![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/bakingcandyman.e343f4bc.jpg)
WELLS PRESS
November 2022 -- Wells Four-Seven -- Catoosa, Oklahoma
Wells students, teachers promote prevention of drug abuse
by Dailynn Wilson and Courtney Slavens
Wells celebrated its annual Red Ribbon Week Oct. 24-27 making a statement that, together, Wells Four-Seven is against drugs. Drugs can be seriously addicting, even from one time, and can ruin your entire life.
Red Ribbon Week is the most popular drug prevention awareness campaign, according to GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov, a resource of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
“Red Ribbon Week helps the school explain why drug abuse is a horrible thing, while students have fun dressing up,” said language arts teacher Megan Porter, who led organization of Wells Red Ribbon Week 2022.
While fighting drug abuse, Wells students and teachers dressed up for theme days.
Monster Monday (dress as a monster)
Twos-day (Dress up with a friend)
Wear Neon Wednesday (Wear neon)
Throwback Thursday (Dress up as a time period)
Monster Monday Oct. 24
Twos-day Oct. 25
Neon Wednesday Oct. 26
Staff commentary: Lily Ray -- 'Does Red Ribbon Week accomplish its intended purpose? It better.'
Every year we have Red Ribbon Week, a week about drug abuse awareness, and we have theme days to make it fun for kids. This year for our themes we had to dress up like a monster, dress up with a friend, wear neon, and Throwback Thursday.
I like Red Ribbon Week because it’s an opportunity for people to dress up for fun. Also, it makes me want to go to school for the whole week. I also do like how I get to show off some of my clothes.
“I feel great about Red Ribbon Week," said Wells Principal Mark McVay. "It’s exciting to see all the students and staff dress up to say no to drugs. I feel like so many of these students and staff dress up, and the teachers organized a plan that could work for the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh graders.”
But would all the dress-up days cause discipline problems? “I think it’s about the same; it doesn't really make a difference,” Mr. McVay said, comparing Red Ribbon Week to other weeks.
It’s fun for students because we can all do something together, but I don't get how dressing up weird on these days benefits us from doing drugs in the future. Some of the days don’t have anything to do with drug abuse awareness.
Red Ribbon Week started in the 1980s to honor a Drug Enforcement Agency agent who died in the line of duty. National Federation of Parents for drug-free youth coordinated the first Red Ribbon Week in 1988 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drugs, with President Ronald Reagan as an honorary chairperson.
First Lady Nancy Reagan became a spokesperson for drug-free youth. But the Reagans focused on the prevention and punishment of drug abuse and ignored treatment. This resulted in African Americans who were poor and abusing drugs, such as cheap crack cocaine, going to prison. But rich white people using expensive powder cocaine didn’t. This wasn’t fair to African Americans, and didn’t help people who needed drug treatment.
Red Ribbon Week is about not doing drugs, and if dressing funny at school helps you do that, great. Because if you get addicted, you may be more likely to go to jail than to get help.
Wells to observe Veterans Day with all-student assemblies
by Summer Furrey
The Wells community is honoring military veterans at the school's annual Veterans Day assembly Nov. 10 in the multipurpose room/gymnasium.
“I think it is important to recognize the people who risked their lives for the country,” said language arts teacher Megan Porter, who leads the Wells culture committee that organizes monthly school assemblies.
"Then there's people who are still serving the country today," Ms. Porter continued, adding that listening to military veterans can "give you a different outlook on life and what it's like to be on the verge of losing your life or being on the front lines.”
The committee has invited a guest speaker for the two assemblies -- one in the morning for fourth/fifth graders, and one in the afternoon for sixth/seventh graders. “The kids should act very respectfully because this is someone who has risked their life and is of an older generation," Ms. Porter said. "So they most likely have high expectations on how the kids should act."
Ms. Porter also stressed the importance of students participating in the Pledge of Allegiance during the assembly. She said doing so is "going to mean the most” to the school's veteran guests.
Catoosa fine arts stages multi-faceted entertainment event
by Yecica Vasquez and Paola Nunez
Wells Middle School had its first Fall Festival performance the evening of Oct. 14, featuring performances from Catoosa theater students and the middle school and high school choirs. The festival also had games, food and karaoke for families who came.
