MAR - APR 2020
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SENIOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mackenzie Bechtold
Index Letter From The Editor Time to Grow: Intro Press Announcement: City of Sand Springs Senior in The Spotlight Recreation: Our Great Outdoors Sand Springs Events Calendar Time To Grow Varsity Athletics Calendar Herbal Affair History & News Where are They Now Sand Spring's Hidden Gems School Program Highlights: Angus Valley Elementary Photo Contest Prom Drive
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Years ago when my husband and I were dating we had an ongoing "disagreement". As with many new relationships, the subject of our little disagreement was trivial. However, in its triviality the subject really allowed us to get to know each other much better. The subject was a common saying that D.A. (<- Husband), at the time, would use pretty frequently. The idiom is used in conversation when someone learns a new fact or bit of information and here is how it goes: D.A.: (D.A. sharing something very interesting... I'm sure.) Me: Oh wow! I didn't know that. Very cool. D.A.: Well, now you know and knowing is half of the battle. And that is where we disagreed. Knowing is not half of any battle! There are so many parts to a battle that to so drastically simplify the art of battle or the effort of overcoming, and the marathon that is growing into a better human set me on defense. My response was always that knowing something doesn't get anyone anywhere. You have to know, act on, and continuously follow up on the subject learned to continue to grow in your knowledge. Over a decade later, I still hold my ground that knowing something is much less than half of any battle but over the years I have noticed that learning something new spurs the vital step that my original youthful defense didn't cover. That step is making a decision. Decision making is the main catalyst in our life and so many times we don't give enough credit to the work that does into the step of deciding. Knowing doesn't get us anywhere that is where acting on that knowledge comes into play but before we can act we make a decision on how we will react to our new information. In this edition of the magazine, we are talking a lot about now being a time of growth. During the production of this magazine, I felt the need to share with all of you wonderful readers that you can make a decision RIGHT NOW. You can make the decision you've been procrastinating now. Right now is a time to decide to grow. Seek wisdom to become educated and pray hard! Decide the best direction and get to work. Just know that the first step is the scariest step.. so also decide to stay informed and evaluate your decision so that you are always on the path to becoming the best human you were made to become! Much love Sandites! Send us a letter or email: 118 N Main St Sand Springs, OK 74063 info@wearesandsprings.com 918-521-1810 4 WeAreSandSprings.com | March 2020
Danielle Myers
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Dare To Leap
Have you ever noticed the way a tiny plant shoot just beginning to germinate reaches toward the sun? Have you ever enjoyed a ripe peach, its sweet juices running down your chin, and wondered where it came from, where it grew? Have you ever brought home a bouquet of market flowers and placed them on the kitchen table in awe of summer’s splendor? Every fruit, vegetable, and flower starts from a microscopic seed placed in the cool earth. And with loving care, the seed grows and becomes something we can’t help but admire. Spring is here and it’s time to grow. As you enjoy the new issue of We Are Sand Springs, take note of how each of our interviewees has grown and continues to thrive. We invite you, too, to see how you can grow this year. All it takes is a little preparation, care, and persistence. Go and bloom, Sandites. We’re rooting for you.
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CITY OF SAND SPRINGS
Sand Springs Deputy Fire Chief Selected For Leadership Program Contact: Grant Gerondale Community Development Director
City of Sand Springs Deputy Fire Chief Justin Hall has been selected into 2020 Fire Service Executive Development Institute. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) announced that Chief Hall successfully competed with new fire chiefs and chief officers from across the country and Canada to become a member of the 2020 cohort program. Along with being accepted into the program Chief Hall has been awarded a scholarship which covers many of the expenses Associated with attending the program. The Fire Service Executive Development Institute is a yearlong leadership-development program created and implemented by the IAFC to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have successful and productive tenures. The members of the cohort will meet in March 2020 for their first five-day session in addition to two other sessions scheduled six months apart. The group will communicate between sessions using an online community. This is the eighth year that the Motorola Solutions Foundation has provided the IAFC with a grant to fund the program. “The Motorola Solutions Foundation is proud to support the training and development of emerging leaders in fire and emergency service to ensure they have the tools needed to best serve the community”, said Monica Mueller, executive director Motorola Solutions Foundation. Deputy Chief Hall began in the fire service 25 years ago as a volunteer. In 2001, he became a paid fire fighter for the Catoosa Fire Department. In 2005, he joined the Sand Springs Fire Department where he served as both vice-president and president of the union, and was selected to serve as the deputy fire chief in 2011. Chief Hall holds an Associates of Arts Degree from Rogers State College, and an Associates of Science Degree in Fire & Emergency Services from 2 Tulsa Community College. He is currently working to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University. “I have encouraged Justin to seek out training and professional development to enhance his skills as a chief officer,” said Fire Chief Mike Wood. “Justin presented the FSEDI opportunity to me and we both agreed that his participation would be invaluable for himself and the department as well. We appreciate that he was selected for this great program.” Congratulations to this year’s cohort of emerging fire and emergency service leaders," said Chief Gary Ludwig, IAFC president and chairperson of the board. “The IAFC's Fire Service Executive Development Program has become the premier career- and leadership-development program in our profession thanks to the generous support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. Many officers from the previous programs have been successful in achieving fire chief positions and are effectively leading their departments.”
