A Huge Thank You!
Thank you Miller families for all the donations you brought in before winter break. We helped many Bend individuals and families. You're the best!
Important Dates
- Jan 15, Martin Luther King Day - no school
- Feb 2, Report Card Time for Teachers - no school
- Feb 16, Invention Convention Begins with a presentation to students - more details soon
- Feb 19, President's Day - no school
- Mar 25 - 29, Spring Break - no school
**Youth Truth Survey**
Bend - La Pine Schools is using Youth Truth to provide surveys for staff and families to give feedback on our schools. This is the same survey we did last year. I’m eager to hear directly from each and every one of you about what is and isn’t working at Miller, so that we can learn and grow to offer the best experience possible for our staff, students and community.
Please use this link to the anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts: http://www.ytsurvey.org/bendfamily24.
- Please have one adult in your household complete the survey.
- It should take less than 15 minutes and needs to be completed in one session.
- If you have more than one child at Miller Elementary, you may complete the survey for each child.
- This survey will provide us with feedback on topics like: culture, relationships, engagement, professional development & support, and school safety. Both positive feedback and constructive criticism are useful and valued.
- The last day to submit your completed survey is January 26th.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts so that we can better understand your experience and make improvements. If you have any questions about the survey, please let me know and I will be happy to help. jennifer.johnson@bend.k12.or.us or 541-355-2502.
Hero Kids Registry
HERO Kids Registry is a voluntary, no-cost system that lets any Oregon family share critical information about their child's health before an emergency. The information can be quickly and easily accessed by emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital emergency department (ED) providers, so they have the information they need when they need it. Here is the link to more information: https://www.ohsu.edu/occyshn/hero-kids-registry.
Enrichment Wednesdays Program starting in January: Register thru Bend Park & Rec.
Thank you for the opportunity to enrich your students' lives with our empowering afterschool program. In our classes, kids are having fun, getting exercise, and building strength of character. We are so excited to provide the students at your school with six weeks of Fun & Fitness this winter!
Classes are open to a max of 26 students from kindergarten to third grade. Registration is live on the Bend Parks and Rec website
BPRD Activity Number for Happy Habits Fun & Fitness Class : Miller: 406610-41
2023-24 Yearbooks On Sale
- Yearbooks are $12 each
- Go to: https://touchbase.bend.k12.or.us
- Log in using the student's ID number and password (Student’s last name, case sensitive)
- Click on student’s name
- Select “Items at Student’s School” Under ‘Categories' choose Yearbook
- Scroll down and select item to ‘Buy’
- Click on ‘Checkout’ and then click on the blue ‘Checkout’
- Mastercard, Visa & Debit cards are accepted
- There is no fee for this service
- Yearbooks will be delivered to students the last week of school
Please email Meredith Blackwell if you have any questions. meredith.blackwell@bend.k12.or.us
Winter Wear for Miller Students
If your children have outgrown their coats, snow pants, boots, etc., please consider dropping them off at Miller for students who need them. We especially need very small sizes. Thanks!
Volunteer Background Checks
Bend - La Pine Schools has a new system for doing background checks on volunteers. If you are within the 2-year timeframe, your clearance should transfer to the new system. If you are signing up as a new volunteer, it may take up to 30 days, so please apply online early. Here is the link to the volunteer clearance process: https://www.bend.k12.or.us/district/organization/volunteer.
What's the difference between a visitor and a volunteer?
A visitor...
- Enters the building by running their license at a lobby kiosk, choosing VISITOR, and getting a VISITOR sticker from the front office staff
- May be at school to watch something happening in the classroom, a wing, or the gym
- May drop off a child or drop off an item for a child in a classroom
- May come in to read a book to a class but not interact with the students
- May be meeting with a teacher in the classroom
- May NOT attend a party in the classroom; volunteer clearance required for that
A volunteer..
