News from the Nest

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

6th Graders at Miller Elementary

I am so incredibly delighted to be sharing news about our first field trip of the year, as our 6th graders went across the street to visit the first graders at Miller Elementary on Thursday, where they read them their “Choose Your Own Adventure” stories. The Miller students were enthralled by these giant visitors and were really invested in the stories shared. What made this visit to Miller a particularly great outing was that this group of 6th graders is the first group who could have been part of the tradition full-circle; that is, when they were first graders, they were read to by then-PCMS 6th graders. It was a truly special moment and, if you have a 6th grader at home, I encourage you to ask them about it.

Field Study is a big part of the philosophical development of Pacific Crest and, while we are sad to have missed out on all of those experiences last year and some already this year, it is an encouraging development that we could get our typically-annual visit to Miller in this week.

Inclement Weather Preparation

While we have blue skies and warm (for the season) temperatures today, Central Oregon can shift quickly in the coming months. To prepare, 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.

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.

Bingo Night

Thank you so much to all of the families who were able to join us for our Virtual Bingo Night in support of The Giving Plate. We raised a nice total of money and had a great time on screen. Coupled with the amazing success of the Canned Food Drive, I am so thankful for the generous nature of our community. Special thanks to Mr. Bjorback, Ms. Hanna, and Mrs. Zepnewski for all the work they put into organizing the event.

Now Hiring: Athletic Director

Brooke Walton, our Athletic Director, has resigned her position and we are now looking for a new Athletic Director. This is a paid position and is a great way to help support our athletes have a fun and positive experience with middle school sports by coordinating coaches and officials, ensuring safety protocols are being followed, attending games in a supervisory capacity, and helping ensure our students have positive outcomes in their athletic experience. The hours of the position vary by season, and the full job description is available online. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to me for more information.

Calendar

• Nov. 8 – Jan. 7 | Wrestling Registration Open
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 26 | No School | Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 7 | Winter Music Concert | Choir 6:00; Orchestra 6:45; Band 7:15 | PCMS Nest
• Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
• Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day

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

Holiday Food Drive

Thank you to all of you that donated items for our Holiday Food Drive benefiting The Giving Plate. I am blown away by the generosity on display in this campaign and am so grateful to be part of such a caring community. I am happy to report that we collected 1,135 pounds of much need items that will help support those in need in Bend.

Virtual Family Turkey Bingo Fundraiser

Join us on for an evening of family fun at our 2nd annual Family Virtual Turkey Bingo Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 17th from 6-7:30pm. Tickets are available for purchase on Touchbase now through November 16th. Each kit includes 10 bingo cards and 1 dauber; cost is $5 per kit. All proceeds benefit The Giving Plate. This is a great way to have a fun family evening while supporting a great cause. Sign up to get your kit today!

Affinity Group Starting Soon

At Pacific Crest, clubs are for students, by students – meaning that we have clubs that are born out of student interest. There are a few exceptions to this rule, as the Yearbook Club, National Junior Honor Society, and PRISM clubs are adult-led in order to provide some continuity from year-to-year. In this same way, Pacific Crest would like to offer an Affinity Circle group for our students of color. This Affinity Circle group will focus on providing a safe and supportive place for students to discuss their shared experiences. If this is applicable to your student, please talk with them about whether or not they would like to be a part of an Affinity Circle group, or if you would like to be contacted for more information please click here.  

Affinity groups are powerful ways that allow students who share an identity—usually a marginalized identity—to gather and talk in a safe space about issues related to that identity. We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity for our students.

Wrestling Informational Meeting

Join Coach Toso on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7pm for a Virtual Wrestling FAQ Night. All parents, guardians and athletes interested or possibly interested in learning more about our PCMS wrestling program and upcoming season are welcome to attend. Email Coach Toso to obtain Zoom meeting link.

