News from the Nest

Upcoming Lockdown Drill

This Tuesday, October 25^th we will be running a lockdown drill at PCMS. All the drills we do are not only required by Oregon law, but prepare staff, students and our community on how to respond in the event of an emergency. We take these drills seriously, and we expect our students to take them seriously as well. Our students and staff have prepared for the drill by watching a Standard Response Protocol video in Advisory last week, and subsequently discussing specific safety plans with our School Resource Officer. During our drill, Bend Police Department will be on site to support our efforts. You can find more information about Standard Response Protocol (SRP) in the following guides.

• English Version
• Spanish Version

Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off

Overall, student drop-off & pick-up has been going well, however there are still things we need to improve. [I know this feels like a lot to read, but please keep going . . . it’s important!]

For the safety of our students, staff and others, we ask that everyone entering the parking lot be cautious, courteous, alert and follow signage and guidance. Please take time to review our Drop-off / Pick-up Map.

During morning dropping off and afternoon pick-up please pull as far forward as possible towards the bike racks at the north side of the school, make sure your student(s) are prepared to make a quick exit from or entry into the right side of your vehicle. Please continue to move forward slowly, stay in line and move through the line towards the parking lot exit.

For the safety of students and better flow of traffic, we are asking drivers of students to STOP dropping off and picking up in the parking lot which leads to an increase in congestion, as cars have to stop while staff escorts students through the crosswalk and cars re-entering the flow of traffic to exit the parking lot does further stall the line. We also ask that your student(s) are picked up and dropped off at the red curb only.

Bike Safety (including E-bikes)

We would like to commend the high number of students who ride their bikes to school each day, it’s impressive to see the number of bikes in the bike racks (and elsewhere, as the bike racks are typically overflowing) each day. If your student rides their bike to school, please help them be safe by requiring helmet use and the proper following of traffic laws. It’s important to know that we do not permit bikes to be ridden anywhere on campus, as cars and busses are trying to focus on navigating a crowded parking lot and it is not safe to co-mingle cyclists, scooter-riders or skateboarders and our students and staff walking or standing on the sidewalks.

Additionally, if your student rides an e-bike to school, we’d like to specifically address that we have received a number of emails and phone calls from parents and people in our surrounding neighborhoods reporting students riding e-bikes in an unsafe manner, including having multiple passengers on the bike, zigging in-and-out of traffic, riding on the sidewalk, and riding without helmets. Here is a good primer on some basic bike safety tips.

In addition, here is a pocket guide on two-wheeled modes of transportation that outlines the legality of operating each. In short, the operation of E-Bikes on public roads is restricted to those individuals 16 years of age or older.

Important Social & Dance Updates | Friday, October 28, 2022

• Thank you to those folks who have signed up to donate food and decor items insure our students an enjoyable event. Click here for social & dance flyer. There are still a few items we need, so please click here if you are able to help. Donations can be dropped at the Main Office before 1:00pm on Thursday, 10/27.
• We are NOT selling tickets at the door. Tickets will only be pre-sold Monday, 10/24 – Thursday, 10/27 before school and at lunch in the Upper Nest and in the Main Office any other time throughout the day.
• If a student is in need financial assistance for this event, please contact our FAN Advocate, Heidi Odman at [email protected] by Wednesday, October 26.

Delays, Early Release or Closures

• School Closure: Schools are closed for the day due to weather or emergency. In this scenario, the school building will not be used. Unless otherwise noted, all evening meetings and activities are cancelled.
• Delayed Start: School will have a delayed start. Most often, this is a two-hour delay. In this scenario, buses will run two hours later than normal schedule and will drive slowly, adjusting to conditions and may be delayed.
• Early Release: Students who ride the bus can be released early in order to give the buses extra time to complete routes.
• Early Closure: Schools may be closed early due to weather or emergency. In this scenario, the school building will not be used. Unless otherwise noted, all evening meetings and activities are cancelled, including KidsInc.

Always refer to the BLS Website for the most up-to-date information regarding the above.

Sixth Grade Identity Week

Last week, all sixth graders participated in Identity Week! Students worked in their community classes to consider who they are as people and students to create the following final products:  

• a video introducing themselves as a scientist
• a plaster mask of their own face–decorated with symbols that represent their unique identities and an artist statement explaining their work
• an original “I Am From” poem to share what has most significantly shaped them into the people they are today
• images from Tech Design and artist notebooks

The project culminated in an after-school Identity Showcase for students to share their work with friends and family as an authentic audience. 

Fantastic work sixth graders! We are all so proud of you!!

Spirit Week

Get your SPIRIT on! Our first spirit week kicks off on Monday, October 31st, and we are looking forward to students and staff dressing up thematically to show their school spirit.

• Monday, 10/31: Halloween Costumes
• Tuesday, 11/1: PJ Day
• Wednesday, 11/2: School Colors
• Thursday, 11/3: Twin Day
• Friday, 11/4: Neon Day

When selecting costumes for the week, we are directing students to put some thought into their costumes to avoid costumes that are offensive, mock cultural or religious symbols or beliefs, trivialize human suffering or oppression. For more info, see these guidelines. Additionally, the increasingly popular blow-up costumes are not allowed, as they are too large. Students not in line with our expectations will have to call home to change clothes.

Girls Middle School Basketball Registration Now Open

This is a joint program between Bend-La Pine School District and Bend Park & Recreation District. The middle school basketball program is open to all girls who are in grades 6 – 8 for the 2022 – 23 school year and live in the Bend-La Pine School District. This program emphasizes skill development, maximum participation, good sportsmanship and fun. Teams will practice during the week. Games will be played on weeknights. Uniform tops are provided. Registration deadline is December 20th or until FULL. Space is limited and filling up quickly! Click here to register.

BLS Board of Directors Work Session | October 25, 2022, at 5:30pm

The public is welcome to attend the meeting either in-person or via BLS SchoolBoard YouTube. To Request to Attend an in-person meeting, please complete the Google Form linked here. If assistance is required to complete the request to attend form, please contact the District Office, 541-355-1000. When meeting in person, audience capacity is limited to 50. Advance sign up is recommended, but not required. If more people request to attend than can be accommodated, the selection of attendees will be determined randomly from the requests received. ALL individuals wishing to attend, including staff, are encouraged to sign up in advance and are required to check in at the main entrance.

Representatives from the news media are welcome to attend without advance sign up, but are asked to check in at the main entrance upon arrival.

The agenda and meeting packet are available here.

