Arkoma Public School

School is fast approaching! Here are a few things to remember: 1. The $10 supply fee is due by August 13th. Pay in either school office 2. Elementary students are not allowed to have colored hair or high heeled shoes. 3. All students eat free in the district! 4. Elementary students will need to bring a water bottle each day, we have filling stations! 5. Masks are optional at this time. We are getting excited, hope you are too!!!

Sports physicals Friday at the game gym - 9am - 9:30am for Amy 6-12 grade girls and 9:30am-10:30 for 6-8 grade boys and 10:30am for 9-12 boys. $20. Please have all forms signed and completed.

JH/HS Orientation is Monday, August 9th. DUE TO COVID- please arrive at the scheduled time for your grade posted below or refer to our Arkoma Public Schools FB page.

In an effort to help parents reduce costs, Arkoma Schools will continue the $10 school supply fee. Each child will need to pay their fee by August 13TH. The fee can be paid at either school office starting now. This fee will cover all supplies your child will need for the school year!

Elementary Open House Tuesday, August 10th 5-8pm PK meeting @6:00 in cafeteria KDG meeting @7:00 in cafeteria See FB or Live Feed for more details!

We have received numerous calls regarding the Headstart program in Arkoma. Although the Headstart program is not affiliated with the school, we have made contact with the company who will have the Headstart program and would like to share what they have told us. 1. The Headstart in Arkoma is not closing and in fact, they are expanding services. 2. Arkoma Public Schools has not announced any plans to take over the three year old program. For more information, please read the statement they shared with us:  Good evening Superintendent Walden, It was a pleasure speaking with you. As shared with you during our Zoom meeting, Community Development Institute (CDI) Head Start was assigned as a short-term interim operator of the Eastern Oklahoma program until the Office of Head Start designated a permanent grantee. Please be advised that effective September 1, 2021, Save the Children (SCUS) Head Start Programs, Inc. will become the new Head Start grantee for Le Flore County. Save the Children Head Start is honored to be selected as the new agency to administer Head Start and Early Head Start services in Eastern Oklahoma - and excited to expand Early Head Start services for infants and toddlers. Head Start and Early Head Start services are scheduled to begin in the fall. We will continue to service children and their families at the Arkoma Head Start Center. Save the Children Head Start has operated Head Start and Early Head Start programs since 2011, and currently operates programs in Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee, serving over 2,100 children and their families. To learn more, please visit www.SavetheChiIdren.org/HeadStart. Save the Children Head Start is grateful for the opportunity to build on the rich legacy of CDI Head Start to ensure that there is continuity of high-quality services for children and families. We recognize this can only be done through strong community partnership which contributes to stronger children, families, programs, and communities. As such Save the Children Head Start remains a committed community partner and is taking every action necessary to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible. We are appreciative of the opportunity to partner with you and the community to continue to provide high-quality, birth to age five services to children and families! Families may contact us via email at OKfamilies@savechildren.org. If you have any questions please contact Richard Langford at 419.308.1737, your CDI Site Manager until August 31, 2021 or Jana Bays, Save the Children Head Start Program Director by email at jbays@savechildren.org or by phone at (479) 970-6136, effective September 1, 2021. Thank you, Arvelis Arvelis Byrd, M.Ed. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HEAD START PROGRAMS

Physicals for all girls grades 6-12 are Friday at the game gym starting at 9am 6-8 grade and 10am for 9-12 grade. All forms need to be complete and signed. Cost is $20.

Help us in welcoming Mrs. Kisty Barnes to the Arkoma family! Mrs. Barnes will be our Kindergarten teacher for the new year! Kisty graduated from UAFS with a Bachelor’s Degree. She has also previously taught in day cares and was a substitute teacher at Monroe Public School for the last few years. Mrs. Barnes says, “My philosophy in teaching is to create a fun and exciting learning environment that allows each child to grow physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. I believe that when a child enters a classroom, they should feel safe, loved, and excited to learn! I feel it is my mission as an educator to instill a love for learning in each child that passes through my classroom.” Mrs. Barnes told us, “I am happily married to my best friend Brett and together we have four young children (Brecken 11, Stretten 10, Deaken 9, and Kambren 6). I am looking forward to meeting all of my students and their families!! I am also beyond excited to join the Mustang family and look forward to the 2021-2022 school year!”

