By Joaquin Aguilar-Flores, KFCS

When sixth graders in Shari Glidden’s class at Ponderosa Middle School logged into a Zoom call earlier this afternoon, they were eager to meet Flip Flippen, founder of Capturing Kids’ Hearts. Flippen is a New York Times best-selling author, social entrepreneur, psychotherapist, and the founder and chairman of Capturing Kids' Hearts.

Though the Ponderosa students had never spoken with him before, Flippen was no stranger to them as his name, lessons, and positive messages have echoed throughout their classroom all year. Finally seeing the person behind the program that has shaped so many of their daily interactions brought excitement and curiosity to every student in the classroom who had various questions prepared for Flippen.

The call quickly became more than a simple question and answer and turned into an inspiring conversation about leadership, courage, forgiveness, and finding strength in challenges, all themes that have connected deeply with students and staff alike.

Flippen, who has worked with educators and leaders around the world, shared personal stories and lessons that encouraged students to look inward, value kindness and never underestimate the power of believing in themselves.

“I don’t care what your story is, or where you come from, you matter,” Flippen said. “You have the power to change someone’s day, or even someone’s life, just by the way you treat them.”

Throughout the video call, students leaned forward in their seats, asked thoughtful questions, and reflected on what leadership means at their age. Flippen explained leadership isn’t about being in charge, but about showing respect, courage and empathy.

“Carrying anger doesn’t hurt the person who hurt you,” Flippen said. “It hurts you. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay but it means you’re strong enough to move forward.”

For Mrs. Glidden’s class, the session wasn’t only about hearing from the founder of a company, it was about learning how to live out the same principles Capturing Kids’ Hearts emphasizes every day at Ponderosa: connection, responsibility, and character.

Flippen’s heartfelt words struck a chord with many students, including one student who shared how a lesson and story through CKH left him and many of his classmates in tears.

“Your story left a lot of us in tears and is something we remember every day when we are in class,” the Ponderosa student said.

Flippen was not shy to share his personal life and how he was raised in a home setting which was not pleasant.

Flippen has dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects his ability to understand and work with numbers. He struggled with it throughout his entire education because he was not diagnosed until he was 42 years old.

Ponderosa students left the video call with Flippen in awe but remembered the embrace they have for Glidden and their time this school year learning through CKH.

Klamath Union sophomores Allie Nelson and Olivia Mitchell are a go for competing in both the state cross country championships and the KU girls soccer quarterfinal this Saturday.

Klamath Union sophomores Allie Nelson and Olivia Mitchell were faced with a decision no athlete would want to be in.

Klamath Union’s girls cross country team is in the midst of likely its most historic season for the program. The program is coming off winning five Skyline Conference championships in a row after having earned a perfect score last week in the conference championship in Talent, a first in conference history, and is a record which cannot be broken.

Klamath Union’s girls cross country team is ranked No. 1 in the OSAA Class 4A polls and will be competing in the state championships this Saturday at Lane Community College in Eugene. Not having Nelson and Mitchell, two of the team’s top runners, would be detrimental to Klamath Union’s success this Saturday, a team which hoisted a second-place trophy last year.

Nelson and Mithcell, uncomfortably, made their decision and elected to run in the state cross country meet, having to miss their Klamath Union girls soccer quarterfinal, which was set to start at 2 p.m., and the state cross country girls’ run starting at 12:20 p.m.

Fate would have it, the two sophomores do not have to choose anymore or carry any guilt or regret.

“The Dalles has a natural grass field and with two playoff games yesterday, it just got torn up. They were looking for an alternative site, they don’t have lights, and they looked at a ton of different places and it sounds like the girls are going to play at Hood River Valley at 7:30 p.m. Saturday,” Klamath Union cross country head coach Rob Coffman said. “We were pushing, saying try for five or even four but 7:30 p.m. is even better. I have not had runners who had to do something like this on the same day.”

“It was tough for them to have to pick; it was ultimately their choice.”

Nelson and Mitchell, who hold vital roles on Sean Ferns’ KU girls soccer team, will not have a walk in the park in their quarterfinal game as they will face No. 2 The Dalles/Dufur, a team who has yet to lose a game this year.