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Senior In The Spotlight
“Although I will miss Charles Page High School,” said Class of 2020 senior Mackenzie Bechtold, “I am so excited to venture off and use my past experiences to reach my full potential.”
chemistry and learned to trust each other on the field,” Mackenzie said. “Even when things weren’t going our way, we still had a blast and made memories that will last a lifetime.”
As the vice president of the National Honor Society, the spirit coordinator of the Student Council, the varsity baseball manager, and a varsity softball player, Mackenzie has made the most of her time at Charles Page High School.
Mackenzie said playing softball during her senior year has given her an incredible opportunity to grow. “I was able to be a leader on the field,” Mackenzie said, “and that helped me be a leader in the classroom, as well.” Additionally, being on the Student Council has helped Mackenzie develop responsibility and communication skills that she said will be useful to her throughout her entire life.
“Out of everything I have experienced throughout high school,” Mackenzie said, “what truly shaped me into the person I am today is [the opportunity to play] varsity softball and having Shelli Brown as my coach.” Mackenzie said Coach Brown and her teammates have helped her become the young woman she is today. “Together, they have taught me responsibility, leadership, and how to be a great friend on and off the field,” Mackenzie said. One of Mackenzie’s favorite memories from her senior year has been going to the state softball tournament. “My team and I worked so hard to build 8 WeAreSandSprings.com | March 2020
When Mackenzie isn’t acing tests, dominating on the field, and contributing to certain programs at school, she enjoys making scrunchies and bracelets and going to the movies with her friends. Before college starts in August, Mackenzie is going on a mission trip to Guatemala, which is something she has always wanted to do. “We’ll build two houses and spread God’s word to the women, men, and children throughout the villages,” Mackenzie said.
Senior In The Spotlight
Mackenzie said when she leaves Charles Page High School, she will miss seeing her best friends every day, participating in GOLD Week, and learning from teachers like Frank Cooper, who has had a tremendous impact on Mackenzie. “Mr. Cooper embodies the true meaning of being a Sandite,” Mackenzie said. “If he has taught me anything, it’s that the joy of life truly is in the journey and that one of the best things you could ever do is put a smile on someone’s face.”
“Get involved in everything you possibly can. That’s how you can make an impact not only in your school, but also your community.”
Each day, when students leave Mr. Cooper’s classroom, he tells them he loves them and that they are important. “I can only hope one day I can be like him,” Mackenzie said. This fall, Mackenzie will be attending Connors State College where she will play softball and earn a degree in biology and continue growing into the person she has become at Charles Page High School. For students who are still learning and growing at Charles Page High School, Mackenzie said: “Get involved in everything you possibly can. That’s how you can make an impact not only in your school, but also your community.”
