Author: Tami Pike

BLS Nurse Blog

THANK YOU VETERANS!!!

Thank you for serving our country and protecting our freedoms!!

1 1/2 WEEKS LEFT

Only 1 1/2 weeks left until Thanksgiving break!!!

DHS REPORTING

From Eric Powell

Where to send a child abuse report

Moving forward, when documenting a Child Abuse Report that your school is making, will you please store the Child Abuse Form in the following ways:

1. Building Principal or Department Supervisor maintains a copy of the report
2. Send (Email is fine) a copy to Eric Powell in Student Services

DIABETES

November is National Diabetes Month!

KINDER IMMUNIZATION EXCLUSION

From Michelle Spetic

Kindergarten Exclusion

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025

For more information, see Michelle’s email from 11/3/25.

OFFICE OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY

From Kinsey Martin

Transgender Awareness Week   

November 13-19 is Transgender Awareness Week.  Next week your building will receive a kit with ideas and supplies for simple ways to support your transgender students or colleagues. *Check with your school’s office manager.

Family Engagement

Family Liaisons: Here are our Spanish-speaking liaisons, and here are reminders on how to use their services.  We also have part-time Black/African American, Asian, and Youth Partnerships Liaisons–if you’d like to connect with one of them, let me know.

FAN Advocates: Here are reminders on their role.  Remind your staff: FAN does not coordinate Christmas gifts for families and hasn’t for over 10 years.  FAN resources are maxed out prioritizing basic needs (food, utilities, etc).  There are many community-based organizations that do support religious or holiday-based requests like Christmas gifts: Here, here, and here are a few resources.  

Concerns/celebrations: If you have concerns about your liaison or advocate (inconsistent attendance, lack of responsiveness, etc), I need to know right away.  Of course, if you have a note of appreciation or celebration about them, send me those too!

Translation/interpretation: Remember, CAFE members are not your primary resource for language services.  Also, please don’t ask them to “quickly review” your AI/Google-translated communication.  Use Linguist Link for translation/interpretation requests.  Here are reminders on differences between these services.  

Food Access and Your Parent Groups:   -For your review (share as applicable)-

In the absence of SNAP benefits for families in need, some of you have parent groups organizing to gather food and distribute it to families.  This is great, if/when boundaries are respected.  Share these talking points with your parent group, as applicable.  

PAYROLL

From Jessica Houser

Payroll Update

For the November and December payrolls, all employees will receive a paper paystub (or a live check if not enrolled in direct deposit) mailed directly to their home address on file. Payday remains the last business day of each month.

This change ensures every employee can easily access their pay information during school breaks when most staff are off-site or not connected to the district network. From now on, paystubs and paychecks will no longer be routed to school sites for pickup or distribution.

What to Know

• All employees will automatically receive mailed paystubs in November, December, June, July, and August.
• Employees who want paper paystubs in additional months can email Payroll to opt in. (This election resets each year.)
• Employees can update their home address in UKG.
• Those who need help setting up direct deposit can review the “How To” guide on the Payroll Portal or reach out to Payroll.
• Substitute and extra-duty employees will continue to receive paper paystubs automatically every month.
• Employees can still view electronic paystubs through Employee Online when using a district device or network connection.

SKILLS FAIR

Friday, January 30, 2026

9am – 12pm

Location TBD

Please consider contributing to this Planning Document with questions you may have on Visual Acuity Screening, Otoscope use, Tube Feeding and Seizures. There is also a section at the bottom where you can write in any other RN – related topics you would like to learn about at nurse meetings before or after the Skills Fair in January.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Friday, 11/14	OSNA Fall conference	8-430	Virtual
11/24 – 11/28	Thanksgiving Break		No School

December 5, 2025	April 10, 2026
January 9, 2026	May 8, 2026
February 6, 2026	June 12, 2026
March 6, 2026

BLS Nurse Blog

2 1/2 WEEKS LEFT

Only 2 1/2 weeks left until Thanksgiving break!!!

