Special EDge
November 13th, 2025
June 11, 2026
A Short Note
As we close out another school year, we want to express our deepest gratitude: thank you!
To every staff member of this phenomenal team, what you do every single day is remarkable. You show up for students who need you most, and you do it with patience, creativity, and a level of dedication that is genuinely hard to put into words.
This year was not without its challenges. You navigated complex IEPs, supported students through difficult moments, collaborated across teams, communicated with families, and found ways to reach kids who sometimes needed something no curriculum could provide. You adapted. You problem-solved. You showed up.
What often goes unseen is the weight of this work, the meetings that run long, the conversations full of emotion, the student who had a hard day. You carry a lot. And you do it because you care about these kids.
The progress our students made this year, big milestones and small ones, happened because of you. Every skill gained, every breakthrough moment, every time a student felt safe and seen in your classroom or your care was a huge impact and it matters enormously.
Thank you for being the kind of educators who see the whole child. Thank you for advocating fiercely, for celebrating loudly, and for showing up with compassion even on the hard days. Our students are so fortunate to have you in their corner.
We hope you enjoy a well-deserved summer!
End-of-Year Equipment Reminder
Your OT team has been reviewing each site's equipment list to ensure all HDESD equipment is stored or tagged appropriately before leaving for the summer.
Key reminders for case managers:
Before leaving: Ensure all equipment is accounted for and stored in a safe location. If an HDESD team member has provided a storage bin, equipment may be stored there. If a bin is not available, please store equipment in a secure location and ensure office staff know where it is located.
Large equipment moving with a student: Your OT has attached an orange tag and submitted a Large Equipment Delivery Request to HDESD. Most equipment will remain at the current site over the summer and will be moved in August. Please communicate the equipment's location to office staff so it can be easily located when transportation is coordinated over the summer.
Small equipment moving with a student: Leave the equipment at the current school. The OT team will coordinate pickup and delivery in August.
Swings: All swings remain at the school. Please leave swings and hardware intact; do not disassemble them. Our Facilities team will inspect and certify the equipment for the upcoming school year.
End of Year Check-Out Process
As we prepare for the end of the year, we wanted to share a new check-out process with you all!
Please schedule a bookings appointment or phone call with the records clerks.
You may book now but these meetings will not take place until the beginning of June.
During this meeting, the Records Clerks will be checking:
Learning Specialists:
All IEPs are completed and finalized
All progress notes are completed and finalized
All equipment lists are updated
High cost and staffing needs are submitted
Restraint and Seclusion paperwork have been turned in
If required for your role: All Senior Paperwork
Psychologists:
Evaluations finished and uploaded
Location of test kits have been verified
For PILOT participants: Medicaid logs are completed in SEAS until last day served
Speech and Language Pathologists:
All IEPs are completed and finalized
All progress notes are completed and finalized
Medicaid logs are completed in SEAS until last day served
Evaluations finished and uploaded
Audiometers have been turned in
If required for your role: All Senior Paperwork
Occupational Therapists:
Feeding protocols have been updated, completed, and sent to records
Evaluations finished and uploaded
Medicaid logs are completed in SEAS until last day served
All equipment lists are updated
When you have completed this meeting and have all of your paperwork complete, the admin who supports your site (Josh, Colleen, or Sara) will let your building administrator know that you have the GREEN LIGHT from Student Services to check-out for the year! 🙂
If you have any questions, please reach out to the coach who supports your site!
HDESD Summer Institute
HDESD Learning Labs!
Did you know that HDESD offers this Learning Lab website? It has many, many printable resources and even a video library!
Student Services Launchpad
Have you ever wanted all of the most important Student Services links all in one place?? You’re in luck! Look at our new Student Services Launchpad for tons of helpful links. We recommend that you bookmark this page or add a shortcut to your Drive for easy access!
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
- June 11: Early release time. Last Day of School with Students
Action Items
- Review End of Year Equipment Reminder
- Review End of Year Check-out Process
- HDESD Summer Institute
- Utilize the Student Services Launchpad
Contributions to the Blog
Do you have something you'd like added to the blog? Please reach out to Sara Young at sara.young@bend.k12.or.us if you'd like to share something!
Previous Blogs
Previous Special EDge Student Services Blogs: