February 16, 2024

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principals’ Hello

Dear Golden Eagle Families,

This was a fun week here at PCMS. Our 8th grade WEB leaders surprised us all Wednesday morning with a Valentine’s heart for every student and staff member. They were all beautifully displayed down our main hallway. We were all touched by this enormous and kind gesture! Our generous PCCO also made sure every student got a Val-O-Gram on Valentine’s Day. Thank you, PCCO!

On Thursday, we celebrated School Resource Officer day, and Officer Koehnke dropped by for a very special lunch. We also presented him with an art project that we’d been working on.

In advisory, students are learning about Black inventors for Black History Month, and next week we have our Golden Feathers raffle and Bike Safety Assembly. Any student who wears their bike helmet to the assembly will get a prize!

Have a great President’s Day weekend with your family!

Sean

5th Grade Family Night – May 30

5th Grade Families – We’re so excited to meet you and your student next year! As we get closer to next school year, your student might have some questions, nervousness, and excitement! All these feelings are normal and natural!

Last year we created a two-hour experience in May that aimed to quell the concerns your student may have about middle school. We called it “Build Your Nest: 5th Grade Family Night.” We will again have this event in May, right before summer break. Students will tour the school, going to a series of stations to learn about teachers, curriculum, lockers, lunch, activities, and school culture.

You may have seen some of the other middle schools holding an open house or family night in February. We want you to know that PCMS has not forgotten about you! We’ve decided to continue to hold our event in May, right before summer, closer to when students will actually be attending middle school. 

Here are some things to look forward to in the next few months:

  • Mar 19: 5th Graders visit PCMS to hear the band, orchestra, and choir (all 6th graders take a music class)
  • April 2-5: 5th Graders choose which music class they wish to take
  • May 30: 5th Grade Family Night 

We look forward to bringing you into our community. We are a thoughtful, involved, and supportive bunch. Of course, please reach out if you have any questions!

Bike Safety Assembly

Next Friday’s Bike Safety Assembly is a student event. It is not open to the public. Sorry for any confusion!


Athletics | Track Registration Opening Soon!

Registration for Track and Field will be open from February 20th through March 22nd for all students. Middle school sports create opportunities for kids to try new sports, and our program is appropriate for all experience levels. Registration information is available on the PCMS Athletics webpage. Additional information regarding the upcoming season will be posted on the Athletics webpage soon.

PCCO Message: February Staff Lunch Sign-ups!

This month the luncheon is on Friday, February 23rd and we are calling it the “Soup and Salad Bowl”  Please show your support by signing up to bring in an item or to help out. Items need to be dropped off by 9am on Friday (2/23). Non-perishables can be dropped off as early as Wednesday (2/21). Don’t forget to label anything that you want returned to you. Thank you so much for all your help and support! It is greatly appreciated! Reach out to Heidi McHugh at 541-749-0670 if you have any questions or concerns. 

Important Reminder | Attendance Reporting

If you need to report your student as late, absent or leaving school early, please call the Attendance line directly at (541) 355-7820 to leave a voice message OR you can email [email protected]. Many attendance calls come into our main office phone line and are redirected to our attendance message line. Note that voicemails are checked every 3-5 minutes. Also, please give the attendance office secretary at least one hour notice whenever possible if you are needing to pull your student out of school early for the remainder of the day. Make it simple by adding (541) 355-7820 to your phone contacts now.

Mark Your Calendar | 8th Grade High School Info Nights

All current 8th graders and families are welcome to attend the upcoming information nights at the school your rising 9th grader is slated to attend in the 2024/25 school year on March 4 at 6:00 PM. Click on the flyers below for more information.

Pole Paddle Pedal Tee Shirt Art Contest

Feeling artistic? Creative? Here is a great opportunity to utilize your talents. The Kids Mini Pole Pedal Paddle is this Spring and your design could be selected for the official 2024 PPP kids event. Click here for more info.

Teen Girls Workshop Series

Teenage girls would certainly benefit from attending this workshop of fun drumstick cardio fitness workouts followed by a meditation and sound bath with crystal bowls. Learn about energy centers, empowerment and connecting to yourself along with discussions and journaling.

Update | Online PCMS Swag Purchases

For those that purchased items online back in early January, they arrived earlier this week and were given to your students, so please check with them. We will be reopening the online store in March. We will send out link via News from the Nest when it is open.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | Bike Safety Assembly (Students Only)
  • Feb. 26 | 8th Grade CTE Day
  • Feb. 27 | Vertical Orchestra Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar 7 | Vertical Band Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar. 1 | Deadline to purchase 8th grader celebration yearbook space
  • Mar. 4 | High School Information Nights | Summit HS | Caldera HS | Mt. View HS
  • Mar. 15 | Deadline to submit 8th grader celebration yearbook message and photo

Helpful Links

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February 9, 2024

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Happy Friday, Golden Eagle Families!

This week’s newsletter is a bit late due to our after school Valentine’s dance. Although dance attendance was less that last October’s dance, our students certainly enjoyed their time here. Mix together great dancing music, gym activities, Bingo, and more how could they not have fun!

