Congratulations to our colleague Chris Boyd for being selected as the Administrator of the Year! Chris has been with Bend-La Pine Schools for 11 years and is in his fifth year as principal at Caldera High School, the district’s newest school. He has been Caldera principal since the doors opened in the fall of 2021.
To Do
Reminders for HS: teach these two lessons before winter break:
SBHC lesson (MVHS and BSHS – skip slide 8). AND send home the SBHC family letter and permission form.
From Tami Pike:
Please ensure that your school’s first aid kits: classroom fanny packs, front office orange first aid bags, and gym wall first aid kits are regularly reviewed and restocked. This task can be completed by non-nursing staff.
From Departments
From Gabe, Director of Activities and Athletics:
Jess Calbreath, COSA
School Counseling Updates: Nov 20, 2025
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Sean Reinhart, Jennifer Hauth, and Jamie Gunter
The Student Services Team is reaching out with yearly reminders of our protocols and procedures around suicide risk and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), as required by Adi’s Act (Senate Bill 52). We will be providing a series of updates to ensure that administrators have information on updated protocols.
Reminder: Safe Oregon
Safe Oregon tips involving suicidal ideation or non-suicidal self-injury require follow up with your school based mental health staff (follow up screening and entry into Student Safe each time). Refer to the student services slide deck or reach out to Sean, Jamie, Scott, or Kayla.
Reminder: Screening Staff
As per our Adi’s Act plan, staff who can risk screen and safety plan with students include school counselors, school psychologists, and student success clinicians. ASIST trained school nurses and student success staff can collaborate with their school based mental health professionals after screening on next steps in safety planning and lethal means calls home. Policy requires that a student is screened and parent/caregivers are notified the same day that a concern is noted. Same day notification to administrators is also a requirement, as is the entry of all screening information and contact details intoStudent Safe. All administrators have access to the Student Safe system, and if anyone would like a 1:1 walkthrough, please reach out.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Heather Tang:
Here’s a quick reminder about the Tobacco Quit Kits. 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 request 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.
HS Only
From Michele in Transportation:
2026 Oregon Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School High School Task Force: Applications accepted now until December 11th at 5pm. Apply for the 2026 High School Task Force – Oregon Safe Routes to School
This is open to Oregon students enrolled in grades 9 – 12 for the 2025-2026 school year. Leif Méndez, who was a 12th grader at Caldera High School last school year, served on the inaugural ODOT SRTS High School Task Force. I’m hoping another BLS high school student will apply and be selected for this opportunity.
I invite your recommendations on where and how else to promote this. I have already asked BLS Communications to include it in the December Family Newsletter.
Calendar
November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break
December 1: SBG Parent Night @ LPHS 5:30
December 2: Learning Walk session @ MVHS 9:15 room D1
December 3: Optional Early Adopter Drop in 8:00-8:30 (virtual)
December 3: SBG Parent Night @ MVHS 5:30
December 5: HS Principal Connection @ BTA 9:00
December 5: Transcript process training for HS admin who have not been trained 10:00 @ BTA
What in the World Happened Here?
Congratulations to Leah Boon for winning last week! The image was of Ruby Bridges being escorted to school by federal marshals on November 14th 1960.
This week, it’s What in the World Happened Here? Check out this week’s image below. Any admin who correctly identifies what historical even happened here by Monday morning (Dec 1) will be entered in a drawing for coffee/tea or morning beverage of choice to be delivered by Katie or Stephen. Note: This contest will be limited to MS and HS admin.
