Family Spotlight

The Oregon Department of Education has updated safety drill requirements beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

In previous years, schools were required to conduct at least two safety threat drills using the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which includes hold, secure, shelter-in-place, lockdown, and evacuate. Schools will now practice each of these safety responses at least once during the year.

Requirements for other emergency drills remain the same. Schools will continue to conduct monthly fire drills, two lockdown drills and two earthquake drills each school year.

Practicing a range of emergency responses helps students and staff become familiar with what to do in a variety of potential safety situations.

ParentSquare is how we will alert you to school emergencies.

Our new ParentSquare platform is a great way to stay connected to schools and teachers. It’s also how families will learn about an emergency in their student’s school or a district-wide school closure or delayed start.

ParentSquare is now your go-to tool for receiving emergency notifications on weather events, lockdowns and secures, and other time-sensitive safety updates. It has replaced BLconnect, a text messaging sign-up tool that Bend-La Pine Schools used for years.

Families of enrolled students now receive urgent and emergency alerts automatically through ParentSquare. Make sure you’ve accepted our invitation to use ParentSquare, verify your contact information, and select your notification preferences.

When you add the ParentSquare mobile app, you will get high-priority alerts on your phone immediately. The ParentSquare app is free for both iOS and Android devices.

Get started now with ParentSquare, or sign in, at parentsquare.com/signin

The Oregon Health Authority recently updated its guidance for youth outdoor activities during wildfire smoke and poor air quality events. Protective recommendations are now at lower AQI levels.

While this guidance serves as a recommendation rather than a regulatory requirement, district administrators use it to help inform decisions about outdoor activities, including recess and lunch. Administrators maintain discretion based on current conditions and the unique air quality across our district. Find more information about the updated guidance and air quality resources on our Air Quality Guidelines webpage.

The Bend-La Pine Schools Safety Team includes School Resource Officers (SROs) and campus monitors who work together to help keep our schools safe, welcoming, and connected.

Fourteen campus monitors serve our middle and high schools, helping maintain campus security and making sure students are where they need to be during the school day. Just as importantly, they get to know students and build positive relationships throughout their schools.

The district also partners with the Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to embed a team of eight officers and deputies in our school communities. Our SROs focus on building positive relationships with students, staff, and families while supporting school safety. They assist with safety training, investigate school threats, help resolve criminal incidents, and educate students about safety. You’ll also see them greeting students in the morning, connecting with students during the school day, and supporting after-school activities and events.

This year, we’re excited to welcome Deschutes County Deputy Tristan Cox to the team! Deputy Cox will serve Three Rivers School in Sunriver, Buckingham Elementary and Realms Middle School. Welcome aboard, Deputy Cox!

Families are always encouraged to connect with their school’s SRO with safety concerns or questions about district safety measures. These partnerships are an important part of keeping our schools safe and supporting our students.

In July, the Bend Police Department held its quarterly in-service at Mountain View High School, using the school building to train for active threat incidents. They ran through multiple scenarios over the course of the afternoon. Trainings like these are vital to ensuring that responding officers are prepared and ready to act quickly and effectively. Giving officers training opportunities strengthens their ability to keep our community safe in times of crisis.

Bend-La Pine Schools uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan to help keep our schools healthy, safe, and ready for students and staff. Our first approach is prevention, keeping facilities clean, removing conditions that attract pests, and using non-chemical solutions whenever practical.

When these efforts are not successful and a pesticide is necessary, the District will use an appropriate product from its Board-approved low-impact pesticide list. This notice is provided annually to inform families and staff about the District's IPM program and notification procedures. Planned pesticide applications will be posted at least 24 hours in advance on the District's Healthy and Safe Facilities webpage, where families and staff can find current application notices and additional information about the District's IPM program.

Community vigilance and collaboration is one of the best ways to prevent incidents in our schools and to help students who 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. The SafeOregon app is on all student iPads.

