Thessen for 4J

Thessen for 4J Ericka Thessen- currently serving on and campaigning for Eugene School District 4J Board position #2

Heads up for families of local students, please sign up for Project Hope!
08/24/2026

Heads up for families of local students, please sign up for Project Hope!

Families with students enrolled in Eugene School District 4J can register now for this year’s Project Hope back-to-school events. Project Hope provides students with new athletic shoes, socks, backpacks filled with school supplies, and other resources at no cost to help students begin the school year ready to learn.

📅 2026 Project Hope Events at 4J

📍 Chávez Elementary School, 1510 W. 14th Ave.
Saturday, August 29, 1–4 p.m.
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/PH-CHAVEZ-26

📍 North Eugene High School, 250 Silver Lane
Sunday, August 30, 1–4 p.m.
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/PH-NEHS-26

Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/4Jprojecthope.

Please spread the word!  Families with students enrolled in 4J can begin registering online on Monday, August 24, starti...
08/15/2026

Please spread the word!

Families with students enrolled in 4J can begin registering online on Monday, August 24, starting at 7 a.m., for this year’s Project Hope 4J WEBSITE back-to-school events. Project Hope provides students with new athletic shoes, socks, backpacks filled with school supplies, and other resources at no cost to help students begin the school year ready to learn. You can click on the link below to register or learn more.

CHÁVEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1510 W. 14th Ave.
Saturday, August 29 • 1–4 p.m.

NORTH EUGENE HIGH SCHOOL
250 Silver Lane
Sunday, August 30 • 1–4 p.m.

What Families Need to Know
■ Registration opens Monday, August 24, at 7 a.m.
■ Participation is by appointment only, and appointment times fill quickly.
■ Each registered student must be present at their scheduled appointment time.
Parents and caregivers do not need a separate appointment.
■ Each student may participate at one Project Hope location only.
■ Families should arrive at their scheduled appointment time—not earlier—to
support a welcoming and streamlined experience.
■ Questions? Call 541-337-0518.

Eugene School District 4J

Sign ups will open up mid August for Project Hope. Head to this website for more details!!!!
08/05/2026

Sign ups will open up mid August for Project Hope. Head to this website for more details!!!!

Project Hope involves 75+ partners to provide back-to-school necessities for 3,000+ students in partnership with four local school districts.

Great local upcoming events for families with children!
08/04/2026

Great local upcoming events for families with children!

This is a terrific resource for students!
07/11/2026

This is a terrific resource for students!

Informed Voices is a youth-focused educational website developed by a group of Student Health Advocate students designed to teach youth how to conduct reliable research and engage in effective advocacy.

Through five structured lessons, the site guides users through the research process step-by-step, with each lesson building on the previous one. This helps students develop critical thinking skills, evaluate information for accuracy and bias, and apply their findings to real-world issues. By combining accessible content with interactive elements, the aim is to empower young people to become informed, responsible, and impactful advocates in their communities.

Go check out the website at sites.google.com/view/informedvoices-com/home

07/10/2026

Did you know that *all* Oregon children, from birth until they turn five, are eligible for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? Sign up and your child gets a free brand-new book in the mail every month until they're ready for kindergarten! Choose books in English or bilingual English/Spanish. Sign up: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/
Via Eugene Public Library Foundation: Since 2014, Imagination Library of Eugene supporters have made it possible for 486,675 books to be delivered to the mailboxes of 17,133 children! Eugene Public Library Foundation Board and staff, in partnership with Eugene Public Library, have been proud to facilitate this program.
We have exciting news: Imagination Library of Eugene is expanding!
Starting on July 1, our program is combining with other Lane County Imagination Library Program Partners, Springfield Young Readers and United Way of Lane County, to establish a countywide program: Imagination Library of Lane County!
"You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children." -Dolly Parton 💖

Check out these amazing books!
07/03/2026

Check out these amazing books!

Thank you so much to Maya Rabasa, 4J School Board for serving with me together as Board Chair and Vice Chair! It’s an h...
06/18/2026

Thank you so much to Maya Rabasa, 4J School Board for serving with me together as Board Chair and Vice Chair! It’s an honor and privilege to know and serve by your side. And thank you to our board colleagues for unanimously giving us the opportunity.