Calendar

• Nov. 8 – Jan. 7 | Wrestling Registration Open
• Nov. 17 | Family Virtual Turkey Bingo Fundraiser | 6pm – 7:30pm
• Nov. 18 | Wresting Virtual Parent/Guardian and Athlete Info Meeting | 7pm
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 26 | No School | Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 7 | Winter Music Concert | Choir 6:00; Orchestra 6:45; Band 7:15 | PCMS Nest
• Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
• Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day

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
• News from the Nest in Spanish
• Student Clubs

Let’s Review Drop-Off/Pick-Up

For drivers of those students who are dropped off via car, please continue and stay in line and pull all the way forward as directed. For the safety of students and better flow of traffic, we are asking drivers of students to stop dropping off in the parking lot which actually leads to an increase in the line, 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. Again, think of the greater good and use the flow of traffic as designed for drop-offs and pick-ups. Parking lot map & directions.

The high number of bicyclists, walkers, and bus riders help to keep congestion down. Carpooling is highly recommended as well as we move into the colder weather. Another option to avoid congestion is to arrive school a bit earlier.

Family Virtual Turkey Bingo Fundraiser

Join us on for an evening of family fun at our 2nd annual Family Virtual Turkey Bingo Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 17th from 6-7:30pm. Tickets are available for purchase on Touchbase now through November 16th. Each kit includes 10 bingo cards and 1 dauber, cost is $5 per kit. All proceeds benefit The Giving Plate. Come and get yours today!

Holiday Food Drive Update

As of today, our 6th graders are in the lead for collecting the most items. 7th and 8th grades have plenty of time to “up their game” and get those donations in. Our collection drive ends on Wednesday, 11/10. Check out the flyer to see a list of The Giving Plate’s needs.

Athletics

Registration for Wrestling (Boys & Girls, 6th, 7th and 8th grades) begins Monday, November 8th. Middle school sports create opportunities for kids to try new sports, and our program is appropriate for all experience levels. Registration links and additional information is available on our PCMS Athletics webpage.

Girls Middle School Basketball (6th – 8th grade) registration is now available on the Bend Parks and Recreation website. Space is limited so sign up soon if you are interested! Athletes must register for the school they attend.

COVID Vaccine Updates: Boosters and plan for ages 5-11

BOOSTER INFO: Deschutes County Health Services is partnering with FEMA to host free drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinics in November. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and booster doses will be available. No appointment or insurance are needed. For more information, please visit: COVID-19 Vaccine Drive-Thru Clinics. Other upcoming clinics through November:

• Mondays: Sisters Firehouse, 1 – 5 p.m.
• Tuesdays: La Pine Library, 12 – 3 p.m.
• Tuesdays: Bend Larkspur Community Center, 4 – 7 p.m.
• Wednesdays: Downtown Bend Library, 1 – 5 p.m.
• Thursdays: Redmond City Hall, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• NEW CLINIC Fridays: Redmond Airport, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

12+ welcome. 12- to 14-year olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please bring your vaccination card from your first dose if you are coming for a second or booster dose. If you are looking for another vaccination location in Deschutes County, please visit deschutes.org/covid19vaccine or call the COVID-19 hotline at 541-699-5109. The hotline is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Ages 5-11: Bend-La Pine Schools is working with local health care providers to support the roll-out of vaccines for ages 5-11. Please refer to the BLP website for more information.

Calendar

• Nov. 1 – Nov. 10 | The Giving Plate Holiday Food Drive
• Nov. 7 | Daylight Saving Time Ends (set your clocks 1 hour back)
• Nov. 8 | Wrestling Registration Opens
• Nov. 11 | No School | Veteran’s Day
• Nov. 17 | Family Virtual Turkey Bingo Fundraiser | 6p – 7:30pm
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 26 | No School | Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
• Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day

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
• News from the Nest in Spanish
• Student Clubs

Conference Wrap-Up

We wrapped up a successful two days of conferences yesterday and I want to say thank you to all families who took time to connect with their student’s teachers to gain a clearer picture of what’s happening with their learning. I know that many of our teachers were completely booked, a sign of a strong community, but also one that can leave some feeling like they missed out. Please connect with any teachers you were unable to conference with to discuss your student’s learning in more detail.

