Week at a Glance

The Menstrual Dignity Act (HB 3294, 2021) created the requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products for all menstruating students in public schools in Oregon. The program was designed to help students participate actively in classes and school activities by alleviating some of the economic strain and experiences of shame that are often barriers for menstruating students accessing their education. Menstrual products are now available for Lava Ridge students in the girls bathroom in Friendship Mountain.

From Sara Swedlund-Thank you everyone for your active participation at last Wednesday’s SIW.  Here is the slideshow for reference going forward. I am available for any follow up coaching to help you meet your goals around using Dreambox (examples: problem solve around one kid, go through reports together to find what best supports your class, team in the moment during your Dreambox time).

A reminder that on January 5th, we will be continuing to work on math intervention in grade level teams. Thank you for giving a screener and entering the results into Forefront before the 1:45-3:15 training.

4th grade EBISS is on Tuesday, January 4th @ 2:30

Here is another cool tech tip from Brad.

When it snows we like to….

• Ski
• Downhill ski !
• Cross Country Ski or take my dogs for a walk in the snow.
• Sit inside with a warm drink and watch it.
• Sit inside near the fire and look at the falling snow.
• Open all my blinds, sip on something hot, watch Hallmark movies and watch the snow fall!
• Cross country ski
• Watch a Hallmark movie
• Snowboard
• Play in it!
• Have hot cocoa by the fireplace and stay in jammies
• Watch my dog play!
• Go snow shoeing
• Sit by the fire and play guitar 🙂
• Put on PJs and watch cheesy holiday movies
• Sledding
• Stay cozy in my sewing room!
• Mt. Bachelor! 🏂

The week of January 3rsd is an A week

Yesterday the ICCL Team met and discussed the two math SIWs we have had this month and what the content area focus should be for the next time we meet together on January 5th. The consensus of the team was to continue with the math standards/intervention work into January to provide more time for teams to work together and practice using the screeners and the intervention resources. The ICCL Team is working to build the agenda for this meeting and ask that by 1/5 everyone has given a screener and entered the results into Forefront. At this meeting we will work together with the information in Forefront.

Below is the 5th grade caroling schedule: 

• Wednesday, December 15^th: 8:05-8:20@Discovery Falls (outside if not cold)  
• Thursday, December 16^th: 8:05-8:25 @Rainbow Valley (inside) 
• Friday, December 3^rd: 8:05-8:25 @Friendship Mountain (inside) 
• Friday, December 17^th: 8:40-8:55 @Eagles Nest (outside if not cold)  

Here are the links to Student Learning Growth Goal forms : Lava Ridge SLGG Form (copies by staff mailboxes too) Bend-La Pine Schools SLGG Form Thank you for signing and returning to my mailbox by December 17.

Here are the notes from the Climate Team Meeting on Monday

A couple of date reminders for next week:

• Tuesday:  5^th grade EBISS
• Wednesday: SIW-Teacher Prep
• Thursday: Cookies, Cocoa, and Coffee @ 2:30 in the Media Center

Interested in setting up an alternate authentication method? Here is a tech tip from Brad to help: Tech Tip

Collecting is a hobby for many at Lava Ridge. Here are some of the things we collect:

• Basketball Cards
• My husband and I collect ornaments/magnets and sometimes sand from the countries/cities we visit!
• When I go to the beach: rocks
• Silipints
• Rocks
• Cameras
• Mason jars for drinking glasses
• Mugs
• Memories
• Nothing right now, but I had an amazing sticker collection when I was little.
• Rocks, concert tickets
• Foreign currency
• Liquor from different countries
• Books
• Used to collect baseball caps
• Antique flywheel engines
• Wood for woodworking
• Rocks and glass blown art

Next week is a B week

There may be times you wish to group same grade-level students from different classes together, inside, for an intervention or activity. In the event you do, here are some to do’s-

• Please let the office know in advance.  This helps with locating students and is important in the event of an emergency.
• Use a seating chart or other system that can be used for potential contact tracing.
• Let families know their child will be in a different classroom and with different students.    

Picture re-takes are Tuesday in A1

Staff Meeting on Tuesday @ 2:30 in the Media Center

School Improvement Wednesday: Math Reengagement Focus with Sara Swedlund, 1:45-3:15 in the Media Center.

