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A note from the Superintendent;

Last week from November 6-8, we had a study team from KFCS travel to California in order to study and tour two very robust CTE programs. The first day we went to Mad Tec in Madera, California. The second day, we went to CART in Fresno, California. The goals we made for the study tour were:

1. Explore grade 8-12 school programs that use CTE as an essential organizing feature.

2. Learn about K-7 approaches to preparing students for middle and high school CTE.

3. View teaching and learning that is project-based, interdisciplinary and team-taught.

4. Explore new facilities that organize flexible spaces to facilitate learning and teaching.

5. Review models for leadership, governance, funding and partnering.

6. Examine schools with deep levels of community partner engagement.

7. As a study team, reflect on observations, lessons learned and implications for our work.

We believe our study team was successful in our review of the CTE programs that will provide us ideas on how we can expand CTE opportunities for our students in the future.

I want to thank KFCS School Board Members Trina Perez and Kathy Hewitt, KFCS administrators Fred Bartels and Brett Lemieux, KFCS teachers Leah Wall and Dan Steans, KU students Daina Hernandez-Alvarado and Emily Wiley, as well as Klamath Falls community partner, Ray Holiday, for participating in the study and actively engaging in the learning process on our tour.

We have entered the fall season with leaves changing color, while the outside temperatures have cooled off. Next week is the week of Thanksgiving. Traditionally in America, this is a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest, celebrate family blessings and enjoy the company of friends and family. Many will also gather around the dinner table for a Thanksgiving meal. We are thankful for our staff students and families that make up the KFCS community. We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving week.

Parents, please remember there will be no school for students November 25-29. Find the link below to see information regarding school closures, delays and shortened days due to inclement weather.

Keith A. Brown

Superintendent

Klamath Falls City Schools

Every student, every day, whatever it takes!

Klamath Union High School hosted its third College and Career Week, with over 40 different businesses and organizations taking part.

College & Career Coordinator at KU, Karla Andrade, was busy bringing various Klamath Falls City Schools partners and business representatives to help Klamath Union students know where they could apply to after graduating high school.

If seniors applied to a college, university or trade school, completed FSA ID for FAFSA, made a resume, applied for a job, maintain a job, completed the ASVAB exam, Oregon Promise, OSAC Scholarship application, or asked Andrade for help to have a plan upon graduating, they would receive a raffle ticket to win an assortment of prizes.

A flat screen TV, tablets, wireless speakers, sweaters, restaurant gift cards, were given to the lucky high school students who had their ticket selected. Underclassmen, for participating in the week-long event, were also put into a separate raffle.

After applying online, several Klamath Union seniors received their letter of admission, on the spot, to Southern Oregon University as well.

Various classes from Ponderosa Middle School also made the trip Wednesday and Thursday to be informed about colleges and universities, as well as jobs they might want to consider in the future.

On November 7, 2023, the vibrant campus of Oregon Tech played host to a spirited Regional DECA Competition, bringing together 185 talented DECA members from seven prominent schools: Klamath Union, Henley, Phoenix, North Medford, South Medford, Ashland, and Crater. The event was a testament to the dedication and business acumen of the participating students who showcased their skills in various competitive categories.

The competition featured a diverse range of events, with students competing in challenging categories such as Apparel & Accessories, Quick Serve Restaurant Management, Hotel & Lodging Management, Retail Merchandising, Travel & Tourism Team Decision, Hospitality Marketing Team Decision, and Sports & Entertainment Team Decision.

The participating DECA members demonstrated exemplary knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as they navigated through real-world business scenarios. The atmosphere at Oregon Tech was electric, with students eagerly engaging in the various challenges set before them. Lina Stanfield, Klamath Union DECA President was excited in “Seeing everyone in my chapter have fun and enjoy their event and then seeing their work pay off by giving them ribbons on stage.”

Each school brought its unique flair and competitive spirit, creating an atmosphere of friendly rivalry and camaraderie. The passion and commitment displayed by the students were truly commendable, reflecting the high standards of DECA and the dedication of educators who guide them.

The event not only served as a platform for students to showcase their skills but also provided an opportunity for networking and collaboration. Students had the chance to connect with like-minded peers, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships that will serve them well in their future careers.

