Reminder: Contract letters for licensed employees were sent to all licensed employees via UKG and must be returned no later than April 15.
From Departments
From Lisa in the Superintendent’s Office:
This year we have done a lot of work on policy and implementation discussion related to AI use in BLPS. This training is MANDATORY for all school admin and you may choose between 4 options (5/20, 6/10, 6/17). Please refer to the document below to sign up for a time. They are listed in Yellow.
As a reminder, Optional PD opportunities are available for all. As always, if you have an interest in a specific topic, please feel free to let me know so we can work on standing up some trainings. Have a great day. -L
April 14: Personal Finance Training (required for HS teachers teaching the course) @Ed Center, Room 203 8-4.
April 14-18: KT out of the office
April 22: HS Administrator work session 8:00-10:00 @ Realms HS
April 23: END for all teachers
April 22 and 23: All day training for Campus Monitors – mandatory
April 24: MS Horizontal 3:00 – 5:00
April 30: Deadline to share/process YouthTruth Data with staff, students and families
May 1: HS only: HSS $ must be spent!
May 7: District Safety Cadre Training @ 1:30 – mandatory for all safety admin leads
May 20: HS Principal work session 8:00-10:00 @ BSHS Perseverance Hall
May 31: HS only: Deadline by which Distracted Driving assembly or advisory lesson is completed.
June 10: HS Principal work session 8:00-10:00 @ TBD
May 20, June 10 and June 17: Mandatory AI training. Sign up for one session! Mandatory AI Training
Where in the World
This week, we are highlighting Susie Alvarez Tostado, Assistant Principal at Caldera High School. Susie shared, “my happy place is traveling. Anywhere and everywhere. This picture is from this year’s international trip to Iceland, southern coast from Reykjavik and back.”
For our semester schools, next Friday, April 11th is the last day that students with a W. For our trimester schools, the date is May 2nd.
Senior’s last day is May 18th.
OSSMs are working to pull the reports and share these dates with students and counselors.
From Kinsey – Policy, Advocacy, & Office of DEI:
Emergency contacts:
We’ve learned from other districts across the country who have experienced immigration raids, or smaller-scale detention/deportation actions in their community, the importance of having up-to-date emergency contacts in Synergy for each student. If parents/guardians suddenly become unavailable, we rely on emergency contacts–outdated information adds stress to an already traumatic situation.
With conferences coming up, please encourage families (all families, not just those to whom the above situation might apply) to update their emergency contacts. This might look like a station in your lobby with iPads and instructions (I’m working on getting some we can provide you), a reminder by classroom teachers, etc.
Day of Silence:
The 2025 Day of Silence is coming up (student-led advocacy day to support the LGBTQ community). I have asked your DEI-ICCL rep and/or GSA advisor to send a message to staff about this day, so staff are aware and know how to navigate.
If you haven’t seen that message come out to your staff, or if you’d like to re-send it in your staff memos, please reach out to your DEI-ICCL rep. Teachers should plan for nonverbal or written means of participation in class that day, if possible.
HS Only
From Kinsey – Policy, Advocacy, & Office of DEI:
Seal of Biliteracy (and Multiliteracy!) Cords:
In addition to purchasing the Biliteracy Seal cords like always, we’ll also be purchasing the Multiliteracy Seal cords for schools. This is the same state award process, but designated for students who qualify in three or more languages. We’ll get those cords (and the accompanying state-issued certificates and seals) distributed via our normal processes in May.
You will need to add an asterisk to your grad program, delineating the Oregon State Seal of Multiliteracy and the corresponding cord (gold/white/purple), separate from the asterisk that indicates Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy (purple/silver cord). This will impact very few students, maybe a couple each year.
Calendar
April 4: BLSO closes enrollment for all students on a trimester schedule. (Exceptions can be made for graduating seniors.)
April 8: MS and HS work session 8:00-10:00 @HDMS
April 8: ICCL/Administrator training 4:15-6:15 @ BSHS Perseverance Hall
April 9: All Administrator Professional Development 3:00-4:30 @ BSHS Perseverance Hall
April 11: This is the last day for semester based students to drop a class and earn a W. Any class kept open after April 11th will earn a letter grade which includes a Fail. (9 weeks from the start of the semester.)
April 14: Personal Finance Training (required for HS teachers teaching the course) @Ed Center, Room 203 8-4.
April 14-18: KT out of the office
April 22: HS Administrator work session 8:00-10:00 @ Realms HS
April 23: END for all teachers
April 22 and 23: All day training for Campus Monitors – mandatory
April 24: MS Horizontal 3:00 – 5:00
April 30: Deadline to share/process YouthTruth Data with staff, students and families
May 7: District Safety Cadre Training @ 1:30 – mandatory for all safety admin leads
Where in the World
In this week’s Where in the World, we are highlighting Sean Reinhart, Executive Director of Student Services. Sean’s happy place is on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho.
YouthTruth Data processing and sharing needs to be completed by April 30.
This look like:
*Process with all staff (including classified team members!): Develop a plan to review YouthTruth data that informs improvement planning during an BD SIW or a staff meeting
*Process with students: Review top two highest and lowest areas and collect/process feedback from students for improvement planning!
*Share with families: Share top two highest and lowest areas in communications with your families (digital newsletter?). Bonus points for collecting feedback for improvement planning!
This update includes several important changes that will directly affect our work with students, specifically regarding:
High School Credit for Middle School Students
Procedures for Dropping a Class
Awarding Credit for Courses Taken More Than Once
Extended Parameters for Weighted Grades
Driver’s Ed Credit
Courses from Non-District High Schools or Post-Secondary Institutions
Katie Legace, Jess Calbreath, and Jennifer will be hosting two separate virtual office hours to discuss these changes and how we will implement them. It is expected that every counselor and the administrator overseeing counseling attends at least one of these sessions.
Campus Monitors are required to attend two days of training on Tuesday, April 22 & Wednesday, April 23. The training is focused on Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Unarmed Security Professional Certification. Be sure your CM’s are freed up to attend this training.
From Kinsey – Policy, Advocacy, and Office of DEI:
Congratulations:
Be sure to celebrate the folks in your building who won our recent community engagement contest opportunities, and include kudos to all your staff who participated! Winners, participants, photos of submissions, and more are here.
Complaints:
Before spring break: Please go into your Dashboard and ensure you have followed up on all complaints or bias incidents logged there. You should ensure there is documentation on your findings and follow-up actions/communications.