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harles Page founded Sand Springs in 1908, but some of the trees in the Keystone Ancient Forest are 500 years old. Whether you’ve lived in Sand Springs since 1938 or you moved here in 2018, there may be a few other things you don’t know about the outdoor spaces in our town. With warmer temperatures just a few short weeks away and the growth of our city continuing each day, we reached out to Jeff Edwards, the Parks Director for Sand Springs Parks and Recreation, to get the inside scoop as to how Sandites can utilize all the offerings of the parks and recreation department. Some of his suggestions and insights may surprise you. “Someone visiting our parks system for the first time may be surprised that Sand Springs has 15 developed park properties,” said Jeff, “including many ‘pocket parks’ in neighborhoods across the city.” Because most playgrounds have an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years, the city’s oldest park, Ray Brown Park, no longer has its original equipment. It was removed during a community workday and now features a newer structure. Because of successful general obligation bonds and fundraising efforts, Sand Springs is fortunate to have five playgrounds less than four years old. A common misconception is that the Keystone Ancient Forest is a park, but the 1,400-acre property is actually classified as a nature preserve. The parks and recreation department does manage the forest, however, which Jeff said helps “preserve it as native Oklahoma land first.” Too much use, Jeff said, could cause the Forest to be “lost in the history of what native Oklahoma land was when Washington Irving passed through long before statehood.”
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Currently, hiking is only permitted at the Keystone Ancient Forest on select Saturdays because of limited staffing. A small group of volunteer trail guides keeps the Forest open and in operation, though Jeff said the City is making preparations for a visitor center that will house a staffer and increase the annual hours of operation. “By 2021,” Jeff said, “we expect the Forest to be open to the public for hiking three days per week year-round.” In the meantime, volunteer positions for the trail guide crew are open. “Becoming a volunteer at the Keystone Ancient Forest is a great way to give back to the community,” Jeff said, “and the process is quite easy.” Interested individuals can visit with established trail guides during open hiking and spend a few hours working with them to learn the ropes. Sandites who want to commit to becoming a part of the trail guide crew can contact the parks office to sign up and receive an official crew shirt and ID badge in exchange for assisting the operations of the Forest. In addition to the parks and Keystone Ancient Forest (which, by the way, has over 80 species of butterflies), a vast trail system runs from Case Community Park and the Case Community Center to the KATY Trail, which stretches more than 30 miles to the east and connects with many other Tulsa trails. The Case Community Center, a state-of-the-art multipurpose facility, hosts over 100,000 patrons each year, and has a membership base of roughly 25,000 individuals. With their CASEcard, members can access the strength and exercise equipment, indoor walking track, open basketball play, video games, and tennis table activities.
“The Case Community Center is a safe, clean, and exciting venue for recreational activities,” Jeff said. “The space is also available to rent for various events such as baby showers, birthday parties, wedding receptions, indoor batting practice, and more.” Some Sand Springs visitors and residents alike may not know that the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, an 18-hole course tucked away in the hills of northern Sand Springs, is part of the parks and recreation department, as well. While Sandites frequent the course regularly, Jeff said it’s not unusual for celebrities visiting the area to book tee times under a pseudonym. “One celebrity confirmation,” Jeff said, “is Willie Nelson, who has played the course several times.” And if you get hungry after a round of golf? “The best item on the menu at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge is the deep-fried hot dog with homemade ranch kettle chips,” Jeff said. “Don’t count calories - just eat and enjoy!”
Jeff said. “Our staff has the opportunity to connect with so many people, many of whom are hitting their first ball, making their first goal, or catching their first fish.” Jeff said the greatest realization is that most everyone visiting the parks and open spaces in Sand Springs are making new memories and “doing so with a big smile.” Whether you sign up to volunteer at the Keystone Ancient Forest, make use of the air-conditioned options for basketball and table tennis, or try a new dish at the golf course grill, be sure to take advantage of all our parks and recreation department has to offer this spring and summer. And if you know someone planning a visit to our community share with them everything you know about these great opportunities.
“One of the greatest enjoyments of working in the field of parks and recreation is the contact with the community,”
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SAND SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPEN FORUM
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
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TULSA HOME & GARDEN SHOW At Tulsa Home Shows 11AM-5PM
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LEADERSHIP S.S. CLASS
KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE
At S.S. Chamber of Commerce
From 8am - 2pm
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SUCCESS BY SEUSS 7 PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30 PM at CrossPoint
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-SAND SPRINGS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING At SS Performing Arts Building 7PM- 8PM
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ST. PATRICK'S DAY
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TULSA HOME & GARDEN SHOW At Tulsa Home Shows Thurday 5-9PM
COMISSIONER KAREN KEITH BREAKFAST 7:30 - 9 AM at Cresent Cafe
Friday & Saturday 10AM-9PM
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ART CLASS FOR KIDS ZegART Studios at 4PM
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13 SSPS CONFERENCE DAY NO SCHOOL
7 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE DAY
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KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE
KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE DAY
From 8am - 2pm
Sand Springs Salvation Army : Summer Basketball League Sign-ups will start at the end of March.