Extracurricular time together with students, staff and family members builds a strong, caring community. Again, we thank our PCMS community for providing food and drink to help fuel our fun time together, as well as, all of the volunteers who actually came and hung out for a couple of hours. Everyone contributed to a successful event.

We’ve got some great stuff on the horizon: Val-o-grams, School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, our Bike Safety Assembly, and our College and Career Fair.

Thanks for being a great travel partner on this middle school journey!

Sean

8th Grade CTE Fly-Up Day

On Monday February 26th, our 8th grade students will have the opportunity to visit their forecasted high school to participate in Career and Technical Education (CTE) “Fly-Up Day.”  The goal of this day is to get students into their high school to learn about the many options they will have the following year.  We will be busing students to their forecasted high school and are looking forward to them experiencing a little bit of the high school experience.

If your student is attending another high school on an Area Change Request (ACR), please touch base with our main office to discuss options for transportation on this day. Students on ACRs may not be provided transportation to their high school. We may, however, have some options available this day depending on which school your student chooses to attend on an ACR.

Students attending Realms or Bend Tech Academy WILL be provided transportation for this event.

Please look for the field trip permission slip from your student in the coming days.

Cell Phones – A Guide for Parents and Caregivers 

By age 11, about half of children in the U.S. own a smartphone. These devices become a constant companion in the lives of preteens and teens – a source of connection, creativity, and, yes, distraction and potential risk. 

See this parent and caregiver guide from Common Sense Media with tips to help preteens and teens use their phones safely and responsibly. 

The guide also includes tips for determining when your kid is ready for a cellphone. 

Teléfonos celulares – Una guía para padres y cuidadores

A los 11 años, aproximadamente la mitad de los niños en Estados Unidos poseen un teléfono inteligente. Estos dispositivos se convierten en un compañero constante en la vida de los preadolescentes y adolescentes: una fuente de conexión, creatividad y, sí, distracción y riesgo potencial.

Consulte esta guía para padres y cuidadores de Common Sense Media (Medios de sentido común) con consejos para ayudar a los preadolescentes y adolescentes a utilizar sus teléfonos de forma segura y responsable.

La guía también incluye consejos para determinar cuándo su hijo está listo para usar un teléfono celular.

Noche familiar de SafetyNet

Para los padres y otros cuidadores de los estudiantes en los grados 4-10: Venga a nuestro próximo entrenamiento de SafetyNet en la Escuela Secundaria Pilot Butte el 7 de marzo, de 5:30-8pm. Este entrenamiento se proveerá completamente en español. Usted aprenderá más sobre los riesgos en línea para los niños y cómo prevenirlos. Regístrese aquí.

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Life and Career Readiness Night | March 5th

Join us at Bend La Pine Schools’ Life and Career Readiness Night on March 5th from 6:00-7:30 pm at Caldera High School. This event, welcoming all Bend La Pine Middle and High School students and families, marks the launch of our new college and career-oriented platform, SchoolLinks.

Discover your path after high school – whether it’s college, a career, the trades, or a gap year. Explore 14 different programs from COCC and OSU right in your backyard. Engage with over 30 local career opportunities, including representatives from the Armed Forces, Saint Charles Medical Center, the City of Bend, Deschutes County, Bend Parks and Rec, and more.

Indulge in local food truck offerings and consider a culinary career while entering a raffle for a chance to win one of two laptops! The Life and Career Readiness Night at Caldera High School on March 5th, sponsored by East Cascades Works and the United States Coast Guard, is your gateway to a brighter future. Don’t miss out!

Únase a nosotros en la a Noche de preparación para la vida y la carrera de las escuelas de Bend La Pine el 5 de marzo de 6:00 a 7:30 pm en Caldera High School. Este evento, que da la bienvenida a todos los estudiantes y familias de Bend La Pine Middle y High School, marca el lanzamiento de nuestra nueva plataforma orientada a la universidad y la carrera, SchoolLinks.

Descubra su camino después de la escuela preparatoria, ya sea la universidad, una carrera, los oficios o un año sabático. Explore 14 programas diferentes de COCC y OSU directamente en su patio trasero. Participe en más de 30 oportunidades profesionales locales, incluidos representantes de las Fuerzas Armadas, el Centro Médico Saint Charles, la ciudad de Bend, el condado de Deschutes, Bend Parks and Rec, y más.

Disfrute de las ofertas de camiones de comida locales y considere una carrera culinaria mientras participa en un sorteo para tener la oportunidad de ganar una de dos computadoras portátiles. La Noche de preparación para la vida y la carrera en la escuela preparatoria Caldera el 5 de marzo, patrocinada por East Cascades Works y la Guardia Costera de los Estados Unidos, es su puerta de entrada a un futuro mejor. ¡No se lo pierda!

