Navigator News

Jan. 6 (Mon): 1st Day Back after Winter Break!

Jan. 14 (Tues): PTO Meeting @ 6:00pm

Jan. 20 (Mon): NO SCHOOL, MLK Day

Jan. 22 (Wed): Mountain Burger Fundraiser for 5th Grade Graduation, All Day

Jan. 24 (Fri): Family Movie Night at North Star, 6:00pm

Jan. 31 (Fri): NO SCHOOL, Teacher Work Day

Hi North Star Families!

Winter Break is often a time to slow down and appreciate being with our family and friends. It is also a time of transition as we reflect on the past year and welcome a new beginning in 2025. I have personally been reflecting on this year and am so grateful for our community. The Winter Concert was a special time that brought everyone together to celebrate our incredible students. Mr. B was spot-on with the theme of "joy". Enjoy the highlights in the newsletter and the photos at the end! We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!

Vision and Mission

The 4C’s (Commitment, Compassion, Curiosity, and Courage) are at the core of North Star Elementary. They are the values of who we are as a school community. As we reflect on North Star, beginning in 2019 to the present moment, we recognize that it is time to create a vision and mission to build upon our core values. Creating a vision and mission is an amazing opportunity to define our school identity and to articulate how we are a community where children thrive, learn, and experience joy.

To begin this process, we want to hear from you! We are in the initial phases of developing a vision and mission from North Star and there will be several steps along the way. Our goal is to have perspectives from families, staff, students, and community members throughout the process. We have a North Star family committee that has come together and to create a set of questions to start gathering feedback.

Please take a moment to share your perspective on this short questionnaire HERE - the link is below as well. This initial step is aimed understanding the values and hopes of our families at North Star Elementary. The next steps in the process will include sharing feedback with families and gathering additional information. We will have both virtual and in-person opportunities in which families can participate after break. Our goal is to have a defined vision and mission for North Star later in the spring. Your voice will become part of the fabric of North Star - please take a moment to share your thoughts!

Family Perspective Survey

Find all the latest PTO updates and information on our website: northstarelementarypto.org

Purchase Regal Movie Ticket Bundles to Support the PTO!

Help support North Star Elementary PTO by purchasing Regal Movie Ticket Bundles! Order online, redeem at your convenience, and support a great cause. Visit this link to order yours today

PTO Meeting: January 14, 6 PM @ North Star
Join us for our upcoming PTO meeting, where we’ll review the budget, discuss plans for our next major fundraiser—the Read-A-Thon—and share updates on upcoming events. We’re also thrilled to welcome Katrina Wiest, Wellness Specialist in Nutrition Services, as our special guest.

Family Movie Night: January 24, 6 PM @ North Star
Pack your blankets and join us for a fun, family-friendly evening! We’ll be screening a favorite family film, and snacks like popcorn, pizza, and drinks will be available for a small cash donation.

Save the Date: Read-A-Thon, February 10–23, 2025

This engaging event inspires our students to embrace reading while raising funds for PTO programs that benefit the entire school community. Families and friends can cheer on our Navigators as they reach for their reading goals. Stay tuned for more details!

We have an amazing group of 4th graders that initiated a student-led project with the goal of creating a Book Nook in the library. Their motivation came from a desire to have safe, welcoming, and cozy space for all students to come and read. They planned, advertised, handmade items to sell, and managed the store all on their own! They raised money and surpassed their goal by earning over $350!!! Their next step is to start purchasing items to bring the Book Nook to life.

Thank you to everyone that donated!!! And, thank you to the incredible 4th graders that participated in this project. A special shout-out to Rileigh, Maisie, and Skylar for spearheading and leading this amazing project - you've made North Star an even more wonderful school for all of our students!

A huge "thank you!" to everyone that contributed to the Food Drive! It was a huge success and was very much appreciated by the community it will help serve. A special "shout-out" to Mrs. Larkin's 3rd Graders - every student brought in 5 items each. Way to go Navigators!

Oregon Battle of the Books is off to a great start at North Star! For information on teams, battles, FAQ, all things OBOB, please check this page with links to current information. Mrs. Betz will update it often so check back! OBOB Information

North Star students are invited to attend Science Night at Lonza-Bend (64550 Research Road, 97703) on March 18th from 6-8pm! This event is targeted at 2nd - 5th graders and children will get to participate in a variety of hands-on demos that help teach them about how the world functions. To sign up, please add your name to this list! Please note, there is a maximum of 25 students that can be accommodated. We can't wait to see you!

Join us for a fundraiser at Mountain Burger on Wednesday, January 22. All proceeds will go towards the 5th grade class graduation. To make reservations for this event visit https://mountainburgerbend.com

We are hoping to start a new tradition at North Star by having 5th grade portraits that capture the essence of who they are at this time in their lives as they transition from elementary to middle school. This is something we did at one of my previous schools and it was amazing. We displayed the portraits in the school during the late spring and gave them to our 5th grades at the end-of-year celebration/graduation. It is a wonderful way to celebrate them!

How can you help? We need a photographer or someone with skills to take portrait shots. If you are a photographer or know someone that is, please reach out to me so we can talk more.

Beth Martin

beth.martin@bend.k12.or.us

(541) 355-2300

* photos pictured by Mark Massdam

If you plan to get out of your vehicle at drop off or pick up, please park in the parking lot - not along the curb. We have had an increase in folks parking along the curb which causes congestion and becomes a safety issue. Thank you for your help and understanding!

Want to check out some holiday lights over break? Here's an awesome list shared by our School Resource Officers. They are in order so you can follow the list beginning to end, or end to beginning:

1. 61119 Halley St

2. 61090 Buckshot Pl

3. 20540 Jacklight ln (This whole neighborhood is jolly)

4. 20842 Westview Dr.

5. Bonny Bridge (Entire neighborhood/ road)

6. Sarah Dr. (Entire Road)

7. Shannon Ct. & Cresent Ct (Off of Sarah Dr.)

8. 21350 Stevens Road

9. 2625 NE Laramine Way

10. 1866 NE Altura Dr

11. 62637 Hawkview Rd (I don’t know if this is the exact address, but its a river of lights coming off the roof)

12. Hawkview/ Great Horned neighborhood area.

13. Pecoraro Loop

14. 2922 Baroness Pl

15. 1518 NE Shepard Pl

16. 2360 NE Meadow Ln

17. 1346 NE Hollinshead Dr

18. 2587 NE 8th St

19. 1822 NE Yellowstone Ln (The backside on Butler market is cool too)

20. 20875 Daniel Duke Way

21. 20890 Imwalle Ct

22. 62979 Bilyeu Way

23. 20986 NE Marsh Orchid Ct

24. 63078 Marsh Orchid Dr

25. 63143 Dakota Dr (This one is probably the very best one in town) **********

26. Desert Sage/ Lava Flow/ Brookstone (Lava Ridges neighborhood)

27. NE 18th Street/ Brightwater Dr. (Private Drive to the south)

28. 63663 Ranch Village Dr