From 8am - 2pm
Enjoy Small Business Saturday deals all year long in Sand Springs. Every 1st Saturday of the month; March 7th and April 4th. Visit wearesandsprings.com for more details. 14 WeAreSandSprings.com | March 2020
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__ S.S BOARD OF EDU. MEETING 7 - 8 PM at SS School Performing Arts Building
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Moon Over Buffalo
What: George and Charlotte Hay, a husband-and-wife team of actors, struggle to perform Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives in repertory while dealing with family crises and the possibility of a Hollywood director's visit. When: April 16th - 18th at 7pm & April 19th at 2:30pm
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27 S.S. CITY COUNCIL MEETING 7pm at SS Municipal Building
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COMMISIONER CAREN KEITH BREAKFAST 7:30 - 9 AM at Cresent Cafe
15 SCORE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST 7:30 - 9 AM at Cresent Cafe
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18 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm __
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HERBAL AFFAIR
KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE
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100 MILE YARD SALE from 8am - 5pm
SBI BREAKFAST 8AM- 9AM at Boulder Coffee
2 RUN FOR THE ROSES – TULSA
25 KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm __ NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA "SPEAK OUT"
BOY’S HOME 1:30 - 5:30pm - Pavilion at Expo Square
__ KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST OPEN HIKE From 8am - 2pm
1pm at Case Community Park
April 2020| WeAreSandSprings.com 15
Each year, many Sandites prepare their gardens for spring: removing weeds, tilling the soil, planting seeds, applying mulch, pruning shrubs. Growing a colorful, thriving garden takes effort, and so, too, does personal growth. Personal growth is the ongoing process of developing oneself in order to achieve one’s fullest potential.
month, sign up for the pottery class, start the cookbook club, or visit the parks for bird-watching. Ask for feedback Invite your boss or colleagues to share any observations about your work performance, attitude, or recent project submissions. Be receptive to the information they share and see how incorporating their advice can enhance your performance on the job.
To help us flourish in our personal lives and the community where we’ve put down roots, try Perform an act of kindness Bring your elderly some of these suggestions and watch as your neighbor’s trash to the curb, buy coffee for the lives slowly but surely, like tiny plant shoots in the person in line behind you, send a casserole to ground, blossom: a friend who is grieving, or surprise your child’s Make working out and reading a priority teacher with flowers. Making someone’s day feels Exercising your body and your brain will give you good, so this will benefit you, too. bursts of energy to tackle a presentation at work Get involved as a volunteer There are plenty (or to finally clean out the garage) and help enrich of organizations around town that could use a your mind and cultivate new knowledge. hand. Reach out to the Salvation Army, Veterans Quit a bad habit Whether you bite your nails Outreach International, or the Sand Springs Parks or leave your shoes in a pile at the front door, it’s and Recreation Department to see how you can important to identify what triggers these habits help. and learn how you can break the pattern. Once Support local businesses Whether it’s the you are able to surrender the habit for a week, coffee shop near your office, the diner on your try a month. Each day that you can curb negative way home, the floral shop on the corner, or the practices will give you the confidence to continue. clothing boutique with pretty clothes, be sure to Build a new skill High school students and patronize these companies and celebrate the retirees alike - and everyone in between - can financial impact small business has on our town. benefit from trying a new skill. Learn a new This summer, all the gardeners who planted language, practicing public speaking, or figure out flowers, fruits, and vegetables in March will reap how to code. Ask your boss or mentor about a their rewards: bright bouquets, sun-ripened skill you could try that would help you improve cantaloupe, garden fresh tomatoes. Put in the professionally or personally. work now to improve your mind, body, and Start a new hobby Most of us have an activity spirit and see just how much you can grow and we want to try for fun, but we let our busy transform by summer, too. schedules and laundry list of obligations prevent us from pursuing something just for leisure. This
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t the Herbal Affair and Festival,” said Grant Gerondale, the Community Development Director of the City of Sand Springs, “you can find heirloom tomatoes and native plants that you can’t just get on aisle seven of Home Depot.”
