WELLS PRESS

Rising up ... Construction on the new Cherokee Elementary has shown much evident progress, even since June when the district posted a drone video from which this image was taken.

by Bella Borum and Karley Reich

Catoosa Public Schools is building a new school that will help fit all grades pre-K through fifth grade in one building, but the district is having just a few problems that have set it back a little bit.

“The major problem we're dealing with right now is that we need to complete the building and it is entirely due to an economic downfall,” said Catoosa Superintendent Robert Schornick. “Some inflation increases and things of that nature that we've had to reduce this footage of the building, and specifically we've had to reduce by 14 classrooms. So I will be going out to our community to see if we can pass another bond issue with $9 million to finish the building.”

Otherwise the school is going pretty good, Mr. Schornick said, and will hopefully be finished by August of 2024.

“One exciting thing is that they did a topping ceremony, and placed the last beam on a Friday,” Mr. Schornick said. “They had a lot of people sign and place the last beam on the building so they could start working on the last couple things to add to the building.

“We are going to have a little celebration at the school when we finish it and solidify everything,” Mr. Schornick said. “I really hope that we won't have any more problems with the building and it will go by nice and smooth so we can get it all done by 2024. It's looking good so far.”

Lots of space to fill: Media center aide Chasidy Rinner (behind counter) continues the moving-back-in process after the library's renovation and as new fixtures are delivered.

[photo by Kynadi Carl]

by Hailey Spears and Kynadi Carl

The Wells Middle School library got a remodel over the summer and during the early weeks of this school year. The reason the library got a remodel is because it just really needed an upgrade, said Wells Principal Bryce Hauenstein.

"The media center got a new facelift, got new paint, painted the trim, redid the circulation counter, put marble granite tops on it to make it real nice, and also did some new upgrades in the nurse's office as well,” Mr. Hauenstein said.

New furniture arrived during the second week of school. “Some more adult-like seating, so you guys can go over there, and there will be learning space, just a real nice area. My favorite thing about it is going back to the gray wall and green trim. I think it looks really clean and really fresh and just a good spot for students to hang out."

“I know that we held some classes in there last year,” Mr. Hauenstein said. “We’re trying

to do away with that a little bit where kids can float in and out through the day, read a book, maybe do some looking stuff up online if they need to for a class to make it a true learning space."

“I just think it looks a lot better than what it did – the old carpet is out, the old wood is gone, and we repainted the doors. That space was a little dirty, so I'm glad that it's nice, clean, fresh and ready to go for you guys."

Whole lotta learnin' ... Wells' new fifth grade teacher Nicole Zugelder monitors her students' practice of a math lesson. [photo by Jailin Duran]

by Jailin Duran

This year Wells Middle School has welcomed some new teachers, including science teacher Mason Russ, math teacher Autumn Jacobs, fifth grade teacher Nicole Zugelder, and elementary music teacher David Franklin.

So far all of the teachers say they have liked Catoosa. “I saw the culture and climate being created, and I wanted to be a part of it,” Mrs.Zugelder said. Mrs. Jacobs also mentioned that she loves the culture and community.

Many of the teachers have loved teaching at Catoosa so far. Coach Russ said he likes coaching football, powerlifting, and track, “so I can make an impact on young adults' lives,” he said.

“I love working with my team, the administrators -- and the kids are pretty awesome,” said Mr.Franklin, who also teaches music at Helen Paul Learning Center.

Happy to be at school: Sixth graders from Rick "Coach A" Alexander's advisory class put on their best faces for the camera. [photo by Bella Borum]

by Karley Reich and Bella Borum

Wells Middle School has made many changes to its daily advocacy class for this school year. The name of advocacy class has been changed to “advisory,” and has been switched from the end of the day to the middle, in between fourth and fifth hours.

“I feel like you can't do as much work there,” seventh grader Jarrett Grushin said “because I think you have to wait for all the classes to get done so you won't have homework."

What he's trying to say is that advocacy is for homework, but if you don't wait until the end of the day, then you're most likely going to have homework.

Teachers say they have plans for what they do in their advocacy time.

“I want the kids to get their homework done first before they do anything else,” said geography teacher Rick Alexander. “If they got done with their work, or they didn't have any work to do, they could probably play educational games like Abc-Ya or maybe Prodigy.”

Most of the seventh graders said that the advocacy change was confusing, and they liked having it at the end of the day. But some kids said it wasn't confusing at all, and they like how it's short and only 30 minutes.

Most classes have certain days for certain things. Mondays are mainly to send parents and your advocacy teacher your grades. Tuesdays are for IXL or Big Ideas Math. Wednesdays are for reading (if students have a book), and Thursdays are free days, but it’s up to your teacher to choose what you do.

Middle School Band Director Asher Shoopman works with seventh and eighth grade students during fifth period. [photo by Nevaeh Alexander]

Catoosa Choir Director Greg Landburg (top left) poses on the riser with his sixth and seventh grade choir students. [photo by Nevaeh Alexander]

Catoosa Theatre Director Greg Landburg conducts talks with his middle school theatre students during their fourth period class. [photo by Nevaeh Alexander]

by Connor Russell and Nevaeh Alexander

Wells Middle School’s performing arts groups have begun early planning for their performances this school year. There isn’t a lot of information yet, but they are working hard to prepare.

