Golden Eagle Update

Principal’s Intro

Thank you for another great week, team! It was so fun to see many of you at Bend Brewing Company on Thursday. Thank you to our Social Committee for organizing! I can’t wait for our Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday, October 12!

Have an awesome, well-deserved weekend with your families. Enjoy the sun!

Classroom Visits

I dropped into a few classrooms today and loved what I saw. Here are a few common classroom management moves & expectation patterns from the five classrooms I visited this morning:

Verbal Cues: To start the class or transition between activities, folks are using an easy-to-identify, common verbal cue, like “5-4-3-2-1” or “Eyes on Me.”

Visual Instruction Aids: To reiterate task directions, folks are posting the directions or some other element, like a sentence frame, on the board to scaffold the learning process.

Checking for Understanding: Folks are using quick formative assessments to check for task understanding, background knowledge and schema, and whole-group refocusing.

Back to School Night – Wed, Sept 28

Remember we’re trading SIW for Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 28. Here again is the Back to School Night Guide.

Check with your department or grade-level to strategize around common slides. It would be awesome if we used common slides and policies as much as professionally possible. It just makes our job easier and creates a coherent experience for students and families.

Golden Eagle Time

If you’re new, like me, you’ve probably heard of Golden Eagle Time but don’t really know what it is. We are still deciding if and how we will do Golden Eagle Time this year. In order to make the best decision, we’d like your feedback.

Please complete this survey (Golden Eagle Time Survey – Staff Feedback) by Wednesday. I really appreciate it!

From Deb: UKG Project Update & Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

Changes are coming! Please be prepared. All of you have received emails regarding the NEW online time and leave sheet system from Steve Herron and Paul Dean. As explained in this four minute UKG overview video, effective mid-October paper time and leave sheets will no longer be used. It will be the responsibility of each staff member to enter data into the UKG system. It is critical that all staff view training videos in preparation for the big switch UKG mid-October. Here is the second installment of the weekly UKG project update.  This video will provide a 3-minute overview of our implementation and training schedule. Here is the UKG Product Suite link on staff portal for reference.

Staff who have not set up MFA, will not be able to login to UKG and therefore won’t be able to request leaves, submit timesheets and perform other critical tasks. Here is documentation on setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA).  If you encounter problems, you may reach out to the IT Help Desk support (x1200).

From Deb: 2022/23 Club Offerings

Just a reminder to look at Pacific Crest Clubs and update and/or add clubs. We want to roll our Club Offerings out to students and guardians via our September 30th News from the Nest, so please update by then.

Also, keep in mind that students who want to suggest a club that is not on the list are required to complete this Club Application for approval by the principal and then we will add to this club list. You may be having students approaching you to host/advise a club.

From Tami: Classroom Medical Supplies

For those of you who still need to replenish medical supplies in your classroom medical fanny pack and/or orange bucket, email Tami or stop by and see her for these items immediately. These two items should be stocked at all times.

Education Grants

Greetings teachers and staff! WELCOME BACK-TO-SCHOOL! With a brand-new school year, excitement is in the air!  We know our K-12 educators are working hard planning, developing, and executing stellar programs and curriculum for Bend-La Pine students.  To help with that, we are offering our 2022 Back-to-School Classroom Grant opportunity for funding.  Please see the attached Classroom Grant Information and Classroom Grant Application which can also be found on our website.  We understand that the first few weeks of school are busy, so the deadline for applications is Friday, October 15, 2022, and all application requests must be emailed to our office at this address:  [email protected]

For those of you new to Bend-La Pine Schools, the Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools is an independent non-profit 501(c)3 that has aided local schools since 1988.  Our mission is to prepare our students for success and the future through educational and extra-curricular opportunities.  Since 2003, the Education Foundation has invested over $2.1 million into local schools through endowments, special projects, and our main programs.  For more information about the Education Foundation, please visit our website at  www.engagedminds.org.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or our Program Coordinator Jessie Norman at [email protected].  We look forward to receiving your applications and continuing to help make opportunities possible.  

Odette Adair, President, Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools, (541) 355-5660 www.engagedminds.org

Quick Links

• Student Support Form
• Weekly Advisory Planner
• PCMS 2022-23 Campus Map
• 2022-23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Staff Extension List (Confidential list. Do NOT post in classroom viewable by students)
• 2022/23 Student Supplies List
• SIW Calendar 2022-23
• Field Trip Forms
• Volunteers in Classroom/Field Trips Information
• BLS New Staff Portal
• Admin Office Area of Responsibilities
• Secondary Instruction Blog

Intro

Week Two — We made it. I feel so fortunate to be on this team. In our collective ups and downs, we will stick together, grow closer, and do better. Every week we get stronger. We are the truly the best at getting better. Ask yourself how YOU got better this week. Because you did.

Back to School Night

Thank you for trading SIW with Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 28. It’s important our community walks these halls, sits in our classrooms, and learns about you and your learning culture. Here, again, is our Back to School Night Guide to anchor us all as a team.

Grade-Level Socials

I’d love to brainstorm about this. I also want every student to experience these parties. The more I think about doing this after school, the more it feels burdensome, and then our athletes don’t get to participate. I’m thinking of a special schedule, like an assembly or rally schedule, where we end the day (three times a year) with the grade-level party. More to come soon–but feel free to chat me up about this when you see me in the halls.

Hallway Presence

Speaking of hallways, thank you to all of you who consistently step outside your classrooms to monitor our hallways during passing period. It makes a huge difference and calms down our students. I also see them hustling to make it into your room on time. This is a great way to initiate a “warm demander” start to your lesson: I’m greeting with a smile AND I’m expecting you to be in my class before the starting bell.

Visiting Classrooms

I will start classroom walkthroughs next week. Mainly, I approach these with curiosity. I just love being around learning. Soon I will send out a focus for the year, which will come from our district’s standards of practice. I’ll consult first with ICCL to hone in on a good instructional focus for this year.