PCCO Update

Last week we kicked off our annual Fill Our Nest giving campaign. Thank you to those families who have contributed so far. With the continued support of our families, our goal is to focus on the following areas this year:

1. Teachers College Reading and Writing Project – We are so thrilled that Pacific Crest is a Partner School of Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP). Through this partnership, our Community teachers (Humanities and Science) work with a TCRWP Staff Developer to learn research-based best practices around methods of instruction in reading, writing, and critical literacy skills for our students and to create opportunities for meaningful and joyful engagement with literacy in order to transfer their learning across the curriculum and throughout their lives as they mature. This is an expensive undertaking and PCCO supporting the effort allows us to ensure that all of our programs are supported to the maximum extent possible.
2. Academic Program Enhancement – Our teachers are incredibly resourceful and squeeze every bit out of their department budgets, but having the opportunity for additional funds via Classroom Grants will allow our students to enjoy an even greater experience in their classes while also providing our teachers the opportunity to show off their creativity.
3. Culture Support – By partnering with our FAN Advocate to provide assistance to students and families in need, PCCO helps us model the idea that Golden Eagles recognize their impact on the world around them. Providing resources for Staff Appreciation celebrations goes a long way to make sure the PCMS staff sees that theirs is NOT a thankless job and that they are appreciated for the incredible work they are doing. (A great example of this is PCCO providing our staff dinner on Wednesday night during a long night of conferences – THANK YOU!)

Please consider enriching your child’s middle school experience by making a one-time, tax-deductible donation that will help support these programs at PCMS.  Contributions can be made online here or you can complete the attached form and return it to PCMS main office.  We appreciate your support, especially after last year’s hiatus. 

PCCO is currently seeking people to fill two board positions, Vice-President and Treasurer. This a great way to be involved and support our school. Please contact Anne Westerhoff for more information at [email protected] or (562-225-8297). This is a great way to get involved in your student’s learning and support our community.

One more thing…don’t forget to follow us on social media to keep up with what’s happening Facebook and Instagram @pacificcrestco.

‘Tis the Giving Season!

As part of the Annual PCMS Gives Back to the Community Campaign, our WEB Leaders are hosting a 10-day holiday food drive in partnership with The Giving Plate Food Bank, which serves local residents in Bend. The collection begins this Monday, 11/1 and will end Wednesday, 11/10. The grade level (6th, 7th 8th) that donates the most items will receive a prize.

• Holiday Food Drive Flyer
• The Giving Plate Website
• The Giving Plate YouTube Video

Fall BLS Board Leadership Listening Session Set Nov. 4

The community is invited to share their voices and thoughts with Bend-La Pine Schools’ Board of Directors during an in-person Board Leadership Listening Session set for Thursday, Nov. 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Three Rivers School in Sunriver. Space is limited.

Register and learn more: https://bls.fyi/listeningnov4

Sesión de Escucha con la Mesa de Liderazgo el 4 de Nov. en la Escuela Three Rivers

Invitamos a los padres de familia a ofrecer su opinión y pensamientos con la Mesa Directiva de las Escuelas de Bend-La Pine durante una sesión de escucha en persona programada para el jueves, 4 de noviembre de 5:30 a 7:30 p.m. en la escuela Three Rivers en Sunriver.

Hay espacio limitado. Para asistir o hablar en el evento, favor de registrarse en línea. Se admitirá a los participantes y asistentes según el orden en que se hayan registrado.

Para más información, ingrese aquí: https://bls.fyi/listeningnov4

Calendar

• Nov. 1 – Nov. 10 | The Giving Plate Holiday Food Drive
• Nov. 1 | Boys’ Basketball Season Begins
• Nov. 7 | Daylight Saving Time Ends (set your clocks 1 hour back)
• Nov. 11 | No School | Veteran’s Day
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 26 | No School | Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
• Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day

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
• News from the Nest in Spanish
• Student Clubs

LAST CALL FOR LOST AND FOUND

We will be donating all items on October 29, which means October 27th is the last school day for students to check and see if anything they’re missing is in there. Please remind your student to do so in the coming days – and to be mindful of where they leave sweatshirts, lunch boxes, jackets, hats, gloves, water bottles, books, scarves, and so much more!

