Week at a Glance

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Todd Wells (American Fidelity) @ Staff Room; Staff Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Tuesday:  5^th Departs for Camp Tamarack @ 9:00; Kindergarten Promotion* @ 1:15 (North Playground)
• Wednesday:  SIW-Work in Classrooms
• Friday:  5^th returns from Camp Tamarack @ 11:00 ;  High School Grad Walk @ 1:45 (south playground)

*With Kinder Promotion we had to make some changes to recess locations. If you normally supervise 3^rd recess, please join your grade level on the South Playground. Since we will have multiple grades playing together, the more supervision the merrier! Or as we like to say….all hands on deck!

Tuesday June 3rd (PM Recess)

• 12:15-12:30 Kinder and first grade will play together on the South playground.
• 1:00-1:15 4^th grade will play on the South playground (5^th will be gone at Camp Tamarak)
• 1:15-1:30 2^nd/3^rd and the ¾ blend will play together on the South Playground.

Chelsea Peterson will begin substituting for Kenya when her leave begins on Wednesday. Congratulations in advance on the newest member of your family, Mrs. Moses!

We need you! We have three ICCL positions open for the 2025-2027 school years! These are two year positions and interested applicants should apply through UKG via the “My Career” tab (once there search for: Lava Ridge ICCL)

From Todd Wells and American Fidelity: The Bend La Pine Schools – American Fidelity Section 125 Benefits Enrollment for the 2025/2026 Plan Year is currently happening. Click the “schedule your appointment” link and select an appointment time at Lava Ridge ES, Monday, June 2, if you are interested.  

Here is the schedule for the Olympics on June 9th. Preps are during the time classes are at the Olympics with all recesses on the South Playground.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  Specials Team   

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Enjoy!
• Wednesday:  Retirement Celebration in the Media Center @ 1:00;  SIW-Class creation @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday: SLGG Focus PLC Meetings (Media Center) @ 2:30
• Friday:  Fancy Dress Up Day!

We need you! We have three ICCL positions open for the 2025-2027 school years! These are two year positions and interested applicants should apply through UKG via the “My Career” tab (once there search for: Lava Ridge ICCL)

On June 6th and June 11th @ 1:45 we will have the annual High School Graduate (6/6) and 5th Promotion (6/11) walks on the South Playground. Similar to last year, let’s plan to line the running club route and cheer on these students.

Thank you for sharing your feedback from the Lion Dash! We met with PTO, discussed these ideas and ways to continue to make this event even better. PTO is planning to make some adjustments for the April 2026 event based off of this feedback.

From Madalyn Paquette, Sustainability Coordinator: Teachers: We are gathering feedback and ideas for the 2025 – 2030 Sustainability Plan and hope you will complete a brief survey by June 16th. Survey for teachers Thank you!

Here are the notes from the recent Climate Team Meeting

From Todd Wells and American Fidelity: The Bend La Pine Schools – American Fidelity Section 125 Benefits Enrollment for the 2025/2026 Plan Year is currently happening. Click the “schedule your appointment” link and select an appointment time at Lava Ridge ES, Monday, June 2, if you are interested.  

Next week is a B week

Staff Room Tidy Team: 5th grade   

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Happy National Speech Pathologist Day, Lacie! Camp Tamarack Med Drop-Off @ 8:00-11:00 in the office
• Tuesday:  DIBELS Day!  Excellence in Education Ceremony @ 4:30 (Mt. View Auditorium)
• Wednesday:  Incoming Kinder Assessments (AM); SIW-Student Placement Cards @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday: Incoming Kinder Assessments (AM); PTO Meeting (Media Center) & Lava Teams @ 2:30
• Friday:  Bucket Dumping Assembly @ 1:30 in the gym (loading at 1:24)

On Tuesday we will be hosting interviews for those elementary schools with open counseling positions for 2025-26. Interviews are scheduled to take place between 9:00-12:30 and in C5.

Thursday is the last PTO Meeting of the Year! In the event a member of your grade level team is not able to attend and share your 1-2 minute grade level update, please send it my way and I’ll share it at the meeting. Thursday is also the final meeting of the year for Lava Teams.

Here’s a draft of the 2025 Lava Ridge Olympics Schedule . The Olympics are on Monday, June 9th.

