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Helping families stay connected to Bend-La Pine Schools |
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Fall is a time for connection in our schools |
Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the changing leaves and, of course, the opportunity to dive into a new school year together. This year, I have enjoyed engaging with the many families and community members who are making connections with our schools and staff. It’s wonderful to see volunteers helping in the classroom, guest speakers sharing their expertise with students, community members cheering in the stands at sporting events and families connecting with teachers during back to school events.
Thank you, families, for helping to make this a great start to the school year. We appreciate your support and look forward to continued connections and conversations in the months ahead.
In partnership,
Dr. Steven Cook, Superintendent
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Information about November Bond for Bend-La Pine Schools |
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Based on the work of Bend-La Pine Schools’ Sites and Facilities Committee, made up of community members and staff, Bend-La Pine Schools placed a construction bond on the November 8 ballot. If approved, the bond would fund projects to address the following major areas:
Preservation of Existing Schools and Buildings
This bond would protect the community’s investment in school buildings by making repairs and improvements district-wide including the replacement of aging roofs and money saving energy improvements to boilers, HVAC and lighting systems.
Safety and Security Improvements
Safety and security improvements district-wide such as upgrading interior classroom door handles and door locks and replacing fire safety systems.
Classroom Additions and Modernizations
These include the replacement of Bend Senior High School’s inefficient 70-year-old classrooms on the current school property to improve safety, security, and instruction.
No Increase to Current Tax Rate
With approval of this bond and continued retirement of existing bonds, we anticipate the District’s overall general obligation bond tax rate will not increase. New residents moving into the community will assist in the repayment of the bonds.
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Bias Reporting Tool
Each of us is responsible to ensure that students, families, staff, and community members feel a sense of belonging and dignity in our schools. This involves actively promoting equity and inclusion and standing up against harmful acts that run counter to these values.
If you observe or experience a bias incident, report it right away:
A 'bias incident' refers to behavior that intimidates, mocks, degrades, or harms someone due to identity factors such as: age, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, immigration status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
Bias and hate affect us all, and students, staff members, and family members are important in this community effort to ensure welcoming and inclusive schools. Thank you for partnering with us in our effort to take care of one another.
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College App Kickoff Events
New this year, high schools across Bend-La Pine Schools will host College Application Kick Off events to support students with all aspects of the college and post-secondary education application process. The events are coordinated to take place in October as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens and many colleges begin accepting applications.
Dates for the College Goal Oregon FAFSA Nights are:
- Oct. 5 – Realms High School, 5:30 p.m.
- Oct. 13 – Bend Tech Academy at Marshall High School 5:30 p.m. and Bend Senior High School, 6 p.m.
- Oct. 17 – Summit High School, 6 p.m.
- Oct. 24 – La Pine High School, 4 p.m. and Mountain View High School, 6 p.m.
Bend-La Pine Schools will also host a district-wide Spanish language FAFSA night and details will be shared as soon as they are available. Interpreters are available upon request for school events.
These events are just one of the ways our schools stand ready to help students with their college lists, application strategies, essay writing, FAFSA and Oregon Promise applications and more.
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Community Invited to Apply for Vacant Board Seat
Bend-La Pine Schools’ Board of Directors invites interested community members to learn more about what it’s like to serve on the school board during an upcoming informational session. The event is set to take place at the Hutchinson Room at Deschutes Public Library’s Downtown Bend branch on Thursday, October 6 at 6 p.m.
Board Chair Melissa Barnes Dholakia will share information about the roles and responsibilities of being a board member, the time commitment involved and answer questions from attendees.
Interested community members can apply to serve on the board, as the Board of Directors is seeking to fill a vacant seat, Zone 7 at-large. Applicants must reside within a Deschutes County voting precinct, have resided within a Deschutes County voting precinct for at least one year, reside within Bend-La Pine Schools’ attendance area and be registered to vote.
Applications are due October 11 at 4 p.m. Visit the Board of Directors’ webpage for details on how to apply (applicants must share a resume, residency attestation form from the webpage and a letter of interest following the prompt on the website.)
Finalists will be selected Nov. 8 and a final appointee will be sworn in Dec. 13. The individual will be appointed to serve through June 20, 2023 (the appointee may choose to file for the May 2023 election.)
If additional accommodations are needed to access this information session, please contact Bend-La Pine Schools at 541-355-1000 at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled date.
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Schools focus on preventing bullying this month, and all year long |
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At Bend-La Pine Schools, we believe every student deserves a safe space for learning and self-expression. In October, we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month to highlight the importance of fostering a community of inclusion, safety, and respect.