Conferences Next Week

Conferences will be held Wednesday October 27th and Thursday October 28th via WebEx. I shared details of the conference format and instructions on how to sign up in a separate email home this week. Conferences are a great opportunity to have a discussion with your student and their teachers to better understand what is happening in their learning and how you can support their efforts at home.

Those of you who have 8th graders or who have students attend Pacific Crest in the past may remember the limitations on how many of your student’s teachers you could conference with we had to place when we hosted in-person conferences due to time, but we have no such limitations now. You are welcome to sign up for as many teachers as you’d like, so long as there is room in the teacher’s conference schedule.

During our conferences, our school counselors, Abigail Clark and Sarah Girard, will be hosting a presentation to inform families about the school counseling program here at Pacific Crest. This presentation is geared towards families that are not familiar with our counseling program. This WebEx will be hosted from 5:00-5:30 on Wednesday in the Ms. Girard’s WebEx room: 
https://bls.webex.com/meet/sarah.girard

The presentation will last approximately 20 minutes and then there will be time for questions after. 

Lunch Update

We are moving to TWO lunches starting Monday, 10/25 in order to prepare for the inevitability that the weather will force us to host indoor lunch at some point this fall/winter/spring, as we do not currently have the capacity to host 610+ students inside for lunch while maintaining the required 6 feet of social distancing. This was announced to students this afternoon and there are some students upset that they will no longer have lunch with friends because of this change. Please know that two lunches is not an ideal situation for us, as it represents an increase in our coverage needs and for the fact that it creates situations like this where students feel like they are missing out. Safety continues to drive our decisions and this is no different.

The breakdown of whose Advisory class has first lunch and whose Advisory has second lunch can be found here; the bell/time schedule with the addition of the second lunch can be found here. While I do appreciate students advocating for themselves and requesting schedule changes as a result of this shift, we will continue to not permit schedule changes at this point in the year.

A Message from Pacific Crest Community Organization (PCCO)

Our annual Fill Our Nest Giving Campaign kicks off today. Many of you may not be familiar with this campaign because we did not roll it out during the 2020/21 school year due to the pandemic. Funds raised this year will support things such as scholarships, classroom grants, academic enrichment and professional development. None of these programs would be possible without the participation of this fantastic community. Every donation makes a difference, and no contribution is too small. 

Please consider enriching your child’s middle school experience by making a one-time, tax-deductible donation that will help support programs at PCMS.  Contributions can be made online here or you can complete the attached form and return it to PCMS main office.  We appreciate your support, especially after last year’s hiatus. 

One more thing…PCCO is currently seeking people to fill two board positions, Vice-President and Treasurer. This a great way to be involved and support our school. Please contact Anne Westerhoff for more information at [email protected] or (562-225-8297). We would love to hear from you!

Spirit Dress-up Week

Get your SPIRIT on! Our first spirit week (3 days) kicks off on Monday, October 25th, and we are looking forward to students and staff dressing up thematically to show their school spirit.

• Monday, 10/25: Monochrome Day (dress in one color)
• Tuesday, 10/26: Wild Hair or Crazy Hat Day
• Wednesday, 10/27: Halloween Costumes

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.

Outdoor Lunch

While we will be splitting into two lunches next week to prepare for the inevitability of the weather forcing us inside, we will continue to make use of our ability to host students outside during lunch as long as weather permits. With the colder temperatures, please make sure your student is dressed in layers and is prepared to spend 30 minutes outside for lunch. And please help them remember to take those layers home so they don’t end up in our lost and found!