Nelson and Mitchell, with their fellow girls and boys cross country runners, had their final practice of the year Thursday on Modoc Field. Klamath Union’s boys cross country team also has high hopes for the state championships and are currently ranked No. 4 in the state after having won the Skyline Conference as well.

Nelson and Mitchell found out they could compete in both events midway through their practice, with the uplifting news coming from none other than Coffman.

“I think it is a really good opportunity because this whole season we have been trying to balance out both sports the best as we can. It was a really stressful decision to have to pick between the two. The fact Coffman and Ferns are accommodating for the time, the stuff to work out is really cool,” Nelson said.

The two Pelicans will be in familiar territory, of sorts, this Saturday as they ran in the Crater Twilight race and then had a soccer game shortly after earlier this year.

“Both coaches are fighting for us which is really nice because they support us in whatever we do. It is nice because we have both sports that we love and we can do both,” Mitchell said.

Nelson and Mitchell said they will make sure to cool down with exercises after their state championship race, prepare mentally during the close to three hour drive to Hood River Valley and warm up properly to avoid injury.

“We’re also running on a lot of adrenaline,” Mitchell said. “So it just … doesn’t hurt too bad until it does but it is OK.”

Klamath Union junior Jonas Southwell and his teammates are gearing up for the OSAA Class 4A State Cross Country Championships tomorrow at Lane Community College.

Both KU boys and girls cross country teams are hopeful to come away with hardware at the state championships, with the KU girls cross country team ranked No. 1 in the state and the boys team ranked No. 4. 

Southwell and his fellow male Pelican runners are no stranger to the course at Lane after having won back-to-back Skyline Conference titles this year. Southwell believes all the difficult competitors they have faced throughout the year will only help them in their championship race tomorrow.

“It’s a really big deal to make it to state,” Southwell said. “We raced against the best teams in Oregon, and some of the fastest people in the country.”

The team held its final practice Thursday before heading to Eugene midday Friday where all members of Klamath Union cross country earned a goodie bag from parents of the team. Southwell said the team’s final practice was focused more on mental preparation than heavy training.

“We do an easy run together to get mentally prepared, and then a little speed work on the track because, at the end, there’s usually that last 300 meters where you have to sprint to the line,” Southwell said. “You’ve got to mentally prepare yourself because it’s really hilly. It’s going to be wet this year, too, so we just remind ourselves it’s temporary. You’re only going to hurt for about 17 minutes.”

While cross country can appear to be an individual sport, Southwell said the bond between teammates is what fuels KU’s success. Klamath Union’s Mark Madsen was the top Pelican runner in the conference championship run and finished in second place at 17:19. 

Callum Squibb, Kanoa Kranz-Kahopea, Southwell and Jonathan Higgins finished in sixth place through ninth place, respectively, and finished within a span of 36 seconds of each other.

“If someone has a bad race, we pick them up and remind them it’s just one race,” Southwell said. “We always support each other. It seems individual, but it’s really a team sport because one person’s race can impact the whole team. The better they do, the better we all do.”

Klamath Union seniors Rodriguez, Higgins aim to finish cross country careers on top at state

For Klamath Union seniors Eleanor Rodriguez and Leona Higgins, Saturday’s championship race will be more than just another race; it’s the culmination of four years of running, growth, and deep team connection.

The two seasoned runners helped KU to a second-place finish at state last season, and this year, return hungry for the ultimate goal. 

“Getting second last year gives us a lot of motivation to try and make it first this year. It’s kind of our last chance for us,” Rodriguez said. 

Higgins will have the upperhand heading into the championship race as she will be competing at Lane in the state meet for the fourth time tomorrow. Higgins, a Eugene native, moved to Klamath Falls after her freshman year and competed in the state championships when she attended South Eugene High School as a freshman.

“I was born and raised pretty much on that course,” Higgins said. “It’s almost like an annual tradition now. There’s a lot of motivation to win, especially since we got second last year and we’re seeded very highly.”

“Being ranked first gives us hope, but it can also make people comfortable,” Rodriguez said. “We have to compete as if we are ranked last. We want to prove we deserve that first-place spot.”

The two seniors have engraved in their minds countless advice KU cross country head coach Rob Coffman has given them. For the big race tomorrow, they will stick with what they know.

“He always says a race can’t be won in the first 200 meters, but it can definitely be lost,” Higgins said.

