- Crystal Apple Awards Gala 2024
Congratulations to our eight Crystal Apple Award winners, and a shout out to all of the community members, parents, and KCSD staff who helped us celebrate April 23 during our annual gala at the Ross Ragland Theater. KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak welcomed families and friends to the event, highlighting the lasting effect educators and school district staff have on a community. “The individuals we honor tonight have left an indelible mark on countless lives,” he said. “They invite curiosity and instill knowledge and foster a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. Behind every successful student stands a teacher or inspirational adult who believes in their potential and talents. It truly does take a village to raise successful children. Congratulations to each of you on this well-deserved recognition. Read more and see photos
- Adam Randall wins state award for CTE work
Klamath County School District’s Adam Randall has been named Oregon ACTE Administrator of the Year for his work expanding Career and Technical Education programs of study and securing industry and community partnerships so students can experience career connected learning. Randall, a full-time CTE coordinator for Henley High School who also helps coordinate expansion of programs at other KCSD high schools, received the award earlier this month during the Oregon Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)’s annual conference. Nominees were evaluated on their contributions to the overall success of educators and students, innovations in CTE programming, and their leadership in CTE community. “Adam’s ability to take one success, engage those around him in his excitement, and then build upon it for even greater success for all is unique,” said Brian Robin, CTE regional coordinator for Region 8. Robin has worked closely with Randall since September 2020. “Adam is simply irreplaceable.” Read more
- Planting Henley's Evergreen Forest
Henley Elementary School students added 13 native trees to the school’s Evergreen Forest April 23. The forest, established in 2019 by Henley teacher Robert Nieman, is on a swath of land on the east side of the elementary school between the school building and the high school parking lot. Read more
- FFA teams do well at state
FFA students from Bonanza, Henley, Lost River, and Mazama competed well at the Oregon FFA State Convention March 21-24 at Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. Congratulations to all our student competitors and special shout out to the students who will be representing their schools at nationals. Read more
- 2024 Oregon Elementary Principal of the Year: Chiloquin's Rita Hepper
Rita Hepper, principal of Chiloquin Elementary School, has been named 2024 Oregon Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators. She was chosen for the award by her colleagues from more than 1,200 elementary schools across the state. “What stood out about Rita was her deep connection to the community here, her deep investment, partnership, and collaboration with the Tribes and the work she did during the Two Four Two Fire to take care of families in Chiloquin,” Hawkins said. “Also, academic achievement here has made real progress under her leadership. All of those things go into the mix, but I think her story just really touched hearts.” Read more
- 2024 Crystal Apple Awards
Each year, the school district asks staff, parents, students, and community members to submit nominations for our Crystal Apple Awards. This year, we received more than 120 nominations highlighting the inspirational efforts and hard work of our certified and classified staff. Our eight winners exemplify KCSD's mission: "Inspiring today's students to meet tomorrow's challenges." The winners will receive their Crystal Apples during a celebration at 7 p.m. April 25 at the Ross Ragland Theater. The event is open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Read about our winners HERE.
- Learning to build and helping the homeless
Bonanza Jr/Sr High School construction students are building prototypes of a shed design that will be used in an upcoming Oregon Housing Authority transitional housing project for homeless across the state. The project is expected to kick off in late March, with construction students at Bonanza, Lost River, Henley, and Mazama building the sheds and cottages. The structures are meant to sit within a pod with services provided until people get into more stable housing. Read more
- KCSD offers free online tutoring in reading
A free online tutoring program in reading is now available for all first-, second-, and third-graders attending school in the Klamath County School District. The classes will be offered in the late afternoons and evenings and done online at home. Read more
- New Henley greenhouse ready to grow
Henley High School ag science CTE students have moved into their new classroom – a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse outfitted with an aquaponics watering and fertilizing system, a hydroponic grow table, and plenty of space for hands-on projects and plants. Read more
- State wrestling champ and top placers
We have a two-time state wrestling champ and four wrestlers who placed in the top 6 at the OSAA State Championships on Friday. Congratulations to DYLAN CLARK of Henley, who defended his 2023 title and is the 2024 OSAA state 126-pound wrestling champion! Read more
- Henley senior qualifies to compete at DECA worlds
A Henley High School senior has qualified to compete on the world stage at the DECA International Career Development Conference in April. Lily Preston placed second overall in human resources management series at the State Career Development Conference competition on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13. DECA students must place in the top three to automatically qualify for the world competition. Preston also placed eighth in hotel and lodging management series and 12 other Henley DECA competitors scored in the top 20 at the state conference. Read more
- Stearns cook recognized for life-saving efforts
The head cook at Stearns Elementary School was recognized and honored last week by the school district and its school board for her life-saving efforts by recognizing and acting to help a co-worker experiencing a medical emergency. Read more
- FBLA students qualify for state conference
More than 150 Klamath County School District FBLA students qualified to represent their schools in the FBLA State Business Leadership Conference in Portland in April. The qualifying FBLA Regional Skills Conference included 254 students from nine schools, including Bonanza, Brixner, Gilchrist, Lost River, and Mazama. Four schools from Deschutes County – Culver, Mountain View, Redmond and Ridgeview also competed during the Feb. 6 event at Oregon Tech. Read more
- Lost River senior wins leadership award
A Lost River Junior/Senior High School senior won the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership Award for his ongoing work as a leader and positive role model. Amadeus Hernandez, 17, accepted the honor last month at an event attended by more than 600 people. He was among 10 Klamath Basin youth who were nominated for the award. Read more
- Retired educators group awards grants to Mazama
The local chapter of the Oregon Retired Educators Association (OREA) awarded more than $850 to Mazama High School today (Jan. 31) for math, science and shop equipment. Read more
2023 grad rates released: Bonanza hits 100%
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Five high schools in the Klamath County School District boasted graduation rates above 90% in 2023 and one of those – Bonanza Junior/Senior High School – hit a perfect graduation rate of 100%. The other KCSD schools with above 90% graduation rates were Henley High School at 97.9%, Lost River at 91.7%, Gilchrist at 90.9%, and Chiloquin at 90.5%. Mazama’s rate of 88.4% was down from 2022, but still nearly 7 percentage points above the state average. “The graduation rate is a product of how we support students and what we do on a daily basis,” said Bonanza Jr/Sr High Principal Jordan Osborn. “Every single staff member is a true champion for our kids – from our teachers and support staff to our secretaries, bus drivers, and custodians. Graduating 100% of last year’s senior class validates the hard work we did together.” Read more
- Testing recipes for students
Klamath County School District cooks spent an afternoon learning a recipe for Oregon-grown and school-grown lamb from Henley and Lost River FFA programs to determine the best way to serve the less familiar meat to students. The cooks gathered at Henley High School’s kitchen Jan. 24 to prepare the test meal, replacing beef with lamb in a shepherd’s pie recipe. Students will get a chance to eat the lamb shepherd pie in school cafeterias Feb. 29 as part of the district’s Farm to School program. Read more
- Budget Committee has two openings
Klamath County School District has two openings on its budget committee. The budget committee works with the KCSD Board of Directors to review and approve the district’s annual budget. Positions open are the Chiloquin/Gilchrist zone and the Ferguson/Shasta zone. Read more
District seeks Crystal Apple nominations
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Klamath County School District is seeking nominations for its annual Crystal Apple Awards. The Crystal Apple is given each year to eight KCSD staff who inspire and help students of all backgrounds and abilities. The winners receive their Crystal Apples during a gala at the Ross Ragland Theater. This year, the gala will be Tuesday, April 23. Read more
- Mazama expands manufacturing program
Mazama High School is expanding its manufacturing program next year, offering a career pathway track with college-credit courses and renovating and upgrading its metal shop. The changes will allow students to graduate high school with certifications needed for the workplace and seamlessly transition into degree programs at Klamath Community College or Oregon Tech. The school last month was awarded a $250,000 Oregon Department of Education Career and Technical Education (CTE) revitalization grant to renovate the metal shop. Grant funds will pay for welding booths, high-pressure exhaust fans, plumbing for gas lines, and other updates necessary to create a safe and effective learning environment for students. Read more
- Bonanza starts pre-apprenticeship program
Bonanza Junior/Senior High School is starting a two-year pre-apprenticeship training program in construction and carpentry and purchasing equipment to revitalize its shop thanks to nearly $500,000 in grants from the Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Education. Students graduating from the two-year program will earn a pre-apprenticeship certificate that can be used to enter the skilled trades. Bonanza hired a construction and agriculture mechanics teacher and offered its first pre-apprenticeship class this fall. Plans are to offer three more classes in September 2024 under a state-registered program. Read more
- Bonanza: New year, new science lab
Jan. 3, 2024 / Students at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School came back from the holiday break to a new state-of-the-art science lab. Seven new lab stations and two teacher stations were installed using $40,000 from a Gear Up Grant the school was awarded last spring. The old stations were from the 1970s and were in bad shape. “Our students now have a new lab to pursue science and careers in science,” said Jordan Osborn, principal of Bonanza Junior/Senior High School. “This is part of our ongoing quest for this school to be better,” Osborn said "We can’t provide inferior quality facilities and expect excellence.” Read more
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A teacher from Japan
