Family Spotlight

In Bend-La Pine Schools, students and families have choices in their educational journey, and now is the time to consider these options. We have a popular Dual Immersion program where students learn in English and Spanish. We have Career Technical Education programs at all our high schools. We also offer opportunities at four magnet schools.

We call these opportunities Choice Options – programs that meet the individual focus and needs of our students. Families may apply today through January 23 for a Choice Option program for students who will be in grades 1-12 next year. The application deadline for kindergarten students, and for the Dual Immersion program, is March 20. Selections are made through a lottery process.

Additionally, families are welcome to submit an Area Change Request if they’d like their student to attend any other school outside of their attendance zone. The Priority Area Change Request window is open today through January 23. “Priority” means that we will let families know if their request is approved by the end of February. Unlike Choice Option requests, where admission is determined by lottery, Area Change Requests are decided based on student needs, space available, enrollment balance and appropriateness of program.

Entry into the Choice Options lottery, Dual Immersion lottery, and Priority Area Change Requests all require a current enrollment in Bend-La Pine Schools for the school year requested. Enrollment is open now for the 2026-27 school year.

Important dates to remember!

• January 23, 2026, 3:00 pm: Choice lottery application closes for grades 1-12
  
• January 23, 2026, 3:00 pm: Application closes for Priority ACR
  
• March 20, 2026, 3:00 pm: Choice lottery application closes for kindergarten and Dual Immersion
  

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

New Choice High School Information Nights at the current Bend Tech Academy campus:

• Wednesday, January 14, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, January 20, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

At Realms Middle School, rigorous academics come to life through an interdisciplinary and project-based curriculum, through instruction that is both demanding and student-centered, and through a schoolwide culture of “Crew,” where teamwork, student leadership, and belonging are at the center. Realms is a member of the EL Education Network where student achievement has three dimensions: mastery of knowledge and skills, high quality work, and character.

School Information Nights at Buckingham Elementary School:

• Thursday, January 15, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  
• Wednesday, January 21, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  

The International Baccalaureate (IB) mission is to "develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." Students pursue rigorous college and career preparatory classes, many of which will translate into college credits. Coursework is open to all 11th and 12th-grade students.

School information night:

• Thursday, January 8, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  

The district's Dual Language Immersion Program is a K-12 program offered at two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. In a class balanced with both native speakers of both English and Spanish, students learn their regular school subjects through both languages. Dual Immersion students also develop strong intercultural competence skills as a result of this enriching educational model.

Dual Immersion Information Nights:

• Monday, February 9, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm at Bear Creek Elementary School
  
• Monday, March 9, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm at R.E. Jewell Elementary School
  

Additional family information nights will be announced soon.

Amity Creek elementary is a community-based school that emphasizes choice-making, risk-taking, and celebration of the social and academic journey. Students have the freedom and encouragement they need for exploring, questioning, and developing independent thinking.

Highland elementary’s Scottish Storyline method is based on the theory that knowledge is complex and many-layered, that learning is guided by one’s prior knowledge and experience, and that learners construct their own meaning through action and experience. During each Storyline, students create a setting, become characters and solve problems as incidents in the story unfold.

Westside Village is a small K-8, inclusive school where our community works together to help all students reach their infinite potential. Our unique, mixed-age model allows for differentiation and authentic peer leadership. By integrating subjects with Thematic, Project-Based Learning, we activate curiosity and invite students to have a voice in their education. We are committed to the whole child. Families partner with staff, ensuring every student is healthy, safe, engaged, empowered, and receives the personalized support they need to thrive.

Juniper is a technology magnet, home to the district’s fourth- and fifth-grade Talented and Gifted program and includes a Life Skills and a Speech and Hearing-impaired program. In addition to the regular education, Juniper creates a diverse culture of learners at a rare school location.

Attention parents and guardians of 5th grade Talented and Gifted (TAG) students! Cascade Middle School offers a 6th grade TAG advanced humanities program. Students in this group study and learn with other students who are academically and/or intellectually talented. Cascade has additional opportunities for TAG students to be in advanced humanities classes in 7th and 8th grade.

