TO DO:
Please add a Leadership meeting to your calendar for Jan. 13 at 3:15pm. The focus of this meeting will be on our district’s investment priorities.
Please get your notes from your Excellence and Equity listening session to LORA by November 14. Thank you for taking the time to facilitate this important exercise!
Here is an important message from Dave Van Loo about our Opt-Out process:
- Schools need to distribute the attached statewide notices (English version and Spanish version) and opt-out forms in English and Spanish through their “regular communication channels” by December 8, 2019. Appropriate communication methods do include electronically distributing the forms or links to the forms posted on district/school websites.
- Principals also will sign and distribute this letter we used last year.
- In all communication related to opt-outs, it is critical that parents are engaged in the communication and that non-adult students are not subjected to undue influence by educators or staff during working hours. Principals need to ensure all staff understands what types of communication have been deemed inappropriate by the state. Inappropriate communication would include:
- Making repeated announcements to non-adult students (e.g., over school intercom systems, assemblies) during working hours reminding students to pick up ODE’s opt-out form
- Initiating a discussion of ODE’s opt-out form or process with non-adult students during working hours
- Repeatedly reminding non-adult students to submit ODE’s opt-out form during working hours
- Encouraging students to submit ODE’s opt-out form during working hours
- All student opt-outs again need to be entered into the district’s Google form for tracking opt-outs http://bit.ly/BLPoptout1920
- The opt-out forms apply only to ELA and Math. Exemptions for all other state assessments require parents to submit a written request based on disability or religion. Those students are tracked here http://bit.ly/BLPelpascience1920
Information:
This article from Education Week highlights equity concerns about our current grading practices. Consider sharing this with your teachers as we continue to reflect on our current practices.
Here is an important message from Whitney Schumacher from DCHS: Please help us promote the upcoming event, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on Saturday, November 23rd. This event is for anyone that has lost a loved one to suicide. Details and registration information can be found at https://preventsuicideco.org/events/international-survivors-of-suicide-loss-day/. You can also reference this FLIER.
Any questions about this event can be directed to Cassidy Brewin, Deschutes County Suicide Prevention Project Coordinator, at [email protected].
Consider nominating a student for the US Presidential Scholars Program! Nominations are due Nov 20.
Please see an upcoming free training below and attached around “Compassionate Conversation: Practical, empathy-based tools to work with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental illness, and trauma”. This workshop takes place on 11.13.19 from 2-5pm in Bend. All are welcome but please RSVP at: [email protected]
We recently updated two Board Policies that are posted on our website: AC-AP (Non-Discrimination) and AC-AR (Discrimination Complaint Procedure). Please review/use AC-AR when processing any future complaints connected to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, menacing, hazing, teen dating violence, and sexual conduct.
Calendar:
Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday… don’t forget to “fall back” an hour.
Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11… and there is no school that day.
Bend LaPine Area Change Committee (BACC) Meeting Nov. 13 at 7:30 @Ed Center Room 312- Committee members, bring the students you would like to discuss to this meeting.
HS Admin Meeting @ MVHS, Nov 18 7:00am (discuss Chapters 4-6 in The Culture Code.