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Feb. 10 | Winter Family Fun Event | 9:30 – 12:30 PM
  • Feb. 14 | Val-o-gram Deliveries (sales ended February 9)
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | Bike Safety Assembly
  • Feb. 26 | 8th Grade CTE Day
  • Feb. 27 | Vertical Orchestra Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar 7 | Vertical Band Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar. 1 | Deadline to purchase 8th grader celebration yearbook space
  • Mar. 15 | Deadline to submit 8th grader celebration yearbook message and photo

Helpful Links

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February 2, 2024

Posted on February 3, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Golden Eagle Families,

Happy three-days-of-no-school weekend! We’ve been getting a lot done today with grading. It was a strong first semester, and we’re carrying this momentum forward into semester 2! We will continue to strive toward our 3 key themes of the year: strengthen our systems, strengthen our community, and have more fun. I feel like we’re realizing this vision so far this year!

Yesterday I had my second principal’s coffee of the year and, as always, came away learning something from you. I learned that we need to remind people to pull forward in the pickup line (see the sandwich board) and explore some other traffic safety measures around campus. I hope this dovetails with our bike safety assembly and our continued effort to raise awareness around bike and traffic safety.

Next Friday, Feb 9, is our Valentine’s Dance! (See more information below.) Just like our Halloween Dance, we expect students to remain here at the dance from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. If your student wants to leave early, they will need permission from you, and you will need to speak on the phone with an administrator.

Tickets go on sale next week, and we will not be selling tickets on Friday, the day of the dance. We do this to ensure an accurate volunteer and food count. All proceeds from the dance will go directly to Bryson, this year’s Sparrow. (To learn more about the Sparrow program, click here.)

Finally, happy School Counselors Week! We honor the hard work our counselors do every day for our students here at PCMS. Abigail Clark and Sarah Girard make a dynamic duo, and we’re so lucky to have them here to support both our staff and our students! If you have 5 minutes, please send them a thank you email!

Sean

Let’s Share our LOVE for Sparrow Bryson!

Beginning Monday, February 5 we will be selling Val-o-grams and tickets to our Valentine’s Dance which is on Friday, February 9 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. See details for both of these fundraisers below. All proceeds will help support our Sparrow Bryson. Introduction video will be coming soon!

Volunteer Opportunities

We can’t provide your children with social and learning experiences without help from our parent/guardian volunteers. Please consider signing up for one of the following opportunities. You won’t regret it. Thanks to all of you who have signed up to help at the dance and/or who donate items thus far, but there are still openings to fill.

Interested in making a difference in our classrooms?

High Desert Education Service District (HDESD) helps find and manage substitute teachers and educational assistants for all counties in Central Oregon. HDESD is always looking for for enthusiastic individuals who enjoy being with and educating children. Click here for more information.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ml6LBr1U70ztc0TadTfKJmgIh4fQ44p7/view?usp=sharing

Summit High School Boys Lacrosse

Summit High School offering 6th, 7th, & 8th grade teams. It is offered under the Summit Boys Lacrosse Program which is integrated from 3rd Grade to Varsity. This is open to all boys zoned for Summit HS and runs March through May. You can find more information and register here. You may contact the program directly here. There will be an interest meeting on Jan 25th hosted virtually, please contact us for the dial-in information.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Feb. 5 | 2nd Semester Begins
  • Feb. 5 | Val-o-grams Sales Begin (sales end 2/9)
  • Feb. 9 | Valentine’s Dance | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Feb. 10 | Winter Family Fun Event | 9:30 – 12:30 PM
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | Bike Safety Assembly
  • Feb. 26 | 8th Grade CTE Day
  • Feb. 27 | Vertical Orchestra Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar 7 | Vertical Band Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar. 1 | Deadline to purchase 8th grader celebration yearbook space
  • Mar. 15 | Deadline to submit 8th grader celebration yearbook message and photo

Helpful Links

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January 26, 2024

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear PCMS families,

After all those snow days, this week felt long! Haha!

We had a great week, though. Our PCCO served us lunch on Monday–delicious! We learned more about assessment cycles and standards-based grading from our instructional leadership team. And we hosted the first and very successful internet safety night in partnership with Deschutes County.

These school-community partnerships raise our level of service. We’re currently working with Commute Options on a bike safety assembly, scheduled for later in February.

As we wrap up the first semester, I want to thank you for your teamwork and partnership. When we work together, we support our students, teachers, staff, and you, our families. This is when we do our best work.

Let’s make semester two just as positive!

Sean

YouthTruth Survey

Thank you to the 31% of you who filled out the survey! We have the most participation of any middle school, but let’s get to 50%! That’s our district goal!

The survey tells us how you feel about leadership, culture, instruction, wellness. It helps us grow as a school! That’s what we’re all about as a business–learning and growth!

It should only take 10 minutes. Here’s the link (AND THANK YOU!):

http://www.ytsurvey.org/bendfamily24

We LOVE our PCCO!

As usual, another fabulous lunch was enjoyed by our staff. The comfort food was delicious. A double heartfelt thank you for the quick response by Heidi and our community for adjusting the lunch service from last Friday to this past Monday due to district snow day.

Volunteer Opportunities

We can’t provide your children with social and learning experiences without help from our parent/guardian volunteers. Please consider signing up for one of the following opportunities. You won’t regret it. Thanks in advance.

PCMS Swag 50% Blowout!

