May - Jun 2019
CONGRATULATIONS
SENIORS
2 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
Index Letter From The Editor Introduction Letter From City Manager Elizabeth Gray Senior In The Spotlight: Destiny Johnson Sand Springs Calendar Upcoming Events Movement in Sand Springs Sand Springs Construction Updates Where Are They Now: Sheilah Bright SSPS Updates: Sherry Durkee Sandites In Service: S.S. Education Foundation Around the House
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We are in such a wonderful season Sand Springs! As we look around it is evident that we are beginning to see the fruits of many years of labor put in by our elected officials, faith community, city departments, schools, businesses, and local citizens. The approval and completion of new housing and business developments, as well as, road improvements and traffic connections do not happen overnight. Seasons like the one we find ourselves in, seasons of movement and momentum, remind me that there is a time for everything. There is a time to be loud in our efforts to communicate our visions, desires, and hopes to push our community forward! As Sandites, it is vital to the success of our community that we speak up. Likewise, we vote in line with those visions and make efforts to communicate with those in leadership positions who are capable of making a change for the better. While these times I just mentioned can feel like a fight, a wait, a test… we know that there is a reason for our efforts. We believe these improvements will benefit generations and so we focus on our effort to have our message received. Just as there is a time to push, there is a time to celebrate! Sandites, the message was received. The hardworking individuals that have been placed in leadership positions over our community have listened and they went to work. And now, we are moving within a season of momentum. There is movement being made in almost every corner of the economy of Sand Springs. At the same time, we are seeing new roads, highways, businesses, housing, recreation facilities, parks, school buildings/programs, events, beautification, downtown revival, and so much more. We know that everything we’d like to see happen in Sand Springs has not yet begun but MANY of the projects from the shortlist have been approved and announced to begin in 2019/20! And so, now we have a choice. Our options are simple. We can choose to enjoy these accomplishments in our community. To attend the events, invite our friends and family to parks, or maybe send a big thanks to those that listened and worked on these projects. We can use this time to instill the Sandite Spirit into the next generation and watch as they enjoy these improvements. That is one option…. Our other option is to find fault or flaws in the momentum we are seeing in town. The momentum we fought to make happen. This doesn’t seem like an option… does it. The real facts are that none of us like construction roads or otherwise. It is inconvenient and loud... but it is when we are put in real life situations where the momentum we wanted so badly begins to become inconvenient that we make this choice. Sandites! Let’s choose to enjoy the season we are in and when we get frustrated with how our daily routines might be effected let’s remember… we aren’t done yet and that now is the time to celebrate!
Send us a letter or email: 118 N Main St Sand Springs, OK 74063 info@wearesandsprings.com 918-521-1810 4 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
Danielle Myers
MOVING LIFE FORWARD FOR SAND SPRINGS.
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Movement
MOVEMENT Moving right along Sand Springs! There are so many projects moving into completion and beginning in our great community. It is the time of year to get out of our comfort zone and shake it up a bit. In the May/June edition of the, We Are Sand Springs Magazine we highlight the many ways our community is making movements towards a brighter future and providing opportunities for citizens to do the same.
