To Do:
From HR: (Probationary Letters Due 1/24)
Please refer to your email from Triz De La Rosa regarding your probationary/temporary 3 staff. The deadline to write letters of support is 1/24. It is essential you complete this task by that date.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Katie and Stephen: (Due 1/17)
As you know, UKG is not yet ready to receive your SLGGs for this school year. We have had some conversations with building leaders about holding on to these documents in order to upload them when you have the green light from UKG. As we wait, Katie and Stephen are requesting building principals send their SLGGs to their respective level leader by next Friday (1/17).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Lisa (Due tomorrow 1/10): (repeat)
Reminders to complete professional development feedback form AND have ALL staff to complete COREN survey by January 10.
Remember to continue to use the PD tool for PD feedback during your SIWs. The information gathered from this tool will be reviewed in January in a joint Admin/BEA meeting regarding professional development based on the latest agreement.
From Lisa’s email this week: In our efforts to continue to improve, please take a moment to give feedback on our December Admin PD time. In case you need a memory jog, we spent our time together with the goals of learning, reflecting, and connecting. We reflected on our leadership journeys, team needs, personal strengths and strengths of your colleagues, and the variety or roles you play as a leader. We also gave some awards to very deserving folks! Thank you in advance for giving your perspective.
Secondly, another survey I would like you to share with your team is from one of our partners, COREN. This will give an opportunity for all staff to describe professional development interests. COREN supports many learning opportunities within BLP, and this information benefits both their organization and ours in the sense that it gives us access to supports for our current needs. Right now, participation has been limited so any encouragement you can do to give feedback is helpful. This survey ends on January 10th.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Stephen: Grade Guardian (Send by 1/15)
Our move to Synergy EWS for student grade data has required all grades to be posted and up to date within Synergy beginning this year. While grades within Canvas can still be used, a question has arisen regarding our purchase and use of Grade Guardian. Is there still value to our schools that would justify the cost of this program?
To get a better sense of how our sites are interacting with Grade Guardian, please pass along this survey by next week to those in your building who may use the feature. If it is helpful, here is a spreadsheet with email addresses of folks we have listed as Grade Guardian advisors.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Stephen: TAG (Due by 1/10)
Please remind your TAG administrator and TAG ICCL that we will have our second mandatory meeting on this Monday the 13th in the board room from 3:45 to 5:30.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From the Superintendent’s office (on behalf of Mid Oregon and KTVZ):
Please send out to your staff. We would love a lot of BLS representation!
Just checking in at the end of the year to ask your assistance in nominations for our KTVZ One Class at a Time awards. Selected nominations will be chosen monthly during the school year for innovative classroom education, projects and learning that represent positive student experiences and highlighted with a KTVZ news story and a $1000 award to support the program.
Please have your principals, teachers, advisors, staff send the requests to me for our selection process.
Kyle Frick
Vice President, Marketing & Community Relations
Post Office Box 6749
Bend, Oregon 97708
541.585-1802
541.389.0103 Fax
[email protected]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Scott in Safety: (For your admin who oversees safety)
Reminder: The second of our four safety cadre trainings will be taking place on Wednesday, January 15th at the PBMS library from 1:30 – 3:30 PM. Snacks will be provided.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From TLC:
Save the Date – Our August launch dates for next school year are set to be 8/6 and 8/7.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From TLC:
Please work to ensure time and leave sheets are correctly filled out before submitting them on. Office managers received an email earlier with clear information on what is required if there are any questions. If an employee has omitted information (the most common mistake) or has another error, please have your office manager work with them to correct the form before submission. Thank you.
From Departments:
From Stephen and Katie: Master Schedule Training Change
The master schedule training originally planned for both 2/11 and 2/12 has be condensed into just one day on February 11th. High School will attend in the morning and Middle School will attend in the afternoon. More info to come.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Kinsey – Policy, Advocacy, and Office of DEI:
Classroom placement policy:
Here is a draft of a new policy going out for public feedback, with a tentative adoption date of mid-February. This establishes that principals are the final decision-makers with regard to classroom placements. This should help navigate student, staff, or parent requests or refusals to have a particular teacher or student in a class, or where there is disagreement on a student’s schedule. The “principal or designee” language allows you to delegate this authority to counselors or coordinators, at least for initial placements or non-controversial requests for changes.
Upcoming events:
Please share this communication in your next weekly staff memo, and participate in any/all of these as you are available. In particular, encourage your building to be well-represented in our 3rd annual Door-Decorating Contest (adult teams can participate too, if you have enthusiastic or artistic front-office, counseling, or other non-classroom staff). Thank you!
