KUA News

August 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.

Administrator’s message

As Kids Unlimited’s new director of educational services, my journey with the organization has come full circle.

It began when I attended Oak Grove Elementary School and one of KU’s first afterschool cohorts. Joining me was my sister, Lupita, who has taken another leadership role with KU. We both excelled in academics and KU Pass to Play basketball. Those experiences were formative to our future success.

I received my Ph.D. in Education Leadership from University of San Diego in 2025 after my master’s studies at Arizona State University, and undergraduate studies at Maine’s Bowdoin College. The highly competitive Gates Millennium Scholarship, awarded in 2010, funded my education since I graduated from South Medford High School.

While I lived and worked as an educator in France and in the Southwest, I also valued coming home to Medford to teach migrant education at KU summer camp and Kids Unlimited Academy summer school. As the son of agricultural workers, I wanted to pay forward what I gained from KU to the next generation of students.

My role with KU will focus on student achievement, belief in oneself and social-emotional learning, in addition to recruiting more students, particularly bilingual, English language learners and those who receive migrant education services. Parents this year are likely to see more creativity in KU programming and an emphasis on our charter school’s standards. These will be visible across social media, including YouTube, TikTok and other platforms.

Serving my community has renewed my sense of educational purpose. At the head of KUA, KU Afterschool, summer camps, enrichment and sports, I aim to integrate the best of all these programs and, using my background in research, elevate KU’s impact and empower our students with new opportunities.

Thank you for welcoming me back to the organization that has made such a difference for so many kids!

KUA will welcome back families for a “Popsicle With the Principal” from 5 to 5:45 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 27. This event constitutes our first Site Council meeting. Everyone is welcome at the school field to enjoy a cool treat!

The KU Food Program is treating students this year to more variety at breakfast and lunch. See the What’s Cooking? section below for more details about our “offer versus serve” model and KUA’s salad bar, both new for 2026-27!

— Dr. Beto Vargas, beto.vargas@kuaoregon.org

Meet our new KUA staff!

Lucy Newell, first grade teacher

What is your educational background and training?

I attended Southern Oregon University and obtained my bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I had an amazing student teaching experience in the Phoenix-Talent school district where I deepened my passion for hands-on learning, developing positive relationships and helping students work to reach their full potential.

What do you enjoy about working in elementary education?

I enjoy forming strong relationships with students and their families! I’m doing this we create a sense of safety within our school, and a child feeling safe while attending school is essential to learning and growing.

What do you think makes Kids Unlimited Academy different from other schools locally?

While I have seen some amazing schools locally, Kids Unlimited Academy is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The mission to creating a sense of belonging has really shaped our schools culture and mission to putting our kids first. Coming into KUA, you can feel that mission emulating off all the staff working here. That’s what really makes this place special.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time I love to paddle board, read fantasy books and spend time with my friends and family! The people in my circle are so extremely important to me, and being with them fills my bucket.

Brianna Murphy, second grade teacher

What is your educational background and training?

I have a degree in Liberal Studies, and this is my 12th year teaching students in grades 4–8. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of students and learning styles, which has helped me grow as an educator.

What do you enjoy about working in elementary education?

I love building connections with my students and getting to know them as individuals. It is incredibly rewarding to know that each year, I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their lives and help them grow both academically and personally.

What do you think makes Kids Unlimited Academy different from other schools locally?

I think Kids Unlimited Academy stands out because of its focus on empowering children and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. The staff is incredibly supportive, and there is a strong sense of community that truly feels like a family.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my family and our dogs, especially relaxing at the lake. I also love having family game nights or simply snuggling up together to watch a good movie.

Lindsay Ochs

Principal

From the Principal’s desk

Accepted. Valued. Empowered.

These core principles of Kids Unlimited Academy compose the theme for our 2026-27 school year.

“Empowerment through opportunity” is the Kids Unlimited mission. We reach this ideal, however, only when students are seen, heard and guided in safe, caring environments toward their individual growth and development.

At KUA, a free public charter school, we accept all students just as they are, regardless of their background, culture, gender, ethnicity, income, language, abilities or educational needs. With a larger enrollment in 2026-27, KUA is accepting even more students to benefit from our enriching programs and high-expectations, no-excuses environment. KUA’s school uniforms are just one indicator that everyone belongs, and we’re all in this together.