6 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
CITY OF SAND SPRINGS Letter by Elizabeth Gray City Manager
So much is happening in Sand Springs! Our community has truly come together as one to keep Sand Springs vibrant and thriving. Projects and events, large and small, are continuing to make Sand Springs a great place to live and play. Sand Springs Parks offer splash pads, playgrounds, sand volleyball, skate park, basketball, Frisbee golf, BMX, baseball, soccer, walking trails, pickleball, hiking and more. Friday Flicks will be here again this summer with the largest outdoor inflatable movie screen in Oklahoma. In July, the Sertoma Fireworks Show will fill the Case Community Park sky for Independence Day. Look for parks improvements this season at Angus Valley Park, PrattCivitan Park, Ray Brown Park, and Case Community Park. Some parks will receive new playground equipment while others may receive paving or sidewalks. Pratt-Civitan Park will receive a new bathroom. Improvements are planned for the Keystone Ancient Forest and the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course as well. The following Projects are in various stages of development throughout Sand Springs: Both Park Road and Highway 97 (in front of Reasor’s Foods) sidewalks were recently completed. Ray Brown Park is also getting a new sidewalk this year. A sidewalk was recently completed in the RiverWest development area connecting the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tulsa West - Sand Springs to the Katy trail. Sand Springs continues to be a great outdoor destination that only gets better with each passing year. Public art in the form of Murals are in place, and the City was pleased to expose the beautiful rock bluffs along HWY 51 and HWY 97. The Sand Springs-Pogue Airport recently installed a new concrete hard stand that provides heavy plane parking as an alternative to asphalt which can be problematic during hot Oklahoma summers. This summer the Main Street Expansion Project will be bid by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Construction will begin as early as fall 2019. The Main Street improvements will bring Main Street around and join it to HWY 97 just before the Arkansas River bridge. Once Main Street is complete, ODOT plans to widen HWY 97 from 2nd Street and beyond Morrow Road. Utility line relocations have been conducted in preparation for the HWY 97 expansion. Morrow Road has recently been widened from HWY 97 to Broad Street to help with the anticipated increase of traffic flow following the development of Sheffield Crossing and the opening of the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center. General Obligation Bond Projects were approved by a vote of the citizens and are in various stages of development: Proposition 1: Levee Roadway into Case Community Park Project is in the pre-planning phase. The City continues to repair and overlay streets on an annual basis. Proposition 2: Public Safety – The Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center is nearing completion. Proposition 3: Community Enhancement Angus Valley Park – New playground equipment has been purchased and will be ready for play by fall 2019 Keystone Ancient Forest Visitor Center-This project is in design phase; estimated completion in 2020.
Page Park Improvements are expected to be completed in 2020. Case Community Park Baseball parking is nearing completion. Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum - The north gallery was repaired in 2018, and the molding restoration is anticipated to be complete in the winter of 2019. The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course renovation is in the design phase. Proposition 4: City-Wide Beautification Projects New signage for the RiverWest development area is in the design phase. The City of Sand Springs Water Treatment Plant screening wall is in the design phase and should be constructed this summer. Landscaping around the screening wall will not be put in place until after the HWY 97 expansion is complete. Various high traffic points will be landscaped around town. An increase of white vinyl fencing along major thoroughfares is also planned Proposition 5: Economic Development Sheffield Crossing - The City acquired 18-acres from OmniTRAX along HWY 97. The City is currently conducting survey work, environmental work, and utility relocations as well as preparing the entrance to the property for future development. RiverWest – The popular, mixed-use development is home to restaurants including Colton’s Steak House & Grill, El Maguey Mexican Restaurant, IHOP, McDonalds and Starbucks. ALDI and the Warren Clinic were new additions last year, joining existing CVS Pharmacy and O’Reilly Auto Parts. TTCU Federal Credit Union will be the next addition to the development with construction beginning in 2019. Fountains and seating are planned for the large pond in front of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tulsa West-Sand Springs. The City of Sand Springs is pleased to provide many services including police, fire, parks, streets, water, sewer, sanitation and municipal courts. We also provide or assist our community partners in many quality of life events including the Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival, Kidz Camp, Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum, Sand Springs Chamber event Chillin’ and Grillin’, Palmer Criterium Bike Races, The Great Raft Race, the Festival of Lights Christmas parade and more. The Sand Springs City Council has a history of being both stable and progressive. A debt of gratitude goes to our elected Councilors who serve without compensation. The City continues to honor the vision of a harmonious, bustling city perpetuated by such leaders as our founder Charles Page and former City Manager Inez Kirk. The City works together with our local faith communities, our schools, and the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce to continue the tradition of making “Sand Springs a place to love where you live.”
May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 7
Senior In The Spotlight
This May's Senior in the Spotlights an exceptional senior that has gone above and beyond in her education experience at CPHS and brings pride to the name “Sandite.” Destiny Johnson (DJ) we are happy to announce you as this edition's Senior in the Spotlight.
Johnson is a part of the National Honors Society and the Sandite Varsity Basketball team. She has kept up with the rigorous volunteer hours required for NHS, but states, “It’s not really work, we are doing it for the hours but it’s all for a good cause.” She has also had the opportunity to volunteer at Pratt Elementary with the school's biology classes to aid in dissections with the younger generation. In the coming year, DJ will be taking her talents just up the road to the University of Tulsa where she has committed to play for the college and is receiving a full ride scholarship to the university. She will be playing under the leadership of Coach Mossman Already Johnson has attended multiple practices and scoped out the campus. She will be majoring in Biology and plans on going into the medical field, possibly in the area of anesthesiology.
