Klamath County School District

STUDENT-BUILT FENCE, HEALTHY GATHERINGS: A courtyard at 500 Main Street is getting a fresh look — and a new entrance fence built by Mazama High School students — as Healthy Klamath prepares to open a public gathering space tonight (June 18) during June's Third Thursday event.

Eric Basangan, community engagement coordinator for Healthy Klamath, reached out to Mazama High School this spring to ask if students would be willing to take on the project of redesigning and building the metal fence and gate.

"I like to engage students and the community," Basangan said. "These are the kinds of collaborative projects I like to build."

Three manufacturing students — Jacoby Nickeron, Ethan Wegat, and Jaidyn Cantamessa — took on the project in March under the direction of manufacturing teacher Mike Edwards and automotive teacher Steve Walker. They were tasked with replacing an older tall metal fence that bordered the courtyard, which didn't meet city code requirements and didn't fit the vision for the reimagined space.

The students started by removing the original fence and bringing it back to school, where they cut pieces from the existing materials and standardized their lengths. They then welded the pieces onto new top and bottom metal borders. The finished fence — measuring roughly 12 feet, on one section and about nine feet on the other — was installed Thursday morning (June 18).

“It will be cool to drive by and see it finished," Ethan said as he and Jaidyn worked to install the metal fence pieces. The gate for the courtyard entrance will be installed at a later date.

Jaidyn agreed: "Yeah, it'll be cool to say, 'I did that' 20 years from now."

Mazama Vice Principal Sergio Cisneros was on hand to watch the installation. He said this type of partnership is a key component for student learning.

“When schools and communities work together, we create real opportunities for students that make a lasting, positive difference right here at home,” he said.

The courtyard transformation is a broader collaboration involving Healthy Klamath, the city of Klamath Falls, Underground Art, and Klamath County. John Bellen from Parks and Recreation has been involved in guiding plant selection and ensuring compliance with city standards. Shade plants have already been planted at the base of one wall, which also features a large mural-sized painting. Furniture will be added as well.

Basangan said the space is intended to be open to the public at certain times, functioning as a small community gathering area that anyone passing by is welcome to use.

Tonight's soft opening coincides with Third Thursday and will also feature a temporary installation of a photo exhibit.

Registration deadline is tomorrow, Friday, June 19!
The 2026 Klamath County Youth Summit is Wednesday June 24. This event is free and open to all local middle and high school students.

The youth summit will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ross Ragland Theater Cultural Center, 218 N. 7th St. Sponsored by Citizens for Safe Schools, it focuses on workshops to build skills, meet new people, and learn about collective action. Lunch and snacks are provided.

Register here: https://forms.gle/VW4QsjtVKNMhzehX7

Questions? Call or email Citizens for Safe Schools at (541)-882-3198 or [email protected]

Keep reading this summer! Our libraries offer free ebooks and audiobooks through the Sora app (students connect through Clever). All genres are available including mystery, adventure, fantasy, graphic novels, and comics. Check it out! The link is: https://soraapp.com/library/kcsdor

It's the last day of school before summer break! Check our June KCSD & Me here: https://app.smore.com/n/zhvp2 Happy summer!!

KCSD & Me KCSD & Me

NOURISHING ART: Four Mazama High School students are showcasing their creativity as part of a new outdoor art installation bringing local photography into public spaces throughout Klamath County.

Mazama student photographers Addy Pridemore, Adam Hato, Payton Gates, and Sydney Baker are among the featured artists in NOURISH, a community photography exhibition presented by Underground Art Klamath Falls. Mazama art teacher Hannah Morris, a board member of Underground Art, worked with the students on the project.

The first installation of the regional project is on the Mazama High School campus, where 18 large-scale photographs, including the photos by the four Mazama students, have been installed along the walking path fence behind the school. The installation will remain on display through the summer and into early fall.
NOURISH features more than 60 outdoor photo installations created by local artists. The project is designed to celebrate creativity, encourage community connection, and highlight local talent.

The project began with a regionwide call for photography submissions, resulting in a summer exhibition featuring more than 60 photographs from 17 artists displayed at the Klamath Community Garden. Selected works were printed on large-scale vinyl through the Klamath Union Digital Media Program and installed outdoors throughout the garden.

This summer’s new iteration of NOURISH aims to create opportunities for community members to experience art in unexpected places. Art will be exhibited at three additional outdoor venues this summer. Check Underground Art’s Instagram for updates. Underground Art Klamath Falls is a nonprofit art collective dedicated to enriching Klamath County’s creative landscape through immersive pop-up events, community engagement, youth initiatives, and opportunities for local artists.