Calendar

• Oct. 24 | Volleyball (7th & 8th) vs. Crook County Middle School | 4:15pm @ Crook County MS
• Oct. 25 | Photo Retake Day
• Oct. 25 | Connect Parent Workshop | 6:00pm | PCMS Library
• Oct. 26 | Volleyball (7th & 8th) vs. Sisters Middle School | 4pm @ PCMS
• Oct. 26 | Football (7th) vs CMS | 5:15pm @ SHS
• Oct. 26 | Football (8th) vs. CMS | 7pm @ SHS
• Oct. 28 | Halloween Social/Dance | 4:00 – 6:00pm
• Oct. 31 | Spirit Week

Helpful Links

• 2022 Bond Measure (English & Spanish)
• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• PCMS Event Calendar
• BLS News | Family Spotlight
• Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

Principal’s Hello

Hey, everyone! We had another great week here at Pacific Crest Middle School. Our students are jazzed for the upcoming Monster Mash Dance (Fri, 10/28), our students are cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria, and the 8th graders are living into their leadership roles more and more every week. Just yesterday we had a fire drill, and we evacuated, cleared the building, accounted for all students, and reentered the building under nine minutes. This morning, our School Resource Officer from the Bend Police Department, Officer Schaier, led us through effective lockdown protocols. We will be ready for our next lockdown drill.

Electronic Device Policy

We’ve had a few students texting parents during class, asking to get picked up if they don’t feel well. Please work with us, and remind your student that phone calls or texts are to be made in the front office, not in class or the bathroom. We can even provide students a private space in the main office if they wish to speak privately to you. We have a strict electronic device policy from 8:50 AM to 3:45 PM, and we appreciate your teamwork on this very important school rule. For the most part, our students have been following this rule, and, as a result, we have had very few incidents of social media harassment, harassment in general, or lost or broken phones.

Bikes on Campus

Please remind your student to wear their helmets and to walk their bikes while on campus. They’re pretty good about doing this, but sometimes a student forgets and rides their bike quickly through crowds. We want to avoid accidents, so please remind your student to ride carefully, wear their helmet, and to always walk their bikes on campus.

Student Health Survey

All across the Bend-La Pine School district, our 6th, 8th, and 11th graders are taking the Student Health Survey from the Oregon Department of Education. The survey is anonymous and asks students about their health and wellness decisions. Here’s a letter that goes into more detail. If you don’t want your student to participate, please complete the bottom portion of the letter, and return it to the main office.

Student-Led Conferences

A handful of our teachers have filled up their conference slots. We apologize for that and wish we could host more conferences. 

Feel free to reach out to an individual teacher with whom you’re wanting to meet (perhaps a week or two after conferences). Many times teachers are willing to meet in person, chat on the phone or Webex, or send you a personalized update about your individual student. 

Also, your student will be presenting to you at home about each of their classes. This will be a Google slide presentation, which, in conjunction with ParentVue, will give you some insight into their academic performance in each class. 

Identity and Relationships

At Pacific Crest we believe that identity and relationships are foundational to learning and living in a caring community. In order to help build this type of community, our Student Services department likes to hear from our students firsthand how they are doing. On Monday October 24th , the school counseling team will survey students regarding their academics, college and career and social well-being to develop supports and interventions. This survey is optional, and students may opt out at any time during the survey.  If you have questions regarding this survey, please contact the school counselors at: 

• Abigail Clark (students A-L) 
• [email protected]
• 541.355.7854

• Sarah Girard (students K-Z) 
• [email protected]
• 541.355.7853

Picture Retake Day | Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Did your student miss picture day on September 12 or want a new picture taken? If so, Dorian Studios will be onsite soon and your student will be called out of class to have photo taken or retaken. Retake Day Flyer in English & Spanish

Do not miss out on ordering pictures of your student. Orders may be placed online by searching for Pacific Crest Middle School at mydorian.com and then selecting the green ORDER button next retake day event on October 25. Online orders are available up to four (4) days after retake day.

IMPORTANT: If you already ordered the original packet and want a new picture of your student taken, please be sure your student returns their original picture packet to the photographer on retake day. Contact Dorian’s Customer Service if you have any questions at 800/825-3535.

Fall Monster Mash Social & Dance | Friday, October 28, 2022

As promised, with the help of our WEB Leaders, we are bringing back student socials starting this month! See below details and this flyer. Tickets will be pre-sold Monday, 10/24 – Thursday, 10/27 before school and at lunch in the Upper Nest and in the Main Office any other time. We highly encourage students to purchase tickets on these days.

Parents, we could really use your help supporting this event to insure our students an evening of fun and food! Click here to view and sign up for items we need delivered to the office no later than 1:00 on Thursday, October 27.

• SOCIAL DATE: Friday, October 28
• TIME: 4:00 – 6:00pm
• COSTS: Admission $2.00 | Admission & Pizza Meal $5.00 (pizza slice, drink, dessert)
• FOOD ITEMS: Pizza Slice | Drink | Cookie | Candy Bag | Bag-o-Popcorn – $1.00 each
• ACTIVITIES: Dancing | Bingo | Basketball | Photo Booth

Lost & Found

Students are responsible for checking lost and found regularly throughout the school year. PCMS will not be held responsible for items that are not claimed. All unclaimed lost and found items will be donated to a local charity in need on the following dates. 

• Friday, October 21, 2022
• Friday, December 16, 2022
• Friday, March 24, 2023
• Friday, June 16, 2023

Family Access Network Snack Donation

Heidi Odman, our site FAN Advocate is in need of donations to stock snack food for our students who are in need of a little bit more to get through the day. If you wish to support this cause, below are the items Heidi is asking for. You may drop items off at the Attendance Office during school hours. We greatly appreciate your support.

• protein bars
• oatmeal packets
• cup o’noodles
• juice boxes
• apple sauce cups or pouches
• cups & spoons

Calendar

• Oct.17 | Football (7th) vs. EGMS | 5:15pm @ Jaqua Sports Complex (Redmond)
• Oct.17 | Football (8th) vs. EGMS | 7:00pm @ Jaqua Sports Complex (Redmond)
• Oct.17 | Volleyball (7th) vs. LPMS | 5:15pm @ LPMS
• Oct.17 | Volleyball (8th) vs. Three Rivers | 5:15pm @ Three Rivers K-8
• Oct. 18 | XC Districts Meet (All Middle Schools) | 3:00pm @ PCMS
• Oct. 19 | Volleyball (7th & 8th) vs. PBMS | 4:15pm @ PCMS
• Oct. 19 | Conferences (school in session)
• Oct. 20 | Conferences (no school)
• Oct. 21 | No School
• Oct. 25 | Photo Retake Day
• Oct. 25 | Connect Parent Workshop | 6:00pm | PCMS Library
• Oct. 28 | Halloween Social/Dance | 4:00 – 6:00pm

Helpful Links

• 2022 Bond Measure (English & Spanish)
• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• PCMS Event Calendar
• BLS News | Family Spotlight
• Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

Principal’s Hello

Happy Friday, Golden Eagle families! It was another great week here at Pacific Crest.

