Week at a Glance

It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week!

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Tuesday:   Volunteer Pit-Stop 9:30-1:30 (Office)
• Wednesday:  SIW- YouthTruth Reflection & Lion Dash Preview* @ 1:45 (Media Center)
• Thursday:  No PM Meetings;  Showcase @ 5:30-7:00
• Friday:  1^st Grade Drama Performance for Families @ 9:30 (Eagle’s Nest Commons); Welcome Back Video @ 2:30 (Media Center)

*We are planning for all certified staff to attend this SIW. If you are already booked for a different meeting, just let me know. Thank you!

On Monday, families will receive a link to RSVP for the Lion Dash (April 30 @ 1:30) if they are interested in attending. Kim and Kina will be tracking RSVPs and plan to print off visitor badges in advance for those who RSVP, have used Raptor this year, and bring their ID the day of the event.

Here’s one for you…on Friday we will be filming a video for the Bend-La Pine Welcome Back in September! Didn’t expect that, huh?! 🙂 This year the district will not be trying to connect with schools virtually for the 10-15 second welcome back videos (think connectivity issues from years past) and instead are asking each site to film a video by mid-June that can be shown during the Welcome Back. With your superior past performances, Becca Burda asked if we would be game to record ours early as an example for other schools. 🙂 So, here’s the scoop-on Friday @ 2:30 we’ll meet in the Media Center, go over some quick directions and film our video. Please wear your staff tie die shirt, bring sunglasses, and wear or bring something that is summer-like (a hat, Hawaiian shirt) .

Staff Room Tidy Team: 1st Grade Team

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:    

• Wednesday:  Care Team Meeting @ 8:00 (A3); SIW- Educator Network Day
• Thursday: Lion Pride Drawing @ Lunches;  MTSS 3rd (C5) & PTO Meeting-1 team member grades K-2^nd & 4^th – 5^th, Thank you! @ 2:30 (Media Center)*

*Some of the PTO Meeting will be a work session for families and staff only need to attend for the first 20 minutes

As part of the Bend La Pine Schools benefits program, American Fidelity serves as Bend-La Pine Schools’ Section 125 plan provider. A Section 125 plan allows employees to pay for certain benefits with pre-tax dollars, which can help reduce taxable income.  Enrollment for the 2026-27 plan year (10/1/2026 – 9/30/2027) began, Monday, March 30.

Todd Wells will be @ Lava Ridge ES on Tuesday 5/12 and Monday, Jun 1.: If you would like to schedule an individual enrollment appointment, please use this link: 

PTO continues to have “wishlists” available for families to support and will deliver items in the coming weeks.

Staff Room Tidy Team: Kinder Team

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Staff Meeting @ 2:30 (Media Center)
• Wednesday:  Kindness Assembly @ 12:00 (loading @ 11:57); SIW- Teacher Directed Time
• Thursday: Safety Snack Celebration @ 8:30 (B1); MTSS 4^th (C5), PLC: K-3^rd & 5^th @ 2:30
• Friday:  Leave Sheets Due

We’re planning to have lunch outside on Monday…and as many days as possible this spring! During Monday morning meetings, please review the Outside Lunch Expectations with your class. Thank you! With students able to choose who they sit by when we eat outside, we’re going to pause Fun Friday’s until January 2027.

At the recent Safety Team Meeting, we discussed safety related to the spring and warming weather, below is a list of items for your radar:

• Bee stings- Thank you for having an epipen with you on field trips and knowing the signs/symptoms of allergic reactions to stings.  
• Sun Protection-Hats and Sunscreen can be great for prevention.  Sunscreen is treated similarly to other medications in Bend-La Pine with families needing to fill out an authorization for medication distribution form for a student to apply during the day at school.  There is no paperwork required for good ol’ wide rim hats. 
• Spring/Warm Weather Recess Items:  We have lots of fun options at Lava Ridge for students to play with and we ask that students not bring baseballs, softballs, and frisbees to recess.

