (BTFE) fundraising has raised $940,386,700 and counting. BTFE fundraising is easier than ever with their new app! No more clipping, collecting, locating, remembering to send them in. Simply download their app and follow the instructions for taking a picture of your receipt. Watch this YouTube video to see how easy it is, even if you are purchasing items online! https://youtu.be/ZfUGb_3JzZg Make sure to register for your free account here, https://www.boxtops4education.com/Consumer-register-page , so you can choose McKenzie River Elementary School (funds will benefit K-12), 51187 Blue River Dr., Vida, OR 97488. Fun fact, the yellow playground equipment was purchased with Box Tops for Education fundraising! We all have to eat, why not do something amazing for our kids in the process.

Back to school registration is here! Stop by on the 24th or 25th and get a head start on your paperwork, Lane County Public Health will also be holding a vaccination clinic at the same time. Students ages 12 and up are eligible for the vaccine.

Welcome to the team, Seth O'Hare! Seth will be teaching construction for our C.T.E program. Seth says, "Teaching construction skills to the next generation for personal and community enhancement will be the focus of this great program. Students will gain the confidence and ability to elevate their career and life choices, and I am honored to be a part of that process.” Go Eagles!

Good afternoon Middle School Parent/Guardians and Sports Fans! We are excited to offer a SKILLS CAMP to our 6th through 8th grade student athletes for football and volleyball. This will be available starting tomorrow, Thursday, 8/19/2021 and all of next week, Monday through Thursday, 8/23-8/26/2021. Please bring your athlete with athletic shoes, comfortable clothes to move in (PE attire, no tank tops), water bottle, knee pads (if applicable to sport), face mask (required when not in a drill inside a building), and a snack (if needed). Transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of the parent, we encourage carpooling to help if transportation is a burden. Football: 7 am - 10 am, meet at Pagoda/Football field, for player safety there will be no contact during skills camp. Volleyball: 9 am - 12 pm, meet at New Gym, doors will be open by 8:30 am. We are seeking volunteers for all sports seasons and levels of play. Please contact Fred Heins at fred.heins@mckenziesd.org to volunteer. Volunteer paperwork can be located here: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/510566/Volunteer_Packet_19-20.pdf

Click here https://conta.cc/2VWeKHo for our latest Fall Health and Safety Update. We also have a video from Mr. Tompkins

Attention All High School Student-Athletes and Parents: High school practices for Football and Volleyball started today! Please reach out to Fred Heins @ fred.heins@mckenziesd.org if you would like to play. There are a required number of practices for each sport before an athlete can participate in a contest. First football game is scheduled for 9/3/21 and the first volleyball match is scheduled for 8/31/21 both travel contests. Tuesday practices are doubles: Football = 7 am-10 am and 3 pm-5 pm Volleyball = 9 am-12 pm and 3 pm-5 pm Even if the athlete is waiting on their sports physical they should still be present at practices. Thank you

Come teach with us! We are hiring a preschool teacher! Click here to apply: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1459761/preschool_posting_2021.pdf

Hello McKenzie Middle School Parents and fans! We are currently planning on Middle School sports. To make this happen, we are looking for some volunteers to assist with the football and volleyball programs. Those interested in assisting, please contact Athletic Director Fred Heins at fred.heins@mckenziesd.org or leave a message at (541)822-3313. Please email Fred if your student entering 5th through 8th grade is interested in participating with: -Sport selection (Cross Country, *Football or Volleyball) -First and Last Name -Grade -Best contact phone number -Best contact email address *Please note that our league does not allow 5th grade student athletes to participate in Tackle Football. Practices will not start until school begins (usually the second day of school). All student athletes need a current sports physical, sports physicals last two years from the date given. If you are not sure if your student is in need, please contact the office at (541)822-3313. Thank you

Hello MRCS families and Community! Our community partner, the O'Brien Memorial Library, located in Blue River, is looking for input as they plan their rebuild. They have a short survey that will collect some information about what the community would like to see in the library. Please take a moment to fill out the survey, it can be found by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OBrienMemorialLibrarySurvey7

Hello McKenzie Sports Fans! We are excited to get Fall Sports going and need to know which 9th through 12th-grade student-athletes would like to participate in Cross Country, Football, or Volleyball. If your student will be in one of the grades listed and attending McKenzie River Community School, please email Athletic Director Fred Heins at fred.heins@mckenziesd.org as soon as possible. Please include the sport your athlete would like to participate in, the athlete's first and last name, the grade for the upcoming school year, the best contact phone number, and email address. We need this information to know if we will have enough athletes to have teams. Daily Doubles start Monday, August 16, 2021. Athletes need a current sports physical to practice or play. Sports physicals last two years, contact the office with any questions about physicals (541)822-3313. As we get closer to the start of the school year current Covid-19 guidance at the time will determine Middle School sports.

FREE Summer Welding Camp! Lane Community College is offering a welding camp for middle and high school students this August. Students learn how to Gas Tungsten Arc Weld, how to use a plasma cutter, and how to bend metal. During week two, the same high school students will mentor middle schoolers on the same welding techniques. Click here to register: https://www.lanecc.edu/earlycollege/welding-camp

We are looking for a Middle School Volleyball Coach! Apply here - https://www.mckenzie.k12.or.us/o/mckenzie-school-district/page/jobs--6 Please share.