Newsletter: January 22, 2024

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Parent Meeting: Join the VRB Committee!

We’re ready to start talking about Village Rhythm and Bingo (VRB), Friends of Westside Village’s annual fundraising event! We invite any families interested in becoming a part of our VRB Committee to attend one of two meetings this Wednesday, January 24th. Both will be in the library, 8:00am and 4:40pm. Attend the one that works for you!

Choice Options Lottery is Open!

The Choice Options Lottery deadline for 1st-12th grades has been extended to this Friday, January 26th at 11:59pm.  The Kindergarten deadline is Friday, March 22nd at 11:59pm.  Visit this link for more information. If you know of any families that would be a good fit, send them our way! We will be hosting tours and info nights in January and March. Dates and times will be posted here as well as on our school website.

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

New This Year: 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 2024-2025 school year is open.

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

ACR Priority Consideration Deadline Jan 26th

Those students that wish to attend a school that is outside of their current attendance area must submit an Attendance Area Change Request (ACR) by Friday, January 26th at 11:59pm to receive priority consideration. Applications will still be accepted after this date but will not be given priority consideration. When an ACR is granted, student transportation to and from school is the responsibility of the parents/guardians. Visit this link for more information.

Youth Truth Survey

The Youth Truth Survey is a district-wide survey that we ask students, families, and staff to complete so that we can better our schools. Our Bend LaPine District and schools use the information from the survey to plan for school improvement.

Families, please take the time to complete the survey by Friday, January 26th: ytsurvey.org/bendfamily24. For more info: Youth Truth Family Survey Letter.

To opt-out your student or read more about the Student Youth Truth Survey: Family Opt-Out & Information Notice.

Student Health & Safety Programs

My Future-My Choice
Westside Village Magnet School will be delivering the My Future-My Choice curriculum in the 6th & 7th grades to meet Oregon’s health education requirements. For more information and to opt-out your student: My Future-My Choice Notification Letter.

Erin’s Law/Barbara Sinatra’s Fight Child Abuse K-5
Oregon State Bill 856 is legislation requiring public schools to educate students about safe/unsafe touch and secrets that are not okay to keep. We will begin teaching the Barbara Sinatra’s Fight Child Abuse sexual abuse prevention program to all Kindergarten through 5th grade students in April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This program is a personal safety and self-advocacy program that empowers children to feel good about themselves, recognize uncomfortable situations, and report inappropriate acts to trusted adults in their lives. Though the program does cover “stranger safety,” it also empowers students to use assertiveness skills with people of all ages, especially individuals they know.

All Bend-LaPine Kindergarten through 5th grade students receive this curriculum. Should you prefer that your child not participate in these lessons, please let your student’s facilitators know and we will make arrangements to offer an alternative learning activity. For more information about the program: Erin’s Law K-5 Family Letter.

Rotunda Doors Open at 8:35am

It came to our attention recently that our door signs are incorrect. Our front rotunda doors open at 8:35am each morning, but our signs still had last year’s time of 8:30am listed. We apologize for this confusion.

2023-24 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 23-24
OSAS Annual Notice and Opt-Out Form español 23-24

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

Naglieri Test

Every year, the Bend La Pine School District administers the Naglieri Test to all 2nd grade students as well as 3rd – 5th grade students new to the district. The Naglieri Nonverbal Test of Ability is a brief, nonverbal measure of general ability. We will be testing our students this Spring.