Our EME Focus

• Tier 1 Instruction
• Belonging
• Define what it means to be an Art Focused School

---

Thoughts of the Week

A story from my Grandpa – He told me this story over 35 years ago!

A baby bird had fallen out of the nest onto the frozen ground. It started to chirp because of the cold. Hearing the chick chirp, a cow came by and dropped a big ole cow pie on her. As the frozen chick lay there in the pile of cow dung, she began to realize how warm she was getting, as the dung was actually thawing her out. She lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, promptly dug her out and ate her.

Moral of the story

1. Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
2. Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3. And when you’re in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut.

---

---

The Coming Week

• Monday
  • Committee Meetings 2:30-3:15
  • Interview with Dr. Cook 4:00
• Tuesday
  • Heather Korman’s Birthday!
  • Office Staff Meeting 10:00-10:30
  • Care Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
  • Elementary Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• Wednesday
  • Nicole Dewes’ Birthday!
  • SIW Educator Network 2:00-3:15
• Thursday
  • Second Grade Field Trip
  • PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• Friday
  • Assembly 1:30-2:00
  • SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15

UPCOMING DATES:

• March 3 Anita Garland’s Birthday!
• March 4-15 Bike Safety
• March 5 Emma Keeton’s Birthday!
• March 5 Safety Meeting 7:00-7:30
• March 5 Office Staff Meeting 10:00-10:30
• March 5 ICCL Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
• March 6 Read Across America
• March 6 Office Admin Meeting 9:00-9:30
• March 6 SIW – Collaborative Problem Solving Mary and Natalie 1:00-2:20
• March 7 PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• March 7 BAM Meeting 5:00-7:00
• March 8 SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
• March 11 Staff Meeting 2:15-3:15
• March 12 Core Effectiveness Meeting with Lori (Grades 1, 5, 2)
• March 12 Office Staff Meeting 10:00-10:30
• March 12 Care Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
• March 13 Office Admin Meeting 9:00-9:30
• March 13 Art Workshop 9:30-10:30
• March 13 SIW Art Training #3 1:00-2:30
• March 14 Coaching Support with Lori
• March 14 PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• March 14 Family Game Night 5:30-6:30
• March 15 SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
• March 18 Core Effectiveness Meeting with Lori (Grades K, 4, 3)
• March 18 Carrie Shorthouse’s Birthday!
• March 19 Office Staff Meeting 10:00-10:30
• March 19 Fire Drill 1:00
• March 20 Jenn Kandra’s Birthday!
• March 20 Office Admin Meeting 9:00-9:30
• March 20 Art Workshop 9:30-10:30
• March 20 EA Meeting 1:00-1:30
• March 20 SIW Teacher Prep
• March 20 Admin PD Perseverance Hall
• March 20 5th Grade Performance
• March 21 PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• March 22 Kindergarten Forest Field Trip
• March 22 SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
• March 24-29 Spring Break!

---

Updates from Downtown

Need a good book? As we dive into Women’s History Month this March, here are some books you might consider. This year’s theme is women who advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and these authors may be your inspiration this March!

Do Now:

• Welcome Back Survey: We are working on plans for the Welcome Back event for the 2024-25 school year, to be held on Tuesday, August 27, and would like to hear from employees on the preferred format. Please use THIS SURVEY to vote until Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5 pm. The planning team is considering three options:

New Notes:

Curriculum, Instruction and Systems (Julie Walker): Here is the schedule for Educator Network Day on February 28th.  Please see the far-right hand column for locations for administrator support at each of the classes being offered. 

From Life and Career Readiness (Jenny White): This week’s highlight in Wayfinder is encouragement which can be found in the Activity Library in Wayfinder.

• Encouragement Relay (K – 3)
• Encouragement Wings (2 – 6) In this exercise you might want to assign partners.  Make sure every student will get a set of wings.

February 21^st Elementary TLC Update: This week’s update includes:

• EL Education adoption update
• 1^st grade teachers – sign up for an early literacy classroom visitation with Julie
• Forefront Dashboards are here
• Bullying collections from Wayfinder
• and more!

