KUA News

November 2024 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

As winter approaches, dressing for the weather and outdoor play is an important element of school-day preparedness and success at Kids Unlimited Academy.

Adding layers according to the temperature outside, however, should not detract from KUA’s daily dress code. Under their coats and other outerwear, students must wear a KUA polo shirt (with collar) Monday through Thursday. In addition to coats and jackets, hoodies may be worn every day over students’ polos.

Bottoms should be black, gray, khaki (beige) or navy in color Monday through Thursday. This includes pants, skirts, skorts or shorts (appropriate length).

Any shirt, including T-shirts, that display KUA/KU logos may be worn on Friday, also “casual day” for pants. Students may wear jeans, sweatpants, joggers or athletic shorts on Fridays only (no pajama bottoms). No ripped attire is allowed anytime at KUA, and hats, beanies or any other head coverings are not allowed indoors.

KUA’s dress code was created to promote equality between students and to model professional dress for all. We want students to focus on learning and not what they are wearing.

Labeling students’ clothing — particularly coats — with their name, is recommended. If you are missing clothing items, please check the lost and found outside the front office. Browsing the lost and found periodically often yields clothing that kids and parents didn’t realize was missing!

Please refer to the full KUA Uniform & Dress Code Guidelines for details about proper attire on school spirit and free dress days, as well as steps school staff follow when students are in violation of the dress code.

We believe KUA uniforms are among the reasons families choose our public charter school. Thank you for your cooperation and belief in the KUA mission.

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

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

Emmanuel Balan — KUA Director of School Culture, emmanuel.balan@kuaoregon.org

Mimi Davis — KUA Assistant Principal, mimi.davis@kuaoregon.org

Lindsay Ochs

Principal

From the Principal’s desk

Stepping into a parent-teacher conference has a way of taking many of us straight back to childhood — maybe feeling uneasy about what the teacher might say.

We at Kids Unlimited Academy recognize that parent-teacher conferences may cause feelings of stress for some families. But much of that stress can be eased by taking time before the conference to prepare and by keeping our school-family partnership at the forefront.

KUA will hold its first conferences of this academic year Nov. 25-26. Both are no-school days that immediately precede Thanksgiving break Nov. 27-29.

Conferences are planned in the spirit of collaboration between students, parents, teachers and school staff. While KUA leadership can’t fix or solve every problem that arises, our approach is one of positive intent and improved outcomes for entire families.

Teachers guide the conference format, but parents can ensure their conferences are as productive as possible by composing a list of questions in advance (ask the most important ones first). Parents also should plan to arrive five minutes before their scheduled conference slots, so they don’t miss any allotted time.

Here are a few more tips from childmind.org and understood.org that can help parents prepare and derive the most benefit from teacher conferences:

1. About a week before the conference, familiarize yourself with any homework your child has been assigned. Is it getting done? Does your child seem to understand the assignments? Also review any other relevant materials, including prior communication from your child’s teacher, behavior reports and the school handbook.

2. Several days before the conference, talk with your child about why it is taking place and, generally, what is likely to be discussed. Mention that all students are scheduled for conferences this time of year. Ask if your child has any questions or specific concerns (either about schoolwork or interactions with classmates). And explore your child’s feelings about school: What is your most or least favorite part of the day? Who do you usally talk to or play with?

3. The day before the conference, have a list of questions ready. These could include: Is my child meeting expectations for learning and behavior? How does my child’s grade-level skills compare with others in the class? What are my child’s strengths? Does my child follow school rules or struggle with behavior? Are there materials or resources you would recommend? What else can be done at home or at school?

4. During the conference, listen carefully, stay calm and be ready to collaborate. Don’t hesitate to take notes to share with your child’s other parent and to help you remember details so you can ask questions later. If the teacher uses an unfamiliar term, ask for an explanation. Offer your perspective, using a respectful tone to foster understanding and cooperation. When we hear bad news, it’s natural to feel defensive, protective or frustrated. Take a few deep breaths and be reassured the teacher is working in the best interests of your child.

5. Remember that even tense conversations can include positive elements. Ask the teacher, “What does my child do well?” Share something your child enjoys about school. And keep in mind that teachers often hear only negative comments, too. Let the teacher know you appreciate his or her efforts, even if you think your child may respond better to a different approach. If a problem can’t be solved during the conference, ask to schedule a follow-up meeting to figure out the next steps.

6. After the conference, talk to your child about what took place. Reiterate positive comments, share teachers’ suggestions and ask for the student’s help tackling problems and challenges. If the conference concluded with a strategy for improving the student’s performance and progress, explain what needs to be done and why, along with how the teacher, parent and student will know that progress is being made. These can be goals and/or benchmarks for academic or social-emotional skills.

7. A few days after the conference, follow up with the teacher via email or ParentSquare to ensure you understand any strategy or education plan that resulted from the meeting and that your child has been referred for any appropriate resources or school services. Confirm any timeline for these next steps and if the teacher can give you updates. If you still have questions, ask for clarification, and if you couldn’t discuss all your concerns during the conference, request another meeting. Share with the teacher what you’ve been doing at home to assist your child’s learning.

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.

Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving. Typically a lower-fat alternative to beef and pork, the protein-rich poultry is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals — B vitamins in particular. And although it’s a less commonly consumed meat in Latin America today, turkey was a traditional component of the Mesoamerican diet prior to the arrival of Spanish colonists. Try turkey in this dish inspired by the flavors of Mexican mole that’s fast enough to prepare on a weeknight.

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

Turkey in Mole Sauce

Ingredients:

6 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1 medium jalapeño chile, stemmed and minced
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, no salt added
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

In a large skillet over medium heat, sprinkle the cumin, coriander and cinnamon. Cook until fragrant, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer spices to a plate.
Add the oil to skillet and heat to medium. Add chopped onion and cook until golden, for 7 to 10 minutes. Add jalapeño and cook until fragrant, for about 1 minute more.
Add the turkey and toasted spices to skillet. Cook until turkey is browned, breaking up clumps with a mixing spoon, for about 5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, cocoa powder and 3/4 cup water. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the salt.
If using, rinse and chop the cilantro and trim and thinly slice the scallion. Serve turkey sprinkled with cilantro and/or scallions, if desired, with sides of tortillas or cornbread and sauteed greens or green salad.

Makes 4 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.

“Share one thing you’re grateful for.”

“What kinds of things make you feel cozy when the weather gets colder?”

“What’s your favorite indoor activity on rainy days and why?”