Family Spotlight
Helping families stay connected to Bend-La Pine Schools
Help protect your student from cyberbullying
Most kids will encounter harmful words or behavior at some point in their digital lives.
With help from adults, kids can learn how they can remove themselves from unwanted digital encounters, stand up for others, and report harmful online behaviors.
Talk with your child – early and often – about how to respond to mean or harmful behaviors that occur online.
Check out these 6 tips for families to reduce cyberbullying.
Meet Deputy Casey Karpstein
Get to know another stellar SRO with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. He serves Three Rivers School in Sunriver and Buckingham Elementary, and he's no stranger to Central Oregon.
Deputy Casey Karpstein has been an SRO since September 2022 and with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office for 15 years. If the Karpstein name sounds familiar, it's because his family has been in Bend for five generations. And from his parents to his own kids, they've all graduated from Bend Senior High. "Gooo Lava Bears!"
What does Deputy Casey love most about serving in his hometown community? "It is extremely rewarding being able to serve as an SRO in the schools I grew up in. It's also great to build relationships with others I have never met. My favorite part is serving and protecting the schools and seeing all the smiles on the kids’ faces every day especially when I hand out a DCSO sticker."
When he's not supporting Central Oregon schools, you'll find him enjoying family time or out fishing, hunting, or golfing.
Deputy Casey, thank you for all you give to the Central Oregon community. It wouldn't be the same without you!
End of first semester is February 1
The first semester of the school year ends on Thursday, February 1. Teachers will work on final semester grades on Friday, February 2. All students have that day off.
Families and students on the semester schedule will be able to view semester 1 grades in ParentVue the week of February 5.
Bend Tech Academy and Realms Middle School and High School are on a trimester system. February 2 is a no-school day for those students as well.
Is your student up to date with their immunizations?
Oregon’s immunization exclusion day is February 21. Immunizations are required by state law for children and students in attendance at public and private schools, preschools, childcare facilities and Head Start programs in Oregon. Each year in January and February, all schools and childcare facilities in Oregon must report the immunization status of their students to the Health Department. Children must have all state required immunizations, or a medical or a non-medical exemption to stay enrolled.
Don’t fall behind! For more information about required vaccines, where to obtain required vaccinations, and medical and non-medical exemptions, please visit our website.
Join us for an informative evening at the Bend La Pine Schools Academic Information Night, tailored for current students and families in grades 9-11. As students prepare to navigate the course selection process for the upcoming year, our BLS counselors are excited to offer a thorough exploration, covering:
- High school graduation requirements
- Course pathways and sequencing options
- Considerations for academic planning
- Course selection insights for post-secondary planning
Representatives from each high school will be present to share valuable information and address any questions you may have after the main presentation. We look forward to your participation in this informative session and hope to see you there!
Proposed regulation update regarding e-bikes
A proposed administrative regulation update for Bend-La Pine Schools would reinforce, as it pertains to school district property, a state law that prohibits anyone under age 16 from operating an e-bike. The revised regulation, KGB-AR: Public Conduct on District Property, is available for public review and comment until February 13 at 5 p.m.
The proposed regulation update states that, with regard to district property or grounds, “Bicyclists, including those riding an E-bike, must comply with Oregon motor vehicle and bike regulations and laws.” Riders 16 and older would still be permitted to operate an e-bike on district property. The district asks that all bike riders dismount and walk their bikes on sidewalks and in pedestrian areas on school grounds.
The District intends to enforce the regulation by prohibiting students under 16 from having e-bikes anywhere on school grounds. Riders 16 and older are permitted to have an e-bike on district property. The district requires all riders of bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. dismount and walk on sidewalks and in pedestrian areas on school grounds.
To submit a comment on the proposed revision, use this public comment form.
Holidays and breaks for the 2024-2025 school year
The 2024-2025 school calendar for Bend-La Pine Schools is not yet solidified but we can confirm the dates of holidays and major breaks for next school year:
- September 2 - Labor Day
- November 25-29 - Thanksgiving Break
- November 11 - Veterans Day
- December 23-January 3 - Winter Break
- January 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- February 17 - Presidents Day
- March 24-28 - Spring Break
- May 26 - Memorial Day
Release of the full 2024-2025 school year calendar, including teacher conference dates and other no-school days, is pending completion of contract negotiations with collective bargaining units representing certified and classified employees in the District. As soon as we are able, we will share the new school-year calendar with families in the District.
Tentatively, the first day of school is scheduled for September 4 and the last day of school is scheduled for June 12, 2025. These dates are subject to change.
Application window closes Friday, January 26
The choice option school lottery window is open now. It closes Friday, January 26. If you missed our last Family Spotlight, read more about each school here. Find the choice lottery enrollment application in ParentVUE.
Bend-La Pine Schools’ choice options provide learning opportunities that are significantly different from our traditional programs, while meeting the same standards and requirements as other schools within the district. From Dual Immersion to Career Technical Education, the choice option schools have many programs to meet the individual focus of its students.
