Week at a Glance

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

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  Welcome back Grace! ICCL Meeting @ 2:30 in C5
• Tuesday:  K-2 Literacy Team in C3; Karen Rush Site Visit @ 9:30
• Wednesday:  SST @ 8:00 in C5; OBOB Pizza Party @ Media Center (lunches); Elementary Safety Cadre @ 1:30 (Silver Rail); SIW-Educator Network Day Part II @ 1:45 (Media Center)
• Thursday: 5^th MTSS in C5 & K-4^th PLC Meeting @ 2:30
• Friday:  Mismatch/Mustache Dress Up Day

We will be announcing Kindness awards on the announcements Tuesday-Friday

This week we will announce the March recipients of the Recess Awards. The outside supervision team will be selecting students monthly for this honor and we will recognize recipients on the announcements. This month students are being selected for kindness on the playground.

Special Programs has started Learning Specialist interviews for next year. These are group interviews and we are one of the schools participating. This position will fill the vacancy from Sara Towne’s resignation. KC Weary, who begins on April 2nd, will serve in this role temporarily for the remainder of the year.

Lava Ridge recently received a generous donation of snacks! These snacks, along with mustaches for next Friday, will be arriving in your classroom soon.

This week the Maintenance Department installed a keyless entry access point at the bus entrance. We are waiting for more details on when staff will be able to use this entry system.

Last call! 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 2024-25 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.

Nomination for Certified Staff Member

Nomination for Support Staff Member

Staff Room Tidy Team:  5^th grade

Next Week is a B week

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:  

• Monday:  5^th grade forecasting with Skv View @ 10:00 (Friendship Mountain Commons) TAG Meeting @ 3:45 @ Ed Center
• Wednesday:  EA Meeting @ 10:30 in A6; Sped EA Meeting @ 1:00 in A1; SIW-Educator Network Day @ 1:45 (Media Center)
• Thursday: Dr. Cook Virtual Meeting @ 3:05; Open House for 5^th grade families at Sky View @ 6:00

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 2024-25 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.

Nomination for Certified Staff Member

Nomination for Support Staff Member

From Instructional Technology, Tracy Howk and Robbie Faith: Students in grades K-8 will now find a new icon on their iPad home screen directing them to the research databases hosted on our media center websites. Utilizing carefully curated research databases, instead of generic search engines, is crucial for fostering responsible information-seeking in the vast sea of online resources. Check out Quick Access to Safe and Reliable Research for more information. If you’d like support with research projects in your classrooms, please reach out to your instructional coach or our instructional technology team, Robbie Faith and Tracy Howk.

You’ve been granted a one-way ticket to another country of your choice. Where are you going?

• Italy (listed by 3 people)
• Greece (listed by 2 people)
• Israel
• Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
• Thailand
• Ireland/Scotland
• Spain
• Bora Bora
• Australia
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Ireland
• Norway sounds nice – or maybe Ireland
• Mexico
• New Zealand

Staff Room Tidy Team:  4^th grade

Next Week is an A week

Thank you Classified Staff for all of your hard work! You are the best!

Happenings Next Week at Lava Ridge:

• Tuesday:  Sky View Music & 5^th grade @ 1:20-2:00 (gym); Staff Meeting @ 2:30 in the Media Center
• Wednesday:  SST Meeting in C5 @ 8:00; SIW-Work in Classrooms; Lava Ridge Showcase @ 5:00-6:30
• Thursday: Lava Team Meetings @ 2:30
• Friday:  EL Learning Walks with Lindsley AM; Deschutes Brewery PD Session @ 4:00

Thank you for welcoming the team that is updating the fire alarm system. When we are fully integrated to the new system (likely, post-Spring Break) we can expect:

• A voice evacuation message first in English and then in Spanish with no more industrial-strobe sound 🙂
• Less pull stations. There will be one in the office and by Mike’s work area. The new system will have improved detection which warrants less pull stations, and the reality is they’re often pulled by mistake (costs district $$$)
• New panel – any fire alarm company can work on the alarms in the future, non proprietary brand (current brand is specific and outdated)

From Director of Multilingual Services -Liza Huet: SIGN UP HERE. *Space is limited

From Information Technology – Scott McDonald: Help us to keep our organization and personal data safe.  Email phishing and scams continues to be our number one threat.  And lately, the bad guys have been busy. Please remember:

Report any suspicious email message– Use the “Phish Alert” button in Microsoft Outlook to flag any suspicious message.  Of course, do not click any links in the email before reporting!

Note External Messages– Along with the yellow banner, you will now see the label “External” beside any message that is not from a Bend-La Pine user. In some cases, you may  also see additional information about the sender.

Only use Microsoft Outlook!-The security features that we invest in and maintain as a district are only available on Microsoft Outlook mail clients and tools.  Please do not add your work email to any other mail application (examples include Apple Mail, Gmail, etc.).

A reminder that on Thursday, March 13, Superintendent Cook will be hosting 30-minute virtual meetings that are open to all District employees (times below)

Dr. Cook will provide updates on bills making their way through the state Legislature and how they could impact our work to build a budget for next school year. He also will touch on directives related to public education coming out of Washington, D.C. Dr. Cook will leave time to answer a few staff questions. PICK YOUR TIME!

• 3:05 to 3:35 p.m. (best for elementary schedules)
• 3:50 to 4:20 p.m. (best for secondary schedules)

Staff Room Tidy Team:  3rd grade

Next Week is a B week