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A note from the Superintendent;

Exciting changes are on the horizon for our educational community, as we embark on a journey to enrich the lives of our students through the implementation of the Capturing Kids' Hearts program.

Starting from the 24-25 school year, Klamath Falls City Schools (KFCS) will introduce CKH at Ponderosa Middle School and Eagle Ridge High School. Additionally, for the 25-26 school year, we plan to extend this program to Klamath Union High School, Conger Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Mills Elementary, and Pelican Elementary.

Capturing Kids' Hearts is more than just a program; it's a holistic approach to education that focuses on fostering social-emotional wellbeing, building meaningful relationships, and enhancing student connectedness. Through experiential training, expert coaching, and a character-based curriculum tailored to students' needs, CKH equips educators with the tools to create a campus culture rooted in empathy, respect, and understanding.

We anticipate several positive outcomes from the implementation of CKH, including:

1. Increased student achievement: By nurturing a supportive and inclusive learning environment, students are more likely to thrive academically.
2. Decrease in discipline referrals: By building strong relationships and addressing underlying issues, disciplinary incidents can be significantly reduced.
3. Increased attendance rates: When students feel valued and connected, they are more motivated to attend school regularly.
4. Increased graduation rates: By fostering a sense of belonging and providing personalized support, we aim to increase graduation rates and empower students to pursue their dreams.
5. Increased teacher satisfaction: Empowering educators with effective strategies for building relationships can lead to greater job satisfaction and fulfillment.

At the heart of the Capturing Kids' Hearts program are four fundamental questions:

1. What are you doing?
2. What are you supposed to be doing?
3. Are you doing it?
4. What are you going to do about it?

These questions serve as a compass for guiding student behavior, encouraging self-reflection, and promoting accountability. Additionally, CKH emphasizes the importance of affirmations, encouraging students to speak up and express their thoughts and feelings openly.

As Flip Flippen wisely said, "If you have a child’s heart, you have a child’s mind." By prioritizing social-emotional learning and relationship-building, we are laying the foundation for academic success and personal growth.

We are thrilled to embark on this journey together and look forward to witnessing the positive impact of Capturing Kids' Hearts on our schools and community.

Sincerely,

Keith A. Brown

Every student, every day, whatever it takes!

Photo: The team named the Potterheads, (team to the left) made up of Isabella Dean, Bridget Duarte, Carter Hudson, Will Knowlton and Mason Young, managed by Kali Carter-Hudson, finished in first place during a Destination Imagination competition in Hillsboro last week to qualify for Global Finals.

Destination Imagination is the largest creative problem solving competition in the world. Every year, Destination Imagination teams from around the state compete in five different challenges for a chance to be invited to compete at Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City, Mo.

This past Saturday, March 16, three teams of KFCS elementary school students went to the Destination Imagination Affiliate Tournament in Hillsboro, Ore.

A team of second graders from Conger Elementary School performed in the non-competitive Rising Stars challenge.

The team members are: Olivia McPherson, Catalina Santiago, Flint Fields and Maximillian Marshall. Their team manager was Raphael Santiago.

A group of six fourth and fifth graders from Roosevelt Elementary School competed in the improvisation challenge for a chance to be invited to Global Finals. The group, named ID a Factory, performed well and finished in third place in the competition. Team members include: Evelyn Murray, Maya Tibay, Vega Priem, Lea Matchett, Emilia VanCurler and Annabelle Ritzenthaler. The team’s manager is Roosevelt fourth grade instructor, Jay Knodel.

Roosevelt also had a group of five fourth graders which competed in the Technical Challenge.

Roosevelt’s technical challenge team, named the Potterheads, fared the best at the competition and took home first place to earn an invitation to compete at Global Finals May 22-25.

The team making it to the global competition is Isabella Dean, Bridget Duarte, Carter Hudson, Will Knowlton and Mason Young, managed by Kali Carter-Hudson.

“They wowed the appraisers with their solutions,” 21st Century Community Learning Centers Director, Bill Patterson, said. “All the teams did great at the competition.”

The technical team is now trying to raise money to be able to compete in Kansas City.

There will be up to 10,000 students competing at globals from grades 3-12.

Each challenge has three levels. Typically, over 70 teams from around the world compete in every level of each challenge.

Reserve your ticket now for the Mr. Pelican Pageant, which will start at 7 p.m. Friday, April 12 at the Ross Ragland Theater.

The 18th annual Mr. Pelican contest will highlight nine senior boys who are sure to entertain you with their talent and swimsuits.

Mr. Pelican is a fundraising event, and this year's proceeds will benefit Klamath Hospice and Palliative Care's summer grief camps for Klamath Basin kids.

