KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech Athletics is excited to announce that Friday, January 30, has been designated as K–12 Field Trip Day as the Owls take on Lewis-Clark State College. The women’s game will tip off at 12:00 PM, followed by the men’s game at 2:00 PM. All students in kindergarten through 12th grade will receive free admission.

In partnership with schools throughout the Basin, the Athletic Department is using this event as an opportunity to reward students for exhibiting positive behavior and achieving strong academic performance, providing them with a chance to experience the excitement of college basketball during the school day.

For more information, please contact Michael Garrard at michael.garrard@oit.edu or 541-885-1851. 

By Joaquin Aguilar-Flores, KFCS

Students from Eagle Ridge New Tech High School and Ponderosa Middle School recently completed a hands-on construction project, building a new concrete sidewalk that enhances access at the corner of the Eagle Ridge campus.

The project brought together all five of Eagle Ridge’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) construction classes, with a good amount of the labor completed by eighth-grade Ponderosa students. Over the course of nearly a month, students hand-dug roughly 65 to 80 feet of sidewalk using shovels and wheelbarrows, removed compacted dirt and gravel, laid and compacted a gravel base, and helped set the concrete forms.

“They spent the better part of a month hand digging everything out,” David Parker, Eagle Ridge New Tech’s CTE Construction and Advanced Mathematics instructor, said. “It was really hard work, but they did great.”

The project marked the students’ first experience working with concrete.

“Not a single student had any experience with concrete whatsoever,” Parker said. “That’s one of the reasons I was so thankful for Modoc Contracting because they brought something new for our students.”

Modoc Contracting Company donated the time of two professional concrete finishers to assist with the pour, including Raul Baza Martinez, the company’s lead concrete specialist. The donation helped ensure the concrete was properly placed and finished, an effort Parker estimates would have cost thousands of dollars otherwise.

“With two guys for eight hours, they donated at least $2,000 worth of labor,” Parker said. “I don’t want to do the estimate but if they had done the entire project themselves, it probably would have been somewhere around $18,000.”

The sidewalk was built in multiple sections, including a 65-foot stretch connecting to the city sidewalk along Willow Avenue, a 14-foot section that now provides access to a previously unreachable school entrance, and an additional path replacing a dirt trail students regularly used between buildings.

“There was no sidewalk there before,” Parker said. “It was grass and dirt mixed with gravel, which made it really fun for them to dig out during the project.”

Parker said the support from Modoc Contracting was especially meaningful because of his past experience with the company as he previously worked with Modoc for five years and still maintains strong relationships there.

“I’m a little biased because I did work with them; even though they did not want me to stop working there, we still get along great,” Parker said. “But for them to donate that time to the school, I felt really appreciated when they did that. For a company to donate that kind of time and expertise to our students, it meant a lot.”

January is School Board Recognition Month, and Klamath Falls City Schools would like to thank our dedicated school board members for their continued leadership and service to our students, staff, and community.

Throughout the year, board members go beyond monthly meetings by supporting Klamath Union DECA competitions, attending high school graduations, participating in school visits following major HVAC improvements at our elementary schools, and showing up at KFCS events across the district.

They have traveled outside of Oregon to support long-range facility planning for Ponderosa Middle School, helped back community efforts like Dads on Duty at Ponderosa, and work closely with KFCS Superintendent Keith Brown to guide district priorities.

Their commitment, thoughtful decision-making, and visible presence in our schools play a vital role in shaping the future of KFCS. We are grateful for the time, care, and leadership they bring to our district. Please join us in thanking our valued school board members!

#SchoolBoardMonth Oregon School Boards Association

Students in the Klamath Falls City Schools Vocational Independence Program spent time before winter break baking peppermint bark and banana chocolate chip muffins to share with family and friends.

VIP student Caleb made peppermint bark from a detailed recipe.

VIP continues to sell $5 scented pinecones, handmade from start to finish by the students, to support a seasonal fundraising VIP project. The pinecones are available in cedarwood, cinnamon and spearmint.

To purchase, email instructor Stephanie Mattingly at mattinglys@kfalls.k12.or.us

Members of Linkville Kiwanis made a special visit to the special education classrooms of Gail Reyes and Charlotte Scarborough at Conger Elementary School, spreading holiday cheer with students. Linkville Kiwanis treasurer Sandra Handsaker shared her appreciation for the opportunity to connect with students and support classrooms during the holiday season.