Peterson Elementary School fifth-graders learned about Japan and its culture from a guest Japanese teacher on Jan. 3, asking questions and trying their hand at origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. The special guest – Yasuyo – owns a private English-language school in Kagoshima with her husband, Ken Coulson, a 1978 Henley High School graduate and longtime family friend of Peterson fifth-grade teacher Stephanie Hull. With them was their 13-year-old son Josh. Read more
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District awarded for financial excellence
For the ninth year in a row, the Klamath County School District has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. An impartial committee spent six months reviewing the district’s financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. The comprehensive report replaces a standard audit. Read more
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Raising Chinook: From eggs to fry
Chinook salmon fry that were hatched and raised by Henley Middle School students were released into the Williamson River as part of an experimental salmon reintroduction project. Henley Middle School science teacher Faryn Knight and principal Kristy Creed with help from Mark Hereford, a fisheries reintroduction biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, on Wednesday (Dec. 6) released about 40 fry into the Williamson near Collier State Park. During a short break in the rain, Knight carried the bucket of water with the fry and slowly introduced the baby Chinook into their natural habitat. Read more
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Teaching the Beseda
Sabrina Taylor has danced the Beseda since she was a little girl. As members of the Malin Czech Lodge No. 222, her parents and siblings joined in community celebrations, dressing in traditional Czech dancing costumes and sharing the traditional dancing of the early Czech settlers who founded the town. So it was a natural fit for the Lost River Junior/Senior High School student to use her senior project to teach Malin fourth-graders how to perform the traditional Czech folk dance while learning about their town’s Czech heritage. Read more
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A seat with the county commissioners
After Ady Swanson finishes classes at Mazama High School, she heads to the Klamath County Government Center to work with Klamath County’s three commissioners, attending work sessions as well as business, planning, and finance meetings. During an 18-week period – one semester – Ady is learning about and participating in county government through the first-ever Klamath County Junior Commissioner Work Experience Program. During a typical week, she will meet with her mentor, Commissioner Dave Henslee, to research bills and discuss upcoming county projects. Read more
- Best foodies in the state
Nov. 30, 2023 / To compete at FFA Nationals, you have to be the very best. Only the state champions qualify. An FFA team from Lost River Junior/Senior High School did just that Nov. 18, taking first in state at FFA’s State Food Science competition at Oregon State University and becoming the school’s first-ever national qualifying FFA team. “Our team dominated,” said Lost River FFA Advisor Meghan Miller. “This is a huge honor for them. It is a tough contest and these girls worked their tails off for the last three months, some of them for the last three years.” Team members are Melanie Martinez, Julitza Serrato-Cobian, Anna Kliewer, and McKinley Ruda and alternates Gemma Arceo-Bigoni and Zuliana Cobian-Cazarez. Read more
- Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
Nov. 17, 2023 / Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School students and staff enjoyed salmon cooked over an open fire pit for lunch Friday (Nov. 17) during a day dedicated to exploring Native American culture and heritage. After watching classmates perform traditional Native dances with the Warrior Society Drum members, students headed to class as the salmon cooked in front of the school and fry bread sizzled nearby. This is the second year the school and tribal members have organized a traditional salmon bake to celebrate the Native culture within Chiloquin’s student body and honor Native American Heritage Month. Organizers expanded the celebration this year to include presentations on Klamath Tribal history and language, highlighting the cultures of the local Klamath, Modoc, and Paiute people, said Will Hess, a Klamath Tribal member who works with students through the On Track OHSU! program. About 60% of Chiloquin’s student body identifies as Native American or Indigenous. “By hosting this event we are creating space to celebrate the rich cultures of our Indigenous students,” Hess said. “This is an opportunity to share a small piece of our local tribal culture with all students and faculty.” Read more
- Building for the trades
Nov. 15, 2023 / New construction at the Henley Complex is providing opportunities for hands-on and career-connected learning for junior high and high school students. During a grand opening celebration on Nov. 15, community partners and leaders had a chance to hear from students and see their projects during a one-hour tour of Henley’s three recent building projects – the Construction Trades Building, a new greenhouse, and a concession stand. The first stop was the recently completed Construction Trades Building located behind Henley Middle School. The 3,700-square-foot, two-story building provides traditional classroom space as well as indoor and outdoor open workshop space outfitted with the latest technology and equipment. Read more
- Crunch time!
“Do you know how a carrot grows?” farmer Katie Swanson asked Shasta Elementary School second-graders Thursday (Oct. 26) during Klamath County School District’s sixth-annual Crunch at Once event. The students had just crunched their farm-fresh carrots and had questions for the farmer who grew them. Read more
- Henley High's Sam Iverson wins XC district championship
Congratulations to Henley's Samuel Iverson, 4A Skyline District Cross Country champion! 🏆 And a shout out to the Henley girls team, who placed second overall and qualified for the state championships. We are impressed with all the Mazama and Henley cross country runners who competed at the district meet Oct. 25! Great job! Read more
- Get ready to crunch!
Grab a locally grown carrot and join students across the Klamath County School District on Thursday, Oct. 26 for the sixth annual Countdown to Crunch in celebration of National Farm to School Month. More than 3,865 students from 12 schools will countdown together and crunch into locally grown carrots produced by local farmer Katie Swanson, owner of Sweet Union Farm in Klamath Falls, who is providing 4750 carrots for the event. Read more
- Don't Dream It, Be It
Mazama High School students had a chance to explore possible futures and talk to college representatives, military recruiters and even local employers Wednesday during the school’s second-annual “Don’t Dream It, Be It!” career, college, and military night. Read more
- Stearns Elementary celebrates new track
The Stearns Elementary community showed up in force Oct. 4 for the grand opening celebration of a new track on the school’s campus. About 250 students, parents, and community members walked and ran around the new 200-meter ADA-accessible track while the school served free smoothies and popcorn as part of the event. Jo2Go, a coffee cart operated by the district’s transition life skills program, sold specialty drinks. Read more
- All are welcome: Kimma, Skatis, Welcome, Gelidanka, Bienvenidos
When Omar Guzman arrived for his first day at Mazama High School, he took a photo of himself in front of the school’s new bilingual entrance signs and sent it to his mother in Mexico. “When I noticed it, it made me feel more comfortable,” he said through Mazama vice principal Sergio Cisneros, who translated his Spanish into English. Omar understands English but after only a year in the U.S. is still learning to speak it fluently. “It’s been good to see the school make us feel more included.” The sign – one of several now at entrances to the high school – reads “Welcome/Bienvenidos and Main Office/Oficina Principal. On the windows near the doors of the school’s main entrance, students also are welcomed in five languages, including three Native American languages – Modoc (skatis), Northern Paiute (kimma), English (welcome), Klamath (gelidanka), and Spanish (bienvenidos). The welcome signs are a gift from the school’s senior class of 2023 and represent the student body’s desire to create a more inclusive environment for its diverse population. The school also has created additional signage in both Spanish and English to better serve their non-English speaking families and students who are learning English. Read more
- Talking about careers with the Trail Blazers and Moda Health
Mazama and Bonanza high school students had a chance to ask questions and visit one-on-one with professionals from the Portland Trail Blazers and Moda Health today during a special career fair event. Bonanza junior Lucy Cassol, one of 29 students who attended from the two schools, left the event inspired about the future. As FBLA president for her rural high school, she enjoys business but isn’t sure how to pursue her passion as a career. Meeting five professionals who are doing just that reaffirmed her decision to “do something that feeds my soul,” she said. Read more
- Melons kick off district's Farm to School program
Klamath County School District students will be eating melons grown in Klamath Falls this month as a kick off to the district’s Farm to School Featured Food program. “The program brings fresh local products into our school cafeterias every month, increasing student awareness about Klamath Basin and Oregon agriculture, while expanding the freshly prepared options food service teams provide on the lunch line,” said Jordan Rainwater, KCSD’s Farm to School procurement coordinator. “This year, students will enjoy local potatoes, winter squash, and beef served on the menu multiple times this year – the result of intensive menu planning, positive student feedback, strengthening relationships with local producers, and enthusiasm from food service staff.” Read more
- KCSD welcomes back 7,100 students
Schools across the Klamath County School District opened their doors today (Sept. 5), greeting more than 7,100 students for their first day of the 2023-24 school year. At Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School, administrators rolled out a royal blue “red carpet” for students as they entered the school and walked under a ballooned archway. “We wanted to start the new year off by treating students like royalty,” said Chiloquin High Principal Ruben Paschal, who greeted students as they arrived. Read more
- More than a building
Construction of a new community center for Lost River got under way this month following five years of planning and fundraising by the Lost River Booster Club and community supporters. In a groundbreaking ceremony July 17 overlooking the recently poured cement foundation of the 13,500-square-foot building, more than 30 people gathered to celebrate the exhaustive effort that raised enough money to make a community’s dream a reality. Read more
- Brooke Kliewer appointed to KCSD Board of Directors
Klamath County School District Board of Directors appointed a new board member last week to fill the position vacated by Laura Blair. Brooke KIiewer will represent the Henley and Keno attendance areas, serving until June 30, 2025, the remainder of Blair’s term. Read more
- KCSD offers free summer lunch program
This summer, children can enjoy lunches at no charge through the Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded nutrition program open to all youth ages 1-18 years. A sack lunch with a hot entrée, a fruit, a vegetable, and a milk will be offered June 20 through Aug. 10, Monday through Thursday. Read more
- On the summit of Hogback Mountain