DJ came to the Sand Springs Public School (SSPS) District from Anderson School District in 7th grade. We asked Destiny which teachers have influenced her on her path towards college. She shared that two teachers really stuck out in her mind. Mr. Price, her biology teacher greatly inspired her passion into the medical field and Mr. Rotert (Math), who attended TU and first suggested she look at the University of Tulsa. DJ's first year in SSPS was the first year SSPS offered an 8th grade basketball team. The newly formed team quickly went undefeated but sadly lost the Destiny has received multiple awards for her championship, However, the team came back in abilities on the basketball court. Her senior year their 8th grade year and won it all. they won regionals, area, and made it to the state championships. 8 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
Senior In The Spotlight
This class of seniors achieved together when all of the Lady Sandite team made Academic All- State for the past three years. Johnson was recognized as the Frontier Valley newcomer of the year her freshman year. On her trip to the All Conference Tournament she recieved an honorable mention. And on two separate tournaments she achieved Frontier Valley 1st team, Bishop Kelley All tournament team. Every year Ford Motor Company selects eight academic and athletic individuals to recognize for which DJ was a Ford Elite 8 nominee. Additionally she recieved the Mazzios athlete of the year scholarship for her outstanding performance on the court. As her basketball career has continued, she just this year hit her 1000th point on the court with the Lady
Sandites! Throughout her dazzling career as a guard on the Lady Sandite team, she has dawned #1 on her jersey and aims to continue the tradition in her collegiate career. In her spare time, you might find her eating out at local restaurants, hanging out at the mall, or practicing rigorously. When we asked Johnson if she was given the opportunity to provide advice to the future generations of Sandites what he would share.. she quickly responded, “Definitely to stay focused and don’t take anything lightly. High school is hard… in middle school it’s easy… but in high school it gets real.”
“Definitely to stay focused and don’t take anything lightly. High school is hard… in middle school it’s easy… but in high school it gets real.”
May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 9
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6-10
CASE COMMUNITY PARK OUTDOOR MOVIE Friday Flix at 7 PM
18 NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY From 8am - 2pm
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S.S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOLF TOURNAMENT
3-4 100 MILE YARD SALE
10 WSA GOLF TOURNEY 7AM Contact 918-269-5497 to get involved
11 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm
24 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
25 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm
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SHOP LOCAL - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY CHARLES PAGE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 7:30PM at ORU
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6 SAND SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPEN FORUM At Tulsa Technology Center 12-1P.M
MAY 30 - JUNE 1
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CHILLIN & GRILLIN May 30 6pm-11pm / May 31 6pm-11pm June 1st 10am-10pm
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SPLASH PAD OPEN on the first week of May!
MAY TOWN HALL WITH SENATOR IKLEY-FREEMAN At Charles Page Library 10:30- 11:30 am
Enjoy Small Business Saturday deals all year long in Sand Springs. Every 1st Saturday of the month; May 4th and June 1st. Visit wearesandsprings.com for more details. 10 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
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SHOP LOCAL - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
KIDS FREE FISHING DERBY Church That Matters
FIRST DAY OF
__ NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY
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CASE COMMUNITY PARK OUTDOOR MOVIE Friday Flix at 7 PM
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SAND SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPEN FORUM At Tulsa Technology Center 12-1P.M.
22 OPENING DAY 10am-9pm
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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm
7 CASE COMMUNITY PARK OUTDOOR MOVIE Friday Flix at 7 PM
BIG BLAST FIREWORKS: 6th Annual Fireworks Preview Night kids activities start at 5pm, fireworks at dusk.
23 S.S. COMMUNITY THEATRE THE FANTASIKS 2:30PM at The Central Ninth Grade Center
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20 - 22
ROTARY BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT
S.S. COMMUNITY THEATRE THE FANTASIKS 7PM at The Central Ninth Grade Center
KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm
S.S MUSEUM MILITARY PATRIOTIC EXHIBIT June Through August
16th Annual Sand Springs Rotary Bass Fishing Tournament @ Keystone Lake | Prairie View Boat Ramp (Mannford) Saturday June 8th 4:00am - 9:22am
May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 11
12 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
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C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S S E N I O R S • C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S S E N I O R S • C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
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C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S S E N I O R S • C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S S E N I O R S • C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
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himsical, poignant, and romantic, The Fantasticks is an allegorical story that focuses on two young lovers, their meddling fathers, and the journey we all must take through adolescent thrills, the growing pains of hurt and betrayal, the highs of passion, the challenges of distance, and the agonies of heartbreak to discover how to truly love.
