Vol 5: Issue 7 - Klamath Falls City Schools

KLAMATH FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Volume 5, Issue 7
February 2016
Editor:
Dr. Paul Hillyer,
Superintendent
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Graduation Focus Is
Making A Difference
1
We’re Hiring
1
Helpful Links
2
A Winning Formula
2
Special Thanks
2
Construction Update
Meeting
2
In the Spotlight
3
Everyday Hero &
Community Partner
Awards
3
Early Years
3
Youth Rising
3
Blue Zone Project
3
KU & YOU Video
3
 Special Education Director
 Early Childhood Intervention
Teacher
 Early Childhood Intervention
Paraprofessional
 Middle School Counselor
 Bus Drivers
 Elementary School RTI
Teacher
 Elementary Teachers
 Elementary Music Teacher
 Elementary Cafeteria Helper
 High School AVID Academic
Elective Class Tutor
 High School Head Girls
Soccer Coach
For detailed descriptions and
application information please
visit our personnel job listings
by clicking HERE
Graduation Focus Is Making A Difference
School improvement experts will
tell you if you see an improvement
trend for five or more years, you
can be confident the changes you
are making are working. The KFCS
four–year graduation rate has
improved steadily for the last five
years. The five-year completer
rate has seen a similar climb
(please see attached graphs).
During the 2010-11 school year
the KFCS Board of Directors set the
current district mission: “100%
Graduation is Our Expectation.”
Since that time a steady 14.56
percent improvement has been
seen. The four-year graduation
rate went from the dismal 50.78%
of 2011 to the 65.34% rate of
2015. Similarly, the five-year
completer rate has improved
16.26% from 2012 (the first year
the state measured this) to 2015.
It has gone from 61.56 in 2012 to
77.82% in 2015.
What the four-year graduation
number measures is the percent of
students who start high school in
9th grade who go on to graduate in
four years. The five-year measure
includes all students who get
either a diploma or a GED in five
years. This latter measure is what
the Klamath Promise Initiative
uses to judge their success.
While the district has not yet
reached the 100% goal, it is
steadily moving that direction. If
the improvement rate continues
at the current rate, in 12 years
KFCS will obtain it. In less than six
years, at the current improvement
trajectory, KFCS will have reached
the five-year goal of 100%.
Some of the strategies that now
used to improve the graduation
rate in KFCS include:
1.
Implementing the AVID
program across all schools to
promote a college-going
culture and deliver effective
teaching strategies in all
classrooms. This work also
creates AVID elective classes
at Ponderosa and KU that
help
students
develop
effective
study
and
organizational
strategies.
These classes also help
students
set
high
expectations for themselves
and
provides
tutoring
support in areas of need.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Creating teacher teams that
meet weekly at all grades to
measure student progress,
identify effective teaching
methods, align curriculum,
and
develop
successful
classroom learning strategies.
Using positive behavior
supports at all schools to
motivate students to
succeed.
Working tirelessly on
improving attendance at all
schools. This includes
ongoing data analysis of all
student attendance and
utilization of community
partners including DHS and
the court system to address
attendance problems.
Hiring personnel targeted to
helping new students
acclimate to our schools and
provide assistance to them
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
and their families to promote
school success.
Assigning a high school
counselor to work directly
with 9th grade students to
get them on the road to
graduation early in high
school.
Working closely with many
community agencies and
other community partners to
improve
community
awareness and increase
community support to help
schools succeed.
Creating an organized career
education program to help
students set goals and look
ahead to adult success.
Developing
systems
of
teacher leadership across all
schools to better utilize the
many
talents
of
our
professional staff to improve
learning results.
Investing heavily in time and
financial resources to train
and develop the teaching
staff to learn the best
classroom practices that lead
to higher learning outcomes.
Using teams in all schools that
do ongoing monitoring of
student achievement and
establishment of tutorial
systems to help students who
are behind to get caught up
to their grade peers.
Establishing credit recovery
systems to help students who
have failed high school
classes to make up their work
and attain lost credit.
Developing after school
programs
that
provide
Continued on Page 3
page 2
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”
~ Sydney J. Harris
A Winning Formula
Helpful Links
Bully Tip Link
After School Program
2015-16 Calendar
KFCS Policy Manual
Code of Conduct English
Code of Conduct Spanish
FamilyLink Portal
School Lunch Menus
Conger Elementary
Mills Elementary
Pelican Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary
Ponderosa Middle School
Klamath Union High School
Dr. Hillyer’s Twitter Feed
KFCS Facebook Page
Visit our website often for
information & updates! If
there is something you would
like us to add, let us know so
that we
KLAMATH FALLS
CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT
1336 Avalon St.
Klamath Falls, 97603
Phone: (541) 883-4700
Dr. Paul Hillyer
Superintendent
School Board
Lori Theros, Chairman
Bill Jennings, Vice Chairman
Trina Perez
Michael Moore
Mychal Amos
Jeremy Player
Donald Ambers
Board meetings are held the
second Monday of each
month at 6:00 p.m. in the
boardroom of the district
office. If you are unable to
attend you may view the
agenda & minutes of all the
meetings by clicking HERE
On the last Friday of January,
Ponderosa Middle School’s Math
Team made a stellar showing at
the MATHCOUNTS competition at
Oregon Tech.