Our teachers had a workshop on Wednesday where we learned strategies around expectation setting and non-verbal communication.

Our 8th grade class had a mini assembly on Thursday, where I pumped them up as school leaders and told them they would be the best 8th grade class to ever graduate from PCMS. (They applauded.) I want them to avoid the victim mindset of school disruption from COVID and to view this experience and something that will make them stronger and more resilient. They will rise to this challenge because I see that in them!

Student Clubs Begin! | Monday, October 10

During advisory today, students were made aware of the current club offerings to chose from and viewed this slideshow. Albeit, the club selections are minimal at this point, but be aware that students may suggest a club by completing and following instructions on application form. We will continue to update this club offerings as clubs get approved by the principal. All clubs are optional.

6th Grade Community Identity Showcase | Wednesday, October 12 | 6:00 – 7:00pm

Who am I as a person? As a student? At the beginning of the year, the most important journey we can embark upon as a community is creating a strong class connection that will greatly benefit our relationship for the duration of the year. This mini-project serves as an opportunity to introduce our individual identities and establish our collective identity.

The Identity Showcase will show each student’s final products in a gallery walk style. Guests and students will walk around to different student’s stations to learn about the different identities that make up our entire community.

Connect Parent Workshop | Tuesday, October 25 | 6:00 – 8:00pm

PCMS will be hosting a FREE two-hour opportunity for parents and guardians to learn factual, unbiased information and skills to start a conversation with their kids about vaping and other drugs.

Participants will receive a $15 gift certificate! Registration is required. Please contact [email protected] or scan the QR code.

Fall Dance & Social | Friday, October 28 | 4:00 – 6:00pm

We are happy to announce the first, in a very long time, all school dance at PCMS. More details will follow next week as our 8th grade WEB leaders continue to plan this event. There will be a DJ and other activities for students to enjoy. Costumes are encouraged but must follow district dress code guidelines. Faces must not be covered. And we ask for your help that costumes are not appropriating other cultures. (We are teaching this in Advisory as well.)

Calendar

• Oct. 10 | Volleyball (7th) vs. SVMS | 5:15pm @ PCMS Gym
• Oct. 10 | Volleyball (8th) vs. SVMS | 5:15pm @ Sky View MS
• Oct. 12 | 6th Grade Community Identity Showcase | 6:00 – 7:00pm
• Oct. 12 | Volleyball (7th) vs. HDMS | 4:15pm @ High Desert MS
• Oct. 12 | Volleyball (8th) vs. HDMS | 4:15pm @ PCMS Gym
• Oct. 12 | Football (7th) vs. SVMS | 5:15pm @ Summit HS
• Oct. 12 | Football (8th) vs. SVMS | 7pm @ Summit HS
• Oct. 13 | XC Meet | 5:15pm | Cascade MS
• Oct. 25 | Photo Retake Day
• Oct. 25 | Connect Parent Workshop | 6:00pm | PCMS Library
• Oct. 28 | Halloween Social/Dance | 4:00 – 6:00pm

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• PCMS Event Calendar
• BLS News | Family Spotlight
• Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

Principal’s Hello

THANK YOU to everyone who came to Back to School Night! We had a successful turnout, and our teachers were excited to meet you all. Thank you for your kind words and for all your support. It’s going to be a great year!

We apologize to all the football families who couldn’t make it to Back to School Night. We have sports events, literally, every night of the week, and there’s always overlap with our school events. We’ll work harder next semester to space out our major events. It’ll never be perfect, but we’ll do better. We owe that to you.

October and April Conferences

We’re voting as a staff today about our conference schedule. In next week’s “News from the Nest,” we’ll lay out your schedule options, and you’ll have a chance to sign up for conferences.

This is a great opportunity for folks to meet teachers if they couldn’t attend Back to School Night. It’s also a chance to have deeper conversations about your child’s work habits and demonstrated skills here at school.

Halloween Costumes

We’re allowing students to dress up for Halloween this year. We believe this creates a fun and festive atmosphere that’s good for school culture. While we have fun, we want to ensure we’re kind and responsible as well.

Please monitor what your student’s plans are for their costume. Is it a group costume? If so, is anyone left out from the group? Is it a mask? We cannot have faces covered. It is scary? We can’t have overwhelming gore that disrupts the learning process. The costume must follow the district dress code as well, which is in your family handbook.

Finally, just as our cultural awareness and sensitivities evolve, so must the ways we celebrate. We will not allow costumes that mimic or make fun of another culture. This is called cultural appropriation. If you Google the term, you’ll find this definition: “the inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.”

We’ll be giving a lesson in Advisory about this well before Halloween, but we wanted you to hear about it first since your student might be asking you to buy them a costume soon. If you’re not sure about a costume idea, just ask!

Community Invited to Apply to Vacant Board Seat

Applications due October 11; appointee to fill term through June 2023

Bend-La Pine Schools’ Board of Directors is seeking applicants to fill a vacant seat, Zone 7 at large. Applicants must reside within a Deschutes County voting precinct, have resided within a Deschutes County voting precinct for at least one year, reside within Bend-La Pine Schools’ attendance area and be registered to vote. 

Applications are due October 11 at 4 p.m. Visit the Board of Directors’ webpage for details on how to apply (applicants must share a resume, residency attestation form from the webpage and a letter of interest following the prompt on the website.) 

Finalists will be selected Nov. 8 and a final appointee will be sworn in Dec. 13. The individual will be appointed to serve through June 20, 2023 (the appointee may choose to file for the May 2023 election.)

Bias Lessons in Advisory

District wide, our students here in Bend and La Pine are learning about unconscious bias and how that affects equity, inclusion, and belonging on our campuses. At the middle schools, we’re delivering these lessons in Advisory. Here’s a letter from our district’s director of diversity, equity, and inclusion explaining these lessons. We encourage you to ask your student about these lessons.

Deadline Reminder: iPad Insurance Purchases

The link to purchase iPad insurance will be removed from TouchBase at the end of the day today, Friday, September 30. We highly recommend that you purchase this insurance. To replace an iPad that is not covered by insurance is $250 and to repair an iPad that is not covered by insurance is $150. There is a “family cap” of $60.00 For more info, go to the Bend La Pine iPad Information Page.

