CPS Native American Programs

Please assist the district by participating in the survey. The information provided will be used to assess the needs of the Native American programs.

Survey Opens: Thursday, January 8, 2026
Survey Closes: Thursday, January 29, 2026

During the final week of the first semester, our JOM students were blessed with a Christmas gift. This was an incredible gesture made possible by the Muldrow Cherokee Community Organization in partnership with the Cherokee Nation JOM Program and the Colcord Cherokee Community Organization. We greatly appreciate everyone who helped make this Christmas blessing possible for our students. Wado!

In December 2025, the 4th and 5th-grade science classes participated in a hands-on STEM learning activity provided by the Cherokee Nation. Students built and launched stomp rockets!

Thank you (wado) to the Cherokee Nation for providing the materials for this excellent activity. Also, thank you to Ms. Springer for implementing this engaging learning activity!

On January 21, 2026, students from Colcord Public Schools participated in the Cherokee Nation's annual STEM Fest at the Chota Center in Tahlequah, OK. We want to thank the Cherokee Nation for providing this incredible opportunity! Our students had a blast! Wado!

This month, students in PreK through 5th grade are exploring Cherokee language and culture through the story Edudi’s Sweet Journey. This special book helps students learn language in a meaningful way while connecting to important Cherokee values such as family, sharing, respect for elders, and working together (gadugi).

Although all grade levels use the same story, learning looks a little different at each age as students grow in their language skills.

🌱 PreK–Kindergarten

Our youngest learners are:

• Listening to the story through read-alouds

• Learning family and food words in Cherokee

• Singing, moving, drawing, and role-playing
  Students are building early language skills while learning that Cherokee is a living language connected to family and everyday life.

🌼 1st–2nd Grade

Students are:

• Using simple Cherokee words and phrases

• Retelling parts of the story

• Learning about helping family members and sharing food
  They begin forming short sentences and talking about how traditions are passed down.

🌿 3rd Grade

Learners focus on:

• Describing events and feelings

• Understanding cultural traditions

• Discussing why Edudi teaches by example
  Students explore how food and stories help keep culture strong.

🌾 4th–5th Grade

Our older students are:

• Reflecting on cultural values and identity

• Comparing family traditions

• Writing and speaking about the role of elders
  They learn how Cherokee language, culture, and responsibility are connected.

💛 Why This Matters

Using the same story across grade levels helps students:

• Build confidence with familiar language

• Deepen understanding each year

• Feel pride in Cherokee culture and community

We are proud to provide learning experiences that honor Cherokee traditions while supporting language growth at every stage.

If you would like to practice at home, try:

• Asking your child who Edudi is

• Talking about favorite family foods

• Sharing a story about a grandparent or elder

Thank you for supporting Cherokee language and culture learning in our schools. We are grateful to partner with you!

We are off to a wonderful start this semester in Cherokee class! First, we want to celebrate a major milestone from the Fall: our students successfully mastered the entire Cherokee Syllabary.

Now, we are putting that knowledge into action. The focus has shifted from recognition to conversation. Currently, students are learning how to answer questions in Cherokee. We are practicing by looking at different animals and responding to questions about their colors in the target language. It is exciting to hear the students beginning to speak and describe the world around them!

Our class is making great progress moving through history. In the Fall, students built a strong foundation by covering the Beginning of Time, European Exploration, and the work of Sequoyah and the Cherokee Phoenix.

Now, our focus has shifted to the 1830s. We are currently discussing the Supreme Court case Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and the history of Native American Removal. Students are learning how these legal battles and policies had a major impact on the Cherokee Nation.

Our students had a very creative Fall semester! They worked on several hands-on projects, including painting, pony bead wampum belts, and loom bead bracelets. They even took on the challenge of making seed bead Christmas ornaments.

Now, students are taking those skills to the next level. We are currently working on beading earrings. It is exciting to see them apply what they learned last semester to create beautiful new jewelry pieces.

🎉 Our Cherokee Club is in full prep mode for the upcoming Cherokee Language Bowl! Students have been working hard to build their vocabulary, sharpen their pronunciation, master Cherokee syllabary, and deepen their cultural knowledge as they prepare to represent our school with pride 💙🐝 On top of that, we’re excited to share that several of our students are submitting original pieces for the Cherokee Writing Competition, showcasing their creativity, voice, and language skills ✍️✨ We are so proud of their dedication, passion, and hard work, and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they shine on competition day! 🌟📚

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Cherokee Club had its Fall Semester Awards & Recognition Party. JOM students who participated in bowls and competitions were recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments during the Fall Semester!

On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the Native American Programs staff had their annual end-of-the-semester meeting and Christmas party (Staffmas)! Staff met to celebrate the accomplishments of the first semester and plan for the second semester.

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