Sixth grader Rosalina Gonzalez, who performed with her theatre group, said she felt “nervous, like really nervous. I thought I wasn't going to do good or forget the lines, but I didn't.”
“We put together some ideas for activities, and we got the pieces of the activities together,” said Catoosa Choir and Theatre Director Brian Holloway. “We got all that collected and started setting up the stations.”
“I was really prepared, but I was super nervous,” said seventh grader Aileen Burgos about her theatre performance, “because it was my first play and I forgot half of my lines. So I made up some lines that fit in the moment. The narrator didn't show up, and we had to replace him with one of our friends. Then we lost the script that we wrote, so he had to borrow Mr. Holloway’s.
There were technical issues, too. “We ran into some sound issues, and some of the cables were not working," Mr. Holloway said. "It was really windy, and we didn't feel confident that the sets were gonna stay put.”
Some Fall Festival performances may not have gone as planned, but students said it still turned out well anyway because everyone had a great time. Actors say they are looking forward to the next performance.
Kids wanting Thursday munchies line up at the Snack Shack
by Arianna White and Danyelah Gomez
Every Thursday Wells students earn rewards for things like passing grades, zero tardies, or zero discipline points. Reward day always includes the Snack Shack.
Everything in the Snack Shack is $1, and there are many choices such as Takis, Airheads, Cheez-Its, Oreos and other cookies. The Snack Shack is open to all four grades.
“I like the Snack Shack better because the regular snacks were just popcorn and cheese crackers,” said seventh grader Jennifer De La Cruz, comparing the dollar snacks to some treats from reward days last year. “My favorite snack is Takis because they’re spicy, but they’re not that spicy because all the dust falls off.”
“Takis -- they're good, and I like the dust on them,” said seventh grader Zerrik Brown.
Proceeds from Snack Shack sales cover expenses that aren't in the regular school budget. “If we see a need for students or for teachers who come and request it, the money is used for that," said Joy Guymon, a parent volunteer from Wells' Parent Finance Committee. "It helped pay for the fence that went up. We helped pay for the teachers' lunches at conferences. It paid for the dance last year.”
Wells gym floor and stage get much-needed improvements
by Riley Miller and Ayden Burns
Wells Middle School has remodeled its gym. Contractors replaced the floor, sanded and refinished the stage, and painted the walls. Markings on the new gym floor can help with sports games or practices. New seating also will be added.
The middle school gym will have the same uses as before, including P.E. classes in the morning for seventh and sixth grade, and for fourth and fifth grade in the afternoon. Also it will be used for assemblies and after-school activities like cheer practice.
“Resurfacing the stage, painting, redoing the floor, the seats -- is good in itself,” said Catoosa Choir and Theatre Director Brian Holloway, who uses the room for multiple middle school and high school student performances. He added that he also looks forward to improved stage lighting and sound equipment in the near future.
”I am very excited for the new gym,” said sixth grader Jarrett Gruschin in his P.E. class. “I also really like the new floor and the padding in the floor.”
”Honestly I like how they remodeled the gym,” said middle school choir member and cheerleader Adalyn Johnson. “I felt sometimes it needed to be redone. I like the new colors they put in there.”
“I'm very excited about the new gym remodels,” sixth grader Reagan Taylor, also a middle school choir member. “I think this will help choir really well. I'm most excited about the upcoming concerts for choir."
[photo by Jaidyn Swarer]
Seventh grade boys basketball players work to bring 'A' game
by Brynlee Benton and Jaidyn Swarer
As the football season ends, and the basketball season starts, the seventh grade boys basketball team works on individual skills.
“I'm excited for the start of basketball season because it's one of my favorite sports,” said seventh grader Brycen Jimenez. “Although I've been playing for a while, I still feel like I need to work on a lot of stuff.”
Sixth grader Burel West also said he's working to get better. “I do need some work on my shooting,” he said.
“I'm excited because I think I made the seventh grade team,” said sixth grader Roman Bell.
