News from the Nest

Thank You families!! This week our staff was spoiled with heart-felt cards and treats. Thank you so much for your continuous support for the Golden Eagle staff during this week and always.

New MS Wednesday Schedule Details: Earlier this week you were informed of a change in schedule for our Wednesdays moving forward. Below are more details.

For students who are quarantining or who need additional support: Teachers will connect with individuals/small groups via WebEx during 20-minute periods for review and answering questions. Joining these WebEx sessions is optional for students. Students can join their teachers’ WebEx sessions at the following times: 

• Period 1: 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. 
• Period 2: 11:50 to 11:10 a.m. 
• Period 3: 11:20 to 11:30 a.m. 
• Period 4: 11:40 a.m. to noon
• Period 5: noon to 12:20 p.m.
• Period 6: 12:20 to 12:40 p.m.
• Period 7: 12:40 to 1 p.m.

Teachers are also available to connect with students during office hours, before 10:30 a.m. and after 1:30 p.m. Students/families can reach out to individual teachers to schedule a time for additional support. 

For students who are NOT quarantining or who do not need additional support: Wednesdays will be a day to get caught up on assignments. Students can connect with teachers during office hours, prior to 10:30 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m. Students/families can reach out to individual teachers to schedule a time for additional support. 

State Testing Begins: This week we will begin state testing during Advisory classes. This will likely continue into next Golden Week as well. All students will need to bring their headphones. As a reminder, students will participate in the tests listed below. Parents can request the listed additional tests if they choose to do so. If you would like to request the additional test, please e-mail Lisa Birk. Additionally, parents can opt-out of testing. To do so, please complete and send the OPT-OUT form to Lisa Birk by Monday, May 10. Students who are not testing will be reading or working on additional mathematics via Delta-math during this time.

• 6th grade students: Will test English Language Arts (Math is by request)
• 7th grade students: Will test in English Language Arts and Mathematics
• 8th grade students: Will test in Mathematics and Science (ELA is by request)

These tests are dramatically shorter this year and are simply an opportunity for students to show what they know. If your child is feeling anxious about these tests, please encourage them to do their best and know that grades are not connected to these outcomes. If your child does not take Advisory at PCMS, they are welcome to attend in order to make sure that they don’t need to get pulled out of other classes for testing. Again, please contact Lisa Birk in order to make a plan for your child.

BLS Job Opportunities: Interested in working a few hours a day as part of Nutrition Services? Click here for more info. We also have several other positions available on the BLP Jobs Page.

Celebrations:

• Student Art Show! Swing by Commons Cafe during the month of May to enjoy artwork on display created by student artists. Selected artwork from Summit High School’s Mindy Mendenhall’s graphics and photography classes, Jesse Dale’s advanced art classes, Myria Gautreaux’s art classes, and Julia Reynolds, Pacific Crest Middle School’s 6th, 7th, & 8th grade art classes.
• A Successful Bingo Night! Thanks to all who joined in on the fun last Wednesday’s evening of family fun Bingo. We raised $500 which will go directly to Autumn and her family for various medical expenses. We want to thank PCCO for acquiring a $50 gift card from La Rosa and to Croutons for their generous contribution of two $50 gift cards for our grand prized winners.
• Successful Seasons! Our Cross Country and Football teams completed their seasons this week. What a wonderful group of athletes who worked hard each day. Thank you coaches and families for your support to these awesome Eagles!

Calendar

• May 10 | Volleyball & Wrestling Season Begins
• May 31 | Memorial Day | No School
• June 4 | Last Day to Virtually Submit Sparrow Community Service Voucher
• June 11 | Volleyball & Wrestling Season Ends
• June 16 | Full Day of School | Day Ends at 4:25pm
• June 17 | Last Day of School | Early Release

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Staff Appreciation Week! PCCO, our parent group, recently sent out an email regarding how PCCO families can “simply” show their appreciation throughout next week, Also, check Facebook for more information.

The district has also offered a way to show your appreciation: Has a teacher or other staff member made a positive difference for your family this year? We would love your help saying ‘THANK YOU’ to help recognize all that our teachers, counselors, school nurses and other certified staff have contributed this year. When you fill out this form, we will send a personalized thank you card directly to the staff member. We will also share these highlights from your stories throughout the week. Please have submissions in by May 5, 2021. Here are three unique “thank you” images that you can feel free to use: Gracias, Thank You 1, and Thank you 2. Visit the following link to share some appreciation, https://bls.fyi/staffappreciation!

State Testing Information: We will begin state testing during Advisory on May 10th. We will complete the tests listed below. Parents can request the listed additional tests if they choose to do so. If you would like to request the additional test, please e-mail Lisa Birk.

• 6th grade students: Will test English Language Arts (Math is by request)
• 7th grade students: Will test in English Language Arts and Mathematics
• 8th grade students: Will test in Mathematics and Science (ELA is by request)

Supported Webex Opportunity: As the numbers of COVID-19 cases rise in our community, so too does the number of students who will be in quarantine. In addition to support from classroom teachers via Canvas & email, our students now can access multi-grade CORE Subject support via webex. This does not replace classroom assignments but rather provides a virtual connection opportunity for those that are at home.

