KCSD & Me
April 2023 / Klamath County School District
IMPORTANT DATES:
- April 25: Crystal Apple Awards Gala, 7 p.m. Ross Ragland Theater
- April 27: KCSD Board of Directors meeting
DEAR KCSD COMMUNITY,
Welcome to the Crystal Apple edition of our KCSD & Me newsletter. Each year, the school district asks staff, parents, students, and community members to submit nominations for our Crystal Apple Awards. We received more than 75 nominations highlighting the inspirational efforts and hard work of our certified and classified staff.
Our eight winners -- highlighted below -- exemplify KCSD's mission: "Inspiring today's students to meet tomorrow's challenges." They represent our district well, and we are proud to honor each of them with a Crystal Apple Award.
Join us on April 25 at the Ross Ragland Theater to celebrate our Crystal Apples! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the gala starts at 7 p.m. Please come and support and congratulate our winners!
Sincerely,
Glen Szymoniak
KCSD Superintendent
MEET OUR CRYSTAL APPLES:
Adriana Atwood, Peterson Elementary
When Adriana Atwood isn’t helping Peterson Elementary School students with math and reading, she is translating for Spanish-speaking parents, operating a clothes closet, tutoring students after school, making cotton candy, and tracking laps for students participating in the before school Marathon Run Club.
Atwood’s work ethic and commitment to students doesn’t surprise Renee Criss. Criss, vice principal at Peterson Elementary, nominated Atwood for the school district’s Crystal Apple Award.
“Anything that will improve Peterson Elementary and help our kids, she will do,” Criss said in her nomination letter. “She will always look for and find ways to help students out academically and personally.” Read more
Rachel Belenfant, Chiloquin Elementary
Rachel Belenfant’s first day in a kindergarten classroom was six years ago. She was the teacher.
“I didn’t go to kindergarten,” she said. “My first day of teaching, I was so excited. Then I thought. “Oh my word. I don’t know what kinders do.’ ” She figured it out – quickly, and successfully.
In her award nomination, Principal Rita Hepper and Vice Principal Janelle Emard write: “Rachel is an incredible teacher who has poured her heart and soul into the children at Chiloquin Elementary. … Every year her kids grow leaps and bounds ...”
Belenfant, a member of the school leadership committee, also helps lead family engagement nights and is credited with bringing the Klamath language to the school. Read more
Christopher Benjamin, Henley High
What drives Christopher Benjamin are his students – whether he’s directing them in his award-winning choir, helping them with study skills, or coaching them in sports.
“We often say this is the generation of tomorrow, but I say this is the generation of today because if we don’t love our kids today, there will be no tomorrow,” the Henley High School choir director said. “I find myself trying to really dig into these kids and let them know they’re cared for.”
Teacher and co-worker Leah Decker in her nomination of Benjamin described a man who embraced the lessons of his own tumultuous background so he could help young people.
“Chris is a teacher who wants to help every single student, not only academically, but personally,” she wrote. Read more
Robert Chambrose, Henley High
Bob Chambrose sits down next to a student who is trying to write an article about the CTE program for the Henley High School yearbook.
Who does she talk to? What interview questions should she ask? Chambrose, a long-time English language arts, French, and yearbook and publications teacher, brainstorms question ideas with the writer, but doesn’t take over.
Across the classroom, another student asks Chambrose’s opinion about a page design for the latest edition of “the Blue and Gold” magazine.
“We have a lot to do here, and that can be challenging at times,” said Chambrose. “But when they see their work published, it’s really satisfying. I’m really excited about what this group can do.” Read more
Shannon McDonald, Keno Elementary
Four kindergarteners gather at the small table in Shannon McDonald’s office at Keno Elementary School.
The goal of the day’s lesson revolved around a game featuring plastic butterflies and bugs. The game, “You’re Bugging Me,” encourages the students to identify and talk about what bothers them and the best way of handling those situations.
“What bugs you?” McDonald asks.
“Bees,” said one.
“Cutting in line,” said another.
“What’s the right way to handle that?” McDonald asked.
McDonald a child development specialist at Keno Elementary School, specializes in social emotional learning skills, helping all grade levels of students be successful in and out of the classroom. Read more
Crystal Renslow, Klamath County Transition Program
Crystal Renslow supervises and provides advice as young adults chop broccoli, prepare garlic bread and cook potatoes. The mini meat loafs are already in the oven, and lunch will be ready to serve in 30 minutes.
