Roses are red. Violets are blue.

We LOVE our bus drivers, and you should too!

February is Love the Bus Month and today, we’re sending our biggest Valentine’s Day message to our bus drivers. Here are some stats that will make you fall in love:

• This year, there are 88 bus routes.
  
• Our bus drivers deliver 4,032 students each morning and afternoon.
  
• Bend-La Pine drivers covered 1,633,631 miles in the 2022-23 school year.
  

To all of our bus drivers with Bend-La Pine Schools - THANK YOU for making each and every bus ride a safe and positive experience for our students.

Join us at Bend-La Pine Schools' Life and Career Readiness Night on March 5 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Caldera High School. This event, welcoming all Bend-La Pine middle and high school students and families, marks the launch of our new college and career-oriented platform, SchoolLinks.

Discover your path after high school – whether it's college, a career, the trades, or a gap year. Explore 14 different programs from COCC and OSU right in your backyard. Engage with over 30 local career opportunities, including representatives from the Armed Forces, St. Charles Medical Center, City of Bend, Deschutes County, Bend Park and Rec, and more.

Indulge in local food truck offerings and consider a culinary career while entering a raffle for a chance to win one of two laptops! The Life and Career Readiness Night at Caldera High School on March 5, sponsored by East Cascades Works and the United States Coast Guard, is your gateway to a brighter future. Don't miss out!

Sophomore Emma Hayden sees how hard students and staff work at Bend Senior High and wants to create change that will benefit everyone.

"I know how hard students and teachers work, and this makes me want to help make positive changes that can help everyone. I love the culture at Bend High. It’s an amazing community always willing to help each other.”

Stevie Irvine is a leader at Realms High School, a senior with a strong sense of empathy and justice.

“I want to help set up a system which can be built on by future students. I love our community. Everyone is willing to help or listen if you've had a bad day, and the teachers genuinely care about you and want you to do well.”

Abbie Wydra, a member of the first graduating class at Caldera High School, sees input from the student body as one of the most important elements in a school system.

“My goal is to work alongside my peers in different schools toward solving problems that have arisen in our school district. It’s great to hear ideas from students who get to see issues first hand.”

Emma, Stevie, Abbie, and the rest of the Student Voice Council, thank you for making a difference in your community!

A brisk winter morning doesn’t stop our students and families! They came out in full force to participate in the Commute Options Winter Walk + Roll to School event on February 7. Check out these Ponderosa Porcupines who enjoyed hot chocolate and Sparrow Bakery goodies before playing winter walk bingo and heading to school.

Get to know another rockstar SRO with the Bend Police Department! He is the supervisor to all of our Bend PD SROs, serving all schools within the City of Bend.

Joe Pacheco has been the SRO Sergeant for a little over a year and with Bend PD almost 16 years. During that time, he's had the opportunity to serve as an operator on the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT), Firearms Instructor, Criminal Detective, Police Training Officer, Corporal and Sergeant.

"I have the honor to supervise the School Resource Officer Team, which consists of an SRO at each comprehensive high school, four total, and me. My favorite part of being an SRO is when I can mentor and build relationships with students and staff. Those relationships have changed my life for the better and are like a second family to me.

"I love the fact that Central Oregon values our beautiful natural surroundings and encourages families to participate in so many outdoor activities. Outside of work, I enjoy working on our mini farm, fitness at the gym with my sons (or as they call it, 'getting juicy pumps'), being connected at Eastmont Church and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

"It is an honor to work with such dedicated teachers, staff and administrators. I see kids growing and lives changing every day, because of the work of Bend-La Pine Schools."

And our lives are better because you are here, Sergeant Pacheco! Thank you for all you do.

Two ways kids may interact with others online is through:

• Online games (like Animal Crossing or Minecraft) and
  
• Social media (like SnapChat, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)
  

Common Sense Media provides tips for parents and caregivers for how to help your student safely and responsibly use – or not use – these online tools.

Click the links below to see general tips for how to reduce risk by age group:

• For elementary schoolers
  
• For middle schoolers
  
• For high schoolers
  

Look at these Parents’ Ultimate Guides to explore specific games or social media apps. These guides include information such as:

• How it works and potential risks
  
• Recommended and legal age limits
  
• Privacy settings, parental controls, and parent monitoring
  

Deschutes County Clerk's Office invites local students to enter the Deschutes County “I Voted” Sticker Contest. Students are encouraged to design an “I Voted” sticker that will be used during the 2024 Presidential General election, and featured in each election’s Voters’ Pamphlet.

Middle-high school (6-12) sticker design submissions will be accepted through the end of June 2024, with the winner announced in August 2024. Winning artwork will be used in Deschutes County Elections materials, promotions and outreach, and exhibited throughout the Deschutes County Services Building in downtown Bend.

Middle-high school (6-12) students should mail or deliver their entries by June 30, 2024:

• In-Person: Deschutes County Clerk's Office, 1300 NW Wall Street, Ste 202, Bend
  
• By Mail: Deschutes County Clerk's Office, “I Voted” Sticker Contest, PO Box 6005, Bend, Oregon 97708
  
• Email: artcontest@deschutescounty.gov
  

Check out this story from Central Oregon Daily highlighting high school internship opportunities through Youth Career Connect. It spotlights Mountain View High junior Tanner Jacobson!

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next board work session on Tuesday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street in Bend. The next board meeting is on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m., also at the Education Center .

For information about board members, meetings and agendas, please visit our School Board page.

Are you curious which district policies and regulations are currently under review? To see proposed changes and give feedback on new language, click here.