Sheriff’s office, La Pine schools team to boost attendance

Students at La Pine and Rosland elementary schools will begin the day next week with high fives and encouragement from deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office during special events to promote attendance at those schools.

May 1 -2 at La Pine Elementary and May 23 -24 at Rosland, students will arrive at school and hear lively music playing, and see law enforcement vehicles with lights flashing, a large special operations team vehicle in the parking lot and deputies greeting students and families.

The Sheriff’s Office and Bend-La Pine Schools are teaming up for these Positive Attendance Rallies to encourage students to attend school. The classrooms with the highest attendance rate during the events will earn a donut party with the deputies.

“We are thrilled to have the support of our law enforcement community and think this is a fun, engaging way to encourage student attendance,” said Patrick Flanagan, principal at La Pine Elementary School.

During the events, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will provide three deputies and patrol vehicles, a special operations team vehicle and team member, pencils for students and free donuts for the winning classrooms.

“Our deputies are looking forward to this event, and are excited to continue to interact with students and families in positive ways,” said Deputy Kyle Kalmbach, who is also a former teacher at La Pine Middle School.