To purchase insurance, log onto Touchbase using your student’s ID # and last name to pay for the annual iPad insurance ($30).  If you wish to purchase iPad insurance for your student AFTER today your student will need to do take their iPad in for inspection to Ms. Hanna in the Media Center to ensure no prior damage has occurred. If it passes inspection based on district requirements, the main office will contact you regarding $30 payment.

iPad Tips

• All iPads must be in an in-tact case (front and back cover)
• Help kids succeed by creating a routine of charging the iPad each night.  A dead iPad can’t “do school”.  Chargers tend to get lost/taken at school.  A fully charged iPad will last all day when used appropriately for school. 
• Always use the iPad charger that came with the iPad.  Phone chargers are underpowered. If their charger is lost they can buy a new one.  The brick is $20, the cord is $10.

Dorian Student Photo Packets

For those of you who purchased student photo, the packets arrived and have been distributed to your student during today’s advisory. So remember to ask your student about them today.

If you did not purchase a photo packet, your student will come home with a brochure with instructions and access key to purchase a packet online.

An Important & Friendly Reminder: Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off

As we mentioned in several earlier blogs, due to the construction on NW Crosby Drive construction, we ask that everyone be patient and refer to this map with instructions to help navigate a safe and prompt student drop-off / pick-up at the PCMS red curb. Dangerous and inconsiderate actions have been observed and reported to the main office by multiple people who are following the instructions in place per this map. Please share this map and the below instructions with your caregivers, students and others that may be dropping off and/or picking up students.

• Do not use NW Lolo Drive due to buses entering and exiting the bus loop.
• Approach school parking lot by entering NW Elwood Lane from NW Skyliners Road.
• Take the first right into Pacific Crest MS parking lot, not the second right.
• Approach the red drop-off curb and move as far along the curb as possible (near bike rack).
• Drop your student(s) quickly, but safely at the red curb.
• Do not have students exit vehicle on the drivers side.
• Exit the parking lot by ONLY turning left onto NW Elwood Lane.
• Follow NW Elwood Lane back to NW Skyliners Road.
• During pick-up, do not ask your student(s) to meet you on Elwood. This is very dangerous and slows the flow of traffic. Ask them to wait for you at the red curb.
• Or park in a parking space and text your student your location.

We appreciate your patience during this time and will update you as the roads open back up for normal use.

Enlace para las Familia Latinas

Queridos Padres de Familia y Tutores.  Mi nombre es Gloria Kosiba, estoy encantada de servirles como Enlace para las Familias Latinas este ciclo escolar. 

Mi Misión es mejorar la experiencia educativa y lograr el éxito académico de nuestros estudiantes. Information flyer.

Calendar

• Oct. 3 | Volleyball (7th) vs. PBMS | 5:15pm @ PCMS Gym
• Oct. 3 | Volleyball (8th) vs. PBMS | 5:15pm @ Pilot Butte MS
• Oct. 4 | XC Meet | 5:15pm | Pilot Butte MS
• Oct. 5 | Football (7th) vs. CMS | 5:15pm @ PCMS
• Oct. 5 | Football (8th) vs. CMS | 7pm @ Cascade MS
• Oct. 5 | Volleyball (7th) vs. CMS | 4:15pm @ Cascade MS
• Oct. 5 | Volleyball (8th) vs. CMS | 4:15pm @ PCMS
• Oct. 25 | Photo Retake Day

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• PCMS Event Calendar
• BLS News | Family Spotlight
• Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

Principal’s Hello

What a great week it was at PCMS! The sun is shining, and students are settling into their routines. In order to continue the calm and orderly lunch and recess time from the rest of the week, we transitioned to two lunches on Wednesday, and the students nailed it.

We hope to see you all this Wednesday, September 28 at Back to School Night! Remember that first period starts at 6:00 PM. Don’t get a tardy! (I will be in the cafeteria with our assistant principal and dean of students starting at 5:30 PM. Come early! We’d love to meet you!)

Doors Open at 8:35 AM

We’ve heard from a few people that we should open our doors earlier. For the time being, all middle schools have an 8:35 AM opening. This is when the kitchen is ready for breakfast service and is what we are staffed for and can supervise. Our district opening time for the middle schools is 8:35 AM. If we were to open the doors earlier, the students would be unsupervised, and it would not be safe. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Counselors’ Survey

Here at Pacific Crest, we believe a strong relationship between our school staff and our families allows us to create a partnership that leads to great outcomes for all of our learners. Our Counseling Department plays a huge role in fostering that relationship, as they are the resources in our building for students and families alike to utilize to get a wide range of information to help navigate the formative adolescent years. In order to help them learn how to best serve your individual student(s) and the community at large, our Counseling Department has created a Google Form to gain more information about your student’s personality, goals, and needs – as well as how they might be a better resource for you as a parent. Please take a few moments to complete the form and help them in their work.

iPad Reminders for Students

To allow for learning success, we ask that guardians remind their students of the following information to be prepared for class each day.

• iPad insurance purchase by date
• All iPads must be in an intact case (front and back cover)
• Help kids succeed by creating a routine of charging the iPad each night. A dead iPad can’t “do school.” Chargers tend to get lost/taken at school.  A fully charged iPad will last all day when used appropriately for school. 
• Always use the iPad charger that came with the iPad.  Phone chargers are underpowered. If their charger is lost they can buy a new one.  The brick is $20, the cord is $10.

Athletics Attendance Policy

The Bend/La Pine School District requires athletes to be in class for the entire day of a contest and/or practice in order to participate. If the athlete has an excused medical appointment, we understand. However, if the athlete is missing class(es) because of an illness or other absence where they were not well enough to be in school, they will be unable to participate in practice or contest that day. Athletes are also expected to be in school, on time, the day following an athletic event. Thank you for understanding and for your partnership.

From Summit HS Athletic Director

Thank you for the amazing turnout at our Summit HS sports contests! We do need to remind our middle school students of a few things, however:

Any spectator not following the OSAA/Bend-LaPine district guidelines for sportsmanship may be banned from further contests. We do not allow backpacks, skateboards, or balls into the game. Please leave these at home. Digital tickets can be purchased ahead of time at  www.bit.ly/sh-athletics.

Calendar

• Sept. 26 | Volleyball vs. HDMS | 7th Grade 5:15pm @ PCMS | 8th Grade 5:15pm @ HDMS
• Sept. 28 | Back to School Night | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
• Sept. 28 | Football vs. PBMS | 7th Grade 5:15pm @ MVHS | 8th Grade 7pm @ MVHS
• Sept. 28 | 7th Grade Volleyball vs. 3Rivers | 5:15pm @ PCMS
• Sept. 28 | 8th Grade Volleyball vs. La Pine MS | 5:15pm @ PCMS
• Sept. 29 | XC vs. 3 Rivers, LPMS, PBMS & Bend Int’l| PCMS | 5:15pm
• Oct. 25 | Photo Retake Day

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• PCMS Event Calendar
• BLS News | Family Spotlight
• Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

Principal’s Hello

We made it through Week Two. It was a tough week for us as a staff, but we hold each other in high esteem and help each other through our ups and downs. I’m honored to be a part of this staff and to serve this community. Thank you to everyone who reached out with support, to everyone who enters our building with good cheer and a collaborative spirit, and to everyone who supports our students as they navigate these middle school years.