Please always circle back with the reporting individual to let them know you received and handled their submission, and to share whatever outcomes you can (respecting confidentiality, of course). This last step continues to be a frustration of students, feeling like they’re not hearing ‘anything’ from their school on incidents or complaints they report. Whether that’s true or not, it never hurts to double-check that we’re closing communication loops!
Budgets:
As you prepare your budget for next year, be sure to include dollars to purchase all school supplies required by your teachers, as well as dollars to cover the fines/fees being assessed to any McKinney-Vento-qualifying student (see policy here—this will be a very minor impact on your budget, but is significant to our families experiencing houselessness).
March 18 OR March 21: 8:10-9:00 amVirtual Meeting – Update on Grades and Credit AR Every counselor AND the MS/HS administrator overseeing counselors attends one session
March 21: Certified and Support Staff Excellence in Education nominations due
March 21: EVE Survey completion DUE
March 21: BLSO closes enrollment for all students on a semester schedule.
March 24-28: Spring Break
April 4: BLSO closes enrollment for all students on a trimester schedule. (Exceptions can be made for graduating seniors.)
April 8: MS and HS work session 8:00-10:00 @HDMS
April 9: All Administrator Professional Development 3:00-4:30 @ BSHS Perseverance Hall
April 11: This is the last day for semester based students to drop a class and earn a W. Any class kept open after April 11th will earn a letter grade which includes a Fail. (9 weeks from the start of the semester.)
April 14: Personal Finance Training (required for HS teachers teaching the course) @Ed Center, Room 203 8-4.
April 22: HS Administrator work session
April 22 and 23: All day training for Campus Monitors – mandatory
April 30: Deadline to share/process YouthTruth Data with staff, students and families
Where in the World
In this week’s Where in the World, we are highlighting Dave VanLoo, Director of School Improvement. Dave shares, “my family and adventure bring me joy. In this picture we are exploring a remote slot canyon in Escalante, Utah.” Stunning image!
Join us in celebrating our incredible Student Success Coordinators, Clinicians, Instructors and Educational Assistants the week of March 3rd – March 7th! This coincides with School Social Work Week & Classified Appreciation week.
Student success staff are instrumental in supporting students with significant social, emotional and mental health needs. These amazing humans work tirelessly to provide intensive care coordination, family engagement, academic support and emotional support.
Our student success staff serve as vital members of a school’s education team, playing a central role in creating partnerships between the home, school, and community to improve student well-being and academic success.
Please take a moment during this week to celebrate and acknowledge the student success staff in your building! Thank you.
From Departments
From Scott in Communications:
ALL-STAFF MEETINGS MARCH 13 WITH DR. COOK: Please remind all your building staff of the virtual meetings with Dr. Cook on Thursday, March 13. These 30-minute virtual meetings are open to all District employees, with two afternoon time slots to accommodate different work schedules.
Dr. Cook will provide updates on bills making their way through the state Legislature and how they could impact our work to build a budget for next school year. He also will touch on directives related to public education coming out of Washington, D.C. Dr. Cook will leave time to answer a few staff questions. PICK YOUR TIME!
3:05 to 3:35 p.m. (best for elementary schedules)
3:50 to 4:20 p.m. (best for secondary schedules)
We will provide meeting links closer to the date. Attendance is optional, and we will provide recordings of both meetings afterward.
Regarding administrator professional development March 5:
In preparation of our next admin PD meeting, please be sure to complete the Leadership Intention activity from Chapter 1 of Thriving Leaders. Here is the document in case you want a digital copy.
We will also be talking about Chapter 2, so please read that prior to attending on Wednesday!
Submittals are now being accepted for our Excellence in Education awards. This honor is designed to recognize BLS employees who have distinguished themselves during the 2024-25 school year with their leadership, innovation, outstanding professional practice, and positive contributions at work and in the community.
We invite you to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our staff by submitting individuals who exemplify “service above self.”
Depending on your role, you may have the opportunity to recognize either a Certified Staff Member, a Support Staff Member, or both from your school or department.
Certified Staff honorees should stand out for their dedication and excellence in areas such as character and leadership, innovation and creativity in their field, outstanding instructional practices and student outcomes, inspiring all students to succeed, community engagement, and contributions to the betterment of the district, school, students, and colleagues.
Support Staff honorees should distinguish themselves through exceptional character and leadership, innovation and creativity in their role, exemplary customer service, mastery in their profession, inspiring all students to succeed, community engagement, and/or contributions to the betterment of the district, school, students, and colleagues.
Please select one Certified Staff Member and/or one Support Staff Member who embodies these qualities and makes a meaningful impact in your school or department.
We need to talk once again about security and keeping our organization and personal data safe. Email phishing and scams continues to be our number one threat. And lately, the bad guys have been busy. Fortunately, there are actions both we in IT and you can do to protect our data:
Report any suspicious email message– Use the “Phish Alert” button in Microsoft Outlook to flag any suspicious message. Of course, do not click any links in the email before reporting!
Note External Messages– Along with the yellow banner, you will now see the label “External” beside any message that is not from a Bend-La Pine user. In some cases, you may also see additional information about the sender.
Only use Microsoft Outlook!- The security features that we invest in and maintain as a district are only available on Microsoft Outlook mail clients and tools. Please do not add your work email to any other mail application (examples include Apple Mail, Gmail, etc.).
Soon, we will be disabling the ability for users to view their work email on third party applications. There will be additional messaging to support users who will be impacted by this change.
Finally, you might have noticed our email phishing campaign has become a lot harder lately. That is because the bad guys are also getting trickier as well. Do not be afraid to over report when you are suspicious of a message!
HS Only
Principals: At our upcoming one on one meetings, we will discuss your school’s YouthTruth Data. Be prepared to discuss themes and next steps.
AP training requests are DUE on this sheet by March 18. Even if you do not know the teacher who will need the training, submit a request.
MS Only
March Meetings: Time to sign up for a March visit with Stephen. Please choose a date this month for a 60 minute check in. Here is my Calendly link or you can use Outlook directly.
Calendar
March 3: CTE and Elective Exploration Fly Up Day!
March 5: Administrator PD – 3:00-4:30 @ Bend High
March 10: TAG Admin/ICCL 3:45-5:45 @ Ed Center – Board Room
March 10: Incoming 9th grade orientation night 6:00 @ BSHS, CHS, LPHS, MVHS, SHS
March 12: Life and Career Readiness Night 5:00-7:00 @ Caldera HS
March 13: 3:05 or 3:50—Take 30 minutes to participate in the All Staff Update with Dr. Cook
March 21: Certified and Support Staff Excellence in Education nominations due
March 21: EVE Survey completion DUE
March 24-28: Spring Break
April 14th: Personal Finance Training (required for HS teachers teaching the course) @Ed Center, Room 203 8-4.