Optional Meeting Monday Morning

By now, you’re probably not surprised by my stance toward leadership. I like to listen a lot and make decisions collectively (when possible), and I like to iterate so each week is an improvement. When I heard our motto was “the best at getting better,” I knew I landed at the right school. In that spirit, we’ll be hosting an OPTIONAL meeting this Monday morning in the library to discuss moving to two lunches on Wednesdays. We have a draft bell schedule already, along with pros and cons. Before we go live, we want to hear from you. I’m sure you have ideas we haven’t thought of yet.

From Anne-Marie: First Drill of the School Year

Our first fire drill was a success! Thank you. It was evident that you did some pre-teaching and prep work with students beforehand. Students were quiet when exiting the building, walking calmly and orderly. We also appreciated the great communication from our PE teachers regarding their locations, and the status of specific students from office staff. 

Some reminders for next time:

• If you have a prep period during a drill (or real event) please stand off to the side so we are not searching for you in the large group of students.
• Once you have taken attendance outside, please stand at the front of your student line holding your emergency binder so we can find you quickly.
• We will continue to end our drill and come back inside in a staggered fashion. Releasing one teacher/class at a time. 

From Deb: 2022/23 Club Offerings

If you are interested in offering to be a student club advisor during lunch or after school, please take a look at the listing below of clubs that have been offered over the past several years. If you find one that you would like to host, update this form with your name, meeting day, start/end times, location and description. If you do not see a club that you wish to advise feel free to add to this list. Pacific Crest Clubs. We want to roll our Club Offerings out to students and guardians via our September 30th News from the Nest, so please update by then.

Also, keep in mind that students who want to suggest a club that is not on the list are required to complete this Club Application for approval by the principal and then we will add to this club list. You may be having students approaching you to host/advise a club.

From Deb: Student Supplies

Thank you for your patience as we continue to search for, order, and slowly receive supplies that are currently entered on the 2022/23 Student Supplies List, which has been open since last spring. We have temporarily removed editing rights so we can review our process going forward. If you have any immediate needs that are not on this list, please see come see me. You can continue to view updates on this list.

From our Social Committee: Staff Socials

On tap…Family & Partner Friendly Brewery Meetup on Thursday, September 22 at 4:00pm We will meet outside along the river at Bend Brewing Company. Also, begin honing in on your hunting skills because during SIW on October 28 a scavenger hunt is planned for all staff to participate in. More info to follow.

Let’s make social planning a collaborative effort. What floats your boat? Anyone can share their desires for socials throughout the year. Contact Deb and/or Deidre with your suggestions. Click here to see what is coming up and how the brainstorming is coming along.

Also, along the same lines as getting to know one another with socials, please fill out “What I Like” form which will come in handy as the year progresses. This is totally optional of course.

Quick Links

• PCMS 2022-23 Campus Map
• 2022-23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Staff Extension List (Confidential list. Do NOT post in classroom viewable by students)
• 2022/23 Student Supplies List
• SIW Calendar 2022-23
• Field Trip Forms
• Volunteers in Classroom/Field Trips Information
• BLS New Staff Portal
• Admin Office Area of Responsibilities

Principal’s Intro

YES! We made it through our first week! I’m so excited to be on this journey with all of you. Thank you for the pom-pom gauntlet, standing outside your doors during passing periods, and for making your classrooms a warm (and demanding) place for learning. Remember the 4-to-1 ratio! (Here’s the 9-minute video we watched.)

Attendance

On the first day, we took attendance for 98% of all our classes. That is awesome! Of course, we need 100% compliance–and we will get there. Remember to take attendance for every class every day.

8:40 AM vs. 8:45 AM

After two days, it’s clear we need to make a change. We had many first-period tardies. A lot of those late students were fussing with their lockers and then running to class. Of course, many students still need practice opening their lockers. But 5 minutes is not a lot of time for all of our students to enter the building, go to their lockers, and make it to class before the bell rings. We’ve spoke to many of you already, and we’ve received overwhelming support to let students enter the main hallway at 8:40 AM instead of 8:45 AM. Please come speak with us if you have questions or comments about this change.

All School Photo Day…this Monday!

Every year our desire is to enjoy a peaceful and smooth photo day and to keep classroom disruptions to a minimum. Take a moment to review the schedule which includes the timeframe for staff photos, but know that staff can “take cuts” in the photo line anytime. The schedule has more info than you need, which is primarily for our four parent volunteers who are helping throughout the day. Please ask your student to respect our volunteers and photographers and to follow their instructions. If you see any glaring issues with the schedule, please contact Deb.

First SIW (School Improvement Wed) Next Week

Next week we’ll meet for our first SIW (teachers only). We’ll meet in the library at 2:30 PM. Here’s our schedule for SIW’s this year. (Please bookmark!) This is a living document, so we’ll change it to fit our needs as the year progresses. Please bring your laptops to SIW.

Back to School Night

Back to School Night is Wednesday, September 28. This will be an old-fashioned Back to School Night where we walk parents and guardians through “a day in the life of your student.” We’re asking everyone to be there, and, in return, we’re making the SIW that same day optional. (You’ll see this note on our SIW Schedule.) Next week, we will send you a Back to School Night guide to help you plan.

Proficiency Levels (0-4 Scale)

Steven Duval recently sent us some more grading resources. Mostly, it’s stuff we’ve already covered, but it’s still good to read again. You’ll find these in our shared Grading Resources folder (Shared Drives>PCMS 2022-23>Grading Resources). One key thing to note: We’re using “Advanced (4/A), Proficient (3/B), Developing (2/C), Beginning (1/D), Missing or Incomplete (0/F)” for our level descriptors. Let’s all use the same descriptors, just like we’re all using the same 0-4 scale. This will make things easier for all of us.

Student Support Form

Please remember to fill out a Student Support Form when there’s a student we need to keep an eye on. This goes for behavior, academics, and social emotional concerns as well. Dan is working on a spreadsheet, which we’ll share soon, that will display all our our relevant data and interventions. We will use this sheet to organize both our grade-level and our content-level work.

