Klamath County School District

11/04/2026

🎶 Congratulations to our talented students from Henley and Mazama high schools and Henley Middle School who auditioned and were selected for All-State bands and choirs! 👏

STATEBOUND: Eleven Klamath County School District student musicians have qualified to perform in the Oregon Music Educators Association’s All-State bands and choirs.

Four students were selected for All-State choirs. Henley High School’s Kaya Powell (tenor), Nathan Hood (bass) and Sara Sanchez (soprano) will perform with the All-State Mixed Choir. Henley Middle School eighth-grader Cam Robinson (soprano) qualified for the All-State Middle School Treble Choir.

Seven students earned spots in the All-State bands — five from Henley High School, one from Mazama High School and one from Henley Middle School.

Mazama sophomore Austin Faganello (trumpet) and Henley High School’s Lyla Garcia (bass clarinet), Adalyne Mitchell (flute), Jadon Smith (trumpet) and Zoey Turrietta (alto sax) were selected for the All-State Symphonic Band. Henley’s Stephen Aylward (percussion) was selected for the All-State Wind Ensemble.

Henley Middle School seventh-grader Annie Aylward (French horn) was selected for the All-State Middle School Band.

The All-State event, organized annually by the Oregon Music Educators Association, brings together Oregon’s most talented young musicians. Students auditioned in early October and, if selected, received music to practice individually before traveling to Eugene. There, they will spend three days rehearsing under the direction of nationally recognized conductors and composers before performing in concerts during the OMEA conference in mid-January.

11/04/2026

MANY SCHOOLS. MANY COMMUNITIES. WORKING TOGETHER.
Klamath County School District is not just one school, one community, or one experience.

It is 22 schools. Distinctive communities. Different traditions. Yet, thousands of everyday moments connect us: a teacher helping a student learn, a bus driver starting a child’s school day, a family showing up, a student discovering a new path.

Each moment is a thread. On its own, it tells one story about one student, one school, or one community. But woven together, those threads create the tapestry that is KCSD, connecting us by a shared purpose: student success.

Through , we’ll share those moments and the stories that make KCSD extraordinary.

Do you have an idea for a story? Share it here: https://forms.gle/hVcdNipqphMtF8dv5

11/01/2026

Check this out! Brixner Junior High School is hosting a Battle of the Boards chess tournament Nov. 7 for students in grades K-8. Use the link below in the post to pre-register.

Brixner Battle of the Boards Chess Tournament!

When: Nov 7th
8-8:30am checkin
matches begin at 9am

Where: Brixer Junior High

Cost: Brixner Students-Free!
All other students $10 preregisteation, $15 at the door.

Who: grades K-8

Preregister at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLA6uGFnlBL3QNRwEuAzYapMAaUBxfKjLq33JMLz_A0ek51w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101143977443058415036

10/31/2026

🎃 Our KCSD transportation team brought plenty of Halloween spirit to work on Friday!

KCSD’s 66 bus drivers cover more than 70 routes every day, helping students get safely from home to school and back. With 10 paraprofessionals riding along to support students and mechanics keeping buses ready for the road, the team travels more than 1.48 million miles each year.

We’re grateful for the people behind every ride -- and love seeing them bring some fun to the job, too! 👻

10/31/2026

🎃 A little Halloween magic, OneKCSD style!
A yellow brick road, the Cat in the Hat and plenty of treats greeted visitors to KCSD’s Central Office on Friday, Oct. 30.

Superintendent Melissa Cole and district office staff invited employees and their children from across KCSD to trick-or-treat through the building. Families followed arrows from one themed office to the next, with stops in the Land of Oz at Business Services and visits with Curriculum’s Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Our Transportation crew joined in the Halloween fun, too! And there was a District Office staff costume contest (The Cat in the Hat with Things 1, 2, 3, and 4 took the prize) Check out the costumes, smiles and creativity from across our team. 👻

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

10/31/2026

❄️ Get ready for winter weather! ❄️ Make sure your family receives KCSD’s school delay, closure and early dismissal alerts.