The national
competition series, for students in
grades 6-8 holds events in all 50
states as well as U.S. territories
and schools worldwide through
the U.S. Department of Defense
and the State Department. Over
500
local
chapters
host
competitions.
Ponderosa’s team won every
award and scholarship for which
they were eligible.
$750 scholarship
Szonja Kiss.
to
OIT:
$500 scholarship to OIT: John
Cabrera.
Team members qualifying will
compete
at
the
state
competition in March.
Members of the highly successful
Ponderosa Math Team
Special Thanks
Roosevelt: Coach Scott Olsen;
asst. coach Josh Zumwalt,
volunteers Madison Rice;
Crissy Chockolus; PJ Blabin;
Dane Baeth; and Jeff Patzke.
Conger: Coach Christy Smith;
voluntters Brent Bainbrdige;
Cathy
Peterson;
Susan
Kaeding; Ed and Judy Murray;
Raquel
Mendoza;
Jacob
Johnson;
and
Jennifer
Robinson.
Additionally our thanks go out
to Bret Crawford and the KU
boys basketball team; Aubrey
Rico and the KU girls cheer
team; and finally Drew Langley
and the KU band.
1st place official team (going to
state):
Mauricio
Huntoon
DeRoche;
Brady
Monteith;
Jezzebelle Rowley; and Iain Usher.
1st place unofficial team: Angel
Chen; Szonja Kiss; Beau Stork; and
Peyton Syrnyk.
2nd
place unofficial team: Eliza
Blake; John Cabrera; Keegan
Dentinger; and Ruth Peterson.
3rd place unofficial team: Jarred
DeGroot; Zoe Hill Sparks; Zoe
Krichko; and Anushka Nandy.
1st place official individual (going
to state): Mauricio Huntoon
DeRoche.
2nd place official individual (going
to state): John Cabrera.
3rd place official individual: Iain
Usher.
1st place unofficial individual:
Szonja Kiss.
Important Dates
Feb.11, 12 & 15, 2016
No School
2nd place unofficial individual:
Peyton Syrnyk.
Feb. 16 & 18, 2016
KUHS Grade Conferences
3rd place unofficial individual:
Beau Stork.
February 23, 2016
Title VI Parent Mtg/Family
Night
$1,000 scholarship to OIT:
Mauricio Huntoon DeRoche.
We could not be more excited
about
the
successful
elementary basketball season!
The coaches have focused on
character
development,
athletic development, skill
work, concepts and teamwork.
An undertaking such as this
does not happen without a
team working in tandem
toward a common goal. We
would like to acknowledge
those who have made all of
this possible.
Mills Teams A & B: Coach
Hannah Whatah; asst. coaches
Robbyn Jones and Hubert
Witherspoon;
volunteer
Mickayla Matheney.
Pelican:
Coach Lawrence
Charkins; asst. coach Derrick
Nelson;
and
volunteers
Janessa Charkins; Mercedes
Charkins; Kylie Anderson; and
Rehgan Charkins.
KU Construction Update
Community Forum
The KFCS will be hosting a
meeting
on
Thursday,
February 11, 2016 at 7:00 pm
in the KUHS cafeteria to
provide the public with an
update
on
the
KU
construction/remodel project.
Both DLR, the engineering firm
and the contractor, Adroit will
provide a presentation on the
status of this project.
Additionally, there will be a
review of the projects that
have been completed at the
other district schools and what
is yet to be done at the other
sites with bond dollars.
The forum will close with a
Q&A as well as an opportunity
for attendees to complete an
application to join the Citizens
Oversight Committee.
page 3
“ O u r t a s k i s t o p r o v i d e a n e d u c a t i o n fo r t h e ki d s w e h a v e … N o t t h e ki n d s o f ki d s w e
u s e d t o h a v e … O r w a n t t o h a v e … O r t h e ki d s t h a t e x i s t i n d r e a m s ”
~ Mary Kay Utecht
Cont. Graduation Page
1
KFCS Board
Klamath Falls City School Board
member, Mike Moore, has been
a resident of Klamath Falls since
1989 when he moved here from
Bend, Oregon to open the first
Subway Sandwich Franchise in
Klamath Falls. During the next
the next 26 years he opened
several other local Subway
restaurants
and
married
Rachael. They have two terrific
children who attend Klamath
Falls City Schools. Spencer is a
student at Ponderosa Middle
School, and Hope attends
Pelican Elementary School.
The Moore family is active!
Mike enjoys tennis, biking, and
hiking, Rachael’s interests are
photography, cooking, and
walking. Spencer is an avid
baseball and basketball player.
Hope has recently taken up
horseback riding and loves to
swim.
