WELLS PRESS
October 2022 -- Wells Four-Seven -- Catoosa, Oklahoma
First school assemblies give students much to cheer about
Wells' first assemblies of this school year encouraged students to honor and cheer for the best among their peers. Wells held separate assemblies Sept. 29 for fourth/fifth grades earlier in the day, and for sixth/seventh at the end of the day.
Both assemblies gave students multiple opportunities for cheer for each other, with special attention shown to August and September students-of-the-month for each grade.
"Last year we didn’t do any pep rally type of assemblies that were meant to be fun,” said sixth grade language arts teacher Megan Porter, who leads Wells' culture committee, and who organized much of the program for six/seven. “This year we are trying to do more of that.”
Both assemblies honored one boy and one girl from each grade, nominated and selected by teachers, who best exemplify the virtues of courage (eight students) and responsibility (eight other students). The six/seven assembly also recognized teams from fall sports football, softball and volleyball, and featured part of the Catoosa High School drum line and eighth grade cheerleaders.
In honor of Veterans Day, the November assemblies will honor military veterans.
[Staff reporters Courtney Slavens and Dailynn Wilson contributed to this article.]
Marvel Monday
Snooze-day Tuesday (fourth grade edition)
Snooze-day Tuesday (seventh grade edition)
Wisdom Wednesday
Throwback Thursday (seventh grade edition)
Throwback Thursday (grown-up edition)
Wells Spirit Week '22 lets everyone show off school spirit
by Alexis Xiong
Spirit Week, held Sept. 19-23 is a fun week when students and staff get to dress up for different themes on different days.
The first theme was Marvel Monday. Marvel is a series of movies by an American media company regarded as one of the “big two” publishers in the comics industry. On Marvel Monday, students and staff had a chance to wear any Marvel-related item or clothing.
Many students and staff for all four grades got their picture taken throughout the week for the yearbook Spirit Week page. (Click the button below to secure your Wells Four-Seven 2023 yearbook.)
The second theme was Snooze-day Tuesday: People came to school in their pajamas. The third theme was Wisdom Wednesday: Participants wore their grandparents' clothes (or somebody's grandparents).
The fourth theme was Throw-It-Back Thursday: wearing clothes from old trends. The last theme was Football Friday. Everyone could wear pink to the Catoosa Homecoming football game.
Wells Principal Mark McVay, with help from staff awarded points each day to the grade that had the most participation. Seventh grade earned two points, sixth grade had one, and fifth grade had two. Fifth grade won because they had more people online during virtual Friday. All of the fifth graders won ring pops.
The first spirit week started in 1952 at Palo Alto High School. It was originally called Friendship week, and it was made because the teachers thought the students needed a mid-winter boost to get them through the bleak months.
Spirit Week is usually during or before the school homecoming, as Catoosa did, but some schools have it at other times.
[Eva Ortiz and Karley Reich contributed to this article.]
Wells portrait day is Thursday, Oct. 13
Wells sixth grader is brother to the queen
by Trinady Olden and Lily Ray
Catoosa High School held its annual fall homecoming ceremony at the Sept. 23 varsity football game. The ceremony honored senior softball player Lacy Stark as softball homecoming queen. Lacy’s brother Jarrett Gruschin, a sixth grader at Wells Middle School, was so proud of his sister that he was happy to tell people at school how he felt.
“It felt really great that she won softball queen,” he said super excited. “I love that she won it. I was very happy when she told me,” he said like a proud brother.
Even days before the ceremony, Gruschin said he was looking forward to it.
“I think it’s good that she’s going to homecoming,” Jarret said at the time. He also approved of his sister’s escort. “He’s nice,” Gruschin said.
“I would help her do her hair and makeup, he said earlier in the week. “It’s going to go good.”
Considering that his sister was named queen, it did go well.
Jr. high cheerleaders work to inspire football players
by Summer Furrey and Ayden Burns
This season has been a very one for football, and a big inspiration has been the cheer team. The cheer team's crazy support has been great and the football team needs it, according to the cheer coach. When a team is losing, the cheer team supports them by pumping them up.
“I think they have done great," said middle school cheer coach Shawnee Hodge. "We actually have some squad members who have never cheered before, and they do full stunts and layouts and their whole half time routine. I like watching kids that think it's impossible, but then end up doing it. It's very fun to watch, and I think it's a big support because we have kids who come out to cheer for our cheerleaders. I also love when they hype the crowd up."
“I pay attention and can learn things easily," said seventh grader Natalia Hodge. "I started when I was in kindergarten because I wanted to, and my parents thought it would be fun to try.
“ I don't know if we are effective, but I think we need to be louder," Natalia Hodge said.