Quick Links

• PCMS 2022-23 Campus Map
• 2022-23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Staff Extension List (Confidential list. Do NOT post in classroom viewable by students)
• 2022/23 Student Supplies List
• Field Trip Forms
• Volunteers in Classroom/Field Trips Information
• BLS New Staff Portal
• Admin Office Area of Responsibilities

Wow! What a week! Thank you to our front office team for organizing the delicious food and for contributing to our discussions! And thank you to ALL of you for being present, open-minded, and collaborative during Launch Week 2022!

Based on our work together, administration has finalized a few key policies. You helped make these policies. We feel they represent the best of our ideas and are practical to enforce. Remember–we need 100% enforcement for any policy to work!

Also, our front office team provided many updates and overviews earlier this week. Please refer to quick links at the bottom of this blog for important information. (i.e. bell schedules, staff list, student supplies list, field trips, visitors/volunteers, etc.)

Just a reminder for those who want to contribute to “The Sunshine Fund” and/or be on the “Staff Social Planning Club,” please see Deb.

Electronic Device Policy

All electronic devices (cell phones, gaming tablets, etc.) need to be OFF AND AWAY ALL DAY. By “off,” we mean silent: no buzzing, no ringing, no distraction whatsoever. Students are allowed to keep their phone with them, but if it becomes a distraction to learning, they will lose this privilege.

Students may use their iPads during lunch, and they may use their iPad during class time, as long as they are following all teacher direction. For example, if, during an art project, the teacher says they may listen to music on the iPad, then the student may do so, but they must use headphones or earbuds.

If students do not follow this policy, we have a series of consequences. We will detail these on a slide which teachers will deliver during Advisory.

Backpacks Policy

Backpacks are not allowed in classrooms. They must remain in student lockers. Because of our large class sizes, backpacks impede teachers and students from moving around the classroom. We must be able to move easily in order to teach and collaborate. Students will have plenty of time to go to their lockers between classes to get the materials they need.

Tardy Policy

Please mark attendance in the first 5 minutes of class–every single period, every single day. We must know where students are at all times. And we must track attendance for case management, records requests, and interventions. We have to know if students are consistently late to class so we can intervene.

A tardy is when a student enters your classroom after the tardy bell (the bell that starts class). Please do not add your own rule about students being in a seat. Let’s all have the same policy of students being inside your classroom when the bell rings. After three tardies, please fill out a Student Support Form. We will work with those students on setting attendance goals. Students who continue to show up late will serve lunch detention. We will reset the tardy count each semester.

Bathroom Policy

We will allow students to use the bathroom during class. Please only let 1 student leave class at a time, with a hall pass. (We will make these halls passes and deliver them to you before Wednesday.) If we all follow this, we’ll have fewer students gathering in the bathrooms during class time. Also, students have 5 minutes to use the restroom and return to class. Please keep track of this. If a student takes more than 5 minutes, please remind them of the policy after class, in a private moment, away from other students, if possible.

If a student is using the bathroom everyday, and you suspect work avoidance or some other issue, please meet with that student privately to discuss your concern and seek more information. If you feel a counselor should have this conversation, please ask the counselor for help. Also, please fill out a Student Support Form so we can track this data.

Advisory

All middle schools will have common Advisory lessons. Here is our PCMS Advisory Sheet. We are free to use all of these lessons or change them to suit our needs. For example, Dan and Sarah are creating lessons now for the first few days. They will add these to the sheet. Our Advisory Coordinator, Lynne Tat from High Desert MS, will hyperlink the lessons once they’re ready.

BLS IT Message: NEW Staff Portal  

We hope you will find the new staff portal to be both user-friendly and practical. Here are a few tips:

• Searching is now effortless and accurate. Use the search tool for hunting down a calendar, HR document, or any document you previously had to click around and dig for when using the portal.    
• The new portal splash page will feature links from our public-facing website as well as other sources that are tailored to the needs of our staff.  Examples include SupesON!, open enrollment info, content blogs, calendars, and countdowns.  
• If you click on the “three meatballs” in the upper right corner and then choose  “the star”, you would be following the staff portal. Meaning you will receive an email update anytime something new is added to the portal splash page.
• You will be asked to perform your regular sign-in/MFA routine.  Once there, feel free to create a bookmark or make it your homepage!

If something is missing from our old portal, or if you have other suggestions, please share them on the document linked here.  We encourage you to participate  and help make our portal useful for ALL Bend-La Pine School staff.

ACTION: OEBB Open Enrollment is happening now!

For those who have not done so this is a reminder for benefit eligible employees. Enrollment is mandatory, takes place online, and must be completed by September 15. Please don’t wait until the last minute to enroll! Click here for more info and links. Also, check out the district’s Employee Benefit Website for enrollment information, plans, rates, and much more.

If you need help with enrollment or have questions, our Benefits Team will be hosting in-person help sessions. Please feel free to stop by any location – no appointments are necessary.

• September 12^th, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703
• September 13^th, 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon – Bend Transportation – Small side of lunchroom, 501 SE 2^nd Street Bend, OR 97701

ACTION: Section 125 Open Enrollment

The Section 125 Open enrollment is coming to a close soon. Todd Wells with American Fidelity has some set virtual appointments to be held through September 15^th.  You can schedule a one-on-one with Todd through this link. Or feel free to reach out to him directly.  Email: [email protected] or Phone: 503-828-3720. 

ACTION: Upload Summertime Photos

Steve Remer has offered to create a slideshow of staff summertime adventures and will post on school monitors for us and our students to enjoy. Upload your favorite photos as soon as possible. Feel free to share as many as you like/can, the more, the merrier. Here is the link to a Google Drive folder to upload to. 