• All grades science support: T, W, R, F from 9-10 am (https://bls.webex.com/meet/sarah.durfee)
• All grades math support: T, R from 9-10 am (https://bls.webex.com/meet/renee.skjersaa)
• All grades humanities support: T, W, R, F from 9-10 am (https://bls.webex.com/meet/torie.withers)

Last Day for Changing Placement: In the best interest of student learning, next week will be the last week to change from one district educational placement to another (e.g. home school to D CDL or BLPO to home school). Beginning May 10, students will not be allowed to transfer out of their current learning program into a different one within the district.

BLPO in the Summer: MS students will be able to take MS-level BLPO classes free of charge to the family this summer. It is important to note that any courses taken through BLPO are self-paced and are not connected to a teacher (they are fully asynchronous). Because of this, this option is not ideal for students who are behind or struggling academically, but better suited for those who missed instruction (due to COVID) and are able to navigate their learning independently.

Bend Senior High School Life Skills Annual Hanging Flower Basket Sale:  It takes place Wednesday, May 5 from 4-6pm while supplies last.  The sale will be a at the BHS campus greenhouse located on the south side of campus on Alden Avenue (730 NE Alden Ave.) between the Technology building and the baseball field. Approach the green house on Alden Avenue from 6th Street. Patrons will need to stay in their cars at all times as we will be adhering to social distancing guidelines. Examples of each variety of baskets will be on tables you can view from your car. Cost per basket is $25 this year, and we will be collecting payment at the point of sale only.  They are accepting cash, a credit card, or a check made out to Bend High School Life Skills. It is important to note that we will NOT be taking any orders prior to the sale.  Also, there are limited quantities and varieties available, and there will be a limit of six baskets per family.

Cinco de Mayo Bingo Night: Prizes to be won while having family fun! La Rosa dining gift card is part of the grand prize. Yumm! Tickets on sale until 4:00pm, Tuesday, May 4th.

• DATE: Wednesday, May 5
• TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
• COST: $5.00 (kit includes 10 bingo cards & dauber)
• PURCHASE TICKETS:  https://touchbase.bend.k12.or.us/ 
• WEBEX ROOM: https://bls.webex.com/meet/liza.huet
• KIT PICK UP:  Monday, 5/3 and Tuesday, 5/4 at 4:25 PM (after school in the lobby)

Interested in Joining the BLS Team?: There are variety of full-time, part-time, entry level, supervisory, morning, afternoon and evening options that are incredibly flexible to peoples’ needs.  Whether you are an internal employee looking for a new challenge or know friends/family looking to jump start a career, make a transition to something new or finish a public service career with a couple of extra PERS years, we encourage people to check out our job vacancies website regularly. 

Attention 8th Grade Families: If you are interested in purchasing graduation yard signs for your PCMS 8th grader, you may go to the media pages on PCCO Facebook or PCCO Instagram (@pacificcrestco), they are on sale until May 14th. You may also contact Anne Westerhoff for ordering information at [email protected] or (562) 225-8297. Proceeds from sign sales will go to PCCO, which directly benefits PCMS students.

Calendar

• May 5 | BSHS Hanging Basket Sale | Benefiting Life Skills | 4:00 – 6:00pm (info flyer)
• May 5 | Cinco de Mayo Bingo Family Fun Night | 6:00 – 7:30pm | More info!
• May 5 | Last Day to Register | Volleyball (7th & 8th), Wrestling (Boys & Girls, All Grades)
• May 5 | PCMS Football at 3 Rivers | 5:00pm
• May 5 | PCMS Cross Country Meet vs. SVMS, 3 Rivers | 4:30pm
• May 7 | PCMS Football vs. La Pine at PCMS | 6:00pm
• May 10 | Volleyball & Wrestling Season Begins
• May 31 | Memorial Day | No School
• June 4 | Last Day to Virtually Submit Sparrow Community Service Voucher
• June 11 | Volleyball & Wrestling Season Ends
• June 16 | Full Day of School | Day Ends at 4:25pm
• June 17 | Last Day of School | Early Release

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Preparing for COVID-19 Cases and Quarantine: As you all know based on the e-mail notifications you received, this week marked our first foray into responding to COVID-19 cases within our PCMS community. As community cases in our region climb, it is certainly possible that others occur in our future. Below are some reminders to everyone be as prepared as possible during these events.

• Safety Precautions: Ongoing reminders about spacing, modeling, hand hygiene, and mask-wearing all remain critical for our school and community.
• Prepare for disruption: We continue to follow safety guidelines but it is a very real possibility that your student could be affected by the virus at school. In these events, families will be contacted to pick up their child immediately from school. Please have a plan in place for who will be picking up your child in the event that they need to return home with limited notice.
• Ongoing Learning: Students in this situation will likely have to quarantine for several days. Please know that during this time, teachers will continue to provide assignments to be done at home using Canvas.
• Consistency: When an event occurs, multiple people are impacted in a variety of ways. Although it may not feel ideal for anyone involved, our system protocols and responses are consistent across all schools within Bend La Pine and are used to make safety the highest priority.

State Testing Information: State testing will occur in May. Parents need to know that there are required tests as well as optional tests at each grade level. If you intend to opt-out of testing, forms should come to the school as soon as possible. Please see the links below for more information.