She has a quiet, calm demeanor as she works side by side with the students in the school district’s Klamath County Transition Program. The program is for young adults, ages 18 to 21, who are on individualized education plans. The focus is on work experience, independent living skills, post-secondary education, and community inclusion.
“I am inspired by the kids here,” Renslow said. “They all have challenges that make life a little tougher for them." Read more
Laci Teaters, Merrill Elementary
When Jodie Woodman’s daughter started second grade this fall, she was behind in reading and frustration would often bring her to tears.
But thanks to her teacher, Laci Teaters, that has changed.
“Not only has Mrs. Teaters brought her reading confidence up, but she’s instilled this whole new love of school back to her life,” Woodman writes in her nomination of Teaters for the Crystal Apple. “I think a lot of our second graders were affected by (the pandemic). She approached their different learning levels with finesse and found a way to help each kid according to their individual levels.”
Teaters was raised in Merrill, attending Merrill Elementary School and Lost River Junior/Senior High School. She earned a bachelor’s in applied psychology from Oregon Tech and after a practicum as a counselor decided to teach instead, going back to school for her master’s in teaching. She also is trained as a reading coach and interventionist. Read more
Olga Wenick, Bonanza Junior/Senior High
Eighth-graders Montserrat Hernandez and Sara Lopez Cazares aren’t sure what they would do without Olga Wenick.
Both teenagers moved to Bonanza three years ago from Mexico speaking only Spanish. When they started attending school, they had to learn to speak and read English as well as the math, reading, and other lessons for their grade level.
Wenick has been there for them. A paraprofessional at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School, Wenick, who is from Bogota, Colombia, and speaks three languages fluently, works with newcomers, English language learners and migrant students with varying language abilities.
“When we’re stuck, she helps us read and understand,” Sara said. “Especially with math,” Montserrat added.
Jordan Osborn, principal at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School, describes Wenick as a “truly gifted educator who has a passion to serve, teach, and change lives. She is invaluable to the success of our students.” Read more
FOCUS: SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Jake Arnold, a reporter with the Oregon School Boards Association, visited our district last month to see the success of small group instruction and project-based learning in our schools. He was joined by KCSD School Board member Steve Lowell. They toured classrooms, observing small group learning for reading and math at Ferguson and Merrill elementary schools. They also had a chance to visit a sixth-grade band class and observe second- and third-graders design bridges during Sharon Cosand's project-based learning class in Merrill. Read the story here: https://www.osba.org/small-learning-groups-deliver-big-academic-gains/
The addition of small-group instruction for reading and math, along with project-based learning, this year has already improved student performance districtwide, specifically in elementary math where the number of students who achieved grade-level proficiency increased significantly from September 2022 to March 2023, and, in some schools, dramatically reversed downward trends from the previous year. The increased level of proficiency also was achieved by traditionally underserved and marginalized populations.
Some highlights (from September 2022 to March 2023):
• Districtwide, the number of elementary students (K-5) at grade-level proficiency in math increased by 15 percent
• At Ferguson Elementary, the number of third-graders at grade-level proficiency in math increased by 26 percent
• At Chiloquin Elementary, the number of fifth-graders at grade-level proficiency in math increased by 11 percent
We are proud of the efforts of our students and teachers!