Although the selection is slim (sizes and styles), we have just a few pieces of PCMS swag that is currently in-stock at school. We are offering 50% off of these items until it is all gone. As you know, we are moving to an online store that offers more selection and sizes. The online store will open every couple of months throughout the school year and will be announced in the News from the Nest prior to it opening. If you are interested in the in-stock items, please stop by the main office between 8:30 – 4:00 Monday – Friday.

Golden Eagle Athletics

On Saturday, our wrestlers competed in the first match of the season at the Bend City Wrestling Championship. This was not just the first wrestling tournament for many of our kids, it was their first match! We brought more wrestlers to this tournament than ever before. We didn’t bring the most in the tournament, but we scored from the lightest 70 pounders to winning the title at heavyweight. Our first-year wrestlers performed well, and every grade represented the Golden Eagles in the championship finals. On the grit side, these wins didn’t happen overnight. For some of our 7th and 8th grade wrestlers, they didn’t win as 6th graders, but were scoring points for us yesterday. We took home the trophy and became Bend City Wrestling Champions!

Yearbook Information

Just a reminder, about a week ago a dedicated email went out to PCMS community regarding this year’s book. Click here to review the information that was sent. 8th grade parents, please note the deadline dates.

The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC)

Testing is scheduled for all 6th – 8th students later this spring. We are expecting all students to participate in the assessment. We plan to conduct testing at PCMS in late April / early May 2023. If parents choose to opt their student(s) out of testing, please click on the link the following link, complete and return the form to our main office by April 1, 2024.

These tests are designed to be one tool that assesses students’ mastery of Oregon content standards. OSAS includes the English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and English Language Proficiency assessments.

SAVE THE DATE! 5th Grade Family Night

We will be welcoming our incoming 6th graders (current 5th graders) and their families to PCMS on Thursday, May 30th, for our 5th Grade Family Night! Last year’s event was so much fun where students got to meet teachers, meet administrators, and tour the campus. It helps to alleviate “middle school fear” right before summer!

Summit High School Boys Lacrosse

Summit High School offering 6th, 7th, & 8th grade teams. It is offered under the Summit Boys Lacrosse Program which is integrated from 3rd Grade to Varsity. This is open to all boys zoned for Summit HS and runs March through May. You can find more information and register here. You may contact the program directly here. There will be an interest meeting on Jan 25th hosted virtually, please contact us for the dial-in information.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Feb. 2 | No School | 1st Semester Ends
  • Feb. 5 | 2nd Semester Begins
  • Feb. 5 | Val-o-grams Sales Begin (sales end 2/9)
  • Feb. 9 | Valentine’s Dance | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Feb. 10 | Winter Family Fun Event | 9:30 – 12:30 PM
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | Bike Safety Assembly
  • Feb. 26 | 8th Grade CTE Day
  • Feb. 27 | Vertical Orchestra Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar 7 | Vertical Band Concert | 7:00 PM | Summit High School
  • Mar. 1 | Deadline to purchase 8th grader celebration yearbook space
  • Mar. 15 | Deadline to submit 8th grader celebration yearbook message and photo

Helpful Links

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January 19, 2024

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I know these snow and ice days can be tricky, especially with young kids at home. I also know that student safety is paramount, and I’m so very saddened to hear of the deaths and serious injuries to Bend-La Pine students this week. Please drive safely this weekend.

Speaking of safety, we will have a powerful and informative bike safety assembly on Friday, February 23. Some important visitors will co-present to our students, and I think it will be a good learning experience for our kids.

Switching gears, we have some other stuff on the horizon: our SafetyNet Family Night, our CTE “Fly Up Day” for our 8th graders, and our next “Coffee With the Principal.” (Although I’ve recently switched to black tea.)

Take care, and hold your kids close. I hope you all drive safely and stay warm this weekend.

Sean

DEADLINE: Online Purchasing of PCMS Spirit Swag

The online store will be closing this Sunday, January 21 at 5:00 PM. Each Friday, students and staff are encouraged to wear PCMS swag or PCMS colors! If you have not done so, this is one of the several times throughout the school year that our PCMS spirit swag store opens to purchase items. Swag will be available for pick-up at school by Monday, February 12. Check it out!

Yearbook Information

A dedicated email went out earlier today packed full of information regarding all yearbook related items. Don’t miss out on the opportunities to contribute yearbook photos, order yearbooks, become a donor and to purchase a personalized celebration message for your 8th grader. If you have questions, please email Deb Mullen at [email protected] or call her at (541) 355-7801. Click here for more information.

Val-o-Grams | Fundraiser for Sparrow Bryson

Upcoming Valentine’s Day Dance for Bryson

For those who would like to contribute to this dance by either donating items and/or giving your time to set-up, supervise and clean-up, we will include more details and the Sign-up links in next week’s News from the Nest.

