Family Access Network Receives Redmond Chamber Award

The Family Access Network (FAN) recently received the Community Service Award from the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB. The Redmond Chamber awards celebrate the individuals and businesses that have had a significant impact on the Redmond community throughout 2019. FAN was thrilled to be considered and selected for all the work that our advocates do in Redmond schools and early childhood sites.

“We are so honored to receive this award from the Redmond Chamber of Commerce! It is a pleasure to work closely with the Redmond community to provide basic-need services to local children and families,” Julie Lyche, Executive Director.

The Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB aims to create a strong local economy by bringing the business community together to develop strong networks. The chamber is composed of 835 Redmond business leaders and continues to grow.

Pictured left to right: Eric Sande (Redmond Chamber Executive Director), Julie Lyche (FAN Executive Director), Marianna Frisinger (FAN Foundation Board Vice-Chair), Tammy Gates (FAN advocate), Laura Garcia (Redmond Chamber 2019 Board President)

Learning Together

Middle school students and teachers from Bend and Redmond gathered at OSU-Cascades for an immersion in computer science activities sponsored by the STEM Hub program. Students worked with micro:bits to “roll” electronic dice and create probability tables. After a campus tour and lunch, a group of Jill Hubbard’s OSU-Cascades students led them in an artificial intelligence activity. Students and teachers worked side-by-side to learn these new skills!

CDC Awards $2.2 million research grant to evaluate Central Oregon Traumatic Brain Injury Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) a 4-year, $2.2 million cooperative agreement to study a Central Oregon Return to School (RTS) program for students with Traumatic Brain Injury. A kickoff event occurred on Friday, November 22 at McMenamins Old Saint Francis School to celebrate the award.

Pictured are members of CBIRT, High Desert ESD, and local medical providers who will be working on the project together.

4th Annual Central Oregon Skilled Trades Fair

Over 700 students from around the region packed Deschutes County Fairgrounds to attend the 4th Annual Central Oregon Skilled Trades Fair. With 75 organizations present, hands-on activities were offered such as virtual welding, construction, coding, and fire science to name a few. Several academic programs were on site as well.

The Trades Fair is a regional partnership led by Central Oregon STEM Hub, High Desert CTE, East Cascades Works, and Central Oregon Community College.

Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Early Childhood Summer Institute! It’ll be held on the campus at Central Oregon Community College on June 15-18, 2020.

How a Unique Role is Helping Students with Disabilities

Working in schools, specialists like physical therapists, occupational therapists, autism specialists and more see ways in which assistive technology could really help young people in need.

Assistive technology includes a wide range of devices and tools that can support people with disabilities. While tablets or smartphones may come to mind when we hear the word technology, in the case of assistive technology, items can range from an adaptation of a wheelchair to a therapeutic swing.

In many schools, specialists are left to figure out how to adapt equipment or surroundings for their students. But in Central Oregon, Bryan Malone, an adaptive equipment specialist with High Desert Education Service District, serves a unique and vital role, handcrafting assistive technology for students in need.

While Malone is a licensed physical therapist, the title doesn’t nearly define all he does in a day’s work. Jill Barrett, another physical therapist with HDESD who works with Malone every week, summed it up better. To continue reading…

Juntos Aprendemos opens third location

Juntos Aprendemos is in its second year and has added a third location, Bear Creek Elementary in Bend. The program helps parents and preschool-age children of Spanish-speaking families in Bend and Redmond prepare for Kindergarten by learning literacy and social skills. Juntos Aprendemos – Spanish for “we learn together” — teach children in Spanish only, partly because it’s the language these children are most familiar with. Some spots are still available. To find out more, contact Gabriela Peden at gabriela.peden@hdesd.org

What is the High Desert Education Service District?

HDESD is a publicly-funded agency that partners with local school districts to provide high-quality, cost-effective and locally responsive education services at a regional level. These services range from business, legal, and administrative support to school improvement efforts and special education programs.

What types of services do we provide?

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Services for Children with Special Needs

We partner with local school districts to provide services to families and students who are at risk or have special educational needs.

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School Improvement Services

We provide consultation, on-site and regional professional development, consortia, grant projects, and student programs.

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Administrative Services

We support business, administrative and operational functions for HDESD and partner school districts. Other services are also available to support home and alternative learning.

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Information Services

We offer a wide range of information technology and instructional support services to both HDESD and school district staff.

The Promise of Oregon banner with student photos

Students are Oregon’s greatest natural resource, and we must invest in their education. High Desert ESD is keeping the Promise of Oregon. To learn more, visit: promiseoregon.org

The Oregon School Boards Association, a member services organization based in Salem, founded “The Promise of Oregon” campaign in 2014 to focus attention on the accomplishments of Oregon’s kindergarten-14 students and the need to adequately fund public education.

SafeOregon is a program created for Oregon students, parents, school staff, community members and law enforcement officers to report and respond to student safety threats.