Quick Links

• PCMS 2022-23 Campus Map
• 2022-23 Bell Schedule
• 1st Day of School for 6th Grade Schedule
• PCMS Staff Extension List (Confidential list. Do NOT post in classroom viewable by students)
• 2022/23 Student Supplies List
• Field Trip Forms
• Volunteers in Classroom/Field Trips Information
• BLS New Staff Portal
• Admin Office Area of Responsibilities

New Staff

We’re excited to welcome many new Golden Eagles to the nest:

Travis Bishop (Humanities 7), Deidre Crabtree (Science 8), Erik Ekstrom (Choir), Sydney Harms (Band & Orchestra), Julie McCabe (Science 8), Madeline Ranstrom (Spanish), Bill Sweigert (Math 6 & 7), Sarah Oglesby (Learning Specialist), Ann Hollenberg (Nurse)

Welcome all! We look forward to learning more about you this school year.

New Teacher Orientation Reminders

For all NEW teachers, you should have already received information regarding district-wide teacher orientation that takes place on Monday, August 29 from 7:00am – 1:oopm at PCMS. Click here to view agenda.

Directly following the above orientation, please stay for the PCMS New Staff Orientation with Deb Mullen, Office Manager, from 1:30 – 2:30pm. We will meet in the Library.

In the meantime, if you have any questions whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact Deb at (541) 355-7801 or [email protected].

Launch Week

Here is our schedule for next week. Please note the Flex Time rules. And let us know if you have questions!

Master Schedule Update

The master schedule is completed, and you should have your teaching assignments which can be viewed via TeacherVue as of Monday, August 29. A HUGE thank you to Renee McCoy and Sarah Girard for all their hard work (in tough circumstances) to get this very complicated schedule done. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

Bell Schedule

Here is our bell schedule for this year. It is similar to last year’s schedule. Advisory is 30 minutes, and classes are 45 minutes. There are two lunches: 6th and 7th grade (first) and 8th grade (second).

6th Grade 1st Day of School / WEB Day – Wednesday, September 7

This is an exciting day. Thank you to Ami, Kyle, and Marni for your hard work getting this day planned.

Please look at the schedule. Our 6th grade teachers will have students this day. If you have 6th graders at all during the day (including Advisory), please be aware that you will see your students.

Bell Schedule for Wednesday, September 7

Education Foundation Grants

The Education Foundation is accepting applications for Back to School Classroom Grant funding requests to be used for the 2022/23 academic year. Detail below and click here for flyer.

• Application Window Opens: Monday, August 28, 2022
• Application Deadline: Friday, October 14, 2022
• Funding Range: $200 – $2,000
• Funding Announced: Friday November 4, 2022
• Go to www.engagedminds.org for more details on funding priorities
• Download and complete the one-page application
• E-mail completed application to: [email protected]

If you have questions, call (541) 355-5660.

From Dean Richards

During the afternoon (1:00-4:00) of August 30^th a variety of Canvas Professional Learning Opportunities from which to choose. We encourage you to attend in person as this will give you the best experience, however, most of the sessions do have a WebEx option. 

In addition to the content in each training, a short period of time will be spent on how to set up your gradebook for the sync between Canvas and Synergy and the Canvas Expectations for the 2022-2023 school year.

These trainings are required and meet the contractual requirements of Day 189.

Canvas Professional Learning Options for the afternoon of August 30th

Grading Communication

The district office sent us some communication to share with our families regarding our grading practices for the coming school year. I wanted you all to see this as well. We’ll review the district slide deck during Launch Week.

Letter to Families on Grading

Student Supply Ordering

Just to recap…similar to last year, this year’s student supplies are being provided by PCMS and is paid from a general fund; not out of your discretionary or student body accounts; which will be shared with you by mid-September or sooner. At the end of last year, Deb asked each of you (except new staff) to enter your “student supply” needs for the first half of year on the 2022/23 Student Supplies List. Some of you entered items on behalf of grade level teams or individually.

Those who still need to enter data on this sheet, please do so as soon as possible. Provide all of the information needed. Deb will shop for the best pricing, but include a vendor item link as the description of the desired item. The goal is to have “most” of the items delivered to school and available to you by the first week of school although there will be exceptions. Below are items considered for “student supplies”. If you have any questions, please contact Deb.

• 1 Three-ring binder (2.5” or 3”)
• 1 Package of dividers
• 1 Package of three-ring notebook paper
• 2 Graph Composition Notebooks
• 2 Lined Composition Notebooks
• 1 Pencil Pouch
• 1 Package of #2 Pencils
• 1 Package of Colored Pencils
• 1 Package of Highlighters
• 1 Eraser
• 1 Ruler

Reminder: OEBB Open Enrollment is happening now!

Enrollment is mandatory, takes place online, and must be completed by September 15. Check out the district’s Employee Benefit Website for enrollment information, plans, rates, and much more. If you need help with enrollment or have questions, our Benefits Team will be hosting in-person help sessions. Please feel free to stop by any location – no appointments are necessary.

• September 1^st, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703

• September 12^th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703

• September 13^th, 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon
• Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703

Welcome!

Hey, team! I hope you’re enjoying summer! I’m excited to be writing this first message to you all! I’ve already met many of you here at school or online, and I thank you all for your warmth and generosity of spirit. I can feel that PCMS is a special place and that our level of teamwork is high.

After meeting with our instructional coaches, front office staff, custodial team, counselors, and my fellow administrators, I’ve identified key themes that came up in these conversations. While these themes may evolve this year, I’m holding them front and center now as I think about our coming school year.

One, we need to rebuild our systems. The last couple years have thrown schools into a tailspin. Our systems are not where they used to be. During the Launch, we will identify our shared expectations for our students and each other, including our support system for students.

Two, we need to rebuild our community. We don’t know each other like we used to. In order for us to paddle together and move the boat forward, we need to know each other, trust each other, and have fun together. During the Launch, we’ll share food, share ideas, and learn a bit about each other. And we’ll make this our culture–“the way we do things around here.”

