THE SPOKESMAN • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 P5
Schools: All Redmond students return to 5 full days a week this month
Continued from P1
In both school districts,
younger students — grades
K-3 in Bend-La Pine and all
elementary students in Red-
mond — have attended school
full time for more than a
month after schools began to
reopen earlier this year.
In Bend-La Pine, students
in grades 4-12 have attended
in-person school twice a week,
with the other three days learn-
ing entirely online.
Fourth and fifth graders re-
turned to in-person school on
Monday. All elementary students
had Thursday and Friday off last
week, so staff could prep class-
rooms and move equipment to
be prepared for their return.
“Having that extra time to-
day and tomorrow to (make the
transition) is really helpful,” Ju-
niper Elementary principal Dan
Wolnick said Thursday. “It’s al-
most like opening up in the fall.”
Secondary students in
Bend-La Pine will start five-
day-a-week school again April
12. Middle and high schoolers
will have no school Wednesday
so staffers can prep their class-
rooms that day.
In Redmond, middle school
students are on the same
schedule as older Bend-La Pine
students: two full days a week.
High schoolers attend class
four days a week — but only
for three hours a day, with one
group in the morning and an-
other in the afternoon.
All Redmond secondary stu-
dents will return to full-time
class April 19.
Price, the fourth grade
teacher at Juniper Elementary,
said she’s thrilled to have all her
Calendar
Continued from P1
Scalehouse Voices — Daniela Repas:
The Portland-based visual artist will
discuss process, strategy and storytelling
as modular units of her work; 6-7 p.m.;
registration required; Bend; go.evvnt.
com/760509-1
Author Event — Michelle Nijhuis: The
author will discuss their book “Beloved
Beasts,” a vibrant history of the modern
conservation movement — told through
the lives and ideas of the people who
built it.; 6-7 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/744159-0 or 541-306-6564.
FRIDAY 4/9
Wings Out Virtual 5K Training Group:
Train to run a 5K over eight weeks, and
learn behavior change hacks to help
your new healthy habit stick. You’ll
get the plan, support and fun you
need to get back to feeling great in
your body; 8-10 a.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/753480-0 or 503-481-0595.
Virtual Coffee Clatter with Coffee &
Chaos Mom: The Redmond Chamber of
Commerce will hold a virtual discussion
with the local boutique; 8:30-9:30 a.m.;
online; go.evvnt.com/761973-0 or 541-
923-5191.
Nonfiction Book Club: Discussing “A
Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement
and a Vision for the Future” by David
Attenborough; 1-2 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/753619-0 or 541-306-6564.
Joel Chadd: The folk artist will perform
with Darin gentry and Kerry Sheehan in
an intimate performance live-streamed
from The Commons; 7:30-8:30 p.m.;
online; go.evvnt.com/762118-0
SATURDAY 4/10
Salmon Run 2021: The half marathon,
10K and 5K race will be run through
trails around the high desert resort;
8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Pronghorn Resort, 65600
Pronghorn Club Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.
Jackson Hogan/Bulletin photos
Redmond High School sophomores George Newell, Tate Waldbillig and Dante Leonard (from left to right)
had varied opinions on returning to a full five-day-a-week school schedule on April 19. “I’m kind of excited
for full time, because there’s actual (social) interaction,” Dante said. But: ““It’s just going to be us sitting next
to each other,” Tate said. “I don’t think it’s going to go that great.”
students in front of her at once.
But she worries some of them
might not have the stamina
to focus on school for five full
days a week, since they haven’t
had to do so since March 2020.
“I think the kids, some of
them, have slipped into some
patterns of school being some-
what optional on their home
days,” Price said. “We just have
to trigger those memories
about how to be at school.”
Another major hurdle for
returning to full-time school
is lunch. Although distancing
in classrooms can shrink to 3
feet — which is what allows
for the end of hybrid school —
the state dictates that students
must be 6 feet apart during
lunch, because they take off
their face masks.
That means some students,
many of whom have eaten in
their 6-feet-apart classroom
desks during hybrid school,
will have to move to different
spaces after desks are moved
closer together.
Redmond school leaders plan
to put some students back in
the cafeteria for lunch — which
could be tricky, as some schools
have used the cafeteria for stor-
age space. For example, Elton
Gregory Middle School’s caf-
eteria tables are covered with
football equipment, according
to district spokesperson Sheila
Miller. At Juniper Elementary
in Bend — which consists of
multiple separate buildings
— teachers are encouraged to
use the many outdoor spaces
around the school grounds for
lunch to spread out, said Wol-
nick. There are also spare, va-
cant classrooms students can be
moved into to safely eat, he said.
“We just have to be creative
in how we’re doing (lunch),”
Wolnick said.
Students in Bend and Red-
mond had mixed reactions to
returning full time to school.
Katrina Settles and Steven
Lazo — a junior and senior at
Redmond High School, respec-
tively — both said their morn-
ing half-days made it easier to
work their part-time jobs.
“Going to school full time,
I’d have to work really late,”
said Katrina, 16. “I’m kind of
dreading it.”
com/762134-0
The HWY 97: The classic rock band will
perform on the outdoor stage; 3-6 p.m.;
General Duffy’s Waterhole, 404 SW Forest
Ave., Redmond; go.evvnt.com/755275-0
or 541-330-3764.