- Must have cleared the background check
- Enters the building by running their license at a lobby kiosk, choosing VOLUNTEER, and getting a VOLUNTEER sticker from the front office staff
- May attend or help in the classroom during a party or event
- May take small groups in the wing to work on a skill or project
- May help with an activity like Miller on the Move, Field Day, or the Book Fair
- May go on field trips
- May interact with students
From Ms. Home in the Library
I am planning a really fun event for all of our 3-5th grade OBOB participants in the district, Thursday January 18 from 5-7pm at Miller. Please see the flyer for more information. Students will also be bringing home a small form with the info. If you would like to volunteer to help out, please let me know. I could use about 5 volunteers to help register kids, organize name tags/teams, run games, pass out prizes, run the food/drinks, etc. Let me know if you would like to join the fun!
OBOB battles at Miller will begin the last week of January and will continue through most of February. The regional competition will be at Seven Peaks on Saturday March 9. We will send our overall winning team to this event.
Lost Books
Just a reminder...if you think or know that a book is lost, please reach out to me right away. Do not purchase the book on your own. Thank you!
Feel free to reach out anytime — laura.homekaiser@bend.k12.or.us
Miller Parent-Teacher Organization
Happenings
- (No PTO meeting this month. We'll see you in February!)
- Mountain Air Trampoline Park FUNdraiser: Wednesday January, 24, the bounce is on 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. From 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm will be Miller kids ONLY! A fun way to release some of that pent-up mid-winter energy. Mention Miller PTO when checking in and Mountain Air will donate $5 back to Miller!
Miller Gear
Miller kids' T-shirts ($20) and kids' zip-up hoodies ($35) are restocked and can be ordered on our website while supplies last! Visit the shop. (PRO TIP: Label your kids' Miller Gear 😉)
Thanks!
Thanks to the generosity of Miller families like you, every teacher and staff member at Miller received gifts this holiday season.
Jennifer Tice, teacher appreciation coordinator, THANK YOU for your ideas, time, and energy to have candles specially made by Broken Top Candle Co. for every teacher and staff member.
Carolyn Powell, PTO president, THANK YOU for securing gift cards from Roundabout Books and the Old Mill for the team of professionals that makes our school as effective as it is — our principal and assistant principal, specials teachers, educational assistants, front office staff, nutrition services, custodians, bus drivers, nurse, counselor, learning specialists, FAN advocate, and tech support.
Kelly Peterson, room rep coordinator, and all the room reps, THANK YOU for all you did to collect contributions and give gifts to classroom teachers!
We received this sweet note from Meredith Blackwell, Miller's Office Manager, and with her permission we share it with you:
Thank you and to the Miller families for the generous, thoughtful gift cards. The support staff has been very pleasantly surprised today when they opened your envelopes. I hope you all have a wonderful winter break — please share my gratitude with the rest of the PTO board. Happy New Year!
Fundraising
We are now 80% of the way toward meeting our Annual Giving Campaign fundraising goal for the school year! Every contribution enriches our children's school experience. Thank you to all the families who have already donated!
Help us earn that final paw print! You can make a tax-deductible donation today at www.millerpto.org/fundraising.
Repeat Items and Contact Information for Miller
Trex Recycling
- We collect plastic wraps and bags and send them to the Trex company who turns them into decking. Everyone wins!
Reporting an Absence or Late Arrival
PRIOR TO 9 AM, please report an absence or late arrival by calling 541-355-2500 or emailing miller-attendance@bend.k12.or.us. Please include in your message or email: student name, teacher name and reason for absence (for example: sick or vacation).
Picking Up Early
Please call the office at 541-355-2500 when you are on your way and we will bring your child to the office as soon as we can. Please let us know if the student will be returning or not so we know if they need to bring their belongings. Sometimes, students may be somewhere in the school besides their classroom which may take a few minutes. Thanks for being patient.
ParentVue Account
Make sure that you have a ParentVUE account. Call the office if you need help: 541-355-2500. https://www.bend.k12.or.us/district/organization/parentvue
Family Access Network (FAN)
Family Access Network (FAN) provides an advocate at Miller to help families access services that improve children's lives. You are welcome to contact our advocate, Donna Connet, by calling 541-355-5684.
School Contact Information
Miller Main Office: 541-355-2500
Miller Facebook Page: http://www.bend.k12.or.us/miller
Miller Fax: 541-355-2510
District Bus Garage: 541-355-5700
Please continue scanning your receipts with the new BoxTops app. Go to https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/how-to-earn to learn more and start scanning directly from your phone.