Student Photo Make-up Day & Retake Day

On Tuesday, 10/26, Dorian Studios will be here to photograph students who missed the original photo day on Monday, 9/13 AND the students who guardians would like to have their photos retaken, which is typically a very few students.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It just so happens that re-take day falls on the Spirit Day that is themed as Wild Hair or Crazy Hat Day. Student photos will NOT be taken if they are in costume.

Also, for those who purchased photo packets early this year, your student received them today in Advisory to take home.

‘Tis the Giving Season!

As part of the Annual PCMS Gives Back to the Community Campaign, our WEB Leaders are hosting a 10-day holiday food drive in partnership with The Giving Plate Food Bank, which serves local residents in Bend. The collection will begin Monday, 11/1 and will end Wednesday, 11/10. The grade level (6th, 7th 8th) that donates the most items will receive a prize.

• Holiday Food Drive Flyer
• The Giving Plate Website
• The Giving Plate YouTube Video

E-Bike Update and Information

Office Brandon Gould, our school’s School Resource Officer (SRO), shared a pocket guide to 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. We are working with Officer Gould to determine a plan on how to address this with our students (none of whom are 16 years old or older) so that we can ensure they are following the legal requirements. I will share more as I know more.

Calendar

• Oct. 25 – 27 | Spirit “Dress UP” Week
• Oct. 26 | Student Photo Retake & Make-up Day
• Oct. 26 | School Board Meeting | 5:30pm |
• Oct. 28 & Oct. 29 | NO SCHOOL | Conference Days
• Nov. 3 – Nov. 10 | Holiday Food Drive (more info above)
• Nov. 1 | Boys’ Basketball Season Begins
• Nov. 11 | No School | Veteran’s Day
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 26 | No School | Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
• Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day

Helpful Links

• Attendance Office
• PCMS Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS Información Webpage
• News from the Nest in Spanish
• Student Clubs

Conferences October 27th and 28th

Conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 27th and Thursday October 28th.

Wednesday (10/27) is a typical, early-release Wednesday. THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28th OR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29th.

Conferences will be held on WebEx again this fall, and I will be sending out a link to sign up with your student’s teacher(s) next week through email when the sign-up site is live. Conferences are a great time to connect with teachers and learn more about what your student is learning, how your student is doing, and how you can continue the learning opportunities for students outside of school. At the middle-school level, it’s best if students attend conferences as well so that they can be a part of the conversation and can continue to build the skills needed to become owners of their own learning.

Nutrition Services is Now Hiring

Our Nutrition Services department is an integral part of not only Pacific Crest’s ability to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students, but also of Bend-La Pine Schools’ ability to do the same throughout our schools. Currently, this department is looking for friendly and caring people to help provide the nourishment, nutrition, and care to our students. For more information about open positions, please see this flyer.

Athletics Update

This coming week is the final week of our fall sports season. Come cheer for our Golden Eagles and they compete in their final events. Days, times and locations are listed in the Calendar section below. Go Golden Eagles!

Bend Parks and Recreation Looking for Help with Pacific Crest Basketball

The Bend Park and Recreation District is now taking applications for staff to help with the upcoming Boys Middle School basketball program.  If you are interested or know of a high schooler looking to make a little extra money this fall/winter please apply ASAP by clicking on the link below. The “Aide” position is traditionally the “High School”-aged applicants.

Right now, the 8th grade Basketball team at Pacific Crest Middle School is still in need of a volunteer coach(es) . There are currently 20 students who would like to play 8th grade basketball at PC  and ONLY ONE COACH at this time.  Parks and Rec would like to form two teams so everyone gets more playing time, but they need to secure a coach(es) A.S.A.P; Practice are scheduled to begin on Nov. 1st and the Coaches’ Orientation Meeting takes place on October 25^th.

BPRD will be forced to cancel team(s) if we don’t have coaches for the boys by the end of next week.

Most game times this year will be at 5:15 or 6:15pm.  Volunteer coaches put in about 4 – 5 hours a week with their team throughout the 6-week season. This includes all practice and games. The season runs through December 15th, with no practice or games scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays and over school holidays. Co-Coaches are encouraged, if you have someone you would like to share the responsibility of coaching with.