June 14, 2023 / “Make sure you touch the summit marker,” Bonanza P.E. teacher Jason Hardrath told the 40 sixth-graders as they reached the top of Hogback Mountain, which, at 6,205 feet, offers panoramic views of Klamath Falls. The students had been on the challenging 2.3-mile route to the top for the last couple of hours, gaining 1,761 -feet in elevation from the school bus near the trailhead off Foothills Boulevard to the lookout tower marking the summit. Some were still bursting with energy, others were tired and thirsty. Hiking to the summit of Hogback has become a sort of rite of passage for sixth-graders at Bonanza, Shasta, and Ferguson elementary schools. Read more
- Bringing history to life
June 14, 2023 / History came to “life” last week when third-graders at Stearns Elementary School presented their living history wax museum to family and friends. Students researched historical figures, created an exhibit and then dressed up as that person for the museum program. Read more
- Cooking for a crowd
June 13, 2023 / Students in Bonanza Junior/Senior High School’s culinary program took lessons learned over the past nine months and put them to real-world use last week by catering a 250-person dinner for the school’s end-of-the year honors and awards event. Featured on the menu was a locally sourced pig purchased with grant money through OSU Extension’s Farm to School program. Read more
- Class of 2023: More than 470 seniors received their diplomas this weekend from seven high schools across the Klamath County School District. Check out our graduation photo albums:
Falcon Heights
Mazama High School
Bonanza Jr/Sr High School
Lost River Jr/Sr High School
Gilchrist Jr/Sr High School
Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School
Henley High School
- Independence Day: Klamath County Transition Program
June 8, 2023 / Klamath County Transition Program celebrated Independence Day for its Class of 2023 in an outside ceremony Thursday (June 8) attended by family and friends. Read more
- The physics of cardboard boats
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- Pickleball and bicycles
After school ends for the day, a group of Shasta Elementary School fifth- and sixth-graders are ready for a different type of learning. They don helmets and hop on bicycles provided by the school and ride a couple of miles to Steen Sports Park to meet up with members of the Klamath Basin Pickleball Association. Grabbing their paddles, the students join the adult volunteer teachers on the pickleball courts to learn the popular game. After an hour of pickleball, the students bicycle back to the school. Read more
- Graduation Sensation Class of 2023
June 1, 2023 / Even a cloud burst couldn’t dampen the smiles of the nearly 700 graduating high school seniors parading down Main Street today for the eighth annual Klamath Promise Graduation Sensation. Soon-to-be graduates from 12 high schools across Klamath County -- including Bonanza, Chiloquin, Falcon Heights, Gilchrist, Henley, Lost River, and Mazama – paraded in caps and gowns down Main Street with bands and mascots, then joined together with family, friends and supporters in Veterans Park for a celebration and awards distribution. Read more. Photo link
- KCSD Robotics Bash
May 31, 2023 / More than 200 high school and middle school students from Lost River, Chiloquin, Mazama, Brixner, Henley Middle and Henley High put their robots to the test May 31 in the second annual end-of-the-year KCSD Robotics Bash. Eighty-four teams – 40 middle school and 44 high school – gathered at the Klamath County Fairgrounds to compete against each other in a game designed by KCSD robotics students. Read more
- KCSD's 2023 Vals and Sals
May 24, 2023 / Meet KCSD’s class of 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians from each of our high schools – Bonanza, Chiloquin, Gilchrist, Henley, Lost River, and Mazama. These 42 students not only are at the top of their classes academically, but also participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, representing their schools and communities. Read more
- On track at Stearns Elementary
May 23, 2023 / Work has started on a four-lane, 200-meter track with a 50-meter straight-away extension at Stearns Elementary School. The project is funded through the Klamath County School District with federal ESSER funds along with local grants and private donations. Completion is expected by mid-June. Read more
- Into the Future: Lost River seniors celebrate with Signing Day
May 19, 2023 / Massage therapist. Nurse. Forensic scientist. These are just a few of the career goals of Lost River Junior/Senior High School’s Class of 2023. The 30-member senior class committed to future plans Thursday during the school’s seventh annual Signing Day. The event featured a luncheon for the seniors and their families followed by the signing ceremony. The soon-to-be graduates will represent their alma mater at two community colleges and seven four-year universities in Oregon, Arizona, Indiana, and Texas. One graduate, Alicia Venegas, will spend a year as an FFA state officer, traveling the country and representing FFA. Read more
Mazama, Henley student athletes sign with colleges
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May 17, 2023 / Fourteen student athletes – seven from Henley High School and seven from Mazama High School – have signed to play at the collegiate level next year. The athletes, coaches, and families gathered at the schools this week for a Signing Day celebration. Sports represented include basketball, baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, beach volleyball, cheer, cross country, track and field, and shotgun sports. The students will represent Klamath County throughout Oregon and as far as Arizona, Nebraska, and the United Kingdom. Read more
- Seven KCSD seniors named Ford Scholars
May 12, 2023 / Seven Klamath County School District seniors – two from Lost River, two from Henley, one from Mazama, one from Bonanza, and one from Chiloquin -- have been selected for four-year Ford Family Foundation Scholarships that will pay for 90 percent of their unmet college costs. Recipients are Mazama senior Natalie Norris, Bonanza senior Yahir Raygoza Cortez, Chiloquin senior Anastasia Shanks, Henley seniors Michelle Bonilla Gonzalez and Kaylee Haddox, and Lost River seniors Daniela Valadez Perez and Isaac Hernandez. Read more
- Into the future: Bonanza seniors celebrate Signing Day
May 9, 2023 / Allen Hill plans to attend West Texas A&M University with a goal of being a large animal veterinarian. Josie Cole signed with College of the Siskiyous to play volleyball and will study nursing. Kylie Basso is aiming for a career in forensics after studying criminal justice at Umpqua Community College. The three Bonanza Junior/Senior High School seniors joined their classmates May 8 for the school’s second annual Signing Day, a celebration honoring and recognizing the choices seniors have made and a way to inspire younger classmates to plan for their futures. Families attended, watching their students sign for their intended path and taking photos. Read more
- Henley student wins third place in OSHA contest
May 3, 2023 / Henley High School student Gracie Poe won third place and $300 in OSHA's media contest to promote young worker safety. Poe, who is a member of Henley's Digital Art Club, submitted an entry in the graphic design category. Read more
- KCSD schedules kindergarten roundup
April 27, 2023 / Will your child be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1? If so, it’s time to register for kindergarten. Klamath County School District elementary schools have scheduled kindergarten roundup dates in May to welcome new kindergarteners and provide a chance for parents to register their child for the 2023-24 school year. Read more
- FBLA students qualify for nationals; Mazama wins state title
April 27, 2023 / More than 60 FBLA students from Bonanza, Lost River, Gilchrist, and Mazama qualified to compete at the national level during the Oregon FBLA State Business Leadership Conference earlier this month in Portland. Mazama FBLA won the Sweepstakes Award at the state event, earning the title of Oregon State FBLA Champions for 2023. Oregon FBLA is a career and technical student organization that has chapters in schools ranging from 1A up to 6A. The four school’s FBLA chapters all earned awards and recognition at the state conference. Read more
- Ready to be a Viking
April 11, 2023 / Nearly 200 eighth-graders from Brixner Junior High School visited their soon-to-be high school Tuesday (April 11) to explore Mazama High School’s academic and elective course offerings, see the campus, and meet teachers and student leaders. After an introduction to the Viking student leadership team, the rising freshmen were given a forecasting sheet with a list of all of the elective classes they could sign up for next year. As they toured the school, they had a chance to see some of those offerings firsthand. At Mazama, the choices are varied and include the arts, food science, automotive, woodshop, chemistry, teaching, robotics, foreign languages, health occupations, journalism and yearbook, among others. “The more students are engaged, the more successful they are,” said Mazama Vice Principal Sergio Cisneros. “We want to match students up with courses they are interested in. When they are enjoying the classes and following the sequence, they’re also more likely to take some advanced courses their senior year.” Read more
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Introducing our Crystal Apple Award winners
April 7, 2023 / Each year, the Klamath County School District awards Crystal Apples to eight certified and classified staff who best exemplify its mission: “Inspiring today’s students to meet tomorrow’s challenges.” The winners will receive their Crystal Apples during a celebration at 7 p.m. April 25 at the Ross Ragland Theater. The event is open to the public. Our winners are: Adriana Atwood, Rachel Belenfant, Christopher Benjamin, Robert Chambrose, Shannon McDonald, Crystal Renslow, Laci Teaters, and Olga Wenick. Read more
- Exploring their options
April 7, 2023 / Henley Middle School eighth-grader Robert Alvarez is considering a career in construction. Classmate Lilly Schott isn’t sure what she wants to do. Robert and Lilly were among Henley eighth-graders who spent the day at Henley High School Wednesday, exploring Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and pathways available to them when they enter high school this fall. The event is one way of helping eighth-graders determine their interests and forecast what classes they want to take as ninth-graders. Read more
- Grow it, know it, eat it: Cafeterias as classrooms
March 24, 2023 / Chicken coops. Greenhouses. Grow towers. Raised garden beds. Students throughout the Klamath County School District are not only eating fresh, hyperlocal produce and meat, they are learning to grow, harvest, and produce food for their school cafeterias. Over the past several years, the school district has wrapped an educational and nutritional component into its food services program, offering Oregon-grown and hyperlocal fresh fruits and vegetables, locally harvested beef, lamb, and eggs, and special Try-It Days and Tasting Tables, which encourage students to try foods such as cranberries, squash, and beets they may not otherwise eat. School-based food production is the next step in expanding not only learning opportunities, but the availability of hyperlocal produce, eggs, and meat on school lunch and breakfast trays, district leaders say. This fall, KCSD was awarded a $99,847 Oregon Department of Education grant to purchase school-based food production equipment and conduct hands-on education events. Read more
- KCSD honored for supporting veterans