CONCUSSION

HB 3007 and OAR 581-021-3007

Administrators from elementary and middles schools have been made aware of HB 3007, Required Procedures for Student Concussion or Other Brain Injury. They are aware of the brain injury team requirements, including the expected team composition.

Please reach out to your school administrators to confirm which staff members have been identified for the brain injury management team.

Once the brain injury management team has been identified, please schedule a meeting with them to review the updated procedures and the ITAP form.

Please reach out to me or Wendy Beall with any questions.

*Tami is scheduled to speak with Katie Legacy regarding high schools on 11/7.

CPR – Hands Only CPR

Feel free to pass along to students/families.

The Deschutes County Medical Reserve Corps (DCMRC) is offering free classes to the community. Learn Hands-Only CPR, Stop the Bleed, or both!  Each class is 1-hour and can be scheduled anywhere within Deschutes County.

• Hands-only CPR (1-hour total): Hands-only CPR is different than certified CPR in that there is no mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and it is only focused on chest compressions. While participants won’t be considered “CPR certified”, the skills they receive from hands-only CPR are indeed lifesaving and can help reduce the number of cardiac deaths.
• Stop the Bleed (1-hour total): Stop the Bleed is different than traditional first aid as it focuses only on how to stop the bleeding of a wound and pack it until help arrives.  This specific skill is simple to learn and can make all the difference during an emergency.

Please use this link, or the QR code below, to request a class and learn simple, lifesaving skills.

Please feel free to pass along this information to any partners or members of the public you think might be interested.

Information flyer

Reach out to Carissa Heinige ([email protected]) with any questions. 458-292-8347

DIABETES

November is National Diabetes Month!

• Raise Awareness
  • Participate in events, use social media with hashtags like #DiabetesAwarenessMonth or #NDAM, and share information from organizations like the American Diabetes Association. 
• Wear Blue
  • Blue is the official color for diabetes awareness, so wear a blue ribbon or clothing to show your support.
• Educate Yourself and Others
  • Learn more about diabetes and its prevention through resources from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). 
• Focus on Prevention
  • Take small, manageable steps to improve your health, such as increasing physical activity and making healthier food choices to prevent or manage diabetes. 

KINDER IMMUNIZATION EXCLUSION

From Michelle Spetic

KINDERGARTEN EXCLUSION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025

For more information, see Michelle’s email from 11/3/25.

MEASLES

Proof of Vaccination or Immunity

Although no measles cases have been detected in Deschutes County yet, we should be prepared in the event that a case comes up in one of our schools.

Individuals who cannot provide proof of measles immunity or vaccination could be excluded from work for up to 21 days – or longer – if an exposure occurs. Because an entire school is considered an exposure site if someone with measles is present, even a single case could significantly impact school operations. In such a situation, schools could face temporary closures or staff shortages until proof of immunity or vaccination is verified.

Having documentation of your MMR vaccination or immunity readily available can help prevent unnecessary work exclusions in the event of an exposure. Now is a good time to review your immunization records. If you don’t have access to them, contact your health care provider to discuss obtaining titers or receiving the MMR vaccine.

SAFETY

Evacuation Plans

Please collaborate with your school Safety Team to review or create an evacuation plan for students with mobility needs (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) who may access the second floor. Bend Fire has offered to support schools in this planning process. Jason Kamperman is the contact at Bend Fire. [email protected].

SKILLS FAIR

Friday, January 30, 2026

9am – 12pm

Location TBD

Please consider contributing to this Planning Document with questions you may have on Visual Acuity Screening, Otoscope use, Tube Feeding and Seizures. There is also a section at the bottom where you can write in any other RN – related topics you would like to learn about at nurse meetings before or after the Skills Fair in January.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

Wednesday, 11/5	Nurse Meeting	2-330	Ensworth
Tuesday, 11/11	Veteren’s Day		No School
Friday, 11/14	OSNA Fall conference	8-430	Virtual
11/24 – 11/28	Thanksgiving Break		No School

	February 6, 2026
	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

BLS Nurse Blog

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY!!!!!!!

Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree, growing in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America. Historians have documented the earliest cultivation of cacao seeds at around 1100 BC.

In honor of this day, we should all have some chocolate today!!

ASTHMA

Over the Counter Aerosol Bronchodilator

Primatene Mist

Please treat this FDA-approved medication as an over-the-counter product. Recommend that parents/guardians have their child evaluated for asthma by a healthcare provider. Parents or guardians must complete and sign the Authorization for Medication Administration form.

GOALS

Your goals are due to Tami by Wednesday, October 29th!

MEDICAID

From Molly:

BLS Nurse Medicaid Workflow

NSM

*Reminder*

Please remember to download a copy of any Google Doc before making edits. Some documents have been translated, so any updates made in English must also be reflected in the translated versions using the BLS translation process.

All communications sent to schools (e.g., lice letters, illness notices) must be approved by Michelle or Tami before distribution.

SKILLS FAIR

Friday, January 30, 2026

9am – 12pm

Location TBD

Please consider contributing to this Planning Document with questions you may have on Visual Acuity Screening, Otoscope use, Tube Feeding and Seizures. There is also a section at the bottom where you can write in any other RN – related topics you would like to learn about at nurse meetings before or after the Skills Fair in January.

TRANSPORTATION

From Michelle Rhoads in Transportation

We’re excited to announce 2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 14. This special event is an opportunity to celebrate Ruby’s courage by walking to school and  is the perfect opportunity to teach students about the Civil Rights Movement and connections to collective efforts for change.

The history of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day: On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges bravely integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. In May 2018, a group of fifth graders from Martin Elementary School in South San Francisco, California, learned about Ruby and asked their school board to pass a resolution making November 14 Ruby Bridges Day. This day honors Ruby’s historic role in advancing civil rights and serves as a reminder of the importance of equality, justice, and education for all children. Communities across the country participate in this event to recognize Ruby’s courage and to inspire future generations to continue her legacy. Here is a video about Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Here is a link to the Ruby Bridges Foundation.

For information on how to participate in this event, please contact Michelle Rhoads, Bend – La Pine Schools Active Transportation Coordinator, [email protected] , phone 541-355-5721.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Wednesday, 10/29	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Thursday, 10/30	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Friday, 10/31	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Wednesday, 11/5	Nurse Meeting	2-330	Ensworth
Tuesday, 11/11	Veteren’s Day		No School
Friday, 11/14	OSNA Fall conference	8-430	Virtual
11/24 – 11/28	Thanksgiving Break		No School

	February 6, 2026
	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

BLS Nurse Blog

WORLD KANGAROO DAY

October 24, 2025 is World Kangaroo Day!!!

This day is to help raise awareness for the conservation of kangaroos.

Here are a couple of fun facts about kangaroos:

• Kangaroos are good swimmers and will use water to escape predators or cross rivers.
• Kangaroos cannot walk backward because of their large feet and tail.

CARDIOLOGY

Dr. Tajchman is in the house!!!

Dr. Tajchman will be coming to our next nurse meeting on Wednesday, November 5th. Please submit any questions/topics you would like for her to address here.

MEASLES

Update from Deschutes County

Health Alert Network

Measles found from a waste water treatment plant in Marion County. More information can be found here.

You can view the BLS Measles Response Plan here.

OFFICE OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY

From Kinsey Martin

Family Engagement Calendar

We now have an Outlook calendar to communicate and coordinate district-wide family engagement events and key dates!  It includes district-wide events where families are the audience, such as Financial Aid night or Latino Family Night, as well as the “do not schedule” dates for religious observances.  

This is a staff-facing tool, for awareness, access, and coordination of school, district, and program-specific family events.  Please work with your office staff to add this calendar to your school Outlook calendar—instructions here. 

SAFETY

DCHS Substance Abuse Overdose Response Briefing 10-17-25

_______________________

Suicide risk and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)

From Sean Reinhart, Jennifer Hauth, and Jamie Gunter

The Student Services Team is reaching out with a yearly reminder of protocols and procedures around suicide risk and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), as required by Adi’s Act (Senate Bill 52).  We will be providing a series of updates to ensure that administrators are informed on updated protocols. 

