(CORRECTION: The Bend-La Pine School District says that while Ensworth Elementary School did get hit with graffiti, the tagging that had the offensive comments and imagery was only at Bear Creek.)
Someone tagged Bear Creek Elementary school over the weekend with graffiti with that included racist, antisemitic and homophobic epithets as well as sexual content.
A letter was sent to Bear Creek parents.
“We are saddened to inform you that our school was vandalized over the weekend with substantial graffiti of a racist, antisemitic, homophobic and sexual nature,” Bear Creek Principal Lisa Birk wrote in the letter. “The graffiti, done with heavy black marker, was found on our front entry sign leading into our parking lot, on various signs in the front and on the side of the school, on a large playground wall, and on a play structure.
Ensworth Elementary was also tagged, but only Bear Creek received the offensive content, according to the Bend-La Pine School District.
Photos provided to Central Oregon Daily News show the graffiti included use of slurs against Black and gay people. There were also swastikas, a reference to Adolf Hitler and a drawing of male genitalia.
Sherri Williams, a parent, was frustrated when she found out about the incident.
“They shouldn’t have to see any graffiti, I don’t know what it was. The kids should definitely not see any of that,” Williams said.
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Anyone who has any information call non-emergency dispatch and refer to the following case numbers.
- 2023-00026497 (Bear Creek Elementary)
- 2023-00026486 (Ensworth Elementary)
Community members can also report it to SafeOregon, a program dedicated to preventing school safety threats from occurring.





