Family Spotlight

• Wednesday, September 9 – 1st Day for grades 1-6, 9
• Thursday, September 10 – All students attend in grades 1-12

New to Bend-La Pine Schools? We can’t wait to meet you! Go to bls.fyi/enrollment to begin your enrollment process. If your student attended Bend-La Pine Schools last year, there is no need to re-enroll.

It’s almost time to set the alarms!

• Elementary: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
  
• Middle: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
  
• High: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
  
• Three Rivers School: 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  
• Westside Village: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Be ready for School Improvement Wednesdays!

Beginning September 16, students will be released 90 minutes early every Wednesday. This is an important time for your child’s teacher to improve student learning and achievement through collaboration, training, enrichment, and professional growth. When teachers have the weekly opportunity to discuss effective teaching methods, cooperatively design teaching materials, and coach one another, our schools make significant improvements.

School Improvement Wednesday release times:

• Elementary schools: 12:45 p.m.
  
• Middle and high schools: 2:15 p.m.
  
• Three Rivers School: 1:00 p.m.
  
• Westside Village: 2:15 p.m.

Schools work with community partners to provide after-school opportunities for families on these days. Please contact your school for more information.

Don't forget to register for ParentSquare! Our new district communication platform makes it easier to stay connected with your student's classroom, school, and Bend-La Pine Schools. You'll receive all your messages in one place by email, text message, mobile app, or web, and you'll be able to communicate directly with teachers and staff.

ParentSquare is also our new platform for emergency notifications, including school closures and other urgent alerts. It replaces our previous notification system, BLConnect, so be sure to register before the school year begins.

Go to bls.fyi/parentsquare.

If you have a student who will be participating in middle school or high school sports, you will use FinalForms to complete and sign their participation forms. FinalForms saves your information from season to season and year to year. You may review your registration information at any time to verify it’s up to date. You will be asked to sign your forms once every year and after any update. We invite parents and guardians to create their FinalForms account at: bend-or.finalforms.com

You can find instructions here. We are excited to see them this year on the fields, courts and other competitive venues!

In Bend-La Pine Schools, all of the materials students need for instruction are provided. Families are welcome to provide personal items such as backpacks, water bottles, and headphones.

While it’s important for parents and guardians to know they aren’t expected to send their students to school with notebooks, pencils, glue sticks, crayons and all the other supplies, we also have families that appreciate the opportunity to contribute to classroom supplies. If you have new school supplies you’d like to donate to your student’s classroom or the school, we are always grateful for the support. You may bring these in during your school's Welcome Back activities.

If your family needs help securing a personal item, reach out to your school’s FAN advocate for support. Not familiar with FAN? Your Family Access Network Advocate is here to assist all families with children, birth through graduation! If you have questions about Wi-Fi connectivity, Oregon Health Plan, food, rent, or utility help, reach out. Their goal is to make sure that your child has everything they need to be ready to learn. Call your school’s main office or go to bls.fyi/fan.

If your family needs assistance with exam fees, athletic participation fees, travel sports scholarships and other resources, please fill out the Family Income Survey and return it to your school office or Family Access Network (FAN) advocate. All information is confidential.

Is your student riding the school bus during the 2026 - 2027 school year? Registration is required, even if your student rode the bus last year.

If you have a student this year who is eligible for transportation and you need assistance with the registration process, join us at Bend Transportation on August 25! You’ll find technical assistance and translators.

• Tuesday, August 25, 1:00 - 6:00 pm
  
• Bend Transportation Office - 501 SE 2nd Street, Bend
  

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.

If you are interested in volunteering at your student’s school, learn more at bls.fyi/volunteer.

Did you hear the scrumptious news? All schools in the District qualify for the federal Community Eligibility Provision program. All students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. No application is required.

Daily menus including nutritional information and allergens can be found on our website: bls.fyi/menu. Parents/guardians of students with special dietary needs may reach out to their school nurse.

Are you covered? Bend-La Pine Schools does not carry accident insurance for students. This means that you are responsible for the medical bills if your child gets hurt during school activities. As a service to you and your child, Bend-La Pine Schools does provide access to a voluntary, low-cost student accident and sickness insurance program that families may purchase through Myers-Stevens & Toohey, Inc. Learn more at bls.fyi/insurance.

As September approaches, keep your eye on your mailbox and grab the 2026-27 Family Handbook and Calendar! Along with all the important dates you need throughout the year, it includes all the information listed here plus a greeting from Superintendent Steve Cook, BLS mission and beliefs, links to more details, and relevant monthly articles.

This next school year will bring big changes for students, teachers and families in how we measure academic growth as well as how we engage with technology tools in classrooms.

The changes include new assessments in reading and mathematics for students in elementary and middle school. These are required by Senate Bill 141, Oregon's 2025 Education Accountability Act.

We also are making some changes in student use of technology, as directed by our School Board. These include reduced access to iPads for elementary students; keeping iPads at school for middle school students; and restricted YouTube access for high school students.

We invite you to learn more about each of these changes in the following letter from Deputy Superintendent Lisa Birk.

Class of 2027 — It’s go time! College application season is officially here. Before the school year kicks into full gear, take a moment to get ahead and start your college applications now. Students can access SchooLinks by logging into Clever and clicking the SchooLinks icon.

To get started:

• On iPad: Open the Clever app and select the SchooLinks icon in the College and Career category.

• On Browser: Go to bls.fyi/schoolinks.

Head over to bls.fyi/SchooLinksSupport for tips and resources. The earlier you start, the smoother the ride.

Getting help can be a daunting process. Care Solace provides 24/7/365 mental health care coordination Service for all employees of Bend-La Pine Schools, their family members, as well as our students and their families. Click the button above to connect with Care Solace.

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.

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, September 8 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, September 22 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.