“The Herbal Affair and Festival is not all about tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, though,” said Grant. The show is also known for its arts and crafts collections and diverse food options. This year, more than 100 vendors will participate in the event, including a Missouribased bonsai artist, stained glass designers, Founded in 1989 by Sand Springs resident and makers who weave wicker baskets and Ruth Leib, the Herbal Affair and Festival create sculptures with metal. started as a small street sale that attracted around 800 visitors. Today, the Herbal Affair Grant encourages attendees to come and Festival, Oklahoma’s largest outdoor hungry, too, since there will be plenty of unique celebration of herbs and gardening, boasts food options, including traditional Indian tacos, more than 25,000 attendees, which is larger German bratwursts, and chicken and noodles than the entire population of Sand Springs. from an Amish family out of Rogers County. The event has certainly grown! There will be around a dozen food vendors for visitors to choose from. Per tradition, the According to Grant, who has operated the Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts will have a canoe event for 16 years, there are some guests who filled to the brim with ice-cold root beers and have attended for the last ten to twenty years, cream sodas for sale to help raise money for eagerly marking their calendars each year for their organization. the next event. 20 WeAreSandSprings.com | March 2020
With assistance from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Sand Springs Police Department, the City of Sand Springs is able to produce this event each year. The Parks and Recreation Department helps provide water, electricity, and shuttling services while the Sand Springs Police Department offers security during the event.
and explore the 31st annual Herbal Affair and Festival in the historic Triangle Park District on Saturday, April 18th and marvel the growth the event has experienced since its original show in 1989.
“The Herbal Affair and Festival is a big deal for our city,” Grant said. “It’s an opportunity to showcase our wonderful community, and In conjunction with the timing of the Herbal there’s a financial impact for Sand Springs, as Affair and Festival and just adjacent, the well.” folks at Okie Spice will be hosting their third annual event, Westival, right on Main Street. The Herbal Affair and Festival runs from The event will feature wine and food vendors 8am to 4pm on Saturday, April 18th and is free and live music from The Jennifer Marriott Band, providing even more shopping and to attend. Parking is available in the Charles entertainment for Herbal Affair and Festival Page High School parking lot, and a free shuttle goers. with transportation to the event is provided by The City of Sand Springs and the staff at We Are Sand Springs invite you to attend
the Parks and Recreation Department.
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Where are they now?
Where Are They Now? Lisa Riggs
Some high school seniors graduate and move away from their hometowns and never look back. But not Lisa Riggs. Though she did move to Washington, D.C. for almost a decade to attend Georgetown University Law Center and start working as a civil trial lawyer, Lisa moved home in 1996 and has been serving the community she grew up in since then.
Cockerham became the manager of the Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team and the coach of the softball team.
A managing partner at Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Lisa serves as President of the Sandite Team for Animal Rescue and Chair of the Sand Springs Museum Association. Additionally, she is a board member for the Oklahoma Association for Justice, an advisory board member for American Heritage Bank, and an advisory committee member for Sutton Avian Research Center. Previously, she held seats on the boards and committees of the Sand Springs School Board, Sand Springs Education Foundation, Sand Springs America Downtown, The Nature Conservancy Board, Land Legacy, and the Legal Aid of Oklahoma.
Lisa says she’s very lucky to still see two of her elementary school teachers several times a year, including Louise Read, who taught second grade and “really made me know that teachers do love their students” and Beverly Dover, who taught fourth grade and “really kindled my love of reading.”
Spending her formative years at Twin Cities, Central Junior High School, and Charles Page High School, Lisa, a Class of 1978 Sandite, credits her teachers, coaches, and administrators for helping her build confidence.
“I always loved school,” Lisa said, “and having a nurturing environment at school made navigating all the other social situations of growing up much more manageable.”
“You often learn more from failure than from success, so don’t be afraid to take some chances.”
“[The school system of] Sand Springs was a place where I felt loved and encouraged. I never felt like my teachers were just there for a job,” Lisa said. “I felt like they were there because they really wanted to teach me things, just like my Mom and Dad liked to teach me things.” “In Junior High, I became very fond of my PE teacher, Sheilha Cockerham,” Lisa said. “She took a genuine interest in us each as individuals and was so positive and encouraging a very valuable thing for Junior High students.” Lisa said she was lucky to have Sheila Cockerham’s support again in high school when Ms. April 2020| WeAreSandSprings.com 23
Where are they now?