Theater will have a spring play. They are in the deciding faze, said Catoosa theater director Greg Landburg.

“I chose theater because I thought it was something I like,” said seventh grader Emery Ward.

Band is going to perform next spring at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo. Middle School Band Director Asher Shoopman said the band will need commitments from 80 students. There also is a new shadow teacher Mr. Beeler, who is a music student learning to be a band teacher by working with Mr. Shoopman and High School Band Director Kimberly Taylor-Smith.

Choir is working on new songs with theater performers. Mr. Landburg is planning to take choir students to perform events during this school year. Choir students are working very, very hard, Mr Landburg said.

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE187523
• Also Needed: six-digit Student ID number (same as used for computer password and in the lunch line)

by Kamryn White and Kamdyn Scott

Yearbooks are a way to see what funny things you did with your friends that year. You can see what you did throughout the year if you have a yearbook.

“What happens this school year is pretty much only going to happen this school year,” said Wells yearbook editor Kirk McAnany.

Mr.McAnany’s second hour class makes the yearbook throughout the year. They take pictures, write reports, and interview people throughout the day.

The yearbooks are $35, but if you buy them early, you get $5 off. You can buy them at jostens.com. Click on "Shop your school," then enter "Wells Middle School" and Catoosa, OK.

Yearbooks are memory books that you can hold on to forever, so make sure you buy them now.

Catoosa's seventh grade football team conducts a morning workout. [photo by Eva Ortiz]

by Eva Ortiz-Becerra and Anlli Alcudia-Avalos

With the promotion of Wells Four-Seven Dean of Students Sal Guerrero to high school football head coach and assistant athletic director, Wells has welcomed Joe Brown as its new dean and head coach of the seventh grade football team.

In this early part of the 2023 season, Coach Brown said he likes his players’ talent, and he said he also knows there is room to grow.

Q: Do you have a favorite player?

A: Being a new coach, no, not really. I think I'm trying to get to know all the guys. But so far I've been impressed where the seventh graders are showing up to practice everyday and are working hard.

Q: What is the hardest part of coaching?

A: It's the time I spend away from my family because we get there at the football field at 6:30 a.m., and I get home at about 8:30 p.m., so I don't see my family a whole lot.

Q: What is your favorite NFL team?

A: Denver Broncos, hands down.

Q: What is something your team needs to work on?

A: Fundamentals. We have a long way to go on fundamentals in order to play. But I think we have a big group of seventh graders, so we should be pretty good.

Q: What do you see your team doing well?

A: Running the football -- and I think we're going to be very physical on defense.

by Harlee Fox and Yanely Olvera-Stephenson

Wells Middle School volleyball has started its 2023 season with a 3-3 record, including an Aug. 29 win at Verdigris, 15 to 13.

Even though they might not win all the time, the players and coaches say they still love volleyball.

The girls volleyball team is working hard to win more games. They have practice every Monday through Thursday from 6:45 am to 8:00 am. They say they like to play volleyball because it is a competitive sport.

“My thoughts on how I think the volleyball team will compete this year is just that, compete,” said Head Coach Konner Johnston.

“We have a young group of girls but they are dedicated to coming every morning and working hard to get better and that’s all I could really ask of them,” said Coach Johnston.

“The goals for the season are for the girls to develop as much as possible and learn the funda- mentals of the game so they have a good foundation to work off going into next season,” he said.

Seventh grade softball players, left to right, Jaidyn Swarer, MacKenzie Hearn, Elisa Johnson, and Dalaney Sakewicz. [photo by Anna Smith]

by Izzy Holmes and Jaidyn Swarer

Catoosa Indians middle school softball has had a good season so far with a record of 2-1.

“I think the positions I have my players in best suits the team,” said Head Coach Skylar Ellis, “and helps us win for the most part.”

High School Head Coach Russel Wood also helps with picking the middle school positions. He said he wants to see certain kids at certain positions for the team's benefit when they get into high school.

Coach Ellis has coached baseball his entire life. “I figured I'd fill the void and see how I liked it,” Coach Ellis said he thought when the spot opened for a softball coach. “It's worked out well so far,” he said.

“Just trying to make sure that they're working hard everyday,” Coach Ellis said about how he's trying to get the best out of his players. “It's the most important thing that they’re grinding, and usually things are gonna work out in our favor.”

Eighth graders seem to have some negative thoughts about playing with seventh graders where seventh graders have opposite thoughts. “It can be very frustrating,” said eighth grade first baseman JaneLynn Rodela, “because a lot of the girls don’t know what they're doing.” Eighth grade pitcher Lily Smith added that she thinks it can be weird at times.

Seventh graders say they think it's really cool playing with older kids. “I like playing with older kids since we, the younger kids, can look up to them,” said seventh grade shortstop Dalaney Sakewicz.

Wells Press staff: Anlli Alcudia-Avalos, Nevaeh Alexander, Bella Borum, Kynadi Carl, Jailin Duran, Harlee Fox, McKenzie Hargrove, Izzy Holmes, Dakohtah Jordan, Brooklyn McAnally, Yanely Olvera-Stephenson, Eva Ortiz-Becerra, Karley Reich, Laveah Robertson, Connor Russell, Kamdyn Scott, Anna Smith, Hailey Spears, Jaidyn Swarer, Jasmine Tucker, Kamryn White ... Send inquiries to kmcanany@catoosa.k12.ok.us