"WITHOUT A HURT THE HEART IS HOLLOW"
May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 15
Movement
S
and Springs is moving forward, moving forward with construction, new businesses, and the culture as a whole. The progress Sand Springs is making has been a slow and steady pace, the kind of movement that lasts. Between the new construction of the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center and projects like the Main Street extension and park renovations, Sand Springs leadership has seen the years of hard work come to fruition. While the projects on the city-level are much more visible, there are some additional projects and teams that have remained hidden, yet have impacted the course the city is on. When local church leaders and city officials come together, we find that there is an air of positivity around the city. Road construction, that we have wanted for years, can easily turn into a negative mindset with the construction traffic on our way to work. Yet, for the most part, we are able to drive and see the progress that Sand Springs is making in all sorts of areas. We can get frustrated at the five minute delay we experience on our drive, but we also reserve the right to make another choice, a choice to be positive, and a choice to see the silver lining. Where we focus our eyes is a choice we
make. It can be a choice for positivity, or a choice for negativity; but the choice resides within ourselves. We have had the opportunity to see the external improvements in our wonderful city, but how often do we take the time to see the movement in our own lives? Too often are we caught up in the moments that seem to matter and yet, we find ourselves asking where the year went. It's already May of 2019, and if we really focus, we find the year is halfway over and the days seem to have slipped past us. Movement for the sake of movement is not purposeful, but it is just for movements sake. We will spend, in the course of our lives, approximately thirteen years actually working at work. A whopping thirty three years either sleeping or trying to get to sleep. Eleven years will be spent watching TV or catching up on social media. While we move forward, we must be careful about what we let into our lives. Part of what we can do is take inventory of the type of movement in our lives, and what we allow into the moments inbetween movement.
16 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
T
aking inventory can be a simple process, or it can be as extensive as you would like. We start by looking at all of the different areas of life in
which we can and want to make movement.
for the movement in your life. Setting goals can be an extremely motivating task. So we set about the duty of making tasks for ourselves in the areas we want movement, with a formula for creating goals that is ages old. S.M.A.R.T.
• Career • Love • Finances • Spirituality • Health & Wellness • Family • Other
S.M.A.R.T. goals is an acronym for how to set goals that will be achievable for these areas in These areas are just some that we personally your life. can make movement on. But we need some guidelines for how to take inventory. Making sure that we aren't looking at these areas with rosey colored glasses, but also making sure that we are specific enough to be actionable. The first step is inventory, the second step is to set goals for the movement in your life. Be Specific - First take stock of the movement that has happened this year in your carrer, love, etc. Be specific, promotions, achievements, or awards. These are things that we need to have inventory of. Be Realistic - Have you lost 5 pounds? Or When making goals for movement, following 3? These slight differences in the movement of the S.M.A.R.T. acronym will allow for specific and our lives make all the difference. achievable movement in your life. Be Understanding - As we go through this When we look around Sand Springs and list, we can often be harsh on ourselves for not our lives, we always want to see movement. making enough movement. But most of the Movement with purpose. The city surrounding time we go through life without intentionality, us has shown movement forward, and we can this leads to less movement in our lives. Getting reflect that movement in our own lives, personally, intentional about movement is difficult at first, professionally, and within our families. and well worth the effort. The second step is setting goals. Has your movement not been satisfactory in one or more of the areas above? It's time to set some goals May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 17
As we can all tell, there is a lot of movement in and around Sand Springs. With all of the construction and remodeling going on, we want to keep you updated throughout the process! So here is your Sand Springs Construction Updates.
City Hall Remodel Remodel Project
Remodeling of the current City Hall has already begun. Council chambers will be moving downstairs along with public access in the front area. You will soon pay your water bills in the front of City Hall, instead of the back of the building; be looking at your water bills for more information as it comes. A fresh coat of paint and new flooring will be the only changes to the upstairs portion of the building. However, the public access portions of the building will be revamped with new windows and a private area to discuss your water bill if needed. As expected, the Police headquarters
18 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
will be moving to the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center. The timeline for this project is all city employees will be out of the building by June/July, construction begins in August, and move in date is set for January 2020.
