Mountain View High School has rolled out a digital hall pass this year that helps students maximize the time they’re in classrooms and engaged in learning, and reduces problems that arise when students take longer than necessary with a hall pass. Dr. Cook sits down for a conversation with Assistant Principal Becky Aylor and Allie McIntosh, a senior at Mountain View, to discover why the school thought this change was needed and how it's going so far.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

What’s cooking in the department that offers breakfast and lunch to 17,000 students in Bend, Sunriver and La Pine? In our latest superintendent’s podcast, Garra Schluter, Director of Nutrition Services for Bend-La Pine Schools, sits down with Dr. Cook for a chat about current trends and challenges in feeding students in our 33 schools.

 Their conversation covers the huge move this school year to extend free meals to all students, how many more meals we’re serving now as a result, and the staffing needs in kitchens across the district. (Guess what: We’re hiring!) Garra also describes the extensive “made from scratch” meal prep that happens in our district and reveals the dishes students love the most. Tune in for this fun episode of the Supe’s On! Podcast.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

This school year Bend-La Pine Schools rolled out a new Student Code of Conduct, which is available on the District website – GO HERE to read or download it. The Code of Conduct outlines how our schools respond when we have student behavioral issues that may lead to discipline, and how we are making sure those responses are consistent and fair from one school to the next. Eric Powell, a Director of Student Services for the District, is Dr. Cook’s guest for this episode. Eric played an instrumental role in developing this new resource and talks about what it is, how it works, and why it’s an important tool for ensuring students are able to succeed and thrive in their school communities.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

In Bend-La Pine Schools, we're in our third year of managing restrictions on students' personal technology during the school day. For middle school students, their phones are off and away throughout each school day, allowing them to focus fully on learning. Superintendent Steven Cook speaks with Gabe Pagano, Principal of Cascade Middle School, on how this rule is working this year, and what the reaction is from students and their families.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

In this episode of the Supe’s On! podcast, Dr. Cook sits down with Deputy Superintendent Lisa Birk. Dr. Birk is new to this role but has been a leader in our district for 13 years, including at Bear Creek Elementary, Pacific Crest Middle School and Juniper Elementary. Primary responsibilities of the Deputy Superintendent include supporting the planning and coordination of district-wide educational programs.

In their discussion, Dr. Cook and Dr. Birk explore the district’s mission of “educating thriving students” and what that looks like in our classrooms. They also address why Bend-La Pine Schools emphasizes thriving teachers and staff as an essential component of helping students to thrive in our schools. Our theme for this new school year is “You bee-long,” and that means our students and employees should feel they are part of their school community. This episode also touches on some of the questions families have as the 2024-25 school year begins, from student transportation to the expansion of no-cost breakfast and lunch districtwide, as well as how parents and guardians can monitor and support their students’ academic progress, and our stance on student cell phone and personal technology.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

Three years ago we opened Caldera High School in southeast Bend, and this week the first senior class will graduate. That’s a big deal – big enough that we’ve dedicated two podcasts to it this year. Last fall we met two members of Caldera’s senior class, and this spring we meet two other students preparing to graduate: Harry Jennrich and Halle Gruetzmacher. Dr. Cook asks them what it's like being among the school’s first graduating class, how they helped prepare for the big day, their plans for next year, and their advice for future seniors at Caldera.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

Our students are connecting with their futures through Career Technical Education programs in all of our high schools. In one school, that means students are making their own axes and learning how to operate chainsaws. Today Dr. Cook visits La Pine High School, where students are able to take classes like Natural Resource Science, Fisheries and Wildlife, Recreation Resource Management, and Advanced Forestry. CTE instructor Cameron Salvitelli and La Pine High junior Jaret Lorimor, a state champion in forestry competitions, join Dr. Cook for today’s podcast to talk about these unique CTE offerings for students in our district.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

Have you heard about WEB in our middle schools? It stands for Where Everybody Belongs and features 8th grade students volunteering to welcome new 6th graders and help them adjust to middle school life and feel welcome and included throughout the school year. In this episode of The Supe’s On! podcast, Dr. Cook visits High Desert Middle School, where language arts teacher Elissa Freeman coordinates WEB and speaks to the impact this approach has on building positive school culture. Also joining Dr. Cook is Abby Johnson, one of the school’s 8th grade WEB leaders. (Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

Caldera High School is so new, this is its first year with a senior class. And what a special year this will be for the 250 members of Caldera’s Class of 2024! In this episode of The Supe’s On! podcast, Dr. Cook visits the school to meet with two of these students: Harlee Miller, a senior class officer and a member of the cheer team; and Jose´ Vera Venegas, who’s on the soccer and wrestling teams and part of our Dual Immersion program. Listen to Harlee and Jose´ reflect on what it’s like to be part of the first class that will graduate from Caldera, and what they look forward to as they help establish an identity and culture for our newest school. (Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)

You may know this school from a different time, with a different name. Bend Tech Academy today is entirely different: a small but mighty “choice option” high school with an emphasis on career-technical education, preparing students for college and careers. Dr. Cook visits BTA for a chat with the new Principal, Dr. LaKisha Clark, and BTA parent Sharon Miller, a member of the school’s Site Council. Hear them discuss what makes BTA an exciting high school option for students in Bend-La Pine Schools. (Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)