Redmond Food Project Collection
Day: Food donors must have their
green bags ready for collection by
9 a.m.; throughout Redmond; go.evvnt.
com/762138-0 or 541-410-4750.
Spring Gardening Seminar — Native
Plant Landscaping: The seminar hosted
by OSU Extension Service and presented
by the Central Oregon Master Gardener
Association will cover information on
using native plants in landscaping;
10-11 a.m.; $5; online; go.evvnt.
com/758724-1 or 541-548-6088.
The HWY 97 Band: The classic rock
band will perform; 2-5:30 p.m.; Pump
House Bar & Grill, 8320 U.S. Highway 97,
Terrebonne; go.evvnt.com/755281-0
Countryfied Live with Shannon Bex:
The local country band will perform
on the outdoor stage. Advance tickets
required; 6:30-9:30 p.m.; $15; General
Duffy’s Waterhole, 404 SW Forest Ave.,
Redmond; eventbrite.com
SUNDAY 4/11
Writers Writing — Poetry Playshop,
“I Remember”: Oh, the places you’ll go
in this Poetry Playshop with the phrase,
“I Remember.” This deceptively simple
prompt loosens memory and propels
spontaneity; 9:30-11:30 a.m.; registration
required; online; go.evvnt.com/756790-1
or 541-312-1063.
Redmond High School Jazz Band: Join
Ben Lawson, the director of Redmond
High School’s jazz band, for music,
memories and the meaning of being
a part of a jazz band; 4-5 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/762000-0 or 541-312-
1032.
Central Oregon commemorates
the Shoah and celebrates Israel:
Commemorate the Shoah (Holocaust),
the recalling of heroism and grief during
Israel’s wars (Yom HaZikaron), and
culminate with celebrating the joy over
the miracle of Jewish independence in
the land of Israel. Short documentaries,
music, and prose readings will comprise
the bulk of the event; 4-5:30 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/759621-0 or 541-668-6887.
MONDAY 4/12
Redmond Downtown Urban Renewal
Advisory Committee Meeting: A
regular meeting will be held; 5-7 p.m.;
online; go.evvnt.com/761964-0 or 541-
923-7761.
Talking to Children About Racism
and Discrimination: Listen to a local
expert to learn tips and techniques for
discussing racism, discrimination and
bullying with the children in your life;
6-7 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.com/762004-0
Not Your Average Book Club:
The multi-generational club will be
discussing “The Other Americans” by
Laila Lalami; 6-7 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/753624-0 or 541-306-6564.
TUESDAY 4/13
Redmond Area Park and Recreation
Board Meeting: The board will discuss
changing the district name, approval of
Redmond High School sophomores Riley Trussell (left) and Gavin Amos
(right) said they were excited to return to a full five days of school per
week on April 19. Riley: “I think school’s going to be probably better
with the full days.” Gavin: “I enjoy the free time after school and only
having (school) a couple hours each day. But it’s just not practical or
easy to keep up with everything.”
Other Redmond High
School students, like sopho-
more Dante Leonard, said full
days would make it easier for
them to focus on school.
“When you’re just at home,
you don’t have that motivation
to do your work,” said Dante,
15. “That’s why so many kids
are failing their classes.”
Fellow Redmond sopho-
more Gavin Amos agreed.
“I enjoy the free time af-
ter school and only having
(school) a couple hours each
day,” said Gavin, 15. “But it’s
just not practical or easy to
keep up with everything.”
Redmond sophomore Tate
Waldbillig said he was con-
cerned 3 feet of distance be-
tween students wasn’t effective
social distancing.
“It’s just going to be us sitting
next to each other,” said Tate,
16. “I don’t think it’s going to
Smith Rock Bicycle Park lease agreement,
remote working and more; 7:30-8:30 a.m.;
online; raprd.org or 541-548-7275.
Writers Working — Chicken and
Eggs with Ellen Waterston: High
desert author and poet Ellen Waterston
discusses how blurring the lines
between genres can allow writers
more creativity and freedom with their
writing; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/762021-0 or 541-312-1063.
Virtual City Council Meeting: A regular
go that great.”
Olyvia King, a seventh grader
at Pilot Butte Middle School
in Bend, was worried about
COVID-19 spreading with more
time in school. Olyvia also wasn’t
looking forward to mingling
with fellow students all week.
“I don’t really mind hybrid
(school), just because it gives
me more time to not interact
with people because I don’t like
social interaction that much,”
said Olyvia, 13.
Jesse Chase, a sixth grader
at Pilot Butte, said he was ner-
vous that more days of in-per-
son school would mean a
larger workload.
“It’s already stressful with two
days a week … (five) days is go-
ing to be even more stressful
with more work,” said Jesse, 12.
“It’s going to be harder to sleep.”
e e
Reporter: 541-617-7854,
jhogan@bendbulletin.com
meeting will be held; 6-8 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/761966-0 or 541-923-7710.
Tuesday Night Trivia: A weekly trivia
night will be held. Masks and social
distancing required, free to play, winners
can receive gift cards; 6:30-8:30 p.m.;
Initiative Brewing, 424 NW Fifth St.,
Redmond; go.evvnt.com/761053-0 or
541-527-4380.
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