Take a moment and notice: your dignity is never something you have to prove. It doesn’t hinge on what others think of you, the roles you hold, or your achievements — your worth is built in. How might you honor that dignity in your own life today? Perhaps by speaking truthfully in a hard conversation, setting a boundary that reflects your values, or simply resting when you need rest, knowing you deserve it.
From Tammy and Karen
We have been enjoying our site visits and have been impressed with how well the school year is starting at each of your schools! Great learning happening in classrooms, and lots of smiles all around! Hooray!
We are getting a jump start on SLGGs (Student Learning Growth Goals) this year, in an effort to have them turned in by October 15. Chat GPT has made us a quick reference guide for what is required in the state of Oregon:Two SLG goals are required. Of these two:
- One goal must address the whole class or course load of students.
- One goal must focus on a subgroup of students who have historically been underserved or who need additional support (e.g., students with disabilities, English learners, students below grade level, students from specific demographic groups, etc.).
- Both must still meet the other parameters: standards-based, measurable, based on baseline data, rigorous but attainable, with clear growth targets and progress monitoring.
This is explicitly stated in Oregon Department of Education guidance and is part of the Oregon Framework for Educator Evaluation and Support Systems (aligned to OAR 581-022-2410).
Here is the SLGG form that your teachers and you will use to fill out your SLGGs as well as a list of plug and play SLGGs for everyone in your building. Some of them are open-ended for your specialists who will design goals specific to their content. Please be aware that you may have some SLPs who do not need to do SLGGs because of their licensing. In addition, counselors and Student Success Clinicians do not do SLGGs either, but Jennifer Hauth does require them to do goal setting, which is also linked on the document.
SLGGs are due by October 15. The pre-arranged conversation you have with each staff member about their goals counts as one of the mini observations you are required to do for the year.
Reminder: Time sheets are due on Monday. Please use the electronic time sheet that was sent to you by Jessica Houser. You simply enter any time off in the 25-26 tab and it will autopopulate the time sheet for September. Simply print it, sign it, and send it to April Jorgenson! Thanks!
Important Links
- September 10th Elementary TLC Update
- September Special Edge
- 1-Page Student Management guide
- Topics of Interest/Problem of Practice *New space for the 25-26 school year
- FAQs for Special Education Inclusion Topics—Keep checking in here! BEA and BLS supported
- Dates to recognize groups
Notes from our Team:
From Educational Technology
We have something exciting to share! Please pass this onto your staff.
New Resource: Swank 🎥
Swank is our district’s new streaming service for feature films, offering a library of 215 titles, with the option to request additional films when needed. It provides a simple, legal way for teachers and administrators to use movies in the classroom and for school events, while replacing personal streaming services and hardwiring devices. Learn more in our Introducing Swank blog post.
From Paul Dean – Chief Operations Officer
We are initiating a districtwide enrollment forecasting study in partnership with FLO Analytics, a firm specializing in K–12 demographic and facility planning. Their work will support our ongoing efforts to align resources, programs, and facilities with student needs.
FLO will be analyzing:
- Historical and current enrollment trends
- Housing development and land use data
- Grade progression and demographic patterns
- Heat maps identifying where students live, what school they attend and how this is expected to change in the next 10 years
The forecast will be completed in the first quarter of 2026 and is designed to inform future planning conversations. We will share the findings in a way that supports transparency and collaboration as next steps emerge. Please direct any questions about the process to me
From Transportation: Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through our backlog of requests from families. If you have an immediate need don’t email [email protected]. Instead, please contact our office directly via phone.
From Kinsey – Policy, Advocacy, and Equity:
1. Student Anti-Bias Lessons:
The 25-26 anti-bias student lessons are here! As a reminder, this is an annual lesson for all students K-12, required to be completed before Oct 31. While there is a sequence of suggested lessons, there is only one required lesson. For self-contained classes or longer advisory periods, you can fit it into one session; for shorter periods, plan on two sessions to complete it.
The lessons have been refreshed with improved slides, updated content, and new activities. For 6th-12th grades, there is a new video featuring the voices and experiences of our very own students! (Fun fact: it was filmed and produced by a recent BLS graduate.)
Principals, please be sure to:
- review the materials yourself (watch the student video!),
- consider adding in your own message to personalize the lesson (see Slide #3 on the HS slide show for an example of a principal’s message to the school)
- share all lesson materials with your teachers asap,
- ideally, provide planning time for teachers to review the updated materials,
- make a copy of the Family Letter, hyperlink your level’s slides, edit any of the message as you see fit, and send to your families at least a few days before the lesson is taught,
- contact the Advocacy Coaches if you’d like prep or co-teaching support for your teachers,
- be in classes and participate in the lesson with students if possible,
- send any feedback from your teachers or families afterward, if applicable.
2. Policy notes:
Distribution and display of materials: If you have local community partners or external groups requesting to share information with families or students, please direct them to the Community Bulletin Boards in your lobby area. Some select partners and organizations can distribute materials more directly, but those are limited:
Here is policy guidance on those levels of distribution, and here is a reference chart. Principal or designee needs to approve, and all materials should support our values. Related: Here is our Advertising policy on what businesses or groups can be displayed for donation/advertising-related purposes–you might share this policy with your PTA groups.
