Newsletter: March 19, 2025

Important Dates

Click here for the full WVMS School Year Calendar.

8th Grade Play: School of Rock!

We are so proud of our Elder Play kids!  They performed for 150 students from Highland Magnet School today and they were amazing!  We are so excited for tomorrow; they will perform for students from North Star and RPA during the day and tomorrow night for all of YOU!

Students in the Play are invited to stay after school and a wonderful parent is providing pizza for them.  Thanks Kasey!!  

Show will start promptly at 6:00 tomorrow night; please plan to arrive between 5:30 and 5:45.  There is a suggested donation of $15 per person at the door for ages 12 and up; 11 and under are free.  We will be selling popcorn for $1 a bag.  Cash is preferred, but we will have a QR code available as well.  Your donations go directly to our wonderful drama and music programs here at Westside Village!

Come one, come all!  We look forward to seeing you!

Cross Country Ski Fun!

There’s plenty of snow out there- if your family would like to borrow some ski gear, let us know!

NO SCHOOL Mar 24-28 for Spring Break

For many, Spring Break is a time for rest and a little adventure. It can also come with stress and challenges. It’s important to stay mindful and take care of ourselves. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free spring break.

Track & Field Starts Mar 31

Track season runs from 3/31 to the week of 5/12-5/16. Our practice days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Monday is here at school and ends at 4:45 (pick up at Westside). Tuesday and Thursday we practice at Bend High until 4:00. Kids will be taken by bus to Bend High at 2:30 and they need to be picked up from Bend High at 4:00. Cost is $100 per athlete. Regular Westside scholarships can be used for track as well! Reminder that 5th graders are allowed to participate in practice but may not compete in meets.

Cell Phone Policy Reminder

District wide, cell phone usage is limited this year. Please read the full policy here. Thanks for your support in helping us create the best possible learning environment. A couple key points from that policy:

Elementary/Middle School

Students are not permitted to have phones or wireless earbuds during the school day. Phones and other personal devices are to be turned off and stored in their lockers for the entire school day, from the morning bell to end-of-day dismissal.

Smartwatches

Many students wear watches that can access apps on their phone. Students are not permitted to use a smartwatch to access mobile apps or the internet, or to send and receive messages (text or call) during class periods. Elementary and middle school students are not permitted to use smartwatches for those purposes anytime during the school day.

Village Rhythm and Bingo

VRB Donation Committee Unite!

We need your help!  Looking for volunteers to help us gather donations for our 21st Annual FUNdraiser… Village Rhythm and Bingo! 

What is VRB?

Westside Village Rhythm & Bingo is our only FUNdraiser of the year! An evening of live music, delicious food, BINGO, raffle prizes and more! 

The event will be held this year on April 24th, 2025 at the Unitarian Church. 

VRB is more than just a fundraiser. This event gives the older/elder kiddos an opportunity to apply for their jobs at the event, from kitchen/serving jobs to babysitting which gives them real life experience. 

It truly is such a fun event. Parent’s night out for a good cause!

If you can’t make it to the meetings but still want to be involved in some way, please text Ali at 541-505-0139 or email [email protected].

It truly takes a village to pull this event together. Thank you all in advance!

Choice Options Lottery Closes Friday, Mar 21

Visit this link for more information. If you know of any families that would be a good fit, send them our way! 

Remember that all incoming siblings of Westside students MUST complete an application.  Current Westside Village students do not need to re-apply. 

The lottery for 1st-12th grade has closed, but applications are still being accepted. The lottery for Kindergarten will close on March 21st.

Entry into the Choice Options lottery, Dual Immersion lottery, and Priority Area Change Requests all require a current enrollment in a Bend-La Pine School for the school year requested. Enrollment for the 2025-2026 is open.

Don’t hesitate to call Marcie with any questions.  541-355-2001

Village Council Meeting, April 2

Please join us to come together and talk about planning and organizing a fantastic and educational spring for our students. We need volunteers for our FUNraiser, a trip to the High Desert, library, garden, clubs, track, and more! 

2024-25 Oregon Statewide Tests (OSAS)

This school year our 3rd through 8th grade students will take the Oregon Statewide Tests. Parents have the right to opt their child out of the English Language Arts and/or the Math tests. We have made it a mission to be creative and smart about how we administer the OR Statewide Tests. We are not going to make students sit for hours at a time testing; we are going to offer them fun snacks, breaks when needed, and all the support we can give. We would like to take this opportunity to turn this challenge into a fun and meaningful experience. 

Here are links to the Annual Notice for Statewide Testing – this contains information about the testing and the Opt-Out Form.
OSAS Annual Notice and Opt-Out Form English 24-25
OSAS Annual Notice and Opt-Out Form español 24-25

If you have any questions about the test, please email Felicia at [email protected].

News From Friends

Session 5 Clubs

Session 5 Care and Clubs started Monday. Sign ups will close this Friday, March 21, so be sure to secure your spot. Visit www.friendsofwestside.com to sign up today.

Important Update: Morning Extended Care Enrollment is Required

A quick reminder: Breakfast is served for students not enrolled in Extended Care at 8:25 AM, and the school day begins at 8:35 AM. Non extended care students may arrive at 8:25 only if they are eating breakfast, otherwise please drop off at 8:35. Students that ride the bus are automatically enrolled in our extended care program. 

We are so grateful for the community and support that make our Extended Care program such a valuable resource for Westside families. Lately, however, we’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of students attending Morning Extended Care—nearly double the number we have enrolled. While we love seeing so many of our students start their mornings with us, this unexpected growth has created a safety concern, and we need to make a change.

Starting immediately, we will be implementing an enrollment list at the door for Morning Extended Care. Only students who are officially enrolled will be allowed to attend. If your child uses Morning Extended Care, please take a moment to sign them up at www.friendsofwestside.com so we can staff the program appropriately and ensure a safe and smooth start to the day for all students.

Did you know? You can sign up for mornings only if that’s what your family needs! If your student joins us in the mornings but not in the afternoons, please enroll for just the mornings—it helps us plan and provide the best care possible.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to keep this program safe and well-staffed. We appreciate you!

Sponsorship Banners

Do you own a business or know a business owner? 

Friends of Westside Village (a non-profit 501c3) is looking for community connections! Our goal is to sell a small number of banners to be displayed on the school fence as well as in the great room, as a part of our fundraising campaign. The cost is $500 for a banner and will be up for one year. Yes, it is tax deductible! 

Please send any leads or inquiries to: [email protected] 

Much appreciated!