CPS Native American Programs
October 2025
Indigenous Peoples' Day 2025
Indigenous Peoples' Day 2025 was Monday, October 13, 2025. Check out the special edition of the CPS Native American Programs newsletter that went out!
Support the Cherokee Club and the CPS Native American Programs by buying an awesome t-shirt! The funds raised in this fundraiser will help provide additional materials and resources for our Native American Programs. The funds also provide our students with competition shirts for the Cherokee Challenge Bowl in the Fall and the Cherokee Language Bowl in the Spring.
Orders are due Friday, November 14, 2025
For more information, please get in touch with Katy England, Tanya Patterson, or Chloe Thomas. Wado!
The annual JOM election was held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
The 2025-2026 Colcord Indian Education Johnson O’Malley Committee members are Somer Simmons, Keisha Chesney, Shea Duncan, Briana Thurman, and Jennifer Andrews. We want to give these five ladies a huge thank you (wado)! We greatly appreciate their service. Our JOM program would not be what it is without their support!
The annual JOM Book Fair took place from October 6 to October 13. Each JOM student in grades PK-8 received up to $14 to spend on books at the book fair!
We thank Mrs. Spivey, Ms. Elisha, and Mrs. Felicia for making this annual event successful! Wado!
The Elementary Cherokee Language Push-In Program recently completed its Family Unit, where students explored Cherokee vocabulary and traditions that honor family connections and respect. We are now beginning an exciting new unit focused on Cherokee Legends, starting with the story of The Three Sisters — corn, beans, and squash — which teaches the importance of cooperation and balance in nature.
To bring this lesson to life, each grade band participated in hands-on cultural art and literacy projects:
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Pre-K through 1st Grade students created beaded corn crafts, learning about how corn represents sustenance and community in Cherokee culture.
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2nd and 3rd Grade students designed bean and seed mosaics, illustrating the harmony between the Three Sisters and the natural world.
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4th and 5th Grade students took a leadership role by developing projects to teach others about the legend. Their work included skits, rap songs, original stories, drawings, and other creative presentations that demonstrated both understanding and imagination.
Each activity connected cultural learning with creativity, language development, and teamwork. The students’ enthusiasm, artistic expression, and hard work were truly impressive. Their projects reflected not only their growing knowledge of Cherokee traditions but also their ability to communicate those teachings in innovative ways.
The program continues to build bridges between Cherokee heritage, classroom learning, and community pride — one story, one legend, and one creative expression at a time.
Beaded Corn
Three Sisters Art
Sister Corn's Dress Design
Native American Studies
Students have finished two units so far: The Beginning of Time and Early Cherokee Society. In those units, they learned about storytelling traditions, the seven Cherokee clans, and how those clans shaped Cherokee society and culture. We also discussed the importance of oral history and how stories teach lessons and values. The third and most recent unit students have been studying is European Exploration and First Contact. In this unit, students are learning how early contact with Europeans affected the Cherokee.
Below are pictures from the Early Cherokee Society unit. Students were paired up, assigned a Cherokee Clan, and presented their research to their classmates.
Cherokee Challenge Bowl Prep Underway!
Our Cherokee Club students are hard at work preparing for the upcoming Cherokee Challenge Bowl! They’ve been studying Cherokee culture and history with excitement and determination. From learning vocabulary to practicing teamwork, these students are showing great pride in representing our school and community.
We are so proud of their dedication and can’t wait to cheer them on at the competition!!! Go Hornets!
K-2 - Oct.21
3-5 - Oct. 22
6-8 - Oct 23
9-12 - Oct 24
Title VI Parent Advisory Committee Meeting:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Dan Draper Community Center
3:30 p.m.
JOM Meeting:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Dan Draper Community Center
4:30 p.m.
Title VI Parent Advisory Committee Meeting:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Dan Draper Community Center
3:30 p.m.
JOM Meeting:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Dan Draper Community Center
4:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Dan Draper Community Center
2:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Dan Draper Community Center
2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Dan Draper Community Center
2:00 p.m.
CPS Native American Programs Staff
Federal Programs Director
JOM Contact
Title VI Project Director
Federal Programs Secretary
Title VI Cultural Educator/Resource Specialist
JOM Special Projects Coordinator (MS & HS: 6-12)
Title VI Cultural Educator/Resource Specialist
JOM Special Projects Coordinator (Lower ES: PK-2)
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