2 Dates, 1 Thanks, and 2 MOUs


New Beginnings by Kaya Whittlinger

• Date #1 August 15: is the deadline to resubmit our proposal to the school board. We're working hard and reaching out for guidance! We've met with Kristen Miles, the consultant who recommended the denial in May; Kate Pattison, the charter school specialist for the Oregon Department of Education; and have meetings scheduled with Cecile Enright, Executive Director of River's Edge Academy Charter School in Rogue River, and with Lisa Cross, the Accounting Manager for Three Rivers School District. We also attended the National Charter Schools Conference in Washington, D.C. (more on that later). We are learning upon learning upon learning.

• Date #2 August 5: last Wednesday the grant cycle opened for federal Charter School Program grants for developers of new charter schools. They are particularly interested in teacher-led schools and schools with a strong community connection = double points for us! The application window is short (four weeks) and federal government bureaucracy is as maddening as you might expect, but we're going for it! 

• Thanks #1: We received our first oversized check! In mid-June, Four Way Community Foundation presented symbolic checks to a variety of organizations working to strengthen our community, and we're in the group! Our $10,000 grant will help us purchase furniture for students and staff, office equipment, and other capital goodies. The Four Way grant helps make our case that KCA is considered a stable investment by local foundations who know the community.
  
  *Two More MOUs: We're working on MOUs with the Dome School and Spiral Living Center. An MOU is a "Memorandum of Understanding," or nonbinding agreement between two parties that describes plans for collaboration. It's a commitment that's more than an informal conversation but less than a contract. We already have an MOU with the Southern Oregon Guild of Artists and Artisans. There are a bevy of other local groups with which we'd love an MOU (looking at you, KXCJ and Rusk Ranch Nature Center!), and over time we'll reach out, but if you want to beat us to the punch, contact us!

Humanizing the Standards
Sex Education is a Human Right

Kalmiopsis Mountains by Selena Newman
 

What is health education and what does it look like at KCA? 

Under the umbrella of health education resides the subject of sexuality education. Oregon is one of only 24 states nationwide that mandates sex education for K-12 students. Almost every state in the U.S. has some guidance around sex education.  Currently, 39 states and the District of Columbia require that HIV and/or sex education is covered in school.

However, there is no guarantee that the sex education students are offered is of high quality, medically accurate or covers the topics young people need to learn about to stay healthy.  Sexuality education has become one of the most important aspects of a holistic health education for the developing youth.

Decisions about sex education are usually made at the state and local level - no federal laws dictate what sex education looks like or how it should be taught in schools.  At KCA, we value a comprehensive sexuality education and luckily have great resources and guidance from our state. From the ODE website, “Oregon’s approach to Comprehensive Sexuality Education equips students with the knowledge and skills to realize their health, well-being, and educational goals.

Sexuality Education supports students to:

• Realize their health, well-being, and dignity;

• Build and maintain healthy relationships, including friendships, and/or romantic or sexual relationships; 

• Develop awareness of their own identities and support the identities of others;

• Ensure the protection of their rights and the rights of others throughout their lives;

• Consider their own boundaries and respect the boundaries of others;

• Recognize and access support, information, and care from trusted adults and organizations; and

• Reduce child abuse, sexual violence, harassment, and bullying.”

 

• Take the survey and share it with your friends: online or visit us at the Farmers Market (Fridays 4pm-7pm in Kerby). It takes only 2-4 minutes to complete. The more surveys we collect, the more evidence of community support. We currently have approximately 120 completed surveys, with a goal of 150 by August 10th -- let's keep it up!

• Complete an Intent to Enroll form if you or your child is considering KCA. We currently have 15 completed forms, with a goal of 25 by August 10th.

• Our Organizational Board meets the last Monday of the month over Zoom. Next meeting is July 25 @6pm: Come join the fun! (We're lying - board meetings aren't exactly fun, but they are exactly important.) 

KCA Student News
Integrating Art Everywhere

Look closely! The Kalmiopsis Collection artwork has slithered its way into our Newsletter, Facebook Page, and Website. We'll forever be grateful to the kids for creating and sharing their art. 

Charter School Conversations
NCSC Connections

We received an extremely-last-minute grant from the Ford Family Foundation to attend the National Charter Schools Conference in Washington, DC! We're not joking -- we were awarded the grant on Tuesday June 14 and flew to DC in the early hours of Saturday June 18! The most valuable thing? Each morning we gathered in a "Rural Charter Schools Homeroom" with a few dozen others, a minority of small-town perspectives inside a conference with 3,500 other participants from cities and suburbs. We were the only participants in the Rural Charter Schools Homeroom that are still in the proposal stage, which seemed to inspire everyone else to ask us questions, offer useful advice, and give their contact information so we can reach out when needed. We are learning upon learning upon learning!

Fun and Miscellany
Another Article in Takilma Common Ground!


Lady in the Mountain by Malin Townsend

Kimiko authored a KCA update for the Summer Solstice issue of Takilma Common Ground 💜 To subscribe, please visit Illinois Valley Web.

 

This newsletter is for potential KCA students and families, Illinois Valley creatives, educators, local community members, and everyone else who supports the creation of KCA! (Read our Mission, Vision, and Four Core Values). As a community-focused school, we want to be transparent to our community and help you feel "in the know" as KCA flows its way towards opening day.

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KCA Teacher Leaders
Kimiko Maglio (she/her)
Mellissa DeNardo (she/her)
Ryan Forsythe (he/him)
Kaci Elder (she/her)

Kalmiopsis Community Arts High School
Creative Commons License 2022-2023
(free to share with attribution)

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