The non-neighborhood choice enrollment window is also the time to submit a Priority Area Change Request (ACR).
Important dates to remember!
- January 26, 2024: Choice lottery application closes for grades 1-12
- January 26, 2024: Choice application closes for Priority ACR
- March 22, 2024: Choice lottery application closes for kindergarten and Dual Immersion
IMPORTANT: Entry into the Choice Options lottery, Dual Immersion lottery, and Priority Area Change Requests all require a current enrollment into Bend-La Pine Schools for the school year requested. The 2024-25 school year is open now.
Do you have all of your enrollment documents ready to go? Find the list here.
Be ready for your family’s new driver
Getting a driver’s license is an exciting time for a young person, but can be a little nerve-wracking for parents and families! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your young driver safe: having regular conversations about driving safety (including the risks of impaired driving), practicing together, leading by example, and setting expectations and limits. Learn more about what you can do to support your student as they reach this important milestone, and complete a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement.
How to report school safety concerns, and sign up for text alerts
Community vigilance and collaboration is one of the best ways to prevent incidents in our schools and to help students that are struggling. Bend-La Pine Schools encourages students, families, and community members to feel comfortable sharing if they are informed of or witness unsafe or unhealthy behaviors. If you are told something by a student, observe abnormal behaviors, or see alarming social media posts, please say something.
SafeOregon is a reporting tool that can be used by anyone via phone call or website form to report a student safety concern. Examples of these student safety concerns could include vandalism, cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, insufficient food or safety concerns at home, or anything that poses a risk to the safety of a student(s) or school facility. Reporters can share their information or remain anonymous.
Bend-La Pine Schools’ staff uses this reported information to coordinate with our law enforcement partners to keep the school community safe. If there is ever information needing to be shared with our students, families, and partners, we will send messages via BLConnect. These are text message alerts in English or Spanish that individuals can subscribe to in order to receive timely updates about school closures, lockdowns, or weather events. Please sign up on our district website here.
Bonds are for Buildings
Renovated classrooms at Bend Tech Academy
A major classroom building renovation has been completed at Bend Tech Academy, one of the District’s choice option high schools. The bond project includes four classrooms, a student collaboration space, and restrooms. Bremik Construction of Portland was the general contractor. The renovated classrooms reopened for use this month, with the school's business, medical/health, and social studies classes moving in.
Free meal program adds 12 schools!
Did you hear the delicious news? Thanks to a change in federal guidelines, 12 additional schools now serve free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students without the need for families to apply for free and/or reduced meals.
The change allows us to stay cost neutral yet feed more students and help families with the nutritional needs of their kiddos.
The schools added include Buckingham, Elk Meadow, Juniper, Lava Ridge, Ponderosa, R.E. Jewell, Westside Village Magnet, High Desert Middle, Caldera High, Mountain View High, and Realms Middle and High Schools.
Bon appetit, Central Oregon!
Students take to the ice at The Pavilion
December brought a day of adventure for our multilingual students. Second and third graders from across the district enjoyed a day on the ice at The Pavilion in Bend. Check out all the smiling faces!
Thank you to the staffs of Bend-La Pine Schools and Bend Park & Recreation District for making it a special day!
Lava Bear headed to Stanford University
Congratulations to Bend Senior High’s Sara Rivas! On November 29, Sara received the big news that she’s been accepted to Stanford University where she will be a member of the Cardinal Track and Field team as a hurdler. Sara is pursuing the IB Diploma at Bend High and was the 2023 5A State Champion in both the 100M and 300M Hurdles.
Congratulations to Sara and the entire Bend High staff for their guidance and support on Sara’s journey. It will be exciting to see where her hard work and dedication will take her. Sara, you make us proud!
National Thank You Month
Celebrate National Thank You Month by spreading kindness and thanking all the people who’ve helped us along the way.
To celebrate Thank You Month, we want to thank you for your dedication. Every day, you encourage your student to learn and grow. You are a major reason for the success of our students, and it’s an honor to serve your family.
We encourage you to spend some time this January thinking about what you’re thankful for and express gratitude for those who have helped you. Help from others is so appreciated and, at times, needed. If you or a family member needs extra support, Bend-La Pine Schools partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students and their family members. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use treatment and would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
- Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
- Visit caresolace.com/bls and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
Thank you again for your dedication to your students and this community.
Resources for Families
Student Mental Health
Family Resources
Health & Wellness
School Meals
Accessing ParentVUE
Transportation
Next School Board work session is January 23
The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next board work session on Tuesday, January 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall St. The next board meeting is on Tuesday, February 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center.
For information about board members, meetings and agendas, please visit our School Board page.
District policy review
Are you curious which district policies and regulations are currently under review? To see proposed changes and give feedback on new language, click here.