ROGER'S HIGHLIGHTS...

Dear REALMS Parents,

What a great first two weeks of school! It has been rewarding watching the "confluence" process happening as our students come together both on campus and up at Suttle Lake and lay the foundation for a year of powerful learning. The focus for our "confluence" activities during these first three weeks of school is around Character.... what we call HOW's (Habits of Work) and HOCC's (Habits of Community and Character). A few of our HOW's and HOCC's are shown below, and you can click on the image to see the details of each. Students have been getting to know each other and themselves better through hands on activities and lessons that help them explore the meaning and impact of each of these character traits, and how they come to life in real time! Because in the end, one of the things that matters most to all of us is that our children grow up with the habits they need to be effective life-long learners and caring, ethical community members!

Attend our upcoming new and returning parent orientation nights to see an awesome slideshow of the sorting ceremony and our confluence trip!

Above: 4 of our 6 HOW's and HOCC's

Right: 7th graders practice HOW's and HOCC's in real time as Dakota is passed through the web in the capable hands of his classmates!

NEW & RETURNING PARENT ORIENTATION NIGHTS - mark your calendars!

Wednesday September 28th: New Parent Orientation Night (program begins at 6:00pm sharp)

"Helping Your Child Survive (AND Thrive) in the Transition to REALMS": Learn tips and specifics about the REALMS academic systems, assessment policies, homework, & more. Appropriate for any and all new parents at REALMS, regardless of grade.

Wednesday October 5th: 7th Grade Parent Orientation Night (program begins at 6:00pm sharp)

"7th Gr: Ensuring My Student Is On Track for High School": Learn tips and specifics about finding the right challenge level at REALMS, about homework expectations for 7th graders, about encouraging the transition to self directed and independent learning, and about how to use the REALMS assessment system to help your student excel!

Wednesday October 5th: 8th Grade Travel Study Orientation Night (program begins at 6:00pm sharp)

"Travel Study at REALMS - It is NOT Too Early to Get Excited & Prepared": This is the 1st Travel Study meeting of the school year - find out more about this year's planning including what parents and student can do to be ready academically, physically, emotionally!

We strongly encourage you all to attend!

We'll be starting the evening with an awesome slideshow from our Confluence trip!!

FALL TRIMESTER ELECTIVE CHOICES

Friday Elective Class Information....

Thank you for taking the time to help your child make their elective choice for the first semester. We'd love for you to make sure your students reads the elective choices and completes their elective selection form (online) no later than Tuesday

How Does My Student Choose Their Elective?

Please help them make their choice ASAP and no later than Tuesday September 20th!

STEP 1: READ all the elective class choices here first, discuss, and have your child indicated their top 5 choices
STEP 2: Help your child make their choices on the Elective Choice Form - no later than Tuesday of this week!

Elective Groups will be "published" on Wednesday afternoon

What are Electives?

Our Friday elective program has been a part of the REALMS curriculum since we started 15 years ago. We believe it is important to give students different opportunities and experiences and that is exactly what our elective program does. Thank you for supporting your child through these new class experiences.

When are Electives?

Electives are part of our regular school day on Friday afternoons and will START THIS WEEK! School is out at the regular time on Fridays (3:15) as students have a class (Crew) AFTER their elective class.

How does the choice system work?

Your child will be placed in an elective class based on their choices indicated in the form above. Generally students are placed in one of their top 3 choices, but sometimes students will be placed in their 4th or even their 5th choice, depending on the interest and number of spots in each class. We want students to make "INFORMED" choices and be clear about what he/she is "signing up" for because there is little flexibility in the system to move kiddos around. Switches are difficult to make and NOT generally granted. The Elective Choice Form can be accessed here.

Who teaches the elective classes?

Electives are taught by REALMS teachers, outside organizations, and parent volunteers. Please help your child wear and/or bring appropriate elective clothing and materials each Friday afternoon.

***Waivers are required for some electives. / Please return to school promptly to ensure your child can participate!***

Do I pay for this class?

You don't pay for your child's class. Please give your time, treasure ($), and talent to one of our fundraisers this year!

How much do electives cost?

Our elective program costs $8500 each year. The rich suite of elective classes is funded by our robust fundraising program. Friends of REALMS conducts 4 fundraisers (Wreath & tree sale, Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion show, Banff Film Festival, Annual Appeal) + collects a Fieldwork Donation from each of our families in order to support REALMS' Elective Program AND Fieldwork Program.

Friends of REALMS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS START THIS WEEK!