The event required a great deal of preparation, as Linkville Kiwanis members asked Reyes and Scarborough about each student’s holiday wishes. Linkville Kiwanis member Steve Matthies said he and his fellow members went throughout Klamath Falls to collect the items, with some proving difficult to find.

“The hardest item was finding Pokemon cards. They are so rare these days … the only place I could find them was at a store downtown where they sell cards,” Matthies said. “We made sure to find everything each of these students wanted.”

This year, Linkville Kiwanis members and the Salvation Army provided gifts for 70 students at Stearns Elementary and 20 students at Conger.

“Most of our members came with us today and it brings all of us great joy to see these students open the gift they wanted,” Handsaker said. “We have been doing this for a great number of years. I have four grandchildren and I just look at these poor kids with the conditions they have and I thank God for my four … because they don’t have these problems but we come and you can see we all just enjoy it and it is our favorite thing to do.”

Members of the Sunrise Rotary Club visited Klamath Early Childhood Development Center with Santa just in time for Christmas, presenting a gift to each class.

Sunrise Rotary Club representative Norm Holliday and fellow Sunrise Rotary members were ecstatic to see the funds they raised throughout the year bring smiles to KECDC students as they experienced the joy of opening their gifts.

Thank you, Sunrise Rotary Club, for your generosity and continued support of our students.

Ponderosa students had a fun opportunity to put their Bobcat Bucks to use by redeeming them at the Ponderosa Holiday Store this year. The project was organized by Ponderosa secretary Kelly Syrnyk and made possible through funding from a grant she earned from the Pelican Education Foundation.

For several years, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Coordinator Bill Patterson and CCLC office administrator Erin Mota have helped spread holiday cheer across Klamath Falls City Schools.

To show their appreciation for everyone involved in the KFCS afterschool program, they personally hand-delivered individual gifts, including candy, hot chocolate, and an apple, along with fruit baskets to each school and department at KFCS.

Thank you, Bill and Erin, for your continued thoughtfulness and support of our KFCS community.

The Klamath Early Childhood Development Center hosted a fun-filled Winter Family Engagement Event for KECDC families.

Students and families enjoyed games and activities with the help of the amazing KECDC staff, visits and photos with Santa, and even a festive hay ride led by head custodian, Perry Rasdal.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this special winter celebration such a memorable experience for our students and families!

Cold and flu season is here ... please help us prevent the spread of viruses by doing these things at home, school, and work.

Steps you can take

Individuals can

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

• Learn and use proper handwashing technique.

• Teach children the correct way to wash their hands.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.

Information presented comes from the Center of Disease Control. Click this link for more information.

La temporada de gripe y resfriados ya está aquí. Ayúdenos a prevenir la propagación del virus haciendo estas cosas en casa, en la escuela y en el trabajo.

Las personas pueden:

• Cubrirse la boca y la nariz con un pañuelo desechable al toser o estornudar; botar los pañuelos desechables usados a la basura; y si no tienen un pañuelo de este tipo, toser o estornudar cubriéndose con el ángulo interno del codo, no con las manos.

• Aprender y usar la técnica correcta de lavado de manos.

• Enseñarles a los niños la forma correcta de lavarse las manos.

• Limpiar con regularidad las superficies que se tocan con frecuencia, como mesones, barandas y manijas de las puertas.

La información presentada proviene del Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades. Haga clic en este enlace para obtener más información.

Monday, January 12, 2026

KFCS Board of Education General 

Monthly Meeting

6:00 pm In-person & 

Via Zoom

KFCS Board of Education

Andrea Jensen, Zone 1, Roosevelt - andrea.jensen@kfcityschools.org

Andrew Biggs, Zone 2, At-Large - andrew.biggs@kfcityschools.org

Vanessa Bennett, Zone 3, Conger - vanessa.bennett@kfcityschools.org

Kathy Hewitt, Zone 4, Mills - kathy.hewitt@kfcityschools.org

Trina Perez, Zone 5, Pelican - trina.perez@kfcityschools.org

Kelsey Bitzer, Zone 6, At-Large - Kelsey.bitzer@kfcityschools.org

Nicole Trejo, Zone 7 At-Large - Nicole.trejo@kfcityschools.org

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Klamath Falls City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. For more information, please visit our website at Nondiscrimination and Title IX webpage