TAG Information Night:

• Tuesday, January 13, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Incoming 5th graders only
  

The annual CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day is just around the corner on Tuesday, March 3! This exciting event gives 8th-grade students a firsthand look at high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and electives through ~20-minute rotations featuring fun hands-on activities.

Students will be bussed to the high school to which they are pointed to attend for the 2026-27 school year. CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day is a great opportunity for students to learn about the CTE pathways and rich elective options offered in their high schools by exploring technical skills, creative pursuits, and other options to spark their curiosity and excitement prior to forecasting.

ACR approval is required prior to attending the designated high school.

Meet Michelle Dolce, the Pilot Butte Middle School learning specialist making a profound impact on student confidence, independence, and academic progress.

Her nomination came from parents Amy and Scott Bledsoe. Here’s a bit of what they said, “Michelle consistently goes above and beyond to support students with special needs, creating an environment where every child feels capable of success. Her patience and individualized approach have made a tremendous difference for our son, helping him grow in confidence and academic skills.”

Pilot Butte Principal Jessica Gambee shared, “Michelle has been a wonderful addition to the Pilot Butte family this year. She approaches students and families with empathy and care, engaging from a place of understanding while meeting needs and pushing for the continued growth for her students.”

By leading with compassion and patience, Ms. Dolce consistently goes the extra mile to support students with special needs, ensuring they experience a sense of belonging and achievement. Her creative, tailored approach makes a profound impact on their confidence, independence, and academic progress. Her advocacy for each student’s needs, along with your collaborative partnership with families and staff, enriches the learning environment for all. Bend-La Pine Schools is proud to recognize Michelle Dolce as a true Champion for Students!

Don’t forget! Friday, January 30 is a no-school day for schools on our semester schedule.* Teachers will be hard at work on final grades for the first semester of the school year, which ends January 29.

Families and students on the semester schedule will be able to view Semester 1 grades in ParentVUE the week of February 2.

New to ParentVUE? It’s the parent web portal allowing access to a student’s education progress including grades, attendance, assignments, progress reports, school announcements, and Individualized Education Program for students with an IEP. If you have not yet used ParentVUE, contact your student’s school or email us, and you will be sent an activation letter with instructions.

Canvas is also used by all Bend-La Pine middle and high school teachers as an extension to in-class instruction. On Canvas, teachers post assignments, share instructional support materials, give feedback, and communicate with students and their parents/guardians.

*Bend Tech Academy and La Pine High School are on a trimester system. School is in session Friday, January 30 at those two schools only.

Oregon’s immunization exclusion day is February 25, 2026. Immunizations are required by state law for children and students in attendance at public and private schools, preschools, childcare facilities and Head Start programs in Oregon. Each year in January and February, all schools and childcare facilities in Oregon must report the immunization status of their students to the Health Department. Children must have all state required immunizations, or a medical or a non-medical exemption, to stay enrolled.

Don’t fall behind! For more information about required vaccines, where to obtain required vaccinations, and medical and non-medical exemptions, please visit our website.

To learn more about how to use technology safely, attend a SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® workshop. KIDS Center offers multiple SafetyNet® workshops a year, including virtual options.

These workshops are free and cover hackers and scams, cyberbullying, social media, online gaming, inappropriate posts, and online predators. Click here to learn more or sign up for a training.

As we welcome the New Year, the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our donors, partners, educators, and community supporters. Your generosity and commitment make a lasting difference for students across the Bend-La Pine Schools.

Because of you, we are able to fund classroom enrichment, remove financial barriers, and invest in opportunities that help every student thrive. We are deeply thankful for your continued support and belief in public education.

We look forward to another year of collaboration, impact, and shared success. From all of us at the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation, thank you—and Happy New Year!

School Board Appreciation Month

January 9: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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, January 13 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.

Catch up on all the news from the latest School Board meetings. Click here for Dr. Cook's recaps.

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