Reminder: Postvention

Please review the updated protocols in the BLS Sudden Death Response Procedures For Building Admin & Staff. We will review this information at the December 3, 2025, Safety Cadre. 

• View the updated sudden death response procedures.

• Review with all of your building staff on these procedures.
  • Ask all staff to contact their building administrator if they become aware of any information on the death of a staff member, student, or parent in your school community. 
• If a Staff member reaches out to an administrator:
  • Thank the reporter and ask that they don’t contact other individuals and share the news they have heard. Oftentimes the information is inaccurate or incomplete and unknowingly propagating rumors can cause harm.
  • The building administrator reaches out to Sean, Jennifer, Scott, or their Level Leader (in that order until the first person is reached).
  • Student Services will walk you through next steps. 

Best-practice postvention around notification helps to prevent further harm or contagion, ensures accuracy and consistency, protects and respects the family, supports emotional safety, and lays the foundation for healing and recovery. If you have questions or concerns around this process, please reach out.

SKILLS FAIR

Friday, January 30, 2026

9am – 12pm

Location TBD

Please consider contributing to this Planning Document with questions you may have on Visual Acuity Screening, Otoscope use, Tube Feeding and Seizures. There is also a section at the bottom where you can write in any other RN – related topics you would like to learn about at nurse meetings before or after the Skills Fair in January.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Wednesday, 10/29	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Thursday, 10/30	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Friday, 10/31	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Wednesday, 11/5	Nurse Meeting	2-330	Ensworth

	February 6, 2026
	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

$$$$$ When is pay day???? $$$$$

	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026

BLS Nurse Blog

EAR LOBES

Did you know that earlobes have no biological purpose. They are rich in nerve endings and blood supply. Culturally, it is a canvas for ornamentation, with purposes ranging from fashion and social expression to symbolic rituals.

BLS Nurse Blog

COMMUNICATION

From NASN 2025 Conference

The Art of Communication

The Four Temperaments: A Timeless Tool for Communication in School Health Settings

Introduces school health leaders to a framework for improving communication, building stronger relationships, and reducing friction in day-to-day interactions.

Notes from presentation.

Which temperament are you????

Phelgmatic

Melancholic

Choleric

Sanguine

CONCUSSIONS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Return to Play Following Concussion

Middle School

An athlete may not return to sports participation in middle school until all steps outlined below have been completed.

1. Middle School Medical Release Form Submission
   • A middle school athlete diagnosed with a concussion must bring the signed BLS Medical Release Return to Sports Participation Following a Concussion for Middle School Athletes form to the BLS consulting registered nurse.
   • The consulting nurse will complete the bottom section of the form and:
     • Email a copy to the school’s athletic administrator (see list below).
     • File the original form in the student’s cumulative file.
   • The athletic administrator will notify the athlete’s coach of the provider’s clearance status based on the box checked by the physician or qualified health care professional.
2. Academic Accommodations
   • The athlete may not resume sports participation until all academic accommodations related to the concussion have been discontinued by the school.
3. Form Availability and Distribution
   • Middle schools will post this form on their Athletics webpage. (in process)
   • Copies of the release form will be sent to Mosaic, Summit Medical Group, and COPA when the new Immediate Temporary Accommodations Plan is finalized (hopefully in the next few weeks). 
   • Coaches will communicate this new process to athletes and families.
4. Alternate Forms
   • Any documentation other than the BLS Medical Release Form will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
   • OSAA Medical Release Forms will also be reviewed; however, acceptance will depend on which box is checked. For example, if the provider selects “Athlete may begin graduated return-to-participation,” the athlete will not be considered cleared for sports participation.
   • Coaches and nurses should help educate athletes, parents, and guardians on the correct form required for clearance.
5. Coach Procedure
   • If an athlete gives a note directly to the coach without following the steps above, the coach must not allow the athlete to participate until the school’s athletic administrator confirms clearance directly.

