KUA News

May 2026 Newsletter

Empowerment Through Opportunity

Our mission: to break down barriers for students by providing more instructional time, enriching programs and a high-expectations, no-excuses environment to ensure high school graduation, college success and career readiness are reasonable goals for all students regardless of race, language, ethnicity, gender, economic status or zip code.

Administrators’ message

More opportunities for volunteering in 2025-26 have supported Kids Unlimited Academy’s mission. KUA is grateful for all the parents and guardians, including members of our charter school’s new Parent-Teacher Organization, who have stepped up to help make this school year a success.

Your family can make the most significant impact of the year by volunteering at this month’s Southern Oregon Open. KU’s annual fundraising basketball tournament is an “all-hands-on-deck” event!

Families who sign up to pitch in at the S.O. Open for four or more hours May 9-10 will fulfill their required parent engagement hours for the entire school year! Volunteers are needed at multiple locations in Medford to help with scorekeeping, game book, concessions and door/entry support.

Here are some of the key volunteer responsibilities:

Admissions Gate – Greet spectators, collect entrance fees, apply wristbands and ensure everyone entering is wearing one. This role may also involve helping with concessions.
Concessions – Assist as a cashier; some locations may require serving hot and cold food while others are just snacks and bottled drinks. At some locations, the gate and concessions are a combined responsibility.
Clock/Scorekeeper – Tracks points and fouls using the clock and scorebook. Basketball experience is helpful, but KU staff will train anyone who’s willing to learn.

In its 18th year, the S.O. Open is KU’s signature fundraising event, bringing 200 youth basketball teams from California, Washington, Nevada and around Oregon. Together with their families, these players and coaches represent more than 7,500 visitors staying, eating and recreating in our region. All proceeds support KU programs.

Let’s work together to highlight KU’s transformational work in our community and make this the best fundraiser yet! As staff prepares for the tournament, including usage of KUA’s gymnasiums, there will be no school Friday, May 8.

Lupita Vargas – KU Director of Educational Services, lvargas@kuaoregon.org

Lindsay Ochs – KUA Principal, lindsay.ochs@kuaoregon.org

David Thygeson – KUA Assistant Principal, david.thygeson@kuaoregon.org

Lindsay Ochs

Principal

From the Principal’s desk

Collaborative school efforts are cultivating capable, confident readers at Kids Unlimited Academy!

Reading instruction, targeted interventions and progress monitoring have produced big results during the 2025-26 school under KUA’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Much of the work focuses on building students’ abilities to decode words, so they can read with more accuracy and confidence, said Amanda Miller, KUA’s MTSS coordinator.

“From fall to winter, students at KUA made meaningful progress in reading accuracy across the school,” said Miller. “We saw a decrease in the number of students in the highest-risk category, along with a notable increase in the number of students meeting benchmark expectations.”

KUA students reading at grade level increased 12% between the beginning and middle of the school year, said Miller. And students at high risk in reading dropped by the same rate during the same time period at KUA, she said.

Reading growth has been remarkable among some KUA students. Two fourth graders recently accelerated from reading at two levels below their grade’s standard to reading a fourth-grade text with 98-99% accuracy, said Miller. “We are so proud of their hard work and perseverance!”

All KUA students are supported under MTSS in the specific ways they need to be supported. About 80% of students are supported by the least intensive tier 1, which aligns with KUA’s schoolwide standard. About 15% of KUA students need tier-2 interventions, an example of which are small reading groups. About 5% of KUA students need tier 3, which may constitute one-on-one tutoring.

This holistic system merges computer diagnostics and staff observation to strengthen students’ academic performance. Student assessments use an evidence-based evaluation tool that aligns with KUA’s English language arts curriculum. Staff also note dramatic behavior improvements among students who struggled in reading and mathematics prior to MTSS intervention.

The approach promotes inclusion and equity among students. And it normalizes individualized education plans and prevents unnecessary referrals to special education.

“MTSS growth reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and the strength of KUA’s schoolwide focus on foundational reading skills,” said Miller.

“We are proud of the progress our students have made and are excited to continue this important work as we move into the spring!”

Attendance matters!

Regular school attendance promotes school success and is required by Oregon Law, which mandates that students miss no more than 15 school days each academic year. Any student absent for 10 or more consecutive days will be dropped from KUA enrollment. Your child may lose his/her spot at KUA.

The loss of learning that takes place when your child is absent cannot be replaced. Chronic absenteeism in kindergarten can predict lower test scores, poor attendance and retention in later grades. If you need help getting your child to school on time, please reach out to us!

Always notify the school, by calling the office at 541-774-3900 between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., when your child is absent or going to be absent for any reason. Please provide the student’s full name, grade and reason for absence. A doctor’s note is required for absences of longer than 3 days.

Attendance matters!

Why year-round school?

We can’t speak highly enough of our year-round academic calendar, which is overwhelmingly supported by our families. Below are a few key reasons why we decided in 2021 to become Oregon’s first year-round public school.

Students retain what they learn all year, rather than experience summer learning loss.
Additional time for authentic hands-on learning opportunities, excursions and field trips.
Additional school days help to close the achievement gap.
Increased opportunities for extra help and tutoring.
Consistent routines lead to better-adjusted students — and teachers
Easier access for vacations during the school year.
Decreased teacher and student absences.

What’s cooking?

Our Food Program fills up students with wholesome meals.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus incorporate locally produced ingredients, including seasonally fresh fruits and vegetables. Lasagna, roast turkey and beef stir-fry are new recipes to complement favorites like carne asada tacos and green pozole. Check out the menu at kuaoregon.org/menu

All Kids Unlimited Academy students are eligible for free breakfast, lunch and dinner — cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients in our on-site kitchen. We are an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Our nationally recognized, award-winning food program is unique in the Medford school district, and we take pride in providing students’ daily nutrition. Build your kids’ healthy habits at home with whole foods instead of processed ones.

Spring is the season for greens! And you can choose almost any — spinach, chard, kale, collards, even beet greens — for this easy, budget-friendly one-pot meal that uses pantry-staple items, such as dried pasta and canned beans. Feel free to add leftover steamed or sauteed veggies or cooked meat.

Find more family-friendly recipes at cookingmatters.org

Pasta with Beans and Greens

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) package whole-wheat pasta
2 medium onions
1 medium carrot
3 large cloves garlic
2 pounds (1 large bunch) spinach or kale
2 (15.5-ounce) cans great northern, cannellini, or lima beans
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving and setting aside 1 cup pasta cooking water.
While pasta is cooking, rinse, peel, and dice the onions and carrot. Peel and mince the garlic.
Rinse the greens, more than once if needed to remove all grit. Remove tough stems. Chop coarsely.
In a colander, drain and rinse the beans.
In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Add garlic, carrot, onion and greens. Cook until onions are soft.
Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and seasonings. Cook until greens are tender.
Add beans to greens. If needed, add a little more reserved pasta water to make a sauce.
Add cooked pasta to beans and greens. Toss to combine. Cook until pasta is heated through, for about 5 more minutes.

Makes 12 servings.

Table Talk

Family conversations during meals or before bedtime are a great way to reconnect, help younger kids to develop language skills and help parents to stay informed about happenings at school.

If kids are reluctant to talk about events of the day out loud, encourage them to explore their feelings by drawing or — for older kids — writing some thoughts on paper. Use the Table Talk flyer sent home with students as a guide and return it to the front office for credit toward fulfilling monthly volunteer hours.

“What’s your favorite song? Sing or hum the tune.”

“Describe the smell and color of your favorite flower.”

“What do you love most about your mother, stepmother, grandmother or the person who cares for you?”