GROW IT, KNOW IT, EAT IT: CAFETERIAS AS CLASSROOMS
Chicken coops. Greenhouses. Grow towers. Raised garden beds. Students throughout the Klamath County School District are not only eating fresh, hyperlocal produce and meat, they are learning to grow, harvest, and produce food for their school cafeterias. Over the past several years, the school district has wrapped an educational and nutritional component into its food services program, offering Oregon-grown and hyperlocal fresh fruits and vegetables, locally harvested beef, lamb, and eggs, and special Try-It Days and Tasting Tables, which encourage students to try foods such as cranberries, squash, and beets they may not otherwise eat. School-based food production is the next step in expanding not only learning opportunities, but the availability of hyperlocal produce, eggs, and meat on school lunch and breakfast trays, district leaders say. This fall, KCSD was awarded a $99,847 Oregon Department of Education grant to purchase school-based food production equipment and conduct hands-on education events. Read more
KCSD HONORED FOR SUPPORTING VETERANS
The Klamath County School District was recognized March 23 by Worksource Oregon for its support and employment of military veterans. Paul Messett, Worksource Oregon disabled veterans outreach and local veterans employment representative, presented a framed certificate and challenge coin to KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak. Messett was accompanied by Kim Laugsand of Worksource Oregon’s Klamath office. “On behalf of the Worksource office here in Klamath Falls we would like to present you with this certificate of appreciation as a small token of our appreciation,” Messett said. “That certificate is printed on paper that is handmade from recycled military uniforms.” Read more
FFA STUDENTS ROCK STATE CONVENTION
FFA students from Mazama, Lost River, Henley, and Bonanza represented Klamath County well at the 2023 Oregon FFA State Convention March 17-20 in Redmond. Students competed in various categories, attended motivational sessions and workshops, visited career shows, and sat on committees for proficiency interviews. Lost River’s Alicia Venegas was elected 2023-2024 Oregon FFA state reporter, the first FFA state officer in the school’s history. Eight students were awarded the coveted FFA state degree, earned by only 2% of Oregon FFA members. Read more
EATING POTATOES WITH FARMER MARC
“You grow potatoes perfect,” a third-grader at Ferguson Elementary School told Marc Staunton, a South County farmer who grows and sells potatoes with Cal-Ore Produce. “Oh man! Thank you!” Staunton responded giving the student a high-five. Staunton – Farmer Marc to the students – was at Ferguson to talk to students about how he grew the potatoes on their lunch trays. Locally grown potatoes from Cal-Ore were served in all Klamath County School District cafeterias March 22 as part of the district’s Farm to School program. Read more
GETTING ON TRACK WITH OHSU
A career in the medical field had not occurred to Mia Hutchinson. Until now. The Mazama High School junior is among 32 Native American students who joined On Track OHSU!, an Oregon Health & Science University college-career readiness program that targets underrepresented student populations and has supports and structures in place to help them pursue medical careers. Mazama kicked off its new partnership with On Track on March 3 with an introductory meeting in the high school library. It was then that Hutchinson heard about Jared Delaney, a Klamath Tribal member and 2016 Henley High School graduate who is currently in his second year of medical school at OHSU. What caught the teenager’s attention was that Delaney, like herself, is Native American. Read more
MAZAMA SENIOR WINS PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP
A Mazama High School senior has been awarded $10,000 toward her future in the form of Oregon State University’s most prestigious scholarship. Makayla Quirk was awarded OSU’s Presidential Scholarship in a surprise presentation March 14 during one of her classes. OSU’s Craig Brauner presented the Viking senior with the award and a swag-filled Beaver Box. Out of nearly 3,000 applicants, only 127 students were chosen for the scholarship. The $10,000 annual scholarship is renewable for up to four years. Read more
ROBOTICS TEAMS QUALIFY FOR WORLDS!
Five KCSD robotics teams – three from Mazama, one from Henley High, and a middle school team from Lost River -- qualified for Worlds March 11 during the 2023 Regional VRC/VEX Robotics Championships at Mazama High School. Read more
THE POWER OF THE LIFT
Student athletes from Brixner, Henley High, and Lost River Junior/Senior High School competed in a powerlifting competition March 11 at Brixner Junior High School. The meet, hosted by the Brixner Powerlifting Club, offered junior high and high school divisions.
Athletes competed in squat, bench, and deadlift. They are scored using a formula that calculates their body weight, gender, and the overall weight they lifted. Eleven junior high school students – five girls and six boys – competed along with seven high school athletes.
The competitions are organized by Nico and Bonny Veloz Espinola. Nico, a social studies teacher at Brixner, and Bonny, a Spanish teacher at Henley High School, coach the Brixner Powerlifting Club. Brixner students must join the club to compete. Lost River also has a weightlifting team coached by Katey Limb. Students from other KCSD schools are welcome to register for the competitions.
The next meet is scheduled for May 20. For information on upcoming meets, go to the Brixner Powerlifting Club’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088417221207
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Klamath County School District
Inspiring today's students to meet tomorrow's challenges!
Read our Strategic Plan
Email: kcsd_communications@kcsd.k12.or.us
Website: www.kcsd.k12.or.us
Location: 2845 Greensprings Drive, Klamath Falls, OR, USA
Phone: 541-883-5000