Start Times- Thank you for your work sharing the new start time information with you staff. Please include the following in an upcoming newsletter:
New school start times for 2019-20:
Next fall, elementary schools will start approximately one hour EARLIER. Middle and high schools will start approximately one hour LATER.
Elementary School Hours
Approximately: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Middle and High School Hours
Approximately: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; Wednesdays 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition, Please feel free to distribute this flyer and this Spanish flyer.
Hard copies will be coming later, hopefully in time for conferences.
Bullying- Thank you for all you do to prevent and address bullying in your schools. It is certainly something that is at the forefront of parents’, students’, schools’ and society’s thoughts. Please be intentional about your thoughts and actions around this topic. It is challenging and important and sometimes misunderstood, but we want to be certain that we are ahead of the game rather than reacting. In the coming weeks, I will be providing some questions/thoughts aimed at helping us all articulate and refine how we deal with and discuss this issue with students, parents and staff. Once again, I know you are spending a lot of time on this, and I understand and appreciate your work on it.
Active Threat Training Opportunity- From Julianne: Please make time to join Bend Police and Bend Fire professionals, in partnership with 9-1-1 and other first responding agencies to crisis situations, for an active threat training on November 13, 14, 15 or 19 at Elk Meadow Elementary School from 7-10 p.m. nightly. We are looking for approximately 40 “players” for each night’s training. Participants will see first-hand how emergency personnel respond to active threats in schools in several live scenarios throughout the evening. Participants will implement procedures they’ve learned during their own school trainings as controlled scenarios play out in front of them.
RSVP https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMG9LKK
You are welcome to share this invitation with staff members. Further information regarding this training will be emailed to participants in early November. We will keep families updated with new information throughout the year. Learn more athttp://bit.ly/BLSstartimes
Final Thoughts- One of my favorite activities is following the sports of track and field, cross country, and running in general. The University of Oregon is to track and field what Hollywood is to movie making and Wall Street is to finance. Running track and field at the University of Oregon is a dream for most every high school runner, yet only the elite, the best of the best, ever get an opportunity to run at Oregon. In the same way, every college runner’s dream is to sign a professional contract with a shoe company like Nike, Adidas or Brooks. Outside of making an Olympic team or World Championship team, signing a professional contract with a shoe company is the pinnacle of the sport. At the University of Oregon, for those who love running but aren’t one of the elite few to make the team, students have the opportunity to join the running club. Below is a video of University of Oregon student, Justin Gallegos. Justin has Cerebral Palsy. Justin loves to run and has dedicated himself to pursue his goals and passion for running, even if he will never run for Oregon or make an Olympic team. Justin is proof that when you work your hardest at something you love, good things happen. If you haven’t already (or even if you have-I’ve watched it five times and it’s still super dusty in my office) seen this video, it is well worth the 2:36.
We are fortunate to have a job where everyday we get to be a part of helping students find and pursue their passion. Thanks for helping your students’ dreams come true.
Have a fantastic weekend.