Upcoming Caldera High School Cheer Clinic

The Caldera Cheer Team is offering a Junior Wolfpack Cheer Clinic for students in grades K-8th on Sunday, February 4, 12:00 – 1:30 PM. The cost for the clinic is $30. Clinic participants will perform at the boys basketball game on Monday, February 5. The funds raised will help cover transportation, lodging, airfare and registration fees costs for 16 members of the Caldera Cheer Team to attend the JAMZ Nationals in Las Vegas, NV this competition season.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Jan. 21 | Deadline to purchase PCMS Swag
  • Jan. 24 | Wrestling Meet @ PCMS | 5:00 PM
  • Jan. 25 | FREE! SafetyNet Family Night | SOLD OUT!
  • Feb. 1 | Coffee With the Principal | 9:00 – 10:00 AM
  • Feb. 2 | No School | 1st Semester Ends
  • Feb. 5 | Val-o-grams Sales Begin (sales end 2/9)
  • Feb. 9 | Valentine’s Day Dance | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Feb. 10 | Winter Family Fun Event | 9:30 – 12:30 PM
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | Bike Safety Assembly

Helpful Links

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January 12, 2024

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Golden Eagle families,

I hope you had a beautiful week with your kids–snow day included!

So far only a few of you have completed the YouthTruth survey. Please do this as soon as you can! We really want a representative sample of responses. This data will help us grow as a school. We can’t grow without you! Here’s the link: http://www.ytsurvey.org/bendfamily24

We have some exciting things on the horizon: a Valentine’s dance and an e-bike and safety assembly. I hope we can make these two (very different) activities meaningful for our students. This is all part of a healthy, well-rounded middle school experience.

Finally, on Monday, February 26, our 8th graders will experience the annual “CTE Fly Up Day,” where they’ll visit their high school and see all the cool career and technical options available. Last year our 8th graders seemed to really enjoy this day.

Have an awesome three-day weekend. I hope, on MLK Day, you and your family can find some service activity to help give back to our community.

Sean

Meet Sparrow Bryson

Our waiting is over! We are happy to share that Pacific Crest has been granted Sparrow Bryson by Sparrow Club USA and here is his story.  Soon we will be sharing a video of his story to our students and families. Sometime this weekend, take a few moments to read, share and discuss with your kids how they can help support him and his family over the next several months. Some upcoming PCMS fundraising events include Valentine’s dance, Val-o-Grams sales and Lucky for Bryson Pot of Gold coin collection.

Upcoming Valentine’s Day Dance & Val-O-Grams!

We are continuing our annual February traditions of kindness and fun while raising funds for Sparrow Bryson. We will start off with val-o-gram sales the week of February 5 and ending the week with a dance on Friday, February 9 from 4:00 – 6:00pm. A dedicated email will be sent to you next week packed full of information regarding both of these events.

Holidays and breaks for the 2024-2025 school year

The 2024-2025 school calendar for Bend-La Pine Schools is not yet solidified but we can confirm the dates of holidays and major breaks for next school year:

  • September 2 – Labor Day
  • November 25-29 – Thanksgiving Break
  • November 11 – Veterans Day
  • December 23-January 3 – Winter Break
  • January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • February 17 – Presidents Day
  • March 24-28 – Spring Break
  • May 26 – Memorial Day

Release of the full 2024-2025 school year calendar, including teacher conference dates and other no-school days, is pending completion of contract negotiations with collective bargaining units representing certified and classified employees in the District. As soon as we are able, we will share the new school-year calendar with families in the District.

Tentatively, the first day of school is scheduled for September 4 and the last day of school is scheduled for June 12, 2025. These dates are subject to change.

Vacaciones y descansos para el año escolar 2024-2025

El calendario escolar para el año 2024-2025 de las Escuelas de Bend-La Pine aún no está confirmado, pero podemos confirmar las fechas de las vacaciones y los principales descansos para el próximo año escolar:

  • 2 de septiembre: Día del Trabajo
  • 25-29 de noviembre: Descanso de Acción de Gracias
  • 11 de noviembre: Día de los Veteranos
  • 23 de diciembre al 3 de enero: Vacaciones de Invierno
  • 20 de enero: Día de Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • 17 de febrero: Día de los Presidentes
  • 24-28 de marzo: Vacaciones de Primavera
  • 26 de mayo: Día Conmemorativo

La publicación del calendario completo del año escolar 2024-2025, incluyendo las fechas de conferencias de maestros y otros días sin clases, está pendiente de la finalización de las negociaciones del contrato con las unidades de negociación colectiva que representan a los empleados certificados y clasificados en el Distrito. Tan pronto como sea posible, compartiremos el nuevo calendario escolar con las familias del Distrito.

Tentativamente, el primer día de clases está programado para el 4 de septiembre y el último día de clases está programado para el 12 de junio de 2025. Estas fechas están sujetas a cambios.

Spirit Fridays do exist!

Each Friday, students and staff are encouraged to wear PCMS swag or PCMS colors! If you have not done so, this is one of the several times throughout the school year that our PCMS spirit swag store opens to purchase items. Don’t miss out this winter…the deadline to purchase is Sunday, January 21. Swag will be available for pick-up at school by Monday, February 12. Check it out!

