CPS Native American Programs

On June 6-7, 2025, some of our staff members attended the 2025 Cherokee Nation CCO Conference at the Hard Rock Casino in Catoosa. These staff members are members of the Colcord Cherokee Community Organization (CCCO)!

On June 11, 2025, Mr. Remington Rogers was invited to present at the CCOSA Summer Leadership Conference. Mr. Rogers presented the awesome things the CPS Native American Programs staff did during the 2024-2025 school year. Thank you to CCOSA and Kathy Dunn for the opportunity to share our program with other educators across the state.

Also, at the conference, Mr. Rogers received the 2025 Difference Maker Award for the CCOSA Indian Education Consortium Network. Peers from the CCOSA Consortium Networks nominated the recipients because they are willing to lead and whom other people call or email for guidance.

Congratulations to Mrs. Chloe Thomas on being selected to participate in the Cherokee Nation NATRI Curriculum Team. The NATRI project is designed to strengthen the partnership between the Cherokee Nation and educators, focusing on increasing community and the retention of Cherokee educators.

The NATRI Curriculum Team members began meeting in June 2025 and will continue meeting periodically through Fall 2028. This team of Cherokee educators will support cultural connections for educators and students by designing an enhanced cultural curriculum for school systems.

Mrs. Thomas’s service on this team is an honor and an excellent opportunity! We are proud of her initiative and effort to develop a high-quality Cherokee curriculum. Osda!

On July 22-23, 2025, several CPS teachers participated in the 2025 Teachers of Successful Students (TOSS) Conference provided by the Cherokee Nation. This fun, interactive, and informative conference challenges and encourages teachers and school personnel to learn from one another about the most impactful and innovative learning experiences for students. The conference was free and open to all school personnel, regardless of tribal citizenship status.

We want to give a big thank you (wado) to the Cherokee Nation for providing this fantastic opportunity to our teachers!

JOM staff attend the annual JOM Fall Training on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, in Tahlequah, OK. We would like to thank the Cherokee Nation JOM Program for providing our program with a great day of training!

Click on the picture to watch a short video! Wado!

We’re excited to share that our students are learning Cherokee language and culture through our special friend, Chooch, the mascot for our Elementary Cherokee Push-in Program. Chooch joins us in the classroom each week to introduce new Cherokee words, phrases, and cultural lessons in fun, engaging ways.

Through stories, songs, games, and hands-on activities, students are learning to greet one another, use respectful language, and talk about everyday things in Cherokee. These lessons are paired with cultural teachings—such as traditional crafts, Cherokee history, and values—that help our children understand not only the language, but also the heart of our people.

By using Chooch as a guide, students see that learning Cherokee is not just about words—it’s about building connections, honoring traditions, and carrying our heritage forward. We encourage families to join in by using the “Word of the Week” at home, asking students to teach you phrases, and talking about the stories they bring home from class.

Together, we can help ensure our children grow up confident in who they are and proud of where they come from. Wado (thank you) for supporting Cherokee language and culture learning in our schools!

Students in our Native American Studies class have had a great start to the school year! We began with our "The Beginning of Time" unit, where students learned about the different time periods of early Native Americans. We explored fascinating topics like traditional tools, ancient trade routes, and the sustainable practice of the "Three Sisters" crop system. We're now excited to begin our next unit on "Early Cherokee Traditions". By studying the history and traditions of early Native Americans, students are not only learning about the past but also gaining a deeper understanding and respect for the cultures and traditions that are still thriving in our communities today.

Cherokee Language students have been learning a lot! They've been introduced to the Cherokee Syllabary, learned numbers 1 through 10, and have learned the difference between short and long vowels. Students can now read and write nine symbols: Ꮡ (su), Ꮅ (li), Ꮣ (da), Ꭰ (a), Ꮆ (lo), Ꮜ (sa), Ꭲ (i), Ꮎ (na), and Ꭹ (gi). This week, they will be tested on these symbols, and they'll continue to be tested on every ten new symbols they learn.

I am incredibly proud of how quickly our students are picking up these new skills! By learning the Cherokee Syllabary, students are connecting with a vital part of Cherokee history and culture.

Our Cultural Arts students have been busy completing their first two projects! For their first assignment, students created a "mood board" collage. They found an array of cultural art pieces that they liked, then cut, colored, and pasted them onto a board to create their unique displays. Next, they moved on to their "pinch pots." After learning about the renowned Cherokee artist Anna Mitchell, students used air-dry clay to craft their own unique pieces, using her style as inspiration. These projects allowed students to not only express their creativity but also to connect with rich cultural traditions. We're excited to see what they create next as we begin our new project on loom bead bracelets!

The Cherokee Club meets each Wednesday after school. We are getting ready for the Challenge Bowl, which is scheduled for the end of October. All students are welcome to attend the club. Students with CDIB cards can also participate in the Cherokee Nation competitions.

Ms. Tanya Patterson meets with K-2 students.

Mrs. Katy England meets with 3-5 students.

Mrs. Chloe Thomas meets with 6-12 students.

Please let these ladies know if you have any questions! Wado (Thank you) for allowing your students to participate in this exciting program!

Title I Site Committee Meeting:

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Colcord Elementary

3:15 p.m.

Annual Parent & Stakeholders Meeting:

(FY26 Federal Programs)

Monday, August 11, 2025

Dan Draper Community Center

3:15 p.m.

JOM Meeting:

(Annual Election)

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Dan Draper Community Center

6:00 p.m.

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.

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Dan Draper Community Center

2:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Dan Draper Community Center

2:00 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.

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)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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