Family Spotlight

Bend-La Pine Schools is served by almost 900 classified employees who clean and maintain buildings, cook and serve meals, drive buses, support students in the classroom, ensure technology is performing well, answer phones and greet families and so much more.

The week of March 3, we celebrate all of the support staff members and their contributions during National Classified School Employee Appreciation Week!

“Our classified staff includes bus drivers, nutrition staff, custodians, hundreds of dedicated individuals working on the front lines and behind the scenes every day. They are essential to fulfilling our mission and ensuring the success of every student. We are deeply grateful for their talents, dedication, and the care they show in nurturing our students and school communities,” said Superintendent Steve Cook. “Thank you for being an important part of our district family.”

Support staff by the numbers:

• Bend-La Pine Schools is home to 892 classified employees – a wide range of staff members including office staff, custodial, maintenance, transportation, Information Technology, educational assistance, Nutrition Services and more.
  
• Ninety bus drivers in our Transportation Department traveled 1,708,354 miles last school year. They transport an average of 4,247 students each morning and afternoon covering 86 bus routes across approximately 1,600 square miles.
  
• Our Information Technology team has 28 staff members who support thousands of mobile and desktop devices across 33 schools.
  
• Our maintenance and custodial teams are made up of 129 staff members. These crews maintain more than 3.2 million square feet of school building space and outside maintenance crews maintain 600 acres of grass, parking lots and landscaping.
  
• Nutrition Services is run by 127 dedicated staff members. Between September 2024 and January 2025, they served 1.5 MILLION meals!
  

Big things are happening on our classroom build at Bend Senior High School. Concrete is being poured, and the first wall is going up. Before long we will see a massive steel structure rise three stories high. It’s fun to watch the progress on this community-funded, four-year transformation of the home of our Lava Bears. Thanks to Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company and all the crews who have worked through this winter!

Students and families are invited to explore the future at Life & Career Readiness Night on Wednesday, March 12 at Caldera High School from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

At our second annual Life & Career Readiness Night, visit with higher education representatives and regional employers in the private and public sectors. The first Life & Career Readiness Night last year drew a crowd of 400, and we expect a bigger turnout this year. Students can explore college and trade school options, regional employers, educational travel, internships, volunteer opportunities and much more.

Organized by high school students with assistance from district staff, this event aims to inform students and their families about the array of professional and educational opportunities available in Central Oregon – both before and after graduation.

PRESENTERS WANTED: If you run a business, direct a trade school or are hiring, consider being part of our Life & Career Readiness Night. Contact us at lifecareerreadiness@gmail.com to secure your spot!

Listen to KBND’s Frank Bonacquisti interview Caldera High School students Chloe Grissen and Jack Strycharz about the Life & Career Readiness Night!

Bend-La Pine Schools is excited to invite parents and community members to apply to our Instructional Technology Stakeholder Group! This is a unique opportunity for you to have a direct role in shaping the future of technology in our schools and help us enhance the learning experience for all students.

Purpose of the Group: We are seeking input from key stakeholders to guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of Instructional Technology in our district. By coming together, we hope to foster collaboration between parents, students, educators, community members, and administrators to ensure that our technology strategies are aligned with the needs of our students, schools, and community. The goal is to make data-driven decisions that will enrich and elevate learning experiences through technology.

Meeting Dates:

• Wednesday, March 19
  
• Wednesday, May 28
  

Time: 4-6 p.m.

Location: Bend-La Pine Schools Education Center

Spanish-language interpretation available at the meetings.

How to Apply: To join the Instructional Technology Stakeholder Group, please complete the application form by March 12. We are seeking input from schools around our district and across grade levels. You will be informed by March 13 of the status of your application.

Application Link

For questions or more information, please contact Karen Rush at karen.rush@bend.k12.or.us.

Let’s work together to enhance education for our students!

Monday, March 3 - CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day

Monday, March 10 - Incoming 9th Grade Orientation Night

Thursday, March 13 - Incoming 6th Grade Information Night

The annual CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day is just around the corner on Monday, March 3! This exciting event gives 8th-grade students a firsthand look at high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and electives through ~20-minute rotations featuring fun hands-on activities.

Students will be bussed to the high school to which they are pointed to attend for the 2025-26 school year. CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day is a great opportunity for students to learn about the CTE pathways and rich elective options offered in their high schools by exploring technical skills, creative pursuits, and other options to spark their curiosity and excitement prior to forecasting.

ACR approval is required prior to attending the designated high school.

The move to high school in the fall makes it a big year for students and families! Join your new high school community at Incoming 9th Grade Orientation Night on Monday, March 10 at 6:00 pm.

• Meet student leaders and staff.

• Explore co-curricular programs and clubs.

• Learn about high school forecasting.

• Have some fun with your new community!

The event takes place at the following schools:

Bend Senior High Main Gym - 230 NE 6th Street, Bend

Caldera High Gym - 60925 SE 15th Street, Bend

La Pine High Auditorium - 51633 Coach Road, La Pine

Mountain View High Auditorium - 2755 NE 27th Street, Bend

Summit High Main Gym - 2855 NW Clearwater Drive, Bend

Get familiar with your new school’s environment, culture and values. Incoming 9th Grade Orientation Night is an essential part of preparing students for a successful high school experience. We look forward to seeing you!

We are excited to invite you to our 6th Grade Information Night on Thursday, March 13! This event is designed to help you and your student prepare for the exciting transition to middle school. You will learn about the programs and opportunities available, meet some of our staff, and gain insight into what to expect in the coming year. The exact time of the event will be communicated to you by your child's middle school in the coming weeks. We encourage all families to attend, as this is a great opportunity to ask questions and ensure a smooth start to your child’s middle school journey. We look forward to seeing you there!

Our school counselors play a crucial role in enhancing students’ educational experiences and provide essential emotional and academic support. One such school counselor from High Desert Middle School was named February’s Champion for Students.

Help us celebrate counselor Brettney Bryant!

At the Board meeting on February 11, Brettney was honored for her exceptional dedication and skill as a middle school counselor, guiding students through the challenging waters of adolescence. Her calm demeanor and gentle approach to tough conversations provide a safe and supportive space for students to express themselves. Her ability to be present for students in their times of need makes an invaluable impact on the High Desert Middle School community, deeply appreciated by all. Bend-La Pine Schools is proud to count Brettney Bryant among our Champion for Students!

Save the Date!

May 14th at Silver Moon

Come out and support the Education Foundation's biggest FUNdraiser for our schools. Challenging Trivia, Creative Costumes, Amazing Raffles and Prizes, Good Food and Great Fun!

March 3-7: National Classified Employees Week

March 3-7: National School Breakfast Week

March 3-7: National School Social Workers Week

March 9: Daylight Saving Time

March 24-28: Spring Break

Top row from left: Board Chair Marcus LeGrand, Board Vice Chair Carrie McPherson Douglass,

Kina Chadwick

Bottom row from left: Amy Tatom, Cameron Fischer, Shirley Olson, Ross Tomlin

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 11 at 5:30 pm at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street in Bend.

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.