CPS Native American Programs

JOM staff attended the Indigenous Cultural Arts Workshop on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Kansas, OK. We would like to thank the United Keetoowah Band and Kansas Public Schools for providing our program with a great day of training!

On March 24, 2026, Colcord Public Schools administration attended the annual Cherokee Nation Public School Appreciation Day. The district would like to give a huge thank you to the Cherokee Nation for providing the public schools in northeast Oklahoma with an annual donation from motor vehicle tax revenues. These annually donated funds are much needed and greatly appreciated, wado!

Students explored the life and legacy of Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest athletes of all time and a proud Native American from the Sac and Fox Nation. Through stories, discussions, and activities, students learned how Jim Thorpe overcame challenges, showed incredible determination, and excelled in multiple sports, including winning Olympic gold medals.

We also talked about the importance of perseverance, respect for culture, and believing in yourself, just like Jim Thorpe did. Students were especially inspired by how he stayed strong and continued to succeed, even when faced with obstacles.

Ask your child to share one interesting fact they learned about Jim Thorpe or how they can show determination in their own life!

Cherokee Language students have partnered with the Colcord Riding Club and the Colcord Cherokee Community Organization to support the annual After School SWARM Program Easter Egg Hunt.

Students created special Easter egg inserts featuring pictures paired with the Cherokee syllabary to help younger students make connections between images and Cherokee words. These inserts were placed inside eggs for participants to discover during the hunt.

Through this project, Cherokee Language students are not only reinforcing their own language skills, but also helping introduce and promote the Cherokee language in a fun, engaging way for younger learners in the community.

Students in Native American Studies have been learning about the rebuilding of the Cherokee Nation following the Trail of Tears. Through this unit, students explored how the Cherokee people reestablished their government, culture, and communities after removal.

As we move forward, our next unit will focus on Native American boarding schools and their lasting impact on Native communities and cultures.

Students in Cherokee Cultural Arts have been exploring the significance of the Cherokee clans through a hands-on art project. Each student was assigned one of the seven clans and is creating a unique paper mâché clan mask representing their assigned clan.

Through this activity, students are learning about the history, symbolism, and roles of each clan while expressing their understanding through creativity. This project encourages both cultural appreciation and artistic expression as students bring their clan identities to life.

Cherokee Club students have been engaging in end-of-year cultural and creative activities. Students created clay objects of their choice that represent specific Cherokee words, helping to strengthen connections between language and visual meaning.

In addition, students designed their own wampum belts while learning about their historical and cultural significance. The club has also spent time reviewing popular Cherokee legends, deepening their understanding of Cherokee storytelling traditions.

These activities allow students to reinforce language skills while exploring important aspects of Cherokee culture in a hands-on and engaging way.

The 2026 JOM Cherokee Challenge Bowl was held in Tahlequah from 2/24 to 2/27. Colcord Public Schools sent teams to compete in every division.

A huge thank you goes out to our Special Projects Coordinators, Tanya Patterson, Katy England, and Chloe Thomas. These ladies work with students every Wednesday in the Cherokee Club, where students are taught the Cherokee language and culture and prepared for JOM competitions. Great job, ladies. We appreciate you and the work you do! Wado!

Title I Site Committee Meeting:

April 3, 2026

Colcord Elementary

2:00 p.m.

Title VI Parent Advisory Committee Meeting:

April 9, 2026

Dan Draper Community Center

3:30 p.m.

JOM Meeting:

May 19, 2026

Dan Draper Community Center

4:30 p.m.

All 2026 monthly meetings will be held at the Dan Draper Community Center at 2:00 p.m.

• Sunday, January 25th
• Sunday, February 22nd
• Sunday, March 29th
• Sunday, April 26th
• Sunday, May 17th
• Sunday, June 14th
• Sunday, July 19th
• Sunday, August 23rd
• Sunday, September 27th
• Sunday, October 25th
• Sunday, November 15th
• Sunday, December 6th

Remington Rogers

Federal Programs Director

JOM Contact

Title VI Project Director

Brook Nichols

Federal Programs Secretary

Chloe Thomas

Title VI Cultural Educator/Resource Specialist

JOM Special Projects Coordinator (MS & HS: 6-12)

Tanya Patterson

Title VI Cultural Educator/Resource Specialist

JOM Special Projects Coordinator (Lower ES: PK-2)

Katy England

JOM Special Projects Coordinator (Upper ES: 3-5)

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School Website: https://www.colcordschools.com

Federal Programs Website: https://sites.google.com/view/cpsfederalprograms/home
Location: 433 South Larmon Street, Colcord, OK, USA
Phone: 918-326-4117
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colcordpublicschools/
X: @colcordschool