Where in the World
In this week’s Where in the World, we are highlighting Jennifer Hauth! Here she is with her family before the December Chiefs game against the Texans. Her husband is from KC, MO so they have been long time Chief fans, even before Mahomes and Kelce😊
Read and share this information with your staff by February 21:
From Paul in Operations:
Field Trip/Athletic/Club Transportation
All district staff are required to communicate with their administrators and the Transportation Department prior to scheduling an off campus trip. Below are reminders to keep everything moving smoothly and in compliance.
Submit ALL trip requests through BusHive as early as possible (months ahead). You may not arrange transportation for any school sponsored trip without first requesting through BusHive. Transportation staff will assist you with arranging ANY transportation for your trip.
Questions about your trip? Call Daniel Lopez X5706 (Bend) Call Scott Steinhauer X5753 (La Pine)
Don’t have a BusHive log in- Call Daniel Lopez X5706 (Bend) Call Scott Steinhauer X5753 (La Pine)
Charter Buses- We do NOT use these unless we have no other options.
Schools cannot book these trips directly. You must contact Daniel Lopez X5706 (Bend) Call Scott Steinhauer (La Pine)
We are required to document use of any charter plus, plus a copy of the parent notification letter. ODE requires we maintain a documentation file for charters.
We have not used charters for several years. We have drivers & school buses available.
Drivers of students must hold an ODE certificate (Bus, Type 20, Type 10) for school sponsored event transportation.
Student transportation must be provided in an ODE approved vehicle. (Bus, Type 20, Type 10).
Rental vehicles- contact Transportation prior to renting any vehicle being used to transport students.
What about after a game? A student wants to go home with another family, but came to the game on a bus? This is between the student and the parent. The teacher, AD, coach should not be involved in this conversation, other than you know the student has permission from their parent to go home another way. If the teacher/AD arranges or organizes transportation for a student, the liability is on the school district- meaning we use ODE approved transportation. This area can be “grey”. Be very careful not to organize transportation outside of ODE approved transportation.
We understand that trips have been taken in the past that do not follow these protocols- we are working to clarify policies and procedures.
Staff members who fail to follow these requirements may be subject to disciplinary action.
Questions?? Give us a call- we are here to help! 541-355-5702
March Leadership Team Meeting
COO Ops leaders from Transportation, Facilities/Maintenance, Safety, IT and Custodial/Sustainability will be facilitating the Please submit at least one question, concern, curiosity or comment that you have for one or more of our departments at this link.
As we move through the school year, it’s important to ensure that we are handling employee resignations in a timely and compliant manner. If you receive a resignation—whether verbal or written—it is critical that you notify HR immediately.
Why This Matters
Oregon law requires final paychecks to be issued within strict timelines. Delays can result in statutory penalties and, if not processed on time, overpayments that require collection efforts. To avoid compliance issues, send all resignations to HR immediately (hr-certified@ for licensed employees; hr-classified@ for non-licensed employees).
What You Need to Do
Report Resignations Right Away – As soon as an employee notifies you of their intent to resign, ask them to deliver that information to you in writing via email and then forward that notification to HR. If the resignation is verbal and a written resignation will prove difficult to obtain, confirm the details with the employee and document the conversation before sending it to HR.
Do Not Hold Resignations – Even if an employee has given a long notice period, HR needs to process it immediately to ensure proper payroll and benefits adjustments.
Be Mindful of Final Paycheck Deadlines – Employees who resign with at least 48 hours’ notice (excluding weekends/holidays) must receive their final paycheck on their last day worked. Employees who resign without notice must be paid within five business days.
Failure to meet final paycheck deadlines can result in financial penalties for the district, as well as frustration for the departing employee. This is easily preventable by ensuring that all resignations are sent to HR as soon as they are received.
Your prompt attention to this process helps us maintain compliance, support smooth transitions for staff, and avoid unnecessary complications. If you have any questions, please reach out to the HR team for guidance.
Thank you for your diligence and partnership in this important process.
From Departments
From the Business Office:
Leave sheets only need to be submitted if you have used leave during the pay period. Please do not submit blank leave sheets.
SPED Law and Financial Management will be happening this Thursday. If you want to come this week, please sign up before tomorrow close of business!
Other trainings available before Spring Break are related to SIOP, Evaluations and Feedback, Positive Behavioral Support Planning, and Instructional Frameworks. Click the link above to sign up.
If you have an idea for a future training, let me know!
The First Step app, which includes important safety resources such as the Safe Oregon Tip Line and 988, is being removed from secondary student iPads due to technical issues. The BLS IT department will be pushing the two apps out individually to student iPads so that students may access help for school safety and/or mental health anytime they need it.
Safe Oregon Tip Line
School Safety tip line to report and respond to student safety threats.
988
Talk or text for mental health struggles, emotional distress, drug or alcohol support, or if you just need someone to talk to; mental health counselors are here to support 24/7/365.
This change will be effective Feb. 24, 2025.
Questions or need support? Reach out to Jamie Gunter, [email protected].
From: Aimee Snyder, DrPH | Adolescent and School Health Supervisor
Communicating to Families about Sex Ed
A Head’s Up: The newsletter content below about what to expect for Sexuality Education in Bend-La Pine Schools will be in the Feb 26 Family Spotlight. If you’re concerned about any questions that may come your way from this district newsletter, here are the district’s talking points about sexuality education. You can also contact Dean Richards and your Public Health Specialist for help with any questions you have.
An Option for You: It is also an option to include this family communication about the district’s Sex Ed in general in your school newsletters. Your Public Health Specialist will bring this ask to you so that you can decide when/if it goes out in your school newsletter. This is an optional addition to what is required by law for family communications about Sex Ed.
Requirements for Sex Ed Family Communications: Comprehensive Sexuality Education is required every year in 6-8th and at least twice in high school. Per Oregon law, parents and guardians must be notified prior to the instruction, have the opportunity to review the learning materials, and can opt out their student in writing. Unless your school has organized a different process, the default practice is to have secondary Health teachers email out one of these district family opt out letters and collect opt outs via email. As admin, you don’t need to do anything to meet this requirement, other than checking in with your Health teachers to make sure they have what they need to email out their opt-out notifications and deliver their Sex Ed units.
