September 6, 2024

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Golden Eagle families,

We welcomed almost 600 students through our doors this week to start our 2024-25 school year. Amazing! It’s such a great feeling to get this big, beautiful building full of student laughter again. And our hard-working teachers and staff have created a warm, welcoming, safe environment for high levels of learning.

In advisory this week we introduced our campus-wide expectations, reviewed our “Big 4” rules, and started to create classroom community. In each area of the school, we want students to know exactly what safe, respectful, and responsible looks like.

Thanks to our parents who are following the district policy on e-bikes and e-scooters. Since the policy went into place last school year, we’ve had zero infractions here at PCMS. Thanks for your teamwork.

Enjoy your weekend, and see you Monday!

Sean

Checklist for Start of the Year Payments!

Annual iPad Insurance | $30 | highly recommended | deadline Monday, Sept. 9
PE Shirt – All students | $9.00 |required | deadline Monday, Sept. 9

Immediate Volunteers Needed!

Starting this Monday, we will be issuing iPads to students and we need a few volunteers to help. If you are available from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM on either or both days, please contact Deb Mullen at [email protected]. When responding, include which day and time period works for you. Please note that you must already be a cleared volunteer. If you are uncertain, Deb can check for you. Thanks for considering!

District-wide E-bike and E-Scooter Regulation

Just a reminder that as of April 8, 2024 there is a District Regulation in place regarding the use of e-bikes and e-scooters on all Bend-La Pine school campuses for any student under 16 years of age. (See Bend-La Pine Family Spotlight dated March 18, 2024 for more info.) This is a public safety issue, and this policy parallels state law and plain common sense around e-bike and e-scooter ridership.

Pacific Crest will enforce the regulation throughout the school year. Students will first be warned and parents contacted. After the first warning, we will hold the bike at school and only release the bike to the parent.

Important Message from Attendance Office | Student Early Release

Help us help you! If you require your student to be released from school early, it is critical that you contact the Attendance Office at least 30 minutes before you need your student released. You can send an email to [email protected] or call 541-355-7820 to leave a voicemail. Rest assured your message (email & phone) will get picked up within several minutes and a note will be delivered to your student. Walk-ins are not preferred, but happens from time to time. Expect to wait several minutes as we scramble to get your student.

Also, please do not call any other school phone line such as the main office. If you call a phone line other than the Attendance phone line, you will be immediately be transferred to the attendance message line automatically to leave a voicemail. Please also know that we do not have office aides at this time. Therefore, office support staff are required to leave their desks to run notes so please do you best to follow the above request and to plan ahead. We thank for your understanding of this process.

Photo Day is Coming!

Dorian Studios will be onsite, Thursday, September 26, to photograph all students and staff. To order student photo packets online with a credit card, simply click on this flyer or follow instructions below in English or Spanish. If you would rather pay with check, you may pick up an order form at the PCMS main office. If you have any questions, contact Dorian Studio Support or call 1-800-826-3535. Please note: Late orders will be be accepted up to 4 days following photo day with no additional fee.

  • Go to dorianstudio.com and search for Pacific Crest Middle School
  • Select the order button from the appropriate photo day
  • Complete your transaction
  • Visita dorianstudio.com y busca en tu escuela
  • Haga clic en el boton de predio para la fecha correcta de la foto
  • Competa la transaccion

Volunteering at PCMS: Information & Process

We love volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering at PCMS and are not currently cleared to do so, please go to the BLS Volunteer webpage for all the information you need to become a BLS Volunteer.

Advisory at Pacific Crest

During advisory this year we will deliver our social-emotional learning lessons. Staff will use the Wayfinder curriculum, which is “research-backed and incorporates meaning-making, critical thinking, and future-ready skills in order to connect classroom learning to the real world.”

One to two days a week, students will have the opportunity to use our  Advisory time for study hall or sustained silent reading. Students will also regularly take part in grade level and school-wide team building activities. 

Occasionally, we have extra time in Advisory. We would like to keep students off their iPads and instead offer opportunities for students to play small group games. PCMS is collecting new and lightly used games that can be shared in our classrooms. We would love to have the following games donated at the start of this school year if you are able to do so: deck of cards, Uno, Bananagrams, chess, checkers, Apples to Apples, Battleship, and Jenga. You may drop them off at the PCMS Main Office. Thank you for your consideration!

What is the Family Access Network | FAN?