Middle School	Athletic Administrator
Cascade	Mackenzie Groshong
LPMS	Brian Barringer
Pacific Crest	Dan Curfew
Pilot Butte	Colin Bado
Sky View	Nick Smith
Three Rivers	Loren Paige

DIABETES

Inhaled Insulin on the Horizon – webinar, 10/8/25

This was a really informative webinar that discussed results for adult and pediatric trials of inhaled insulin. It will be available in a few weeks on the NASN website. Part 2 of this webinar will be Wednesday, November 12th. I’ll put the details in an upcoming blog when they are available.

Conclusions

1. INHALE-1 supports the safety and efficacy of T1 youth with diabetes.
2. Inhaled insulin is associated with less weight gain and increased patient and parent satisfaction.
3. Inhaled insulin is an important alternative to injected RAA (rapid acting analog) for youth with diabetes. Inhaled insulin is more rapid than the rapid acting analog.

Link to webinar slides

HEALTH LOG

FYI

The health code “Bee sting” has been removed from Synergy and replaced with “Insect sting”.

NARCAN

Narcan Order Placed through ODE

On behalf of Bend-La Pine Schools, Narcan has have been ordered through ODE for every one of our schools. Please do not order any for your school. The school contact name listed is Tami Pike. Please update the Narcan 25/26 School Year log with the expiration dates when you receive your order. We will be all set with Narcan for awhile.

OFFICE OF POLICY, ADVOCACY, AND EQUITY

Election Season and Political Topics

From Kinsey Martin

Dear staff — As election season approaches, this is a good time to revisit our expectations around political topics in our school and workplace. While this November may not bring the same intensity as a presidential election year, maintaining neutrality in our professional capacity remains essential.

Here is our policy around staff engaging in political activities. This is a great tool outlining boundaries and appropriate use of district equipment, time, and resources in relation to election topics. District leadership asks that each employee read the information in those links carefully. Let Kinsey know if you have any questions or need clarification.

In addition, we know students may initiate conversations about politics, candidates, or ballot measures. To help navigate these moments: Here are 10 steps for teachers to prepare, navigate, and respond to sensitive discourse.  Our district Advocacy Coaches are also available to support you in facilitating respectful and balanced discussions.

SAFETY

Substance Services Assessment and Scan Reports

DCHS completed a Substance Service Needs Assessment.

Priority areas identified on the assessment:

• Prevention
• Harm Reduction
• Linkage to Treatment
• Treatment
• Recovery Support

Community Assessment Report and the Environmental Scan of Substance related services: Opioid Overdose Prevention and Response – Deschutes County Oregon

Needs Assessment Report

Substance Related Services

DATES TO REMEMBER

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Wednesday, 10/15	All Nurse Meeting	2-330	Pine Ridge Library
Wednesday, 10/29	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Thursday, 10/30	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Friday, 10/31	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.

	February 6, 2026
	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

$$$$$$ When is pay day????? $$$$$$

	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026

BLS Nurse Blog

NATIONAL BATHTUB DAY

Rub-a-dub-dub

October 7th is National Bathtub Day!!! This special day encourages folks to relax and enjoy a bath to de-stress and pamper themselves. This “holiday” is a chance to reflect on the history of baths and indoor plumbing.

How much do you want to bet this holiday was created by someone who didn’t want to offend a person with body odor—so they just invented National Bathtub Day instead?

DIABETES

NASN Webinar: Inhaled Insulin on the Horizon – What School Nurses Need to Know

Join us on October 8, 2025, at 3:30 PM ET for this timely webinar to explore innovations in diabetes management in schools. Learn about inhaled insulin, gain a quick orientation on its use, and hear results from the INHALE-1 Trial—a clinical study assessing the safety and efficacy of inhaled insulin in children and teens. The session will conclude with a Q&A.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and stay ahead of emerging practices in student diabetes care. Learn more and register.