Calendar
February 19: All Admin PD 3:00-4:30 @ Bend HS in Perseverance Hall
February 25: HS Principal work session 8:00-10:00 @ Caldera HS
February 27: MS Horizontal 3:00-5:00 @ High Desert
March 3: CTE and Elective Exploration Fly Up Day!
March 10: Incoming 9th grade orientation night 6:00 @ BSHS, CHS, LPHS, MVHS, SHS
March 12: Life and Career Readiness Night – 6-12 @ Caldera HS 6-8pm
We are highlighting our School Resource Officer’s and Deputies in this week’s Where in the World! They have been celebrated at schools this week and were honored at the school board meeting Tuesday night! We are so grateful for our partnerships with the Bend Police and Sheriff’s Departments and value these important relationships!
Building leaders, please share this information with your staff next week:
In an effort to support our bus drivers and bus monitors, who sometimes are not able to access the main entrance of our schools because of where they have to park the buses, and because they are on a quick turnaround timeline, we have provided updated protocols for those employees to enter our schools during their duty hours to access staff restrooms.
There are updated protocols for district bus driver’s and bus monitor’s access to school restrooms in our Culture of Safety document on the staff portal website here, and in the Safety Resources Google Drive (for administrators and office managers) here. The updated protocols are under the Access to Buildings Procedures section, paragraph (D), subsection (2) on pages 4 & 5 of the document.
Our transportation staff’s key card access will be limited between the hours of 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Please reach out to the safety team with any questions.
COO Ops leaders from Transportation, Facilities/Maintenance, Safety, IT and Custodial/Sustainability will be facilitating the March Leadership Team meeting.
Please submit at least one question, concern, curiosity or comment that you have for one or more of our departments at this link.
Upcoming Opportunity for Staff involved with UpShift(those delivering the Teen Intervene Curriculum, screening students, or supporting administrators)
Empower your staff with the tools they need to make meaningful connections with students and families.
Training Details
Join us for a 90-minute experiential training designed to strengthen motivational interviewing (MI) skills. Led by Heather Lynch, a seasoned Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) member, this session focuses on building confidence, fostering partnerships, and inspiring positive change with teens and caregivers.
Why Should Staff Attend?
This interactive training will:
· Provide practical MI tools and techniques.
· Enhance communication strategies.
· Support effective implementation of UpShift goals and outcomes.
Training Information and Registration Link(s):
Option 1:Wednesday, March 19th 2:30-4:15 pm at the Deschutes Public Library (507 NW Wall Street) Brooks Room
Option 2:Wednesday, April 2nd 2:30-4:15 pm at the Bend – La Pine Schools Ed Center (520 Northwest Wall Street) Room 312
Encourage your team to take advantage of this unique professional development opportunity. Together, we can build stronger connections and foster lasting positive change in our schools!
Be sure your certified staff are aware of the timelines for finalizing grades/progress reports:
Progress Reports Submission Deadline:
Special Education Progress reports must be submitted by 4:00 PM on 1/31 this semester.
Middle/High School progress reports must be finalized in Synergy by 4:00 PM on 1/31.
Elementary progress reports must be finalized by 4:00 PM on 2/3.
Work Location for End-of-Term Days:
Employees who have met the deadlines in regards to grading and/or progress reports in previous semesters, and who have met other expectations surrounding the timely completion of professional responsibilities, will be permitted to work from an off-site location on end-of-term work days.
Employees who have not met these deadlines, and/or for whom their supervisor has further articulable concerns about the timely completion of professional responsibilities, will be required to work from their assigned school site.
From Departments
From Jennifer:
National Counseling Week is next week!
National School Counseling Week (NCSW) 2025 is Feb. 3-7, 2025, to focus attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within our schools. The theme this year is: School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive. The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who “implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century”.
NCSW is always celebrated the first full week in February and there are multiple resources available below to help you celebrate school counselors next week at your school site. We will celebrate our student success staff the week of March 3rd during school social worker week.
Here is a “Certificate of Appreciation” that you can use for your counselors and click on slide below for some resources to help your school celebrate this week with your counselor(s)😊
Great news: we have re-scheduled the Taking It Up workshop (postponed from August)! It will be Tues-Wed, February 18-19 (full days).
Substitute costs will be covered as applicable. A notice will go out to staff early next week with instructions to sign up. Space will be limited and this powerful workshop usually fills quickly, so encourage folks to sign up fast. If you are a leader in our district who has not attended the week-long CFEE workshop or this two-day version that is Taking It Up, please consider arranging your schedule to attend.
If you are a CFEE grad and willing to serve as a table facilitator, please email me ASAP. Administrators, I am happy to cover the cost of a substitute for a teacher-leader in your building to serve as office support while you’re out (if you have an admin intern you could tap, etc).
Linguist Link:
If you are experiencing issues with Linguist Link services (interpreters not showing up, no responses to your messages, poor quality of linguist services), please A) send a note via the “message all” feature of your project/request in the LL system, and/or B) shoot me an email to let me know.
There are some transitions going on within those contracted services, but I have been reassured this should not impact the quality of service you receive. As a reminder if you’re ever in a pinch, here are the various resources and levels of support available to you for translation/interpretation.
We are very excited to be adding a Director of District Activities and Athletics to bring our secondary school athletic and activity programs together under one vision. This role is focused on ensuring that every student has access to consistent, high-quality extracurricular experiences, no matter which school they attend. By aligning programs across the district, we’re creating more opportunities for students to grow, connect, and succeed—academically, socially, and emotionally.
This will be a BLAST position and we’ll be posting this position on our site Monday and sharing it widely across the region to attract a strong pool of candidates. If you’d like to learn more about the role or have any questions, please connect with Ryan.
We want to take a moment to clarify differing practices in our district with regards to animals on school grounds. We have many playgrounds with this sign:
However, we do not have any district policy that prohibits dogs outside of school hours on our property. ING-AR: Animal Visitors under Owner Responsibility reads:
Owners walking animals on school grounds must follow city or county ordinances regarding leashing and sanitation.
Principals and their designees have the authority to exclude persons and their animals from play fields when he/she determines that there are associated health and/or safety concerns.
In order to align our signage with our policy, we will be removing all fence signage pertaining to animals. In place of those signs, our maintenance department will install one of the signs below. They will communicate with the head engineer and building principal regarding where you want the new sign placed.
If you would like to order additional signs ($65 each), please submit a work order request along with a budget code. Maintenance will collaborate with you regarding where to place your additional signs. Please reach out to Dan Dummitt for further assistance with signs.
