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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Medford-Jacksonville bike path becomes part of larger effort Medford clinics testing experimental treatments Public meetings, Sept. 1-5, 2014 Elusive owls get new home in Cascades Back-to-school time still conjures memories Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Medford police training program more than a video game Emergency Services Firefighting will close part of Lost Creek Lake over Labor Day weekend MPD crosswalk sting leads to several tickets Politics and Elections Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Medford proposes new rules for pawn shops to help nab thieves Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Council members in Gold Hill dodge voter recall Bill Pullman campaigns for Oregon GMO labeling law Education Back-to-school shopping can add up RCC program helps prepare Latinos for college SOU launches leadership degree program Medford charter school opens with many changes, including its name Superintendent welcomes staff to a new school year Environment Elusive owls get new home in Cascades Judge won't block release of water Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message OR-7 could be recollared next month Deadly deer virus may be spreading State news Nation - World Obituaries James (Jim) Michael Giancarlo Janie Sparks Georgia A. 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By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 5:34 pm By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 5:34 pm Name change surprises board --> Kids Unlimited Academy Public Charter School's new name caught at least some Medford School Board members off guard. Board members said Tuesday they were not aware that the school had changed its n... » Read more X Name change surprises board Kids Unlimited Academy Public Charter School's new name caught at least some Medford School Board members off guard. Board members said Tuesday they were not aware that the school had changed its name from VIBES Charter School. Board member Kim Wallan said it was the board’s impression that the charter school was going to distance itself from the Kids Unlimited after-school program so it was clear that the two operated separately. The charter school operates largely independently from the school district, but is accountable to the board. Tom Cole, executive director of Kids Unlimited, and Lynn Eccleston, the school's new principal, said the name change was in response to confusion about the name VIBES. “The charter board decided the continuity with the bigger brand of Kids Unlimited was important,” Cole said. “There was a lot of confusion the first year. 'What is VIBES? How is it connected to Kids Unlimited?'” Cole said the school’s business office had contacted the school district earlier this summer and been told to notify the state’s Department of Education about the proposed name change. “We did so, and the Department of Ed said, ‘Great!’ ” Cole said. “Our commitment to the programs, our standards and our partnership with the Medford School District has not changed,” Cole said.  Julie Evans, the district's charter school liaison, said Kids Unlimited will need to request an amendment to its charter for the new name. » Social News Kids Unlimited Academy Public Charter School kicked off the school year Tuesday with 100 new students, a new principal, a new cafeteria menu, a shiny new playground, several new classrooms and offices, and a new name. “Lots of new things, but they’re all good things,” said Tom Cole, executive director of Kids Unlimited, a free after-school and mentoring program that is the school’s parent company and host. The charter school, which opened in 2013 as VIBES Public Charter School, is accountable to the Medford School Board and, in May, got permission from the board to add full-day kindergarten and fourth grade starting this fall. Over the summer, the school worked with Kids Unlimited to add six classrooms, including one designated for English Language Learners and one for special education students, as well as six offices, a health room, and a space for the Family Nurturing Center to offer a preschool program. “We transformed what is roughly 13,000 square feet into new learning areas and classrooms for kids,” Cole said. “We were really fortunate that we got some significant contributions from individuals and from the proceeds of our auction ($291,000), which was held in June,” Cole added. “We are working with a financial institution to extend our line of credit to finish the project.” The renovations are expected to cost about $580,000 and, except for the preschool area, were completed last week, when teachers were allowed to move into their brightly colored classrooms. This year, 250 students — that’s 50 students per grade level — are enrolled in the school, and there’s a waiting list for each grade, said Lynn Eccleston, who is replacing Stephanie Johnson, who retired as planned after getting the school up and running. Eccleston spent 18 years with the Eagle Point School District, first as an elementary teacher, then as assistant principal of Eagle Point High School and finally as principal of White Mountain Middle School. More recently, Eccleston spent five years working with inner-city kids across the United States as the area manager of the Success for All Foundation. Eccleston said she took the job because she was impressed with the school’s “out-of-the-box thinking and strong instructional model” and enjoyed working with kids from tougher populations. Kids Unlimited Academy will continue to offer an extended day — 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. — with three meals and a variety of enrichment activities (tae kwon do, dance, cooking, Chinese, kung fu, among others) in the afternoon. Last year, Sodexo, a school food provider, catered for the school. This year, the school’s board of directors and staff decided to hire a chef and kitchen staff to prepare meals made with fresher ingredients. “If we want to teach these kids about healthy lifestyles and nutrition, then the food we serve them should mirror that,” Eccleston said. On Tuesday for lunch, the kids enjoyed penne pasta with red sauce, a green salad, apple slices and carrot sticks. In the future, meals will feature ingredients from the school’s gardens that staff and students plan to plant in raised beds around the playground later this year, Eccleston said. With or without the raised beds, the playground seemed to be the best part of the first day of school for many kids, specifically those who attended VIBES last year when there was no playground. Second-grader Brooklyn Vidonic, 7, said the playground was one of the reasons she was excited to come back to school after a summer of swimming and playing Wii games. Besides the playground, Brooklyn said, the best part of Tuesday was choosing her enrichment activities — and getting to hold Shelby, the class turtle. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt .   By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 5:34 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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