From Kinsey Martin: 2026’s Day of Silence is Friday, April 10.  You will may have students observing this day.  Students have the right to express themselves (including through silence, in this case) as long as it is done in an orderly and non-disruptive manner—see related policy.  Thank you for accommodating your participating students by:

• Planning nonverbal or written options for class participation that day
• Letting substitutes know to be prepared to accommodate students as well
• Learning about the day and its significance to your students
• Promptly interrupting and reporting any harassment or bias incidents

Staff Room Tidy Team: Office Crew

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Wednesday:  Care Team Meeting @ 8:00 (Den); SIW: K-2^nd Literacy  Focus and Team Time; 3^rd – 5^th State Testing Training @ 1:45 (Media Center)
• Thursday: PTO Meeting-1 team member per grade K-4^th to attend. Thank you! @ 2:30 (Media Center); 5^th MTSS @ 2:30 (C5)

We will be announcing Character Trait Awards for Safety on the announcements beginning Tuesday.

Ariah Waller will be substituting for Liz Johnson for the remainder of the school year while Liz Johnson is on leave. As many of you know, Ariah interned with Jen Hamilton during 2024-25 and has been substituting this school year.

From Tami Pike, Director of Student Services: In your mailbox are some new High Speed Hand Washing signs for the sinks in your classroom.

The Lava Ridge staff were asked, “If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would you choose?”…

• Can’t think of a person, but I’d switch with my cat 😉
• Oprah
• National Geographic Photographer in the Arctic!
• Someone that is very musically talented
• My fluffy cat
• A hummingbird
• Yungblud
• Lainey Wilson
• Someone whose on a relaxing vacation
• Tommy Emmanuel
• Trump. I would do so many things in a day, and then resign.
• Someone filthy rich
• My cat
• Anyone in Heaven, so I could visit people I miss and question people and get answers to unsolved mysteries.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  EA Team

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Monday: The Book Fair begins!
• Wednesday: Work in Classrooms 7:15-3:15; Conferences 3:15-7:15 (Dinner provided by PTO @ 2:00 in the Staff Room)
• Thursday: Conferences 7:15-7:15 (Dinner: Pizza @ 2:00 in the Staff Room)
• Friday: Enjoy!

Thank you for participating in the recent, Oreo Taste Off! Here are the final results:

• 1^st place: Toffee Crunch
• 2^nd place: Mint
• 3^rd place: Original

This week we received our initial staffing numbers for next school year. We will be working through a draft plan in the coming weeks and will be asking for input into grade level teaching preferences soon.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  Specials Team

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Staff Meeting @ 2:30 (Media Center)
• Wednesday:  EA Meeting @ 1:00 (A6);  SIW- Teacher Work Time
• Thursday: Lion Pride Drawing @ Lunches; Lava Teams @ 2:30

Congratulations to Alisha Clawson, Sarah Kamasz, Sara Blanchard and Megan Williams, all winners in the Inspiring Displays Contest in honor of Black History Month! These classrooms will be celebrating in the coming weeks with prizes from the Advocacy Team.

We need your help in selecting a Certified and Support Staff member from Lava Ridge for the Bend-La Pine Schools, Excellence in Education award. This honor is designed to recognize BLS employees who have distinguished themselves during the 2025-26 school year with their leadership, innovation, outstanding professional practice, and positive contributions at work and in the community.  Thank you for submitting your nominations by March 17th.

Excellence in Education Nomination Form

Principals received this Conference Information for Teachers document. Please let me know if you have any questions and if Laci or I can assist in anyway.

A Summit High School student, Nia Sirstins, has reached out to see if any staff members are interested in participating in an AP research project on mandatory reporting. She’s looking for people who would complete a 15 minute interview (phone or in-person) on these questions. She can be reached at [email protected]

Staff Room Tidy Team:  5th Grade Team

Next Week is an A week

Happy Classified Employee and SSC Appreciation Week!

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  ICCL Meeting @ 2:30 (C5)  
• Tuesday:  Sibling Conference Scheduling @ 2:30 (Media Center)
• Wednesday:  Care Team Meeting @ 8:00 (A3); SIW- Educator Network Day
• Thursday: Math Core Effectiveness PLC Meetings K-5^th @ 2:30 (Media Center)

We’ve budgeted $100 per grade level for any expenses teams might incur as you begin to think through the Lava Ridge Showcase (April 24; 5:30-7:00) The format and focus for the Showcase is the same as last year. This is a drop-in event for families to spend about 10-15 minutes in our classrooms experiencing/learning more about what their child’s day is like. During this time students might share work samples with families, experience a math center, navigate a scavenger hunt in the classroom, it’s up to you!  