• Testing Information for Parents (English)
• Testing Information for Parents (Spanish)

DCDL and BLPO: May 1 is the deadline to switch to Bend-La Pine Online or our District CDL option. After that date these two programs will not be accepting new students for the remainder of this year.

NEW! Chess Club: Starting on Wednesday, 4/28, from 3:30 – 4:30, we will be hosting a virtual interactive club where students can gain understanding of chess, learn strategies and of course play. No pressure or competitiveness–for fun only! Club will be held in this Webex Room: https://bls.webex.com/meet/anja.dubois. Click here for more clubs.

PCMS Athletics Season 4: Registration for Season 4 sports, Volleyball (7th & 8th) and Wrestling (Boys & Girls, All Grades) is now open. Additional information regarding the upcoming season and how to register your student are available on our PCMS Athletics webpage.

Cinco de Mayo Bingo Sparrow Fundraiser: Join us on Wednesday, May 5th from 6-7:30 pm for another virtual community unity event benefitting Autumn, our new Sparrow. Five dollars will give you 10 bingo cards and 1 dauber for the game. Purchase online now using Touchbase. The last day to purchase is Tuesday, May 4th. See you there!

Student Attendance: It is critical that you contact our Attendance Office for the following reasons by emailing [email protected] or leaving voicemail on (541) 355-7821. Both email and voice messages are continually checked.

• A student will be absent due to illness, emergency, or trip/vacation, etc.
• A student will be arriving late to school.
• A student will be leaving school before the end of the school day. Please give us plenty of notice so that we can have student in the lobby when you arrive. Your student will meet you outside at the time you requested. During Covid, you will not need to come in to sign student out.

Delivery of Student Items: Because our goal is not to disrupt class instruction, we ask that students are prepared with all the items they will need at school on any give day. We know, from time-to-time, students may forget items at home…lunch, iPad, sweatshirt, phone, etc. When this happens, please deliver them (only if crucial for the day) to the attendance office with your student’s name on the item. We will make sure the item is delivered as soon as it is possible.

Parking Lot Drop-off and Pick-up Guidelines

• Plan ahead, arrive a bit earlier and slow down so you are not rushing when dropping off or picking up.
• Pay attention, please do not use cell phone.
• Follow instructions of traffic controllers and ask them for assistance if needed.
• Always pull up as far as possible to allow all of the other cars behind you to do the same and to keep the line moving.
• Students should be prepared to exit your car when coming to a complete stop at the red curb.
• Be mindful of others. Please no erratic driving that potentially could cause harm to humans or vehicles.
• Honor the “Right Turn Only” sign as you exit the parking lot. It is posted to create a better flow of traffic.

Calendar

• Apr. 27 | PCMS Cross Country Meet vs. Cascade | 5:30pm
• Apr. 29 | Race, Equity, and History- A Group for Learning | 6:00 pm
• Apr. 30 | PCMS Football vs. HDMS at PCMS | 6:00pm
• May 5 | Cinco de Mayo Bingo Family Fun Night | 6:00 – 7:30pm | More info!
• May 5 | Last Day to Register | Volleyball (7th & 8th), Wrestling (Boys & Girls, All Grades)
• May 5 | PCMS Football at 3 Rivers | 5:00pm
• May 5 | PCMS Cross Country Meet vs. SVMS, 3 Rivers | 4:30pm
• May 7 | PCMS Football vs. La Pine at PCMS | 6:00pm
• May 10 | Volleyball & Wrestling Season Begins
• May 31 | Memorial Day | No School
• June 3 | Last Day to Virtually Submit Sparrow Community Service Voucher
• June 11 | Volleyball & Wrestling Season Ends
• June 16 | Full Day of School | Day Ends at 4:25pm
• June 17 | Last Day of School | Early Release

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Thank you everyone for a smooth start to our All-In transition! It is so nice to have everyone in the building and all of our students are doing a wonderful job with protocols and new safety systems in place. Please continue to make hand-washing, social distancing, and mask-wearing a priority both in and out of school. All of these systems support keeping us all safe and in school for the duration of the school year

It was wonderful to meet with families and students during conferences last week to celebrate the learning that has occurred during such an unusual year. If you were unable to meet with a teacher last week but would like to talk or have questions about class, please reach out directly to the teacher. We are happy to help make the last quarter for all of our students as smooth as possible.

Schedule Reminders: Each day school now begins at 10:35 with doors opening around 10:20 for breakfast. School ends at 4:25 daily and at 2:57 on Wednesday. With road closures in our area, please plan ahead and give yourself extra time. The parking lot can get pretty crowded around crunch time. Please consider bus-riding, bike-riding, or walking when possible to help us cut-down on traffic. Also, Monday begins an EAGLE WEEK (Periods 4-7).

6th Graders: We begin Quarter 4 on Monday so be sure to check your schedule if you have the Language/Leadership Wheel during 4th period. If so, you will be going to a new class on Monday morning.

6th and 7th Graders: Please don’t forget to complete your forecasting Google form with your parent at home and complete it in Student VUE as well. If you have any questions, please ask any of your teachers or counselor for support. We want to make sure to get you the classes you request for next year!

PCMS Athletics Season 4: Registration for Season 4 sports, Volleyball (7th & 8th) and Wrestling (Boys & Girls, All Grades) is open April 21 – May 5. Additional information regarding the upcoming season and how to register your student are available on our PCMS Athletics webpage.