Winter Family Fun Event Invitation

Discover Your Forest invites your entire family to the Wanoga Snow Play Area on Cascade Lakes Hwy on Saturday, February 10 from 9:30 – 12:00PM. Click here for more information.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Jan. 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No School
  • Jan. 21 | PCMS Swag (clothing) Store closes (see info above)
  • Jan. 25 | FREE! SafetyNet Family Night | SOLD OUT!
  • Feb. 2 | No School | 1st Semester Ends
  • Feb. 5 | Val-o-grams Sales Begin
  • Feb. 9 | Valentine’s Day Dance | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Feb. 10 | Winter Family Fun Event | 9:30 – 12:30 PM
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | E-Bike & Safety Assembly

Helpful Links

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January 5, 2024

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you had a great 2-week break with your families! We stayed here in Bend the first week then visited friends in Santa Barbara for some surfing, tide pooling, and board-game playing.

See below for info about YouthTruth, our yearly survey that tells us how we’re doing. It looks at school culture and climate, communication, teaching, learning, and leadership. Please take just 10-15 minutes to give us your feedback!

Next week in Advisory our kids will learn more about being upstanders (rather than bystanders) and the courage it takes to do the right thing. This coincides with a lesson on Dr. King for MLK Day.

As you might know, this is not just a federal holiday, but rather a day of service. I challenge all of us to make use of the day and pay it forward to our community. Our family likes to help at Family Kitchen. There’s a ton of ways to give back, even if you just walk along the river with your kids and pick up litter.

Take care, and be well.

Sean

E-Bike Update

We aren’t seeing as many e-bikes now as we did in the fall, but when the weather warms up, we know they’ll be back. We just want to reiterate our messages from earlier this year:

E-BIKES ARE ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE

No student at PCMS should be riding to school on an e-bike. This is a crime.

The Bend-La Pine School District and Bend Police Department gave us communication assets, which we shared with you. We have seen many e-bike accidents and injuries here at PCMS, and we all need to do our part to keep our kids safe, to keep our community safe.

Please do your part, and follow the law. E-Bikes are too dangerous for kids to operate. We follow the laws for other dangerous activities for minors, and we need to follow this law.

Thank you for your partnership.

YouthTruth Survey

Please take just 10-15 minutes to complete our YouthTruth Survey:

http://www.ytsurvey.org/bendfamily24

This important annual survey looks at school culture and climate, communication, teaching, learning, and leadership. Please take just 10-15 minutes to give us your feedback!

Our students will do the survey this month in Health class, and our staff completed the survey this past week.

IMPORTANT: Upcoming School Information Nights (for all grade levels)

Non-neighborhood Choice 2024-25 Enrollment Information | Deadline: Friday, Jan. 19

Golden Eagle Athletics

Wrestling registration is still open and will close January 12th. For more information regarding registration, please visit our PCMS Athletics website. Late registrations will NOT be accepted.

Boys Rugby Opportunity

Summit High School Rugby is offering 7th and 8th grade teams for boys. It is offered under the Summit Rugby program and will practice alongside the high school teams to benefit from the wealth of coaching knowledge. This is open to all middle school boys, but will be predominantly Cascade and Pacific Crest middle school students. For more information and to register, go to rugbyoregon.com. Also you may contact Lindsay Gadsby at [email protected].

PCCO Message: January Staff Lunch Sign-ups!

Hello PCMS parents and guardians. January’s staff lunch will be Friday, January 19th. The theme is “comfort foods”. Sign up by clicking here. You can drop non-perishable items to the office anytime before Jan 19th.  Donations of food can be taken to the office the morning of the 19th before 10 am.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Jan. 12 | Wrestling Registration Ends (no exceptions)
  • Jan. 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No School
  • Jan. 25 | FREE! SafetyNet Family Night | SOLD OUT!
  • Feb. 2 | No School | 1st Semester Ends
  • Feb. 9 | Valentine’s Day Dance
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day
  • Feb. 23 | E-Bike Safety Assembly

Helpful Links

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December 15, 2023

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Golden Eagle families,

What a fun week we’ve had here at PCMS! We’re ending our spirit week, box decorating, and canned-food collecting with our Winter Wonderland Assembly! At the assembly we’ll hear from our musicians and singers, honor our fall athletes, and play a giant game of human foosball. It’s gonna be so much fun!

Thank you for supporting our toy drive and canned food drive. Today we handed over 1,526 cans (1,136 pound) of food to The Giving Plate to help feed our neighbors during this holiday season. When we come together as one unified community, we can do great things.

Have an amazing couple weeks off with friends and family. See you out in the community, up on the mountain, and back at school recharged and refreshed for 2024!

Warmly,

Sean

YouthTruth Survey

In January our students, staff, and YOU, will complete the YouthTruth survey. This survey goes out nationally to schools and helps us identify strengths and weaknesses. It focuses on the cultural pieces that make a place warm, welcoming, and effective. Through this survey, we get insight into the overall school experience that people have.

If you DO NOT want your student to complete the survey, please email Assistant Principal Anne-Marie Schmidt at [email protected]. (We’ll need you to complete a short opt-out form.)

After we get the results of the survey, we’ll share those with you. These will be part of our school improvement efforts. Thank you, in advance, for making the time to complete this survey. Stay tuned for more details in January!

Oregon Battle of the Books

We are a GO for OBOB! Students should come to the library to check out some books for the Oregon Battle of the Books. OBOB permission forms are also in the library. Teams will form after the break. Happy Reading!