Aide position Adult Position

Calendar

• Oct. 18 | 7th Grade Volleyball @ La Pine | 5:15pm
• Oct. 18 | 8th Grade Volleyball @ 3 Rivers | 5:15pm
• Oct. 20 | Cross Country District Meet | PCMS | 4pm
• Oct. 20 | 7th Grade Football vs. Cascade | Summit HS | 5:15pm
• Oct. 20 | 8th Grade Football vs. Cascade | Summit HS | 6:45pm
• Oct. 20 | 7th Grade Volleyball @ Pilot Butte | 5:15pm
• Oct. 20 | 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Pilot Butte | PCMS Court #1 | 5:15pm
• Oct. 26 | Student Photo Retake & Make-up Day (more info to follow soon)
• Oct. 26 | School Board Meeting | 5:30pm |
• Oct. 28 & Oct. 29 | NO SCHOOL | Conference Days
• Nov. 1 | Boys’ Basketball Season Begins
• Nov. 11 | No School | Veteran’s Day
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 26 | No School | Thanksgiving Break
• Dec. 20 – Dec. 31 | No School | Winter Break
• Jan. 17 | No School | Martin Luther King Day

Helpful Links

• PCMS Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS Información Webpage
• News from the Nest in Spanish
• Student Clubs

Thursday’s “Secure” Event

On Thursday, the 7th of October, Bend Police Department placed our school in a precautionary Secure (formerly known as a lockOUT) due law enforcement activity in the area. During a Secure, school staff bring students inside, secure the school perimeter (lock exterior doors), PE is brought inside, and situational awareness is increased while continuing business as usual inside the school. Our staff and students did an amazing job of following our safety protocols and I came away even more impressed with our staff and students.

I know that Summit High School families were notified of the event through BLConnect while our families were not and that is an error that we discussed today with our district safety team. Typically, families will not receive a notification through BLConnect of a Secure event at a school, as there is no imminent threat to students as determined by law enforcement organizations. That said, it is a great idea to take this opportunity to ensure you are registered with BLConnect so you can be aware of any happenings that are communicated (inclement weather season is drawing nearer). For further information, please review BLP’s district protocols regarding safety measures of all kinds.

Tragedy in Bend

I’ve received a number of emails in the past two weeks from families sharing that the news of the shooting death of Barry Washington Jr. in Downtown Bend has negatively impacted their child. A man was killed in our community – the location of his death is inside Pacific Crest’s boundary – and some students, staff, and families are struggling with how to process this happening here in Bend. It is not my role to adjudicate the case or to weigh in on any of the many layers this horrific event contains, but rather to talk about how we can support our students – and each other – process this event and others like it (perish the thought).

Please let your students know that their counselors are tremendous resources who are available for them to process difficult events. Additionally, I’ve found these guidelines from Common Sense Media to be useful in talking to my own elementary school children at home over the years when the headlines aren’t pleasant and also aren’t avoidable.

Substitutes Needed

As a region, Central Oregon is short on substitutes. Bend-La Pine alone had over 35 substitute positions not filled today, which leads to a scramble and a hodgepodge of coverage and results in a lack in the predictability of students’ days. Additionally, it puts stress on teachers who may need to take time off but are reluctant to do so because of the shortage as well as those who volunteer to give up their planning period to cover a colleagues’ absence.

All of that is to say, we need more substitutes in our district. If you are interested in an incredibly fun and rewarding way to spend your day, I want to encourage you to review the requirements to become a substitute for the High Desert ESD and see if this may be for you. You can select sites to substitute at and subjects so you aren’t too far out of your comfort zone. I am happy to talk with anyone who is curious. I started my teaching career as a substitute and even got to substitute a bit today, it can be a lot of fun!