March 23, 2023 / The Klamath County School District was recognized March 23 by Worksource Oregon for its support and employment of military veterans. Paul Messett, Worksource Oregon disabled veterans outreach and local veterans employment representative, presented a framed certificate and challenge coin to KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak. Messett was accompanied by Kim Laugsand of Worksource Oregon’s Klamath office. “On behalf of the Worksource office here in Klamath Falls we would like to present you with this certificate of appreciation as a small token of our appreciation,” Messett said. “That certificate is printed on paper that is handmade from recycled military uniforms.” Read more
- FFA at the Oregon State Convention
March 23, 2023 / FFA students from Mazama, Lost River, Henley, and Bonanza represented Klamath County well at the 2023 Oregon FFA State Convention March 17-20 in Redmond. Students competed in various categories, attended motivational sessions and workshops, visited career shows, and sat on committees for proficiency interviews. Lost River’s Alicia Venegas was elected 2023-2024 Oregon FFA state reporter, the first FFA state officer in the school’s history. Eight students were awarded the coveted FFA state degree, earned by only 2% of Oregon FFA members. Read more
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Eating potatoes with Farmer Marc
March 22, 2023 / “You grow potatoes perfect,” a third-grader at Ferguson Elementary School told Marc Staunton, a South County farmer who grows and sells potatoes with Cal-Ore Produce. “Oh man! Thank you!” Staunton responded giving the student a high-five. Staunton – Farmer Marc to the students – was at Ferguson to talk to students about how he grew the potatoes on their lunch trays. Locally grown potatoes from Cal-Ore were served in all Klamath County School District cafeterias today (March 22) as part of the district’s Farm to School program. Read more
- Getting On Track with OHSU
March 20, 2023 / A career in the medical field had not occurred to Mia Hutchinson. Until now. The Mazama High School junior is among 32 Native American students who joined On Track OHSU!, an Oregon Health & Science University college-career readiness program that targets underrepresented student populations and has supports and structures in place to help them pursue medical careers. Mazama kicked off its new partnership with On Track on March 3 with an introductory meeting in the high school library. It was then that Hutchinson heard about Jared Delaney, a Klamath Tribal member and 2016 Henley High school graduate who is currently in his second year of medical school at OHSU. What caught the teenager’s attention was that Delaney, like herself, is Native American. Read more
- Mazama senior wins prestigious scholarship
March 14, 2023 / A Mazama High School senior has been awarded $10,000 toward her future in the form of Oregon State University’s most prestigious scholarship. Makayla Quirk was awarded OSU’s Presidential Scholarship in a surprise presentation March 14 during one of her classes. OSU’s Craig Brauner presented the Viking senior with the award and a swag-filled Beaver Box. Out of nearly 3,000 applicants, only 127 students were chosen for the scholarship. The $10,000 annual scholarship is renewable for up to four years. Read more
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Robotics teams qualify for world championships
March 11, 2023 / Five KCSD robotics teams – three from Mazama, one from Henley High, and a middle school team from Lost River -- qualified for Worlds today during the 2023 Regional VRC/VEX Robotics Championships at Mazama High School. Read more
- Science of cooking: Bonanza grows culinary program
Feb. 22, 2023 / Fystin Qualls carefully sliced into the steak he and his classmates had prepared for their final exam. They marinated the meat in garlic, soy and Worcestershire sauce before pan-searing it, aiming for a medium rare finish. The high school junior teamed up with seniors Kylie Basso and Gabby Keyes to make a meal out of five ingredients as part of the semester final in their food industry and science class at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School. Students had two days to plan and prepare a meal that included steak, cilantro, oranges, cauliflower, and buttermilk. The meals were then given to school staff members to enjoy and judge. Read more
- Robotics teams compete well
Feb. 14, 2023 / Fifty-six teams from 10 schools competed for state qualifying status as well as tournament trophies Friday and Saturday during the fifth annual Klamath Icebreaker VEX Robotics Competition at Mazama High School. Read more
- Pathway to Teaching
Feb. 2. 2023 / Mazama High School junior Will Hawkins holds up the plastic tube of colored liquid as he directs a class of fourth-graders to pour corn syrup into a bottle of water as part of a color density lab experiment. The science lab lesson for Julie Dentinger’s class at Ferguson Elementary School was one of the final assignments for Hawkins’ intro to teaching class last semester. “It was an experience, and it was hard to manage the class at first,” he said. “But as I kept going, I started to understand what to do and how I could teach it better next time.” Read more
- District highlighted in EdTech magazine
KCSD’s upgraded technology and progressive planning by our district leaders and IT department attracted the attention of the editors of EdTech: Focus on K-12 magazine. KCSD is among school districts highlighted in an article this month about planning ahead to ensure students will always have access to modern technology and devices. IT Director Kiran Malakar and Superintendent Glen Szymoniak are interviewed in the article. It also features photos of students in Kacie Palmer's third-grade class at Henley Elementary School, Malakar, and Szymoniak. Here is an excerpt from the EdTech Focus on K-12 article: "Klamath County School District in Oregon has a wide array of technology to manage. During the pandemic, KCSD purchased roughly 5,000 Samsung Chromebooks. More recently, the district rolled out more than 300 86-inch digital interactive displays from Newline. The district’s secret for refreshing those devices over time: standardized technology and a bit of budget wizardry that ensures IT reserve funds won’t be used for other purposes. 'We try to keep the number of models to a minimum,' explains Superintendent Glen Szymoniak. “From projectors and document cameras to desktops and laptops, we try to go with one model and use it for its lifecycle.' This standardization allows technicians to cannibalize parts from broken or defective machines to repair other devices, Szymoniak says, and it can encourage adoption and simplify tech support. 'We repair everything in-house,” says Kiran Malakar, the district’s technology coordinator and network systems manager. “It usually costs more than it’s worth to replace a screen, but we’re often able to salvage a screen from another defective machine and make the repair.' ' Read the entire article HERE.
- KCSD: 2022 graduation rates
Four high schools in the Klamath County School District boasted graduation rates above 93 percent in 2022 and two of those – Lost River Junior/Senior High School and Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School – had perfect graduation rates of 100 percent. For Lost River Junior/Senior High School, it was the fourth year in a row that the school graduated 100% of its cohort on time. “The secret? The secret is everyone cares – the staff, the students, and the parents,” said Jamie Ongman, who served as Lost River’s principal through 2022 before taking a promotion as KCSD director of school operations. “The 100% not only reflects their graduation rate, but also the amount of effort students, staff, and parents put in from year to year. Staff tirelessly invest in the students, students set goals and work to achieve them, and parents give the school unwavering support.” Read more
- The business of finals
Jan. 24, 2023 / If Henley High School business students had their way, Klamath Falls would be home to 27 new businesses from duck decoys and a bakery featuring bubble tea to high-end tracker jewelry and a Korean barbecue. Students in Luke Ovgard’s Intro to Business class took their hands-on final exam by presenting complete business plans to members of the local business community. The presentations took place last week in the conference room of the coworking space, Gaucho Collective, on Main Street. After their presentations, they hit Main Street, visiting local businesses to find answers to 70 questions. “This class gives them a taste of what it means to be an entrepreneur,” Ovgard said. “These skills are something no textbook, test, or flash cards can ever teach.” Read more
- Lessons from hot cocoa
Jan. 20, 2023 / Henley High School senior Karishma Malakar and the fourth-graders were ready for customers. High school students lined up at the door, armed with play money for their hot chocolate orders. The Hornet Express hot chocolate bar was open for business. Malakar, who organized the event as part of her senior project, used the hot cocoa to teach a scrumptious and chocolaty hands-on math and business lesson to fourth-graders in Kacie Palmer’s class at Henley Elementary School. The fourth-graders then used those skills to take drink orders, add up the total cost and provide change, and make the drinks. Read more
- Shasta classroom addition to be ready by spring
Jan. 6, 2023 / Fifth- and sixth-graders at Shasta Elementary School are expected to move into a new six-classroom addition by the end of March and finish off the school year in their new digs. KCSD maintenance and project crew members were hard at work this week, polishing floors, tiling the bathrooms, and finishing up plumbing and baseboards. Next up is completing the exterior of the building, adding soffit and metal siding. The new 9,500-square-foot building is between the main school building and Shasta’s Big Gym. It will feature a wide, brightly lit hallway, reflective windows, polished concrete floors, and the latest classroom technology. Read more
- Learning to lead through STEM
Jan. 4, 2023 / A Mazama High School senior spent a week this fall immersed in hands-on simulations and leadership training at the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. As part of the five-day camp, Alex Lehman participated in a simulated space mission, mall collapse, and fighter jet mission. He was one of 200 out of 700 applicants worldwide chosen to attend the week-long camp in Huntsville, Ala., in October. Students are selected through a rigorous application and review process based on academic achievement and community involvement. Alex described the camp as a “leadership academy based around space,” saying he learned how to lead, give speeches, and build teamwork through participating in challenges. “Our main focus was teamwork, leadership, and crisis management.” Read more
- Giving and caring
Dec. 16, 2022 / Students and staff throughout the Klamath County School District this week teamed up with community organizations and each other to make the holidays a bit brighter – and yummier – for their communities. Several schools hosted food drives or coin drives to benefit local food banks and organizations. Read more
- Christmas Crafts and Cocoa
Fifteen Mazama and Henley high school education pathway students volunteered to teach arts and crafts Dec. 7 during the Ferguson Elementary School’s first-ever Christmas Crafts and Cocoa event for third-graders and their families. The event, organized by Ferguson’s three third-grade teachers -- Karyssa Cisneros, Domingo Arriola, and Alyssa Sweeney -- invited families of the third-graders to join their students to make 10 different crafts and enjoy frosted cookies and hot chocolate. “We wanted to do something to get parents into our school and enjoying activities with their students,” Cisneros said. Read more
- Video: We Are Thankful!
Nov. 22, 2022 / Students from Gilchrist, Stearns, Chiloquin, and Bonanza are thankful for many things -- from Grandma's pie to family and fishing. Enjoy our annual "We are thankful" video on the KCSD YouTube channel.
