CPS Native American Programs

On March 31, 2026, the Cherokee Nation and many other organizations partnered with CPS to put on our Spectacular Science Night! We would like to thank (wado), the Cherokee Nation for their participation in this annual event. It was a fun night of learning and growth. Wado!

CPS had several students participate in the National American Indigenous Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF) at Oklahoma State University from April 10 to April 11, 2026. NAISEF is an SSP-affiliated science fair and the only national science fair with a virtual option centered around acknowledging and supporting Indigenous students interested in science and engineering.

Great job to all, we are proud of every student who participated! Thank you, Ms. Erin Springer, for getting our students involved in this awesome opportunity!

On Thursday, April 2, 2026, elementary students participated in Jim Thorpe Day! Students participated in multiple activities with the Cherokee Nation cultural staff. Additionally, the district's Native American Programs Department has provided the elementary teachers with the book “Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path.” Several teachers taught their students a lesson about Jim Thorpe's life!

This month in our Cherokee Language and Culture lessons, students have been learning about one of the most well-known characters in traditional Cherokee storytelling Rabbit, known in Cherokee as jess-doo.

Rabbit is famous in Cherokee stories for being a "trickster". Trickster characters are playful, clever, and sometimes a little mischievous. In many stories, Rabbit tries to outsmart the other animals. Sometimes his clever ideas work, and sometimes they get him into trouble! Through these stories, students learn important lessons about honesty, humility, and the consequences of our choices. These traditional stories have been shared by Cherokee people for generations as a way to teach wisdom and values.

Along with storytelling, we have also been practicing Cherokee words through fun and familiar children’s games. One activity students enjoyed was playing Rock, Paper, Scissors while saying the words in Cherokee. Using games helps students practice pronunciation, remember vocabulary, and build confidence speaking the language.

Learning through stories and play is an important part of Cherokee culture. Stories help us remember who we are, and games give students a joyful way to practice new words together.

We are proud of how engaged the students have been as they listen to Cherokee stories and practice speaking new words. Ask your child to tell you about jess-doo the Rabbit and the game we played in class!

Thank you for supporting the Cherokee Language and Culture Push-In Program.

Students have been learning conversational Cherokee, focusing on common phrases, responses, and how to ask and answer questions. Throughout this unit, students are building confidence in speaking and understanding the language while continuing to strengthen their knowledge of the Cherokee syllabary. Students will also continue weekly syllabary review and quizzes to help keep their skills fresh.

Students are currently learning about Native American boarding schools and will continue this unit through the end of April. This unit helps students understand the experiences of Native children during this time and the impact these schools had on Native communities.

Our next unit will focus on how the Cherokee Nation has transitioned into what it is today. Students will learn about the growth, resilience, and success of the Cherokee Nation and how it continues to prosper as a strong and thriving nation.

Students recently completed a hands-on project creating paper mache clan masks. Each student was assigned a Cherokee clan and designed a mask that visually represented their clan’s identity, symbols, and meaning. Along with the art project, students created a PowerPoint over their assigned clan and presented their research to the class. This allowed students to not only express creativity, but also build a deeper understanding of Cherokee culture and practice their presentation skills.

Middle and high school students in Cherokee Club have recently started working on a paper mache summer home project, where they are learning about traditional Cherokee housing while creating their own models. Students also recently played marbles and had a great time participating in this traditional game, building both cultural connections and community within the group.

JOM Meeting:

May 19, 2026

Dan Draper Community Center

4:30 p.m.

JOM Meeting:

July 28, 2026

Dan Draper Community Center

4:30 p.m.

Title I Site Committee Meeting:

August 5, 2026

Colcord Elementary

3:15 p.m.

Annual Parent & Stakeholder Meeting:

August 10, 2026

Dan Draper Community Center

3:15 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