SPS Staff and Families,

 

It’s Homecoming week at SHS! Believe it or not, a home heavy front of the football schedule means this Friday is our next to last home football game of the year! Please be extra welcoming and accommodating to any alumni groups that may be attending for reunions.

 

Text Messaging
From time to time, SPS uses text notifications to announce cancellations and certain safety actions. To receive district text messages:

• Opt in by sending a text message "Y" to 67587 from your mobile phone 

• Your mobile phone number must also be associated with a guardian/parent in the parent portal 

Details at https://www.stillwaterschools.com/optin

Transportation Issues

Like most districts, we continue to face challenges fully staffing our transportation department. While Oklahoma school districts are not required to provide transportation, SPS is committed to maintaining routes whenever possible. We’re sorry that a lack of drivers means routes are occasionally canceled, sometimes with very little notice. We know this situation is very difficult for many families to navigate.

 

We’ve already reduced the number of routes as much as we can to minimize the number of drivers needed. Unfortunately, this means buses have more students on them, and those students spend more time in the vehicles. We’re also utilizing teachers, administrators, coaches, and other staff members to supplement our transportation staff, which unfortunately takes them away from other important duties. 

 

We would love to be able to run every route every day, and even add more routes so students could ride less crowded buses and spend less time on those vehicles. If you know a bus driver, maybe a retiree that would like to contribute to the community, or anyone that would like to learn more, please, please, please have them contact us. We would also welcome applications from anyone interested in being a bus aide to assist our drivers with managing and monitoring students on the bus. Anyone interested should contact Transportation at 405.533.6347.

 

OSU Freshman Follies

OSU Freshman Follies (October 11th - 15th) has turned its philanthropic focus to the Stillwater community! All proceeds from the 2022 Follies will benefit SPS performing arts programs. These funds will assist with the operation of our PAC and performing arts programs throughout the district. Thank you to OSU Fraternity and Sorority Affairs!

 

Learn more about Freshman Follies at https://lcl.okstate.edu/gogreek/fraternity_sorority_productions.html or buy tickets at https://embed.showclix.com/events/15936

 

 

Of Note..

• National Hispanic Heritage Month

  • September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Find more about this national celebration at https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
    
    

• Thanks!

  • Thank you to Rowena Crockett and all of our G/T teachers for an exceptional job pulling the information together for our G/T audit.

• The Walk

  • Lincoln Alternative Academy works with students through its “One Student at a Time” approach to allow students to progress at their own pace and, when they graduate, each student experiences The Walk down the hall in their cap and gown to celebrate with their peers and teachers cheering them on. They’ve already had one Walk this year with many more to come.

• Civic Duty

  • October 14th is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming November election. You can do so at https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/register-to-vote.html
    
    

• Band Send-off

  • The Marching Band heads to its first competition in Owasso this weekend. If you’re able, join their fans in cheering them on from the west Pioneer Stadium Parking Lot as they depart SHS at 9am this Saturday. Or better yet… head to Owasso to see them and their competition in action.
    
    

I love Stillwater,

 

Uwe Gordon

Superintendent

Stillwater Public Schools