- Showcasing culture and tradition
Nov. 18, 2022 / Chiloquin students and staff enjoyed salmon cooked over an open fire pit for lunch Thursday after participating in a powwow led by members of the Klamath Tribal Youth Council. After watching their classmates perform traditional Native dances, most of Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School’s student body joined them in the Round Dance, forming a large circle around the drummers. The first-ever traditional salmon bake and powwow was a way to celebrate the Native culture within Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School’s student body and honor National Native American Heritage Month, said Will Hess, a Klamath Tribal member who works with students through the On Track OHSU! program. He organized the event with help from Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services Prevention Program, the Klamath Tribal Youth Council, Klamath Tribes Education & Employment Department, Chiloquin High School administrators, On Track OHSU!, FoodCorps staff, and staff from the Klamath County School District Office Title VI and Food Services. “We wanted tribal students and staff to feel recognized and celebrated in a way that highlights and respects their culture, and also for all students and staff, native and non-native alike to come together and learn about the first foods of the Klamath Tribes and celebrate the rich history of the Klamath Tribes in the Klamath Basin,” Hess said. Read more
- Music, ice cream, and community
Nov. 10, 2022 / The Brixner Junior High School band performed for residents of Pelican Pointe Assisted Living on Wednesday. They were joined by Michael Levine, head of the professional musical ensemble, the Dallas Brass. The performance was a culmination of a multi-day clinic Levine, who worked with student musicians as part of group’s Harmony Bridge program. Read more
- FFA students compete well at state, national levels
Nov. 12, 2022 / Lost River, Mazama, Henley, and Bonanza FFA students represented their schools and communities well this year competing in district, state, and national contests. Sixteen students from Lost River, three students from Mazama and one student from Henley attended the 95th FFA National Convention and Expo in Indianapolis in late October, earning degrees and awards. Read more
- Veterans in the classroom
Nov. 11, 2022 / Members of the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field visited with Ferguson Elementary School students Thursday, the day before Veterans Day. Students heard their stories and were able to ask questions. Tony Clark and John Walling visited with the fifth-grade classes, dressing two students in military clothing and gas masks as they discussed how the gear worked to protect active military members. Read more
- Learning from a champion
Nov. 8, 2022 / Shasta Elementary School fourth-graders chatted live with U.S. Olympic nordic skier Rosie Brennan on Monday, asking her questions about competing, maintaining friendships, and confronting challenges. It was the first live video chat between the students in Dena Morosin’s class and Brennan, a two-time Olympian, four-time U.S. champion, and back-to-back World Cup holder. As an athlete mentor with Classroom Champions, Brennan will work with the class throughout the school year, providing video lessons once a month on life skills such as goal setting, community service, leadership, emotions, community, perseverance, healthy eating, diversity, and feedback. Read more
- The Crunch: 3,200 students try farm fresh carrots
Oct. 27, 2022 / “These taste a lot better than those small carrots,” the Ferguson Elementary School first-grader explained as he held up his fresh-from-the-farm carrot with the leafy top still attached. Those small carrots he referred to are the processed baby carrots often purchased in bags at grocery stories. The carrots more than 3,200 Klamath County School District students ate with their lunches Thursday (Oct. 27) were grown by Klamath Falls farmer Kent Simons of Simple Gifts Farm on Crest Street. Simons provided the carrots to 11 KCSD schools as part of the district’s Farm to School program. Read more
- Performing music with the pros
Oct. 27, 2022 / Student musicians from Brixner Junior High School, Henley Middle School, and Mazama and Henley high schools will get a chance to perform Nov. 5 with a professional musical ensemble, the Dallas Brass, on stage at the Ross Ragland Theater. Tickets for the 7 p.m. public performance are $10 for adults and $5 for students and youth, and are on sale now at the Ross Ragland ticket office. They also can be purchased the day of the performance. To buy tickets online: https://www.ragland.org/event/dallasbrass/ Read more
- KCSD: Countdown to Crunch
Oct. 21, 2022 / Grab a carrot and join students across the Klamath County School District on Thursday, Oct. 27 for the fifth annual Countdown to Crunch in celebration of National Farm to School Month. More than 3,270 students from 12 schools will countdown together and crunch into locally grown carrots produced by local farmer Kent Simons, owner of Simple Gifts Farm on Crest Street in Klamath Falls. Read more
- Don't Dream It, Be It
Oct. 20, 2022 / High school students had a chance to explore possible futures and talk to college representatives, military recruiters and even local employers Wednesday during Mazama High School’s first-ever “Don’t Dream It, Be It!” career, college, and military night. Read more
- Taste Test!
Oct. 12, 2022 / Students at Henley and Ferguson elementary schools sampled Crenshaw melons from Maranatha Farm this month as part of the district’s Farm to School program. “Taste tests are a great way to introduce new menu items and get students excited to try healthy foods at school,” said Jennifer Detwiler, KCSD’s food services supervisor. “They give students voice and choice, and survey results can be used to improve recipes and create school meals that students want to eat.” Read more
- Lost River senior organizes Ag Field Day for third graders
Sept. 29, 2022 / As she watched third-graders approach and touch a dairy cow named Daisy and pet a 6-day-old calf, Karli Britton knew her senior project – an Ag Field Day at Lost River Junior/Senior High School – was a success. “It’s so important to educate youth about agriculture and its role in the world we live in,” she said. Nearly 300 third-graders from Shasta, Chiloquin, Peterson, Merrill, Malin, and Bonanza traveled to Lost River on Wednesday for the hands-on event. The students rotated between nine stations, where they met a llama, the calf and cow, rabbits, sheep, and chickens while learning about nutrition, hay, planting, potatoes, dairy, beef, sheep and poultry. Read more
- Watermelon smiles: Melon from local farm served in school cafeterias
Sept. 22, 2022 / It was all about the watermelon during lunch today in all Klamath County School District school cafeterias. Maranatha Farm, located in Klamath Falls, provided more than 2,600 pounds of watermelon to school cafeterias as part of the district’s Farm to School Featured Food program. The farm also provided cucumbers for school salad bars. Each month, KCSD cafeterias highlight an Oregon-grown food, providing it as part of their menus and educating students on how that food made it from the farm to their plates. Read more
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Featured Food: Melons from Maranatha Farm
Sept. 16, 2022 / Watermelon grown on a local farm will be served in all KCSD school cafeterias next week! The melons were grown by John and Mary Ann Anderson of Maranatha Farm in Klamath Falls. Maranatha Farm grew the melons -- 2,625 pounds worth -- specifically for Klamath County School District. Students can expect to enjoy the fresh melons on Thursday. Maranatha Farm cucumbers also will be served in our school cafeteria salad bars next week. Read more
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Your First Day 2022-23
Sept. 9, 2022 / We asked you to share your first day photos and you did! Seeing these smiling faces reminds us why we do what we do at the Klamath County School District! Here's to a great year! Enjoy our annual "Your First Day" video slideshow! Watch the video
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A positive start: KCSD kicks off 2022-23 school year
Sept. 8, 2022 / Bonanza Junior/Senior High School Principal Jordan Osborn doesn’t expect students to do what he isn’t willing to do. “I told my students my pledge to them was I was going to be a better principal every day, and my challenge to them was to be better every day as well,” he said Wednesday as he handed out “Be Better” T-shirts to the school’s 235 students. Establishing a positive school culture and climate is an important start to a new year, and schools put out the welcome mats this week as the Klamath County School District welcomed a record number of students into its classrooms. The district has nearly 7,200 students attending 21 schools. Read more
- District, local club partner for first annual pickleball camp
Aug. 18, 2022 / Violet Wyatt had never heard of pickleball before she showed up Monday for the first day of a week-long camp featuring the game. Neither had Archer Fincher and Harper Balsz. But by the second day of camp, the three third-graders were volleying the plastic balls used in the game across nets, practicing serves, and grinning as they scrambled to hit the ball with their paddles. “It’s fun,” Archer said. “I’m pretty good, too. I’m better at this than other sports.” The Klamath County School District partnered with the Klamath Basin Pickleball Association this summer to purchase equipment and create pickleball courts on existing tennis courts at Mazama and Henley high schools. Local pickleball players then volunteered their expertise and time to coach students in a free week-long camp aimed at introducing youth to the game. Read more
- Internship program provides work experience
July 29, 2022 / Erin Donahue spent the first part of her summer working as an intern at the OSU Extension Service, gaining valuable experience and creating and producing a workbook that will be used by elementary students in a hands-on chick hatching program. Brissa Mares earned money and customer service experience helping customers at Turn Thom Point S Tire and Auto Service. Hadyn Burk, a junior, worked at the food truck, Mac and Cheese Steaks, getting work experience with the added benefit of trying out the menu. The three are among 15 teenagers who participated in this summer’s Basin Partners Internship Program (BPIP), which pairs students with local organizations and businesses so they can earn a paycheck and gain job experience. The program is currently operated by Klamath County School District and is open to all high school students in the Klamath Basin. Read more
- A summer haircut: Barbershop gives back
July 13, 2022 / A classroom at Stearns Elementary School was converted to a barbershop Tuesday when Fresh Cut Barbershop owner Cesar Lopez and his four barbers set up five chairs and shared their expertise by providing free haircuts and trims to students attending the district’s migrant summer school. Read more
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Books for kindergarten buddies
June 13, 2022 / When eighth-grader Claire Earnest created a book for her kindergarten buddy at Peterson Elementary School, she incorporated Kaitlynn Allison’s favorite things as well as hands-on activities that would help the soon-to-be first-grader – letters, numbers, shoe tying, and braiding. Earnest and other members of Brixner Junior High School Student Council created books for students in Amber McDonald’s kindergarten class as part of a buddy book project that pairs each Student Council member with a younger student. Last week, they walked to the elementary school to meet their buddies and give them their books and spend the afternoon together. Read more
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Photos: KCSD Class of 2022 Graduations!
