“If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.” — Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace
Here is a little movie to make you happy! Elementary Administrators and Boomwhackers!
From Tammy and Karen
This morning, during one of our Breakfast and Belonging conversations, I was reminded of the research that validates the importance of caring for ourselves and seeking our own happiness. The time we spend being there for ourselves pays off in so many ways, including supporting and helping others to be happier! This is complicated research, but here is a 5 minute read from Harvard Medicine on the Contagion of Happiness that I hope you will take some time to review! It would make me really happy if you did that (teehee)!
Youth Truth – Be sure to share staff data with staff and family data with families by April 30!
Synergy Behavior Module: If you have feedback to IT admin about Synergy Behavior module, please email Eric Powell or follow the link provided on slide 8 of the Presentation.
Synergy History Platform: Do you want to pilot the student history tab on Synergy? Reach out to Jason Schneider if you would like to help out!
Slides from Horizontal Meeting: For access to the slides, visit this link.
Middle School Transition and Math Bypass Testing for 5th grade: An assessment needs to be given for some 5th grade students who could potentially skip 6th grade math if they meet the requirements. This assessment will only be given to 5th grade students whose teacher nominates them based on their math proficiency being exceptional, parents request their child take the test, or students who nominate themselves. This assessment will use iReady and takes approximately 45 minutes to complete on the iPad.
Schedule this assessment for some time in May and pull the identified students to a space and administer the assessment before the end of the year.
Staffing Plans are due April 21: Please reach out to Karen and/or Tammy with any questions.
ICCL Update: The Admin ICCL Team meeting is at RE Jewell on Tuesday, April 22, from 3:00-5:00. We will be focusing on your school design work for the year and planning ahead for next year.
Important Links
- BEA and OSEA Bargaining Update Website
- State Testing Folder
- April 9th Elementary TLC Update
- Topics of Interest/Problem of Practice-Got something you want some collaboration with? (New Request about systems to support student behavior)
- FAQs for Special Education Inclusion Topics—Keep checking in here! BEA and BLS supported
Notes from our Team:
From the Deputy Superintendent, Lisa Birk: 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
From Paul Dean – Operations:
Please click on this Important Update On Fundraising for Capital Improvement Projects
From Life and Career Readiness – Jenny White and Jennifer Hauth
Principals here is the Link to a Wayfinder activity you can do with your team before a staff meeting or SIW.
From Scott Maben- Communications
On our way to brand new websites for Bend-La Pine Schools
A team from District Communications and IT have started the process of converting all our websites to a new platform for the 2025-26 school year. We have partnered with Finalsite, a leading provider of websites for schools. We are beginning this month with design for a new District site and will follow that with a new school template. We will work through the spring and summer with the goal of launching the new sites before school begins in September. If we run into issues or need to change the timeline, we can continue to use our existing sites as long as needed.
We have been talking about this change for a couple of years now, and we’re excited to be underway. The benefits include greater online security, cost savings, cleaning up and better organizing our web content, improved features for those visiting our sites, better mobile functionality, a much-improved content management system (for web editors), visual appeal, and improved accessibility for people with disabilities.
Starting next week, Scott Maben will begin reaching out to each school admin team to ask you questions about your existing website, your thoughts on your new website, and who will be your primary school website content manager in the 2025-26 school year. We also will share details on project timelines and staff training as we solidify those details.
Feel free to ask questions now or hold them for when we connect in the coming weeks.
Local meteorologist offers to help students learn about weather, forecasts
KTVZ chief meteorologist John Carroll is a familiar face both from his local TV reports and his time in classrooms helping young students learn about weather and forecasting in Central Oregon. He has written three children’s books about the weather, and he welcomes students to join him on air for weather reports as part of the KTVZ Junior Forecaster program.
John has been invited to speak with classes in several of our schools, and he let us know he’s available for more school visits and would love to make it to all elementary schools in our district. In his long career as a meteorologist John has developed presentations suitable for young elementary students (K-2) and older ones (3-5). He asks you to reach out if interested in scheduling a visit: [email protected] or 860-729-1814.
More about John: https://ktvz.com/about/ktvz-news-team/2023/07/31/john-carroll/
Action Items
- Staffing plans due April 21—please reach out to Tammy and Karen for any questions
- Remind ICCL Team of the upcoming training, April 25 from 3:00-5:00 at Jewell Elementary
- Sign up for the Mandatory AI Training
- Send Math Bypass info to interested parents
- Youth Truth staff survey shared with staff and family data shared with families by April 30
- Send feedback to Eric regarding Synergy Behavior Module and/or reach out to Jason if you want to pilot the History Tab on Synergy
Important Dates
- April 19: On the Road to Kindergarten Event 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at various parks
- April 22: Admin ICCL 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
- April 23: Educator Network Day – 1:45 – 3:15 p.m. (Intro to Amplify Desmos Math)
- April 25: Breakfast and Belonging, Jackson’s Corner, 7:00-8:30
- April 30: SIW – reserved for Math planning
- May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 6: Horizontal meeting 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Silver Rail, SRE and Rosland host
- May 7: Safety Cadre Meeting, 2:00-3:30, location TBA
- May 14: All Admin PD at Perseverance Hall, 3:00-4:30 Read Chapter 4!
- May 26: Memorial Day, No School
- May 27: June Horizontal (Changed from June 3rd) at Highland – HLD and Three Rivers host
- May 30: Counselor Celebrations, 7:30-9:30 in the board room, at least one admin is required to attend, but both are encouraged!
- June 4: All Admin PD at Perseverance Hall, 3:00-4:30
- June 12: Last Day students—half day
- June 13: Last Day staff
- June 17: Elementary End of Year Celebration! 2:00 Somewhere!
And finally…Today, April 17th is International Day of Mastering Conversations that Matter! OR, International Pizza Cake Day! Choose your own Adventure!