As the Regional DECA Competition came to a close, participants left with a sense of accomplishment and newfound insights into the world of business and marketing. The organizing committee extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the students who participated and appreciates the support from the schools, educators, and Oregon Tech for making the event a resounding success. A big thank you to all our community partners who volunteered for judging. In total, there were over 40 local volunteers.

Overall Results - Top 3 Overall

Apparel & Accessories Marketing

1. Mary Nadauld-Crater

2. Hollie Price - Phoenix

3. Lina Stanfield - Klamath Union

Hotel & Lodging Management

1. Seneca Ikemire - Phoenix

2. Emma Sowles - North Medford

3. Lucca Petrone - Phoenix

Quick Serve Restaurant Management

1. Noah Dornbusch - Crater

2. Cash Row - Henley

3. Aeries Saindon - Klamath Union

Retail Merchandising Series

1. Cassidy Bogatay - Klamath Union

2. Cole Clayton - Phoenix

3. Rowen Miller - Crater

Hospitality Services Team Decision

1. Jacob Martin and Carter Harmon - Klamath Union

2. India Akers & Keelie Woodside - Phoenix

3. Dominic Gutierrez & AJ Merlina - Phoenix

Travel & Tourism Team Decision

1. Max Heie & Cielo Marlia-Larsen - Phoenix

2. Orlando Contreras & Kael Feeley - Phoenix

3. Grant Eddy & Owen Foss - South Medford

Sports & Entertainment Team Decision

1. Alyse Perez & Brooke Nelson - Klamath Union

2. Audrey Ruffer & Ben Warner - Crater

Ponderosa PTO

On November 6, the Ponderosa PTO hosted a tour of the Klamath Community College’s (KCC)

new Apprenticeship Center for parents, faculty, and school board members. This new facility

will help train Klamath students in industry-driven, high-quality trade programs that fill

employers’ needs while paying generous wages to the program’s graduates.

As the large group enjoyed a delicious chili feed with all the fixings, Mark Griffith, Director of

Apprenticeships, shared how KCC is helping produce skilled labor in Southern Oregon with

programs in construction trades, well drilling, welding, engineering, automotive technology,

and Emergency Response and Operations. “There is a real need in the community, and all over

the country, for a skilled labor force,” Griffith explained. “Employers say finding reliable people

that want to work is difficult. Completing a KCC apprenticeship program is a way for kids to

show employers they’ve learned a skill…It’s competitive, though. Students still need to pass

algebra!”

Griffith said, “the pre-apprenticeship program gives students a brief introduction on hand tools

and power tools, safety procedures, being in and around equipment, rigging and knot tying, and

mathematics.”

Griffith led a tour of the facility showing the flex-lab shop space, which houses state-of-the-art

equipment for carpentry, sheet metal fabrication, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

(HVAC). The group also toured the fire science area complete with fire trucks, ambulance, and

Klamath’s fourth tallest building, the KCC fire tower. These hands-on, contextual learning

opportunities should help fill Oregon’s need for firefighters.

KCC currently offers a robust dual credit, pre-apprenticeship program in coordination with

Henley High School and EagleRidge. Griffith said they’ve been working to establish a relationship

with Klamath Union and are eager to get that started. But these programs aren’t about giving

up an academics: admissions are competitive, and students must come with algebra skills and

the work habits and attitudes that employers value.

The tour was a part of the Ponderosa PTO’s Parent Speaker Series, which offers free

educational conversations featuring experts on a range of topics to equip Pondo parents and

teachers with information, strategies, and support so we can help our children succeed. It was

also an opportunity to build community. The PTO hopes you’ll join them for their next

interesting and fun event.

Dearest KFCS Partners!

It's that time of year again where we here at Friends of the Children gear up to be a support to our youth, their families and to YOU!

What is Friends of the Children? In case we're new to you... Friends of the Children–Klamath Basin is the local chapter of a nationwide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty and walking with youth as they overcome significant childhood adversity.

You will see our Friends in your classrooms! Friends are salaried and professional mentors who partner with families, schools, agencies, and community partners to support youth from K/1st grade through 12th grade. For our elementary youth, we show up in class for two hours each week to help our youth develop goals, skills, and sparks. For junior high and high school, we serve as an extra advocate, chauffeur, cheerleader and homework helper. A big part of our role is partnering with you so please don't hesitate to reach out regarding any youth in our program!