Caring for Ourselves & Others

A break from school creates a unique opportunity to discover the simple things we can do to care for ourselves and each other. Click here for activities & conversation starters your family can try to calm, cope, and connect. Visit https://sourcesofstrength.org/ for more information.

Tener vacaciones escolares crea una oportunidad única para descubrir las cosas simples que podemos poner en práctica para cuidarnos a nosotros mismos y a los otros. Tilda aquí para informarte sobre actividades y pautas para iniciar una conversación que tu familia puede probar para calmarse, enfrentar las dificultades y conectarse. Para más información entrar a https://sourcesofstrength.org/

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Jan. 12 | Wrestling Registration Ends (no exceptions)
  • Dec. 18 – Jan. 1 | Winter Break | No School
  • Jan. 2 | Wrestling Practice Begins | PCMS Gym
  • Jan. 4 | Wrestling Parent Informational Meeting | The Nest
  • Jan. 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No School
  • Jan. 25 | FREE! SafetyNet Family Night | SOLD OUT!
  • Feb. 2 | No School | 1st Semester Ends
  • Feb. 9 | Valentine’s Day Dance
  • Feb. 19 | No School | President’s Day

Helpful Links

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December 8, 2023

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Message

Dear Golden Eagle Families,

It was nice seeing some of you last night at the menorah lighting. Chag sameach! Our students are psyched for the season. Spirits are high! That’s mostly a good thing!

Today we started decorating our holiday boxes and continued gathering cans for our Giving Plate canned food drive. We’re gearing up for our Winter Wonderland Assembly next Friday. Next week is Spirit Week!

Teachers are also doing some cool stuff in classes: studying local Native American tribes, starting book groups, working on the preterite verb form–learning never stops at PCMS!

I hope y’all have a great weekend with your families. It’s a beautiful time of year. Thanks for your community and partnership.

Sean

FREE! SafetyNet Family Night | Internet Safety Training

Join us at Pacific Crest Middle School from 5:30-8pm on Thursday, Jan 25th for a free dinner and internet safety training. The training covers internet safety, social media threats, cyberbullying, responsible parenting, identity theft, and hackers and scammers. Dinner begins at 5:30pm. Training begins at 6:00pm. Space is limited, so please register here early. (Note: Register for the waitlist, if prompted, in order to sign up to claim any released tickets and to show your interest in another potential event). View training flyer here.

Who is this event for? This dinner and training is for parents or other caregivers of Bend-La Pine Schools students in grades 4-10. This training is intended for adults. Adults should use their discretion on whether to bring their teenager (13+). Children (3-12) will not be allowed due to the discussion of sensitive topics. (Limited child care may be available.)

What is the training? The training is SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices®, which will be provided by KIDS Center. You’ll learn how technology can be used in a safe, positive, and ethnical way and the tools you can use to safely manage online lives for both adults and children.

The Giving Plate Food Drive Ends Thursday, 12/14

Our non-perishable food drive ends on Thursday, 12/14. The advisory classroom that collects the most items will be awarded a prize on Friday. Click this flyer for items needed. Students show take their non-perishable items to their advisory classrooms. The Giving Plate website.

OBOB! Calling All Book Warriors

We’re reaching out to our amazing parent community because we need your superpowers to make the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) a roaring success. Aside from the sheer joy of being surrounded by fantastic books and inspiring young minds, you’ll be an integral part of fostering a love for reading in our school community. Plus, the gratitude of countless book-loving hearts will be yours!

What’s OBOB? The Oregon Battle of the Books is a thrilling literary competition that challenges our students to dive into a curated list of books, showcasing their reading prowess and teamwork skills. It’s a battle of wits, a celebration of stories, and a chance for our student readers to shine!

What do we need? We are looking for 2-3 dedicated parents to share the work and take the lead to organize this fantastic event. If you’re passionate about books, love cheering on readers, and can muster up some organizational magic, we want you!

What would it entail? You would spearhead the planning and logistics of the OBOB competition. As well as, help students navigate the reading list, discuss plot twists, and build team camaraderie. Lastly, assist with the details—scheduling, communication, and making sure the event day(s) go off without a hitch.

If you’re up for the challenge please reach out to our Media Manager, Sarah Bolling, at 541-355-7834 or email at [email protected]. Thank you for helping us fuel the passion for reading in our students!

Lost & Found Reminder

Is your student missing any personal items? Remind them to check the Lost & Found on a regular basis. We are coming upon the 2nd of the four days set aside throughout the school year to donate unclaimed lost and found items on Friday, 12/15. PCMS is not responsible for unclaimed items.