Free for nurses who are members of NASN.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween Cultural Awareness

As we head into Halloween, many of our schools and staff enjoy celebrating with creativity and fun. It’s also a good reminder to keep our celebrations respectful and inclusive. When planning activities, decorations, or costumes, please be mindful of cultural sensitivity and the diverse backgrounds of our students, families, and colleagues. A little extra thought helps ensure everyone feels comfortable and included.

Grades K-5 Respect During Halloween

Grades 6-12 Respect During Halloween

Halloween Checklist

MEDICAID

Challenges with Medicaid Billing??

Reach out to April Diehl to schedule an in-person meeting at your school. Several nurses have already met with her and shared that it greatly improved their understanding of the process.

NURSE DASHBOARD

What is it?

It is a tool for nurses to easily identify students with HMPs who:

• Ride the bus
• Have IEPs

Instructions:

1. In Synergy, search “nurse dashboard” in the quick launch bar (if you can’t see it, please log out then log back in)
2. You will see students with health conditions listed at whichever school you are currently viewing in Synergy
3. If you want to see only your students with health plans on file, type “health plan on file” into the search box directly under the header of the “Condition” column.
4. Scroll to the far right to see Bus and Case Manager status for your students with health conditions
   • Only students with a “Y” in the bus column are bus riders
   • In the case manager column, only students with a SPED Case Manager name listed will have an IEP. Students with a school counselor or administrator listed may have an 504 or other support
5. You can select only certain conditions at the top by choosing from the drop down menu and clicking “apply filters” (e.g. if you only want to select all the life threatening conditions). You can also use the end date filter at the top if desired.
6. You can click on any of the column headers to filter or sort as needed (e.g. see only grade 7 or see only kids who are bus riders)

PET POLICY/ANIMALS IN CLASSROOM

FYI

Animals in the Classroom or on School Property

DATES TO REMEMBER

** STILL LOOKING FOR LOCATIONS FOR OUR NEXT NURSE MEETING** (Erica has offered up Caldera again.)

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Wednesday, 10/15	All Nurse Meeting	2-330	Looking for locations!!
Wednesday, 10/29	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Thursday, 10/30	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Friday, 10/31	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.

TIME SHEETS

	February 6, 2026
October 10, 2025	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

$$$$$$ When is pay day????? $$$$$$

September 30, 2025	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026

BLS Nurse Blog

NATIONAL DO SOMETHING NICE DAY

Sunday, October 5th

This day encourages people to perform small acts of kindness to make the world a brighter place and boost spirits.

Offer a compliment

Hold a door open for someone

Help a neighbor

Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line.

Benefits of Doing Something Nice

Reduced Stress Hormones

Lower Blood Pressure

Reduce Depression

Extended Life Span

SPREAD SOME AWESOMENESS!!!

HUMAN RESOURCES

Employee Assistance Program

Free to you and your family

Did you know that all employees with Bend-La Pine Schools can access Canopy, our EAP program? It’s true! EAP is free and available to ALL district employees AND their family members.

Access in person and online counseling and life coaching support and access resources for stress management, physical health, fertility support, financial management, legal issues, and more. Check out this flyer to learn more and find out how to access Canopy’s services.

BLS Wellness Resources

Check out all of our available wellness resources HERE on the BLS Benefits website.

Care Solace

Getting help can be a daunting process. Care Solace provides 24/7/365 mental health care coordination Service for all employees of Bend-La Pine Schools, their family members, as well as our students and their families. Click the button above to connect with Care Solace.

988 Lifeline

If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here. At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life’s challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone. Click the button above to learn more.

Safe Schools

A few key points about this year’s Safe Schools training

You may have noticed some changes around this year’s mandatory Safe Schools training for District staff. Here’s a quick rundown:

• The training courses were removed from UKG and placed directly in VectorSolutions, the host of the Safe Schools training. Look for the link and log-in instructions in your emails from [email protected].
• Training courses are to be completed no later than October 31.
• There are 10 required courses for employees, and the newer ones rolled out after the initial series opened up. This includes the KnowBe4 cybersecurity training that was introduced last year; Sexual Abuse Prevention, now required by our group insurance provider, PACE; and a review of the Standard Response Protocols the District uses for safety. (Our intent is to have all required training available when the series is first available to employees.)
• Some employees have reported problems with accessing or completing the courses using the Safari browser. One option is to use the Chrome browser instead. VectorSolutions also has instructions for using Safari as your browser for Safe Schools training.