Other teachers who served as role models and inspired Lisa throughout High School include her English and Creative Writing teacher, Sherry Moran, and her Journalism and Yearbook teacher, Laura Shaub. “They both took their craft so seriously yet were fully engaged with their students,” Lisa said. “They demanded the best and caused me and most of my fellow students to achieve at a level we might not have had we not been pushed.” Currently, Lisa and her husband, Gary Meeks, live in Sand Springs, and they recently celebrated Lisa’s parents’ 60th wedding anniversary with her two brothers and two sisters, all who are Sand Springs alumni. As an AV Preeminent-rated attorney who has also been recognized as one of the top women attorneys in Oklahoma, Lisa will be inducted into the Sandite Hall of Fame this spring. “My wish for all future Sandites,” Lisa said, “is that you embrace challenges with an open mind, try things you have never tried before, make friends with people from all walks of life, and do your best to be kind to everyone around you.” Lisa added, “You often learn more from failure than from success, so don’t be afraid to take some chances.”
"Embrace challenges with an open mind, try things you have never tried before, make friends with people from all walks of life, and do your best to be kind to everyone around you.”
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Sand Springs has plenty of restaurants and parks adored and frequented by regulars, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the hidden gems - the places, people, or things - around town that make it really worth exploring for both residents and visitors alike. Next time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for something to do around our growing little city, consider these charming spots and secret treasures:
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BALD EAGLES AT CASE COMMUNITY PARK “One of my very favorite experiences in Sand Springs is watching the bald eagles fly around Case Community Park,” says Ashley Canterbury, the school counselor at Angus Valley Elementary. Ashley says the bald eagles (and their nests) are visible from the towering trees that line the sidewalk that runs south of the splash pad, concession stand, and baseball fields.
OKIE SPICE, THE ART MUSEUM, AND BARBECUE Parks Director Jeff Edwards has a few favorite hidden gems throughout Sand Springs, including the Habanero Sugar made by Okie Spice (asks Jeff: “Need I say more?”). Jeff also enjoys the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum for its Art Deco style, noting the museum is “arguably one of the most beautiful historic buildings in all of Oklahoma.” Jeff’s final favorite hidden gem requires being a parks department staff member, trail guide, or park advisory board member, but if you know then you know: the department makes some delicious barbecue.
BOULDER COFFEE The light-filled coffee shop with bold blue doors on Main Street is Mackenzie Bechtold’s favorite hidden gem. “Boulder Coffee is a great relaxing place to hang out and get some homework done while enjoying awesome coffee,” Mackenzie says.
DEBBIE HERRINGTON AT THE SAND SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION “Debbie is a hidden gem for me. Whenever I come in contact with Debbie, she makes my entire day with her sweet smile and kind words,” says Angelia Noel, Principal at Angus Valley Elementary. “If you call the main SSPS phone number, Debbie is most likely to be the one who answers the phone and her voice will make your day.” Angelia says Debbie offers a lesson for everyone in kindness.
SHELL CREEK LAKE Grant Gerondale, the Community Development Director for the City of Sand Springs, loves the outdoors. “Shell Creek Lake is a great fishing destination just northwest of Sand Springs,” Grant said. “It’s a city-owned lake and requires a permit, but it’s a fun and easy fishing spot.”
We all love the blue corn enchiladas at El Maguey and the facilities at the Case Community Center, and with a little exploration, there’s no telling what else you’ll discover. There’s definitely more than meets the eye in Sand Springs, so go forth and find. Have a hidden gem that you love? We want to hear about it. Send us the details to info@wearesandsprings.com April 2020| WeAreSandSprings.com 27
“Our hope at Angus Valley Elementary is that the social emotional skills [our students] learn here, especially early on, will make a lifelong impact on their growth and development,” said Ashley Canterbury, the school counselor at Angus Valley Elementary. During the 2017-2018 school year, the Angus Valley Elementary Principal, Angelia Noel, added a social skills segment to the specials rotation, which also includes PE, music, and technology. A district-wide character education committee from Sand Springs Public Schools helped identify key character traits deemed critical for students to discuss and learn in the socialemotional portion of the specials rotation.
how they are feeling. As the year progresses, components of the program focus on social and relationship skills, which the students practice by playing games and discussing how to take turns, exhibiting good workmanship, and identifying how to work together.