Cinco de Mayo Bingo Sparrow Fundraiser: Join us for another virtual community unity event benefitting Autumn, our new Sparrow.

• Wednesday, May 5
• 6:00 – 7:30 Pm
• $5.00 (includes 10 bingo cards & 1 dauber)
• Purchase online now on Touchbase
• Last day to purchase Tuesday, May 4
• Cinco de Mayo Flyer

State Testing in May: State testing will occur in May during Advisory courses (specific dates to follow). Sixth grade students will participate in ELA testing with the option to take an additional math assessment. Seventh grade students will participate in ELA and Math testing. Eighth grade students will participate in Math and Science assessments with an option to take an additional ELA assessment. Families who do not want their student to participate in assessments must complete and return the OPT-OUT form. This form is for ELA or Math assessments only. If you do not want your child participating in the eighth-grade science test, please send me an e-mail.

Calendar

• April 21 | Registration Opens | Volleyball (7th & 8th), Wrestling (Boys & Girls, All Grades)
• Apr. 29 | Race, Equity, and History- A Group for Learning | 6:00 pm
• May 5 | Cinco de Mayo Bingo Family Fun Night | 6:00 – 7:30pm | More info!
• May 5 | Last Day to Register | Volleyball (7th & 8th), Wrestling (Boys & Girls, All Grades)
• June 3 | Last Day to Virtual Submit Sparrow Community Service Voucher
• June 16 | Full Day of School | Day Ends at 4:25pm
• June 17 | Last Day of School | Early Release

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Good morning Golden Eagles and families!

We are so excited to welcome everyone back to school on Monday morning! Although we are back together due to a 3 ft. distancing guideline in classrooms, this guideline does not exist for anywhere other than during instruction. Students are expected to continue to maintain a 6 ft. distance within the hallways, during lunch, with adults, and while outside. The safety and health of our school requires that we maintain our protocols in order to stay in school. Please continue to be vigilant about hand-washing, social distancing, and mask wearing both in and out of school so we can maintain a consistent schedule during the rest of the school year.

Our students and families have been consistently exceptional during this unusual year and we want to thank you all for your ongoing support. Students- we want you to know that your hard work is seen and appreciated each day. We are impressed with your flexibility and the adaptations and new learning that you have had to put in place quickly this year. I hope that during your Take-Home Conference, you were all able to reflect on the great work that you have done and set goals to finish the 2020-2021 school year strong. It is one that none of us will soon forget. Go Golden Eagles!

Conference Information: Please refer to this conference letter for information related to your student’s Take-Home Conference and virtual conference times this week. Virtual sign-ups open Saturday morning (4/10)!

Schedule Changes: In order to move to all-in instruction, several adjustments were necessary. Some student schedule changes had to be changed due to changes in course offerings due to shared staff between buildings as well as a need to balance class sizes. These families and students were notified on Wednesday if they would experience a change on Monday (4/12). Please check your schedule in ParentVUE or StudentVUE and make sure the view in the upper right corner indicates Quarter 4 to check for any changes if you are unsure.

Advisory: During Advisory for the remainder of the year, students will use part of the time for literacy practice and part for math practice in addition to any common messaging and protocol training that needs to occur school-wide. Students must bring a book of their choice and headphones for to use during math practice each day.

Lunch choices: Beginning on Monday, students who order lunch from the cafeteria will get to indicate their food choice. Students will choose from a main option and one alternative option each day. Vegetarian options must be prearranged with the cafeteria by contacting [email protected]. Gluten-free options require a doctor’s note.

State Testing in May: State testing will occur in May during Advisory courses (specific dates to follow). Sixth grade students will participate in ELA testing with the option to take an additional math assessment. Seventh grade students will participate in ELA and Math testing. Eighth grade students will participate in Math and Science assessments with an option to take an additional ELA assessment. Families who do not want their student to participate in assessments must complete and return the OPT-OUT form. This form is for ELA or Math assessments only. If you do not want your child participating in the eighth-grade science test, please send me an e-mail.

Sparrow Autumn Arrives in Spring: After months of waiting, PCMS is thrilled to introduce you to Autumn, our new Sparrow! She is a typical spunky three-year-old. If you saw her at a park, you would never imagine what her life has been like since her diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor when she was almost two years old. Our students will be meeting Autumn this Wednesday during advisory via this YouTube video and will learn how they can support this beautiful little girl. Read Autumn’s entire bio.

Bus Transportation Reminder: To ride the bus, students must be registered in advance. You can register online now; it takes about three days after a student is registered for them to be placed onto a route. You may also contact Transportation office at 541-355-5702 or email us at [email protected].

New school bus route times and stops are available now for all middle and high school students. All routes and stops for these grades have shifted, so be sure to look up information before school on Monday, April 12. Follow the detailed instructions on our School Bus webpage.

Return to Athletics Medical Clearance: The following documents describe the return to athletics after a positive COVID result. Please review this in order to be prepared in an event such as this. Here is the English version of this letter. Here is the Spanish version.