CAFE Program training:
Do you have a newly-hired staff member who speaks another language? Would they like a $1,000 annual stipend for using their multilingual skills to support family communication? Due to multiple requests, we are adding one more round of CAFE Program testing and training for this school year. This extra round will take place in late January—further opportunities will not be available until next fall, so please help ensure relevant bilingual employees are aware and signed up in UKG’s Learning platform. (Once a staff member has been tested and trained, they do not need to repeat those steps.)
Do Not Schedule dates:
As your team begins to schedule important dates for spring, summer, and fall events, please be sure they are aware of our Do Not Schedule dates. Thank you for re-sharing this with your office managers, activities directors, athletics staff, counselors, and PTA/Booster Club leaders.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Paul in Operations:
A big shout-out to La Pine and Mountain View high schools (especially CTE teacher Cameron Salvitelli) for submitting the first Facility/Site Modification proposals. Their proposals were approved by the Executive Leadership Team this past week.
If you would like to view their proposals as exemplars on how to complete Part I and also view the department feedback that they received in Part II, they are linked here (LPHS and MVHS). We’d also like to recognize Three Rivers for their recent proposal for a mural on their wall ball court.
Please remember that filling out this form is a requirement before schools may proceed with any project that impacts your facilities or grounds. When in doubt, contact your level leader and/or Paul Dean and we’ll advise you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Nick in the Business Office:
We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and winter break! When you get settled after the new year, please note that the IRS has announced a 3 cent/mile increase to the mileage rate for 2025. The new rate is 70 cents/mile, and applies to all mileage driven after January 1, 2025. Below is a link to the Portal page with the electronic mileage forms for in-District travel with both the 2024 and 2025 rates. There is also an AP-106 for other travel. Please note that the mileage reimbursement rate is determined by the date of travel, not the date the reimbursement is submitted or paid.
https://bendlapine.sharepoint.com/SitePages/Business-Office.aspx
Please contact Nick Shein at [email protected] if you have any questions.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Dave V.:
This is a quick reminder that YouthTruth is now open through January 31. Here is a link to a document to help you get started. More information and resources are available once you log in to YouthTruth.
Let me know if you have any questions.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Heather Tang at Deschutes County: UpShift Update
Happy New Year! Here’s a quick reminder about the Tobacco Quit Kits introduced last year. These kits are a valuable resource to support students in their journey to quit smoking, vaping, or using chewing tobacco.
The kits include:
- Distraction tools to help resist the urge to use tobacco.
- Resource information to support students through the quitting process.
How to Distribute Quit Kits
- Quit Kits are intended to be distributed during the second nicotine module of the Teen Intervene program by UpShift Specialists.
- In special cases, they may be distributed outside of Teen Intervene, but only if a student demonstrates a strong commitment to quitting.
Schools and staff can request kits using our Google Form:
- Order up to 5-10 kits at a time.
- Delivery will be confirmed within 5-7 business days.
- To streamline the process, we recommend designating one UpShift team member to handle all kit requests for your school.
Ready to request your kits? Please complete this form.
If you have any questions or need additional support, please reach out. We’re here to help!
Additional Resource:
The CDC has a quick, one-page guide to help school staff understand youth vaping and tobacco use.It includes tips for how you can support young people and key health facts. Download it in English or Spanish. Please feel free to pass along to staff.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Janet Bojanowski in the Superintendent’s Office:
The following was shared with Office Managers. Please support their attendance on 1/22.
During the January 22nd Office Manager meeting, we will have a discussion on de-escalation led by Eric Powell, Scott Bojanowski, and Kayla Martin. This will include sample scenarios to work through and time for you to bring forth any scenarios you would like to share/discuss. We would like to remind you that your full office staff is invited and encouraged to attend these trainings. Building administrators have been asked to support the front office, if needed, to provide the opportunity for everyone to attend.
Schedule is as follows; however, you are welcome to join either session if the time works better for you.
- Elementary Team: 1:15-2:15pm
- Secondary Team: 2:30-3:30pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Sean in Student Services:
Child Count 2024
Each year on December 1, we report the number of students on IEPs, as well as other demographic information to ODE. This “count” is what determine our level of funding for the next year. You can find a table with 2024 data, as well as historical trends HERE.
Here are a few highlights:
- Total students on IEPs is 2027 (up from 1931 in 23/24)
- Total IEPs district percentage is 12.1% (slightly up from last year and up 3% since 20/21)
- No remarkable trends up or down in disability type last year
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Jenn in Student Services:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Sean and Sarah Barclay: Updated Q & A (repeat)
Sean and Sarah recently sent out the following to all certified staff. Please read and make sure you are familiar with this information.