Back to School Night

Remember that Wednesday, September 28 is Back to School Night! We will open our doors at 5:30 PM for a meet and greet with our administrative team. First period will begin at 6:00 PM. Don’t get a tardy! (We will have maps for you. Make sure you know your student’s schedule, which you can find in ParentVue.)

Student Behavior

Overall, student behavior this year has been stellar. We do have more tardies than we like, but we hope to tighten that up in the coming weeks. We’ve had a handful of kids using cell phones or running in the halls, but, by and large, students understand our expectations and follow through with their obligations.

Behavior at The Grove

We’re including this in support of our colleagues at Summit High School. The businesses in The Grove are already concerned about behaviors they are witnessing from our students (primarily high school students). Please support our collective efforts as a community to clarify expectations and hold our young folks accountable to the collective good. Northwest Bend is a special place, and we want to keep it that way by working together as a tight-knit group of parents, guardians, business owners, and residents.

Air Quality

We had indoor recess a couple days this week due to poor air quality. Luckily, it cleared up as the week went on, and we allowed kids to run around outside and expend some energy. So you know, as a district, we use the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s air quality data and follow a common rubric to make site-based decisions about outdoor PE and recess.

First Fire Drill

We had our first fire drill today, and it went very well! The students exited quietly and orderly in lines, and everyone was accounted for and stayed where they needed to be at our evacuation site. We staggered our return back into the building and continued with the academics. We expect all our drills to go as well as this first drill.

Volunteers/Visitors

We are excited to bring volunteers back this year to assist with special projects in classrooms, field trips, and athletics programs this school year. We know many of you are eager to volunteer as well.

Not every classroom teacher or athletic coach will have a need for volunteers. If your student’s teacher or coach does have a need for volunteers, you will receive follow up communication from them outlining the potential duties, time slots available, and the process for how to sign up. 

Calendar

• Sept. 21 | Football vs. HDMS | Summit HS Stadium | 5:15pm (7th) | 7pm (8th)
• Sept. 21 | XC meet | Sky View Middle School | 4pm
• Sept. 28 | Back to School Night | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
• Oct. 25 | Photo Retake Day

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS News | Family Spotlight
• Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

Message from the Principal

Happy first Friday, Golden Eagle Family!

We had a super few days back to school with your students. We welcomed students on day one with a pom-pom gauntlet, reviewed our “Big 4” expectations (electronic devices, backpacks, bathrooms, tardies), and taught our 600 students how we rotate through lunch and recess. Our students stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park!

Back to School Night – Wednesday, September 28

We’re thrilled for the return of an old-fashioned Back to School Night. We’ll start at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, September 28, in the Nest (our cafeteria), and you’ll then visit each class in your student’s schedule, meeting your student’s teachers and learning more about the curriculum.

Student Photo Day…this Monday!

Dorian Studios will be onsite, Monday, September 12, 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: you will have an opportunity to purchase online after Monday, September 12, but the cost to you will be slightly higher.

• 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

Canvas Observer Support for Guardians

If you are a guardian needing support becoming a Canvas observer of your student, please click this Flyer for a user friendly to guide to help you through the process.

Next Week’s News from the Nest

Upcoming October Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences (dates?)

Calendar

• Sept. 12 | School Portrait Day (see info above for detail)
• Sept. 21 | Football vs. HDMS | Summit HS Stadium | 5:15pm (7th) | 7pm (8th)
• Sept. 28 | Back to School Night | 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS News | Family Spotlight

Principal’s Message

Hey, PCMS Families!

We just finished a powerful week with our teachers and support staff here at Pacific Crest! Our 8th grade WEB Leaders trained with our WEB Coordinators, focusing on supporting our 6th graders. (As you know, Wednesday, September 7 is 6th grade only. It’s going to be so much fun!)

We also had deep, collaborative discussion about our “Big 4” policies for students. We believe these policies will help our students focus on high-level instruction, the core purpose of our school. We also believe these policies will help with student behavior generally and will keep our campus more safe and more orderly. We can’t have fun if we don’t feel safe.

I know you might have questions or concerns about a policy. That is okay! Just know that these policies come from years and years of experience working with this age group of students–experience in classrooms, experience supervising campus, experience working with families.

We’re so excited for the 2022-23 school year. We are the best at getting better here at PCMS, and our goal is to continuously improve our academic service model to our community.

Take care, and see you soon!

Sean Keating

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. If you need to contact your student, please call the front office, and we will deliver the message to your student. Likewise, if a student needs to call you at any time, they may get a pass to the front office and call you. We can give them a private space, as well, if this is preferred.

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

A tardy is when a student enters a classroom after the tardy bell (the bell that starts class). This year, we will also have a 1-minute-warning bell. Students will have plenty of time to get to any classroom on campus, even if they use the restroom and go to their locker. After three tardies, we will notify families, and students will have an attendance goal. 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. Only 1 student will leave class at a time, with a hall pass. Also, students have 5 minutes to use the restroom and return to class. If a student takes more than 5 minutes, the teacher will have a private discussion with the student to remind them of the policy and to ensure that everything is okay.

If a student is using the bathroom everyday, and teachers suspect work avoidance or some other issue, teachers will meet with that student privately to discuss concerns and seek more information. A counselor may also have this conversation with the student.

Important: Student Pick-Up & Drop-Off (NW Crosby Drive Road Construction Update)

You may drop your student off as early as 8:35 AM. First period starts at 8:50 AM, but we’d like all students here no later than 8:45 AM. We want everyone to have time to go to their locker to drop off their backpack and get materials for class. Backpacks are not allowed in classrooms.

We mentioned in last week’s blog message that NW Crosby Drive is under construction. As promised, we are providing the below update. We ask that everyone be patient and refer to this map with instructions to help you navigate a safe and prompt student drop-off / pick-up at the PCMS red curb.

Crosby update–curbs are expected to be completed on Friday, the 9th. Grading will continue the week of the 12^th and paving is expected to happen on Friday the 16th. At this time, we anticipate the road will be open to normal traffic flow the week of the 19th. 

Grading for This School Year

Our teachers are always searching for new ways to improve their craft. This year, as part of this improvement, a district-wide grading team researched new ways to grade more effectively. In an effort to make our grading practices better represent what your student has actually learned, we’re embarking on some new grading systems. The district put together some information for you:

Letter to Families on Grading

If you have further questions, please contact your student’s teacher. We’re confident that updating the way we grade will reflect what students have actually learned and will be more equitable. Thank you for your patience and trust as we move ahead on this journey together.