The Moore’s also enjoy traveling
with recent trips taking them to
National Parks such as Grand
Canyon Bryce Canyon and Zion.
A School Board member for
approximately three years he
played an active role in the
successful bond campaign to
renovate Klamath Union High
School and to provide needed
updates at other district schools.
He has enjoyed working with
other board members and with
Superintendent Dr. Paul Hillyer
to raise the standards of
education within our district and
improve graduate rates.
Born and raised in Bend, Mike
graduated from Bend Senior
High School and Willamette
University with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Mathematics and
Economics. He has been a
member of the Downtown
Advisory Committee, for a
number of years and is also
serves
on
the
Steering
Committee of the Blue Zones
Project.
tutoring and enrichment of
students to help them
develop
grade
level
competencies.
14. Utilizing a sophisticated
classroom observation and
evaluation system that helps
teachers develop their skills.
15. Instigating a tutorial time
within the school the school
day at KU that allows
students to receive assistance
in their classes if they fall
behind.
16. Partnering with local colleges
to provide more college
credit within the school day
at KU that helps students set
their sights on credentials
and degrees while still in high
school in areas of career
interest.
These are just a few of the
practices that have been started
over the last five years to help the
district reach its mission. While we
all would like to see 100%
graduation happen more quickly,
it is encouraging to see the steady
progress that is being made
towards this important goal. KFCS
is committed to continuing to
work tirelessly and creatively to
make this happen. Special thanks
to all of you who are partners in
this critical work.
Everyday Hero Awards
Congratulations to these fine district
employees who have been selected
to receive the Everyday Hero Award
for Going Above & Beyond for Kids.
Sharon Becerra; Conger Resource
Paraprofessionals; Becky Barker;
Chrys Dawes; Sally Erlei; Tammy
Grey; Ken Hendricks; Melody
Morello; Ruth Ann Hammond; Toby
Flackus; Calandra Frederick; Brent
Hakanson; Victor Haudenshild;
Charlotte de los Reyes-Gardner;
Staci Hanson; Jessica Hill; Lindsey
James; Andrea Lassett; Maureen
Lundy; Ann Malcolm; Courtney
McDonald; KFCS Transportation
Team;
Deb
Rhoades;
Even
Mortenson; Carmen Salinas; Patti
Shultz and; Dan Stearns.
enrichment opportunities. They
provide
free
youth-inspired
Saturday night events, a free dropin time on Thursdays and Fridays
Congratulations also go out to our
with tutoring, a homework and
Community Partner Award winners
computer lab, etc.
Mike and Sandy Connelly of Green
Blade Bakery who do so much to
increase student success and who
are such a community treasure!
EarlyYears
Their Youth Rising program
facilitates youth-driven clubs,
projects and programs. Youth
engage their peers through
positive peer pressure, positive
messaging
and
prevention
projects to reduce substance
abuse, suicide and violence, while
simultaneously increasing their
own leadership and peer advocacy
skills.
In the February edition of Early
Years there are terrific articles on
being involved in your child’s
classroom, strengthening families,
motor skills, fun ways to teach www.youth-rising.com
children
sight
words
and facebook.com/klamathyouthrising
medication safety.
kfyrcoordinator@gmail.com
English Edition
Spanish Edition
If you are the parent or guardian of
teens 6th – 12th grade you might
want to investigate the Youth
Rising organization. Their Youth
Rising Teen Center provides a safehaven for teens to engage in
Check out the newest KU & YOU
video
This is the first edition of KU &
YOU that was entirely filmed &
edited by the KUHS Video 1 and
Video 2 class students. They did
an outstanding job and we
look forward
to seeing
much more
of their work.
SCHOOL YEAR
14/15 School Year
13/14 School Year
12/13 School Year
11/12 School Year
10/11 School Year
4 year cohort
Grad Rate
Completer Rate
65.34
69.68
63.53
71.8
62.91
70.86
56.92
50.78
65.72
na **
5 year Cohort
Grad Rate
Completer Rate
68.36
77.82
65.69
75.82
57.59
69.04
50.45
61.56
40.77
na **
* 4 year: ODE did not include ADP ‐ this is the adjusted rate with ADP as graduates
** 11/12 was the first year ODE tracked cohort grad/completer rates. Ther are no ODE completer rates.
2/3/2016
4 and 5 year cohort KFCS rates for 5 yrs.xlsx
4 Year Cohort
100.00
90.00
80.00
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
14/15 School Year
13/14 School Year
12/13 School Year
11/12 School Year
10/11 School Year
10/11 School 11/12 School 12/13 School 13/14 School 14/15 School
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
5 Year Completer
100.00
90.00
80.00
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
11/12 School
Year
12/13 School
Year
13/14 School
Year
14/15 School
Year
14/15 School Year
13/14 School Year
12/13 School Year
11/12 School Year
Klamath Open Door is Giving Back to the Community
(Please come early-first come first serve)
*Patients will be asked to register on the morning of the event and
choose ONE of the following services:
OR