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Helping families stay connected to Bend-La Pine Schools |
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Bringing Joy, Optimism into a New School Year |
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Welcome to the 2022-23 school year in Bend-La Pine Schools! I am truly honored and humbled to serve as Superintendent for our community of 33 schools. Thank you all for kicking this year off together with a sense of purpose, optimism and joy.
In this short video you can hear our students share what they experience in our schools. It's affirming to hear our students share how our schools are places where they lead, grow, shine, perform, belong and much more. Our dedicated staff members strive every day to create schools that feel safe, welcoming and are places where students feel they belong.
We look forward to connecting with each of you in the weeks and months ahead as, together, we share a year full of learning, connection and joy.
- Superintendent Steven Cook
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Family Handbook & Calendar
Download a copy of the Family Handbook & Calendar today! This calendar includes key information, policies, contact information and a full 12-month school calendar featuring our amazing students! And be sure to watch your mailbox – you should receive a copy in the mail soon.
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Sign Up for Text Alerts
Families, take a moment to visit BLConnect to check your text alert settings are selected to the correct schools. If you’ve moved or your children have moved from middle or high school, for instance, you may not be signed up to receive alerts for the correct school.
Login to BLconnect and click “Manage my subscriptions” at the top of the page to make updates.
This text alert system is used as an urgent notification for events such as weather delays.
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Class Information, Grades on Canvas Observer
Want to keep up-to-date with middle and high school students’ progress, assignments and grades? Be sure to create a Canvas Observer account. With an observer account, families can see what is being covered in class as well as student performance on assignments and tests. This year most of our middle and high school sites will be using Canvas as the gradebook of record (instead of ParentVue). Check out our Canvas parent page with instructions on how to become an observer.
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Bend-La Pine Schools Offers New, Free Service to Support Mental Health |
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We are committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families to create a safe and healthy learning environment. In support of our ongoing commitment, we partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care for our community.
Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their Care Companion™ team is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community.
Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace services in two ways:
Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. Support is available in 200+ languages. A dedicated Care Companion™ will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at www.caresolace.com/bls.
Care Solace is now available for use at no cost to you. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance. All information entered on the Care Solace tool is completely confidential and securely stored.
Please note, this service is an optional resource available by choice and is not mandatory to use. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider. In the event of a life threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255.
If you are interested in counseling-related services for your child, yourself, or another family member, please contact Care Solace for valuable assistance. This is a complimentary resource provided by Bend-La Pine Schools.
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YouthLine Services Available to Students
Oregon Youthline - students can call a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line; (teens are available 4 to 10 p.m. daily; adults available all other times) 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863
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If you see something, say something
It's important to remember to reach out if you see something of concern. To that end, students and families can report anything from vandalism to theft to cyberbullying via text or phone, email, or online using SafeOregon. |
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Bend-La Pine Schools' Equity Stance: Read and Share Your Thoughts |
Our community, our nation, and the world are changing quickly, and we as educators need to support our students as we embrace and navigate change together. We believe public education is the foundation of a thriving democracy, molding our collective future. In Bend-La Pine Schools, a culture of equity is our goal. Read our Equity Stance and learn more about our district's values and commitments on this topic and take time to share your thoughts and feedback:
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Share Your First Day Photos!
We’re looking forward to seeing smiling faces during the first days of school next week!
Please share your first day photos with us by tagging us on Facebook and Instagram or by sending us a direct message with the photo. We will share your first day photos throughout the week!
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Law Enforcement Partners Celebrate First Day of School |
Just like our students, our School Resource Officers and School Resource Deputies are excited for the first day of school! We appreciate our partnership with the City of Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and love that they took time mark this first day of school milestone with us. Please join us in giving them - and all of our law enforcement partners - a high five when you see them at our schools this week! |
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Officer Keely Cashman-Caceres |
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Pine Ridge Elementary Teacher Earns Prestigious Math Award
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Stephanie Johnson, a first grade teacher at Pine Ridge Elementary, was recently selected as a Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) state finalist!
The prestigious awards are the nation's highest honors for math and science teachers. Stephanie joins a long list of Bend-La Pine Schools teachers who have been recognized by PAEMST in past years.
Johnson, who has taught at Pine Ridge since 2010, has a passion for students developing mathematical language to support their mathematical understanding.
As a state finalist, Johnson will learn if she advances to the next level at a later date. Congrats, Stephanie!
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Nominate a Champion for Students
Do you know of a staff member, student, or community member who has shown above and beyond to lift up others and improve our school communities?
Last year, we created the Champion for Students Award as a way to honor staff, students and community members who have gone out of their way to serve as champions for students.
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Upcoming key dates and days of recognition:
- September - National Suicide Prevention Month
- Sept. 7 –1st Day of School, Grades 1-6, 9, K staggered start
- Sept. 8 –1st Day of School, Grades 7-8, 10-12, K staggered start
- Sept. 9 – First Day of School, All Kinders
- Sept. 13 – School Board Meeting
- Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month
- Sept. 22 – First Day of Fall
- Sept. 27 – School Board Work Session
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September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
The Central Oregon Suicide Prevention Alliance is hosting events throughout September with the goal of bringing awareness to suicide prevention including family-friendly classes, a candlelight ceremony for those who lost loved ones to suicide, an annual Out of Darkness Walk, a community QPR training and more.
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