Angus Valley Park Remodel Project
The Angus Valley Park is getting a complete overhaul with new equipment. Athletic equipment has been ordered and completion for the project is set sometime summer 2019.
Ray Brown Park Remodel Project
Ray Brown Park will also be getting an overhaul, with new irrigation, landscaping, and trail connectivity. As man hours are available, the city is allocating resources to improve this and other parks throughout the summer.
Pratt Civitan Park Renovation Project
May 1st is the prediction for completion on the renovations to Pratt Civitan Park. A party space/ gazebo will be added to the restrooms. Additionally, there were permanent speed humps in front of the park to allow citizens to maintain proper speed in front of the park.
Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center New Building
Predictions are now late July/August for a completion date for the new Public Safety Center along Hwy 97. Along with the new building, the Water Treatment Facility across the street will be getting a new facelift. A 10-12' decorative concrete wall will be built with a "Welcome to Sand Springs" logo to accept drivers from Hwy 97 into the Downtown Sand Springs area.
Beautification Beautification
Voters wanted more beautification in the last bond package, and beautification they will get. There will be vinyl fencing lining the highway to indicate Sand Springs area, there will also be landscape architecture that goes along with the wall as well. A row of trees, taller than the wall along with shrubbery
Morrow Road
Widening Project
The Morrow Road expansion project is tentatively set for completion in June 2019. Utilities are still in the works but PSO has their work completed, along with ONG. ONG had to remove the existing piping and replace with a brand new piping in order for the project to move forward.
Main Street Extension Extension Project
Over a decade in the works, the Main Street expansion is set to go to bid at the end of May. The road will extend past Morrow and reconnect with Hwy 97. This will alleviate some traffic on the Hwy 97 and Morrow Road light and give those familiar with Sand Springs an additional route to get to downtown. Additionally the bus routes will have one less stop on their but routes to the High School. ODOT found the project appealing due to the multipurpose nature, which will extend Katy Trail along Main Street and reconnect with Hwy 97 over the bridge.
Case Community Entrance
Park
Possible Project
The city is also aiming to add onto the Main Street Extension project. Where Main Street reconnects with Hwy 97 on the East side, on the West side of Hwy 97 they are wanting to add an entrance to Case Community Park. There are still a number of details to be worked out, but the aim is to have an entrance on Hwy 97 that connects with the existing S River City Park Road over the levys. Stay tuned to We Are Sand Springs Facebook page for more updates on this project!
Keystone Ancient Forest Construction Project
The Welcome Center will be elevated with a contemporary look to the building that will not interfere with the tree line. As you enter the building that will have meeting spaces and restrooms, you will be surrounded by glass, which will allow for an immersion to the trees. The project has broken ground with soil testing but no set timeline has been set yet.
May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 19
Where are they now?
Sheilah Bright
Where Are They Now? Sand Springs, teachers care about their students long after they graduate, it’s why she wanted to raise her three sons in the district and why she has always felt honored to serve on the Sand Springs Education Foundation.
Sheilah Bright was honored this past April 25th, by being inducted into the Sand Springs Education Foundation’s Hall of Fame. Sheilah is a 1979 Charles Page High School graduate and native Oklahoman whose journalism career spans more than 40 years after publishing her first article at age 15. Growing up through Sand Springs Public School system, she has certainly reached the masses with her writing but remains mindful of her roots. Sheilah states, “Sand Springs Public Schools shaped my life in many ways beginning with my caring and creative kindergarten teacher, Anna Rout and moving through grade school with Linda Bynum who taught me to read and my junior high English Teacher Janice Gold who encouraged me to write.” She also remembers Sherry Morgan, her English teacher and Laura Schaub, her journalism teacher. She shared with us that both teachers provided the encouragement and support (and sometimes the push) she needed to move the words in her head onto paper. Some 40 years later, Laura Schaub continues to encourage and celebrate any of Shelia’s journalistic accomplishments. “I am a total product of public education since I dropped out of my first year of college to work at my hometown newspaper as one of the youngest editors in the state of Oklahoma at the time,” says Sheilah. She believes that in 20 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
Bright’s career and desire to see the world lead her to visit all seven continents and chronicle those experiences in a travel blog. Her photographic essays have been featured in several museum exhibits, workshops, and presentations. She is a member of the National Press Photographers Association and the Society of Professional Journalists; she has also been a contributor to Oklahoma Today Magazine for more than 20 years. Her work has appeared in TIME, People, This Land Press, Tulsa Voice, Mia, Twins, Lonely Planet, AFAR, and numerous other magazines and newspapers. She served as the editor of the Sand Springs Leader twice before launching a successful freelance career as both a journalist and editorial marketing specialist. From 19901993, she was part of the scriptwriting team that earned both an Emmy and Golden Georgi awards for Narrative Television Network.