Heads Up! Our last PLC meetings of the year will be in the Media Center on May 29th from 2:30-3:15 and will focus on year end SLGG reflection. For this meeting you’ll need your computer to access UKG, a copy of your SLGGs, and DIBELS and Wayfinder summative results.

No updates to report on when principals will be able to finalize and communicate teaching assignments and staffing plans for next year. I will share this information with you as soon as I can.

From Human Resources: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Canopy, the district’s Employee Assistance Plan provider, is available to ALL employees. Canopy has free, confidential resources designed to help employees thrive and includes these kinds of services: 

✔ 24/7 Confidential Counseling – provides access to professional, real time, support anytime, anywhere.
✔ Personalized Coaching – offers one-on-one guidance to help you set goals and find balance.
✔ On-Demand Learning – includes webinars, tip sheets, and resources to support your mental wellness. 

Check out this flyer to learn more and find out how to access Canopy’s services.

Here’s what next on our Bucket Lists at Lava Ridge:

• Learning to crochet
• Skiing Mt Shasta
• Too many things to list!
• Sunrise hike at Smith Rocks
• Visit New York and Washington DC
• Warm beach vacation!
• I don’t know about “next” but I’d live to go to the Kentucky Derby someday
• Skydiving
• Going to a Broadway show in NYC in June
• Big family trip to Lego Land or Universal
• I want to travel to Japan!
• Building a deck for a hot tub!
• More travel
• Landscaping our backyard and adding a drip system.
• Nashville to listen to up-and-coming country bands
• Running my first ever full marathon in San Francisco in July

Staff Room Tidy Team: 3^rd grade   

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  ICCL Meeting @ 2:30 in C5
• Tuesday:  Staff Meeting @ 2:30; Camp Tamarack Family Night @ 5:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  SST @ 8:00 in C5; EA Monthly Meeting @ 10:30 & 1:00; SIW-Work in Classrooms  
• Thursday: Lion Pride Drawing @ Lunches; K MTSS, 1^st – 5^th PLC Meetings  @ 2:30
• Friday:  Incoming Kindergarten Transition Meetings @ 12:00-3:00

The Wayfinder Waypoint Summative Assessment is now active! Students can access the questions in the Wayfinder app on their iPad under the To Do List (Instructions for Students) On May 28 during SIW we’ll use this data for a year-end SLGG activity.

Principals have not yet been given the green-light to finalize and communicate teaching assignments and staffing plans for next year. I understand how it can feel to wait for this type of information and I will let you know as soon as I can.

There continues to be a great deal of discussion nationally and locally about screen time and the role devices play in k-12 education. Thank you for being thoughtful with the activities your students use iPads to learn and for keeping it screen-free during free choice activities.

We will not have Walk to Skill groups, May 20-23. After DIBELS (5/20), the EA team will be testing students who were absent and assisting with kindergarten readiness assessments. The last day we will run Walk to Skill groups is June 6th. We are also planning to continue core instruction through this date.

Thank you for letting Kina and Kim know the names of volunteers you may have coming to your classroom/going on field trips, in advance. This helps us in being ready to greet these helpers when they arrive. Also, if you have an interest in hosting visitors in your classroom, they are always welcome! Just connect with me at least a week in advance so we can make adjustments as needed for Raptor usage and be ready to welcome families.

A recycling program for some Bridges items is coming soon! This should begin in the next couple of weeks.

Staff Room Tidy Team: 3^rd grade   

Next Week is a B week

Happy Staff Appreciation Week! It’s going to be a jungle out there!

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Salsa, Chips and Drinks in the Staff Room!
• Tuesday:  PTO Coffee Cart (for you!) in the Staff Room 7:00-9:00
• Wednesday: Walk and Roll to School Day (student meet-up @ Rockridge Park, 7:15);  CPI Training for new Special Programs Staff; SIW-Youth Truth Data Discussion and Next Steps @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday: 1^st grade MTSS, K, 2, 3-5^th PLC Meetings @ 2:30
• Friday:  Time/Leave Sheets Due

Here is the policy we discussed on Wednesday on teaching controversial topics. In the event you are planning to teach or discuss content that falls into this category, please let me know and we can work through the communication and planning steps together.

