Sparrow Mariah
Our Sparrow has finally flown in!
We are so excited to introduce Mariah to our Golden Eagle Community. Over the next couple of weeks, our students will learn more about Mariah and how they can support this very special little girl, but in the meantime, here is a brief intro.
Mariah’s medical journey began when she was just 8 months old. At a check-up with her pediatrician on December 21st, they noticed her head circumference was off the charts. She was sent straight to St. Charles in Bend for an MRI, and from there she was life-flighted to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. A massive brain tumor was discovered and on
December 23rd she underwent an 11-hour surgery to remove it. Mariah was in the pediatric
ICU for 3 weeks. During that time her family learned that the tumor was cancerous. Please continue reading Mariah’s entire story.
With assistance from Sparrow Clubs USA in Bend, whose tagline is “empowering kids to help kids“, Mariah has been adopted by Pacific Crest Middle School. Our students will work hard to raise money for Mariah through sponsored community service and fundraising throughout the remainder of the school year. Student’s can begin logging community service hours on this Google Form.
I have been so impressed with Sparrow Clubs and the continued commitment and generosity Bend-La Pine students and families have shown these children and families. We are proud to welcome Mariah into our community and look forward to seeing the amazing ways our students serve their community to help Mariah and her family.
Attendance Reporting Reminder
Please make sure that you give our Attendance Secretary, Tami Nielsen, plenty of notice to avoid waiting when picking up your student during the school day. The more notice Tami has, the easier the pickup of your student will be. Please do not call the main office but instead email [email protected] or leave a detailed message at (541) 355-7820. Emails and voicemails are read and listened to constantly throughout the day. We highly suggest adding attendance email and phone number in you cell phone for quick reference. Here is our attendance policy.
Weather is Turning
This week’s weather would have you think we’re already in Spring but we haven’t even hit winter yet. As the winters in Central Oregon are unpredictable (now more so than any in memory), I encourage you to sign up for the Bend-La Pine automated alerts so you can be aware of any school closures, delayed starts, or early releases that may happen. To learn more and to sign up, please visit our Alerts and Updates page and Inclement Weather / Clima Inclemente page.
Additionally, please help your student to bundle up as temperatures drop! We will do our best to keep students eating outdoors as a mitigation measure, but please know that we will be moving to indoor lunches if the weather drops below 45 degrees or if it’s actively raining and may then move students outdoors to facilitate our cleaning measures. We’re still adjusting to our new way of operating and your flexibility is appreciated.
Winter Clothing Collection for Locals
Speaking of weather and generosity, Central Oregon weather is unpredictable, but we know Winter will arrive, temps will drop and snow will fall; which is why our WEB Leaders are continuing with our “We Give Back” campaign into Winter.
During the cold season there are many locals who are in need of outerwear to keep them warm. If you can help, please donate the following much needed NEW winter clothing items in various sizes for men, women and children. Items you generously donate will go directly to a charity in need.
Much needed NEW items are: Gloves | Scarfs | Socks | Beanies | Jackets
Collection of new items will begin on Monday, January 10 and end on Wednesday, January 19. We will have large boxes festively decorated in the Upper Nest where students can drop items into which will be deliver to charity on Friday, January 21.
Lost and Found Items Go Bye-bye!
If you have a student who is missing a sweatshirt, a jacket, a water bottle ask them to check our lost and found receptacle soon. We clear out the lost and found a few times during the year by donating unclaimed items to a local charity. Our next donation date is Friday, December 17, just before Winter Break. Please ask your student to spend some time looking through lost and found and to grab what belongs to them by December 17.
New Athletic Director
It is a great thrill to announce that we have hired Steve Blackmore as our new Athletic Director. Steve was our 7th grade Football Coach this fall and did an outstanding job with the boys. His character, organization, professionalism, and student-centered approach are a great addition to our staff. The Athletic Director position in middle school is an important one and we are happy to have Steve continue the tradition of having dedicated individuals in that role to make all of our students have a great experience representing Pacific Crest on our Volleyball, Football, Cross Country, Wrestling, and Track teams.
Sign-up for Wrestling!
Staying on the topic of Athletics, Coach Toso is working to grow the Pacific Crest wrestling program into a fun, thriving program. Golden Eagle wrestling creates opportunities for young athletes to try wrestling for the first time, enhance the skills of returning wrestlers, and produce a pipeline of athletes for the Summit High School wrestling program. Having started my career in education as a coach (but not a wrestling coach), I have always believed that the work ethic and discipline instilled into wrestlers benefit students not only as athletes but as students as well. Wrestling is open to boys and girls of all experience levels! You can register here.
The next informational session will be held Tuesday, December 14th @ 6pm. Email Coach Toso for the virtual meeting link.
Winter Music Concert
To facilitate required contact tracing, families must RSVP with their intended audience group. RSVPs must be received by Monday, December 6, 2021. RSVPs must include names of each family member attending (don’t include the performing student). RSVP here
MBSEF Winter Programs – Important Information
If your student is participating in the MBSEF Alpine Winter, Alpine MWC, Freeride Comp and Freeride Devo programs please read the important information below regarding release times and procedures.
- Students will be released at 11:20am, not before or after on their respective practice days
- Students will sign out at the attendance office prior to leaving.
- Parents do not need to come in to the building to sign their student out.
- We are unable to store equipment for students during school hours or accept drop-offs of equipment from parents.
Calendar
- Dec. 7 | Winter Music Concert | Summit High School | RSVP required to attend
- Dec. 13 – 17 | Spirit Week (more details next week)
- Dec. 14 | Wrestling Informational Session | 6pm
- Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
- Jan. 3 | Wrestling Season Begins
- Jan. 7 | Last day to register for Wrestling
- Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day
- Feb. 4 | No School | 1st Semester Ends
- Feb. 7 | 2nd Semester Begins
- Feb. 22 | No School | President’s Day
- Mar. 21 – 25 | No School | Spring Break
- Apr. 14 – 15 | No School | Middle School Conferences
- May 30 | No School | Memorial Day
- June 15 | Full Day of School | Release at 4:10 PM
- June 16 | Last Day of School | Early Release at 2:40 PM
Helpful Links
- Attendance Office (report late arrivals, early dismissals, absences)
- PCMS Bell Schedule (NEW! Split Lunch as of 10/25/21)
- PCMS Athletics
- BLS Información Webpage
- BLS Family Newsletter
- News from the Nest in Spanish
- Student Clubs