Lost and Found

It’s getting colder in the morning and we’ve been lucky to have some nice afternoon weather, which means our Lost and Found continues to fill up. We will be donating all items on October 29, which means October 27th is the last school day for students to check and see if anything they’re missing is in there. Please remind your student to do so in the coming weeks – and to be mindful of where they leave sweatshirts, lunch boxes, jackets, hats, gloves, water bottles, books, scarves, and so much more!

Golden Eagles in Action

I have been thrilled to see our football, volleyball, and cross country teams in action the past few weeks. Camaraderie and competition are wonderful learning opportunities and I’m grateful for the work our Athletic Director and our coaches do to allow PCMS students that opportunity. Even if your student does not participate in a school-based sport, I encourage you to come out and watch the student-athletes in action; they appreciate all the support they can get and it is a good amount of fun. We are in the beginning processes of rolling out plans for Performing Arts concerts this fall, so please stay tuned for those updates.

Calendar

• Oct. 11 | 7th Volleyball vs. Sky View | 5:15pm @ PCMS Court #1
• Oct. 11 |8th Volleyball vs. Sky View | 5:15pm @ SVMS
• Oct. 12 | School Board Meeting | 5:30pm |
• Oct. 13 | 7th Football vs. Pilot Butte | 5:15pm @ PCMS
• Oct. 13 | 8th Football vs. Pilot Butte | 5:15pm @ PBMS
• Oct. 13 | 7th Volleyball vs. High Desert | 4:15pm @ HDMS
• Oct. 13 | 8th Volleyball vs. High Desert | 4:15pm @ PCMS Court #1
• Oct. 14 | Cross Country Meet | 5:15pm @ Cascade Middle School
• Oct. 26 | Student Photo Retake & Make-up Day (more info to follow soon)
• Oct. 26 | School Board Meeting | 5:30pm |
• Oct. 27 – Oct. 29 | Conferences (more info to follow soon)
• Oct. 28 & Oct. 29 | No School | Conference Days

Helpful Links

• PCMS Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS Información Webpage
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Canvas Corner: Late Work

When an assignment is due in class and a student does not turn in the assignment by the due date, our Canvas grading system automatically gives the student 50% of the total points (per district policy). If the student turns in the assignment late, the 50% grade will maintain until the teachers goes in and grades the assignment to update the grade. Teachers work hard to provide timely feedback and sometimes late work does not get graded as soon as work that is submitted on time; if your student submits something late, you can expect that the late assignment would be graded in approximately a week’s time. To double check if the assignment is missing or if the student received a 50% on the assignment, go to the Canvas course > Grades, then find the assignment to see if it has a red “missing” below it. Thank you for your patience with this!

New Policy for Attending High School Football Games

Students who wish to attend BLS home football games this year must follow the requirements below or they will be ask to leave the premises.

• Masks are required for all students attending football games.
• All students must be in the bleachers.
• All grass areas are off limits.
• Backpacks and skateboards are not allowed on premises during games.

Supper Meal Program Discontinued

Due to lack of staffing and supplies, Nutrition Services has discontinued the supper program. The last day to order and receive supper meal was Friday, 10/1. If your student was depending on these meals to help them through a practice or other activity, please be aware and provide them with a snack so they are fueled up and ready for their competition.

Lost and Found

If you have a student who is missing a sweatshirt, our overflowing lost and found receptacle would suggest we have it. We clear out the lost and found a few times during the year by donating it to local charities, with our first date being October 28. Please ask your student to spend some time looking through to make sure their favorite sweatshirt doesn’t get donated.

iPad Update

Many of our sixth and seventh graders received unsightly notices on their iPads this week alerting them to the fact that their iPads will be swapped out for newer ones soon. We will be doing this next week. To help us prepare to do so efficiently, please make sure your student comes to school with their charger (brick and cord) next week.