It’s state testing season! Below are a couple of items to keep in mind:

• Thank you for encouraging your students to be especially quiet in the neighborhoods during testing sessions.
• On Monday, Little Buddy teachers will receive the motivational cards for Big Buddy classes that we discussed on Wednesday. Please connect with your buddy class to discuss how/when you would like to deliver these. There are up to 6 items that can be given over the course of state testing.

Exciting news! Next year, we will have a full-time counselor! Jennifer Hauth, Director of Social Emotional Learning & Mental Wellness, will be facilitating interviews for schools with openings over the next several weeks. I’ll keep you posted as plans develop.

Wayfinder activity highlights for the week from Jenny White:

 Kindergarten: Secret Spyglass – Students practice thinking about the future and share their hopes with each other.

1st grade: Big Mistake – Students listen to the story Regina’s Big Mistake, by Marissa Moss, and identify and celebrate areas of learning where they might make mistakes.

2nd grade: Cars that Can’t See – Students explore trusting someone while navigating uncertainty through an embodied partner activity.

3rd grade: Someone I Trust – Students engage in a visualization about the experience of feeling safe in a classroom.

4th grade: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words – Students recreate a simple drawing with their eyes closed, relying solely on the descriptions and directions of a partner.

5th grade: I Can’t Believe My Eyes – Students practice paying attention and problem solving by looking at optical illusions.

This document links EL Module 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Wayfinder’s 20 Minute lessons that teach the skills students need and Collections that go with the unit.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  2^nd grade   

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Tuesday:  Lockdown Drill AM; Social Team Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  Spring/5th Personality Pictures; SIW-Educator Network Day II:  Amplify Desmos Math @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday: 2^nd grade MTSS in C5, K, 1, 3-5^th PLC Meetings @ 2:30

Tuesday-Friday will be announcing a round of Safety Trait Awards during the announcements.

This week, Commute Options will be here teaching 4th and 5th graders bike safety and kindergarten and 2nd grade classes pedestrian safety. This is the first of three weeks they will be on campus.

In the event your grade level team has a change in schedule with Walk to Skill (field trips, etc.) please let Kina and I know in advance. This helps in locating students during this time and so schedules can be adjusted for those that support/lead groups. Thank you!

Your Lion Dash feedback is appreciated! If you have any feedback that you would like shared with PTO and haven’t emailed or talked with me or responded to Allison’s email, please do so by Monday. I will accumulate this information and share it with PTO at our monthly meeting.

Here is the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) lockdown lesson to review with students in preparation for the drill on Tuesday

Way to go Mrs. Schendel! Rachel was selected to receive a grant from the University of Oregon that will cover the cost of the coursework and practicum for an ESOL Endorsement. She begins courses this summer with a practicum spring of 2026.

Thank you for your efforts this year teaching Foundational Skills! This is really shaping the future for our students! In the event you have days with schedule changes (field trips, guest speakers, etc) please consider moving this instruction to a different time of the day to maintain the momentum you’ve established.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  1^st grade   

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Tuesday:  Karen Rush/Tammy Doty Site Visit @ 9:30; 4-5th ELL Field Trip to Mountain View @ 10:30-1:30; ICCL Meeting @ Jewell, 3:00-5:00
• Wednesday:  SIW-Educator Network Day:  Amplify Desmos Math @ 1:45 in the Media Center
• Thursday: Lion Dash @ 1:25;  Lava Teams @ 2:30
• Friday:  Lava Ridge Spirit Day!  Volunteer Pit Stop @ 9:30-1:30 in the Office

Earth Day is April 22nd!! Below are some resources from Jen. The first has information and activities for the classroom and the second is a BINGO activity for Earth Week with a lot of activities for many different ages of students.

https://www.earthday.org/campaign/climate-environmental-literacy/

Bingo

Staff Room Tidy Team:  Kindergarten Team  

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Monday: The Book Fair begins! ICCL Meeting @ 2:30 in C5
• Wednesday: Work in Classrooms 7:15-3:15; Conferences 3:15-7:15 (Dinner provided by PTO @ 2:30 in the Staff Room)
• Thursday: Conferences 7:15-7:15 (Dinner: Pizza @ 2:00 in the Staff Room)
• Friday: Enjoy!

