Welcome to the Anadarko newsletter for the 2020-2021 school year. Within this newsletter, you will find updates on the Communities In Schools (CIS) of Mid-America programs currently supporting students and families at local schools in Anadarko. Read on to learn how CIS empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life.
AREA UPDATE
We started the third quarter with a new Director, Donna Richey, and two new Site Coordinators, Christine Armstrong and Cheyenne Bradshaw. With our amazing team, we have provided many supports and opportunities including our student's virtual needs during a two-week period of returning to remote learning due to the recent ice storm. All of our CIS students, as well as other students in need, were provided earbuds to use with their Chromebooks. Our team made sure to check in with families during the ice storm and power outages and provide supports when able.
All CIS Site Coordinators in Anadarko recently attended the Communities In Schools' Student Supports Institute, a 3-day event full of tangible takeaways and inspiring conversations including voices from the field, our students, families, and national thought-leaders.
At this event, Tribal Services Director, Donna Richey, presented on a panel about "Thriving not Surviving During a Pandemic".
Speaking of Donna: she was recently a guest on the CIS of Mid-America podcast, "Letters from the Lunchroom". During this episode, she shares how her long-time residency in Anadarko fuels both her pride and her passion for her work.
Click HERE to listen now, or find it anywhere that podcasts are found.
Keep reading to learn more about the CIS of Mid-America program in Anadarko, Oklahoma.
FEATURED FUNDER
The Kaleo Foundation is a domestic, not-for-profit corporation registered and based in Oklahoma City.
They are a grace-driven organization that serves the hurting and hungry by meeting the critical needs of children, families, and the elderly with food, and educational assistance. They use the united efforts of local churches and community volunteers to bring hope to the hurting. As of today, they partner with 343 local organizations.
So far this fiscal year, the Kaleo Foundation has donated $165,613.55 in in-kind items. During this past quarter, the Kaleo Foundation donated more than $60,000 in food and clothing. With this contribution, the CIS of Mid-America program in Anadarko was able to host a drive-thru donation giveaway for families in need. They also provided 4,000 masks, enough for every school in the district.
We are truly grateful for the support we receive from the Kaleo Foundation. With their help, we are providing the necessary resources to remove barriers for families and students. When students have what they need at home, they are better prepared to learn at school.
Kassidy Williams introduced the "Warrior Store" at Sunset Elementary. Throughout the school year, students earn Warrior Bucks for time spent on completing assignments, being kind to others, and more. Each week, Kassidy takes the store around to classrooms so that students can redeem their Warrior Bucks. This program provides a fun incentive for students to continue focusing on productive and positive behaviors!
East Elementary School
Students at East Elementary School have been participating in cultural classes as part of a partnership between CIS of Mid-America and Reach Out Afterschool programming. The students have learned about different backgrounds and the history of items such as native shields and dream catchers. They even had the opportunity to create their own dream catcher. Students are also connecting to their culture through book studies and activities with books about and by Native Authors.
Mission Elementary School
Brooke Laurenzana provides daily cultural activities to promote Developmental Relationship experiences, like expressing care, through craft-making. When the district had to go to remote schooling, Brooke adjusted the program and students designed and created their own teepees digitally. She is also partnering with Wichita Tribe's RISE program and Reach Out Afterschool to provide cultural activities and lessons. Finally, she runs the U Matter Attendance Challenge, which offers incentives to encourage students to come to school on time.
Anadarko Middle School
Site Coordinator Cheyenne Bradshaw didn’t let being new stop her from jumping right in this quarter to host her first whole-school activity: "No Zeros Ice Cream Incentive". This event encouraged students to get all of their work turned in. She's also partnering with Triber's TOR Program to provide "Project Venture", a unique culturally-based group development process that does not focus on deficits, but on the positive behaviors and healthy lifestyles that we want young people to choose.
Anadarko High School
New CIS Site Coordinator Christine Armstrong started providing supports and developing relationships at the high school as if she had been there all year long. One of the first supports she provided were hats and gloves for many of the high school students. This occurred right before Oklahoma had a major ice storm with record-setting low temperatures. Needless to say, our students were grateful.
Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through school-based coordination, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.
