Happy Monday, Highlander families —

It’s a quieter stretch on campus, with basketball games coming up and lots of great learning happening in classrooms. We’re especially excited that our production of The Wizard of Oz opens this weekend — be sure to come out and support our amazing student performers and crew!

Wishing everyone a great week ahead, and we hope to see you at the show. ✨🌪️

Go North! 💥

DISTRICT CALENDAR

NEHS HIGHLANDER STUDENT NEWS

NEHS Thespians presents Wizard of Oz 

North Eugene Theater is thrilled to announce its fifth Corridor Production, an annual performance that brings together elementary, middle, and high school students in the North Eugene region. This winter, they're producing The Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition), licensed through Concord Theatricals.  

Show dates are February 26th and 27th at 6 pm, and February 28th at 1 pm. Tickets are $10.  

The production enhances exploration in drama, builds community, and creates a feeder program to support the dramatic arts in North Eugene. 

Please reach out to Aaron Thomas at thomas_a@4j.lane.edu for more information.

April 9 is Testing Day

   Testing Day is Thursday, April 9. This is a required attendance day for all students. Special lessons and activities are planned for all grade levels, and the day will follow an early release schedule.

Please see the specific instructions for your grade level below:

🎓 11th Grade: SAT Registration

The SAT is an optional college entrance exam offered for free during the school day. Students must "opt-in" to participate.

• Action Required: Click here to register for the SAT
• Deadline: Monday, February 16
• Cost: Free

📖 10th Grade: PreACT

All 10th graders are automatically registered for the PreACT to help prepare for college and career pathways.

• Action Required: None. Registration is automatic.
• More Info: 6 Ways PreACT Helps You (PDF).

This day is an early release day.
This test is provided, for free, by the Oregon Department of Education. It is an opportunity for all 10th graders in Oregon to take a college entrance practice test, helping us see that your child is on track for college and career readiness.
 
With the PreACT, you and your child can get useful information to help guide them to choose the right high school courses, think about ways to work on areas for improvement, and continue discussions about their college and career interests.  
To learn more about the test, see the infographic, 6 Ways PreACT Helps You, or call your school office.

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Counselor Contact Information

If you have questions about testing day, please contact your counselor: 
February is CTE Month
Oregon recognizes February as CTE month, so in the next few weeks I will be sending celebrations to recognize program completers in all of our CTE areas of Study.

I will begin by recognizing our seniors who will be graduating as an  International Baccalaureate Career Programme Candidate (IBCP)

These students have completed one of the most challenging and rewarding programs available to high school students.

They have completed the following requirements and will solidify their hard work in May during exam season

• Completion of an Oregon Department of Education approved CTE program of study

• Completion of two or more IB courses and exams (with a minimum score of 3)

• Completion of the IB Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) course (years 1 & 2)

• Completion of the IBCP Reflective Project (12th grade)

• Completion of 50 hours of career-related Service Learning over 2 years
• Completion of 50 hours of Language Development over 2 years 

Huge kudos to the following students!

Alexus Bodda-Early Childhood Education
Selena Briganti-Early Childhood Education
Brooklynn Benson- Early Childhood Education
Bex Aitken- Early Childhood Education
Zoe Caire-Early Childhood Education


Cooper Heacker-Digital Arts and Media
Cait Johnson-Hackett- Digital Arts and Media
Devon Finney- Gaitan- Digital Arts and Media and Computer Science 

Peyton Groshong- Manufacturing
Travis Weber- Manufacturing

Olivia Garcia- Culinary
Naia George- Culinary
Hevyn Rivera- Culinary

Thanks to all of the teachers in each program of study and to Ali for her guidance for this group over the last two years!

🚨 Traffic Safety Reminder — Silver Lane & Bike Lane Parking
Families, please remember not to park in the bike lane and to slow down when driving on Silver Lane during drop-off and pick-up. These areas must remain clear for student safety.
Police have been actively patrolling and are issuing tickets (not warnings) for bike lane parking and speeding.
We appreciate your help keeping our students, cyclists, and neighbors safe — thank you for being mindful and planning a little extra time. 💛

Field Trip: Criminal Justice Career Day at WOU!
Dear 11th Grade Students and Families,
Are you interested in forensics, law enforcement, or the legal system? We are excited to announce an upcoming field trip that offers a deep dive into the world of public safety and law.

Trip Overview

We will be attending the Criminal Justice Career Day hosted by Western Oregon University (WOU). This is a fantastic opportunity for juniors to explore various career paths, meet professionals in the field, and see what a university program in Criminal Justice looks like firsthand.

• Date: Wednesday, March 4th
• Time: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
• Location: Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR)
• Eligibility: Open to all 11th-grade students.