-- Falcon Heights Alternative School
-- Mazama High School
-- Bonanza Jr/Sr High School
-- Lost River Jr/Sr High School
-- Gilchrist Jr/Sr High School
-- Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School
-- Henley High School
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KCTP Independence Day 2022
June 9, 2022 / Klamath County Transition Program celebrated Independence Day for its Class of 2022 in an outside ceremony Thursday attended by family and friends. Five students are exiting the program, which provides three years of transition services to youth ages 18-21 on individualized education plans. Read more
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Making music in Washington
June 8, 2022 / The Henley High School Band marched in the 2022 National Memorial Day Parade May 30 on Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. Jaidin Hulsey, a senior who plays saxophone in the band, called participating in the parade “a breathtaking” experience. “We marched down Constitution Avenue, past the National Mall, and right next to the monuments we have seen so many times on TV,” she said. “One of the things that stuck with me most was that normally, when we march in parades, the people watching cheer for Henley High School as we walk by. But in this parade, they cheered for Oregon since we were the only school there representing the entire state of Oregon.” Read more
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Brixner team places first in state at Oregon MESA
June 7, 2022 / Seven months ago, Onyx Leah Bartlett and Stephanie Castaneda had never written computer code and didn’t know what a high tunnel was. Today, they have designed an award-winning miniature prototype that enables one person to move the heavy-hooped tunnels used to extend a farmer’s growing season. The two Brixner Junior High School eighth-graders took first place last month in the Oregon MESA junior high engineering and design competition, beating teams from Portland-area schools. They are representing the state of Oregon at MESA’s National Engineering and Design Competition in late June. MESA stands for Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement. Read more
- Class of 2022 Vals and Sals
Meet KCSD’s class of 2022 valedictorians and salutatorians from each of our high schools – Bonanza, Chiloquin, Gilchrist, Henley, Lost River, and Mazama. These 31 students not only are at the top of their classes academically, but also participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, representing their schools and communities. Read more
- Sources of Strength: Henley student receives honor
May 26, 2022 / A Henley High School sophomore has been honored at the state level as a Sources of Strength Showcase Peer Leader for his suicide awareness and prevention video, “We Have Purpose.” Kai Crume was among 10 high school and college students honored May 26 in a virtual 2022 Oregon Sources Showcase event. Read more
- KCSD students named Ford Scholars
May 26, 2022 / Six Klamath County School District seniors – including four from Lost River Junior-Senior High School – have been selected for four-year Ford Family Foundation Scholarships that will pay for 90 percent of their unmet college costs. Recipients are Lost River seniors Aaron Reyes Rodriguez, Johan Ayala Macias, Jasmin Hernandez Aguilera, and Michelle Ruedas Chavarria; and Gilchrist Junior/Senior High School senior Samantha Spurlock. One of the recipients asked not to be named publicly. Read more
- They weren't very good. And then they were.
May 20, 2022 / If Mazama High School’s band was a sports team, their journey to the OSAA State 4A Band Championships would be a story of the underdog with a come-from-behind victory. Six weeks ago, they didn’t expect to even qualify for the state competition stage, and band members and their director agreed: “We weren’t very good.” Mazama’s concert season started with a bus breakdown in March that left the student musicians stranded for a few hours near Eagle Point. It ended May 12 with an emergency room visit, celebratory tears, and a second-place OSAA State Championship trophy. Read more
- Taking time to give back
May 16, 2022 / In one classroom, students wiped down tables and mopped floors to a shine. In another, a group replaced ceiling tiles. Outside, groups of students weeded flower beds and cleaned up grassy areas. More than 200 Bonanza Junior/Senior High School students spent a morning last week brightening their campus during the school’s annual Give Back Day. The event is a way for students and staff to take action to make their school and community a better place to live. In the past, students have cleaned up the community park and planted trees. Read more
- Harnessing the wind
May 12, 2022 / Four Henley teams will take their wind turbines to San Antonio, Texas, to compete against teams from around the country May 16-19 at the KidWind National Challenge Competition. At the KidWind Nationals Competition, teams will compete in wind tunnel tests, judging interviews, and engineering challenges, including building an off-shore wind turbine that floats while remaining stable enough to generate power. Students also will have an opportunity to team up with college students to complete a separate engineering challenge. Read more
- Future decisions: 'Be your dream'
May 10, 2022 / One student plans to be a welder, another a video game designer. Others plan careers in the military and as psychologists, medical doctors and veterinarian technicians. The soon-to-be graduates of Bonanza and Lost River high schools celebrated their futures with signing day events over the past week, publicly announcing their next steps as they move from high school seniors to young adults. Read more
- Brixner Sparrow: Celebrating Jubal
May 4, 2022 / “Jubal! Jubal! Jubal!” The 2-year-old, who nearly lost his life less than three months ago, looked up at the crowded stands in the Brixner Junior High School gymnasium and gave students a quick smile before hiding his face on his mother’s shoulder. The students then stood, clapping their hands and stomping their feet. Brixner students in March adopted Jubal as a Sparrow Club “sparrow,” and in one month, performed more than 400 hours of community service to help support the family financially as the toddler recovered from his injuries. Sparrow Club sponsors donated money to the family for the community service hours Brixner students logged in Jubal’s name. Read more
- CTE Day: Preparing for the future
April 25, 2022 / Henley Middle School eighth-grader Feather Crume is considering a career in the medical field – or perhaps in education. Classmate Rachel Edwards is interested in agriculture. Crume and Edwards were among Henley Middle School eighth-graders who spent a day at Henley High School last week, exploring Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and other electives available to them when they enter high school in the fall. This week, counselors are working with the students to help them determine their ninth-grade class schedules. Read more
- BTS donates equipment to Mazama auto shop
April 20, 2022 / Basin Transit Service last week donated a fork lift and an air compressor to Mazama High School for use in its automotive and shop programs. BTS mechanics Dave Moser and Brenden Westfall helped deliver the equipment to the school, meeting with Mazama automotive teacher Steve Walker. Read more
- FBLA students qualify for nationals
April 21, 2022 / More than 50 students from Bonanza, Gilchrist, Lost River, and Mazama FBLA chapters will be representing Oregon and Klamath County this summer at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Chicago. FBLA teams from the four schools traveled to Portland in mid-April to compete in Oregon FBLA State Business Leadership Conference in mid-April, qualifying students in 36 high school events and 12 junior high events for the national competition. The three-day state conference included the competition as well as leadership training. More than 70 schools and 1,350 students were in attendance. Read more
- Kindergarten Roundup!
Will your child be 5 years old on Sept. 1, 2022? If so, it's time for kindergarten. Save the date and join your neighborhood school to register, meet staff, and get your questions answered. Read more
- Meet KCSD's 2022 Crystal Apple Award winners
April 12, 2022 / Each year, the Klamath County School District awards Crystal Apples to eight staff who best exemplify its mission: “Inspiring today’s students to meet tomorrow’s challenges.” The winners receive their Crystal Apples during a celebration April 19 at the Ross Ragland Theater. The event is open to the public. Read more for profiles of each of the winners.
- Henley High to host STEM Expo
April 5, 2022 / The public is invited to the fourth annual Henley STEM Expo on Saturday, April 9 for the KidWind Challenge Regional Competition and a VEX Robotics exhibition. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Henley High School. Fifty-two teams will be competing. The top two high school and top two middle school teams in the KidWind Challenge will qualify for nationals in San Antonio. Oregon Tech will have its Formula SAE and Baja cars on display, and concessions will be available. Read more
- Keno student wins statewide essay contest
Keno Elementary School fourth-grader Abbi Brown is the regional and statewide winner of the 2022 Character Counts essay and drawing contest. The Character Counts essay contest, an annual event hosted by the National Association for Family and Community Education (NAFCE), is designed to help students learn about six pillars of character -- citizenship, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, and caring. Read more
- FFA students do well at state
March 23, 2022 / Klamath County School District was well-represented last weekend at the Oregon FFA State Convention in Redmond. FFA students from Lost River, Bonanza, Mazama, and Henley took home competition honors, attended workshops, served on committees, and participated in interviews. Eleven students received the Oregon FFA State Degree, a coveted and difficult to earn honor that requires, among other things, at least 30 FFA activities, 25 hours of community service, 360 hours of agriculture instruction and a supervised agricultural experience in which the member has earned or invested $1,500 and worked at least 300 hours. Read more
- Welcome to Bo' Town Showcase
March 18, 2022 / As the bell rang for break students streamed into the Bo’ Town Showcase, a newly renovated common area that highlights student achievements, provides study and meeting areas, and is home to the Bonanza Junior/Senior High School’s first-ever student store, the Grub Hub. As some students lined up to buy snacks, others sat tables to talk or work on projects. Around the room, trophy cases display awards won by student CTE groups, including FBLA, FFA, and VEX Robotics. Highlighted behind a presentation stage outfitted with a 20-by-12-foot screen and surround sound is a mural with the question, “Where will you go next,” reminding students to look towards the future. Read more
- Magnifying learning: New microscopes
March 17, 2022 / New microscopes -- 220 of them -- were delivered Thursday to junior high and high school science classrooms, improving hands-on learning opportunities and increasing access to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for students. Read more
- Brixner students pledge community service to help local boy
March 16, 2022 / Brixner Junior High School students adopted a “sparrow” last week, committing to volunteering 300 hours of community service to raise money for 2-year-old Jubal, a Klamath Falls boy who was critically injured in an accident. With the help of Sparrow Clubs National Program Director Matt Sampson, Brixner students kicked off the effort during an assembly last week. Kena Sampson, Southern Oregon Director for Sparrow Clubs, livestreamed the event for Jubal’s mother, who was in Portland at the hospital with her son. Read more
- From farm to test kitchen to schools
March 16, 2022 / Klamath County School District cooks spent a morning testing recipes that use locally grown ingredients – fingerling potatoes from Circle C in Malin and eggs from ‘Poe’ tential Farms in Poe Valley – to determine the best way to serve the fresh ingredients during meals over the next two months. Read more
- KCSD robotics teams do well; four heading to world championships