"I enjoy coaching sixth and seventh graders together," said Coach Trevor Replogle. "It allows me to have that extra year with the sixth graders to work on their basketball skills."
“Honestly, I want to play for the rest of my life,” said seventh grader Richard Pouncil. “I don't need to work on anything, because I'm already the best,” he added sarcastically.
“I don't know how much longer I want to play,” responded seventh grader Tyler Steele, “but I need some work on shooting.”
“I do need some improvement on dribbling,” said seventh grader Joel Moren, who also said he thinks Catoosa’s seventh grade team will have an undefeated season.
"A successful season isn’t always defined by wins and losses," Coach Replogle said. "As long as the players are showing steady improvement and are enjoying basketball, that is what I consider a successful season.
"I expect this year’s team to have a great year and will be very competitive," Coach Replogle said. "It will be a fun group to coach."
* * *
Who inspired you to play basketball?
Brycen Jimenez: “my dad”
Burel West: “my sister”
Richard Pouncil: “Russell Westbrook”
Joel Moren: “Michael Jackson … I mean Michael Jordan”
Experienced 7th grade girls basketball eager to start season
by Eva Ortiz and Karley Reich
Wells seventh grade girls basketball team practices every weekday morning for the start of its season later this month. Coach Chris Henderson said he thinks that the girls are doing great in practice and said he believes the girls will do great in their games.
“I think the junior high students are doing a great job, Coach Henderson said. “They came out focused. The seventh graders had to play the sixth graders last year, and so they kinda already knew what their expectations were, and we’ve had two weeks of good practice.”
“Since we get to play on our own grade this year, I think we are going to be okay,” said seventh grader Avery Tiffany.
Jr. high wrestling getting ready for November tournament
by Sulayma Madrigal and Trinady Olden
Catoosa’s jr. high wrestlers say they like their sport, they like their coaches, and they expect to have a good season.
“I like the (team) so far and the coaches,” sixth grader Cristian DeLeon said. “I picked wrestling because I really wanted to do football, and it would help me improve in tackling. So I did wrestling first, and now I am doing football.”
Catoosa’s jr. high and high school teams added girls, starting last year, including seventh grader Tatum Clevenger. “I think the season is going to go well, and I like the coaches,” she said. “I picked wrestling because it was a sport that I always wanted to do since I was little.”
“ We are very young but I think we will be very successful,” Coach Rick Alexander said, “The season starts in December, but in November we have a tournament that we will go to. They're working hard ,and they just started. We got some good wrestlers with a lot of experience.”
“I think the season is going to be good, and I like the coaches,” eighth grader Mason Burnham said. “That's my sport and I like it.”
Staff commentary: Alexis Xiong -- 'Weather's changing, so dress for the season. Or don't.'
I think people should wear any kind of clothes no matter how bad the weather is. If it was raining and I had a nice outfit on, then I would still wear it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wearing something like a crop top with shorts when it's cold outside or wearing sweatpants with sweatshirts in the summer.
“Most kids bring nothing, so I tell them to bring a jacket,” said Wells librarian Chasidy Rinner. I think kids should bring jackets on cold days even if it ruins their outfit. Most outfits look better with a sweater or jacket on, but if it doesn’t match your outfit, then you could just take it off when you’re in school.
“They should wear sweaters," said seventh grader Jalynn Misner. "I can tell when they’re unprepared when they start shivering, and I tell them to suck it up.” I think telling someone to suck it up when it isn’t their fault is pretty dumb and mean. If someone didn’t know that it would be cold outside, and they wore shorts, then it wouldn’t be their fault.
”Hoodies and jeans. When they have shorts on, I would tell them to put on some pants!” said seventh grader Aubrey KIrkland. I thought this answer was really good. A lot of kids still wear shorts even when it’s below 60 degrees, but they don’t look cold at all. Hoodies and jeans are really comfortable to wear, and they can keep you really warm.
A good outfit to wear on a cold day would probably be sweat pants with a regular shirt. If you want to look stylish on a cold day, then I would recommend leg warmers with a skirt. Shorts could look good, but you should probably check the weather before you leave your house.
Inquiries to kmcanany@catoosa.k12.ok.us