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Family Spotlight
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Helping families stay connected to Bend-La Pine Schools
First day of school varies by grade level
When is the first day of school? That depends on a student’s grade level.
Wednesday, Sept. 6, is the first day for grades 1-5 in elementary school, grade 6 in middle school, and grade 9 in high school. At Three Rivers School, this is the first day for students in grades 1-8.
Thursday, Sept. 7, is the first day for grades 7-8 and 10-12.
For kindergarten, our elementary schools invite half of the students to begin on Sept. 6 and the other half on Sept. 7. All kindergarteners attend together for the first time on Friday, Sept. 8. Please check with your school if you have questions on which day your kindergarten student begins.
There will be no early release on Wednesday, Sept. 6. School-improvement Wednesdays, when schools release students 90 minutes early, will begin on Sept. 13.
Find our at-a-glance school year calendars on our website at this link. Our annual Family Handbook & Calendar will be mailed home to families toward the end of August.
When the school day starts and ends
Generally, elementary students start school an hour before most students in middle and high school. Here are the daily schedules:
- Elementary: 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Middle school: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- High school: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Bend Tech Academy: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Realms Middle and High School: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Three Rivers School: 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Schools release 90 minutes early on Wednesdays (starting Sept. 13) for staff professional development time.
We take a comprehensive approach to school safety
Safe schools are fundamental to the success of students in Bend-La Pine Schools. Our District Safety Team takes a comprehensive approach to safety hazards that is modeled on the five phases of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Systems and programs are in place to create an environment where students, families, and staff feel physically and psychologically safe. Throughout the year our team will highlight these safety programs and systems, along with emerging safety trends, to show how we are working to keep students safe.
Drills are an example of safety preparedness that families can expect to see starting in the first few weeks of the school year. Bend-La Pine Schools participates in the I Love U Guys Foundation, a research-based crisis response program, to train staff and students on how to respond to varying levels of emergencies. Our district works to comply with the state-mandated training requirements while ensuring students and staff feel safe and empowered to make decisions.
Bend-La Pine Schools views safety as a shared responsibility between our District Safety Team, staff members, families, and community partners. One of the most vital community partnerships is our School Resource Officer Program with the Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department. Please do not hesitate to say hello and meet our wonderful team of officers. We encourage open dialogue with families who have safety concerns or are looking for information on our district safety measures.
We look forward to a wonderful year continuing to build an environment where all students feel safe and can achieve their goals!
Updated school bus routes are available now
Bend-La Pine Schools also offers My Bus Stop, an online tool that lets parents and guardians know approximately what time their school bus will arrive at their home stop each day. The bus location is automatically updated and the arrival time recalculated to account for potential delays.
If you have not registered your student to ride the bus this year, please do so as soon as possible. Both new and returning riders need to be registered before the first week of school. Please log into your ParentVUE account and use the Online Registration tool to walk you through the registration process. If you have questions about accessing your ParentVUE account, please refer to our Online Enrollment Information webpage for detailed information.
For more information on transportation eligibility, please visit our transportation website for information such as who is eligible to ride the bus, expectations for riders, delays and closures, and more.
No need for last-minute shopping for school supplies
If you’re curious about school supplies for the start of the new school year, you can rest easy. We’ve got you! All materials students need for instruction are provided by Bend-La Pine Schools.
Families are welcome to provide personal items for students, such as backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, and headphones. If your family needs help securing a personal item, reach out to your school’s Family Access Network advocate for support. Visit the FAN website and select Our Advocates to find your school’s advocate.
North Star Media Manager selected for statewide honor
Congratulations to Alisa Betz, the Media Manager at North Star Elementary School, for being named Classified Library Staff of the Year by the Oregon Association of School Libraries.
Betz was recognized for her tireless efforts to promote reading and reading culture, collaborate with teachers, curate resources with attention to diversity and inclusion, create a welcoming space for all, and much more. She will receive her award at the organization’s fall conference in Lincoln City. This is her fifth year in our school district and at North Star.
“I love introducing kids to new and different characters and their stories,” Betz said. “Helping students to see themselves in book characters helps them feel connected. Introducing kids to new and different characters helps them build empathy for others. I love helping kids fall in love with reading!”
What to know about student meals this year
Most students spend six hours a day in school, where they consume as much as half of their daily calories. Eating a variety of nourishing foods promotes their physical and intellectual fitness.
Our low-cost breakfast and lunch menus follow dietary guidelines and give students healthy, tasty options. Learn more about school meals at bls.fyi/meals. Menus also are available by downloading the Nutrislice app from the App Store.
Meal prices remain unchanged this year: Breakfast is $2.50 for elementary students, $2.75 for secondary students. Lunch is $3.50 for elementary, $3.75 for secondary.
Families at community-eligible schools qualify for free meals. The nine schools are: Bear Creek Elementary, Ensworth Elementary, Pilot Butte Middle, Bend Tech Academy, Three Rivers School, La Pine Elementary, La Pine Middle, La Pine High, and Rosland Elementary.
At all other schools, families may apply for free or reduced-price meals to learn if they qualify based on income eligibility guidelines. Apply now at bls.fyi/meals. You also may pick up a paper application at your child's school. Don't forget: If you were approved last year, you must reapply for the upcoming year.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Wildfire smoke and the impact on outdoor activities
Smoke from regional wildfires can affect outdoor activities for students, from sports practices to P.E. classes and recess. We monitor the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Quality Index when smoke is present in the Bend, La Pine and Sunriver areas. If the air outside is listed as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy or Very Unhealthy/Hazardous, we notify our school administrators.
We follow the Air Quality Guidelines of the Oregon School Activities Association to determine when outdoor activities should be canceled or moved indoors. Athletic and activities directors, coaches and support staff will communicate with families of students participating in OSAA regarding these health guidelines. Coaches will notify families if changes are made to games or practice times and schedules.
In addition, windows and doors in schools will remain closed and air handlers, with MERV-13 (medical grade) filters, will operate during notable smoke events.
Next School Board meeting is Sept. 12
The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next business meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall St.
For information about board members, meetings and agendas, please visit our School Board page.