Update: Annual iPad Insurance

If you haven’t done so, we strongly encourage families to purchase iPad Insurance for your child’s device each year. The annual price is the same as last year ($30 per student) and can be paid on TouchBase. However, the family cap is now $60, and elementary students (K-5) are no longer required to purchase insurance. Click the below links for more iPad insurance information:

• English Flyer
• Spanish Flyer

PE Uniforms

An important part of our physical education program at Pacific Crest is that students are required to wear a PE tee-shirt every day. To obtain a tee-shirt, we are giving students the following two options to select from. On the first day of school, students will be selecting one option based on your family’s decision.

• Option 1→ PURCHASE a new PE Shirt for $8.00 for students to keep.
• Option 2→ FREEBIE- PCMS will provide a gently used PE Shirt for no cost to your student/family and WILL be returned at the end of the school year.

If you wish to purchase a new PE shirt for $8.00 each, go to TouchBase to pay with a credit card. Also, be on the lookout for more information on dressing down from your student’s PE Teacher soon.

Register for Fall Sports!

There’s still time to register for our upcoming fall sports teams, 7th/8th Football, 7th/8th Volleyball and Cross Country (6th/7th/8th). Registration ends at 2pm Friday, September 9th. Practices start next week. Registration information is available on the PCMS Athletics webpage.

We are also looking for volleyball officials to officiate our volleyball games this season. Some knowledge of volleyball rules and regulations is necessary. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact PCMS Athletics.

New 7th and 8th Grade Student Orientation

We are also excited to welcome our NEW* 7th and 8th graders to our Golden Eagle community this year! In order to best support you, we will be hosting a brief information session and tour on Wednesday, September 7th from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. During this time, we will hand out schedules, test out lockers, tour the building, and get to meet some of the wonderful 8th grade WEB leaders. Families will need to provide transportation. If this is something that you would be interested in having your student attend, please fill out this form so that we can have an accurate headcount. If you have any questions, contact the PCMS Main Office at (541)-355-7804. *NEW 7th and 8th graders who did not attend PCMS in 2021-22 school year.

Next Weeks News from the Nest

• BLS Covid Protocol
• Attendance Policy
• Back to School Night
• Visitors & Volunteering Process
• 2022/23 Yearbook Purchases

Calendar

• Sept. 7 | First Day of School – All 6th Grade Students| 8:45am – 3:45pm (see info above)
• Sept. 7 | 7th & 8th Grade New Student Orientation | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Sept. 8 | First Day of School for all grade levels (see bell schedule above)
• Sept. 9 | Last day to register for Fall Sports. All required paperwork must be received by 2pm
• Sept. 12 | School Portrait Day (see info above)
• Sept. 28 | Back to School Night | 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS News | Family Spotlight

Principal’s Message

Hello Families!

I’m looking forward to meeting your students in a couple weeks. I hope you enjoy the last few days of summer with your kids. Next week, our staff will learn about equitable grading and student support. We’ll also finalize some policies that we’ll communicate to you before school starts.

Take care, everyone, and see you soon!

Sean Keating

6th Grade First Day of School

We are so happy to welcome the class of 2029 to PCMS! The first day of school for all 6th graders is Wednesday, September 7th. This will be a full day of school starting at 8:45am and ending at 3:45pm. Students should bring their iPads to school fully charged. Important: District bus transportation is available but your student must be registered. Click here complete bus registration.

6th grade students will be partnered with an 8th grade WEB leader for the year. WEB leaders will be supports for 6th graders and help them to navigate any of the questions that come with advancing into middle school.

A FREE welcome lunch will be provided to students to learn how to navigate the cafeteria if they wish to participate in the meal program throughout the school year.

New 7th and 8th Grade Student Orientation

We are also excited to welcome our NEW 7th and 8th graders to our Golden Eagle community this year! In order to best support you, we will be hosting a brief information session and tour on Wednesday, September 7th from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. During this time, we will hand out schedules, test out lockers, tour the building, and get to meet some of the wonderful 8th grade WEB leaders. Families will need to provide transportation. If this is something that you would be interested in having your student attend, please fill out this form so that we can have an accurate headcount. If you have any questions, contact the PCMS Main Office at (541)-355-7804.

2022/23 Bell Schedule

Click here to access school start & end times.

Care Solace Mental Health Resources

We are committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families to create a safe and healthy learning environment. In support of our ongoing commitment, we partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care for our community.

Family Letter  – English and Spanish

Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off

Currently, the approach to Pacific Crest from NW Crosby Drive is closed due to road widening and paving which effects Miller Elementary as well. We will share a status update and, if needed, a revised drop and pick up plan, including a map to help you navigate a safe and quick student drop-off / pick-up at PCMS.

Bus Transportation Registration

Registering allows our Transportation Department to create more efficient bus routes and student rosters for safety. Does your student plan to ride the bus this fall? If so, make sure to register them as soon as possible. NEW THIS YEAR…only students who are registered will be able to ride the bus (this includes previous-year bus riders as well as first-time riders). Don’t wait…Register here and now!

School Supplies

Wondering about school supplies for fall? All of the materials students need for instruction will be provided by PCMS, so no need to search for a list. Families are welcome to provide personal items for students (backpacks, water bottles, headphones, lunch boxes, etc.). If your family needs help securing a personal item, or would like to aid a family in need of such help, please reach out to the PCMS main office.

Annual iPad Insurance

We will share more iPad insurance information and required forms in our next communication.

BLS Nutritional Services Info & Application

This year Nutrition Services will return to their standard meal practices and charge for all school meals. Information about weekly menus and meal prices can be found online. Families can access free meals by filling out a free and reduced lunch application linked here. Income guidelines have expanded, so all families are encouraged to apply! Your child comes first at Nutrition Services, so please give us the opportunity to assist in their physical and intellectual fitness. Please contact Garra Schluter, Nutrition Supervisor at (541) 355-1150 if you have any questions.

Fall Athletics

Registration is now open for our Fall Sports programs; football (7th/8th), volleyball (7th/8th) and cross country (All grades). To register your student please follow the the instructions on our PCMS Athletics website. The season officially begins, September 7th. We are looking for volunteer coaches as well as volunteers to assist during home matches. Please contact PCMS Athletics via email if you are interested. 

Volleyball

PCMS Volleyball coaches will be holding a combined 7th/8th Volleyball pre-season camp on Aug. 29 to Sept. 1st. Athlete attendance is optional. In order to participate in the camp, players must be registered and cleared to participate by PCMS Athletics office prior to attending.

Cross Country

Registration is also open for Pacific Crest Cross Country. While there is no practice prior to the beginning of school, a pre-season workout calendar is posted here, along with additional information for the upcoming season.