Calendar

• Oct. 4 | Last Day for Supper Meal Distribution
• Oct. 4 | 7th Grade Volleyball vs. Pilot Butte MS | CANCELLED
• Oct. 4 | 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Pilot Butte MS | 5:15pm @ PBMS
• Oct. 5 | Cross Country Meet | 5:15pm @ Pilot Butte MS
• Oct. 5 | 7th Grade Football vs. Sky View | 6:00pm @ Summit High School Stadium
• Oct. 5 | 8th Grade Football vs. Sky View | 7:15pm @ Summit High School Stadium
• Oct. 6 | 7th Grade Volleyball vs Cascade MS | 4:15pm @ CMS
• Oct. 6 | 8th Grade Volleyball vs Cascade MS | 4:15pm @ PCMS Court #1
• Oct. 26 | Student Photo Retake & Make-up Day (more info to follow soon)
• Oct. 27 – Oct. 29 | Conferences (more info to follow soon)
• Oct. 28 & Oct. 29 | No School | Conference Days

Helpful Links

• PCMS Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS Información Webpage
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Curriculum Night Recording

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Curriculum Night on Wednesday, I appreciated the chance to share some of the things that make this place so special, as well as the conversation and Q-and-A after the presentation. I recorded the WebEx for anyone who was unable to make it on Wednesday. The password is: 9Mkyt99f

Pacific Crest Handbook

Anne-Marie Schmidt, our Assistant Principal, has begun production of our student handbook, which is currently available online. This document contains a lot of information on a wide variety of topics relevant to the daily happenings at PCMS, such as: Canvas, our expectations around cell phones and other electronic devices, our school and district’s attendance policies, and more. All students will review this in their Advisory class over the course of the year, beginning this week with some time spent around expectations for how students should work and collaborate with their peers in our community.

There will be a take-home assignment where students will review this information with you and have you sign a document indicated they’ve done so. This is a document that will evolve and update throughout the year and any major changes will be shared via this blog with a link to the handbook for review.

Oregon Battle of the Books

The Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a statewide, voluntary reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries in conjunction with a Library Services and Technology Act grant. At Pacific Crest, our Media Manager Marni Hanna has built a wonderful tradition around student teams and has even developed a program where students can prepare for “battles” against other schools by facing off against staff teams (my teams are 2-0 in the two years I’ve been at Pacific Crest, a feather in my cap for sure). I encourage you to talk with your student about signing up for a team; it’s a great way to bond with friends, to make new friends by signing up as a someone in need of a team, to broaden reading interests, and to actively work on critical collaboration and teamwork skills. This year’s titles can be found on the OBOB website.

Bike Safety

I’m again going to commend the high number of students who ride their bikes to school each day, it’s so 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 encouraging 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 (or 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, I’d like for you to to talk about how to do so safely. I have received a number of emails and phone calls from parents and people in our surrounding neighborhoods reporting what appear to be PCMS students riding e-bikes in the morning and after school hours 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.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

We’ve heard from a number of families who are interested in volunteering at Pacific Crest, a fact that truly makes me happy in knowing that we have created a rich partnership with our families as we work towards the common goal of providing exceptional outcomes for our students. Right now, we are not permitting volunteers but we are expecting some update guidance and possible changes to that practice next month, which I will share as I receive them.

Calendar

• Sept. 27 | 7th Gr. Volleyball vs. HDMS | PCMS Court #1 | 5:15pm
• Sept. 27 | 8th Gr. Volleyball vs. HDMS | HDMS | 5:15pm
• Sept. 29 | 7th Gr. Football vs. HDMS | HDMS | 5:15pm
• Sept. 29 | 8th Gr. Football vs. HDMS | PCMS | 5:15pm
• Sept. 29 | 7th Gr. Volleyball vs. 3 Rivers | 3 Rivers| 4:15pm
• Sept. 29 | 8th Gr. Volleyball vs. La Pine & 7 Peaks | PCMS Court #1| 4:15pm
• Sept. 30 | Cross Country Meet | PCMS | 5:15pm

Helpful Links

• PCMS Bell Schedule
• PCMS Athletics
• BLS Información Webpage
• News from the Nest in Spanish