Winter Spirit Week

  • Monday,  12/11: Holiday Hat/Ugly Sweater Day
  • Tuesday,  12/12: Candy Cane Day (Red and White)
  • Wednesday, 12/13: Winter PJ Day
  • Thursday, 12/14: Flannel or Flair Day
  • Friday, 12/15: Winter Olympics/Sports Day

A Message from PCCO | December Staff Luncheon

The Pacific Crest Staff luncheons have been a great success and continues to be a great tradition for Pacific Crest Families to show their appreciation to the staff and a way for the staff to sit and eat a delicious meal together monthly. They appreciate it greatly! 🙂

This month’s luncheon is on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15th and the theme is SOUP/SALAD/BAKED POTATO BAR. Show your Pacific Crest Golden Eagles support by signing up to help or bring an item on the list. We’ve worked hard to vary the items from homemade to grab-and-go. We appreciate your support and help. Items need to be dropped off by 9am on Friday 12/15. Non-perishables can be dropped off as early as Wednesday 12/13. Please label items you would like returned. Items will be placed on cart in lobby for pick-up at the end of the day. If you have any questions, please contact Heidi McHugh at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

Athletics

Wrestling registration is now open and will close January 12th. For more information regarding registration please visit our PCMS Athletics website.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Nov. 6 – Jan. 12 | Wrestling Registration
  • Dec. 4 – 14 | The Giving Plate Food Drive (see previous blog)
  • Dec. 15 | PCCO Staff Luncheon (see info above to sign-up)
  • Dec. 18 – Jan. 1 | Winter Break | No School
  • Jan. 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No School
  • Jan. 25 | FREE! SafetyNet Family Night | Internet Safety Training (see more info above)
  • Feb. 2 | 1st Semester Ends | No School

Helpful Links

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December 1, 2023

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Sean Keating

Principal’s Hello

Dear Golden Eagle families,

Check out Reggie and all those toys!

Reggie says, “Thank You for contributing to a successful Giving Plate Toy Drive!” This community is capable of so much good when we band together! YES!

Up next is our Giving Plate Canned Food Drive. We are doing this in advisory during December, leading up to our Winter Wonderland Assembly, where we’ll celebrate the winners of an advisory competition (decorating the box that holds the cans of food), honor our band and orchestra and choir, cheer our fall athletes, and play a fun game–all before we send our students off to you for a two-week winter break. “It’s gonna be lit!” as the kids around here used to say.

Speaking of “LIT-erature,” are you pumped yet for OBOB?! We will send details in next week’s “News From the Nest.”

See you out there in our beautiful, snowy town. The winter magic has officially begun.

Sean

Bike Safety

While most students are wearing helmets, riding in the bike lanes, and obeying traffic laws, we still have the occasional incident where a student does something dangerous. If your student is riding their bike to school, please remind them to wear a helmet, ride in the bike lane (not on the sidewalk), and obey traffic laws.

Here’s the message from Bend PD that we previously sent out:

A Night of Music & Art

Join us at PCMS for a FREE celebration of art and music. Enjoy both visual and performing arts on Tuesday, December 5 from 5:30 – 9:00PM at PCMS. Click here for more information.

Non-Perishable Food Drive

As mentioned above in the Principal’s Hello, we are kicking off our non-perishable food drive which benefits The Giving Plate this Monday, December 4 and ending Thursday, 12/14. Click this flyer for items needed. Students can take their non-perishable items to their advisory classrooms for the next two weeks.

iPad Insurance

Here is another reminder regarding annual iPad insurance. We highly recommend families to annually purchase optional iPad insurance for $30, with a family cap of $60. Insurance is effective for the current school year. Accidental damage, cracked screens, liquid submersion, fire, flood, theft and vandalism in and out of school are covered. Purposeful damage or lost iPads are not covered. There is no deductible fee for the first claim, $50 deductible fee for each claim thereafter. Insurance typically can be purchased at the time of iPad deployment or online (at the beginning of the school year). After this period, iPads must be inspected at the school’s media center/library by Ms. Bolling for damage before insurance can be purchased. Click here for more info.

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.

Reminder: Inclement Weather Guidelines

As we head into the winter season, we want to ensure everyone is informed and receive timely updates. Please subscribe to BLConnect so that you can receive notifications via text. To learn more about how weather-related decisions are made, visit the BLS inclement weather page: https://www.bend.k12.or.us/district/news-events/alerts-updates

HERO Kids Registry

This optional registry is a voluntary, no-cost system that lets any Oregon family record critical health information about their child before an emergency. Registry information can be accessed quickly by EMS and hospital emergency departments at the moment they need it.

Registering with HERO Kids is especially useful for young people who are medically fragile, or for those who have complex conditions, developmental disabilities, or mental health conditions. Young people in a crisis can’t always communicate their needs. Family members may not be present, or they may too distressed to help. Language barriers can impede communication. HERO Kids Registry can help offset some of these challenges.

Parents and legal guardians can register their child or young adult with HERO Kids online, and there is a paper registration option for people who prefer it. Young adults aged 15-26 can register themselves. HERO Kids Registry is secure and HIPAA-compliant.

Please share this information (English & Spanish) with your families in your next family newsletter. It is specifically for Families of Students with Complicated or Chronic Health Conditions, Developmental Disabilities or Mental Health Conditions.

Calendar of Events | Mark your Calendar

  • Nov. 6 – Jan. 12 | Wrestling Registration
  • Dec. 4 – 14 | The Giving Plate Food Drive (see details above)
  • Dec. 5 | Music Concert | 7:00 – 8:30 PM | PCMS Gym
  • Dec. 18 – Jan. 1 | Winter Break | No School
  • Jan. 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No School
  • Feb. 3 | 1st Semester Ends

Helpful Links

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