Celebrations:

• Despite this unusual year, four of our fantastic Golden Eagle teachers have continued to pursue a National Board Certification in Teaching! Congratulations to Sarah Durfee, Jenny Brown, Jane Shein, and Jane Ward for their hard work and continuing to model that at PCMS we are the best at getting better! Additionally, although Andrew Krauthoefer has had his school counseling degree for years, for the past several months he has been working toward his LPC and just recently completed this goal. We are lucky to have these amazing people lead our students each day.
• If you didn’t see our students in the news this week, HERE is a link. Look at our Golden Eagles lead in the community!
• Not only did 8th grader, Jonathan start the National Geography Bee Club at PCMS in the fall of 2019, but he qualified for the state National Geography Bee last spring!  With dedication to engaging students in learning about geography, Jonathan has been a leader to celebrate at PCMS.  Congratulations, Jonathan, for well-deserved recognition of hard work and a  commitment to sharing your love of geography with those around you.

Calendar

• Apr. 12 | All-In Begins
• Apr. 13 | BLS Board Meeting | 5:00pm
• Apr. 14 & 15 | Conferences | Wednesday 8-8:45 & 3:15-7:30 and Thursday 4:45-7:45 (sign-ups go live on Saturday, April 10 at myconferencetime.com/pcms
• Apr. 15 | Race, Equity, and History- A Group for Learning | 6:00 pm
• Apr. 16 | No School
• May. 5 | Cinco de Mayo Bingo Family Fun Night | 6:00 – 7:30pm | More to info come!

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Hello Golden Eagles and families!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend with family and were able to spend as much of it outside as possible! Spring has certainly sprung and we look forward to having all of our students at PCMS beginning on April 12th! Below are a few important messages regarding our return, the protocols that remain, and the adjustments that have had to be made in order to move into our new phase.

Daily Schedule and Protocols: Although ALL-IN sounds like things are basically back to normal for students, this is far from the truth. Basically, the only thing that has changed with our protocols is that students can be 3′ apart in the classroom while receiving instruction. Six feet protocols remain for students in hallways, in lunch spaces, outside, and anywhere other than the direct classroom. This is also true for our transportation system which has protocols that remain as well. In fact, our ability to keep these protocols in place is the only way that we are able to move to and remain in the “All-in” phase.

These safety protocols make it so that the only way our students within BLP can get to schools is by having our schedules be at quite different times. In a typical year, we are able to have all students to and from school using 2 bus route sessions. This year and moving forward, student transportation takes 4 routes, which is why there is such a gap between the middle and elementary schedules. I have spoken with several of you who are feeling stretched when it comes to drop-off and pick-up of children at multiple levels. It is also affecting those students who participate in outside activities. We all recognize that these changes are less than ideal and impacts families in a variety of ways, including the families or our own staff who have kids in our schools as well. Please know that we too are aware of and hear your concerns yet are trying to work on making a system work within the constraints that we currently have.

Classroom Spacing and Schedule Changes: Because we share staff at high schools and other middle schools, we are needing to make alterations due to schedules as well as the recognition of crowded spaces when all students (A-Z) come together at once. We must balance these classes in order to have a successful end to the school year. In order to move to all students in each classroom, there are many students who will experience a slight schedule change in order to balance class numbers. In most cases, we are able to continue to have students have the same teachers but they may be in a different order beginning on April 12th. If your child has a schedule change, you will receive notification via e-mail. Please know that we are working hard to make it feel as seamless as possible.

Conferences: This year, similar to past years at PCMS, our conferences will be done using a Take-Home Conference format. I will send a specific letter home regarding conferences on Thursday with this information as well. In a nutshell, students A-K will bring home a conference to go over with you on Thursday evening this week. Students L-Z will bring home a conference to go over with you on Friday evening this week. The student will share with you an artifact from each class that represents current work within the classroom. Additionally, they will share their reflection about the class and goals for moving forward.

Families can also spend time watching classroom videos made by teachers to share what students are experiencing in class and what families can expect as we move into the end of the year. If, after seeing these videos and going over the Take-Home Conference with your child, you believe you would like to have a virtual conference with one or more of your child’s teachers, you can sign up using the My Conference Time website for Pacific Crest. This site will go live on Saturday morning.

Conference times will be listed for Wednesday, April 14 from 8-8:45 and 3:15-7:30. They will also list for Thursday, April 15 from 4:45-7:45. Conferences are a maximum of 8 minutes and your student should accompany you to them. Although we want anyone who wants a conference to sign up, please be judicious when choosing to have a conference with a teacher. With these times set aside, a full-time teacher has approximately 40 conference opportunities. With over 180 students per teacher, they cannot meet with everyone. As always, if you have specific questions, our teachers will continue to respond to e-mail and be available for appointments as needed throughout the rest of the school year.

Other important information:

• We will be having state testing this year. More information to come. If you do not want your child to participate in assessments, please complete and return the OPT-OUT form.

We can’t wait for everyone to be together again! Thank you for your continued support of our students and community. Go Golden Eagles!