Important Dates

• Feb 27: 3:00-5:00. Elementary Leadership, at North Star Elementary
• Feb 28: Ed Network Day (see details above from Julie)
• Mar. 1: Education Foundation Grants are due: www.blpedfoundation.org

Our EME Focus

• Tier 1 Instruction
• Belonging
• Define what it means to be an Art Focused School

---

Thoughts of the Week

Never Give Up!

Last Friday was… well, a #$%@ show, to be honest.

• Bus behavior that led to a treat assessment
• Parent came in angry about an incident
• Parent called angry about another incident
• Sent home a student for making a threat
• Sent home a student for hitting staff
• Sent home a student who could not regulate
• Investigated a student for making false claims against staff member
• Dealt with a student for hitting…again
• Dealt with many students who were unable to be kind

But… here is what I got to do

• Support a struggling bus driver and connect with a parent whose child really needs help
• Connect with a parent I had never met before and start to form a relationship by hearing her
• Connect with a parent and look in to some of our safety polices to see if there are any areas we could change to keep our kids safer
• Connect with and support a student who is seeking connection but feels powerless with the things going on in his life.
• Help connect with a student and share his moment of pain to hopefully continue to work toward being someone that student can trust
• See a softer side of a student for the first time. Hope!
• Support a staff member and uncover truth. Connect with a student that has a past we could all have empathy for.
• Reteach how we treat others and worked on a plan to stay in school.
• Talk about kindness and actions. Connect with multiple students, some for the first time.

What an excellent day!

---

The Coming Week

• Monday
  • No School
• Tuesday
  • OBOB Semi-Finals 8:00-9:00
  • Office Staff Meeting 10:00-10:30
• Wednesday
  • Admin Meeting 9:00-9:30
  • SIW Teacher Prep for Art Workshop #2 1:00-2:30
  • EA Meeting 1:00-1:30
  • All Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• Thursday
  • NAEP Testing for Fourth Grade
  • OBOB Finals 8:00-9:00
  • PLC’s 2:30-3:15
  • Cascade Middle School 5th Grade Family Night 5:00-9:00
• Friday
  • Kinder Forest Field Trip
  • SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15

UPCOMING DATES:

• February 26 – Committee Meetings 2:30-3:15
• February 27 – Heather Korman’s Birthday!
• February 27 – Care Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
• February 27 – Elementary Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• February 28 – Nicole Dewes’ Birthday!
• February 28 – SIW Educator Network 1:00-2:30
• February 29 – Second Grade Field Trip
• February 29 – PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• March 1 – Assembly
• March 1 – SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15

---

Updates from Downtown

New Notes:

From Jenny White (SEL/LCR): This week the Wayfinder highlight is an activity around LOVE and JOY.  Directions on how to find the activity in WAYFINDER

Kindergarten – The Reflection in Me

1 – 2 – Joy Garden

3 – 5 – The Importance of Love

From Tammy and Lisa:

Thank you!!!! From the bottom of our hearts, thank so so much for all of you who interviewed, who was on an interview team, or who left your school to support another school while their teams were out for the interviews. We could not have done it without you! What a gift to work with such an amazing group willing to pitch in where needed.

Just remember, that when things are hard, your rate of making it through the hardest days of your life is 100%. Can’t beat that! We’ll get through this too, side by side, one step at a time.

Important Dates

• Feb 19: President’s Day—This is not a paid holiday, so use non-contract if you don’t work
• Feb 21: Admin PD at Perseverance Hall at BSH–3:00-6:00–with substantial snacks! (This will cover the new contract–you won’t want to miss this!)
• Feb 27: 3:00-5:00. Elementary Leadership, at North Star Elementary
• Mar. 1: Education Foundation Grants are due: www.blpedfoundation.org

Our EME Focus

• Tier 1 Instruction
• Belonging
• Define what it means to be an Art Focused School

---

Thoughts of the Week

Struggle On!

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Until it suddenly stopped making any progress and looked like it was stuck. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, although it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man didn’t think anything of it and sat there waiting for the wings to enlarge to support the butterfly. But that didn’t happen. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with tiny wings and a swollen body. 

Despite the kind heart of the man, he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle needed by the butterfly to get itself through the small opening; were nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. To prepare itself for flying once it was out of the cocoon.

