KUA News

June 2025 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

Summer is just around the corner. And we’re thrilled that students again this year can benefit from summer school at Kids Unlimited Academy.

Free and open to all KUA students, summer school is supported by Oregon Department of Education’s Summer Learning Grant. From 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, KUA’s certified teaching staff will lead academic sessions with a focus on elevating English language arts literacy. Summer school and enrichment will run for five weeks: June 23-27, June 30 through July 2, July 7-11, July 14-18 and July 21-25. There is no school or camp July 3-4.

Families can choose to extend the day from 1:30 to 5 p.m. for summer camp’s enrichment portion, which includes field trips, STEAM projects and other activities. The cost for summer camp enrichment is $75 Monday through Thursday and $40 for Friday’s all-day enrichment, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

KUA students can register for morning summer school only, afternoon summer camp enrichment only or all-day sessions. Morning features free breakfast and lunch. A snack is provided during afternoon enrichment. Scholarships for the enrichment portion are available; please apply at the KUA front office.

If your student is in the migrant education program, their summer school will run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Summer camp, 3:30-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, costs $40 each week. Friday camp, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., costs $40 per day, inclusive of field trips.

Before we take a break from the regular school schedule, please mark your calendars for our fun and memorable end-of-the-year events. KUA’s final Royal Awards assemblies of the year are June 3-5. See the school’s home page for times by grade level.

Don’t miss the annual celebration of students’ performing and artistic talents June 6 at KUA’s Visual & Performing Arts Show. The art walk with awards starts at 12:30 p.m., followed by the talent show at 2 p.m.

We’ll close out the 2024-25 school year June 12 with fifth grade graduation and June 13 — the last day of school — with kindergarten graduation. Look for invitations sent home with graduating students.

Congratulations on another school year of learning, growing and achieving together!

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

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

Lindsay Ochs

Principal

From the Principal’s desk

Students’ growth in 2024-25 at Kids Unlimited Academy was remarkable on many levels: academically, developmentally, emotionally and socially.

KUA has significant data to track students’ progress in core subjects, where we have seen major gains, particularly in mathematics and English language arts. Tools at our disposal include multi-tiered systems of support, DIBELS literacy assessment and measures used to prepare students for Oregon’s standardized tests.

Some progress, however, relies less on numbers and more on how students feel. And this year at KUA, they said they felt an increased sense of belonging. These kids forged new friendships and strong relationships among themselves — and with KUA teachers and staff.

These experiences likely correlate with KUA’s increased focus on social-emotional learning during 2024-25. Administrators this year recognized the need for more SEL-specific instruction and integration of SEL throughout KUA students’ daily school experience. The result is greater empathy, fewer behavior referrals and happier kids who engage with their community in uplifted, meaningful ways.

To accelerate this trend in 2025-26, KUA will utilize a new SEL curriculum, Ripple Effects, recently purchased with grant assistance from St. Mary’s School and Oregon Community Foundation. This adaptive program meets and engages students where they are, building on their strengths and encouraging them to drive their own learning experience.

The new curriculum will be applied across all KUA student cohorts, not just kids referred for behavior and discipline. This approach “levels the playing field” and builds equity among all KUA students.

Numbers will help to shape KUA’s approaches in this realm, too. Gathering data, Ripple Effects works with KUA’s other systems, such as MTSS, to holistically promote positive student outcomes.

Evidence-based, Ripple Effects is shown to raise students’ grades and sense of empathy while reducing suspensions, tardies, drop-out rates and depression diagnoses. The goal isn’t just improved mental health and academic progress for KUA students, but also their future educational and career achievements and socioeconomic advancement.

Students’ continued success makes 2024-25 a school year to remember at KUA. Thank you so much for the part you played. We look forward to seeing you next year!

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 new Food Program puts more variety on students’ plates.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus incorporate more locally produced ingredients, including seasonally fresh fruits and vegetables. Beef and veggie Stroganoff and chicken, sausage and veggie jambalaya are new recipes to complement favorites like carnitas tacos and green pozole. Check out the menu at kuaoregon.org/menu

All KUA 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.

Pasta has been a fixture in school meals since our Food Program started making fresh, artisan noodles for KUA students, staff and our community. Find Pastabilities Unlimited Thursdays at Medford’s farmers market. Or use any dried pasta to make this fast recipe from pantry and freezer staples.

Although frozen veggies are a wholesome choice, consider using the season’s fresh snow peas. Add more protein with sliced cooked chicken breast, firm tofu or chopped peanuts, if you like. This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover, reheated veggies. Let diners choose their own garnishes by serving fresh cilantro leaves, chopped scallions or lime wedges on the side.

Find more family-friendly, quick-fix, wholesome recipes at cookingmatters.org

Noodles With Peanut Butter Sauce

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) package whole wheat pasta
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
4 teaspoons sugar
1 bag frozen vegetables, such as broccoli or snow peas, thawed

Instructions:

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Make sauce and veggies while pasta cooks.
In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter and 1/3 cup warm water. Stir into a smooth, thin sauce.
Add the soy sauce, vinegar and sugar. Mix until sugar dissolves. If using, stir in the red pepper flakes, garlic and/or ginger
In a microwave-safe bowl, add the thawed frozen veggies and 1/2 cup water. Steam veggies in microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain any excess water.
Pour peanut sauce and steamed veggies over cooked, drained pasta. Toss to combine. Serve warm or cold.

Makes 8 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 way to relax over summer break?”

“Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?”

“Which foods taste like summer to you?”