As always, we were so excited to see our buildings filled with students and teachers again as we began a new school year! They are our WHY!
This year, our theme is ROOTED IN PROGRESS. It reminds us that meaningful growth begins with strong foundations. Progress happens when we move forward with intention, and no goal is too big when we work together. Our families are our number one partners, and YOU matter!
We are fortunate to begin every school year with incredible support from our community. I want to give a BIG shout-out to the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tahlequah Public School Foundation, and the many community members, businesses, and churches who helped make our back-to-school celebration on August 3rd so special for our staff. The level of generosity and support continues to grow every year, and we are beyond thankful for the role you play in helping us begin each school year strong.
On Tuesday, August 4th, we held our annual open house, and thousands of families and loved ones filled the hallways at our seven sites. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help your students become familiar with their schools and teachers and to prepare for that first day. Then, on Thursday, August 6th, we welcomed 3,430 students back in our schools across our district!
Sequoyah Pre-K is at capacity with 7 classrooms this year. Cherokee has 434 students enrolled, while Greenwood and Heritage are both nearing 500 students. These three sites have a few transfer spots remaining. Tahlequah Middle School has more than 700 students enrolled, and Tahlequah High School/Roar Academy has approximately 1,300 students. Our secondary sites are currently full and are not able to accept additional transfers at this time.
Last September, registered voters showed up BIG to invest in our schools, our community, and our future. Since then, Tahlequah Public Schools has been busy planning, designing, bidding, beginning—and even completing—projects across the district. It has been a VERY busy summer!
At Tahlequah Middle School, we remodeled and expanded the cafeteria and completely remodeled all student bathrooms.
At Tahlequah High School, we remodeled the hallways and removed the original lockers that had been in place for more than 60 years. The additional space has made a tremendous difference for students during passing periods. New ceilings, paint, tile, and expanded hallway space have transformed the building. The original student bathrooms were also completely remodeled.
A BIG change happened at Sequoyah! The asphalt playground surface was removed and replaced with sod, giving our littlest Tigers a safer and softer place to play.
The Tiger Field project has officially kicked off! Excavation and utility work are nearing completion, with construction of the fieldhouse and the buildings beneath the grandstands beginning soon. When complete, the stadium will accommodate approximately 4,000 on the home side and 1,000 on the visitor side.
We are incredibly excited about all of the activities and opportunities this space will provide for our students and community. Our target completion date is August 2027, and perhaps most exciting of all—it will be the first-ever home field for Tahlequah High School!
Another exciting project will begin soon at TMS: a storm shelter and band room large enough to house all TMS students and staff during a tornado. Construction is scheduled to begin in October and is expected to take just over a year.
This fall, we will also replace the bleachers at TMS, resurface the track at THS, and install shade canopies in the Heritage cafeteria and awnings to the carline.
Your community support has also allowed us to replace student furniture at TMS, in many classrooms at THS, and in a grade level at Cherokee, Greenwood, and Heritage. We have purchased new band instruments and replaced the band semi-truck and trailer.
SO many wonderful things are happening across Tahlequah Public Schools—and there is SO much more to come!
As we begin this new school year, we are incredibly grateful to the Tahlequah community for your ongoing partnership, your belief in our students, and the time, talent, and expertise you have shared with us as we developed this plan for our schools and our future. Our roots are strong. Our people are committed. Our progress is happening. And when we work together, there is no limit to what our Tigers can accomplish.
It is my honor to lead Tahlequah Public Schools. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, I am available. You may contact me by phone at 918.458.4100 or by email at jonest@tahlequahschools.org. Thank you and remember, “Once a Tiger, always a Tiger!”
Tanya Jones