Our struggles in life develop our strengths. Without struggles, we never grow and never get stronger, so it’s important for us to tackle challenges and push through them.

---

The Coming Week

• SRO Appreciation Week
• Monday
  • Fire Drill 8:00
  • Amy McDonald’s Birthday!
  • Staff Meeting 2:30-3:15
• Tuesday
  • Principal Interviews
  • ICCL Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• Wednesday
  • SIW Literacy #2 with Lori and Olivia 1:00 – 2:30
• Thursday
  • School Officer Appreciation Day
  • Student Success Meeting 10:00-11:00
  • PLC’s 2:30-3:15
  • BAM Meeting 5:00-7:00
• Friday
  • SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15

UPCOMING DATES:

• February 21 – EA Meeting 1:00-1:30
• February 21 – SIW Teacher Prep for Art Workshop 1:00-2:30
• February 21 – Admin PD 3:00-5:00
• February 22 – NAEP Testing for Fourth Grade
• February 22 – PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• February 22 – Cascade Safety Net Family Night
• February 23 – Kindergarten Forest Field Trip
• February 23 – SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
• February 26 – Committee Meetings 2:30-3:15
• February 27 – Heather Korman’s Birthday!
• February 27 – Care Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
• February 27 – Elementary Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• February 28 – Nicole Dewes’ Birthday!
• February 28 – SIW Educator Network 1:00-2:30
• February 29 – Second Grade Field Trip
• February 29 – PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• March 1 – Assembly
• March 1 – SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15

---

---

Updates from Downtown

Do Now:

• Train Your Brain: Looks like we still have 10 schools to sign up by February 16th at the latest. Here is the link to the sign-up sheet.
• SRO Appreciation: SRO Cards, posters, goodies to Kayla in Safety by Feb 9!
• Ed Network: Still looking for teachers to share their practice and ideas with other teachers at our Feb 28^th Educator Network Day.  Please have them sign up here if they have an idea for a session and are willing to facilitate that session.

Reminders:

• Erin’s Law: Teach Erin’s Law lessons between February and May. Here the resources for both the family letter and instruction. Principals, please document using this form and send to April Jorgenson.
• CFEE: Please register for a CFEE. This year, options are April 9-12 virtually, June 24-28 in the valley or July 22-26 in the valley. Click on THIS INTEREST LINK.
• Education Foundation: Grants are due 3/1: www.blpedfoundation.org
• TAG Testing Timeline: Please make sure these dates are on your radar and you have a plan for testing at your school.
• Student Services:
  • Prevent, Teach, Respond information, PTR Facilitators Guide
  • MTSS Tier 3 process
• Counseling: School Counseling Blog
• Safety: Updated SRO List as of 1/2/2024.

New Notes:

From Jenny White (SEL/LCR): Something to share with staff- This collection from Wayfinder engages students in fun interactive games that promote engagement.  This collection include games the encourage cooperation, adaptability, and connection. Directions on how to find the collection in Wayfinder.

Direct Links. Kindergarten. 1st – 2nd. 3rd – 5th

From Kinsey (DEI):

• Black History Month door-decorating contest: This information was shared with your DEI ICCL reps.  Here are pictures from last year.  Can you please reinforce messaging with your team so your school is represented?  Photo submissions due Feb 27, winners (with prizes!) will be announced Feb 29.  
• Incoming student nights/family orientations: Don’t forget to schedule interpreters via Linguist Link for upcoming events with families visiting your school (example: 5^th Grade Family Nights at middle schools, Academic Info Nights, orientations).  Plan in advance for how the interpreter will be used and how multilingual families will access each stage of the event.  Language Specialists and Family Liaisons can help you develop a plan.
• Upcoming religious dates:  Here are religious observances occurring during school days in Feb-March.  We have current students and staff who observe these days, so please plan accordingly:
  • Ash Wednesday: Wed, Feb 14.  Students who observe this day may wear ashes on their forehead.  Teachers and coaches should not ask them to remove or wash off the ashes.  If other students mock or tease them, please report this as a bias incident.  
  • Ramadan: Mon, March 11 – Tues, April 9.  This observance includes complete fasting while the sun is out as well as additional prayer.
    • Students: Teachers should avoid high-stakes exams during this time—if unavoidable, provide accommodations for students as needed.  PE teachers and coaches should work with Muslim students modify physical activity as needed.  
    • Families: Be thoughtful about evening events asking families to come to school after dark, or afternoon events centered around food/meals that might exclude Muslim families.
    • Employees: Be thoughtful about staff celebrations (PTA events, social committee) centered on meals during this time period.  
    • Support: If an employee or student needs accommodations that you are not able to easily provide, or if you want to talk through supports, reach out.

