Week at a Glance

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday: Staff Meeting @ 2:30 (Media Center); Admin PLC @ 3:30 (Media Center)
• Tuesday: American Fidelity @ 1:00-4:00 (Staff Room)
• Wednesday:  Lava Care Team Meeting @ 8:00 (C5); Lion Pride Drawings @ Lunches; EA Meeting @ 1:00 (C5); SIW: Teacher Discretion Time
• Thursday:  1^st MTSS (C5) & Staff @ Lava Teams

We’re planning to announce the Lion Dash classroom fundraising totals on Monday, really! PTO is computing the average amount raised by student per class, to eliminate the impact class sizes can have on the amount of money classes are able to raise, and asked if we could wait until Monday to announce.

Heads up…Spring DIBELS is Thursday, May 21st. We’ll have a schedule to you by Tuesday of that week.

Got hidden treasures from your classroom or work area that you are ready to gift to others? Consider taking a picture of the treasures, emailing it to those you think might be interested, and inviting them to your classroom or area. Also, if you’re planning a year-end purge of paper items, consider beginning this early, as recycling container space tends to be more limited the last weeks of school.

Todd Wells from American Fidelity will be @ Lava Ridge ES Tuesday, May 12^th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and again on Monday, June 1^st from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Employees who would like to review their current elections, consider making changes, or learn more about the benefits available through Section 125 can may schedule an appointment here: American Fidelity Appointments

Staff Room Tidy Team: 3rd Grade Team

Next Week is a B week

Happy Staff Appreciation Week!

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Wednesday:  SIW: QPR Suicide Prevention Training* @ 1:45 (Media Center)
• Thursday: Walk and Roll to School Day;  2^nd MTSS (C5) & K-1^st, 3^rd-5^th PLC @ 2:30; Incoming Kindergarten Open House @ 6:00
• Friday: Dress Up Day: Twin Day/Twin with your Teacher; Time and Leave Sheets Due; Final Discretionary Spending Day

*Every three years, staff in Bend-La Pine are trained on the Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention protocols. In the event you are not able to attend or are not comfortable attending, please let me know.

Many of our 3rd-5th graders will begin state testing Monday. Thank you for keeping this on your radar as students work or complete activities in the neighborhood common areas.

The Waypoints Summative Assessment is available. Thank you for having your class complete this measure by May 22nd. Here is a recap of the logistics for 3rd – 5th .

When we have potentially unhealthy air quality we keep a close eye on the EPA Fire and Smoke Map, nose and eye on the current real-time conditions at Lava Ridge (there can be big differences between the readings we might see on an app, even in “real time”!) and make the safest decision we can with the given information. Below are the numerical guidelines used in Bend La Pine to make decisions when the conditions are questionable. In the event you have a student whose preference or need is to stay inside, we always have space available for them in the office.

• AQI levels 101 – 150 – administrators discretion to move activities inside – “OK” to be outside but consider alternative indoor activities for students with sensitivity to air pollution.
• AQI levels 151 – 200 – strongly consider moving students indoors – still administrators’ discretion 
• AQI levels 201 & above – move all activities indoors

Staff Room Tidy Team: 3rd Grade Team

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Tuesday:   Lion Dash Meeting @ 2:30 (C5)
• Wednesday:  Spring Pictures; Lava Care Team Meeting @ 8:00 (A3); SIW- Teacher Discretion Time
• Thursday:  Lion Dash @ 1:30 (loading @ 1:15); No PM Meetings
• Friday:  Lion Pride Drawings @ Lunches

Staff Room Tidy Team: 2nd Grade Team

Next Week is a B week

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