Important Updated Covid-19 Information: The most pressing piece of information related to this guidance is that now students, staff, and families will not need to wear masks while they are outside. This includes before and after school, recess, and outdoor PE or other activities. Distancing requirements are still in place. That said, student and staff choice around this is important and I will be making an announcement during the first 5 minutes of Advisory regarding this messaging. In a nutshell, anyone may continue to wear a mask during this time for any reason. Their reasons are personal and they need not share with others. Please make this clear in your classroom and the norm as we move into this new phase.
- Deschutes County Health Services Covid-19 Public Health Update Presentation
- Bend-La Pine Schools Updated Masking Requirements (effective May 2021)
- Free Covid-19 Testing Clinics in June (Spanish flyer)
Testing Continues in Advisory: Several of our students will be continuing their testing work during advisory. Please allow others to read or work on Delta math during this time quietly. As a reminder:
- Testing Administration can be found HERE
- Opt-out List can be found HERE
- Current Testing Progress can be found HERE: This will show you who still needs to test and what test needs to be given. I will update this throughout the week. Note for 8th grade: ALL students should take the science test. We have not had any opt-outs for this as the process is different.
Lunch QR Code: I know it must be annoying to hear all the time but our students (especially those who have 2nd lunch) are not completing the QR CODE sign in. This may be because they have the wrong one, use an old one that they have on their iPad already, are forgetting, or not clicking submit. Please help Debbie and Amy have accurate numbers by making sure that students complete this each morning.
Canvas End of the Year Planning: Please look at the Weekly Tech Update for this week or this Canvas end of the year document to know how to preserve your Canvas course content for next year. Reach out to Dan, Mandy, or Jane W if you have questions.
End of Year Planning & Awards: Please add to the Award link regarding the end of the year award nominations as well as the tab for staff awards. We will talk about this a bit this Wednesday. Please plan to meet in my Webex room this Wednesday at 2:30 for a brief conversation regarding the end of the year planning before teams work together. In addition to talking with your team about the vertical alignment conversations you had, please plan on discussing the last day of school activities. This day is the only day I anticipate looking different than other days that week.
From HR regarding Personal Days (now until end of year): We are having an extremely hard time filling all substitute requests. In addition to not allowing personal days when more than 5% of the teaching staff is already scheduled to be out within a building, moving forward we will not be approving any more personal days unless a substitute can be found. If we have already approved a personal day, then we will honor that decision. Moving forward, however, if an employee, either classified or certified, asks for a personal day, we need to know that positions will be covered before okaying the request. As a reminder, we’ve made special agreements this year with both associations that employees will be paid for unused personal days.
PE/Health teachers: There may be a PE opening at one of our Bend-area elementary schools beginning next fall. If you are interested in the possibility of teaching PE at the elementary level, please let me know by May 28.
From Chad in IT: Middle School staff will be asked to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on Monday, May 31st. This communication will come from Chad in IT. Once you hear from Chad, please give it a try. If you have difficulty along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to our tech/Canvas crew for help. The deadline for setting up MFA will be Monday, July 26th.
SPARKS Summer Learning: If ANY teacher is interested in earning $5500 for 12 days of instruction this summer, please contact Wendy McCullough. She has recently re-opened the postings and people are encouraged to reach out if they are interested.
Trauma-Informed Engagement Practices: Here is a great summer learning flyer about an interesting training you may be interested in.
New Secondary Science TOSA position: This was posted this week. If you are interested, please connect with Ryan or I.
Final Sparrow Fundraiser: LET’S GO BIG before we go home for summer break! Beginning this Monday, May 24 we will begin a friendly fundraiser for Autumn between 6th, 7th, 8th grades and PCMS staff members. Whichever team collects the most cash for Autumn will participate in water blasting staff OR water blasting students on the last day of school. Click here for additional information!
Suspicious Emails: BLS IT Security Team has added a “Phish Alert Button” (PAB) to Outlook. See below graphic. Depending on the version of Outlook you’re using, you can find the PAB either in the “…” menu while viewing a message or in the Outlook ribbon/toolbar. Please use this button to report all suspicious emails (phishing, fraud, malware, etc.) to BLS IT Security Team.
Summit HS Basketball Score Clock Opportunity: Contact Summit’s AD, Mike Carpenter if you are interested in earning a few extra bucks at home games. The pay is $35/40 per game and most games start at 5:30 or 7:00. Contact Summit’s AD, Mike Carpenter at (541) 355-4102 or [email protected] for more info.
Important Links:
- Advisory Announcements (PLEASE USE THIS FOR CANVAS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ADVISORY!!)
- District COVID-19 Dashboard
- SPARKS Summer Learning Program
- Staff Meeting Minutes– updated 4/28
- CANVAS EXPECTATIONS
- Weekly Tech Tips– updated 5/23
- Upcoming Meeting Dates– updated 5/23
- EBISS Information (updated based on Wednesday’s meeting this week)
- Advisory Contact Sheet (updated Tuesday of each week)
- MS Standards of Practice
- News from the Nest
- ALL-IN Schedule (English)
- BLS District Return to School