March 15, 2022 / Teams from Bonanza, Lost River, Mazama, and Henley competed well at the VEX Robotics Oregon State Championships last weekend with four teams qualifying for the world competition in May. Two Mazama High School teams, a Henley High School team and a Henley Middle School team qualified to compete in May at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas. Read more
- Chiloquin students help Klamath Tribal Youth Council with sticker shock campaign
March 11, 2022 / Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School freshman Weeyaya Brown peeled off bright yellow stickers and carefully placed them on the bottles of beer in the coolers at Clyde’s Market in Chiloquin. The stickers remind buyers that providing alcohol to minors is illegal. “This is very important to me because I know people who have struggled with alcohol, and I know people who buy alcohol for teenagers,” said Brown, a member of the Klamath Tribal Youth Council, which spearheads the awareness project. “That’s what helps start addictions. I don’t want people messing up their lives.” Read more
- KCSD schools win CTE revitalization grants
March 10, 2022 / Lost River, Henley, and Bonanza high schools have been awarded Career and Technical Education (CTE) Revitalization Grants to expand hands-on programs, update and build computer and business labs, and improve career and technical readiness pathways for students. Read more
- Chiloquin kicks off strider bike program
March 9, 2022 / Kindergarteners at Chiloquin Elementary straddled their new striders and pushed off, lifting their feet from the ground as the bikes shot forward. The students last week began learning to ride thanks to $5,000 in donations from Chiloquin Community Builders and Ninja Mountain Bike Performance, which were used to purchase a fleet of 30 strider bikes through the All Kids Bike program. The striders were assembled by volunteer instructors with Ninja Mountain Bike Performance, the largest mountain bike skills instruction company in the U.S. The company relocated its headquarters to the Chiloquin area three years ago. Chiloquin P.E. teacher Barb Whalen and volunteer Hannah Levine are teaching the lessons to kindergarteners and first-graders, helping students don their helmets and providing encouragement and advice. Levine is captain of global development for Ninja Mountain Bike Performance and bike team lead with Chiloquin Community Builders. “We want every kid to get a chance to learn how to ride regardless of circumstances,” Levine said. Read more
- Henley senior named National Merit Scholar Finalist
March 8, 2022 / Daily studying and test practice paid off for a 15-year-old Henley High School senior who last month was named a National Merit Scholar Finalist. Charlie Xu scored in the top 1% on both the PSAT and SAT college tests to qualify for the honor. Each year, nearly 1.5 million students take the test. In February, 15,000 were notified that they are finalists and qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. “That Charlie is an outstanding student is obvious, but he is so much more than that as part of our student body – he is a leader, an athlete, and a young man of incredible character,” said Andrea Gray, principal of Henley High School. “We are proud that he is a Hornet and excited for his achievement. This recognition couldn’t be bestowed on anyone more deserving.” Read more
- We Have Purpose: Henley sophomore wins video contest
Kai Crume was 12 when his basketball coach died by suicide. After sinking into a months-long depression, Kai finally found a way out while participating in the annual Modoc Ancestral Run, a 150-mile relay from Fort Klamath to the Lava Beds. “It changed me,” he says. “Now I have confidence and perspective. I see things differently.” The 15-year-old Henley High School sophomore used his experiences to create an award-winning suicide awareness video for the You Matter to Klamath 2021 Youth Suicide Prevention Video competition. He won first place in the contest for his 2-minute video “We Have Purpose,” which uses imagery from the Modoc Ancestral relay, native songs sung in the Klamath language, and a strong message about hope and connection. Read more
- Update on masks in schools
Feb. 24, 2022 / The Oregon Health Authority announced today the state will lift mask requirements in schools on March 19, nearly two weeks earlier than expected. At that time, the decision to require masks in school settings will fall to school districts and local public health authorities. Once the mandate ends on March 19, Klamath County School District plans to make masks optional in our schools. Those who wish to continue wearing a mask are welcome to do so. Read more
- Mazama senior wins Youth Leadership Award
A Mazama High School senior was one of two students honored with the first-ever Youth Leadership Award from the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce. Kennedy Lease, 18, is ASB president, a member of National Honor Society and FBLA, and caption of all three of her varsity sports teams. She is known for her dedication to her school and her ability to engage and involve her classmates. “Kennedy is a role model for other students and leaders in the community,” said Mazama Principal Jennifer Hawkins in her nomination letter. “She is passionate, inspirational, and driven. Kennedy is just beginning her career in leadership and she will go far and accomplish great things.” Read more
- KCSD Food Services team awarded U.S Capitol flag
During a virtual town hall Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., honored Klamath County School District’s Food Services team with a ceremonial American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol. The senator recognized the team, led by food services director Candace Gracik and food services field supervisor Jennifer Detwiler, for their work providing emergency meals during the Bootleg Fire last summer. Following evacuations of Bly-area residents, the food services team organized free community luncheons at the Antler Grill in Bly and provided grab-and-go meals for youth ages 18 and under. Read more
- Henley starts robotics clubs at elementary, middle schools
Henley Elementary School sixth-grader Makayla Schroeder uses a controller to carefully maneuver a robot onto a cardboard ramp. Across campus at Henley Middle School, eighth-grader Dylan Orr peers into the inner workings of a VEX robot as his team discusses its next steps. Makayla and Dylan are members of inaugural after-school robotics clubs started this fall by Henley High School seniors and chief science officers Bo James and Andrew Edwards. Read more
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Budget Committee positions open
KCSD has three openings on its budget committee. The budget committee works with the KCSD Board of Directors to review and approve the district’s annual budget. Click here for application information
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District seeks Crystal Apple Award nominations
Do you know a Klamath County School District teacher or staff member who makes an extra effort to inspire and help students? If so, consider nominating them for a Crystal Apple Award. The Crystal Apple is given to KCSD staff who go above and beyond for students of all backgrounds and abilities. A nominee can be a teacher, a counselor or a classified employee who has been with the district for at least three years. Read more
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KCSD board continues to push for local control
The Klamath County School District Board of Directors sent a third resolution to Gov. Kate Brown this week, urging the state to change COVID-19 requirements to recommendations and allow the district to work directly with Klamath County Public Health to determine appropriate mitigation strategies for its schools. Read more
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Students certified in emergency response
Jan. 25, 2022 / If there is an emergency or a natural disaster, Charles Gonsowski knows how to help – and the teenager is qualified to do so. Gonsowski was among 48 Henley High School students who earned the FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification Jan. 20, qualifying them to volunteer to help during emergencies and natural disasters. Read more
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Work starts on Shasta addition
Jan. 24, 2022 / The Klamath County School District maintenance team worked with local contractors today to finish pouring concrete to complete the foundation for a new six-classroom addition at Shasta Elementary School. Read more
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A look at KCSD's 2021 graduation rates
Jan. 20, 2022 / Four high schools in the Klamath County School District boasted graduation rates above 90 percent in 2021 and one of those – Lost River Junior/Senior High School – had a perfect graduation of 100 percent for the third year in a row. “I’m very proud of the work our high schools, our seniors, and their families did overcoming a lot of challenges last year,” said Jeff Bullock, KCSD secondary curriculum and school improvement director. “Our graduating seniors deserve to be recognized for their extra effort.” Other schools above 90 percent were Henley High School at 97.50 percent, Bonanza Junior/Senior High School at 95.45 percent, and Mazama High School at 91.03 percent. Read more
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KCSD celebrates school board recognition month
Jan. 13, 2022 / The Klamath County School District is joining 196 school districts throughout Oregon to celebrate its school board members in January during School Board Recognition Month. In the past two years, the five-member KCSD Board of Directors faced the challenge of operating a school district in the midst of a pandemic head on, and this month is a chance to recognize their hard work and continued efforts to keep students in the classrooms and learning, said KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak. “Our school board members are volunteers who spend countless hours working to provide the best possible education for our students,” he said. “Even though we are making a special effort during January to show appreciation, we recognize their contributions reflect a year-round volunteer effort on their part. They are dedicated individuals who are committed to improving student achievement and success.” Read more
- Henley senior wins Flight Academy Scholarship
Jan. 3, 2022 / Andrew Edwards, a senior at Henley High School, has received a scholarship to the Air Force Junior ROTC Flight Academy Program. The scholarship, valued at more than $22,000, covers transportation, room and board, academics, and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot certificate. Through the program, Edwards will attend an accredited aviation university in the summer of 2022. Read more
- Bonanza delivers food, gifts to families
Dec 20. 2021 / Forty Bonanza area families received gifts and holiday food boxes last week thanks to the efforts of Bonanza Junior/Senior High School and community partners, Bonanza Cares and Living Springs Fellowship Church. Read more
- Bonanza teacher wins VFW award
Dec. 16, 2021 / Bonanza Junior/Senior High School math teacher Mallory Drake was named the local Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1383’s Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year last week during a ceremony in front of the student body. Read more
- Carols in the park
Dec. 9, 2021 / Malin Elementary School brought their holiday program to the community this year. The entire student body -- more than 120 strong -- performed carols outside Wednesday night at the annual tree lighting celebration at Malin Park. The students sang three songs -- Rudolph, Feliz Navidad, and I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas. Shortly after, the switch was flipped, lighting up the wonderland that is Malin Park in December. The siren from a fire truck announced the arrival of Santa. Malin Principal Margaret McCadden said she hopes this will become a new tradition for the school. For photos, click here
- A mural for Chiloquin: Students focus on the future
Dec. 8, 2021 / When local artist Leonard Wilder asked Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School seventh- and eighth-graders to brainstorm about the future of their city, many envisioned a thriving community where people had jobs and homes and felt pride in where they lived. Wilder, a 1965 graduate of Chiloquin, visited the school’s shop and art classes last week to get ideas for the 50-by-10-foot mural he will create as part of the Chiloquin Green Schoolyard Project. The mural will represent the past, present, and future. Art Ochoa, a 1970 graduate of Chiloquin and schoolyard project coordinator, joined him. They asked students to focus on the future. “We’re trying to get feedback from our seventh- and eighth-graders since they were involved in the original schoolyard idea,” Ochoa said. “We want them to continue to be invested.” Read more