Lion Pride Ice Cream drawing on Wednesday

Our next PBIS meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 8th  @ 1:00.  Thank you for having at least one person from your grade level attend. Classified staff are welcome as well! We will be discussing CICO (Check In/ Check Out) for students needing Tier 2 interventions, and the December assembly.

Thank you for your thoughtful planning with the holiday parties and other celebrations you may have in the coming weeks. With Lava Ridge students celebrating a variety of holidays this time of year, some not, and some not able to, your consideration of every student is appreciated. If you need items for parties or activities, feel free to use student body dollars, grade level funds, or classroom discretionary dollars.

Heads Up! Friday, December 17 will be the final day that Nutrition Services will be providing supper/snack for students. The funding Nutrition Services receives is no longer available for this program. Students involved in after school activities (ie. Kids Inc) will still receive a supper. We will be messaging this information to families next week.

Next week is an A week

We are still struggling to fill the two, full-time educational assistant positions we have open. We have not had anyone apply for these jobs so if you know of anyone who might be interested, please encourage them to apply. Thanks to the help and flexibility from a number of people, including some who have adjusted their work hours or are on-call to help with recess/cross-walk duties, we have been able to apply fresh band-aids to this situation daily. I can not thank those of you who have stepped up to assist with these needs enough. Unfortunately this situation has the potential to get worse in December with a member of the EA team on leave and classified subs in scarce supply. With the need to supervise students at recess, this may impact some push-in classroom support. If you are interested in helping with recess duties please let us know.

The building alarm will be on during most of Fall Break. If you plan to be on-site, thank you for entering through the Main Entrance, being ready to disarm the alarm, and signing in on the white board while you are here. Bend Parks and Rec, Operation Recreation, will be in the gym Monday-Wednesday.

​​From Jackie Wilson, Sustainability Coordinator – Here are the Standard Operating Procedures for Holiday Shutdowns.

Please join me in welcoming Israel Tico, our new Family Liaison. Israel is a recent graduate of Bend-La Pine Schools.

Andrea Thompson will be on medical leave during the month of December. Laurie Coffey will serving as the long term substitute in her absence.

From Jennifer Hauth, Director of Social, Emotional and Mental Well-being-Are you currently using social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum or strategies in your classroom? Please take a moment to apply to be on our SEL steering committee by Friday, December 3rd. We are looking for certified, classified and administrators to serve on the team. We will meet monthly beginning in mid-December.

SEL Steering Committee Survey

The Climate Team has decided to combine the November and December meetings and will meet next on December 6th.

School Improvement Wednesday on December 1st will be time for grade level teams to meet and discuss the math standards and Bridges units students will be learning in December/January. The ICCL Team is working on details for this standards-focused day. We will start as a full-certified staff in the Media Center at 1:45.

On Friday, December 3rd, Skip will be on site visiting classrooms with me in the morning.

Technology Support–from Brenna  The instructional technology department has created this easy one-page document, complete with hyperlinks, outlining where to find specific support around technology questions.

Next week is a B week

Here comes the Read-A-thon! This is typically the largest PTO fundraiser of the year and your help communicating and promoting is appreciated! Here are the details from PTO. Flyers to share: #1 #2

College and Career Day 2021-On Friday, November 19th, Bend-La Pine students and staff are encouraged to sport the colors of their favorite college, university, trade school or other post-secondary educational institution as part of the district’s annual College and Career Day.

A reminder that we can only send emails (including Seasaw communication) to parents/guardians with the box, “Mailings Allowed” selected in Synergy. If you receive a request from a family member to be added to your digital communication and are not sure if they are approved to receive mailings (this situation can arise with step-parents) please see Amber. Thank you!

Interested in a movie to raise your spirits? Here is a list of great ones from our staff:

• Big Fish
• Dumb and Dumber
• Nacho Libre
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• Ron’s Gone Wrong
• The Proposal
• Star Wars or Lord of the Rings
• It’s a wonderful life
• Edge of Tomorrow
• Up!
• Any Hallmark movie
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire or Elf
• Bridesmaids 
• Iron Man
• Mary Poppins
• The Breakfast Club
• Any rom-com movie
• Moana
• School of Rock

Next Week is an A Week

Below is the final draft from our “Reimagining” work on Wednesday. Please let me know if you have any additional ideas or revisions.