“I would tell students today to be courageous in their career paths, especially if they already recognize their talents and desires on what type of work that makes them the happiest. Not everyone is destined for a fouryear university. Jobs consume a big portion of your life so find something that fulfills you as a person as well as sustains you financially.”
Sheilah Bright
Where are they now?
here in Sand Springs. Besides attracting new visitors to Sand Springs, Sheilah plans on using the venue as a gathering place for fund-raising opportunities to help Sand Springs. We asked Sheilah, given the opportunity, what words of encouragement would you leave with the next generation of Sandites. She said, “I would tell students today to be courageous in their career paths, especially if they already recognize their talents and desires on what type of work that makes them the happiest. Not everyone is destined for a four-year university. Jobs consume a big portion of your life so find something that fulfills you as a person as well as sustains you financially.” Winner of the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation’s Creme de la Creme award, Sheilah has won numerous writing and community service awards. She is the former president of the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Sand Springs Education Foundation, which she still supports and serves.
Thank you Sheilah Bright for all your hard work in the Sand Springs community and abroad. You represent what it truly means to be a Sandite!
In 2000, Sheilah launched and lead Operation Gold Pride, a school-funding campaign that raised more than $600,000 for Sand Springs Public Schools in a dire time of reduced state education funding. She helped organize the first Generosity Ball, now known as the Winter Glow, which has raised thousands of dollars for Sand Springs community service organizations. In 2015, she wrote and co-directed her first documentary, Lone Man’s Land, based on her 2012 article, “The Last of Kenton,” published in This Land Press. She is currently working on her second documentary, “If Wishes Were Horses,” based on another of her published works, “Horseteeth and Heartbreak.” Most recently, Sheilah and her partner Paul Fehrenbacher opened Bright Morning Farm, an event center on her farm
May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 21
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Sherry Durkee S.S.P.S Superintendent
It's a great day to be a Sandite! This is a phrase you will find in many of our Sand Springs Public Schools emails that highlight the many successes of our students, faculty, administrators and our community members. Our motto "Challenge Minds, Inspire Hearts, Empower a Community of Learners" reminds us of the immense power of a community that chooses to band together to embrace change and progress forward. We, as a district, embrace the idea that together as a community we are STRONGER! The overwhelming support of our community in the recent bond election is a perfect illustration of this concept. Our Board of Education and district leadership and staff are humbled by the opportunity to serve this community and our students. We are tremendously thankful for our community who supports our students in this way. We are thrilled to report about the work that will quickly begin in the next couple of months. The plans for a couple of key projects are being finalized now and summer will bring evidence of the intricate planning of the last several months. The first to begin is the turf replacement at Memorial Stadium. This work is set to start before school is out in May. The turf selection is actually an upgrade to the existing turf and will bear the interlocking SS logo in the center. Our goal is to complete this project by mid-summer in plenty of time for the beginning of 2019-20 football season! 24 WeAreSandSprings.com | May 2019
The more extensive project, the new 9th Grade Center and STEM Academy, will begin once school is out in May. Lots of site preparation will begin and we will immediately see the scurry of work in the front of Charles Page High School. This project has a 15-month timeline and a projected completion date of August 2020. The plan is to open the new facility to students in the'2020-21 academic year. Patrons will see a facelift to the front of Charles Page High School and a modern design to our historic facility. Alongside this work, our auditorium will get an expansion to the north of the current building allowing for a much-needed space for stagecraft class and storage for props. Additional parking will be incorporated at the site along the front of the building and to the east of the building. The plan also includes a road along the west side of the auditorium connecting the front parking lot to the back parking lot.
Lastly, for this summer, we will address the sound system in our auditoriums at Clyde Boyd Middle School and Charles Page High School and the sound system at the Ed Dubie Fieldhouse. These spaces are used constantly by various programs and of course during the typical activities of our students and staff. This will definitely be a welcomed improvement for folks who enjoy the performances and activities housed in these spaces. Truly, it is a great day to be a SANDITE!