MEDICAID

Time In / Time Out Documentation

Nurses – Regular and Substitute- Please remember to document both time in and time out when logging nursing tasks on logs such as diabetic/tube feeding logs.

Medicaid Information for Nurses

(You must use your BLS email to access this link.)

• IPOC examples
• Logs
• Provider Resources (from April)

OFFICE OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY

From Kinsey Martin

Religion and Holidays: -Action Items

Please share this policy with your staff.  I recommend asking your staff to review and following up in particular with your Music teachers and those planning holiday events.

Here is the “Do Not Schedule” document of cultural and holidays, updated with 25-26, 26-27, and now the 27-28 dates.  Be sure your office staff and those who plan events and activities have this updated version.  

Here (scroll down to October) are student-facing materials on Halloween and costumes.  

RECORDS CLERKS

When uploading a document with an electronic signature (ROI, HMP), please download the document into a pdf first so that the blue banner is does not show across the top of the document like the example here. The blue banner certification does not allow the Records Clerks to easily download this information and print out in a bundle format with other documents. 

STUDENT WELL BEING

From Jennifer Hauth

Please see the updated Outside Behavioral Health Memo that discusses our approved behavioral health and case management providers, as well as, attendance codes.

TRANSPORTATION

Reminder

Transportation staff are allowed to enter the building to use the bathroom, if they are wearing their BLP id. They are not required to walk around to the front of the building and “check in”.  Please direct them to the nearest staff bathroom by the bus entrance.  Thank you!!

DATES TO REMEMBER

**LOOKING FOR LOCATIONS FOR OUR NEXT NURSE MEETING**

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Wednesday, 10/15	All Nurse Meeting	2-330	Looking for locations!!
Wednesday, 10/29	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Thursday, 10/30	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.
Friday, 10/31	No school elem/middle		This is a required work day for regular staff.

September 12, 2025	February 6, 2026
October 10, 2025	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

$$$$$$ When is pay day????? $$$$$$

TODAY IS PAYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 30, 2025	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026

LINKS

Link to Links

Communicable Disease DEI Mental Health Resources Nurse Service Manual

BLS Nurse Blog

NURSE MEETING TOMORROW, 9/24

Nurse Meeting Reminder

Wednesday, September 24

Caldera High School

Zocola Room 105 

School is out at 215 so please plan to arrive at Caldera ready to go at 2pm. 

Substitute nurses are welcome to attend but not required.

CONCUSSIONS

Wendy Beall and Margy Vrbata from HDESD will be joining us at the nurse meeting tomorrow to share information on concussion coaching.

Required Procedures for Student Concussion or other Brain Injury. Please review this document before the meeting. BLS is working on updating our district Concussion Management Plan, ensuring concussion management teams are established at each site, and revising the temporary accommodations form.

To help with this work, I’m collecting data on the current availability of concussion management teams at each site. Please take a few minutes this week to complete this form.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT PLANS

Fax cover letters

All health management plans should be uploaded into Synergy WITHOUT any fax cover letters. Please remove these items and re-upload into Synergy.

Legibility

Some areas of signed seizure HMPs that are faxed back to us are not legible. When they are downloaded, staff cannot read the instructions on the HMP or the Seizure First Aid instructions. We will update the blank seizure HMP on the nurse manual and remove the highlighted gray areas so this will not be a problem moving forward. We will discuss what we should do about the current plans during our nurse meeting tomorrow, 9/24.

Records Clerks

PLEASE remember to send the records clerks updated HMPs so they can be uploaded to the SE side. Please go back and email the records clerks at [email protected] any of your HMPs that were not sent to them. Please indicate on the email that the HMP has been uploaded in the Documents tab but needs to be uploaded to the SE side.