School Portrait Day

Dorian Studios will be onsite, Monday, 9/12/22 to photograph all students and staff members. To order student photo packets online with a credit card, simply follow instructions below in English or Spanish. If you would rather pay with cash or check, you may pick up an order form at PCMS main office. If you have any questions, contact Dorian Studio Support or call 1-800-826-3535.

• 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

2021/22 Yearbook Distribution

For 7th and 8th grade students who purchased a 2021/22 yearbook, come by the main office between 9:00am – 3:00pm to pick it up.

Next Weeks News from the Nest

• BLS Covid Protocol
• Student Drop-off & Pick-up
• Attendance Policy
• Electronic Device Policy
• Back to School Night
• Visitors & Volunteering Process
• 2022/23 Yearbook Purchases

Calendar

• Aug. 30 – Sept 1 | 7th/8th Volleyball Pre-Season Camp | 9:30-11:30am | PCMS Gym
• Sept. 1 | WEB Leader Training
• Sept. 7 | First Day of School – All 6th Grade Students| 8:45am – 3:45pm (see info above)
• Sept. 7 | 7th & 8th Grade New Student Orientation | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Sept. 8 | First Day of School for all grade levels (see bell schedule above)
• Sept. 9 | Last day to register for Fall Sports. All required paperwork must be received by 2pm
• Sept. 12 | School Portrait Day (see info above)

Helpful Links

• 2022/23 Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS News | Family Spotlight

Principal’s Message

Hello, Pacific Crest Middle School community! I’m excited to be reaching out to you all for the first time. My name is Sean Keating, and I am the new principal here at PCMS. I’m thrilled to be joining an amazing school, a strong district, and a warm and welcoming community here in Bend!

My two kids will be attending Miller Elementary, right across the road, in the hopes they’ll want to be Pacific Crest Golden Eagles some day. My wife is a mental health therapist, serving clients here in Oregon. We are so happy to be here! The last couple years we’ve spent in San Francisco, reclaiming some California sunshine and family time during the pandemic. I worked in the Silicon Valley as a middle school dean of students at a private school. Before that, we were in Portland for five years, where I was a middle school principal and high school assistant principal. I started my career as a high school English teacher in Napa, California, where I met my wife. This will be my seventeenth year in education and my tenth year as an administrator.

I feel honored to work in education, as the yearly rhythms of the school year, the sound of kids laughing, and the excitement of learning all bring me deep joy. I am especially grateful to work with the faculty and staff here at Pacific Crest. I’ve already had many meetings with our front office team, our custodial staff, our instructional coaches, our counselors, and our administrators. These folks all care about doing great work for our school. They hold high standards for themselves, and the level of teamwork here is high.

As a school, our mission is to foster the student learning experience so we are graduating creative thinkers, responsible decision-makers, and engaged citizens. I will be centering this mission in our work as a staff and our collaboration as a community. We are also committed as a school and district to hear directly from all stakeholders–students, staff, and families–to ensure we’re serving the entire community with an informed, data-driven, equity lens.

I look forward to meeting you all soon! Thank you for entrusting us to work with you, side-by-side, in the sacred task of educating our children. We’re in this together.

Warmly,

Sean Keating

Weekly Communications

It is a goal of PCMS to keep families and students up-to-date and well informed. The district office recently sent “Key things to know Before the First Day” to BLS families, (see below Spanish & English versions) which we feel is important to include in this communication just in case you may have missed it and are wondering!

PCMS will continue to update you each Friday via this weekly blog. We highly encourage you take time to read it. Our next News from the Nest blog will be sent out on Friday, August 26 and will include important information specific to Pacific Crest Middle School, so please stay tuned!

Key Things to Know Before the First Day

First Day

The first day of school varies by grade level. Grades 1-6 and grade 9 start Wednesday, September 7. Grades 7-8 and 10-12 start Thursday, September 8. (Note: This is a change in practice for middle school start days, in order to give sixth-graders a full day of orientation.) Families of kindergartners should watch for a communication from their schools about their start date, which will be September 8 or September 9.

Next Friday, August 26 we’ll release our bell schedules for both the first day of school (Wednesday, September 7 – 6th grade only) as well as the first day of school for all students (Thursday, September 8 – All Grades).

Start and End Times

• Elementary:  7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. 
• Middle school: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• High school: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Three Rivers School: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Schools release 90 minutes early on Wednesdays (starting September 14) for staff professional development time. Start and end times for our choice option schools are slightly modified and will be communicated directly to families.

Meal Changes

Thanks to pandemic-related funding, Bend-La Pine Schools was able to serve millions of free meals to students during the past two years. In the fall of 2022, Nutrition Services will return to more typical meal practices and meals will not automatically be free to all. Students attending one of the following community eligibility provision schools automatically qualify for free meals: Bear Creek Elementary, Ensworth Elementary, Pilot Butte Middle, Bend Tech Academy at Marshall, Three Rivers School, La Pine Elementary, La Pine Middle, La Pine High and Rosland Elementary. Families at other schools may still access free meals by filling out a free and reduced application with new income guidelines at bls.fyi/meals. Income guidelines have expanded, so all families are encouraged to apply.

Student Class Schedules

Student schedules will soon be accessible via ParentVue and StudentVue. Please note that the counseling department is still making substantial changes to them and will continue to tweak schedules until September 6th. Please wait until that time for accurate viewing. 

Building a master schedule is an intricate process that takes 100’s of hours of work. Even seemingly minor changes can have a dramatic effect. Due to its complexity, we are not accepting any schedule changes. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Math Bypass

Our district provides a rigorous math curriculum that prepares students for Algebra 1 as a freshman in high school. Students who take 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math will be better prepared for high school math. A few students may choose to accelerate, based on their aptitude and interest in mathematics. These students may accelerate through Bend-La Pine Online mathematics courses, or they may demonstrate proficiency on a grade-level bypass challenge test. Students who advance on the challenge test would take Algebra 1 as 8th graders, this may be with Bend La Pine Online or in person at Pacific Crest depending on student enrollment.

Some things to consider for your child:

• This is not a placement test; your child will be placed in an appropriate grade level math automatically.
• Students who have an interest in mathematics and a desire to work hard will do better in the long run with advancement.
• Students who advance will be placed in a grade level above their current grade, mostly with students of that grade (e.g., 6th graders in 7th grade math, 7th graders in 8th grade math).

The bypass is a two-part test. The first part will be a multiple-choice test, those students who score at or above the 97th percentile are then invited to take the written test. Please be prepared for the tests to take approximately 90 minutes, but could be shorter if they do not score at or above the 97th percentile on the first test.

We will be providing an opportunity for students to take the bypass challenge test at Pacific Crest on the following date on Friday, August 26th from 9:00 – 11:00 AM.

