Enjoy your family time and read, read, read!!!

• Wednesday, April 1st, 11:45am release for all students, Conference Prep Day for Teachers, NO AFTERNOON KINDERGARTEN
  
• Friday, April 3rd, 5th Grade Parent Meeting for Outdoor School, 5:30pm
• Friday, April 3rd, PTO Mother/Son Western Fun, 6:30-8:30pm
• Wednesday, April 8th, 4-8pm Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Thursday, April 9th, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, 8am-8pm Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Friday, April 10th, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, Building Closed
• Tuesday, April 14th, PTO McMenamin's Friends and Family Fundraiser, 5pm - Close, 50% of proceeds goes to Jewell
• Friday, April 17th, PTO Father/Daughter Dance, 6:30-8:30pm
• Tuesday, April 21st, Lifetouch Spring Pictures
• Wednesday, April 22nd, Kindergarten Round Up/Open House, 2:30-5pm
• Thursday, April 23rd, 3rd Grade Music Performance, 6pm
  

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Ron Wilkinson announced that he has selected Scott Edmondson to become R.E. Jewell Elementary School's next principal. Edmondson is currently principal at Sky View Middle School, a position he has held for eight years.

Edmondson is excited to make the transition from middle school to elementary school level administration. "Deep down inside, I've always felt very passionate about the elementary age group," said Edmondson. "I look forward to being able to help mold and work with students at this very impressionable age."

Prior to his time at Sky View, Edmondson served as principal at North Bend Middle School in North Bend, Oregon for four years. He also has eight years of classroom teaching experience, including four at the elementary level.

Edmondson is known for his relationship-building skills and will work closely with parents and staff members to foster a strong community at Jewell. Edmondson said he is particularly looking forward to collaborating with staff members. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to work with the outstanding staff at Jewell. They have a longstanding history as a school of thinking outside of the box and being willing to do everything they can to support students," said Edmondson.

Edmondson will begin his new position with the school July 1.

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, April 8th from 4-8pm and on Thursday, April 9th from 8am-8pm. There will be no school for students on Thursday, April 9th or Friday, April 10th. The building will be closed on Friday, April 10th. Conference notices will be sent home the week of March 30th.

If you have a child who is ready to enter Kindergarten in the Fall 2015, (must be 5 years old by September 1st), please come to our Open House on April 22nd. Come anytime between 2:30 - 5pm and pick up enrollment paperwork, meet the staff and visit the classrooms. Please bring a copy of your child's birth certificate as well as immunization information and proof of your address.

Jewell families, when we return from spring break our 3rd through 5th grade students will begin their end of year testing. During this time it is vital that students are at school each day. If you have a planned family vacation, please talk with your child’s teacher ASAP so they can work with you to ensure that your child does not miss their testing dates. In addition, please make sure your child is getting enough rest and eating a good breakfast each day. New to us this year we will be using the Smarter Balance Test as our measure of student achievement. For further information on the Smarter Balance assessments please see the attached link. Feel free to contact the school if you have any other questions.

Nashelle owner Heather Straw was at Jewell recently visiting Mrs. Northrop's 4th grade class teaching the kids how to make necklaces with a message.

Nashelle has started an Anti-Bullying campaign with school aged children. The students got to design their own necklaces and get a meaningful word stamped on them. Kids chose words like "happy," "love" and "joy." The hope is that children will pick a word that will help them feel confident or comfortable if they are feeling alone or sad. Then they will have their necklace to wear with that special word stamped on it to wear as a special reminder.

"I think kids take this very seriously, said Michelle Hart, communications director for Nashelle." It seems most everyone knows someone who has been bullied or is currently being bullied."

Jewell's Site Council is made up of 2 certified staff members, 1 classified staff member, our building's administrators and 2 parent representatives. The council is charged with providing input to our School Improvement Plan. The council meets five times per school year. If you are interested in serving on Jewell's Site Council with a two year term, please indicate by emailing an interest letter to kristen.mcgee@bend.k12.or.us on or before April 3rd including any background information you feel is appropriate and why you would like to serve on the council.

Bend International School is slated to open in the fall of 2015 as a charter school within Bend-La Pine Schools. The K-8 school will aim to promote diversity and will offer an international curriculum focused on global competence. Open enrollment for the school has started and will end April 10. Details: www.bendinternationalschool.org