Let’s have a Mustang “Welcome Home” to Haylee Farney, Class of 2015! Haylee will serve as our Speech Pathologist. Haylee graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 2019 and a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology this year from Northeastern State University. This will be Haylee’s first job after graduating, but she interned at Fort Smith Public Schools and at Encompass Health in Fort Smith. Haylee says, “In my role as Arkoma’s speech language pathologist, I aspire to help my students become effective communicators, and to enjoy and participate more fully in social interactions. My goal is to empower each student to realize that they are responsible for their progress and achievement of their goals. Collaboration is a key component in my therapy process. I feel that it is crucial to establish partnerships with teachers and parents.” She finishes by saying, “I graduated from Arkoma High School and I’m proud to be a Mustang again! I am looking forward to building relationships with my coworkers and students. You will definitely see my husband and I cheering on the Mustangs. I’m excited to start the school year and meet all the students.”

Welcome Mrs. Lisa Little to our staff! Mrs. Little will teach 3rd grade this year. Mrs. Little graduated from NSU in 2017 and this will be her 4th year teaching. She has lived in Arkoma for 17 years, with her husband and 2 boys, who also attend Arkoma Schools. She also served on the fire department auxiliary for 4 years. Mrs. Little said, “Our school is the heart of our community. I am proud to be a part of building the foundation of our children’s education to help them succeed not only academically, but personally. My goal is to help them find the love of learning in a positive way by teaching them to have a growth mindset.” Mrs. Little’s teaching philosophy is that through education, students will learn skills that are needed to succeed throughout life. She believes that when a student feels love and trust for their teacher, there is no limit to learning! We are so glad to have Mrs. Little come home.💙❤️💙

Mrs.Amanda will be at the elementary office Monday, July 12th from 10-12 if you still need to enroll or need help with enrollment. You can also email acaraway@arkoma.k12.ok.us, if you need your Wen-gage login to enroll. If you have not enrolled, please do so by tomorrow.

Congratulations to Mrs. Taylan Underwood, who has recently been promoted to a JH teacher! Mrs. Underwood will be our 5th grade teacher. Mrs. Underwood received a Bachelors in Business Administration degree from University of Arkansas -at Fort Smith and has spent the last year getting alternatively certified. Here’s a little from Mrs. Underwood on her journey to the classroom: She states, “I have been a part of the Arkoma Mustang family for two years now. I started subbing my senior year of college and fell in love with education and the school. Last year, I was given the opportunity to serve as one of our school’s Behavioral Interventionists. That position allowed me to get to know the students on a more personal level and increased my desire to be in the classroom.” “My hope for all of our students is that they know how loved and cherished they are. Education is so important and goes far beyond the classroom.” She continues by quoting, “What we instill in our children will be the foundation upon which they build their future.” -Steve Maraboli. Mrs. Underwood finished by saying, “I am a wife and soon to be mother to a baby girl. You’ll see us cheering on the Mustangs at the games! Go Big Blue! I’m so excited for this school year and I can’t wait to see all of the students again!”

Welcome Michael Schnatz, mostly known as Coach Germany, to our district! Coach Germany will serve as our Girls’ Basketball Head Coach! Coach Germany has his Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Southern Nazarene University and will finish his Masters in Administration from Southern Nazarene next summer. He has taught 23 years of health/athletics/physical education in Oklahoma and Missouri. He has coached basketball for 25 years and has also coached softball/ track/ cross country/ baseball/football/volleyball/ golf and swimming. Coach Germany states, “I am excited for Arkoma, I hope to bring joy and laughter to the district, as I love making kids and adults enjoy the day in the classroom! My philosophy is each student CAN, when you find the best method for that student.” He ends with, “I am looking forward to a great year with the girl’s basketball teams. They did great at camp!”

Welcome to our staff, Mr. Thomas Lenard! Mr. Lenard will teach JH Social Studies, HS/JH Outdoor Education and coach our Archery teams. Most of us know Mr. Lenard, but let’s get to know him a little better: I graduated with a Bachelors of Social Science - Criminal Justice degree from Northeastern State University. This will be my first year teaching, but I have 21 years of experience in Law Enforcement. I believe every child can succeed if pointed in the right direction. I hope to use my experience to keep the students interested in the Social Studies classes. I want to use creative learning opportunities to increase educational development whenever possible. Learning should not be just from reading and answering test questions. I really look forward to the adventure of teaching. I truly believe that teaching will be as good for me as I hope to make it for my students. As I begin a new career, every child will start with a clean slate and I hope we build on that for all to succeed in the classroom and in life!