This month is a time to unite nationally to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. We invite you to join us in raising awareness in our schools and community as we work toward our shared goal of inclusion, support, and respect for all as our school staff members prioritize building relationships to foster a sense of belonging in our schools.
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Bend-La Pine Schools Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month |
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Every year from September 15 to October 15, Bend-La Pine Schools celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the history, heritage and contributions of the ancestors of Americans who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Did you know more than 12 percent of our students identify as Hispanic or Latino?
In Bend-La Pine Schools, we celebrate and honor the growing and vibrant Hispanic and Latino community within Central Oregon and our local schools. As educators, we recognize that National Hispanic Heritage Month is an excellent opportunity to learn about and celebrate the rich, diverse histories and cultures of those with Hispanic heritage, which include students, staff and community members. Your contributions to our community make us stronger.
VIDEO: Book Recommendations
Heather Wolford, teacher librarian at Caldera High School, shares one of her favorite reads by a Hispanic author and talks about related books on display.
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Bend Senior High, Summit High Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists |
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Summit High Senior Josiah Crossman |
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Summit High Senior Ethan Hall |
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Bend Senior High Senior Alex Laakmann |
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Congratulations to National Merit Semi-Finalists, Bend Senior High senior Alex Laakmann and Summit High students Josiah Crossman and Ethan Hall. Of the more than 16,000 students across the nation who take the PSAT exam, about one percent are named Semi-finalists! Laakmann, Crossman and Hall have the opportunity to fulfill additional requirements to become Finalists where they can compete for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million! |
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Champion for Students Help our Schools Shine
For our latest Champion for Students award, we honored not one but two stellar staff members who are known for their dedication and heart. Please join us in celebrating two of our building engineers - Michelle Ferk from Bear Creek Elementary, and Tom Meyer, from Amity Creek and at the Education Center.
Fun note: These two became engaged last summer!
Their supervisor, Rob Johnson, says we should be proud to have this dynamic couple working for our schools. “They are passionate about their jobs, excited about their work and want to make sure everything is looking good and ready to go for staff and students alike.”
Tom, for instance, is always ready to lend an extra hand, whether that’s cleaning up after lunch duty or helping take charge of flooding in the basement at the Education Center. Andy Slavin, Principal at Amity Creek, says Tom gets along great with kids and that students and staff adore him. “He has a heart of gold.”
Bear Creek Principal Lisa Birk says, “Michelle is always willing to go the extra mile to make spaces clear, clean, and calm for students at Bear Creek. Bear Creek students and their learning are her priorities and it shows. When Michelle is asked to support individual students around the school, she is flexible, positive, and always willing to help. She shows them care and responsibility and models for our students what it means to do your best each day. We are all grateful to have Michelle on our team at BCE as she is a champion for our staff and students alike.”
Thank you to Tom and Michelle. You help our schools shine and are truly Champions for Students.
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Do you know of someone who is a Champion for Students?
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Early Literacy Lessons at
William E. Miller Elementary
Early literacy lessons at W.E. Miller were a big hit with the first graders!
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Seeing the World Through
Artist Eyes
How do artists see the world? Students at Highland Magnet have recently been practicing looking at the world through artists' eyes. We love to see it!
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Learning about Solar Energy
Fifth graders at R.E. Jewell Elementary School got to learn about how solar energy works and made their own solar powered cars with Jackie Mueller, Sustainability and Energy Specialist as part of a celebration of the school's new grant-funded solar array.
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Sprinkler runs and awesome teachers ... what brings YOU joy? |
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Students at High Lakes Elementary shared all sorts of ways they find joy inside and outside of school - from running through a sprinkler on a hot day to having a teacher who cares.
School psychologist Jill McKae asked students what brings them joy as part of a school-wide art project that also help give students a sense of connection and belonging at school.
“I shared that all feelings are ok feelings,” said McKae. “In order to feel full joy, we have to feel the crummy feelings too, like anger or sadness. But I reminded students that they don’t have to navigate those feelings alone - I am here and so are our staff members.”
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Upcoming key dates and days of recognition:
OCTOBER
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- National Principals Month
- National Farm to School Month
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Oct. 4 – Special School Board
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Oct. 5 – International Walk & Bike to School Day
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Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day
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Oct. 11 – Indigenous Peoples Day
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Oct. 11 – School Board Meeting
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Oct. 18-22 – National School Bus Safety Week
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Oct. 19 – No School, Elementary
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Oct. 20 – No School, Elementary & Middle
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Oct. 21 – No School, Elementary & Middle
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Oct. 25 – School Board Meeting
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