Here are the details about the four student photographs in the collection:
• Addy Pridemore – The Beauty of the Mountains
Addy Pridemore’s photograph, The Beauty of the Mountains, captures a scenic overlook along Highway 140 on the way to Medford. Taken during a stop on a drive with her father near the Doak Mountain area, the image reflects a spontaneous moment where light and landscape aligned to create striking shadows across the mountain range. For Addy, photography is a growing passion, and she hopes to pursue work in family and wedding photography in the future.

• Adam Hato – Death Valley Super Bloom
Exchange student Adam Hato is featured with a photograph taken during a spring break trip to Death Valley during the super bloom. His work reflects a broader travel photography experience that included shooting landscapes, flowers, and night skies before continuing on to Las Vegas. Adam, who was an exchange student at Mazama this year from Jordan, described photography as an enjoyable hobby rather than a career focus, noting that he borrowed a camera from his host family for the trip and used the opportunity to experiment creatively while documenting his travels.

• Payton Gates – Looking in for the Last Home Game Ever
Payton Gates contributed a sports photograph capturing a senior basketball player during her final home game. As a student photographer for school athletics, Payton regularly documents both boys’ and girls’ games, focusing on action and emotion in key moments. She shared that this particular image stood out for its lighting and composition. Payton also reflected that photography has served as a positive creative outlet for her personally, helping her navigate challenges outside of school.

• Sydney Baker – Sunlight Rider
Sydney Baker’s photograph, Sunlight Rider, features a friend and her horse captured in a carefully composed, moody outdoor portrait. Sydney explained that the shoot was a collaborative idea with her subject, aiming to highlight natural light and atmosphere while incorporating equestrian elements. She expressed a strong interest in continuing photography in college, where she plans to study the discipline further and develop her artistic style.

Klamath County School District will implement a new requirement beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. All students who ride a school bus must be registered prior to receiving transportation services.

Registration forms and instructions were sent home with current bus riders on Monday, June 8. Parents and guardians are asked to complete the registration process at their earliest convenience to ensure transportation arrangements are in place before the start of the school year.

Please note that a separate registration form is required for each child who will be riding the school bus. To register online, visit:
https://kcsdk12.transfinder.com/formfinder/Survey.html?c=kcsdk12&t=87b7ba4609cn (You can also use the QR code in this post)

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to improve transportation services and ensure accurate routing information for all student riders.

If you have any questions regarding the registration process, please contact the Transportation Office at 541-883-5013 for assistance. Families will be notified by email or phone prior to the start of the school year once transportation arrangements are confirmed.

KCSD, YMCA OFFERING SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS
Klamath County School District and the YMCA are offering free meal programs for youth this summer. Families can access nutritious breakfasts and lunches through both pickup-only sites and congregate (meals must be eaten on site) meal sites.

NON-CONGREGATE (Pickup) MEAL SITES
Families may pick up five days of breakfasts and lunches one day each week at the following locations. Please note start and end dates, day of the week, and times by location.

KCSD
June 22-Aug. 7 (Note earlier start date at Chiloquin Elementary)
• Gearhart – Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Peterson Elementary – Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Shasta Elementary – Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Ferguson Elementary – Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Merrill – Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Malin – Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Chiloquin Elementary – Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. (June 15-Aug. 7)

YMCA
June 15-Aug. 28 / 11 a.m. to noon
• Mondays – Klamath County Courthouse, 316 Main Street, Klamath Falls
• Tuesdays – Mills Kiwanis Park
• Wednesdays – YMCA Fitness Center, 1221 South Alameda Avenue, Klamath Falls
• Thursdays – South Suburban Library, 3625 Summers Lane, Klamath Falls
• Fridays – Big Springs Park, 3001 Main Street, Bonanza

KCSD CONGREGATE MEAL SITES
Lunch only. Meals must be eaten on site. Service is available Monday through Thursday.
• Mazama High School – June 15- Aug. 7, noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Keno Elementary – June 22-Aug. 7, noon to 12:30 p.m.

Check out these Bonanza grad photos by Bonanza Jr./Sr. High School alum and photographer Honey Banegas: https://honeyitzelphotography.pixieset.com/bonanzahighschoolgraduation2026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSRxiZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80Mzc2MjYzMTY5NzM3ODgAAR7I8u0kftg1Gg_eNRzr4ssGiuFlGvs0WEMYRMR5QopuWsO7gHvDTu3rcdZUcQ_aem_KGqfpNETlDoO9DIMfgiOUg

Bonanza High School Graduation 2026 Photo collection by Honeyitzelphotography