06/12/2026

Official statement from City of Eugene:

Heat Advisory issued for Eugene area June 14-16

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for parts of the Willamette Valley, including Eugene, for June 14-16. Temperatures are expected to exceed 95 degrees.



Community members are encouraged to stay hydrated with water when the temperature is so high. All water fountains and splash pads in Eugene are turned on for summer. Splash pads are on seven days a week, including holidays, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at:

• Downtown Riverfront Park (701 E. 8th Ave.)

• Fairmount Park (E. 15th Ave. and Fairmount Blvd.)

• Oakmont Park (2295 Oakmont Way)

• Skinner Butte Park (248 Cheshire Ave.)

• Umso Park (Grand Cayman and Antigua drives)

• Washington Park (2025 Washington St.)



Pools

• Amazon Pool is open every day for drop-in Lap Swims. Rec Swims and Family Swims beginning June 15. A complete schedule is available on the Amazon Pool webpage.

• Echo Hollow Pool & Fitness Center offers drop-in Lap Swims and Rec Swims every day but is closed Sunday. A complete schedule is available on the Echo Hollow Pool webpage.

• Sheldon Pool & Fitness Center offers drop-in Lap Swims and Rec Swims every day but is closed Saturday. A complete schedule is available on the Sheldon Pool webpage.



Cooling Centers

• The Downtown Library is a designated cooling site and is open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday; 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The Bethel and Sheldon branches are open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; noon-8 p.m. Tuesday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• Hilyard Community Center is a designated cooling site and is open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Because of ongoing programming, there is a limited capacity in the lobby.



Community Centers are open for regular hours:

• Amazon Community Center 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

• Campbell Community Center 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

• Hilyard Community Center 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

• Petersen Barn Community Center 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

• Sheldon Community Center 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.



Lane County has a resource page that lists all cooling centers in the county and other heat-related tips.



With a great number of people seeking relief at one of Lane County's many waterways, our Lane County first responders would like to urge community members to use extreme caution when recreating. Use a life jacket and beware that many bodies of water remain cold despite the hot temperatures. If boating or swimming, beware of submerged hazards.



Human heatstroke symptoms can include high body temperature, a fast, strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness. If you notice someone experiencing these symptoms, call 911 right away — heatstroke is a medical emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer tips for preventing heat stroke-related illness. City staff may be seen taking breaks in shaded areas or air-conditioned vehicles following guidance to prevent heat-related illnesses.

An FAQ about Extreme Heat and Public Health is available from Lane County.



Pet Safety



It is extremely important to remember these safety tips to keep your furry family members safe:



• Leave pets at home when running errands. Leaving your animal in a parked car, even for just a few minutes, can easily cause heat stroke or brain damage. On an 85-degree day, a car's interior temperature can climb to 104 degrees in 10 minutes, even with the windows slightly open. Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat stress because they do not sweat in the way that humans do; they release body heat by panting.

• Dogs should not ride in uncovered pickup truck beds. The hot metal truck bed can burn your pet’s paw pads.

• Keep pets inside during the heat of the day; do not leave them outside unattended.

• Make sure pets have access to water bowls full of cool, fresh water.

• When pets are outside, be sure to provide shaded areas for them to rest in and invest in a misting hose or kiddie pool for a cool place for your pets to play.

• Limit or skip on exercise and time at the dog park during the heat of the day.

• Always test the pavement or sand with your hand before setting out (too hot to touch is too hot for your pet), walk early in the morning or late at night when it’s cooler, carry water and take frequent breaks in shady spots. If you suspect your pet’s paws have been burned, contact your vet immediately.



Animal heatstroke symptoms can include restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, vomiting and lack of coordination. If your animal is overcome by heat exhaustion, consult your veterinarian right away. If you notice an animal in distress or unresponsive in a parked car, first try and locate the pet’s owner and alert them to the animal’s condition. If you cannot find the animal’s owner, call 911.



If you notice an animal in distress or unresponsive in a parked car, call 911. If an animal is not in distress and it is quicker to locate the owner, you may consider that in addition to calling for help.

Additional information about pet safety in hot conditions is available from the Humane Society of the United States.

Such a wonderful tradition! Congratulations graduates!!!!!
06/10/2026

Such a wonderful tradition! Congratulations graduates!!!!!

Address

PO Box 25235
Eugene, OR
97402

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Thessen for 4J posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Thessen for 4J:

Shortcuts

Share