Happy, proud and tired has been the team’s mantra this year, a familiar phrase Rodriguez introduced at the start of the year after it was echoed in team huddles when she was a freshman.

Higgins described how a close bond the senior class from two years ago impacted her when she was the new student at school. She hopes the underclassman on this year’s team feels the same way with her.

“With the thought of having our last practice here today, cross country has always been my first love,” Higgins said. “I’ve been running since I was eight years old. It is sad to leave such a big part of my high school life behind.”

“My coaches, my friends, my teammates, it has been something I’ve looked forward to every day after school. It’s hard to move on from, but it’s exciting to see what we are going to do next.”

No. 4 Klamath Union boys soccer routs Marshfield 7–0 in its playoff opener, and advances to the Oregon School Activities Association Class 4A quarterfinals, 6 p.m. Saturday at Modoc Field against No. 5 Ontario.

The Klamath Union boys soccer team started their postseason run in dominant fashion Wednesday night as it was a field day for the Pelicans.

KU senior striker Omar Garcia had one of his best performances of the season with a hat trick and two assists against Marshfield. Carlos Garcia joined in on the fun as well with two goals, and Caleb Morton and Ryder Allen each had a goal apiece.

Klamath Union head coach Trevor Petersen praised his team’s effort but reminded them to stay focused as their next opponent will not be a team to take lightly.

“We’ve got to go back tomorrow and practice,” Petersen said. “There are still little things we can do better. Take care of yourselves, get good sleep and be ready for what’s next.”

Even after such a decisive win, Petersen said he is most proud of how the boys soccer team continues to show improvement and growth into the latter part of the season.

“It’s special to see this team win a playoff game 7–0,” Petersen said. “I’m beyond proud of everyone."

"Every one of these guys is capable of playing varsity-level soccer, and together, we’re going to be a team that can win state," KU senior defender Luis Garcia Guillen said.

Petersen credited his entire offense as well as his defenders for setting the tone early as KU led, 5-0 at halftime.

Omar Garcia said the team’s chemistry showed from the opening whistle.

“We just trusted each other,” Omar Garcia said. “Everyone was moving, communicating, and we finished the chances we had.”

Goalkeeper Emmanuel Garcia and the KU defense earned another shutout this year, keeping Marshfield scoreless throughout the game, even though the Pirates made a threat in garbage time.

“We stayed organized and kept talking the whole game,” Emmanuel Garcia said. “That’s been our focus all season and give our offense confidence.”

“We can’t get too comfortable. We’ve got to stay humble, stay focused and do all the right things the next few days before Saturday," Morton said.

Petersen made sure to remind his team their next opponent will be likely its toughest matchup they have had this season.

“Ontario is a really good team, remember, they could be a top-two team in the state,” Petersen said. “We’ve got to be ready for that kind of quality. This group is capable."

No. 7 Klamath Union girls soccer advances to the quarterfinals of the Oregon School Activities Association Class 4A State Championships after beating No. 10 North Bend on Modoc Field in the first round Tuesday night, 1-0. KU head coach Sean Ferns and his Pelicans will now travel to play No. 2 The Dalles/Dufur this Saturday.

Klamath Union's lone goal came at 20:20 in the first half. Klamath Union's score came after a pass from 35 yards out from junior Zoe Bitzer to sophomore Allie Nelson. Nelson retrieved Bitzer's pass 10 yards outside the box and ran full speed before she drew North Bend's goalie at the top of the box. Nelson then saw junior Adalie Giampietri at the corner of her eye all alone and tipped the ball to her left as Giampietri had the give-me goal from five yards out for the eventual game-winning score.

The College and Career Fair was a huge success! Students explored exciting opportunities, met with colleges and employers, and got inspired about their futures.

A big thank you to Ms. Andrade for all her hard work and dedication in making this event such a meaningful experience for our students!

Last Saturday night, October 25th, Eagle Ridge New Tech High School Eagles flew high with their 2025 Haunted House. Rooms were transformed into mazes of terror, with screaming actors, fog machines, spooky sounds and animatronic features, provided by Laney and Bobby Langfield.

The event provided the Eagle Ridge senior class an opportunity to fundraise for their senior trip. A lot of team building and hard work by Mrs. Jackie Lancaster's leadership class made for a scary and great time for all who participated. Thank you to all who attended.

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