To ensure you receive important updates:
✅Check your contact information. Make sure your school has your current phone number and email address. You can update your information through your parent portal or by contacting your school.
✅Choose how you’d like to be notified. Our notification system, BrightArrow, allows parents and guardians to receive messages by text, phone call, or email. To opt in to text messages, ensure your phone number is accurate in PowerSchool and then text "yes" to 79041.

How it works:
✅Starting as early as 4 a.m., our transportation supervisor, superintendent, custodial lead and administrators from outlying schools assess roads, school grounds and weather forecasts.
✅We alert families through our notification system (BrightArrow) starting at 5:30 a.m., whenever possible. All families should receive notifications by 6 a.m. For early dismissals, we notify families as soon as a decision is made.

✅Updates also appear on our district website, Facebook and Instagram pages. Local television and radio stations help spread the word.

We understand that weather and road conditions can vary across our district. Even if schools remain open, you may determine that conditions in your area make it unsafe for your child to travel to school. If your child will be absent, please call your school to let staff know.

Thank you for being part of our OneKCSD team and helping us keep students safe this winter!

10/30/2026

In honor of National Principals Month, we asked you for KCSD principal shout-outs. This shout-out goes to Heather Bond, principal at Gilchrist Elementary School:

“My principal is Heather Bond at Gilchrist Elementary. Heather is a “fearless leader” for her staff, students, and families. She works tirelessly to support all areas of our school including covering for cafeteria at 5 a.m. if someone is out sick and even stepping into classrooms and duty coverage to give staff a break or when needed due to staffing. Heather has true love and compassion for the students and families at Gilchrist and in her 2.5 years as principal, we have seen our community and family engagement increase exponentially! She is always open to new ideas, encouraging her staff to bring them to the table for discussion, and is willing to try new things if the data shows that it could benefit our students, families, and community.”

Mrs. Bond has nearly 30 years of experience in education and has taught at every grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade. She began her career in Arizona and later worked in Idaho. She joined Klamath County School District in December 2021 as a permanent substitute teacher at Gilchrist School, serving grades K-12, before spending two years as a Title I teacher. In August 2024, she became vice principal at Gilchrist and served in that role until April 2025, when she was hired as principal of Gilchrist Elementary School. She is now in her second year as principal.

10/30/2026

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, TANKER PLANES AND SMOKEY BEAR!
Great Basin Homeschool Center students recently got a hands-on lesson in fire safety during a field trip to the Tanker Base on Brett Way near Kingsley Field.

Students practiced using fire extinguishers, learned how to safely exit a house in case of a fire and tested their stop, drop and roll skills in a friendly race. They also explored fire and emergency response vehicles, climbed aboard a tanker plane, enjoyed a bounce house, and visited with Smokey Bear.

The outing was one of Great Basin Homeschool Center's ongoing field trip opportunities, giving students a chance to explore their community, learn new skills and connect with one another.

Field trips are voluntary, with families notified of upcoming opportunities through email and the center's newsletter.

Interested in learning more about Great Basin Homeschool Center and its programs? Contact [email protected].

10/30/2026

In honor of National Principals Month, we asked you for KCSD principal shout-outs. This shout-out goes to Ruben Paschal, principal of Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School:

“Mr. Paschal really cares about the kids and this community. He treats people right and wants to see his students do well. You can tell he takes pride in being a Panther. We’re lucky to have him!"
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“Mr. Paschal’s deep community ties have made him not only a respected role model for students, but also a trusted partner in the community. As a leader for staff, a loyal advocate for students, and ally for what this community values, he helps shape school culture through respect, grace, and accountability, and we're here for it.”

Mr. Paschal has worn many hats over his 23 years as an educator. First, as a teacher for 12 years and mentor for the Basin’s youngest students in the elementary setting. He became a school administrator 11 years ago, serving at Shasta Elementary, Stearns Elementary, and Brixner Junior High School before taking the reins of Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School in 2023.

Fun fact: Attending Butte Valley Jr/Sr High School as a teen, Ruben views joining the Chiloquin High School team as a return home. After all, he met his wife Adria on the Chiloquin campus when his Butte Valley Bulldogs visited the Panthers for a 7th grade basketball game.