To Do:

• Please make sure that all ACR-related student enrollment moves (releasing and receiving students at your school) are completed no later than March 17.  This will allow us time to formalize and send you all next year’s staffing plans by March 24.  Let me know if you have any questions about this.
• Consider sending someone on your staff to a free Dr. Kevin Feldman training on improving adolescent (MS) literacy on March 14 in Eugene.  Travel and any meals costs would be the responsibility of your building.
• Younity, a local group whose vision is to bring bully-prevention programs and workshops to Central Oregon schools.  Their co-founder, Arlene Gibson, recently reached out to us to see what can be done to support this work in Bend-La Pine Schools.  Some of you are aware of this work and have partnered with Younity already, while others of you likely have not. They provide resources for activities such as Challenge Day, teacher and/or student trainings, workshops and assemblies.  If interested in learning more check out their website or pass along to your counselor.

This and That:

• Last Thursday evening we held what was likely our first district-wide evening event for our Latino parents and families. It was a pretty good turnout of parents and Steve and his staff at PBMS did a wonderful job of hosting.  What I want to spend a few minutes communicating this week are two strong messages that I received from the events of that evening.  I was able to join one of three groups of parents as they rotated through three different stations that evening and I want to highlight parent response in two of these. One session spoke of our school choice options, explaining both what these schools offered and the process for application.  As each was discussed – and in turn interpreted in Spanish – parents were attentive.  When one principal who was in attendance, and spoke for himself in fluent Spanish, presented the program at his school the engagement and energy in the room immediately changed.  Parents were taking notes, asking questions and were obviously interested in what was being communicated first-hand in their first language.  This was a great reminder that although we have a desire to include n0n-native English speakers in all programs and activities in our district, we truly do not connect with this minority population until they feel connected.  My thinking of “we are doing OK” reaching out to our Latino community dissolved into “we are nowhere near” where we need to be in providing and servicing our Latino community. The second message, this one pinging my heart more than the first, I received in a session where parents were able to ask any question or share any concern they had about our district.  The topic could be anything – and yet it the theme was the same parent after parent who spoke.  Bullying.  Our kids are different than the majority and other kids at his/her school are harassing them about it.  Of the 25 or so parents in one group I listened to, I can’t recall one who did not mention that their child either had experienced or was experiencing bullying at school.  (I believe the vast majority of parents currently have children in the elementary or middle school level.) In some cases they felt like staff have ignored or not responded appropriately when they were aware of it happening (e.g. “Hey you guys, knock it off”).  Some said they come and spoke with a school administrator, but the bullying persisted and they did not come and communicate it again as they did not feel this attempt toward a solution worked.  Others simply said they did not feel welcome/invited to come to school. It hurt to hear this perception of parents who have kids in our great schools.  I know this would have pained you to hear these stories as well – because I know you desire for all students to feel welcome, safe and accepted at your schools.  This reminded me of the graphic below that not only makes me think – but also is a call to action.  So I ask you each to consider – and discuss with each other when you meet together! – what action you can take in your building in the days/months/years ahead that will remove any unintended systemic barriers for all students to fully access his/her education. (e.g. Hiring a Spanish speaker the next time you have an opening in the office, hosting a celebration or informational evening specifically for minority populations of any kind, providing or supporting cultural awareness trainings for your staff, etc.)  I am proud of the educational experience our students receive at each of our schools and very thankful for your leadership.  I am blessed to work with and for you!

Reminders:

• We have a Leadership meeting Monday afternoon beginning at 3:15 in the Board Room.  A main agenda item for that afternoon will be a discussion about the upcoming budget.
• If you were not aware, Classified Employee Appreciation Week is March 6 – 10.