Our purpose at Lava Ridge is to welcome all students and families:

• We will challenge all students to reach their full academic potential and to become lifelong learners. 
• We will promote a school-wide culture of caring so all students know they belong in our Lava Ridge community. 
• We will value and celebrate all students for their individuality and uniqueness.

Here are details about mini-observations and a preview of the SLGG guidelines for this year. The ICCL Team is working on two SLGGs teachers will be able to adopt if they like. These will be shared in early December.

Thank you to Sara Swedlund for sharing her knowledge of Google Docs with us on Monday. Here is a link to the slides from the presentation.

Heads up…With the shortage of substitutes, we can only approve certified personal days for 5% of our staff daily. This is 1-2 people per day.

Thank you for finishing up your Safe Schools Trainings. The timeline for completion of these was adjusted this year to October 31.

The November PBIS Assembly begins at 8:30 on Wednesday.

SIW Next Week: Tech Focus with Brenna Frost; K-2 @ 1:45-2:30 and 3rd-5th @ 2:30-3:15.

Here is the School Improvement Wednesday schedule from Wednesday. Yesterday the ICCL Team discussed having the Teacher Learning Team (TLT) focus for December be math. We are planning that December 1st will be centered on math standards and December 8th, math intervention.

Next week is a B week

If you’re looking for a Veteran’s Day activity, here is one to consider: Honor Flight of Central Oregon is a local non-profit organization that fly’s WWII, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans to see their memorial in Washington DC.  On the return flight from Washington DC, each Veteran receives a package full of cards and letters to open.  Honor Flight is asking Central Oregon schools for help in preparing letters and cards for Veteran’s. Here is more information

Happenings this week:

• Interested in learning more about Google Docs? Sara Swedlund is hosting an optional training on Monday, November 1st at 2:30-3:15 in the Media Center.
• We will have a MAC Training at the Staff Meeting on Tuesday @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• School Improvement Wednesday @ 1:45-3:15-Finalizing the Reimagining of Lava Ridge + SIW Schedule Updates
• Picture day is Thursday. Thank you for getting your picture taken too. Here is the class picture schedule.

We love the fall at Lava Ridge! Here are some of our favorite things about this time of the year:

• Cool mornings and sweaters
• Cool brisk mornings
• Beautiful colored leaves
• The changing colors
• Wearing warm fancy clothes
• leaves changing
• Colorful leaves
• blankets, fuzzy pajamas, and hot coca
• Sweater weather!
• The weather
• College football
• Pumpkin scented candles!
• The colors in the leaves
• The weather- warm days (usually) and cool nights.
• Apple cider and the pumpkin patch
• Changing leaves
• reading by the fireplace
• OSU football games, fresh hop season, & the changing leaves/weather
• Fall fashion
• Duck Hunting
• The colors
• Sweaters, pumpkin pie and fall leaves
• The beautiful trees in Central Oregon
• Seeing the snow on the mountains

Next week is an A week

At arrival this morning one of our students who is hesitant some days to come into school was having a difficult time transitioning into the building. Three different staff members who were by the Main Entrance, recognized this and all shared words of encouragement and approached him to help him through this challenge. One of these staff members engaged him in a conversation about Mind Craft, offered to walk him to class and off he went down the hall with this person. Now that’s Lava Ridge! 🙂

We received notification from Human Resources that until further notice, Yolanda will not be serving as an educational assistant at Lava Ridge. Yolanda has had such an impact on our school. From her friendly greetings to students crossing Cooley Road in the morning, to her energetic Lava Read groups, and relationships with students, Yolanda has made such a difference at Lava Ridge.

Thank you for giving a copy of your conference schedule to Amber after it is finalized.

We will have our next PBIS meeting on Thursday, October 28th @ 9:00. We would love to have one representative from each grade level if possible (though this is an optional meeting)

It’s not too late to sign-up for the Educational Assistant Seminar. Here again is the flyer.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides services to help people to privately resolve problems that may interfere with work, family, and other important areas of life. This includes counseling, wellness resources, and work-life balance resources. As an OEBB member there is no cost to you or your family. Here is a link to the flyer.