HS Only
2025 Oregon Music Hall of Fame
College Scholarship Applications
OMHOF is pleased to announce that applications for our college scholarship program are available again with a deadline of February 14, 2025. Each applicant should be studying music and graduating spring 2025 from an Oregon High School and continuing to college in the fall of 2025 with a major or minor in music. We strive to inspire the continuing higher musical education by offering assistance with college expenses, so that these music students may aspire to a higher level of performance and success in their field of interest. Thanks to the generous contributions of EPB&B (11th year in a row), our scholarships rose from $1000 each to $2500 each (6 total) for 2024, including a special winner who will major in music education! ! In addition Oregon Music Hall of Fame is pleased to announce a new scholarship program, Gloria Johnson Scholarship for women studying Broadcasting, Teaching, Performance, Music Industry degrees. This $2500 yearly scholarship program is open to all women continuing their musical studies at the College/University level seeking a degree in these fields.
All items must be mailed together, in order to qualify. All applications are fillable online, but must be printed, signed, and mailed (no digital copies accepted).
Oregon Music Hall of Fame
PO Box 82173,
Portland, OR 97282
Here’s to creating the music of tomorrow through focused musical studies today,
YouthTruth Survey window: The survey window is open until the end of January! The goal of each school is to get the highest participation from staff, students and families! Reach out to Dave if you have questions
Reminder: Post-inauguration, some students will be walking into your building with big feelings. The incoming administration has openly communicated upcoming changes intended to directly impact particular populations (immigrants, trans people, etc).
Please ask your counselors to make themselves as available as possible for drop-ins if students need extra support next week. If your team knows a particular student or colleague struggled after the election in November, make time on Tuesday to have a trusted adult or friend intentionally check in with them. Thank you for your increased presence, vigilance, empathy, and grace next week.
Thank you to those principals who have submitted your SLGSS to your level leader. Please do so if you haven’t already.
From Departments
Mark your calendars! Our District Leadership Launch is scheduled for August 6 and 7. All administrators are expected to attend. Principals, please work with your deans to adjust their calendars accordingly.
The Giving Plate provides our families in need with weekend food through their Snack Bag program. Recently, they let us know that their donations and volunteer resources are down, while the number of families they’re serving has been up: from 130 to 700 families weekly. They are unable to meet demand and need to prioritize their core services, so the Snack Bag program is discontinued.
While this is disappointing news, there are still many ways families can access food resources. Please see the links at the bottom of this letter, with bilingual handouts listing current food resources in Bend and South County. FAN Advocates have shared this letter with impacted families. Feel free to print copies of the handouts linked there, to have available in your main office.
Want to help out? One of the best ways you can support our families is to volunteer or donate to awesome programs like The Giving Plate or directly to FAN, so they can maintain their services and programs that benefit our families. 🙂
Per Article 15.8 of the CBA, Certified Employees are not required to report to their work site on end-of-term work days but must remain available by phone. Supervisors may require in-person attendance if there are articulableconcerns about the timely completion of professional responsibilities.
To ensure clarity, we are setting the following expectations that will take effect for the second semester of 24-25 SY:
Progress Reports Submission Deadline:
Special Education Progress reports must be submitted by 4:00 PM on 1/31 this semester.
Middle/High School progress reports must be finalized in Synergy by 4:00 PM on 1/31.
Elementary progress reports must be finalized by 4:00 PM on 2/3.
Work Location for End-of-Term Days:
Employees who have met the deadlines in regards to grading and/or progress reports in previous semesters, and who have met other expectations surrounding the timely completion of professional responsibilities, will be permitted to work from an off-site location on end-of-term work days.
Employees who have not met these deadlines, and/or for whom their supervisor has further articulable concerns about the timely completion of professional responsibilities, will be required to work from their assigned school site.
Next Steps for Administrators:
Notify employees with past concerns about timely completion of responsibilities – with detail regarding those concerns – as soon as possible (no later than 2 weeks before any potential end-of-term workday) if they will be required to work onsite on end-of-term work days. This communication will be followed up in writing with specific articulable concerns shared.
This practice encourages timely completion of professional responsibilities while maintaining flexibility for those employees meeting expectations.
We are providing the following information from Article 14.1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to ensure you are aware of the reimbursement policy for certified employees who use their personal vehicles for school or professionally related activities, including those staff who travel between sites in the course of a day due to split assignments:
Certified employees approved to use their own automobiles for school or professionally related activities will be reimbursed at the current IRS mileage rate.
Employees required to drive their own personal automobiles in the course of their work will also be reimbursed at the IRS mileage rate for the distance traveled between regular district work assignments.
Certified employees who reside in La Pine and are required to attend meetings in Bend are eligible for mileage reimbursement.
The reimbursement process is consistent with IRS guidelines, which set the standard mileage rate and helps ensure that employees are not financially disadvantaged for using personal vehicles in the course of their work.
Reimbursement requests should be submitted using the AP-106 form and will be charged to your building’s discretionary funds. For staff who work at multiple sites, a good way to balance the budgetary implications across schools may be for the involved schools to rotate responsibility for these payments on a monthly or quarterly basis.
This information is shared so you can address any questions or reimbursement requests that may arise from employees. While there’s no need to proactively disseminate this information, we encourage you to refer to this information if you have questions or require clarification as to our practice.
Thank you for your attention to this and for your support in ensuring consistent understanding of contract provisions.
A reminder that employees and students should not bring pets with them to work or school. ING-AR: Animals in the Classroom or on School Property reviews the conditions and process for by which animals can visit classrooms or be on school property. If you have any questions regarding staff who identify a need for service animals, please reach out to the Human Resources Benefits team at hr-benefits@bend.k12.or.us
We still have space available for our upcoming Restorative Conferencing training on 1/30/25 (8:30am-12:30pm at COCC Redmond). This is the tier 3 formal, scripted circle used to repair specific and significant harm between individuals. This session is free and open to educators and our partners.
Grammy MUSIC teacher nominations! Nominate a teacher by March 15, 2025 for this prestigious award. Teachers do not need to be nominated to apply – they simply need to complete our application form by March 31, 2025.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for helping us recognize the contributions of our outstanding music educators!
Calendar
January 6-31: Schools implement YouthTruth survey!
