Random Acts of Kindness Day was last week. How have you spread kindness today?
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity #gpsschoolofchoice
Upper Elementary House Meetings were held last week. Students had fun meeting with students from all grade levels in their house. New point awards were handed out to so many students! Each house learned a new handshake to share among their members. We ❤️❤️ house days!
GPS continues to be a model school in so many areas! In this article, Mrs. Linda Adams and the Action Based Learning lab at the ECC, which was purchased through a GEFFE grant, are highlighted for the work they are doing to engage the brains of our youngest Ridgerunners. Thank you to Mrs. Bloss and Mrs. Adams for their hard work to bring the best learning activities to the ECC and thank you to our GEFFE donors for making a difference in the lives of GPS students!
https://www.ablacademy.com/blog/grove-ecc
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity #neokschoolofchoice
Don't forget school is IN SESSION tomorrow, Monday, February 20th to make up instructional time missed on a previously taken snow day.
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity #neokschoolofchoice
Starbucks anyone? 6th grade students tested in a coffee shop setting today. Their baristas served hot chocolate and chocolate milk! Best test day ever!
Emmanuel Crawford continues to share his story. We are so proud of this Ridgerunner!!
https://ktul.com/news/local/from-ghana-to-grove-high-school-football-player-reflects-on-childhood-in-africa#
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
You're the one we want at the PAC for Grove High School's production of "Grease" coming March 2nd, 4th and 5th. Get your tickets to the show online now!
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/70334
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Brant Pollan, a junior at GHS, is serving as a page this week for Ridgerunner Alum, State Representative Josh West at the Oklahoma State Capitol. We are proud of Brant's representation of Ridgerunner Nation and thankful for Josh's representation. Way to Ridgerunners!!
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
As a wrap-up to last week's celebration of school counseling week, we would like to recognize our district MTSS coordinator. MTSS is the process GPS uses to wrap academic, behavioral and social skills together to best serve our students. Our district MTSS coordinator works closely with our school counselors and administrators to help us build strong student supports. Toni Cusick is our District MTSS Coordinator. Here is how she introduces herself:
I have been an educator for 29 years-20 in Kansas as a middle school, high school, and college English teacher and 4 as a middle school counselor.
I moved to Oklahoma in 2018 and was one of Grove's high school counselors for 4 years before my current role. I am a wife, mother, and grandma, and love spending time with my family.
I am currently the District MTSS Coordinator where I work with each building using curriculum, and data to create behavior expectation procedures and supports to improve student outcomes.
Thank you Mrs. Cusick for your work to help all GPS students be successful!
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
As we get ready to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow, just a reminder none of the Grove Public Schools sites receive deliveries as they are a disruption to the learning environment. Thank you for your understanding and Happy Valentine's Day!
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
After a long week of being iced in, a group of upper elementary and middle school choir students traveled to Bartlesville to take place in Circle the State with Song last Saturday. This day long musical instruction event concluded with a concert for families and guests. We are extremely proud of our growing fine arts programs and give heart felt thanks to upper elementary choir teacher, Mrs. Lauren Thompson and middle school choir teacher, Mr. Andre Jones! Way to go Ridgerunners! #ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Lutisha Potter is a longtime Ridgerunner who has held many positions working with GPS students. Her current role is with Grand Mental Health working as the Behavioral Health Coach at Grove Lower Elementary.
Ms. Lutisha previously served GPS students as a paraprofessional. We are thankful for her love for her students and commitment to helping GPS provide outstanding student services to our community!
Lutisha is a mom of 6 and has five grandchildren who keep her busy outside of school. Happy School Counseling Week, Ms. Lutisha!
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Tracy Marshall is our counselor at Grove Lower Elementary. His constant smile is uplifting to his students through his guidance lessons. Here is what Mr. Marshall says about being a Ridgerunner:
Hello Ridgy Nation, my name is Tracy Marshall and my heart is to encourage students and inspire a “can do spirit” for all of our Lil Ridgys. A few of the ways I encourage LE students is by teaching life skills, and character education lessons everyday. Also, I help LE students by being a liaison for the Friday food pack, Thanksgiving baskets, Angel Tree, Character Counts programs, and I’m the current gifted program facilitator. It is an honor and privilege to work with great people and be on all the TEAMS at LE that impact students and provide so much hope.
When I’m not working, I enjoy eating out, spending time with Mrs. Marshall and my grandchildren. Some of my favorite things are watching motivational clips, basketball, praise music, traveling, and being outdoors.