Currently, the after school program offerings are below. Click any of the links to sign up:

Mondays: Yoga (w/ Leah) Sign up for the trimester or attend week to week.

Tuesdays: D & D Club (w/ Vanessa) and Bend Endurance Academy bike/climb/ski programs (BEA Staff)

Wednesdays: Open

Thursdays: 7th/8th Gr Leadership (Amy & Todd) and Magic - The Gathering (w/ Eli)

Also Homework Club: Monday through Thursday from 3:15 - 4:30. Students receive a snack and help with homework. Suggested donation $4/session or get a 25 visit punch card for $75. This is a suggested donation to help cover costs... no student will be turned away for inability to pay!!

And lastly, Cross Country Team: Practices are typically Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday until 4:30pm. If you have not signed up, you must do so ASAP on the Bend LaPine athletics sign up system... it is tricky, but persevere!

"CHALLENGE DAY" FOR 7TH & 8TH GRADERS - Thurs Sept 29th, all day.

WHAT IS IT? We are excited to bring a program to Realms called Challenge Day. Through powerful and thought provoking games, activities, and discussions, Challenge Day programs break down walls of separation and isolation and builds new levels of respect and communication. Participants leave Challenge Day inspired and empowered to become leaders in their schools, communities and lives.

WHERE IS IT? We have been invited to use the sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship near Summit High School on Thursday, September 29th. 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd.

TRANSPORTATION - SPECIAL DROP OFF REQUESTED! This is an all day event and in order to get the most out of it, we are asking that students be dropped off at the location that morning at 8:15am instead of REALMS . If this is going to be a challenge for you, please let us know ASAP and we will work on some carpools from REALMS. Unfortunately, there are no Bend LaPine school buses available for us to use that morning to transport the kids from REALMS to the event.

You will be receiving a permission form via e-mail in the next week and can indicated if you are not able to drive your child there on that day. Students will need to bring a lunch and we will be able to get all students back to Realms for our regular 3:15 dismissal.

HOPING TO SET UP A CARPOOL?

At our Back to School Ice Cream Social we had a carpool sign up list - you can access it at the link below and hopefully this will help you find partners to carpool with. The spreadsheet is sorted by geographic area (NW, NE, SW and SE). If you would like to add or modify your information on this sheet you have the access to do so. If you need help with this - just call our office. You now have the info you need to reach out to potential carpool partners on this sheet!

Carpool Coordination SignUp LINK

HOT LUNCH AT REALMS and FREE/REDUCED LUNCH FORMS

The REALMS menu is awesome! We serve fewer of the "convenience items" (the pre-made foods) and focus our menu on the entrees that are made from scratch in the Bend High kitchen, often from local ingredients! We have an excellent fruit and salad bar, and this year we have added sandwich options too! The REALMS menu is a little different from the other middle schools can can be found on the right sidebar of the Bend LaPine Nutrition Page each month.

Did you know that you can save $630-$750 per child a year if you qualify for free or reduced priced meals, which includes breakfast and lunch. All grade levels are included. Applications may be turned in any time during the year.

Learn if your family is eligible: Income Eligibility Guidelines

A new application must be completed each year, and only forms for the current year are accepted. Complete and submit a Free and Reduced Application here.

Paper copy:
To submit a paper copy, print out one of these documents, complete the required information and turn it in to your school: English or Spanish

USING PARENTVUE TO KEEP TABS ON ACADEMICS AT REALMS...

You will learn more about how to use ParentVue at our Parent Orientation Nights coming up at the end of September. In the meantime, the school district asked us to let you know about some new options available:

Our middle and high schools will now offer parents the option to receive their student’s report card online using ParentVue. Within ParentVue, My Account tab is a checkbox titled “Go Paperless!!”. If you would like to receive the report card online ONLY in ParentVue, and no longer receive a paper copy please check this option. Currently, the paperless option is applicable to middle and high school student’s report card only.

Special Education Progress Reports and IEP in ParentVue

Our school will now offer parents the option to receive their student’s current IEP and progress report using our ParentVue application. Within ParentVue, on the home tab you will find a Special Education tab. Click on the IEP or Progress Report date (it’s blue) to open the document.

Smarter Balanced Testing Information - Required Information

Oregon House Bill 2655 requires that districts and public charter schools provide parents and adult students with the Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) annual notice regarding state assessments at the beginning of each school year. In addition, districts and public charter schools must provide parents and adult students with separate notice at least 30 days prior to administering the statewide summative assessments in Math and ELA using the ODE-provided 30-day notice and opt-out form. Download ODE’s beginning of year notice HERE.