From Tammy and Lisa:

Important Dates

• Feb 9: SRO appreciation due to Kayla today!
• Feb 13: Admin/ICCL Meeting 3-5 pm at your site (details to come in separate e-mail on Friday evening)
• Feb 13: Elk Meadow Principal Hiring Day
• Feb 14: North Star Principal Hiring Day
• Feb. 15: School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
• Feb 15: Jewell Principal Hiring Day
• Feb 16: Bear Creek Principal Hiring Day
• Feb 21: Admin PD at Perseverance Hall at BSH–3:00-4:30 (This will cover the new contract)
• Feb 27: 3:00-5:00. Elementary Leadership, at North Star Elementary
• Mar. 1: Education Foundation Grants are due: www.blpedfoundation.org

Our EME Focus

• Tier 1 Instruction
• Belonging
• Define what it means to be an Art Focused School

---

Thoughts of the Week

Remember to Just Be…

One evening, after spending several days with his new wife, a man leaned over and whispered into her ear, “I love you.”  She smiled – and the man smiled back – and she said, “When I’m eighty years old and I’m thinking back on my entire life, I know I will remember this moment.” A few minutes later, she drifted off to sleep. The man was left with the silence of the room and the soft sound of his wife’s breathing. He stayed awake, thinking about everything they had done together, from their first date to their first vacation together and ultimately to their big wedding. These were just some of the life choices that the couple had made together that had led to this very moment of silence in the presence of each other. At one point, the man then realized that it didn’t matter what they had done or where they had gone. Nor did it matter where they were going. The only thing that mattered was the serenity of that very moment. Just being together, breathing together, and resting together.

We can’t let the clock, calendar, or pressure from external sources take over our lives and allow us to forget the fact that every moment of our lives is a gift and a miracle – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it is.

Being mindful in the special moments that you spend in the presence of the ones that you love are the moments that truly give your life meaning.

---

The Coming Week

• Counselor Appreciation Week!  Let Lilly know how much we love her!!!
• Monday
  • Committee Meetings 2:30-3:15
• Tuesday
  • Safety Meeting 7:00
  • Office Staff Meeting 10:00-10:30
  • ICCL Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
• Wednesday
  • Admin Meeting 9:00-9:30
  • EA Meeting in Library 1:00-1:30
  • SIW – Art Training #2 1:30-3:00 (Note Time Change)
• Thursday
  • PLC’s Building Wide 2:30-3:15
• Friday
  • Kindergarten All Bike Grant Assembly 1:40 (K only)
  • SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
  • Valentine’s Day Dance 5:30-7:00

UPCOMING DATES:

• February 12 – Fire Drill 8:00
• February 12 – Amy McDonald’s Birthday!
• February 12 – Staff Meeting 2:30-3:15
• February 13 – Principal Interviews
• February 13 – ICCL Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• February 14 – SIW Literacy #2 with Lori and Olivia 1:00 – 2:30
• February 15 – School Officer Appreciation Day
• February 15 – PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• February 15 – BAM Meeting 5:00-7:00
• February 16 – SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
• February 21 – EA Meeting 1:00-1:30
• February 21 – SIW Teacher Prep for Art Workshop 1:00-2:30
• February 21 – Admin PD 3:00-5:00
• February 22 – NAEP Testing for Fourth Grade
• February 22 – PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• February 22 – Cascade Safety Net Family Night
• February 23 – Kindergarten Forest Field Trip
• February 23 – SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15
• February 26 – Committee Meetings 2:30-3:15
• February 27 – Heather Korman’s Birthday!
• February 27 – Care Team Meeting 2:30-3:15
• February 27 – Elementary Admin Meeting 3:00-5:00
• February 28 – Nicole Dewes’ Birthday!
• February 28 – SIW Educator Network 1:00-2:30
• February 29 – Second Grade Field Trip
• February 29 – PLC’s 2:30-3:15
• March 1 – SpEd Meeting 2:15-3:15

---

---

Updates from Downtown

We are looking for teachers to share their practice and ideas with other teachers at our Feb 28^th Educator Network Day.  Please have them sign up here if they have an idea for a session and are willing to facilitate that session.