Animal visitors: Thanks for the conversation on this this week. As a reminder, any animals on your campus must be approved by you. Policy here. Quick reference:
- If service animal for staff: direct them to Benefits.
- If service animal for student: contact Student Services.
- Therapy animal, classroom pets, or other visitors: request form here, principal approves/denies.
- If parent bringing animal at pick-up or school activities: No. Comms will send a reminder to families via Spotlight.
Immigration guidance: At your request, here is that guidance again. Let me know if you have questions!
From Ryan Kelling, Executive Director of Human Resources
We have gotten some questions on the application of Article 15.4 of the BEA/BLS CBA should apply to itinerant staff – that is, those employees who work at more than one site – and are asking for some input on current practice. The contract language outlines expectations for Certified Employees to attend a set number of after-school/evening events each year. For itinerant staff, however, the application of this requirement is less clear and may require collaboration between sites.
To help us determine a standard practice moving forward, we’ve created a short Google Form with background information and a request for feedback. Please take a few minutes to review the form and share your perspective.
https://forms.gle/4yqAkmMwbYLSMqKNA
Only administrators who currently supervise itinerant staff need to respond. Your input will be important as we work to establish clear and consistent expectations for these situations. Please fill this out by Wednesday, September 17, so that we can review and offer guidance.
Let Ryan know if you have any questions.
From Dave VanLoo – Director of School Improvement
Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR) Updates
- ROAR is available for use. Our focus is on the English version of the four core measures (Letter, Phoneme, Word, Sentence). Other optional reading or math tests should become available for staff to use soon. Be aware that these other measures are not as far along in the research and development process and reports are likely to contain less information.
- These previously shared resources are full of helpful information ROAR Training ROAR-Teacher Scripts and Logistics.pdf
- Please share the following information about ROAR to share with families via newsletters or other communication methods. (Note that opting out of ROAR applies only to research happening at Stanford University. This does not opt the student out of taking ROAR at their school.) Feel free to edit this text to meet your school’s needs.
Our school is using a new tool to help meet students’ learning needs. The Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR) is a set of student-friendly, game-like activities that assesses important reading skills and provides valuable information to teachers. More detailed information and resources for families are available at this link ROAR Family Guide.pdf.
ROAR comes from Stanford University and results are used in research to improve teaching, learning, and assessment in schools. If you wish to have your child’s performance on ROAR excluded from this research, complete the form linked in this letter ROAR Research Information Sheet – English and Spanish.pdf. Submitting this form does not exclude your child from participating in our school’s universal screening assessment systems. It simply means that their results will not be included in Stanford’s research studies.
2025-26 District Assessment, Testing, & Surveys
Here are two updated documents summarizing common standardized tests and surveys for the current school year. One is a schedule showing when different assessment activities occur. The other is a general overview of the purpose and logistics of these assessments. Both of these documents will continue to be updated throughout the year as is beneficial. Please reach out with any questions.
Major Tests & Surveys 2025-26 Bend-La Pine
2024-25 OSAS Local TAG Percentiles
Here are local percentiles from OSAS last spring.
2425 OSAS Local Norms Table TAG
Action Items
- Have you completed your Safe Schools yet? Has your staff? Due October 31
- Complete Ryan’s feedback form: https://forms.gle/4yqAkmMwbYLSMqKNA
- Complete your time sheet on the electronic tracker, print, and send September time sheet to April J.
- Share ROAR information with families
- Share info about SWANK with your teachers (this can also be used at evening events!)
- Review Anti-Bias lesson and complete the 8 steps in Kinsey’s section.
Important Dates
- September 16: PLCs 1 and 2, 3:00-4:30
- September 23: PLCs 3 and 4, 3:00-4:30
- September 22-24: Rosh Hashanah–no scheduling of evening events on these days.
- October 1: All Admin PD 3:00- 4:30 at Perseverence Hall
- October 7: Elementary Leadership Meeting, 3:0 – 4:30 at Education Center Board Room
- October 14: PLCs 1 and 2, 3:00-4:30
- October 16: TAG Admin ICCL 3:30 – 5:30 Education Center Board Room
- October 21: PLCs 3 and 4, 3:00 – 4:30
- October 22: Elementary Safety Cadre 1:15 – 3:45 at Silver Rail Elementary
- October 29: Teacher work day (8 hrs) Conf. (4 hrs.) Admin will have a ½ day Amplify training on this date.
- October 30: Parent Teacher Conferences
- October 31: No School
And finally… Congratulations to our First Duck Drawing winner! Erich Brocker from RE Jewell
Erich is the Assistant Principal at RE Jewell. He has held several positions at BLS and is a resident expert on Creating a Culture of Belonging through Dignity. You can also catch him mentoring assistant principals at the BAM group! Erich, let us know your drink of choice and we will deliver this week!