KUA News
September 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
Sights, sounds and flavors of Latin culture are prevalent across our public charter school. This month will bring even more events and activities that highlight the heritage of a significant segment of Kids Unlimited Academy’s student body while enriching everyone’s experience.
The federal government’s official Hispanic Heritage Month observance kicks off Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15. KUA will continue its celebration through the end of October by recognizing Día de los Muertos, a traditional holiday that invites us to reflect on deeper themes of respect and personal relationships that we uphold at our charter school.
Recognizing differences between ourselves and others — alongside values we hold in common — help to build multicultural awareness, which is part of the Oregon State Educational Standards. While we can teach an established curriculum, we recognize that history is interpreted through points of view, and that multiple histories exist that provide multiple viewpoints of the same event.
More broadly, KUA is nurturing the next generation of global citizens by broadening their horizons to empower their individual journeys. At KUA, students are celebrated for who they are and the gifts they provide. There is space for ALL here.
KUA’s Spanish-speaking families or those who have cultural origins in Spanish-speaking countries may contribute in more coordinated ways to our community conversation throughout the next month. Expect to see new initiatives on social media, including YouTube, to reach our Spanish-speaking audience.
During class time, students may explore hands-on projects inspired by Latin American folk art, such as straw weaving or whimsical wool and fabric “worry dolls.” A beloved tradition in Mexico, Lotería resembles American Bingo and will highlight our Oct. 13 Family Night.
With resources provided by our English language development team, classes likely will listen to more Latin music, read more books inspired by Latin culture and research Latin American countries. The official start date of Hispanic Heritage Month honors the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Hispanic Heritage month dates to 1968, when Hispanic Heritage Week was designated under President Lyndon Johnson. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observation to its current 30-day period.
Join KUA’s celebration and inspire our students to shape its future!
Dr. Beto Vargas – KU Director of Educational Services, beto.vargas@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
The first month of school is a time for new routines, new environments and new relationships — among students and staff alike. Let’s keep Kids Unlimited Academy’s progress and enthusiasm on track by modeling and practicing healthy habits at school and at home!
Set and stick to regular bedtimes and soothing evening activities that promote a restful night’s sleep. Turn off electronic devices at least an hour before bed and spend time reading together as a family.
Plan and provide a wholesome breakfast to fuel your student for the day. Please take advantage of breakfast service at KUA, beginning every morning at 7:30 a.m. (including late-start Wednesdays), which eases students’ transition to the classroom. Whether you eat at home or at school, get up and get ready early enough to arrive at KUA on time, ready to learn.
Students are welcome to bring wholesome lunches packed at home. These should include all the components of a student’s meal, rather than an assortment of snacks to consume alongside lunch prepared in the KUA kitchen. To reiterate, snacks from home are not allowed in the KUA cafeteria during school mealtimes.
Sharing any food among students also is not permitted in the KUA cafeteria. Students’ potential exposure to allergens, coupled with parents’ individual dietary concerns for their own children, require KUA administration to strictly enforce this policy. Please refer to page 21 of the Student/Parent Handbook.
Parents and students can express their generosity by donating healthy snacks to KUA classrooms. KUA counts these donations toward fulfillment of families’ required monthly engagement hours! Please ensure these — and any snacks accompanying kids to school — contain no added sugar. Foods with fiber, such as whole-grain crackers or fruit, and protein, such as yogurt and cheese, keep kids feeling fuller longer.
Toys should not accompany students to KUA. They not only distract from the learning environment but can be lost or damaged during the school day. NO GUM is allowed at school! This distraction also creates extra work for custodial staff.
Please keep kids at home when they are sick, consulting Page 15 of the Student/Parent Handbook for guidance on illnesses and when it is appropriate to return to school once symptoms have subsided. We can all stay healthy as cold and flu season approaches by modeling and practicing good hand-washing, covering our faces when we sneeze and cough and getting plenty of rest.
Each small action over the months ahead adds up to a big, collective impact. Together, we can make this the best KUA school year yet!
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!
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.
Why extend the school year?
We can’t speak highly enough of our extended academic calendar, which is overwhelmingly supported by our families. Below are a few key reasons why we decided in 2021 to adopt the longest instructional schedule of any Oregon 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 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! For grades K-2, salad bar items are pre-portioned to ensure students take the required amounts. Students in grade 3-5 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. You can do this through a variety of family activities that incorporate eating, cooking and shopping.
“Ratatouille” isn’t just a beloved animated movie. It’s a French recipe for combining numerous peak-season veggies in one colorful and flavorful dish. Use fresh basil and oregano, up to a tablespoon of each, if those herbs are available. Turn on the film, put on your aprons and get kids busy in the kitchen for a fun family night that combines favorite characters and delicious, healthy food!
And find more family-friendly recipes at cookingmatters.org
Ratatouille
Ingredients:
- 1 small red onion
- 2 medium cloves garlic
- 1 small eggplant
- 1 medium zucchini
- 1 medium yellow squash
- 1 large tomato
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- Rinse and peel the onion. Peel the garlic. Rinse the eggplant, zucchini, squash and tomato. Dice onion and eggplant into 1/2-inch pieces. Slice zucchini and squash into 1/2-inch slices. Chop tomato. Mince garlic.
- In a medium bowl, combine chopped onion, eggplant, zucchini, squash, garlic, oil, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Toss until veggies are well coated.
- Coat a baking sheet with some nonstick cooking spray. Spread veggies out in a single layer so they do not touch. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Add tomato to baking sheet. Return baking sheet to oven. Bake, stirring occasionally, until veggies are golden-crisp, for about 15 to 20 minutes more.
- Serve ratatouille over polenta, spinach, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, or with hearty whole grain bread. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if you like.
- For a faster version, cook veggies in a large skillet on stovetop with 1 teaspoon oil instead of baking.
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.
“Which fall fruit do you prefer: apples or pears? Why?”
“What’s your favorite animated movie?”
“Describe a tradition your family enjoys.”
The Month Ahead