Friends will be reaching out to individual teachers to introduce themselves in the next week or so and our organization has an MOU with the district AND we get a release of information signed for every youth we serve, every year. It will be filed with your front office! So please don't hesitate to share information and use our mentors as a supportive resource!

Pancreases

Pancreases are just silly. I say this because, much like many organs, it does more than one thing, but in the case of the pancreas it seems like the things it does have nothing to do with each other. The pancreas is in the upper left portion of your abdomen, behind the stomach and tucked up next to the spleen, which is further to the left. It is responsible for some important parts of digestion, but by far the most important thing it does is create and secrete hormones like insulin. When you eat food your pancreas releases chemicals called enzymes. Enzymes break down things into smaller, more digestible things. Amylase breaks down starches into sugar, which you can use to make energy. Lipase breaks down fats into smaller bits of fat, and protease breaks down, you guessed it, proteins. If you don't make enough pancreatic enzymes, then you basically have diarrhea...until you start making enzymes again. If you cannot digest the stuff you eat it kind of just keeps on going out the other side. The amazing stuff is the hormones.

The pancreas makes four basic hormones: insulin, glucagon, gastrin, and amylin. Gastrin cues your stomach to start making acid, thus helping digestion. Amylin is one of the many hormones that regulate your appetite. If your pancreas doesn’t work well...then your satiety doesn’t work well either. Glucagon works if your blood sugar gets too low – it tells your liver to release a little stored sugar to keep everything even. This is the first clue as to one of the pancreas' superpowers – second to second evaluation of your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar that gets too low is also a problem and is common in people who take medications to control their blood sugar, like people with diabetes. Speaking of diabetes, the last pancreatic hormone is insulin, which is perhaps the most famous of the bunch. Insulin is the way that blood sugar gets from the blood into the cells that use them for energy. Diabetes is when you either don’t have any insulin (because the pancreas cannot produce it any longer), or your body is no longer paying attention to insulin (because it has seen too much of it over your lifetime). Insulin is by far the most common disease to affect the pancreas, but not the only one. While rare, pancreatic cancer can be quite deadly, and pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the pancreas that is caused by alcohol, elevated triglycerides, gallstones, and, strangely enough, certain scorpion bites. Thus, the best things you can do to protect your pancreas is eat mostly vegetables, drink less alcohol, and avoid mysterious looking scorpions.

Thanks for reading! If interested in hearing more about our programs and resources, please call us at 541.274.2770 or visit our website at www.SkyLakes.org/Wellness

Have a question? Submit yours by emailing us at SkyLakesellnessCenter@skylakes.org

Information provided by

Stewart Decker, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FWMS

Jeanette Rutherford, MA, LPC

Jennifer Newton, RD, LD, CDCES, MPH

The new district website has an Alumni page for graduates of KU. This past week, six KU alumni sent us updates on their lives since they graduated. Take a look on the KU Alumni page on the district website. And, if you are an alumni, be sure and send us YOUR update!

Read about our alumni

Send us your information

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES - JOIN OUR TEAM!!

Apply for a District Job Opening

Become a Substitute Teacher or Paraprofessional in our District

PARENT LINKS
Click Here for the Family Friendly 2023-2024 School Year Calendar - English

Click Here for the Family Friendly 2023-2024 School Year Calender - Spanish

Synergy SIS Portal

Electronic Flyers for Your Students School
Thrillshare

How Will I Know if School is Cancelled?

Andrea Jensen, Zone 1, Roosevelt - andrea.jensen@kfcityschools.org

Andrew Biggs, Zone 2, At-Large - andrew.biggs@kfcityschools.org

Vanessa Bennett, Zone 3, Conger - vanessa.bennett@kfcityschools.org

Kathy Hewitt, Zone 4, Mills - kathy.hewitt@kfcityschools.org

Trina Perez, Zone 5, Pelican - trina.perez@kfcityschools.org

Patrick Fenner, Zone 6, At-Large - patrick.fenner@kfcityschools.org

Ashley Wendt-Lusich, Zone 7 At-Large - ashley.wendt-lusich@kfcityschools.org