Family Spotlight

Make sure your students are ready to ride the bus during the cold winter months. Here are some important tips going into the season.

• Layer up! Please make sure your student is properly dressed for the walk to the bus stop.
  
• Sidewalks and roads can be icy. Give yourselves extra time to take it slow, whether walking or driving.
  
• Check our webpage to see if your bus route has an inclement weather route. If you do not see your route listed, then your bus will be making all of its regular stops.
  
• Be sure you have our MyStop app. Families are messaged through this app when we move to Inclement Weather stops.
  

Bus route changes

We started this school year with numerous route changes throughout the district. A big thanks to families for changing their own routines to make the new stops!

Why did routes change this year? The routes we had used for many years no longer assured all students got to school on time. As a result, many students had a shortened school day. We were tasked with giving all students a full day and delivering students at the same time as their classmates. In order to achieve this, we created 8 new routes across the district – an attendance area spanning 1,600 square miles. Now every student throughout Bend-La Pine Schools receives equal hours in their school day.

Here are more ways to stay connected to find out about school delays and closures!

• Sign up for BLConnect, an emergency alert text messaging system. Register at this link: bls.fyi/blconnect

• Visit our social media pages:
  
• Facebook English: @BendLaPineSchools
• Facebook Spanish: @EscuelasdeBendLaPine
• Instagram: @BendLaPineSchools
• Tune in to local news media.

The choice option school lottery window opens on January 2. Are you ready?

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 2, 2024: Choice lottery enrollment application opens in ParentVUE
  
• January 19, 2024: Choice lottery application closes for grades 1-12
  
• January 19, 2024: Choice application closes for Priority ACR
  
• March 22, 2024: Choice lottery application closes for kindergarten (includes 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 opens for enrollment on January 2.

Do you have all of your enrollment documents ready to go? Find the list here.

Learn more and get ready for January 2!

CONGRATULATIONS Summit High School! On November 4, the girls cross country team captured their 15th consecutive 5A state title. The boys soccer team followed them up the next Saturday and brought home the 5A state championship in Sherwood, beating out Hood River Valley 1-0.

Well done, Summit High School athletes!

Bend-La Pine Schools, alongside East Cascade Works, is proud to announce the relaunch of the Youth Career Connect program. This collaborative initiative aims to provide high school students with invaluable real-world experiences through internships in the local community.

With a commitment to fostering career exploration and development, Youth Career Connect is set to add an additional layer to traditional educational pathways by bridging the gap between the classroom and the professional world.

The Youth Career Connect program will facilitate the placement of high school students in diverse internships tailored to their interests and career aspirations. These internships, available across various industries, will offer students hands-on experience while exposing them to the dynamics of different career fields. The program emphasizes flexibility by accommodating both paid and unpaid internships, ensuring accessibility for students from all backgrounds.

Youth Career Connect is seeking to expand internship opportunities and invites local businesses to consider opening their doors to this rewarding program. Bend-La Pine Schools encourages businesses to participate in this initiative, emphasizing that internships should be structured to provide students with exposure to a specific career field, supported by dedicated staff within the partnering businesses. Employers will benefit by building greater awareness of their business and career opportunities among our students and families, and by identifying potential candidates for job openings directly from the internships.

For more information on how to get involved in the Youth Career Connect program, please visit this website.

Winter Break is almost here and for many, it’s a joyful time for sharing, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends. It also comes with stress and challenges. While we each celebrate the season, it’s important to stay mindful and take care of ourselves.

Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:

• Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health.
  
• Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
  
• Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and be ready.
  
• Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not alone.
  
• Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others.
  

It’s okay to ask for help and support is available. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed.

988: If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. You are not alone. Call or text 988 to connect to staff prepared to provide compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress.

• English: Text or Call 988
  
• Español: Llame 988 or envia “AYUDA” al 988
  

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a free and confidential teen-to-teen help line. Students are encouraged to contact YouthLine via phone, text, chat, and email to talk about anything that may be bothering them. Teens are available to help daily from 4-10 p.m. Pacific Time (adults are available by phone at all other times).

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 supports the well-being of our community and can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. If you or your family members are looking for help with mental health or substance use, this is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service provided by Bend-La Pine Schools.

• Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in over 200 languages.
  
• Visit caresolace.com/bls and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
  

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗻 allows students and families to report information that involves students, the safety of their fellow students or their school 24-hours-a-day. With SafeOregon, students can report anything from vandalism to cyberbullying via text, phone, email or online.

We hope you have a safe, peaceful and happy holiday season!

Have you met our SRO (School Resource Officer) for westside schools? He covers Summit High School, Pacific Crest Middle School, Cascade Middle School, Westside Village, and High Lakes, Highland, and W.E. Miller elementary schools.

Students light up when Officer Dan Koehnke rolls up!

He's been with the Bend Police Department for almost six years and an SRO since March. He's originally from Astoria, so he has a special appreciation for Central Oregon's winter sunshine. Of course Officer Dan loves all of the outdoor adventures our region provides including camping and riding his motorcycle. He also enjoys playing video games and family time, "really anything to do with my family."

His favorite part about being an SRO? "I really enjoy making meaningful relationships with the students which I hope will stay with them through their lives."

Officer Dan, thank you for connecting with students and keeping our school communities safe and sound!

For 15 years, Bend Senior High School has made Veterans Day special for those who have served in our community. At the same time, the student body takes the opportunity to tell these heroes thank you.

On November 9, Lava Bears invited Central Oregon veterans to attend a reception at the school, offering a time for veterans and their family members to gather, reconnect, and feel a sense of community. Then they were welcomed into the packed auditorium to resounding applause and a USO-style talent show. And when the veterans in attendance rose to their feet, there was hardly a dry eye in the auditorium.

Bend High Lava Bears, our hats off to you for making Veterans Day not a day off but an opportunity to thank our community's veterans. And to everyone who has heard the call of duty, we thank you for your service.

ATTENTION: Families of Students with Complicated or Chronic

Health Conditions, Developmental Disabilities or Mental Health Conditions (birth through age 26)

In an emergency, every moment counts.

What is HERO Kids Registry?

HERO Kids Registry is a voluntary, no-cost system that lets any Oregon family share critical

information about their child’s health before an emergency. The information can be quickly and

easily accessed by emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital emergency department (ED)

providers, so they have the information they need when they need it.

Who is HERO Kids for?

HERO Kids is for any Oregon child or young adult (through age 26). It is especially useful for

young people with complicated or chronic health conditions, and for those who experience

developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.

Why should I register my child?

In an emergency, every moment counts. By registering with HERO Kids, you give EMS and ED

providers a head start on understanding your child's medical history, unique needs and

individualized supports. For example, it helps emergency responders to know if a young patient

is non-verbal.

For more information on this potentially lifesaving program and how to register, visit HERO

Kids.

This time of year, our students can be meaningful reminders of gratitude and giving. Levi Roberts is a sixth grader at Sky View Middle School and inspires us to pay it forward.

The time he spent in 2022 on the path to a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis lit a fire to give back to the caretakers that surrounded and supported him. Through a Green Bag account with Oregon’s Bottle Drop redemption program, Levi has raised hundreds of dollars for charities including Toys for Tots, the Humane Society of the Ochocos, and Child Life Specialists.

Read more about Levi’s story, and let it fill you with the spirit of giving!

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next board meetings on Tuesday, December 12 and Tuesday, January 9, both 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.

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