In the TLC Blog this week there is information about summer Amplify Desmos Math trainings. Similar to EL last year, these can be taken during the summer or on August 27th during inservice week. Here is a link with more information: Summer PD Details

Way to be safe and on the news third grade team! KTVZ Train Your Brain @ Lava Ridge

Outside lunch is back! We are planning to eat lunch outside next week and hopefully many more days this spring. On Monday during Morning Meetings will you please re-teach the outside lunch expectations from these slides or using this doc. Thank you!

Robin Sanderson will be on leave beginning April 21st (we will miss you, Robin!) and Emma Hoiness will be serving as the long-term substitute in her room for the remainder of the school year .

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. Thank you!

What spring activities are we looking forward to at Lava Ridge?  

• Working in the yard
• Gardening
• Walking the River Trail
• Spring cleaning and decluttering
• Strolling in the sun
• Gardening
• Going on walks
• Being outside in the sunshine!
• Yard clean up
• Getting my yard and flower beds up and going again.  I can’t wait to hang some flower baskets and get some potted plants out front of my house. 
• Walking on the river trail and getting back on the river to kayak
• Getting the garden sorted out
• Finding Sunshine! =)
• Learning how to garden!

Staff Room Tidy Team:  Office Team

Next Week is an A week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday: Lion Dash Meeting @ 2:30 (Conference Room)
• Tuesday:  Staff Meeting @ 2:30 (Media Center)
• Wednesday:  Safety Kick-Off Assembly @ 8:00 (gym) ; EA Monthly Meeting @ 10:30 (A6); Train Your Brain presentation @ 11:00 (Friendship Mountain Commons); Special ED Team Meeting/Training@ 1:00 (A1); SIW-Work in Classrooms
• Thursday: Lion Pride Drawing @ Lunches; 3^rd MTSS & K-2, 4-5^th PLC Meeting @ 2:30
• Friday:  Leave Sheets due

Next week we are planning to have a fire drill. The team that installed the new alarm and people from the Maintenance Department will be on site during this to make sure the system is operating correctly and to train us on how to operate the system during drills.

We have not yet received our staffing plan for next year. At this point we are projected to have 386 students (this year we were staffed for 421 students) and should have more staffing information in the next couple of weeks.

From TLC: Dyslexia Training Opportunity Central Oregon Dyslexia Conference – May 3,   9am – 3:30pm (Location:  Ridgeview High School) This conference is designed with educators, administrators, and parents in mind, bringing you resources and tools from the International Dyslexia Association and specialists in our community. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what Dyslexia is, experience a simulation putting you in the seat of a child with learning disabilities and take a deeper dive into understanding how to best support these students.  Learn why children struggle with reading and what you can do in the classroom to help!  Teachers – Earn 5.5 Professional Development Units for FREE. No additional paperwork necessary – certificates will be distributed after the event. More information and registration :  https://CentralOregonDyslexiaConference.eventbrite.com. The conference is $12 and includes lunch and snacks. 

Did you see on the LRE Main Calendar on Outlook, that the Lion Dash is on April 24th and the Lava Ridge Olympics are June 9th? In the next couple of days please double check that you are able to see these events and others, as some people have had issues recently viewing this information. If you need any assistance or have questions, please check-in with Kina.

From Human Resources: Contract letters were sent to all licensed employees via UKG and need to be returned no later than April 15. If you have not yet completed yours, please log in to UKG to review and submit your response as soon as possible. Thank you!

Staff Room Tidy Team:  EA Crew

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Tuesday:  Sibling Conference Scheduling @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  SIW-State Testing Training 3^rd-5^th @ 1:45 (Media Center), K-2nd EL, Wayfinder planning time ; Kindergarten Open House Planning @ 2:30 (Tracy’s classroom)
• Thursday: 5^th MTSS & K-4th PLC Meeting @2:30

With Mallory Johnson’s recent resignation, we’ve posted a 6.5 hour inclusion educational assistant position that closes April 2nd. If you have a great candidate in mind, encourage them to apply! 🙂

Heads Up! The team upgrading the fire alarm system will be on site over Spring Break finishing up the project. We anticipate that Monday and Tuesday will be the most impactful of the work days.

Staff Room Tidy Team:  Specials Team

Next Week is an A week