- 'Warm hugs' from Project Linus
Dec. 3, 2021/ This winter, nearly 400 Klamath County School District students will receive a “warm hug” in the form of a handmade blanket thanks to Project Linus. Suzy Field and Susan Oates of Project Linus delivered bags full of the colorful blankets to the KCSD Central Office this week. Over the past decade, the local chapter has provided more than 12,000 blankets to community organizations who help youth. They refer to the blankets as “warm hugs.” Read more
- Bonanza renovates high school weight room
Dec. 2, 2021 / Bonanza Junior/Senior High School unveiled a new, updated weight room this week featuring five complete power rack stations as well as new equipment and a fresh coat of paint. The renovation was funded by a $10,000 grant from the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) and $15,000 in private donations. Read more
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Three KCSD students Coca Cola semifinalists
Three Klamath County School District seniors are semifinalists in the competitive Coca Cola Scholars Foundation program, earning a spot in the top 2 percent of more than 68,000 applicants nationwide. Jasmin Hernandez and Anabelle Ross of Lost River Junior/Senior High School and Janah Moorer of Mazama High School are among 1,617 students invited to submit a second round of applications for the $20,000 college scholarship. Read more
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Raiders embrace season of giving
Twenty Merrill and Malin families received a turkey and a food box last week stuffed to the brim with Thanksgiving meal goodies and lots of extras – pastas, beans, pancake mixes, sweets – thanks to Lost River Junior/Senior High School students and staff. Read more
- Henley Pioneer Day: A step back in time
Third- and fourth-graders at Henley Elementary School took a step back in time for a few hours on Thursday, spending the morning learning about games and activities children their age participated in during the 1800s. They learned to make homemade butter, created twirlers and whirly gigs, and used a hammer and nail to create a tin start Christmas tree ornament. For more
- Bonanza senior to ride for Texas A&M
Nov. 18, 2021 / A Bonanza senior is heading to Texas next fall with a scholarship and a spot on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team. Kaitlyn Bloom, 17, will study pre-veterinarian medicine while competing in Western Horsemanship at the Division 1 NCAA level. She signed her letter of intent last week in front of friends and family at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School. Read more
- Student project benefits local business
Nov. 17, 2021 / Advanced ag mechanic and master technician students from Lost River and Henley high schools teamed up this year to update the front entrance of Basin Fertilizer & Chemical Co., in Merrill. “It turned out fantastic,” said co-owner Amie McAuliffe said last week after the final pieces were installed. “Employers need employees with these skills. These students will have experience in welding, fabrication, electrical and wood and metal work. Those skills are invaluable. Read more
- Chiloquin breaks ground for new schoolyard
Oct 26, 2021 / A groundbreaking celebration on Tuesday that included ceremonial tossing of dirt with golden shovels kicked off construction of a $1.3 million project that will build a new outdoor space at Chiloquin Elementary School. Thanks to community collaboration and support, organizers of the Chiloquin Green Schoolyard project have nearly all the funds necessary to redesign the space. Plans incorporate a playground area, a covered outdoor basketball court, interpretative walking paths, and community garden spaces at the elementary school. Tuesday’s event was attended by Chiloquin Elementary School students, community supporters and project donors. Don Gentry, chair of The Klamath Tribes, gave the blessing; drummers from the Warrior Society performed, and campaign leaders and key partners spoke of the long-lasting impact the project will have on the community and its families.
- Counting down to the crunch
Oct. 21, 2021 / “That carrot was soooo good!” a Stearns Elementary School kindergartener enthused as he approached farmer Kent Simons, who had provided the fresh carrots from his half-acre farm a few blocks away. “Would you like another one?” Simons asked. The red-headed boy grinned. “Yes!” Simons teamed with OSU Extension educator Patty Case on Thursday at Stearns Elementary to talk about carrots and field questions from students during the community’s fourth annual Countdown to Crunch event in honor of National Farm to School Month. This year, students throughout the Klamath County School District crunched carrots from his farm, Simple Gifts Farm. They were harvested with the tops on just last week.
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Tribes donate $500,000 to Chiloquin track and field project
Oct. 20, 2021 / The Klamath Tribes has donated $500,000 to Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School’s track and field renovation project. “We appreciate the Tribal Council’s ongoing support of our schools and communities,” said John Rademacher, chair of the Klamath County School District Board of Directors. “This generous donation will go far to make this facility a place of which the Chiloquin community can be proud.” The $500,000 will be used to upgrade the lighting, concessions, restrooms, and bleachers for the track and field facility.
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98% of KCSD employees in compliance as state deadline arrives
Oct. 18, 2021 / As the state vaccination deadline for educators arrived today (Oct. 18), 98% of Klamath County School District employees were in compliance – either by being fully vaccinated or submitting a valid exception. “Our employees take their jobs seriously. They take the education of our community’s youth seriously,” said Glen Szymoniak, superintendent of the Klamath County School District. “This dedication helped ensure that students would not see a disruption in services and programs.”
- Brixner wins award for schoolyard habitat
Oct. 15, 2021 / Over the past three years, Brixner Junior High School teacher Kara Contreras and her ecology students have created an outdoor classroom that attracts pollinators, provides habitat for the endangered monarch butterfly, and last spring was home to fledgling barn owls. That classroom – called a Schoolyard Habitat – earned Brixner an Eco-Schools USA Bronze Award from the National Wildlife Federation for exceptional achievement in educating for sustainability.
- Join us for the Klamath Carrot Crunch!
Oct. 7, 2021 / Grab a carrot and join students across the Klamath County School District on Oct. 21 for the fourth annual Countdown to Crunch in celebration of National Farm to School Month. In past years, students have crunched Oregon-grown apples and Klamath-grown spinach. This year, Kent Simons from Simple Gifts Farm and Jordan Rainwater from Belweather Farm are supplying the district with more than 4,000 fresh carrots for the Klamath Carrot Crunch.
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New classroom addition complete; Shasta project next
Sept. 28, 2021 / Fifth- and sixth-graders and special program students at Stearns Elementary School started classes this fall in the district’s newest building, an 11,000-square-foot addition on their school campus. The stand-alone building next to the school’s playground has a wide, brightly lit hallway, reflective windows, painted concrete floors, and the latest classroom technology. “This gives us more space, and provides a sense of community and a cooperative learning environment for our older students,” said Beth Clark, principal of Stearns Elementary School.
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'The state needs to keep hearing us'
Sept. 20, 2021 / The Klamath County School District Board of Directors will send a second resolution to Gov. Kate Brown urging the state to change COVID-19 requirements to recommendations and allow the district to work directly with Klamath County Public Health to determine the appropriate mitigation strategies for its schools. KCSD board member Marc Staunton, who represents the south county, brought up the need to continue to push against state mandates. “I was voted onto the school board by people in the community who expected me to be a voice for them ... if we don’t express our discontent the state mandates will continue.”
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Chiloquin Green Schoolyard project ready to break ground
Sept. 16, 2021 / Groundbreaking for a $1.3 million project that enhances and redesigns outdoor space at Chiloquin Elementary School could happen as soon as October. Thanks to community collaboration and support, organizers of the Chiloquin Green Schoolyard project have nearly all the funds necessary to build a new outdoor space that incorporates a playground area, a covered outdoor basketball court, interpretative walking paths, and community garden spaces at the elementary school.
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KCSD welcomes new administrators
Sept. 9, 2021 / Klamath County School District has some new leaders at schools and in the district office for the 2021-22 school year. Meet our new principals, vice principals, and district leadership team members.
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Stop for school buses; slow down in school zones
Sept. 5, 2021 / Every year, drivers who disobey the yellow and red flashing lights of school buses put children at risk. “It happens daily,” said Shawn Snoozy, transportation supervisor for the Klamath County School District. “In some cases, I think drivers are naïve to the law.”
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Town Hall: District leaders answer questions from parents
Sept. 2, 2021 / More than 70 community members joined KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak Sept. 2 for a discussion about schools and state mandates. “I will always be accountable to you and listen to you," he said. "Now whether I can do everything you want? I can’t make that promise, but I can promise you that I’m going to provide you with a respectful environment so you can get your questions answered.”
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More than 170 attend first KCSD town hall
Sept. 1, 2021 / Klamath County School District leaders and community officials listened to parents and answered questions for nearly two hours tonight (Sept. 1) at the first of two town halls being hosted this week by Superintendent Glen Szymoniak.
- KCSD awarded for financial excellence
Aug. 31, 2021 / For the seventh year in a row, the Klamath County School District has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
- County school district to host town halls
Aug. 27, 2021 / The Klamath County School District will host two town halls next week to provide a chance for families to get their questions answered as schools prepare to open to full-time, in-person learning. The district is asking that questions be submitted by email to blands@kcsd.k12.or.us by noon the day before each town hall.
- KCSD Human Resources team wins top honors
Aug. 16, 2021 / Klamath County School District’s human resources team of Mark Greif and Chelsey Tyree swept the Oregon School Personnel Association’s 2020-21 awards last month, bringing home top honors as HR Director of the Year and HR Specialist of the Year.
- KCSD to offer free community lunch, grab-and-go meals
July 20, 2021 / The Klamath County School District will host a second community lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 22 at the Antler Bar and Grill in Bly, a site for Bootleg Fire evacuees. The event is open to the community.
- VIDEO: KCSD Migrant Summer School Concert
July 1, 2021 / Fourth- and fifth-graders at KCSD's Migrant Summer School put together a concert under the direction of awesome teachers Janine Fairfield and Sharon Cosand. They performed for their classmates June 30 and July 1. This video is a shortened version of their concert. Enjoy!
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