Three, we need to rekindle the middle school experience. Last year’s field day was awesome! We need more stuff like that. We’ve already added four student socials to our activities calendar. We’ll also be planning assemblies, student vs. staff games, and spirit days. We all know what an excellent middle school experience can be like for kids. We can imagine it. It’s time to work together to make this happen. We will work together to make this happen!

The last couple years have been really hard for students–and for us. This is a global outcome of the pandemic. Also, our nation is currently more divided than it has been in my living memory. For me, this, too, has been hard. But here at PCMS, we can create a harmonious community where we leave differences aside and work toward our common love of student learning. Our school can be a safe haven for us. Our mission as a school is to graduate learners who are creative thinkers, responsible decision-makers, and engaged citizens. To do this, we need to be these things ourselves.

As you all have told me, we need to rebuild our systems, rebuild our community, and rekindle the middle school experience. I look forward to doing this important work with you this year as we realize our mission. Let’s paddle together!

Warmly,

Sean

Be Aware! Upcoming PCMS Facility Usage

PCMS Facility is being used on heavily on the following days/times. For those planning on coming in to set-up classrooms, you may want to rethink it. If you need specific area/room information contact Christina.

• Wed, 8/24: Innovation Teaching Conference – all day – multiple areas/rooms
• Thr, 8/25: Innovation Teaching Conference – all day – multiple areas/rooms
• Mon, 8/29: BLS New Certified Staff Orientation – 7:00am – 2:00pm – multiple spaces/rooms

New Staff

We have a handful of new staff this year and will introduce them in next week’s Golden Eagle Update. (We have one more hire to go–almost there!) We will also take time to get to know each other during the Launch.

New Teacher Orientation Reminders

For all NEW teachers, you should have already received information regarding district-wide teacher orientation that takes place on Monday, August 29 from 7:00am – 1:oopm at PCMS. Click here to view agenda.

Directly following the above orientation, please stay for the PCMS New Staff Orientation with Sean Keating, Principal and Deb Mullen, Office Manager from 1:30 – 2:30pm. We will meet in the Office Conference Room. Deb will be sending new staff a dedicated email no later than Monday, 8/22 with more information.

In the meantime, if you have any questions whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact Deb at (541) 355-7801 or [email protected].

Launch Week

We will continue to update this overview as we learn more from the district office, but this is largely the agenda for the week. Please note the Flex Time rules. And let us know if you have questions!

Master Schedule Update

Renee McCoy and Sarah Girard are working hard on this now. It will be done soon, and we’ll send you updates as soon as we can. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

Student Supply Ordering

Just to recap…similar to last year, this year’s student supplies are being provided by PCMS and is paid from a general fund; not out of your discretionary or student body accounts; which will be shared with you by mid-September or sooner. At the end of last year, Deb asked each of you (except new staff) to enter your “student supply” needs for the first half of year on the 2022/23 Student Supplies List. Some of you entered items on behalf of grade level teams or individually.

Those who still need to enter data on this sheet, please do so as soon as possible. Provide all of the information needed. Deb will shop for the best pricing, but include a vendor item link as the description of the desired item. The goal is to have “most” of the items delivered to school and available to you by the first week of school although there will be exceptions. Below are items considered for “student supplies”. If you have any questions, please contact Deb.

• 1 Three-ring binder (2.5” or 3”)
• 1 Package of dividers
• 1 Package of three-ring notebook paper
• 2 Graph Composition Notebooks
• 2 Lined Composition Notebooks
• 1 Pencil Pouch
• 1 Package of #2 Pencils
• 1 Package of Colored Pencils
• 1 Package of Highlighters
• 1 Eraser
• 1 Ruler

Weekly PCMS Community Blog

For those staff members who do not have students at PCMS, we encourage you to read the News from the Nest which is a weekly blog that goes out to our parents, guardians and students.

Social at Deb’s House

Hello Summer Vacationers! Deb will be hosting a very casual backyard gathering at her home on Tuesday, August 23 from 3:00 – 5:00 (or whenever). This will be an opportunity to meet Sean Keating our new principal and any new staff members who are available that day and to just hang out and catch up with one another. Appetizers and non-alcoholic bevs will be provided. Bring your own adult beverage. Hope you join us for the entire time or just drop in for a few minutes. Kids and partners are welcome! 886 NW Yosemite Drive Bend, OR 97703 If you are planning on joining us, please text Deb by this Sunday at (541) 639-5240 so she has an idea of how many to expect.

Action: OEBB Open Enrollment is happening now!

Enrollment is mandatory, takes place online, and must be completed by September 15. Check out the district’s Employee Benefit Website for enrollment information, plans, rates, and much more. If you need help with enrollment or have questions, our Benefits Team will be hosting in-person help sessions. Please feel free to stop by any location – no appointments are necessary.

• August 22^nd, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• La Pine High – Library, 51633 Coach Road La Pine, OR 97739
  
• August 23^rd, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Mountain View High – Cafeteria, 2755 NE 27th St. Bend, OR 97701
• Caldera High – Library Classroom, 60925 SE 15th St. Bend, OR 97702
  
• August 24^th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Summit High – Staff Lounge, 2855 NW Clearwater Dr. Bend, OR 97703
• Innovation Conference – Pacific Crest Middle School, 3030 NW Elwood Ln. Bend, OR 97703
  
• August 25^th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• BTA @ Marshall High – School to Career Room 101, 1291 NE 5th St. Bend, OR 97701
  
• August 26^th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Realms High – Room 1, 20730 NE Brinson Blvd. Bend, OR 97701
• Bend High – Commons, 230 NE 6th St. Bend, OR 97701

• September 1^st, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703

• September 12^th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703

• September 13^th, 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon
• Education Center – Room 314, 520 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97703

SLGG Information

Certified Staff SLGG

Certified staff, all of you (save two) jumped on the all-school SLGGs this year and the wrap up is ready for you to upload. The link the the folder that contains the two documents you need can be found here. The slideshow with information on how to upload all the documents can be found here. You can write “see attached” in every blank (copy and past it for faster completion) on the form, so long as you attach the two documents (one pdf, one Excel sheet).