Calendar

• Mar. 29 – Apr.9 | Eagle Week Schedule- NO SCHOOL on March 31 and April 7
• Apr. 5 | Football and Cross Country Season Begins
• Apr. 7 | No School
• Apr. 12 | All-In Begins
• Apr. 14 & 15 | Conferences | Wednesday 8-8:45 & 3:15-7:30 and Thursday 4:45-7:45 (sign-ups go live on Saturday, April 10 at myconferencetime.com/pcms
• Apr. 16 | No School

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS Hybrid Schedule 
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Schedule for All-In Instruction: Hot off the presses! HERE is a link to our new All-In Schedule. We will continue to have a rotation of courses that are already familiar to students. Students will have weekly rotations between classes 0-3 and 4-7. This maintains consistency within a week, it reduces exposure rates in case of a positive or presumptive COVID case, and it allows students to focus on a smaller number of courses. Please see the “highlights” section within the schedule for more information.

Lunches will continue in much the same way as they have; however, students will be split within the classrooms so only half of the students are eating in the room. This maintains the 6ft that is currently in place for this time and ensures an ability to contact trace during lunch time. I will explain more about this in an upcoming video regarding our move to All-In Instruction later next week.

Bussing Information: Our Synergy system (which has bus route times within) is only to hold one route pick-up/drop-off time at a time. This means that families will not be able to see the timing for the new bus routes (beginning April 12th) until the latter part of next week. We know this is not ideal and the district is working on getting information to families as soon as it is available.

Conference Update: It seems that each time I write, there is a bit of a change with our scheduling. I will know by the end of the week what our conferences will look like and when they will happen. Families will sign up for a virtual conference (if needed) after students complete a Take-Home conference with family members at home. The Take-Home conference includes viewing teacher classroom videos as well as students reflecting on artifacts of learning with family at home. Our hope that by providing the Take-Home conference, families can get a feel for what students have been working on, understand the classroom better, and it may limit the need for the number of virtual conferences taking place now that conference time has been limited. I will send more specific directions and timing information in the News this Friday.

Student Photo Packets: Students will receive their photo packets on Thursday, April 1 and Friday, April 2 in their 4th period. If you have any questions, please contact Dorian Studios Customer Service at dorianstudio.com/support or (800) 826-3535 before calling PCMS main office at (541) 355-7804.

Keep Up-to-Date: Road Closures & Detour Routes: With ALL-IN SCHOOL quickly approaching on Monday, April 12, there will be more vehicles on the road, along with school buses, delivering and picking up children from school throughout the week so please plan accordingly. During peak road construction season—typically April through October—the City of Bend updates weekly road and traffic reports each Friday to help members of our community plan the quickest, safest and most reliable routes to their destinations. The weekly report provides information about various projects within City limits that impact the roadways. If you are not already aware of the current road work going on throughout Bend, please take a moment to review this interactive map on a regular basis.

Calendar

• Mar. 29 – Apr.9 | Eagle Week Schedule- NO SCHOOL on March 31 and April 7
• Apr. 5 | Football and Cross Country Season Begins
• Apr. 7 | No School
• Apr. 12 | All-In Begins
• Apr. 16 | No School | Virtual Conferences which will be held during upcoming evenings- more to come.

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS Hybrid Schedule 
• PCMS All-In Schedule
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Welcome back Golden Eagles! I hope you all had a restful and relaxing break in the sun and with those you love.

On March 25th and 26th, the district sent updates regarding a move toward ALL-IN instruction which will begin for grades 6-12 on April 12th. This means that there are several changes to the next couple of weeks in order for us to rearrange some things with conferences and to prepare to have more students at any given time in our building. If you missed the announcement, you can find it HERE.

I will know more about finite plans at the secondary level by this Wednesday and will share them with you as soon as I know them. In the interim, here is what you can prepare for:

• The next two Wednesdays (3/31 and 4/7) will be planning and restructuring days at school. Students will not have live WEBEX and teachers will be re-configuring classrooms and planning for new instruction.
• This week and next week will continue to be EAGLE weeks (periods 4-7). Students will also bring a take-home conference home on April 9th to be completed with you at home during the following couple of days.
• Conferences will now be held the evenings of April 21st and 22nd. The recent changes have condensed our conference time options considerably. If you would like to sign up for a virtual conference with a teacher even after having completed the Take Home Conference with your child, you can do so when conference times go live on April 14th. I will send more information home with you as it gets closer. April 16th, (Friday) will continue to be a NO SCHOOL day.
• Our bell schedule will be finalized in the next two days and will be shared with everyone from the district level. I will continue to send you updates as well as I know more.

As questions continue to come up, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I can work to find answers for you and our larger Golden Eagle community. -L

Student Photo Packets Update: Dorian Studios will be shipping packets to PCMS for distribution to students on Thursday, 4/1 and Friday, 4/2. Also, if you have any questions regarding photos, please reach out to Dorian Studios directly via phone 1 (800) 826-3535 or email https://www.dorianstudio.com/contact/.

Calendar

• Mar. 29 – Apr.9 | Eagle Week Schedule
• Mar. 31 | NO SCHOOL
• Mar. 31 | Last Day to Register for Football (7th & 8th Grade) and Cross Country (All Grades)
• Apr. 5 | Football and Cross Country Season Begins
• Apr. 7 | NO SCHOOL
• Apr. 12 | All-In begins
• Apr. 16 | No School | Due to Virtual Conferences which will be held on the evenings of April 21st and 22nd.

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS Hybrid Schedule 
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Hello Golden Eagles and families!

Please see below for many important bits of information related to conferences, high school forecasting, athletics, travel, testing, and more. Thank you all for your continued efforts to keep us all in school and participating in academics and athletics. In the coming days, we may have new guidance coming from the state that may affect schools. If this happens, please know that I will continue to give you information as it becomes available. Have a great week!