Reminders:

• Education Foundation: Grants are due 3/1: www.blpedfoundation.org
• TAG Testing Timeline: Please make sure these dates are on your radar and you have a plan for testing at your school.
• • Performance Module Overview Document – Certified Staff
  • UKG Performance Evaluation Guide for District Administrators
  • Slides from the October 25 BLAST training
  • Link for 2022/23 Evaluation
  • edition_5_-_evaluation_manual_-_certified_teacher.pdf
  • Bend-La Pine Schools: Modified Evaluation System for Certified Staff, 2023-24
  • SLGG google form – Staff can either make a digital copy to complete or they can print and fill out a hard copy.  These can be uploaded into UKG (instructions to follow)
• Student Services:
  • Prevent, Teach, Respond information, PTR Facilitators Guide
  • MTSS Tier 3 process
• Counseling: School Counseling Blog
• Safety: Updated SRO List as of 1/2/2024.

New Notes:

From Kayla and Scott in Safety: As a reminder, volunteers need to be 18 years or older to serve in a supervisory capacity at schools. Minors are not able to attend field trips as chaperones or work as volunteer coaches as it poses a liability for the district. This information is reflected on the District Volunteer Page.

From Jenny White (SEL). This week’s highlight from Wayfinder is Creating Connections Collections.

The goal of the collections are to foster meaningful connections and cultivate empathy  along with enhancing belonging in classrooms and beyond. Engage students in interactive activities, discussions, and reflective practices that promote understanding, kindness, and authentic connections that empower them to build a more compassionate and connected world.

Directions on how to find your collections.

From Kerry Morton, Math Coach. The Math Curriculum Review Team will be requesting another time to share a nugget from our work between now and April 10th. Based on your SIW schedule, this can be a quick 15 minute session or a full SIW. The sessions will continue to focus on math equity and pedagogy. Getting feedback about instructional materials will start in the 2024-2025 school year. Please reach out to Kerry Morton or Julie Walker with any questions or concerns.

From Culture of Care: Click on the photo below for a great idea! Reminds me of Rosland’s Mindful Music first thing in the morning.

Asian Family Night/Lunar New Year Event: Flyer invitations English and Chinese versions​—thanks for sharing with your staff and families!

Emerging Student Needs: The Office of DEI is closely tracking some actively-shifting trends we know you are experiencing regarding populations of extremely vulnerable students in your schools: unhoused, immigrant, unaccompanied, and other vulnerable youth.  While these students often do not manifest externalizing behavior challenges, we recognize they have highly specialized needs impacting your school.  We recognize, too, that these students require and deserve immediate care and resources that may be unfamiliar or less accessible to your teams.  

Important Dates

• Feb 8: Deputy Superintendent Hiring Day
• Feb. 8: Lunar New Year celebration/AAPI Family Night–Pilot Butte Middle School, 5:30
• Feb 13: ICCL/Admin training 3:00-5:00—will be in your building with your team only. You will receive the information to unpack with your team for this.
• Feb 13: Elk Meadow Principal Hiring Day
• Feb 14: North Star Principal Hiring Day
• Feb. 15: School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
• Feb 15: Jewell Principal Hiring Day
• Feb 16: Bear Creek Principal Hiring Day
• Feb 21: Admin PD at Perseverance Hall at BSH–3:00-4:30
• Feb 27: 3:00-5:00. Elementary Leadership, at North Star Elementary
• Mar. 1: Education Foundation Grants are due: www.blpedfoundation.org

And finally…the February Drawing Challenge! Can you take a couple of mindful minutes each day to draw the daily item? Go for it!