Please complete this ASAP so that your Admin team can move through the rest of the process of checking you out and doing all the things. Refer to my email from Wednesday for more information.

Email me with questions.

Thank you for taking care of this as soon as you can.

Safety Update

Per Deb’s email today, there are some new safety protocols in place for our front office in order to maintain the sanctity of the secure vestibule. Please be sure that you have your keys and your district-issued ID on you in a visible manner. We have some lanyards available if you need one for your ID.

As I’ve said before, the physical safety measures are important and are only part of the work of keeping our school a safe place. The most important thing we can do for our students’ and our community’s safety is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for every student every day.

Leaving the Nest

Tuesday June 14th will be our 8th Grade Promotion ceremony, Leaving the Nest. It will be in the gym from 6:00 – 7:00. It would be wonderful if there were staff there to help send our 8th graders off into the world of high school, but it is certainly not a mandatory event.

Volleyball Coaches Needed

We are currently hiring Volleyball coaches for the upcoming Fall 2022 season. If you or someone you know are interested, please click HERE to apply or pass along this link to an interested party.

Grading Scale Options

From Stephen DuVal, Director of College and Career Readiness

NOTE: The information below is only pertinent if you are currently using or planning on using a different grading system next year. None of this is a requirement or expectation.

As you likely know, there have been a number of teachers in our district who have been piloting additional grading scales (non 100% scales) throughout the year.  While we support the effort to change scales in an effort to be more equitable, the variance in scales at our sites has been too large for our system to support.  A current examination of grading scales across our district yields dozens of results. From IT to professional development, the discrepancy in scales has made it difficult for an easy transition.  

As a result of the above-mentioned issues, we are working to align additional grading scales in our classrooms to better support our work.  If we can narrow the scope of the systems out there, our team can provide more guidance and help when it comes to gradebook setup, assignment entry, and overall practice.

Therefore, moving forward, we will be limiting the non-percentage grading systems at our comprehensive middle school sites to a 1-4 scale with the below categories.

• 1 – Beginning
• 2 – Developing
• 3 – Proficient
• 4 – Advanced

If you are interested in continuing your use of an alternative scale or would like to implement one next year, we are asking you please complete this form.  The deadline for submission is September 2nd but we would prefer the information sooner if you know you will opt into this system.

Of note, we are requesting the implementation of an additional grading system to be taken on by teams (grade level, department, subject/course, etc.) if possible.  Individual requests could occur with building principal approval but the work is much better taken on by a small group.

Once we have the requests, we will work with you to support gradebook setup, implementation, and maintenance.  Our team is developing easy to read guides with visuals and links on supporting this work in our gradebook systems.

Language and Culture Newsletter

From Kinsey Martin, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This newsletter includes upcoming equity-related learning events and community engagement FUN for all!

Also, will all your bilingual staff please complete this quick Yes or No form ASAP?

Summer School Positions Still Available

With the bulk of the positions filled, we are still seeking EA support across all levels (Jump Start, Spark, Base Camp and SPED/ESY). 

In addition, we would like to add a few more teachers to the middle school Spark program, specifically at HDMS.  To apply, find “Careers in BLP Schools” and under “Internal Applicants” you can find open positions for summer employment.  The support for students is rewarding and stipends are substantial!  For more information, please contact Kevin Milner or Dean Richards.

End of the Year Events

Last Week of School Spirit Week Our WEB Leaders are determining the themes for Monday – Wednesday, but on Thursday, 6/16  it is Advisory Choice (common theme to unify your students during field day).

Leaving the Nest (8th Grade Promotion Ceremony) On Tuesday evening, June 14 from 6:00 – 7:30 we will celebrate our students completing their middle school years and moving onto their high school years. Staff attendance is optional. Shannon Cramer is producing a photo slideshow. Our PCCO will be putting together gift bags for each student so that we can send them off to high school with a tangible memory of PCMS to go along with all the intangible memories they made here. Unlike years past, there will not be a dance after the ceremony.

Last Day of School I am aware the last several weeks of the school year go by furiously fast and there is so much to wrap up for all of us. I appreciate Jane Ward and Mandy for taking on the bulk of the planning for a fun-filled last day for students and staff. The plan was shared earlier this week at SIW and is being refined. More to come on this over the next couple of weeks.

ICCL Opening

We will have one ICCl posting for the next two years, and we’d like to have that position filled before we head out for the summer. If you are interested, here are instructions for applying. A reminder that ICCL positions are only open to Regular employees (don’t love that term) and not Temporary employees.

• Interested teachers will submit an application through Frontline Recruit/Hire.  This is a one page application that should only take them a few minutes to complete.  https://www.applitrack.com/bend/onlineapp/
• A colleague recommendation form will no longer be required.
• Paper applications will not be accepted.  Applicants must apply through Frontline Recruit/Hire.
• There will be an option for applicants to upload a cover letter, resume and letter of recommendation, but this will not be required.  
• Once they start their application they will be able to select what school they are applying to.

Personal Days

According to our collective bargaining agreement, certified staff may NOT take personal leave the last two weeks of school (June 6-17), unless there are “unusual or highly extenuating circumstances.” If you have a request for personal leave during that time, PLEASE SEE ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, as it requires explanation and approval beyond just my signature.

Health Scope-and-Sequence:  Jennifer Hauth is in need of 2 middle school teachers to be part of the new health scope-and-sequence training in June. Here is the registration link for more information. 

Drive and Apply Events Every Thursday in Bend, La Pine

Community members are invited to test drive a school bus on an obstacle course, enjoy a free pizza lunch and get a job interview on the spot during interactive transportation job fairs hosted by Bend-La Pine Schools every Thursday for the next six weeks. Join us: Thursdays May 5, 12, 19 and 26; and June 2 and 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bend: 501 SE Second Street and La Pine: 16350 First Street, La Pine. Starting pay is now $25 per hour for drivers and paid training is provided to new hires looking to obtain or renew a Commercial Driver’s License. Learn more on our Jobs webpage or call 541-355-5700.

