BLS Nurse Blog
WHY SMILES MATTER
Chasing smiles isn’t just about momentary happiness; it’s about cultivating an overall positive outlook. When we embrace smiles, our days tend to run more smoothly. Challenges seem less daunting, and setbacks become stepping stones.
This is because the act of smiling encourages a shift in perspective – we start focusing on what’s going right instead of dwelling on what’s going wrong.
CULTURE OF CARE
From Dr. Amy Yilik
Share with families
“Start the Conversation” workshop
Come learn strategies for having hard conversations with
your youth on topics such as drugs, sex and school
attendance. You will have an opportunity to connect and
practice with other families experiencing similar issues.
For more information and registration can be found here.
DIABETES
From Angelina Mingus
Saturday, March 14 Breakthrough Summit in Oregon City. Great Speakers and information on pumps, cgms, latest updates, camps and connections with others.
Saturday, April 18 Breakthrough Gala in Portland
Sunday, April 19 Family Craft Day in Bend for T1D families. Friendship bracelets and more.
Sunday, May 17- Breakthrough Walk in Drake Park- Vendors, resources, fun and lots of families to connect with. I need volunteers for this!
July 26-29 Buddy Camp for 8–18-year-olds. Registration opens February 1. Scholarships are available.
I will work on a flyer to send out to families. Please reach out to Angelina for more information.
MEDICAID
From April Diehl – Medicaid Program Manager
Consent Form Update
Families will soon receive an email from Bend-La Pine Schools requesting completion of the one-time Medicaid Parental Consent form. The district is asking every family to respond, whether or not your child is covered by Medicaid. Families who have already completed the consent will not be emailed. This form allows the district to access Medicaid reimbursement for certain health-related services provided at school. Completing the form does not affect your child’s benefits or services in any way. Please watch for the email and take a moment to complete the form when it arrives. Thank you!
NUTRITION SERVICES
From Garra Schluter – Director of Nutrition Services and Distribution
Around the World Wednesday
Around the World Wednesdays: Tell your students to pack their appetite and passport! Bend-La Pine Schools Nutrition Services is taking students on a flavor tour throughout southeast Asia. On Wednesdays beginning February 6, school communities will have the opportunity to explore a new country through a special lunch crafted by our own Executive Chef TJ Bennett. For this journey, no plane ticket is required!
Nutrition services have created a passport for each elementary student. We will deliver these booklets to the schools by 1/28. We are asking schools to distribute these to the students by 2/4; the promotion begins on 2/6 and ends 3/11. Students will hold on to their passport through our six weeks of culinary travel. Each Wednesday when a student selects the new highlighted special, they will receive a sticker to place in their passports. The sticker represents their passport getting stamped for “traveling with their taste buds” to the highlighted country that day. At the end of the promotion, students will have the opportunity to vote on which item was their favorite and where their taste buds would like to go next.
SAFETY
DCHS Substance Abuse Overdose Response Briefing – 1-19-26
DATES TO REMEMBER
Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings
| DATE | EVENT | TIME | LOCATION |
| 1/21/26 | Nurse Meeting | 2-330 | CALDERA, ROOM 210 |
| 1/30/26 | Nurse Meeting (Skills Day) | New Time 845-12 | BOARD ROOM |