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 28th 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.
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- 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:
- 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!