Sunglasses

Following up on last week’s reminder that enforcing the “no sunglasses” rule is actually a way to show students you care about them, I want to publicly thank Ashley Wallace for reminding a 7th grader to remove his sunglasses. I saw said 7th grader with his sunglasses on and reminded him of this rule, to which he replied, “I know, Mrs. Wallace told me to take them off.” (I then told him that he should have taken them off in the moment BEFORE placing them in his cubby, but it was still a huge win!)

Thank you for remembering that students need people to hold them accountable in compassionate ways in order to be their best selves.

Innovative Teaching and Learning Conference Dates Set

In the spirit of continuous learning, the Innovative Teaching and Learning Conference is back again this August.  Over 30 Bend-La Pine teachers have offered to share the amazing work that is happening in their classrooms alongside national-level presenters. There will be lots of content-specific sessions as well as sessions that cover some of the big ideas in education today. 

We would love to have you sign up  here (go to the Sections tab part way down the screen) to select the day(s).  Credit is available for your attendance for both days.

STEM Summer Professional Development

Here is the schedule with links to register and find more information. All summer professional development offered by the STEM Hub is free and project pay for Central Oregon educators is provided. Register soon to reserve your spot!

Staff PD Library

Recently, the office staff put together a mini PD Reference library with books that were found throughout the main and counseling offices. Whether or not these materials are relevant or not, you can decide. We just wanted to organize them and make you aware that they are available. The PCMS PD Staff Reference Library is located in the copier/file room on the Counseling/Student Services near Renee. She, or anyone of our support staff can help you if you wish to check something out or if you decide you have books to a to our PD library.

NEW BLS ID Badge/Access Cards

Over the next several weeks new cards will be delivered to Deb for distribution to staff. All old badges must be surrendered at the time the new badge is issued. Each staff member will be required to sign a copy of the End User Access Card Agreement form.

Once a new badge is issued to an employee it becomes the only badge authorized by BLS for door entry and display purposes. Bend-La Pine Schools requires that all staff members wear their employee ID badge in a location that is clearly visible while on duty as an employee. This requirement is in place to assure the safety and well-being of our staff and the students we serve.

A district standard was created to assess access levels for each staff member. Once we have completed our distribution of all the badges we will review the district standard and make changes when necessary. If you have any questions, contact Deb.

Staffing Update

Thanks for the patience with the staffing updates. We had some last-minute moving parts that I was waiting on and that delayed things. Next year’s staffing plan is complete and we are in the process of interviewing and hiring for some of our positions. Because of declining enrollment across the district, as well as the addition of the class of 2026 to Caldera High School, there are some people from other sites who will be transferred to PCMS next year to fill some of our vacancies.

Personnel matters are private matters, and the news of who is leaving PCMS is not mine to share publicly, so there is not going to be a mass email with those announcements. I am happy to answer questions as to who is coming to PCMS with you individually, but a mass announcement introducing the new faces will have to wait until y’all come back in the fall.

That said, I am SO VERY HAPPY to share that Dan Curfew will remain at PCMS as the Dean of Students next year. Dan has exceeded the sky-high expectations we had for him in this role that he was forced into this year, demonstrating each day that visibility and a relationship-focus are the best approach to student management, and I am heartened to know that he’ll be here to continue in that manner next year.

Excellence in Education Honorees

Speaking of shout-outs, congrats to Deb Mullen and Lynn Neemann for all the amazingness they do that led me to recognize them as our Excellence in Education honorees for this school year. Building principals are asked to submit an explanation along with their nomination, and I’ve included those words below.

It is impossible to spend any time at all at Pacific Crest and not feel Deb Mullen’s impact. When you are dropping off students in front of school, her kind smile is there to greet you and her welcoming wave is there to direct you to pull forward to keep traffic moving. Rain, sun, sleet, or snow, you’ll find Deb at her post to help everyone’s day get moving. Once the day started, you can be sure everyone is where they need to be, as Deb has been up all morning – and last night – dutifully checking the substitute requests to ensure all of our students can learn. Oh, and those treats in the staff room? Those are from Deb, who knows how hard the teachers and staff work and how a food is the universal language of love. Walking the halls, you’ll see Spirit Week posters created by students under Deb’s guidance as our Activities Director. Our Sparrow fundraiser is a big success thanks to all the thought and care Deb puts into the effort, knowing what an important endeavor this is for our Sparrow and their family, but also for our students who are gaining the benefit of learning about service for others thanks to Deb’s constant encouragement. At lunch time, Deb can be found in the cafeteria, perfecting the figure-eight walk that ensures she’ll come in contact with as many students as possible, smiling and reminding them to pick up after themselves. When lunch is over, Deb can be found with a tabletop mop, cleaning to help our custodial staff’s efforts in keeping things clear. After lunch, she is helping to make sure that the building principal has taken time to eat his lunch, reminding him of his upcoming events, ensuring essential communication is shared with students and staff, and reconciling the budget before heading back out to the parking lot to greet families coming to pick up students with her warm smile and firm wave that reminds them to pull forward. There is no place Deb’s warmth, care, and love is not felt at Pacific Crest.

I should probably buy Lynn Neemann a hat rack to store all of the various hats she wears in any given day in her role as our 6^th grade PE & Health teacher. She is a motivator, reminding them of the benefits of exercise and the added benefit of having fun while doing it. She is a cheerleader, constantly pushing kids to do better with a smile and a kind word. She is an expectations-setter, as she understand that adolescents need limits and boundaries – and need adults to set and consistently maintain them. She is a teammate, developing pickleball and geocaching units with her 7^th grade counterpart. She is an influencer, showing colleagues that comfortable shoes and professional demeanor are not mutually exclusive. She is a role model, showing students and staff alike how facing the hardest things one might face, and doing so with a smile and intent to learn and better one’s self, is part of the daily experience at Pacific Crest. She is an advocate, for students and staff alike know that Lynn will champion them and ask for what they need to be successful and supported. For all these reasons and more, it’s a privilege to nominate Lynn Neemann for the Excellence in Education recognition.