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Sand Springs Education Foundation
When it comes to Sand Springs Public Schools, there are few more interested parties than the Sand Springs Education Foundation. This non-profit organization has been helping the Sand Springs schools since 1989 with fundraising, grants, and encouraging community involvement. When it comes to the next generation, the Sand Springs Education Foundation is at the top of the class.
Sandites in Service
learn cutting edge technology. All of the money from the grants go directly to students in Sand Springs Schools. The funded programs give Sandite students the opportunity to learn in new ways and expand their knowledge so that they might brighten the future.
Every year for over 20 years, the Sand Springs Education Foundation helps district teachers by giving out grants. Some of the grants have helped to secure special equipment, while others have been used to implement innovative projects which emphasize new teaching approaches for their students. The goal behind these grants is to help enhance the learning opportunities for the students in the Sand Springs district, adding overall enrichment and creativity in the classroom. In the past year, the foundation has awarded over $65,000 in grants to submissions that were made by local educators. A few of the recent grants include: Janet Johnson of Clyde Boyd Middle School received a grant for Robotic Prosthetics, all of the elementary schools in Sand Springs received funds for a competition named Battle of the Books, and Becky Nokes at Charles Page High School was awarded a grant for 3D printers so students can May 2019 | WeAreSandSprings.com 27
Sandites in Service
Sand Springs Education Foundation
All of the money from the grants go directly to students in Sand Springs Schools. The funded programs give Sandite students the opportunity to learn in new ways and expand their knowledge so that they might brighten the future. There are many ways that Sandites can get involved in the Sand Springs Education Foundation. The Sand Springs community is the cornerstone that supports the Sand Springs Education Foundation. Giving monetarily is one of the many ways the Sand Springs community can be involved, by giving a one time gift, planned giving, or a bequest. If any of these options are something you might be interested in, you can check out their website: sandspringseducationfoundation.com. Monetary donations, as well as, donated themed baskets for the silent auctions, and volunteer hours is how Sand Springs Education Foundation accomplishes so much in giving back to Sand Springs’ education system. Volunteer opportunities include serving at the Hall of Fame Banquet and enlisting
new sponsors/helping with hospitality at the Annual Golf Classic. You can call 918-245-6779 to see about other volunteer opportunities. Recently, the Sand Springs Education Foundation had their 2019 Hall of Fame Banquet. They honored Scott Palk and Sheilah Bright as their Hall of Fame Inductees. Both individuals were inducted for their great strides in their personal and professional life and continually bring admiration to the term “Sandite.”
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The Sand Springs Education Foundation continues to impact the Sand Springs community in a positive manner, thank you for all that you do for Sand Springs!
Summer Home Checklist
As summer approaches, so does the weather for fixing up our houses. Doing projects around the house increases home property value, and decreases our home insurance rates. So when we fix the fence or paint the exterior of the house, it's not just for curb appeal, it's for the betterment of our lives and for the forward movement of our families. We begin our home checklist by starting with the interior of the household. Cleaning your carpets/tile: So much dirt, and deposits are constantly ground into our carpets and the underlying padding. over time these deposits can start to develop a certain smell. The smell gives an unpleasant odor that can be disagreeable to family and visitors. Deep cleaning your carpets and
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tile or hiring a professional will improve the looks and smell around your household. Clean your sidewalk and driveway: Over time the rain that comes down on our houses also deposits dirt into the pourus concrete around our houses. Takeing a pressure washer to the driveway and sidewalks around our houses gives a nice and fresh look to the house while stripping away the scale and dirt. Repaint or reside your house: The siding on your house has a lifespan, and at some point it will need to be replaced. While this does give a certain curb appeal, it also protects the insides and insulation of our houses. Hiring a company to reside your house will save you time and money from attempting to complete the job yourself. While completing some of these projects won't get all of the honey-do list done, this will certainly give you a head start on the summer!
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It’s Time Again! You can easily pay the summer price for your residential propane in the middle of winter!
Give us a call! We’d love to hear from you.
310 E Morrow Rd Sand Springs, OK 74063 918.245.6616 l 800.684.9166 www.ferrellgas.com Yourhomet ownpr opanepr ovi der
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