We are thankful Mr. Marshall is available to care for our lower elementary students in so many ways! Happy Counselor's Week Mr. Marshall! #ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Tonya Goldner is the Middle School Counselor. She has been married to Caleb Goldner for 22 years, and they have three children. Tonya is a 1997 graduate of Grove High School and went on to Northeastern State University to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology. After working in community counseling for many years, she went back to school to become a school counselor. Tonya loves working with children and analyzing testing data.
It is not work when you love what you do and who you work with. I enjoy spending time with my family and boating on Grand Lake in my spare time. Favorite quote: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” -Airstotle
Happy National School Counselor's Week, Mrs. Goldner! We are so blessed to have you helping our middle school students. #ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
If you can't make it out to watch our Ridgerunners take the court Friday night, catch them on the live broadcast at:
https://www.team1sports.com/highschool/ok/?S=groveoklahoma
In order to make up one of the "snow days" taken during last week's inclement weather, all Grove Public School sites will be in session on President's Day, Monday, February 20th, 2023 which was designated as a snow make up day on the 2022-23 approved school calendar. Stay warm this winter!
#ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Happy School Counselor's Week to Mrs. Julie Williams, counselor at Grove High School!
My name is Julie Williams, and this is my first year as a counselor and as a Grove Ridgerunner. I have been a junior high math teacher for 20 years, and enjoyed being in the classroom, but I wanted to have more time to devote directly to helping students, so I became a counselor!
My husband Nate and I are blessed with four sons: Eyan - Senior, Reed - Junior, Owen - 6th grade, and Rhet - 4th grade. I love spending time with my family! We like to watch movies, play cards, and spend time on the lake. I also enjoy watching my sons play football and basketball, kayaking, beautiful sunsets, and animals of all kinds.
One thing I enjoy about being a GHS Ridgerunner is working with a community of people that strive to offer our students the best opportunities available. ❤️🤍
We are so happy you chose to join Ridgerunner Nation, Mrs. Williams! #ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Our student services staff includes more than just school counselors! Thanks to a partnership with Grand Mental Health, GPS is thankful to offer Behavioral Health Coaches (BHC) in each building. These ladies are there to work with Grand Mental Health clients in the school setting and are available to discuss mental health services with families on site. They are a huge benefit to our students and become part of our site staff families as the interact on a daily basis! Today we would like to introduce you to lifelong Ridgerunner and ECC BHC, Missy Skaggs!
My name is Missy Skaggs and I am the behavioral health coach with Grand Mental Health at the Early Childhood Center. This will be my 2nd year and prior to working with Grand Mental Health I worked in physician offices, as my passion is to improve the lives of others. I have lived in Grove my whole life and love everything about our community.
I have been married to Justin Skaggs for almost 3 years and we also co-own Tractor World of Grove. I have 2 kids of my own and 3 bonus kids. My favorite part of parenting is watching every sport activity they are involved in and improving themselves. I also love the outdoors where I like to spend my time on the lake, fishing, hunting, running and spending time with my family.
I love my job because if I know I have touched just one person’s life I have done my job.
Thanks for being a part of #ridgerunnernation, Missy! You are a blessing to our students and staff!
#beachampion #childreneducationcommunity #schoolcounselorweek
Debi Robbins is another one of our school counselor who were brought to GPS through the Counselor Corp grant program. Debi works with our students at both the Upper Elementary and the Middle School. She brings a wealth of experience to our district after retiring in Texas and moving back to Grand Lake. When asked about being a counselor, this is what Mrs. Robbins had to say about her job:
I absolutely love being a counselor, I think it is the best job in the district. I have 40 years in the educational field, with 25 of them being a school counselor. I was retired for one year before coming out of retirement to work in Grove. I am so thankful I did. It has been rewarding and I have met so many wonderful people. We had a ranch in Paris, Texas and now living the lake life. Thank you Grove for hiring me. I am eternally grateful.
We are thankful you chose Grove Public Schools, Mrs. Robbins! Your service to our middle aged students is crucial to the success of GPS! #ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
Jenniffer Clark is the focus of our next counselor spotlight for National School Counseling Week! Mrs. Clark is the Counselor Corp counselor serving the needs of our students at GHS. Here is how Mrs. Clark introduces herself to the Grove community!
My name is Jenniffer Clark and I am a counselor in the high school. This is my second year as a school counselor. I have worked with children for over twenty years in different fields. I have worked with children from newborns to adolescents on skills such as developmental stages to coping skills and many more. I enjoy helping students in a time when they need someone to listen to or need to ask for help.
I live in Grove with my husband of 15 years and our daughter, Haedyn. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love to write books and crafting. I love being a part of Grove Public Schools because I love being a part of a family that believes the students are important.
Thank you Mrs. Clark for your work to provide a safe space for our students at Grove High School! #ridgerunnernation #beachampion #childreneducationcommunity