January 23: BLPS Family Academic Night @ Summit HS
January 24: Probationary Letters due to HR
January 28: HS Administrator work session 8-10 @ Mountain View HS
January 28: HS Principal meeting on careers class 10:00 -10:30 @ 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
February 11: HS Administrator work session 8:00-10:00 @ Summit HS
February 11: ICCL/Secondary Administrator 4:15-6:30 @ BSHS Perseverance Hall
February 19: All Admin PD 3:00-4:30 @ Bend HS in Perseverance Hall
February 25: HS Principal work session 8:00-10:00 @ Caldera HS
This week we are highlighting Reno Holler’s happy place! “47 years ago (that’s right folks… I’m talking the 1970’s) I spent my high school Summer’s with my then girlfriend/now wife (the lovely Cindy) and my band playing music in the bars of Canada. Back then you could be under the age of 18 and play music in the pubs. We played primarily in Alberta and British Columbia. I still recall very vividly the first time we explored Banff & Jasper. The color of the water, the glaciers and the 18,000,000 ravenous mosquitoes are what impressed me the most. I have told many people that, in my opinion, the Canadian Rockies are the most beautiful spot in North America. A few years back Cindy and I returned and took our two sons (Logan & Devon) to see their first glaciers, eat their first helping of Poutine, and experience Canada’s two seasons (Winter & Almost Winter). These pictures are from the restaurant on top of the Jasper Skyline Tram, A must see for those that do not suffer from a fear of heights. I would show you a picture of Cindy and I in our rock n’ roll regalia, but it involves me with a Mullet and the firewall is blocking that image at the moment. (it really is for the best. Once you’ve seen a Mullet, you can’t unsee it).
Reminders to complete professional development feedback form AND have ALL staff to complete COREN surveyby 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 staffto 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 Jen: “BLS Academic Information Night”January 23rd
Please share this information with your families and students in 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!
Spanish-language FAFSA Night: Mon, Jan 13th. Here is the flyer. Thanks for distributing to your families and promoting through your channels! The primary audience is high school, but staff or families from any grade level are welcome if they just want to get a sense of the process.
Asian Family Night: Friday, January 31st. Food, cultural performances and crafts, and a drawing contest. More details to come—for now, save the date! (Yes, I know this is grading day 🙂 )
Black History Month Door-Decorating Contest: Submissions due Wed, Feb 19, and winners will be announced Fri, Feb 21. Prizes and recognition for the winners will be a little special this year. Complete information will be shared with your staff via your DEI-ICCL rep in early January—for now, add these key dates to your calendar!
From Departments:
From Kinsey – Policy, Advocacy, & Office of DEI:
Presidential inauguration:
This year’s presidential inauguration falls on the same day as Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. It is a No-School day, but some priority-population advisory groups have indicated worry for the student experience and respectful interactions on Tuesday, Jan 21st.
Our community has been relatively respectful post-election (which is great!), and we certainly don’t want to assume negative intent. That said, continued preventive efforts can’t hurt. In early Jan, make sure your teachers review norms and expectations regarding the dignity and belonging of everyone in your learning community, and the expected reporting procedures if these norms are violated (i.e. bias incident form submissions). As you welcome students back from break, a family communication/reminder regarding these school-wide expectations is helpful too.
Please ask your counselors to make themselves as available as possible for drop-ins if students need extra support on/around Tues, Jan 21. If your team knows a particular student or colleague struggled after the election in November, make a note on your calendar to have a trusted adult or friend intentionally check in with them that day.
Complaints:
Your teams are doing really great with the complaint system—thank you for your visible and thoughtful efforts to respond, investigate, support, document, and communicate for each one you receive in your Dashboard. Those take substantial time and energy, but they are investments in the trust and safety of your school culture, and your students, families, and staff notice and appreciate that.
From Dean: This email went out to your social studies teachers this week:
Dear Social Studies Teachers,
I hope this message finds you well and that you are looking forward to the upcoming break, which I hope brings you the opportunity to rejuvenate and refresh.
As we prepare to return to work in 2025, I want to inform you that we will be hiring a Social Studies TOSA for the remainder of the year. This position will start at the beginning of the second semester, February 3rd, and will last through the end of the school year. This is a TEMPORARY position for the duration of the 24-25 school year.
The specific tasks for this role include:
Supporting peers on standards work
Preparing for the Social Science adoption process for the 25-26 school year with implementation in 26-27
Continuing the work on Tribal History/Shared History requirements from ODE
Continuing work on Personal Finance requirements from ODE
There are two positions posted in UKG for flexibility. This role can be a full-time position for one individual, a part-time position for one individual, or a part-time position for two individuals with specializations. If you are interested, please apply for the amount of time you wish to work in support of your peers. There is no need to apply for both positions.
I understand that this is a unique position that may lead to some questions, so please reach out to me and I’ll get you answers.
Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Enjoy your break!
Many of you have reached out with questions about special education programming and expectations within Bend-La Pine Schools. First and foremost, we want to acknowledge the wide-spread concerns and confusion within our District regarding this topic. Over the last five years the Bend-La Pine Schools Student Services Department, previously known as Special Education, has made changes within their department that were well intentioned, but not communicated to the larger system of employees and this has led to uncertainty and misunderstanding. The purpose of today’s communication is to provide all staff with a shared base of information that we can use to build our future decisions upon as we move toward a shared goal of better supporting all students, including those who require specially designed instruction and services.
During the 2018-2019 school year a project known as Excellence in Education gathered feedback from staff, students, and families about their experiences in our schools. After receiving and processing that feedback, the Student Services Department set out on a journey to improve the inclusion of students experiencing disability into the general education setting. The BLS vision for special education is, “Bend-La Pine Schools strive to create an inclusive culture and environment for all learners, particularly for those that experience disability. We believe, to the greatest extent possible, that all students should maximize time spent in the general education classroom regardless of their special education services or related services. To this end, it is imperative that the educational planning process begins with services in the general education setting and ends with the need for specialized services in more segregated settings.” For more detailed information about this process click here.
We are reaching out today to share answers to frequently asked questions about our model for delivering special education services in Bend-La Pine Schools and to provide clarity on how we provide Special Education services in our schools. The Special Education Inclusion Questions and Answers (click link) will be updated as more questions arise.
Are we there yet? Inclusive practices and the improvement of those practices are a process. This work will not be achieved overnight, it will take time and training, it will take collaboration and conversation. All of which are precious in the public education system. As we continue this journey the Student Services Department is committed to listening to all employees, answering questions as they arise, and working with BEA to increase learning opportunities and continued clarity on this topic. The work we do with students is complex and working together to ensure all students have access to the support they need will lead to thriving community members in the future.
In partnership,
Sarah Barclay, President, Bend Education Association
Sean Reinhart, Executive Director of Student Services, Bend-La Pine Schools
Calendar
December 23-January 3. Winter Break
January 6-31: Schools implement YouthTruth survey!