Welcome to Arkoma, Mr. James Lockhart! Mr. Lockhart will serve as our JH/HS Special Education teacher. Mr. Lockhart has years of experience advocating for the people of LeFlore County and we look forward to him advocating for our students with special needs. Here’s a bit of information about Mr. Lockhart: He received an Associate of Science in zoology/biology from CASC, a BS in Management from the University of Phoenix and attended the JFK School of Government Harvard for Leadership/ Organizing. Mr. Lockhart has spent the last two years teaching English, History and Computers at Battiest Public Schools. He states, “My favorite part of teaching is watching the students learn. We have a lot of fun in my class!” Mr. Lockhart goes on to say, “I know a lot of people in Arkoma and I’m proud to be part of the team!”

Welcome to the Mustang Nation, Coach Jack Armstrong! Coach Armstrong will teach HS Social Studies classes, as well as serve as the Head Coach of our football program. Coach Armstrong also intends to start a wrestling program at our school!!! Let’s get to know Coach Armstrong a little better: Coach Armstrong earned his Bachelor’s Degree from NSU in 2021. Although this is his first year teaching, he has coached Youth, Jr High and High School football, wrestling and baseball for 7 years. Here’s what he had to say, “I love the rewards that come with learning and coaching. I get a chance to teach kids that with some hard work and the right mindset, the sky is the limit. No matter what background…hard work will always win!!” “I am looking forward to getting to know everyone. Athletically speaking, I see a lot of potential in the kids I have met! I hope that this year is just the first step, on our path, to building an amazing program in Arkoma!”

Help us in welcoming home, Mr. Bob Weatherford, Class of 85!! Mr. Weatherford will teach HS Math and is excited to be at his alma mater. Mr. Weatherford has a BS in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University, a BS in Geography from Oklahoma State University and Masters in Mathematics Instruction and Curriculum from Concordia University. He has 21 years teaching high school mathematics in and around the Dallas area. Mr. Weatherford says “My philosophy is that hard work pays off, for all parties, students and teachers. I'm patient and I'm willing to do what it takes to make this the best school district possible.” He continues, “I was born and raised in Arkoma and have always believed that this school district has, and will, produce brilliant young men and women who have the power to make the world a better place.”

We would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Westfall! Mrs. Westfall will teach JH ELA and Mr. Westfall will teach JH Math. This dynamic duo is coming to us from Heavener and we are so excited for them to become part of the Mustang Family! Here’s a little bit about Mrs. Westfall: I have a bachelor’s degree in English, Secondary Education from Northeastern State University and two Masters of Education degrees, one in School Counseling and one in Education Technology from East Central University. I have been working in education for 30 years, 4 of those years as a middle and high school counselor, 5 years as a media technology support specialist, and 21 years as a classroom teacher. Real learning happens when there is a spirit of cooperation, a team effort that involves every employee in the school building, the students, and their families. I prefer working in rural schools because that close-knit environment is the perfect space to provide students the validation, security, and encouragement students need to thrive. When we feel good about ourselves, we can foster positive relationships with others and develop the confidence and curiosity it takes to learn together. When Mr. Westfall and I visited with Mr. Walden and Mrs. Harmon for the first time, their dedication and love for the community and the students at Arkoma Schools became obvious, and that spirit is something we want to be part of. I am excited about the opportunity I have been given to join the family at Arkoma Public Schools and I am already working on plans to start the school year. I look forward to meeting my students and their families!

PRe-kindergarten program NOW ENROLLING and filling fast!!! Student must be 4 by September 1st. Program is free! Students attend 8:00-3:05. Free breakfast and lunch !! Email acaraway@arkoma.k12.ok.us to enroll today!!!

MEET OUR STAFF: Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Brianna Farmer as our new Pre-K Teacher!! Mrs. Farmer graduated from Arkansas Tech University in Russelleville, AR. Mrs. Farmer has taught 8 years with Head Start, as well as serving as the Site Director. Here’s what she has to say about joining our staff: I believe that a classroom should be a safe, caring community where children are free to speak their mind and blossom and grow. I am a wife and mother of two. We planted our roots in Arkoma 6 years ago, and we love the town and the people! You’ll always see me at any type of ball game cheering on our Mustangs! I am excited to meet each of you and to see what this new school year brings!