Family Spotlight

Teacher conferences are next week. Are you ready?

• Monday, April 14 - Tuesday, April 15 - school for all
  
• Wednesday, April 16 - Thursday, April 17 - no school elementary and middle school
  
• Friday, April 18 - no school for all
  

Make the most of the time with your child’s teacher. Prepare by jotting down any questions you have, and ask your child if there’s anything they’d like you to bring up. After the meeting, share what you learned with your child to keep the conversation going. By staying engaged, you’ll help support your student's success both at school and at home.

The 2025-2026 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 1 - Labor Day
  
• September 3 - First day of school for grades 1-6 & 9 with staggered K start
  
• September 4 - First day of school for grades 7-8 & 10-12 with staggered K start
  
• September 5 - All students attend school at all grade levels
  
• November 11 - Veterans Day
  
• November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Break
  
• December 22-January 2 - Winter Break
  
• January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  
• February 16 - Presidents Day
  
• March 23-27 - Spring Break
  
• May 25 - Memorial Day
  
• June 11 - Last Day of School
  

We are working on plans to replace the auditorium at Bend Senior High School, which was demolished last summer after the building was found to be structurally unsound. In May, the District will share the preliminary design for the new auditorium and invite community feedback during an open house at the school.

The new auditorium will be built on the same spot and have 1,400 seats – the same seating capacity as the former venue. The proposed design includes seats on the main floor and in a balcony. The design team has gathered feedback from community arts groups that have used the auditorium for public performances, as well as performing arts educators and other staff.

BBT Architects and the district’s Facilities Development team will host an open house to share the preliminary design for the new auditorium and invite additional feedback from students, families, staff, and community members. The open house is set for Thursday, May 15, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Bend High gymnasium. Stop by any time during that hour to view plans, ask questions, and share feedback.

Cascade Middle School Gabe Pagano has been selected to fill the position of Director of District Activities and Athletics following a nationwide recruitment process. He will begin in the new role July 1.

Pagano will help support our middle and high school staff with the increasing complexity of managing student athletics and other extracurricular activities. This will include establishing consistent systems and expectations for coaches and advisors, and for students and their families.

“We know that student involvement in extracurriculars has a powerful impact, both measurable and immeasurable, and this role will help ensure every secondary school receives the support and coordination needed to provide outstanding opportunities for all students,” Superintendent Steve Cook said. “Gabe brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this important role, and we look forward to successful outcomes for our students.”

Gabe served as Athletic Director at Summit High School from 2011 to 2018, then was Assistant Principal at Bend High School from 2018 to 2021. He’s in his third full year as Principal at Cascade.

“His knowledge of student activities and secondary school leadership make him exceptionally well-suited to step into this role,” said Katie Legace, Executive Director of High Schools.

Gabe shared that he looks forward to working alongside the administrators and staff who are striving to create extracurricular opportunities that complement classroom work and District goals. “We will strive to create strong systems that help build strong students who are prepared for whatever their future has in store for them,” he said.

With student involvement in sports, clubs and other activities continuing to grow, the District strives to better support our students, families, schools, and staff while creating consistent practices across the district.

Don’t miss these upcoming dates regarding Area Change Request (ACR) applications.

May 1 – Kindergarten ACR deadline

May 1 – 1st - 12th grade ACR application review begins

May 9 – Kindergarten ACR results posted to ParentVUE

Families are welcome to submit an ACR application if they’d like their student to attend any other school outside of their attendance zone. ACRs are decided based on student needs, space available, enrollment balance and appropriateness of program. Click here for more information.

Congratulations to Bend Senior High junior Nikolas Tone! He earned his AWS (American Welding Society) Entry Welder Program Shielded Metal Arc Welding Process certification. Nikolas is the first Lava Bear to achieve this milestone in the certification process.

Nikolas, thank you for your inspiring dedication and for forging a path for future students. You make us proud!

Brant Mellor is a rock star at Mountain View High School teaching Modern World History and AP European History and facilitating the College Now program with Central Oregon Community College.

Principal Michael Hicks said, "Brant is an exceptional educator who strives to create an educational environment that allows his students to see the world around them from multiple perspectives. Students appreciate Brant’s content knowledge and his ability to make complex learning accessible and relevant. … Brant works closely with community colleges to articulate his courses and provides high school students with the opportunity to earn college credit."

Mr. Mellor’s dedication continues the growth of our partnership with Central Oregon Community College and creates invaluable opportunities for high school students to pursue their interests and goals. At Bend-La Pine Schools, we deeply appreciate his contributions and are proud to count him among our Champion for Students!

Would you like to learn about the proposed science and health curriculum for middle and high school students? Two committees of Bend-La Pine Schools secondary teachers worked to provide new curricular tools for instructional purposes. Through May 1, we are accepting public feedback on its recommended curriculum for the following:

• 6th - 8th grade Science
  
• 9th grade Science
  
• 6th - 12th grade Health
  

Community members may visit the District’s Education Center, 520 NW Wall, to review curricular materials during office hours, weekdays from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm. Feedback forms will be provided at that time.

As Lieutenant Joe Pacheco steps into a new role with the Bend Police Department, we want to express our sincere gratitude for his dedication and service. Lt. Pacheco has been with Bend PD for nearly 18 years, and since 2022 he has been an invaluable leader in supervising our Bend Police SROs.

He recently said, “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.”

We are deeply thankful for the meaningful connections he’s made with students and staff throughout the district, and for his commitment to keeping our schools safe. Thank you, Lt. Pacheco!

Save the Date!

May 14 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!

Trivia Night is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation with 100% of proceeds going to the Classroom Enrichments program. Through the program, the Foundation provides resources and support to our elementary, middle, and high school educators in categories ranging from arts and humanities to CTE to special needs.

Join us for the fun on May 14 at Silver Moon, and be a part of raising money for our schools!

April is Stress Awareness Month — a reminder to prioritize mental wellbeing. With academic and daily demands, both students and staff should take intentional moments to reset, breathe, and practice mindfulness.

Taking small breaks makes a big difference. Step outside, take deep breaths, or do a quick mindfulness exercise. Your wellbeing matters!

The Bend-La Pine Schools Transportation Department has openings for substitute bus drivers in Bend. Starting pay for sub drivers is $28.26 per hour.

If you love working with kids, these are great positions, with time off in the middle of the day to run errands, work on projects, or relax. We provide paid training for drivers to receive their commercial driver’s license.

We also have openings for substitute bus monitors, who assist Special Programs drivers in supporting student riders. Starting pay for sub monitors is $19.37 per hour.

To learn more and start the application process, visit BLS.FYI/JOBS.

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 work session on Tuesday, April 22 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.

Bend-La Pine Schools believes that artificial intelligence, including generative artificial intelligence, is a useful tool for efficiency and creativity, with valuable instructional as well as operational functions. The district also recognizes that generative artificial intelligence involves concerns relating to privacy, risk, bias, accuracy, and integrity.

The District has drafted a new administrative policy designed to facilitate actions

regarding artificial intelligence. It’s intended to facilitate the safe and responsible use of AI in the instructional and operational functions of the district, and to supplement rather than replace guidance for Internet use and other technology policies.

We are now accepting public comment on the proposed policy. Please visit the Policies page of the District website or complete the comment form linked here.

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