Greetings Dedicated Educators,
You may recall that back in October we released a BLS Special Education Inclusion Question and Answer document to better ensure a common set of information regarding our Special Education Programming within Bend-La Pine Schools. Since that time additional questions have been raised thus, we are reaching out today with added and updated information. Thank you for continuing to engage in this conversation with us and bringing to our attention topics that need additional clarification within our system. We believe that we all do our best work when we have a common set of knowledge to build and create upon. Please find the updated Q& A in the link below:
(Updated) BLS Special Education Inclusion Questions and Answers
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Jen: “BLS Academic Information Night” January 23rd (repeat)
Please share this information with your families and students beginning the second week in January
BLS School Counselors will be hosting our “BLS Academic Information Night” on Thursday January 23rd at Summit High School. This event is essential to our CSCP and district goals, as we aim to provide families with valuable resources for academic planning. Forecasting and the SchooLinks Course Planner are integral parts of our CSCP programming, aligning with our responsibility to support students with their Educational Plan and Profile, which we update annually. While forecasting might differ slightly across schools, the information and resources leading up to class selections and course planner are quite similar.
We will have a general presentation followed by breakout opportunities for families to ask questions about their specific school site curriculum pathways and forecasting processes. You can utilize ASPIRE funds to compensate for your time, as this aligns perfectly with future planning efforts. We hope to have at least 1-2 representatives from each high school. Please refer to the sign-up sheet for various needs for the night.
We will promote this event at the district level and would love for each school to share the information through their communications as well. More details will follow!
Middle School Only
January Meetings: Time to sign up for a January visit. Please choose a date this month for a 60 minute check in. Here is my Calendly link or you can use Outlook directly.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Master Schedule Training:
There has been a slight change to the schedule for the master schedule training originally planned for February 11th and 12th. We will now have our middle school folks attend on the 11th only from 12-4. Please fill out the MS tab on this document to let us know who will be attending from your site. Each site does need to participate.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Round one of Walkthroughs:
Round one of our instructional walkthroughs will be hosted by CMS on January 23rd from 9:30 to 11:00. Up in this round will be Gabe Pagan, D Foster, Nick Smith, and MacKenzie Grossing. Please clear your calendar in order to attend. Thanks for hosting Gabe!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Scott in IT:
Greetings,
As you know we currently block student access to YouTube for students in grades K-8. For the most part, this change has been well received by both staff and families. That said, we know that many teachers (especially middle school elective, math, etc) have been adversely impacted by the loss of YouTube for students. Fortunately, our IT team has been able to create an inhouse solution (YouTubeBuddy) that will allow teachers to request specific YouTube videos to become viewable on student devices. Since these videos will be open to all Bend-La Pine students, we are requiring that administrators be notified on the request in the case there are any unforeseen issues.
How to request student access to a YouTube video:
- Copy and paste the URL of your Youtube video into an email. Lists of mulitiple YouTube videos are welcome. These should be listed in a google sheet or Microsoft Excel document.
- Send your list of videos to [email protected] and also to your administrator, or administration team.
- You will receive a reply when the videos have been made accessible for student use. Detailed instructions linked here.
Both our IT and Instructional Tech team hope that YouTubeBuddy will help your students access the materials that have been missing from your curriculum this past few months.
Calendar
- January 6-31: Schools implement YouthTruth survey!
- January 10: COREN survey deadline
- January 13: TAG Admin/ICCL meeting – 3:45-5:30 @ Educator Center boardroom
- January 13: Spanish-language FAFSA Night 5:30-7:30 @ Education Center boardroom
- January 14: MS and HS Administrator work session 8-10 @Caldera HS
- January 15: Safety Cadre Meeting 1:30 @ PBMS (Safety admin leads should attend)
- January 15: SIW Educator Network Day
- January 23: BLPS Family Academic Night @ Summit HS
- January 28: HS Administrator work session 8-10 @ Mountain View HS
- January 29: All Admin PD 3:00-4:30 @ Bend HS in Perseverance Hall
- January 30: MS Horizontal – Pacific Crest – 3:00 – 5:00
Where in the World
Thank you for all the entries! Keep ’em coming.
This week we are highlighting our Language Arts TOSA Torie Withers’ happy place! “My happy place is skiing snowy slopes with my family, a tradition spanning three generations. Starting at age three at Mt. Bachelor, I learned alongside my sister with my parents leading the way. Although my dad always finds a way to push the limits—getting our family hopelessly lost while skiing in out-of-bounds terrain in Canada when I was a kid, or cutting it way too close to closing time to ski the get-back from the backside of Bachelor—his adventurous spirit taught us more than skiing; he instilled a profound love for the outdoors. Now, watching my own children discover these same slopes, I’m grateful to live where nature continues to strengthen our family’s connections to each other and the beautiful place we live.”