Madison Mooney is beginning a leave for the remainder of the year on Monday. Congratulations in advance, Madison!

On Tuesday, Matthew is launching a 5th grade after school group, the Mallet Masters. This group will be meeting every Tuesday and Thursday for 30 minutes to further build their marimba skills. The Mallet Masters will be performing at Promotion in June.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  4th Grade Team

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  ICCL Meeting @ 2:30 (C5)   
• Tuesday:  SVMS Band, Choir, Orchestra & 5^th grade @ 1:15 (gym)
• Wednesday:  SIW-OT Supports with Sarah Belanger & News from K-2^nd Literacy Team
• Thursday: Lion Pride Drawings @ Lunches; MTSS: K (C5), PLC: K, 1^st -5^th @ 2:30

We will be announcing Character Trait Awards for Safety on the announcements beginning Tuesday.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  3^rd Grade Team

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Enjoy!   
• Tuesday: K-2 Literacy Team (A3)
• Wednesday:  Care Team Meeting @ 8:00 (Den); SRO Fun Activities @ Lunches; Regular ED EA Meeting @ 1:00 (A6); SIW-Teacher Discretionary Time
• Thursday: MTSS: 1^st (C5)  PLC: K, 2^nd-5^th @ 2:30

Thank you for letting me know if you would be interested in being part of the Lion Dash planning team.

Notes for you about March Conferences

-On Tuesday, we’re planning to send home conference scheduling sheets to families. You’ll find these in your mailbox in the morning.

–Sibling Conference scheduling is March 3rd @ 2:30 (Media Center). Thank you for waiting to schedule conferences until after this event.

-Wednesday we included this conference information in the newsletter. Please let Laci or I know if we can provide any support with questions/issues that may arise.

-Below is a is a mutually developed message from Bend-La Pine and BEA that principals have been asked to share about conferences:

If a family requests a virtual or phone format for their conference, please honor this request.  Here are some details for you and the why behind it:

Our expectation is that teachers reasonably accommodate individual requests for need-based circumstances.  However, if the request is due to vacation, leisure travel, or related discretionary activities that the family chose to take during conferences, you are not required to honor a modified format request.  If you feel a family is making an unreasonable request or the request unfairly burdens your time, contact your admin team for support.

A family might request a modified format due to illness, lack of transportation, lack of safety being in public spaces right now, or other personal reasons.  Families are not required to disclose personal details of their circumstances in order to access a phone or virtual option. 

Staff Room Tidy Team:  2nd Grade Team

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Staff Meeting @ 2:30 (Media Center)  
• Tuesday: Dental Screening Follow-up Day (A3)
• Wednesday:  SIW-Core Effectiveness/SLGG Meetings or Time to Meet with EAs/Plan Reading @ 1:45 (Media Center)
• Thursday: MTSS: 2^nd (C5)  PLC: K-1, 3rd-5^th @ 2:30
• Friday: Dress-Up Day:  Fancy Day!

When asked, “What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?” Our awesome staff said…

• I’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive and dive in Belize or somewhere in the Caribbean. It’s not too late!!
• Retire
• Hike the PCT.
• Travel the world
• See Lady Gaga Live
• Travel to Greece
• Skydiving
• See Machu Picchu
• I have always wanted to travel to Australia and New Zealand.
• Go to Greece
• Take a trip to Nashville.. I love country music!
• I’ve always wanted to go to Dollywood and the Smokey Mountains. Someday!
• Travel to Europe
• Travel to Asia
• Follow college football game day and stay to watch the games.
• Retire
• Visit a foreign country
• Write a book
• Ski in Japan!
• A week-long yoga retreat somewhere fabulous
• Some portion of the PCT

Staff Room Tidy Team:  1^st Grade Team

Next Week is an A week