The 2021-2022 school year is off to a strong start with the return of our full-length day after the transitions and sacrifices of last year's Comprehensive Distance Learning and abbreviated return to campus to end last year.
A great deal of thanks is due to our families, staff and students for their flexibility and creativity navigating COVID and the Holiday Farm Fire! You are what makes McKenzie the special place it is! Our team is truly grateful for our students, staff and community.
Many parents and community members requested more communication from the school this year, so we are bringing back the "From Mr. Tompkins' Desk" Blog. Mr. Tompkins hopes this additional line of communication is worthwhile and helps close the information gap that some of our McKenzie community is feeling.
It is also his hope that this blog can be another avenue to communicate our theme of Gratitude this school year. McKenzie students and staff will be taking time each day to demonstrate gratitude for all we have. Studies show that sharing gratitude increases happiness in both the person giving gratitude as well as those receiving it. After the year and a half we've had as a school and community, who couldn't use a little bit more happiness? We are truly grateful for our students, staff and community members!
Click here to read the blog: https://conta.cc/3zZaRiy
Hello McKenzie Families,
Having trouble reaching us? Our carrier is experiencing some intermittent outages. If you are unable to reach us, please feel free to reach out on another platform: Elementary: (458)239-3699 or elemoffice@mckenziesd.org, Middle/High: (458)239-3718 or hsoffice@mckenziesd.org
We are grateful for our students, staff and community!
We'd love to formally introduce the McKenzie High School 2021-2022 Associated Student Body.
Help us congratulate these students and wish them luck with all of their work representing our school and community this school year!
Learn more about free weekly COVID-19 screening testing now available for McKenzie students. https://conta.cc/3nZuogz
🚨Reminder - COVID Vaccination Clinic tomorrow!
The clinic will be held in the Old Gym. 1st and 2nd doses of Pfizer and a single dose of J&J will be available.
COVID-19 vaccination is available regardless of immigration status and with or without health insurance for all Lane County residents.
There is NO COST for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Appointments are available at www.lanecounty.org/vaxclinics
Walk-ins welcome!
If you have any questions regarding COVID-19, please contact Lane County Public Health
Call Center 541-682-1380
www.lanecounty.org/vaxclinics
Hello McKenzie River Community School Families and Staff: This is a friendly reminder that school pictures are tomorrow, Monday, September 20, 2021. Have a wonderful rest of your day!
Hello McKenzie Families! Please check your email for School Picture Information. 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏. Thank you
🚨Urgent! We need your internet devices.
Please return them this week to any of our McKenzie school offices.
Also, McKenzie families we really need you to fill out this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P5PBJDN
It is critical to our school and community to continue moving forward on getting high-speed internet.
Hello MRCS families: The Welcome Back BBQ and Football game on Friday, September 17, 2021 have been canceled. We look forward to seeing you at Homecoming on October 8, 2021 to support our student athletes. Please look for information about the vaccination clinic for Friday, 9/17/21, soon. Thank you.
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.