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 ParentSquare. We all play a role in keeping our community safe.

Volunteering for your child’s class can make a positive impact on their school experience.

Volunteer roles vary based on the needs of each school, and there must be a specific assignment. Volunteers are most often needed for special events in and out of the classroom. The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a top priority. To ensure a safe environment, all volunteers are required to complete an online application and volunteer background check. If you are interested in volunteering, learn more at bls.fyi/volunteer.

If you plan on visiting your child's school, don't forget your government-issued photo ID. You may be visiting for a concert, to enjoy lunch with your student, or to participate in an IEP meeting. Whatever the reason, safety procedures remain in place to keep our school community safe. All visitors must sign in at school during regular business hours using our Raptor kiosk, the digital sign-in roster. It is critical to know who is in our schools at all times, and no exceptions can be made in this process. Thank you for helping keep our school communities safe!

If you are a firearms owner, have you taken steps to secure your firearms to prevent children or others from accessing them? Secure gun storage helps prevent suicide and accidental death and injuries.

More than 4 of every 10 parents of children under the age of 18 have a gun in their household, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Among those parents, one-third say their guns are stored in an unlocked location and one-third say they store their firearms loaded. Sixty-one percent say they store their guns in the same location as ammunition.

There are many ways to increase safety in our homes and community with simple options such as inexpensive cable locks that work on most firearms. Take a few minutes to learn more from the Central Oregon Secure Firearm Storage project. Click here to learn more.

The Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office have a supply of cable locks for use in securing firearms. If you’d like one, call or stop by their offices. Gun owners are welcome to pick up free keyed cable and trigger locks firearms at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street, in Bend.

All middle and high school students in our district can find on their school iPads mental health resources, the SafeOregon tipline, and the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Students are also encouraged to contact YouthLine at theyouthline.org 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).

When your child needs help, it’s hard to know where to turn. In an effort to ease the burden of finding mental health and substance use services, all families in our District are welcome to use CareSolace, our central hub for finding care. CareSolace supports the well-being of students, staff, and their family members. This complimentary and confidential care coordination service can help you quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to your needs regardless of circumstance. They will connect with providers accepting all medical insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare, and slide scale options for those without insurance. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595 (available around the clock in any language).
  
• Visit Care Solace and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
  

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Let’s come together to recognize the warning signs and offer support to those in need. If you or someone you know needs help, Care Solace provides 24/7 confidential support to connect you with mental health professionals.

Visit caresolace.com/bls or call 888-515-0595. You’re not alone.

If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here. At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone. Click the button above to learn more.

Supe's on! We flipped the script to ask Superintendent Cook the questions

For the first episode of his sixth podcast season, Superintendent Steven Cook switches seats and becomes the guest. Communications Director Scott Maben asks Dr. Cook about leading Bend-La Pine Schools, staying connected to classrooms, working with the School Board, preparing for a new school year, and what families can expect in 2026-27.

They also talk school construction, new instructional and grading practices, student assessments, family communication — and what it’s like when the superintendent steps in as a kindergarten substitute teacher.

Listen to the latest episode of The Supe's On.

Online: bls.fyi/podcast

Apple Podcasts:bls.fyi/listenonapple

September 13-19: National Suicide Prevention Week

September 15-October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 20-21: Yom Kippur

October

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Farm to School Month

National Principals Month

October 2: National Custodian Day

October 5: World Teachers’ Day

October 6: National Coaches Day

October 7: International Walk + Roll to School Day

October 12: Indigenous Peoples’ Day

October 12-16: National School Lunch Week

Top row from left: Board Chair Marcus LeGrand, Shirley Olson, Ross Tomlin, Jenn Lynch

Bottom row from left: Cameron Fischer, Kina Chadwick, Board Vice Chair Amy Tatom

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next board meeting on Tuesday, October 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street in Bend. The Board of Directors will hold a work session meeting on Tuesday, October 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center.

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.