End of the Year Events

Last Week of School Spirit Week Our WEB Leaders are determining the themes for Monday – Wednesday, but on Thursday, 6/16  it is Advisory Choice (common theme to unify your students during field day).

Leaving the Nest (8th Grade Promotion Ceremony) On Tuesday evening, June 14 from 6:00 – 7:30 we will celebrate our students completing their middle school years and moving onto their high school years. Staff attendance is optional. Shannon Cramer is producing a photo slideshow. Our PCCO will be putting together gift bags for each student so that we can send them off to high school with a tangible memory of PCMS to go along with all the intangible memories they made here. Unlike years past, there will not be a dance after the ceremony.

Last Day of School I am aware the last several weeks of the school year go by furiously fast and there is so much to wrap up for all of us. I appreciate Jane Ward and Mandy for taking on the bulk of the planning for a fun-filled last day for students and staff. The plan was shared earlier this week at SIW and is being refined. More to come on this over the next couple of weeks.

ICCL Opening

We will have one ICCl posting for the next two years, and we’d like to have that position filled before we head out for the summer. If you are interested, here are instructions for applying. A reminder that ICCL positions are only open to Regular employees (don’t love that term) and not Temporary employees.

• Interested teachers will submit an application through Frontline Recruit/Hire.  This is a one page application that should only take them a few minutes to complete.  https://www.applitrack.com/bend/onlineapp/
• A colleague recommendation form will no longer be required.
• Paper applications will not be accepted.  Applicants must apply through Frontline Recruit/Hire.
• There will be an option for applicants to upload a cover letter, resume and letter of recommendation, but this will not be required.  
• Once they start their application they will be able to select what school they are applying to.

Personal Days

According to our collective bargaining agreement, certified staff may NOT take personal leave the last two weeks of school (June 6-17), unless there are “unusual or highly extenuating circumstances.” If you have a request for personal leave during that time, PLEASE SEE ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, as it requires explanation and approval beyond just my signature.

Drive and Apply Events Every Thursday in Bend, La Pine

Community members are invited to test drive a school bus on an obstacle course, enjoy a free pizza lunch and get a job interview on the spot during interactive transportation job fairs hosted by Bend-La Pine Schools every Thursday for the next six weeks. Join us: Thursdays May 5, 12, 19 and 26; and June 2 and 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bend: 501 SE Second Street and La Pine: 16350 First Street, La Pine. Starting pay is now $25 per hour for drivers and paid training is provided to new hires looking to obtain or renew a Commercial Driver’s License. Learn more on our Jobs webpage or call 541-355-5700.

SLGG Update

I have finished scoring the SLGGs and have asked my Excel guru to compile them so we can measure growth. As soon as I get that back, I’ll write it up and provide instructions on how to upload it to TalentEd. Hopefully next week.

Sunglasses

A reminder that sunglasses are not permitted to be worn inside the building (students with light sensitivities/vision impairments are excluded from this prohibition). I’m behind the times, fashion-wise, but sunglasses seem to be a trendy look these days (typing that sentence made me feel 100 years old, btw). Please remind students of this if you see them wearing sunglasses. Much like cell phones and AirPods, this is something where a unified front will get the results we want. Not wanting to “be the bad guy” in telling someone they are violating a rule is setting your colleague up to “be the bad guy” when they follow through and remind students of the expectations we have for them. Keeping students safe and compliant is in fact being the “good guy” in all ways.

STEM Week Oregon (May 14-22)

All Oregonians are invited to join in the 8th annual STEM Week Oregon – May 14th through 22nd – by participating in one of the daily challenge activities or engaging in other STEM activities. Register and learn more about events and how to get involved at stemoregon.org. Below are links to activity booklets in English and Spanish that can be used in your classrooms or shared with families. ENJOY!

STEM Activity Booklet – English

Stem Activity Booklet – Spanish

STEM Summer Professional Development

Here is the schedule with links to register and find more information. All summer professional development offered by the STEM Hub is free and project pay for Central Oregon educators is provided. Register soon to reserve your spot!

Staff PD Library

Recently, the office staff put together a mini PD Reference library with books that were found throughout the main and counseling offices. Whether or not these materials are relevant or not, you can decide. We just wanted to organize them and make you aware that they are available. The PCMS PD Staff Reference Library is located in the copier/file room on the Counseling/Student Services near Renee. She, or anyone of our support staff can help you if you wish to check something out or if you decide you have books to a to our PD library.

NEW BLS ID Badge/Access Cards

Over the next several weeks new cards will be delivered to Deb for distribution to staff. All old badges must be surrendered at the time the new badge is issued. Each staff member will be required to sign a copy of the End User Access Card Agreement form.

Once a new badge is issued to an employee it becomes the only badge authorized by BLS for door entry and display purposes. Bend-La Pine Schools requires that all staff members wear their employee ID badge in a location that is clearly visible while on duty as an employee. This requirement is in place to assure the safety and well-being of our staff and the students we serve.

A district standard was created to assess access levels for each staff member. Once we have completed our distribution of all the badges we will review the district standard and make changes when necessary. If you have any questions, contact Deb.

Helpful Links

• Staff Covid-19 Guidelines (as of 3/12/22)
• BLS Staff Symptom Algorithms (3/12/22)
• PCMS Student Covid Guidance (3/12/22)
• BLS Student Symptom Algorithm (3/12/22)
• MS Bell Schedule 
• SIW Calendar
• Newest Covid-19 Protocols (1/26/22)
• PCMS Expectations Tracking Form
• Advisory Planning Sheet
• Supporting Secondary Instruction Blog
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS Información Webpage
• News from the Nest
• News from the Nest in Spanish
• Student Clubs
• BLS Family Spotlight Newsletter