Go Golden Eagles!

8th Grade High School Orientation Nights: The high schools will be holding their 8th grade orientation nights next week starting March 15th. All orientation nights will be held virtually. Click on the links below for more information regarding each high school’s orientation night. 

• Mountain View HS, Tuesday, March 16th @ 5:30pm
• Bend Senior HS, Wednesday, March 17th @ 5:30pm
• Caldera HS, Monday, March 15th @ 6:00pm
• Summit HS, Wednesday, March 17th @ 5:30pm  

PCMS Athletics Season 3: Registration for Season 3 sports, 7th & 8th Grade Football and Cross Country (All Grades) is open March 10 – 31st. Additional information regarding the upcoming season and how to register your student are available on our PCMS Athletics webpage.

• Cross Country Athlete & Family Virtual Q&A will be held on Tuesday, March 16th from 8:30-9am in Coach Ward’s Webex Room. 
• 7th & 8th Grade Football Parent Q and A will be held on Thursday, March 18th from 8:30-9am in Brooke Walton’s Webex Room. 
• This letter is intended to be shared with families who have a child involved with any school-sponsored athletic activity. (This does not pertain to PE classes.). It outlines care regarding cardiac concerns related to COVID-19.

State Testing Updates: This year we do not yet know if Oregon will require state testing for students. We hope to receive more guidance on this in the near future but in order to be compliant with the guidelines if testing becomes required, the following letters describe the assessments as well as the option for Opt-out. If you choose to opt for no testing this year, these documents need to be returned to the front office by April 2.

• Parent message/English and Parent message/Spanish
•  Opt-Out/English and Opt-Out/Spanish

Nutrition Services: Our amazing district nutrition team is planning to have 3 grab and go sites (Bend High, MVHS, and La Pine High) on Monday, March 22^nd from 11:30-12:30 for Spring Break.  They plan to serve 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 suppers in 1 bag on that day.

Conference Update: In mid-April, we will have conferences. These likely will be virtual. Prior to signing up for conference times, students will be bringing home a Take Home Conference on April 5th or 6th to complete with families by April 7th. We will share a video with you regarding what to expect for the Take Home Conference. Please make time the evening of April 5th or 6th to spend some time with you child completing the Take Home Conference as well as reviewing the mini-videos made by classroom teachers. After the Take-Home Conference is completed, families will be able to determine if they would like to meet with teachers or not. The sign-ups for times with teachers will open on April 7th.

Grade Reminder: Remember, if you see work within your student’s Canvas page that is marked 50%, that DOES NOT MEAN that they have completed this assignment in any meaningful way. With the change in our MS and HS grading systems, a 50% (or No Grade – NG) is the lowest grade that a student will receive. HERE is a link to the grading policy and HERE is a helpful guide to get set up as a Canvas Observer.

Additionally, it is very important that students complete all Asynchronous work during their Asynchronous Days. The work that is assigned during this time is mandatory and will receive a grade just as any other assignment. These days are also good times for students to engage in personal reading and mathematics using the supports that have been designed by classroom teachers. There is always room for more if these days feel light. Please reach out directly to classroom teachers to get the best information as to what additional work can look like during these days.

Quarantine After Vaccination & Travel Recommendations: If you are wondering about guidance regarding travel and quarantine post-vaccination, please refer to these travel recommendations.

Family Trivia Night Success & Winners: What a FUN family and friends evening! Thank you PCCO for providing all of the wonderful prizes. Congratulations to the following winners:

• 1st Place Grand Prize: Rowan & Peyton Blossey & Family
• 2nd Place: Danika Melner
• 3rd Place: Emily Kraybill & Family
• 4th Place: Maya Melner
• Round #1: Oscar Wilkinson
• Round #2: Wyatt Perullo
• Round #3: Avery Simpson
• Round #4: Sam Hutter
• Round #5: Ethan & Rachel Lynch & Family
• Round #6: Taylor Melner

Calendar

• Mar. 14 | Daylight Savings Begins (clocks will spring forward starting at 2:00 AM)
• Mar. 15 | Golden Week Schedule
• Mar 15 | Caldera HS, Virtual 8th Grade Orientation Night @ 6:00pm
• Mar 16 | Mountain View HS Virtual 8th Grade Orientation Night @ 5:30pm
• Mar 17 | Bend Senior HS, Virtual 8th Grade Orientation Night @ 5:30pm
• Mar 17 | Summit HS Virtual 8th Grade Orientation Night @ 5:30pm 
• Mar. 16 | Cross Country Virtual Athlete & Family Q&A | 8:30-9am
• Mar. 18 | Race, Equity, and History- A Group for Learning | 6:00 pm
• Mar. 19 | 2021-22 High School Choice Options School Lottery Closes
• Mar. 22 – 26 | Spring Break | No School
• Mar. 29 – Apr.9 | Eagle Week Schedule
• Mar. 31 | Last Day to Register for Football (7th & 8th Grade) and Cross Country (All Grades)
• Apr. 5 | Football and Cross Country Season Begins
• Apr. 12 | Golden Week Schedule
• Apr. 15 & 16 | No School | Due to Virtual Conferences (more info to follow)

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS Hybrid Schedule 
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish

Happy Monday! We are back to Golden Weeks, meaning that your child will have classes 0-3 this week and next. You can expect no homework in Advisory but we will be doing some College and Career work, forecasting for high school, and connecting with counselors during this class time.