Contestants:

Mathyis Horton

Nathan Carter

Carter Harmon

Gus Hendricks

Andrew Segura-Mendez

Miles McCalister

Josiah Kupitz

Greysen Johnson

Dominic Armijo

This year's charity event needs your support! Buy your tickets for Mr. Pelican at www.ragland.org or

click on this link: https://or-klamathfalls lite.intouchreceipting.com/MRPelicanpreview=true&fbclid=IwAR2xoBEN7PNMjtsvkD1eCKs8pkk8RkBR_uO6lnpe9YzkMfdY3kpeE-HMAYY and click the contestant of your choice and "Fill his Nest" to donate to this year's Mr. Pelican.

Members in band at Ponderosa Middle School showcased at concert just before spring break Thursday night in the school's gymnasium.

During the concert, the last song of the night was a tribute to the military branches.

The first ever Neon Nights Extravaganza was a great success at Pel Court last Saturday.

Students from all four Klamath Falls City Schools elementary schools (Mills, Roosevelt, Conger and Pelican), as well as Klamath Home Learning Academy, attended the 1st Annual Neon Nights Extravaganza.

Over 250 students and parents participated in activities such as the hula-hoop, limbo, musical chairs and a dessert walk, all while wearing neon face paint, showing off their neon lights and dancing the night away.

Thank you to the Klamath Union Boosters for running concessions. All the proceeds from the event will go to the individual elementary schools as well as the KU Digital Media Program.

Klamath Union DECA is fundraising for the international DECA competition on April 26-30 in Anaheim, California!

To raise funds KU DECA has partnered with Howard's Meat Center, Pourhorse, and KU Culinary to make and sell dinner boxes. All proceeds will go directly to reducing the travel cost ensuring the 10 students who qualified can compete. KU students selling dinner boxes:

1. Cassidy Bogatay
2. Paetyn Eckert
3. Halina-Lee Ganong
4. Carter Harmon
5. Jacob Martin
6. Brooke Nelson
7. Alyse Perez
8. Eleanor Rodriguez
9. Aeris Saindon
10. Evangelina Stanfield

If one of these students asks you, please be sure to include their name on the Salesperson line, so they receive credit for the sale.

Order your Dinner Box:
Click this link, leading to the online website that takes credit cards, or print out the attached order form and mail or drop it off at KU's main office Attn: Joel McPherson with payment (cash or check payable to KU DECA). Orders are due by April 2nd with meal pickup on April 12th at the KU Cafeteria. If you have any questions about the meal boxes, please contact Joel.

Thank you for supporting our amazing students!

The Pelican Elementary School Booster Club has partnered with Elite Apparel to provide students and families Pelican swag. A portion of each order's proceeds will go back to Pelican Elementary. You can order right from the Elite Apparel website: https://eliteappareloregon.com...

When your order is ready, you will be notified and then can pick it up in the Pelican front office. Help support your school and shop local!

Look through flyers for the Conger Spirit Wear online store, as well as a thank you to SmithBates.

The direct link to the store is here: http://conger.orderpromos.com/

Communication and I-statements

We want to have effective communication with our children, partners, family, friends and co-workers, but it is sometimes a difficult skill to learn. I-statements are one way to improve your ability to communicate your needs and wants in a way that allows others to understand what (and why) you are saying or asking for something.

Do you feel your kid gets defensive each time you give them feedback on a behavior? Do most of your interactions with other people end up in an argument?

What is an I-statement?

I feel _________________ when _____________________ and it would be helpful if ______________.

An I-statement allows us to share our own feelings and wants in a way that the other person can hear without getting defensive. By focusing on the effects on ourselves, this type of communication is more likely to result in a positive response, as the other party is less likely to feel defensive and more likely to make the change we need.

An example of You-statement vs an I-statement is:

You need to help more with the kitchen clean-up. (sounds judgmental)

I feel tired and need help with the kitchen clean-up so I can sit down and relax earlier. (explains why you need help)

The more we practice, the smoother and easier it is to effectively ask for what we need and why we need it. An I-statement can open the conversation to allow for problem-solving instead of setting up a power struggle that has no winner. Use the outline above to practice and encourage your kids to use this format too. You may also follow this link for more information and practice ideas. https://veryspecialtales.com/i-statements-examples-worksheets/

Good luck!

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

Information provided by

Stewart Decker, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FWMS

Jeanette Rutherford, MA, LPC

Jennifer Newton, RD, LD, CDCES, MPH

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

Read about our alumni

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

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

Synergy SIS Portal

Electronic Flyers for Your Students School
Thrillshare

How Will I Know if School is Cancelled?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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