SAFETY

DCHS Substance Abuse Overdose Response Briefing 9-19-25

DATES TO REMEMBER

September 12, 2025	February 6, 2026
October 10, 2025	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

$$$$$$ When is pay day????? $$$$$$

September 30, 2025	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026

LINKS

Link to Links

Communicable Disease DEI Mental Health Resources Nurse Service Manual

BLS Nurse Blog

BRAIN TEASER

DHS REPORTING

If you submit a DHS report, please send the report to Lisa McNulty in Student Services. April Jorgenson’s name is currently on the form.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Kindergarten Exclusion Day Reminder

Thursday, November 19, 2025

(Elementary Nurses – See Michelle’s email from 9/8/25)

NARCAN

**PLEASE CHECK YOUR NARCAN EXPIRATION DATES**

Regular Nursing Staff – We will be placing a Narcan order on Monday, September 22nd. Please complete the NARCAN 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR sheet so we can include your site when we order.

PNEE (Psychogenic Non-epileptic Events)

Notes from NASN 2025 conference on PNEE

PNEE Notes

PNEE slides

DATES TO REMEMBER

Upcoming Nurse Events/Meetings

DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION
Thursday, 9/18	OSNA Training Tool Update Corinna Brower is gathering feedback for updates to the epinephrine and glucagon trainings.	10-1130	Register here.
Monday, 9/22	OSNA – Legal updates on HB3007 – brain injury accommodations and Hannah’s Law	330-5	Register here.
Wednesday, 9/24	All Nurse Meeting	2-330	Looking for locations!!

September 12, 2025	February 6, 2026
October 10, 2025	March 6, 2026
November 7, 2025	April 10, 2026
December 5, 2025	May 8, 2026
January 9, 2026	June 12, 2026

$$$$$$ When is pay day????? $$$$$$

September 30, 2025	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026

LINKS

Link to Links

BLS Nurse Blog

UMMMM FRIDAY????

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL resource available to employees and their families for support with a variety of personal challenges.

FIELD TRIPS

Please let Tami know when you do not receive appropriate advance notification for field trips.

In order for advance field trip notification to become a regular part of the activity planning process, we need to address these issues promptly.

LUNCH TIME REMINDERS

??????? regarding lunchtimes have come up for both substitute and regular nurses.

Given the variety of schedules, both past and current practice has been for nurses to determine their own break and lunch times in accordance with their workday

Substitute Nurses – If you work more than 6 hours in a day, you are required to take a 30 minute unpaid lunch. Please remember this when completing your time sheets. For example, if you worked 8-230, you are required to take a 30 minute unpaid lunch break during that time. Therefore, you should only timesheet for 6 hours rather than 6.5 hours due to the required 30 minute lunch break.

Regular Nurses – If you work more than 6 hours in a day, you are required to take a 30 minute unpaid lunch.

For example, if you worked 8-230, you are required to take a 30 minute unpaid lunch break during that time. The total time worked from 8-230 = 6 hours.

Or if you work 8-430, the total time worked is 8 hours (plus a 30 minute non-paid lunch).

For any questions, please refer to 2023-27 OSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. For any additional questions, please contact Tami.

NARCAN

Regular Nursing Staff – We will be placing a Narcan order on Monday, September 22nd. Please complete the NARCAN 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR sheet so we can include your site when we order.

OHA – LIFE SAVING TREATMENT PROTOCOLS

From Corinna Brower:

1. The OHA webpage has been restored
2. The SAR/Epinephrine slides include additional, optional content in the “Medication Addendum”
3. The SAR/Epinephrine Manual page numbers have been corrected

LINKS

Link to Links

DATES TO REMEMBER

$$$$$$ When is pay day????? $$$$$$

September 30, 2025	February 27, 2026
October 31, 2025	March 31, 2026
November 28, 2025	April 30, 2026
December 31, 2025	May 29, 2026
January 30, 2026	June 30 , 2026