We are starting to get ready for conferences and have now been in all of our classes for two weeks each. Additionally, our students are doing an amazing job with all of the new protocols that are in place to keep us all safe. It has been a great start to Semester II. If you need support or have questions regarding your schedule or otherwise, please don’t hesitate to contact your counselor. Thanks everyone for your continued support of our school and our students!

Trivia Night is THIS WEDNESDAY!! We hope to see you there! Liza Huet’s Webex room at 6:00 pm!

PCMS Athletics Seasons 3 and 4 : If your student plans to participate in our upcoming Season 3 or Season 4 athletic seasons they will need to have a current OSAA sports physical on file with our PCMS Athletics department. Save time by completing this step now! Student’s completed OSAA sports physicals can be submitted by fax to 541.355.7810, emailed to Christina Johansen at [email protected], or your student can deliver it to the main office when they attend in-person learning. Questions, contact our PCMS Athletics department at 541.355.7807.

• 6th and 7th graders: Physical must be dated after May 1, 2020
• 8th graders: Physical must be dated after May 1, 2019
• Athletes new to BLP district: Physical must be dated after May 1, 2020

Our PCMS & PCCO Partnership: The Pacific Crest Community Organization (PCCO) is our parent group at PCMS that teams-up to provide school support in many ways. This organization is akin to a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and is a non-profit 501C. Every parent and/or guardian is automatically a member. Please feel free to reach out, get involved, and stay connected!

• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook
• Instagram

2020/21 PCCO Board Members

• Anne Westerhoff | President
• Amy Kissell | Vice President
• Debbie Toolan | Secretary
• Nichol Perullo | Treasurer

Conference Update: In mid-April, we will have conferences. These likely will be virtual but this remains to be seen. Prior to signing up for conference times, students will be bringing home a Take Home Conference to complete with families by April 7th. After the Take-Home Conference is completed, families will be able to determine if they would like to meet with teachers or not. Some families may be directly contacted prior to April 7th to attend an Invite Only conference as well. I will share more information regarding conferences in subsequent News from the Nest issues.

Immunization and Exemption Rates Report K-12: This report indicates percent of PCMS students vaccinated and percent of missing doses as well as other percentages. This report is also posted on our website.

Grade Reminder: Remember, if you see work within your student’s Canvas page that is marked 50%, that DOES NOT MEAN that they have completed this assignment in any meaningful way. With the change in our MS and HS grading systems, a 50% (or No Grade – NG) is the lowest grade that a student will receive. Now would be a great time to go over this with your student as well as take time to look at your student’s Canvas report to monitor progress. HERE is a link to the grading policy and HERE is a helpful guide to get set up as a Canvas Observer.

Additionally, it is very important that students complete all Asynchronous work during their Asynchronous Days. The work that is assigned during this time is mandatory and will receive a grade just as any other assignment. These days are also good times for students to engage in personal reading and mathematics using the supports that have been designed by classroom teachers. There is always room for more if these days feel light. Please reach out directly to classroom teachers to get the best information as to what additional work can look like during these days.

Upcoming School Board Meeting: March 9, 2021 at 5:30 PM. The meeting will be held virtually. The agenda and information on how to watch and/or listen to the meeting are available here.

Bend-La Pine School District Parent Groups Combine Efforts
and Fundraise for Family Access Network: In addition to our Trivia Night New Socks and Gloves collection, parent groups across the Bend-La Pine Schools (BLPS) are uniting for the month of March to raise funds for Family Access Network (FAN). For over 25 years, FAN has connected children and families in need with crucial resources such as nutritious food, safe shelter, clothing, health care, and much more, enabling children to thrive in school and beyond. Click here to read more about this month long program! English Flyer | Spanish Flyer

Calendar

• Feb. 12 – Mar. 12 | EXTENDED DATE | Purchase PCMS Spirit Wear Online
• Mar. 9 | District School Board Meeting | 5:30 PM
• Mar. 10 | NEW DATE (again)! Family & Friends Trivia Night | 6:00 – 7:30 PM
• Mar. 10 | Registration Opens for Football (7th & 8th Grade) and Cross Country (All Grades)
• Mar. 14 | Daylight Savings Begins (clocks will spring forward starting at 2:00 AM)
• Mar. 18 | Race, Equity, and History- A Group for Learning | 6:00 pm
• Mar. 19 | High School Choice Options
• Mar. 22 – 26 | Spring Break | No School
• Mar. 31 | Last Day to Register for Football (7th & 8th Grade) and Cross Country (All Grades)
• Apr. 5 | Football and Cross Country Season Begins
• Apr. 15 & 16 | No School | Due to Virtual Conferences (more info to follow)

Helpful Links

• BLS Return to School
• PCMS Campus Map (2/8/21)
• PCMS Hybrid Schedule 
• BLS Bus Transportation Info
• PCMS Athletics
• MS Grade Update
• 2021-22 ACR form (English): print form / fillable form / online form
• High School Choice Options for 2021-22
• News from the Nest in Spanish