March 15, 2024

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Golden Eagle families,

What a beautiful Friday!

We have exciting things happening at PCMS. Our 7th graders completed their field study, learning about avalanche safety, shelter building, hiking, and teamwork. We also started collecting money for Sparrow Bryson in our St. Patrick’s Day themed fundraiser we call “Lucky Sparrow.”

On April 8, we have two important policies we will start to implement. The first is our new iPad expectations. No longer will iPads be the default learning tool at PCMS. We will use paper and pencil whenever possible in all of our classes. Students will also store their iPads on a special iPad shelf in each classroom. (Our math instruction will still, primarily, run through two programs on the iPad.)

The second policy is our new district-wide ban on e-bikes and e-scooters on all Bend-La Pine school campuses for any student under 16 years of age. (See the latest Bend-La Pine Family Spotlight for more info.) After our many advisory lessons and community messages, and after many concerned emails and phone calls from the community, we are pleased this policy will soon take effect. This is a public safety issue, and this policy parallels state law and plain common sense around e-bike and e-scooter ridership.

Finally, we were very surprised and pleased that one of our 8th graders, Reese Johnson, was recognized by President Biden this week! Last year Reese wrote a beautiful and powerful essay on the gender gap and wage discrimination. President Biden cited Reese’s essay as one of the reasons he continues to fight for gender equality, saying, on his social media post, that “When women thrive, we all thrive.”

Reese’s words and President Biden’s sentiments align with our efforts this month to highlight heroic American women for Women’s History Month. This week students learned about Amelia Earhart.

I hope you all get some rest and relaxation in the beautiful central Oregon sunshine!

Sean

Important! | April 10 | No-school day for Middle School Students

We have an important calendar update to share with you for our school conference week this spring. Wednesday, April 10, will be a NO SCHOOL day for middle school students, just as April 11 and 12 are scheduled NO SCHOOL days. Students in grades 6-8 will attend school April 8 and 9, and conferences with teachers will be held the evening of April 10, during the day on April 11, and the evening of April 11.

Elementary students already have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off during the April conference week, and now middle school students have the same three days off. This change, consistent with the recent collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the association representing our certified staff, provides teachers additional time to prepare for conferences with families.

Please update your calendars to reflect that April 10 is now a NO SCHOOL day for middle school students.

No habrá clases el 10 de abril para los de la secundaria

Tenemos una importante actualización de calendario para compartir con ustedes sobre la semana de conferencias escolares esta primavera. El miércoles, 10 de abril, será un día SIN CLASES para los estudiantes de la secundaria, al igual que el 11 y 12 de abril, que ya están programados como días SIN CLASES. Los estudiantes de los grados 6-8 asistirán a la escuela el 8 y 9 de abril, y las conferencias con los maestros se llevarán a cabo la noche del 10 de abril, durante el día del 11 de abril y la noche del 11 de abril.

Los estudiantes de primaria ya tienen libre el miércoles, jueves y viernes durante la semana de conferencias de abril, y ahora los estudiantes de la secundaria también tienen esos tres días libres. Este cambio, en línea con el reciente acuerdo de negociación colectiva con la asociación que representa a nuestro personal certificado, brinda a los maestros tiempo adicional para prepararse para las conferencias con las familias.

Por favor, actualicen sus calendarios para reflejar que el 10 de abril es ahora un día SIN CLASES para los estudiantes de la secundaria.

Mark your Calendar | Family Event Night | “Helping You Help Your Child”

Join us on Thursday, April 18 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Pacific Crest Middle School

Pacific Crest Middle School is partnering with Dr. Amy Yillik from Culture of Care and the Healthy Schools program to help you help your child be a more successful student!  Amy has over 30 years of experience helping teens, pre-teens, and the adults that love them.  She will share strategies for improving communication, navigating big feelings, promoting attendance, and dealing with conflict and other challenging behaviors. 

Join us for an evening of learning, connecting with other families, light refreshments, and raffle prizes. This is a FREE event, but registration is required for entry.  More about this event here!

REMINDERS! Student Drop-off and Pick-Up

Drivers should…

  • review our Drop-off / Pick-up Map
  • always be safe and courteous to one another
  • follow traffic laws and regulations at all times
  • pull as far forward as possible towards the bike racks at the north side of the school
  • pay attention when approaching campus and while in the parking lot
  • refrain from using cell phone while driving
  • slow it down

Students should…

  • exit and enter vehicle on the curb side
  • be prepared to safely and quickly exit and enter the vehicle at the curb

Golden Eagle Athletics

One week left for PCMS Track & Field Registration! The registration for Track & Field will close March 22nd at 5pm. LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Registration Process

VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Students become athletes only if all 3 of the following steps are complete. That means your student can not participate in any athletic events, camps, practices and/or games until they are cleared by the Athletic Secretary. Also, the registration closes per the dates listed above. No exceptions.

1. Register online through Family ID. Please do this first. FamilyID is a secure, user-friendly online registration platform that streamlines the application process and allows parents to enter information once for multiple family members and athletic teams. Need help with FamilyID, click here to view short tutorial.

2. $40 Participation Fee and any outstanding fines/fees paid through Touchbase, Bend La Pine Schools secure online payment portal.

3. Current sports physical on file. Make sure the main office has a current sports physical on file. All athletes need a current sports physical on file before the first day of practice.

New physical information: Sports physicals NOW expire 2 years from exam date and need to be renewed on a 2-year cycle to remain current. We encourage renewal between school years to avoid expiration during your sport season. Simply…for our upcoming spring sports season, physical forms must be dated on or after 6/1/2022 to be valid.

All physicals must be recorded on the OSAA Sports Physical Form or we can NOT accept it. Please be sure to print your the OSAA School Sports Pre-Participation Examination form before your appointment. Take it to your child’s sports physical appointment. When you have completed the sports physical, please turn it in to the school.

Important Dates and Information

Volunteering

We can also always use volunteers for the Track Meets. If you would like to volunteer, please use this link to sign up. Prior to any volunteering you must also be cleared with a background check. If you are not already cleared or are unsure if you are cleared, please follow this link.

PCMS Track & Field Gear

Our gear store for Track & Field is now open! To purchase any gear for the season, please go to https://myshirtbin.com/collections/pacific-crest-middle-school.

Please contact Rachel Larsen, Athletic Secretary, at [email protected] or 541.355.7807 if you have questions.

7th Grade Skyliner Field Trip Update and Thanks

We had three great field trips to Skyliner over the last week. Our 7th graders built snow shelters with Counselor Sarah; did team building with Counselor Abigail; hiked with their Science teachers and learned about avalanche safety with Alan Vellutini and two awesome parent volunteers: Tim Cunningham, Lisa Christensen, and Kevin Grove from COCC. Kids used beacons and probes to rescue a buried avalanche beacon. Parents donated hot cocoa and Strictly Organic donated hot water and cups. Thanks for all of your support with getting our kids outside to learn through experience!

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

Helpful Links

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