Schoolwide values at KUA reinforce the message that each student is valued. Students who demonstrate respect, responsibility and integrity are recognized at each trimester’s Royal Awards assemblies. We emphasize these values through appropriate language and communication, appropriate personal space and boundaries, honoring each person’s culture, valuing diversity, choosing truth and honesty and striving toward every opportunity while providing them to others.

KUA leadership believes that students with educational opportunities are empowered throughout a lifetime of learning. Several new KUA opportunities in 2026-27 advance this mission.

High-dosage tutoring will be available after school at KUA with support from the Medford school district. Funded by Oregon Department of Education, this supplement for high-need students aims to improve early literacy. Third through fifth graders who are not yet proficient on state standardized English language arts tests are targeted for this intervention.

More hands-on practice in everyday, creative and journalistic writing will characterize this school year. Students will practice both writing by hand and typing to build skills in advance of state ELA testing in spring 2027. The production of a student-led KUA newsletter is one goal of this initiative.

Social-emotional learning is a continued focus this year at KUA. Student engagement and positive feedback related to Ripple Effects, our research-based SEL curriculum, shows a meaningful impact that we believe will only keep growing.

As always, parents are vital partners in KUA’s mission, and their involvement makes all the difference. Please review the “parental keys for a successful year” on page 19 of the KUA Student/Parent Handbook. These are values and habits to model and practice with your student daily. Then plan to join our school community at monthly events that promote collaboration, connection and celebration!

Thank you for your commitment to our charter school, our students and our shared purpose.

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?

Students have more choices every day when they eat breakfast and lunch at Kids Unlimited Academy!

Our Food Program’s new “offer versus serve” model empowers students to select more foods they want to eat while reducing food waste and reducing food costs. Check out monthly menus on our website.

KUA’s Food Program will offer vegetables, fruits, grains, meat and meat alternatives, plus milk at every meal. All KUA students are still eligible for free breakfast, lunch and dinner — cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients in our on-site kitchen.

Our nationally recognized, award-winning Food Program is unique in the Medford school district, and we take pride in providing students’ daily nutrition. We are an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Under KUA’s new Food Program, students must take at least 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable and at least two additional meal components. This is a significant change from last school year, when students were required to take all five meal components for KUA to receive a government reimbursement.

Another big step, nutritionally, is KUA’s new salad bar! Students will learn salad bar etiquette in their classrooms during the first few weeks of school. For grades K-2, salad bar items will be pre-portioned to ensure students take the required amounts. Students in grade 3-5 will serve themselves using portion-control serving utensils. We are encouraging students to only take what they know they will eat.

Encourage your kids’ healthy habits at home with whole foods instead of processed ones. This simple salad contains everyday ingredients that students may find on the KUA salad bar. Try chilling this salad and serving it over cooked spinach or kale.

While canned corn and black-eyed peas are convenient, you can take advantage of the summer’s last sweet corn by choosing fresh ears at your grocery store or local farm stands. Shuck and cook 4 medium ears of corn. Remove kernels from cobs with a knife. Add to your salad.

Dried, whole black-eyed peas often are cheaper than canned and contain less sodium. If using dried, cook according to package directions until peas are soft but not mushy. Drain and rinse cooked peas; add 3 cups to salad. Use leftovers in the week’s other dishes.

And find more family-friendly recipes at cookingmatters.org

Southwestern Black-eyed Pea and Corn Salad

Ingredients:

1 medium bell pepper
1 small red onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
2 (15.5-ounce) cans black-eyed peas (may substitute black beans)
1 (15.25 ounce) can corn kernels, no salt added
2 tablespoons vinegar (balsamic, cider, or red or white wine)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons canola oil

Instructions:

Rinse and dice the bell pepper, removing core and seeds. Peel, rinse and dice the onion.
If using, rinse and chop the cilantro leaves.
In a colander, drain and rinse the black-eyed peas and corn.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk the vinegar, cumin, salt and pepper. Drizzle in the oil.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chopped veggies, beans and corn. Drizzle on the dressing, sprinkle on cilantro leaves and toss to mix.

Makes 10 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 is your favorite memory from summer break?”

“What do you enjoy most about being back in school?”

“Who are you looking forward to seeing at KUA?”