FAN advocates work with ALL families with children birth age through graduation. They are here for you in all circumstances. If you have needs around clothing, school supplies, food, rent or utility help, or enrolling in Oregon Health Plan, please reach out to your FAN advocate. Advocates have offices in your child’s school and are available via phone, email or text. Their goal is to make sure that your child has everything they need to be ready to learn. To read more about FAN please visit: familyaccessnetwork.org

Sarah Bolling is our FAN Advocate at Pacific Crest. She also serves High Lakes Elementary, Miller Elementary and Ponderosa Elementary. Sarah can be reach via text, phone or email. Her contact information is below.

GET TO & FROM SCHOOL IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER

Safety is a primary concern this week as students return to school. That begins with all of us doing our part to make sure students have safe ways to travel to and from school, whether by bus or car, bike or scooter, or on foot.

Students and families may experience some congestion and confusion outside schools this week. It will get better! Here’s how DRIVERS can help:

  • Slow down and watch for students making their way to buses, walking or rolling to school, and crossing streets and parking areas.
  • If you are dropping off or picking up your student at school, please plan for some extra time and be patient with the line.

STUDENTS & FAMILIES, here’s what we’d like you to know about getting to school:

SAFE ROUTES: We have fun, safe and convenient walking/biking routes to many of our schools. See all 19 Safe Routes for Bend-La Pine Schools at commuteoptions.org/safe-routes-to-school

ABOUT E-BIKES: Students 16 and older legally may operate e-bikes in Oregon. Anyone under 16 may not, according to state law. Be aware of this and use e-bikes legally and responsibly.

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET if using a bike, scooter, skateboard or other wheeled device.

WATCH YOUR SPEED! The start of school brings more traffic around our schools and along key routes. Please slow down in high-traffic areas and around pedestrians.

DISMOUNT AND WALK your bike, scooter or skateboard when on school property. We ask that you not ride on school grounds, before or after school.

__________________

LLEGAR Y SALIR DE LA ESCUELA DE MANERA SEGURA Y RESPONSABLE

La seguridad es una preocupación principal esta semana cuando los estudiantes regresan a la escuela. Eso comienza cuando todos hacemos nuestra parte para garantizar que los estudiantes tengan formas seguras de viajar hacia y desde la escuela, ya sea en autobús, automóvil, bicicleta, monopatín  o a pie.

Los estudiantes y las familias pueden experimentar cierta congestión y confusión fuera de las escuelas esta semana. ¡Se pondrá mejor! Así es como CONDUCTORES pueden ayudar:

  • Reduzca la velocidad y observe a los estudiantes que se dirigen a los autobuses, caminan o ruedan hacia la escuela y cruzan calles y áreas de estacionamiento.
  • Si va a dejar o recoger a su estudiante en la escuela, planifique algo de tiempo adicional y tenga paciencia con la fila.

ESTUDIANTES Y FAMILIAS , esto es lo que nos gustaría que supiera sobre cómo llegar a la escuela:

RUTAS SEGURAS:  Contamos con rutas divertidas, seguras y convenientes para caminar o andar en bicicleta a muchas de nuestras escuelas. Vea las 19 rutas seguras para las escuelas de Bend-La Pine en commuteoptions.org/safe-routes-to-school

ACERCA DE LAS BICICLETAS ELECTRÓNICAS: Los estudiantes mayores de 16 años pueden operar legalmente bicicletas eléctricas en Oregón. Cualquier persona menor de 16 años no puede hacerlo, según la ley estatal. Sea consciente de esto y utilice las bicicletas eléctricas de forma legal y responsable.

SIEMPRE USE UN CASCO si usa una bicicleta, scooter, patineta u otro dispositivo con ruedas.

¡CUIDE SU VELOCIDAD! El inicio de clases trae más tráfico alrededor de nuestras escuelas y a lo largo de rutas clave. Reduzca la velocidad en áreas de mucho tráfico y alrededor de peatones.

DESMONTE Y CAMINE su bicicleta, monopatín o patineta cuando esté en propiedad escolar. Le pedimos que no monten en los terrenos de la escuela, antes o después de la escuela.

Mark your Calendar

  • Sept. 26| School Photo Day
  • Sep. 26 | Back to School Night (more to come soon)
  • Oct. 30 – 31 | Conferences (more to come soon)
  • Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 | No School due to Conferences
  • Nov. 5 | School Photo Retake Day
  • Nov. 11 | No School | Veteran’s Day
  • Nov. 25 – 29 | No School | Thanksgiving Week
  • Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 | No School | Winter Break
  • Jan. 20 | No School | Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Jan. 31 | No School | End of 1st Semester
  • Mar. 23 – 28 | No School | Spring Break
  • Apr. 11 | Spring Fling Dance |4:00 – 6:00
  • Apr. 16 – 17 | Conferences
  • Apr. 16 – 18 | No School due to Conferences
  • May 26 | No School | Memorial Day
  • June 12 | Last Day of School

Helpful Links

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