The week of November 1st will be an A week.

Thursday is the first climate meeting of the year. The purpose of this meeting is for a group to meet and discuss what is going well at Lava Ridge, concerns people may have, and review upcoming events. The members of this team are Kirstin Winslow, Miriam Dunn, Lybe and I.

Here’s how it works: On Monday, you will receive an email inviting you to communicate feedback you may have for the two questions below, to either Miriam (classified representative), Kirstin (certified representative), or myself. Feedback can be communicated to any of us and can also be sent to all three. If you choose to participate, know that your name will be kept confidential by the person (or people) receiving the information. 10:00 on Wednesday is the deadline for submitting information for the meeting this month.

1. What is going well at Lava Ridge?
2. What concerns are on your mind?

On Thursday, the Climate Team will meet, discuss, and problem solve the information received, and will send out minutes of the meeting to all staff early the following week.

If you ever have an interest in wearing a KN95 mask (even just temporarily as students are eating) these are available for you in the Main Office.

Thank you for completing Personal Day Forms and arranging for a substitute, as far in advance as possible. Form are available from Miriam.

If the fire drill today were to take place during Lava Read (it won’t), would you know the different adults your students are with? This is great information to keep with your Quick Reference Guide for Emergencies along with a current class list.

Meeting/Event Reminders for Next Week:

• Monday-Sibling conference scheduling at 2:30 in the Media Center
• Tuesday-4th EBISS @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• ICCL Meeting Wedensday @ 1:00
• SIW- Fall Conferences and Reimagining Lava Ridge @ 1:45
• Thursday-Fire Drill

Below are some recommended books from our staff for you-

• Your Name is a Song (children’s read aloud about identity)
• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
• Martin Marten
• The Name of the Wind
• It’s OK to Make Mistakes by Todd Parr (children’s literature)
• The Wait List!
• The Giver of Stars
• The Four Winds
• The Two Most Important Days of Your Life
• The City We Became
• The Book Thief
• How to Stop losing your Sh*t with your Kids
• I am Happy-Sad today
• The Poet

Next week is a B Week

Breaking news! Conferences will be virtual. Families will have the choice of either meeting via Webex or discussing academic progress over the phone. A letter will be sent home next week that will include a way for families to communicate their conference time preference. At this point, Carole is working to schedule ELL conferences and we will schedule sibling conferences the week of October 18th. Thank you for not scheduling any conferences until ELL and sibling conferences have been coordinated. We will be discussing ideas and strategies for virtual Conferences during SIW on October 20th.

In the event a student in your class tests positive for COVID, contact tracers will likely ask if other students were seated within 3 feet of the child for an extended amount of time. Thank you for continuing to keep distancing guidelines in mind with the seating arrangement in your classroom.

Wednesday will be our first virtual assembly ever! Here’s the plan: The assembly will be hosted in Lybe’s Webex room and classes will view the event on screens in classrooms. Please plan to log-in to Lybe’s Webex room before 7:45. We will go over more details at the Staff Meeting on Tuesday. Here is a copy of the draft agenda

Feel free to send the message in italics to families with your Harvest Party communication: We are looking forward to Harvest Parties at the end of the month. For our celebration all current COVID safety protocols will be in place including masking and maintaining 3 feet of distance between students when possible. If your Lion chooses to bring a costume, please remember that for school celebrations, weapons, blood, and overly scary masks are not allowed.

Thank you for signing up for the SIW session you will be attending Wednesday. Registration is through Performance Matters.   The times for the in-person, 2nd-5th sessions, have been adjusted to 2:00-3:15 to provide additional time for travel.

Next Friday, October 15th is the deadline for Education Foundation Classroom Impact Grants. Here is information on the application process. This link will take you to the application.

As the weather turns more fall-like we will be having students eat inside when the temperature is below 45-degrees (or if the outside temp + windchill is below 40) When we need to eat inside we will communicate this over the intercom or to you in-person.

The HDESD, Culture of Care team, is hosting two book studies over the 2021-22 school year for individuals working in education. You may sign up for one or both read alongs. Click here for more information.

Next week is an A week