A couple weeks ago I announced that Amy Stafford would be leaving us. That was really unfortunate news and Amy is already missed in our office. If that wasn’t bad enough I now get to announce that JoAnne Kienzle is leaving us. For those of you who know JoAnne you know how much of a hit this will be for us. She is a vital member of our team and her skills and talents will be very hard to replace. The good news is that she will still be with Bend-La Pine, just in a different role. She will be taking over for Patty Givens in IT who is retiring at the end of the year. Congratulations JoAnne! You will be missed by all.
Updates, Reminders, Info and Rants…
Please make this part of your next newsletter:
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Bend-La Pine Schools’ Talented and Gifted (TAG) offerings include fourth- and fifth-grade self-contained classes at Juniper Elementary School. More information about this program is available on Juniper’s website: https://www.bend.k12.or.us/Juniper/academics/tag-program
If you are interested in your current third- or fourth-grade child attending one of these classrooms next year, please contact your child’s school to inquire about academic testing they can offer to help determine whether your child would be eligible.
A task for your 5th grade teachers – Jim Boen has asked all our middle schools to create a general video about their school. This will be completed no later than May 19. He will collect the links to each of these videos and share them with me – so I can share them with our elementary schools. The hope/idea is that the elementary school 5th grade teachers will show their MS feeder school video sometime in class before June 1. Would you ask your 5th grade teachers to submit to Jim by April 28th 5 – 7 questions that a current 5th grader wants to know about their middle school ? Each of our MS will have their students and/or staff answer these questions on video – which will also be shared with your schools and can be watched in your 5th grade classrooms.
Just a reminder – keep up on your observations and evaluations. This year things have been pared down quite a bit so this task should be manageable. Just don’t put things off too long.
Staffing Plans – Please have your Staffing Plan completed by next Friday, April 23. After that date I will let you know if you can begin submitting posting requests for any openings you have. I am available to chat if you have any questions or need to brainstorm options. Remember to also reference the exception list of teachers at your school that I recently shared with you.
Leave Sheets – Principals, please send your Leave Sheet to Stephanie Bent (instead of Amy Stafford). (At one point we were thinking that Janet Bojanowski may collect Leave Sheets… but have landed on Stephanie collecting them for now.)
Summer iPads – It was verified this week that iPads will not be turned in this June. Due to summer learning opportunities, we will ask our students to hold on to their iPads (just like they did last spring). We will send something for you to put out in your home communications and like last year provide an opportunity for those families who do not want to keep their iPad to return it to school.
Overview of Elementary Summer Program –
The Bend-LaPine Schools will be hosting a twelve-day Summer Learning Program (“Jump Start”) for students in grades 1-5. (This program is NOT open to students who will be entering kindergarten in September 2021). The program will serve students who have been determined to require additional support due to remote/hybrid learning for the 2020-2021 SY and to decrease the potential for summer learning loss.
The program will target 2021-2022 elementary students (1-5) and focus on numeracy and literacy skills. Please note, “Jump Start” will be fully “in-person”.
Teachers will be provided specialized training to better support students. The goal of the program is to build academic skills (morning) as well as provide opportunities for social development/enrichment (afternoon). We recognize that part of the program will be focused on academics, however, we also see opportunities for connection, fun and creativity as important.
In addition, breakfast and lunch will be served with staff supervising meals in the classroom. Class size will be limited to a maximum of 20:1. DATES: August 3, 2021 – August 19, 2021; TIMES: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (mornings for academics and afternoons for enrichment opportunities. Transportation will be provided for students attending.
Locations:
Elk Meadow Elementary; Lava Ridge Elementary; Rosland Elementary; Silver Rail Elementary
Date Available:
Summer 2021 (Staff training dates: June 21 & 22 or June 23 & 24; Prep dates July 29 & 30); School in session August 3-August 19th)
Calendar
- 4/19 – Horizontal (Dave VanLoo – instructional framework)
- 4/ 19-29 – Kindergarten WebEx orientation nights
- 4/20 – Transfer interviews @ Pine Ridge (schedule being sent Monday)
- 4/21, 4/22, 4/23 – Skip is out of town
- 4/23 – High Lakes principal posting closes
- 4/26 – Regular Horizontal
- 4/28 – 3pm @ Cascade: Leadership Team / Excellence & Equity Collaborations
- 5/3 – Horizontal – Kinsey, LEAD video
- 5/5 – High Lakes principal interviews
And Finally…
In case this Elementary Director thing doesn’t work out I think I might have a future as a PE teacher. I had a wonderful time helping out at HLE and have nothing but respect for the job our PE teachers and all our teachers are doing. It was a great day.