January 2: HS Curriculum Guides on district website
January 6: First Day back from break
January 7: HS Administrator and Counselor work session (rescheduled from Dec 10) 8-10 @Mountain View HS
January 10: COREN survey deadline
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
Where in the World
Thank you for all the entries! Keep ’em coming.
This week we are highlighting Kristy Knoll’s happy place! One of my happy places is coming down from the top of Black Butte. My oldest daughter and I hike it every summer, usually on Labor Day, as a way to mark the end of summer and get ready for the school year. We were able to find a “no smoke” window in this picture, and it was a perfect hike. The picture is on the way DOWN from the top because the hard work is done and it’s easier to enjoy the view.
Principals: Please verify that all of your Language Arts teachers have attended a required Book Club training. Our Secondary LA TOSA, Torie Withers, can confirm who has attended, if that is helpful. The next training is Tuesday:
Language Arts Book Club Training
Date: Tuesday, December 17
Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: The Big Room, Environmental Center 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend
Who Should Attend:
Required for new hires or teachers who haven’t previously attended
Those who have previously attended and are seeking collaboration with colleagues and planning time
Training Focus: Learn how to structure and plan book club units, including:
How to approach and plan a unit
Selecting unit themes
Teaching reading skills and discussion strategies
Choosing mentor texts and book club offerings
Unit planning time
Language arts teachers are encouraged to attend this professional development opportunity. Please direct questions and RSVPs to Torie Withers. Thank you!
As we continue to advance sustainability initiatives across our schools, we are asking each building administration team to designate one member to act as the first level of support for your site’s Green Team. Please fill out your admin in the MS lead or HS lead spreadsheets under the Green Team tab.
This role is not about leading the Green Team but simply being available as a point of contact and support for the individuals spearheading sustainability efforts in your building.
Each site has a 1.0 FTE Green Team Advisor, which is on the Extra Duty schedule. This is a new role this year and must be filled via the recruitment process.
What was formerly our Custodial department is now Custodial and Sustainability, led by Walt Norris, Director of Custodial and Sustainability. Walt is actively recruiting a Sustainability Coordinator, who will soon serve as the direct liaison for all Green Team Advisors. Once this position is filled and up to speed, they will provide additional guidance and support for sustainability efforts across the district.
From Departments
From Dean: Science curriculum adoption update
Middle School:
Teachers from CMS, HDMS, PBMS, PCMS, SVMS, 3 Rivers and LPMS are currently field testing LabAids in grades 6, 7 and 8.
The following teachers are participating:
6th grade: Valerie Overely, Kelly Houston, Laruen McKeehan, Dean Pru’domme, Katie, Lyons, Jake Slodki and Matt Killebrew
7th grade: Sarah Durfee, Jane Shein, Mark Alvarado, Stacy Welsh, Madison Hargett, Hannah Perkins, Jake Slodki and Matt Killebrew
8th grade: Melody Craig, Tara Termes, Jackson Blackburn, Mark Segesta, Deidre Crabtree & Stephanie Kimbrell
This field test will wrap up by the end of January 2025.
High School:
A big thanks to Colleen Behrens and the Science Curriculum Adoption Team for their dedication during the science instructional materials vetting meeting on December 5th. The team members included:
BSHS: Ron Crawford, Heidi Friesen
BTA: Missie Wikler
CHS: Sarah Trakselis, Case Bateman, Kathleen Glogau
MVHS: Jon Nichols, Gillian Kellock
LPHS: Suzanne Jones
SHS: Greg Lampard, Lisa Lamb
During the meeting, the team reviewed four curricula for the NGSS Physics program to be implemented next year: OpenSciEd, PEER Physics, Patterns, and BioZone. PEER Physics emerged as the top choice and will move forward for field testing in the second semester/trimester. The team will continue to explore curriculum options for Chemistry and Biology in the coming months.
Roll out of new Science Pathway:
25-26: NGSS Physics for all Freshman
26-27: NGSS Physics continues and NGSS Chemistry for all Sophomores
27-28: NGSS Physics, NGSS Chemistry and NGSS Biology for all Juniors.
Next week an email will go out to Social Science teachers about a temporary SS TOSA position for the rest of this year. We will be posting an internal only SS TOSA that will help lead standards, professional development and begin the adoption process. This position will be temporary until the end of the year and begin second semester (2/3.) It is posted in the range of .5 to 1.0. It will be available for both middle and high school social studies teachers to apply. We understand that this may cause some stress to your system with needing to hire a new teacher for second semester. Please reach out to Dean if there are any questions or concerns.
From Eric: RE: Reviewing your “Incident Approval Queue”
If you don’t do this regularly, please remember to view your “Incident Approval Queue” in Synergy to Approve/Deny any Incident your school enters into Synergy. Any incident we enter as Administrators needs to be “Approved” this way as well, so many schools may have Incidents waiting to be posted that they believe were posted already. Here is a screenshot of what the screen looks like and what to search for in Quick Launch (we currently have 153 incidents district-wide waiting to be Approved/Denied!).
If you want to discuss this process, please call me at 4810.
The HR office will have sporadic coverage over winter break, from December 21 through January 5. To ensure a smooth workflow, please complete and submit any hiring requests by Friday, December 20. New hiring requests should be held until the office resumes regular operations on Monday, January 6.
If you are in the process of making an offer that will take place between December 21 and January 5, please contact Ryan Kelling as soon as possible to develop a plan for completing the process during this period.
Thank you for helping us maintain a seamless hiring process.
We are launching an Administrator Assignment Preferences Survey to give licensed administrators an opportunity to share their preferences regarding assignments. This survey is designed to:
Gather insights into your preferences for school level, region, and program involvement.
Help district leadership evaluate potential reassignments that align individual strengths with district needs and to refresh school cultures where needed.
What the Survey Will Ask: The survey will ask for detailed input on:
School Level: Indicate your preferences for working at the elementary, middle, or high school levels, or in district-wide roles.
Region: Specify any regional preferences across the district.
Program Involvement: Share your interest in specific programs or focus areas, such as Special Education, STEM, Advanced Placement, Social-Emotional Learning, or others.
Additional Considerations: You’ll have space to share any other factors or context you’d like us to keep in mind, including professional goals or areas for growth.
Why This Matters: This survey is part of a broader effort to ensure our schools remain vibrant, innovative, and engaging places for students and staff alike.
While we will make every effort to honor individual preferences, it’s important to note that some decisions may need to prioritize district-wide goals, ensuring the best outcomes for our school communities.