“Personal growth is the intention behind the entire program. We take seriously our responsibility to teach our students more than just academics” - Ashley Canterbury
The program honors select students each week and month based on the current trait being taught, plus it invites members of the community to present engaging programs on various topics. The ParentChild Center of Tulsa and the Tulsa Health Department have visited to discuss everything from identifying and preventing bullying to practicing personal hygiene.
At the beginning of each new school year, the rotation begins with teaching students self-regulation skills that will help them be successful in their classrooms. These lessons show students how to be good listeners, how to identify feelings, how to stay in control of their emotions, and how to appropriately communicate 28 WeAreSandSprings.com | March 2020
“Personal growth is the intention behind the entire program. We take seriously our responsibility to teach our students more than just academics,” Canterbury said, “and of course, academics are a priority, [but] we want to see our students develop into well-rounded adults one day and that requires so much more than just reading and math.”
With approximately 430 students between preKindergarten through 5th grade, the social-emotional learning program provides each student at Angus Valley Elementary the opportunity to get to know and become comfortable with their school counselor. “When our principal made the decision to add this rotation for our youngest students, it was done to create a second layer of support,” Canterbury said. “The rotation allows me to build a personal relationship with them that, otherwise, might take much longer.” “Early learning relies heavily on interactions with others. Our goal is to create a solid foundation for our students with healthy social and emotional skills that will help them be successful in life,” said Angelia Noel, the principal at Angus Valley Elementary. “Mrs. Canterbury’s social skills classes are creating a shared vocabulary and understanding among our students that strengthens our learning environment as a whole.” Canterbury said the pre-K and kindergarten teachers do a phenomenal job integrating socialemotional learning into their regular classroom routines, adding that it helps the students understand that there is an adult who loves and cares for them unconditionally, one they can approach at any time for any reason to discuss a problem they’re facing in the classroom, on the playground, or at home. “We want every student at Angus to feel like there is, at minimum, one adult with whom they have a personal connection,” Canterbury said. “It is so important to address social-emotional learning with our young students,” said Sherry Durkee, the Superintendent of Sand Springs Public Schools.
“Early learning relies heavily on interactions with others. Our goal is to create a solid foundation for our students with healthy social and emotional skills that will help them be successful in life” - Angelia Noel,
“Mrs. Canterbury is amazing at connecting with students and helping them manage emotions associated with situations they encounter. We are proud of her work.” “Since entering the field of education, my growth has been immense,” Canterbury said. “I am not the same teacher I was 13 years ago when I walked into my first classroom at Elm Grove Middle School in Bossier City, Louisiana.” Mrs. Canterbury said one of the biggest reasons she became an educator is her love of learning and growth. “Growth for teachers doesn’t end [when we graduate from our program], in fact, it’s only the beginning. Every year, we move forward, even just a little bit. We strive to #BuildExcellence, in our students, in our classrooms, and in our schools,” Thanks to the work Mrs. Canterbury, Mrs. Noel, Mrs. Durkee, and the rest of the teachers and educators in the Sand Springs Public Schools district are doing each day, the children of Angus Valley Elementary continue learning and growing, and one day they will bloom into emotionally-adjusted, capable adults.
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F
or the fourth year, We Are Sand Springs, River Stone Cleaners and Sand Springs Community Services are partnering to in the Prom Drive in order to make sure that every Sandite Student that is eligible to attend Prom is prepared. The Prom Drive is designed to provide gently used, or new, formal wear to students so that they show up to Prom feeling great. Formal can be donated to the drive at River Stone Dry Cleaning and Laundry off of 113th in Prattville or at Boulder Coffee on Main Street.
"The donated prom clothing is sorted and made available to students through Special Education teacher Ms. Angela Fitzgerald's classroom. They create a formal wear library so to speak that students can shop to have appropriate prom wear that they can choose that best reflects their style. Students who might otherwise not be able to afford an outfit for prom are able to attend with confidence." Nathan Woodmansee Executive Director - Sand Springs Community Services
River Stone Dry Cleaning and Laundry 3402 S 113th West Ave Sand Springs, OK 74063 1 block west of Hwy 97 and 34th St
Boulder Coffee 118 N Main St Sand Springs, OK 74063 BoulderCoffeeOK.com
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