How to Sign Up

Space may be limited, so we encourage students to reserve their spot as soon as possible.
To register or ask questions, please send an email to Catherine Moran in the College Career Center:  Email:moran_c@4j.lane.edu

Exclusion Day is February 25COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER

Dear Seniors and Families,

It is officially "Scholarship Season." This is the most critical time of year for seniors to secure funding for their future education. To help you navigate the many opportunities available, we have broken down the most important ones below. Note that state-level deadlines are approaching quickly! (Files attached below)

1. The OSAC Scholarship (One Application, 600+ Awards)

The OSAC application is Oregon’s "common app" for scholarships. By filling out this single application, your student can apply for over 600 different scholarships at once.

• Best for: Every senior! There are awards for specific hobbies, majors, and even specific high schools.

• Early Bird Deadline: Feb 17, 2026 (Enter to win a $1,000 Early Bird award!)

• Final Deadline: March 2, 2026

• Apply Here: Oregon Student Aid (OSAC)

2. The Ford Family Scholars Program

This is one of the most generous scholarships in the country. It is designed for students with financial need and strong character, covering up to 90% of a student’s unmet college costs. 

• Best for: Students with financial need who are leaders in their community or home. Also, for students planning on attending college in Oregon.

• Deadline: March 2, 2026 (Due strictly by 5:00 PM)

• Apply Here: The Ford Family Foundation

3. SELCO Community Credit Union Scholarship

SELCO is awarding twenty $3,500 scholarships to local students who are community-minded and motivated to take the next step.

• Deadline: March 31, 2026

• Apply Here: SELCO Scholarship Application

4. Airport Rotary Foundation Scholarship ($2,000)

This is a local scholarship specifically for North Eugene High School seniors. Because this award is limited to a small group of local schools, our students have a significantly higher chance of being selected!

• Award Amount: $2,000 (Renewable for up to $5,000 total over 4 years).

• Eligibility & Priorities:

  • GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.

  • Financial Need: Intended for students from lower-income households.

  • Priorities: Priority given to First-Generation college-bound students and Students of Color.

  • Location: Must attend a college, university, or trade school within the State of Oregon.

• Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026.

• How to Apply: Download the Application PDF Here or pick up a physical packet in the College Career Center

• Action: Submit your completed packet (including essay and certified transcript) to Catherine in the College Career Center.

Summary of Important Dates

NORTH REGION COMMUNITY NEWS

LTD Student Art Contest due this Friday 2/27
LTD invites students in grades 6-12 to showcase their creativity and submit a piece of original artwork to LTD’s Student Art Contest. From after-school activities to internships to big dreams down the road, use this year’s theme “Where LTD Can Take You” as inspiration.

Checklist for Entries

• Original with no AI-generated elements
• 2-D media (paint, markers, crayons, colored pencils, AI-free digital art are okay, but 3-D sculptures, renderings, or models are not accepted)
• Created by one student in grades 6-12 (no group entries are allowed)
• The only piece submitted by the student (multiple entries will result in disqualification)
• Related to the theme “Where LTD Can Take You” and includes LTD in some way (for example: uses the LTD logo, bus, bus stop, or station, or it includes the word “LTD” or “Lane Transit District”)
• 11” high by 17” wide (horizontal orientation)
• Not black and white (multiple colors are encouraged)
• Submitted on heavy paper, such as poster, tag, or illustration board
• Securely attached to a completed entry form available in your school office or downloaded below (we want to make sure we know who created it!)
• Turned into the office or delivered in person to LTD by Friday, February 27, 2026

                                           Student Art Contest Entry Form                           

Where to Submit Your Artwork

You have two options to submit your artwork by the February 27, 2026 deadline:

1. Take your completed entry form and fully-dry artwork to your school’s office and tell them you are submitting an entry to the LTD Youth Art Contest.
2. Deliver your completed entry form and fully-dry artwork to LTD between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the following address: 3500 E. 17th Ave., Eugene, OR 97403

Emailed and online submissions will not be accepted. Artwork will remain the property of LTD after the contest’s conclusion. No artwork will be returned to the artist, parent, teacher, or school.

Winner Notification & Celebration

The Student Art Contest is broken into two divisions: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. Each division will award a first, second, and third place winner.
LTD will notify the teacher and/or parent/guardian and the school of the winners no later than Friday, April 10, 2026.
First place winners will receive a $150 gift card, second place will receive a $100 gift card, and third place will receive a $50 gift card. First, second, and third place winners will also have their artwork featured on the outside of an LTD bus. Honorable mentions may have their artwork displayed on the inside of the bus, on LTD.org, and at select LTD locations.

Other Details

All artwork becomes the property of LTD and may be used for advertising, sales or promotional purposes with appropriate credit to the artist. By entering the contest, a student consents to have their first name, grade, and photograph appear as one of the winners.
Artwork will remain the property of LTD after the contest’s conclusion. No artwork will be returned to the artist, parent, teacher, or school.
Questions? Contact Marketing@LTD.org or call 541-682-3207