Next Steps: To provide additional clarity and answer questions, this topic will be included in the agenda for the January horizontal meetings. These discussions will allow for deeper engagement and dialogue about the process and its purpose.
We understand that this may prompt reflection and questions, and we are committed to approaching this process thoughtfully, transparently, and with collaboration at the center. If you have any immediate concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Level Leader, Ryan Kelling, or Lisa Birk.
Thank you for your openness and engagement as we work to create the strongest possible learning environments for our students and staff.
Here is a one-page document to help with our YouthTruth survey inJanuary. Our goal is 90% completion for students, 95% from staff and 50% from families. The window is January 6-31. Reach out to Laura Clark if you have question about the Canvas module or Dave with any questions about YouthTruth.
Our district-wide Spanish-language FAFSA Night will tentatively be Mon, Jan 13th 5:30-7:30pm. More details and flyers to follow, but for now please reserve this date (avoid scheduling school-based events that evening, if possible) and share with applicable staff like counselors, ELL, etc.
Complaints:
Please see Kinsey’s recent email about complaint management. Thank you for checking your Dashboards to be sure all complaints there are addressed (or more recent ones are at least in process) prior to heading into winter break. Reach out if you would like support on them!
Just for fun
From Mr. Snowflake in IT
Greetings,
Watching everyone attempt to create a “six-pointed snowflake” was a special moment taking me back to my first year of teaching at Three Rivers Elementary 26.5 years ago.
Before the winter holiday, a Sunriver resident named Jerry Sawyer would volunteer in my class to teach art lessons, one of which was how to create a true six-pointed snowflake. He would talk about how every snowflake was unique, forged around a central piece of dust, and always started its journey from the sky as a crystal with six points. Shout out to Pat McClain who is now teaching at Bend High and was a student in that class. Most year’s since then I have done my best to channel “Mr. Snowflake” in the other schools where I have worked. The “assessment data” on the floor yesterday demonstrated that many of you have yet to master the six-pointed snowflake. This video will share the steps to create your own six-pointed snowflake. Share with your staff if you wish. At the very least, you will have the answer key in the case you are tested again next year. Thank you for reading. And remember-dimple, snow cone, coyote head, torch!
Calendar
December 17: HS Principal Breakfast @ 7:30
December 19: Middle School Horizontal – 3:00 @ Cascade MS
December 23-January 3. Winter Break
January 6-31: Schools implement YouthTruth survey!
January 2: HS Curriculum Guides on district website
January 6: First Day back from break
January 7: HS Administrator and Counselor work session (rescheduled from Dec 10) 8-10 @Mountain View HS
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 28: HS Administrator work session 8-10 @ Mountain View HS
January 29: All Admin PD 3:00-4:30 @ Bend HS in Perseverance Hall
Where in the World
Thank you for all the entries! Keep ’em coming.
This week we are highlighting Lindsey Warner’s happy place! Congratulations to Lindsey, who got married in November!! Lindsey wrote: My happy place is anywhere with my husband, Charles. However, if I had to choose a place it would always be the beach! We honeymooned on Kauai and Maui in November; the weather was amazing, the beaches were beautiful, and the trip was perfect. We saw whales, dolphins, and turtles while on Maui. In Kauai we saw a lot of chickens and a monk seal.
We also attended a 49ers vs Seahawks game in San Francisco on our way to Hawaii. Go Hawks!
Principals, please submit yourCalendar of non-contract days to Stephen or Katie TODAY (or when you first read this). Assistant principals and deans will submit one to their building leader. All admin will also start completing time cards for your leave (these are due by Sunday). There is information about the timesheet on the Staff Portal in the Payroll page.
First Aid Reports from Stephanie Bent. Please check this document to see if you need staff trained in First Aid. Schools listed in red are required to train more staff.
Green Team Admin (From HR): We need each site to identify an administrator point person for Green Team related matters. Please fill out your admin in the MS lead or HS lead spreadsheets under the Green Team tab.
From Departments
From Lisa Keown (CTE TOSA):
The annual CTE Fly-Up Day is just around the corner on March 3rd! This exciting event gives 8th-grade students a firsthand look at high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and electives through ~20-minute rotations featuring fun hands-on activities. The format will be the same as in years past, with students bussed to their area high schools, arriving between 9:45–10:00 and leaving at 12:00. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore technical skills, creative pursuits, and other options to spark their curiosity and excitement as they plan for their high school experience.
Event Details
Date: March, 3rd, 2025
Time: 9:45/10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: The high school 8th graders will attend next year.
Just a reminder that FAN does not coordinate Christmas/holiday gift needs for families. This has been the case for over 10 years. FAN resources are maxed out prioritizing basic needs (utilities/heat, rent, clothing, hygiene supplies, food, etc). There are many community-based organizations that do support religious or holiday-based requests like Christmas gifts, such as Salvation Army, Giving Plate, etc. Here, here, and here are a few sample resources.
What is the ask of you and your staff:
If you have a family seeking support with Christmas gifts or holiday resources: Please refer them to those community-based agencies, not your FAN Advocate.
If you have individuals wanting to donate holiday gifts and toys to families in need: Please refer them to those organizations, who are collecting and distributing toys and holiday donations.
If your students/staff want to be directly involved in supporting FAN’s work: Organize a “Winter Weather Drive” to gather desperately-needed winter clothes for our students and families in need, not just for those who celebrate Christmas. Thank you!
From Lisa, the Deputy Superintendent. We look forward to seeing everyone at Perseverance Hall on Wednesday (12/11) from 3-4:30. During our time, we will be dropping into little snippets of the book, Thriving Leaders, while also eating and being merry. Please don your best/worst ugly/creative sweater too. Yes, it’s a competition- prizes await.
You do not need to bring your book this time, but please:
Wear your sweater to the meeting
Think about an object that represents your leadership journey (before the meeting)
Think about all of the teams/groups you supervise and their differing needs (before the meeting)
Middle School only
Please share this linked message with your staff regarding our middle school schedule work. Note: there is one piece of info highlighted in yellow you need to edit.
Calendar
12/10: High School Horizontal – 8:00 – Mountain View
12/11: Administrator Professional Development – 3:00 – Bend High (Wear a sweater!)
12/19: Middle School Horizontal – 3:00 – Cascade
Where in the World
Thank you for all the entries! Keep ’em coming.
This week we are highlighting Monica Hanson’s happy place! Monica wrote: My happy place is Sand Harbor Beach in North Lake Tahoe. It is so beautiful and my family would go up there every summer. It’s where I feel most at peace and truly euphoric.