If you would like your student to take the assessment prior to school starting, please email Anne-Marie Schmidt [email protected] and ask her to add your student to the list.

We will offer only one session of this assessment prior to school starting; if it does not work with your student’s schedule, they will take the assessment with their scheduled math class.

School Supplies

Schools will provide all necessary basic supplies for students. Families are welcome to provide personal items for students (backpacks, water bottles, headphones, lunch boxes, etc.). If your family needs help securing a personal item, reach out to your school’s FAN advocate for support (advocates are available at the end of August). For specific questions, reach out to your school’s main offices. School offices are now open.

COVID-19 Mitigation

The school year will start the way we ended, continuing our layered mitigation strategies, which include recommended one-way masking. Additional layered COVID mitigation strategies will be added as necessary if outbreaks occur.

Visitors

Reminder for families that during regular school hours, all visitors to schools must report directly to the school office of the school to obtain permission to visit. All visitors must report to the school office and sign in and out through the visitor management system. Learn more about visitor policy.

Volunteers

Schools will invite families when they have need of volunteers; each classroom is permitted one volunteer at a time and additional daily volunteers are permitted in high school Future Centers/career centers. Watch for details from your school about opportunities.

Transportation Registration

Does your student plan to ride the bus this fall? If so, make sure to register them for transportation as soon as possible. This year, only students who are registered will be able to ride the bus (this includes current bus riders as well as new riders). Please log into your ParentVUE account and use the Online Registration tool to walk you through the registration process. If you have questions about accessing your ParentVUE account, please refer to our Online Enrollment Information webpage for detailed information. For more information on transportation eligibility, please refer to the School Buses website for information and links to Bend-La Pine Schools policies.

School Year Calendar

Check out our at-a-glance calendar for the 2022-23 school year. Our annual Family Handbook & Calendars will also be mailed home to families, so watch for those in your mailbox.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful remainder of the summer and watch for more back to school communication from your school in weeks ahead!

Cosas clave que debe saber antes del primer día

Todavía faltan muchas semanas para la escuela, pero ahora es el momento perfecto para comenzar a prepararse. Aquí están nuestras cosas principales que debe saber antes del comienzo de la escuela:

Primer día

El primer día de clases varía según el nivel de grado. Los grados 1-6 y grado 9 comienzan el miércoles 7 de septiembre. Los grados 7-8 y 10-12 comienzan el jueves 8 de septiembre. (Nota: Este es un cambio en la práctica para los días de inicio de la escuela intermedia, con el fin de brindarles a los estudiantes de sexto grado un día completo de orientación.) Las familias de kínder deben estar atentos a una comunicación de sus escuelas sobre su fecha de inicio, que será el 8 o el 9 de septiembre.

Horas de inicio y finalización

• Primaria:  7:45 a.m. a 2:15 p.m. 
• Escuela secundaria: 8:45 a.m. a 3:45 p.m.
• Escuela Preparatoria: 8:45 a.m. a 3:45 p.m.
• Escuela Three Rivers: 8 a.m. a 2:30 p.m.

Las escuelas liberan 90 minutos antes los miércoles (a partir del 14 de septiembre) para el tiempo de desarrollo profesional del personal. Los horarios de inicio y finalización de nuestras escuelas de opción de elección se modifican ligeramente y se comunicarán directamente a las familias.

Cambios en las comidas

Gracias a los fondos relacionados con la pandemia, las Escuelas de Bend-La Pine pudieron servir millones de comidas gratis a los estudiantes durante los últimos dos años. En el otoño de 2022, los Servicios de Nutrición volverán a las prácticas de comidas más típicas y las comidas no serán automáticamente gratuitas para todos. Los estudiantes que asisten a una de las siguientes escuelas de provisión de elegibilidad de la comunidad califican automáticamente para comidas gratis: Primaria Bear Creek, Primaria  Ensworth, Escuela Secundaria Pilot Butte, Academia Bend Tech en Marshall, Escuela Three Rivers, Primaria La Pine, Escuela Secundaria La Pine, Escuela Preparatoria La Pine High y Rosland Elemental. Las familias en otras escuelas aún pueden acceder a comidas gratis completando una solicitud gratuita y reducida con nuevas pautas de ingresos en bls.fyi/meals.Las pautas de ingresos se han ampliado, por lo que se anima a todas las familias a presentar su solicitud.

Suministros escolares

Las escuelas proporcionarán todos los suministros básicos necesarios para los estudiantes. Las familias pueden proporcionar artículos personales para los estudiantes (mochilas, botellas de agua, auriculares, loncheras, etc.).  Si su familia necesita ayuda para asegurar un artículo personal, comuníquese con el defensor de FAN de su escuela para obtener apoyo (los defensores están disponibles a fines de agosto). Para preguntas específicas, comuníquese con las oficinas principales de su escuela. Las oficinas escolares estarán abiertas el 8 de agosto.

Mitigación de COVID-19

El año escolar comenzará de la manera en que terminamos, continuando con nuestras estrategias de mitigación en capas, que incluyen el uso de máscaras unidireccionales recomendadas. Se agregarán estrategias de mitigación de COVID en capas adicionales según sea necesario si ocurren brotes.

Visitantes

Recordatorio para las familias que durante el horario escolar regular, todos los visitantes a las escuelas deben reportarse directamente a la oficina de la escuela para obtener permiso para visitar. Todos los visitantes deben presentarse en la oficina de la escuela y registrarse al entrar y salir a través del sistema de gestión de visitantes. Obtenga más información sobre la política de visitantes.

Registro de transporte

¿Su estudiante planea viajar en el autobús este otoño? Si es así, asegúrese de registrarlos para el transporte lo antes posible. Este año, solo los estudiantes registrados podrán viajar en el autobús (esto incluye a los pasajeros actuales del autobús así como a los pasajeros nuevos). Inicie sesión en su cuenta de  ParentVUE y use la herramienta de registro en línea para guiarlo a través del proceso de registro. Si tiene preguntas sobre cómo acceder a su cuenta de ParentVUE, consulte nuestra Información de inscripción en línea para obtener información detallada.Para obtener más información sobre la elegibilidad de transporte, consulte el sitio web de Sitio web de autobuses escolares para obtener información y enlaces a las políticas de las Escuelas de Bend-La Pine.

Calendario del año escolar

Consulte nuestro Calendario de un vistazo para el año escolar 2022-23. Nuestro manual y calendarios familiares anuales también se enviarán por correo a las familias, así que esté atento a los que están en su buzón.

¡Les deseo a usted y a su familia un maravilloso resto del verano y esté atento a más comunicaciones de su escuela sobre el regreso a la escuela en las próximas semanas!