''I'd say I'm a good cheerleader, but the only way to get better is practice,” said seventh grader Adalyn Johnson. “I like when people aren't trying and I cheer them up.
Cheerleading is a very important part of Catoosa, said eighth grade cheerleader Calee Hill. It not only inspires the team, but encourages them to try, she said.
Football injuries, ineligibility prompt 7th grade promotions
by Brynlee Benton and Laklyn Hale
Seventh grade football players have been playing up to the eighth grade football team because a lot of the eighth graders have been ineligible or have had injuries.
“We've had some injuries," eighth grade coach Sal Guerrero said. "I think it's a good opportunity for them (the seventh graders) to get more reps and have some older competition. I think it'll be good for them. I think it's going really well as of right now.”
“It was at the beginning of the year, but there's about three (ineligible people) now,” said eighth grade player Gunner Allison. “All you gotta do is turn your work in, and that's all.”
“I think it's great them getting to play up and getting experience," Allison added. "Tyler Steele did great last night."
“It's okay -- Tyler did good. I liked him,’’ eighth grade player Cole Kinsey said.
“I think they hate us,” seventh grade player Nick Stevens said about his eighth grade teammates. “We don't cooperate (in hating them back). I'm cool with some of them.”
“We work okay together because we practice together a little bit, but not much,” said seventh grader Brysen Jimenez.
“I think they're not going to win another game all season if they keep on having bad grades,’’ said seventh grader Richard Pouncil.
‘’Both groups' numbers are low, so we had a couple stay out in case there were any more injuries," seventh grade coach Chris Henderson said. "One kid broke his foot, and we had some concussions early on, so we had (seventh grade players) stay out as extra subs in case anyone else got hurt.’’
Jr. high volleyball tries to stay positive during tough season
by Sulayma Madrigal and Arianna White
The eighth and seventh grade volleyball team got off to a bad start this season; they haven’t won a single game.
As the volleyball season began, players, coaches and fans were confident they were going to win, but they didn’t. Some of the players said they are hopefully going to win at least one game before the season ends.
Coach Konner Johnston said the players still are learning “all areas of volleyball -- passing, setting, serving, hitting -- even communication: knowing who's going to get the ball, who's going to be vocal."
He added that players' frustration with their play also has each player learning "just staying positive with themselves, even when you make a mistake -- just knowing you're going to have another play to make up for it.”
The players acknowledge that it's been a learning process. “In the beginning of the season, we weren't all that good, but we have been progressing very well," said seventh grader Katie Pruett. "I feel like I can improve on being a better sportsman. I'm kinda competitive.”
“It's a little bit harder because (the competition is) older and stronger,” said seventh grader Avery Guymon. “Some girls might quit. We can practice more because practicing will make us better. We can practice hitting, setting and passing the ball more than usual.”
“The difference between us and our opponents is that we’re playing up this year with our eighth grade girls," Coach Johnston said. "We actually just took most of our seventh graders, and we’ve had to split them up to play as eighth grade. That experience goes a long way."
Catoosa Fine Arts Fall Festival coming Friday, Oct. 14
See award-winning Catoosa Public Schools vocal ensembles, and watch Catoosa student theatre performances.
Plus enjoy food, games and competitions -- all to benefit fine arts programs within the district.
Catoosa Public Schools will host an evening of family fun for the entire Catoosa community Friday, Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m.
Activities include
- football
- carnival games & crafts
- corn-hole
- dodgeball
- karaoke
- volleyball
- mad-lib theatre
Admission is $1, or one canned good. Get in on any activity with a $1 ticket, available for purchase at the event.
Don't miss this one-of-a-kind community event.
Catoosa lifers look forward to Hometown Halloween Oct. 31
by Jaidyn Swarer and Riley Miller
A favorite community event for Catoosa teachers and students is Hometown Halloween. This year Hometown halloween will be on Cherokee Street the evening of Oct. 31. Wells teachers and students who have lived in Catoosa most or all of their lives eagerly talk about what they like about Hometown Halloween.
“I think it's cool watching all the kids, and watching the middle school students take candies from other students," said social studies teacher Rick Alexander. "I enjoy teasing the girls in class because I get to see you girls flirt with all the boys. When we go to Hometown Halloween, I bring my grandson with me.”
“I think it's a fun experience for the community," said fourth grade teacher Ashton Sparks. "My favorite part is the costume contest; I think it's fun to see all the different costumes. My family goes every year. My step dad is the city manager, so he has to help run it, and I see a lot of my aunts, uncles, and cousins.”
“Oh I love Hometown Halloween. I go every year," said science teacher Shawnee Hodge. "We love the costume contest -- all three of my kids have been first or second ever since they were like, four, because I like winning. I love costumes and dressing up; I make all their costumes. My mom goes every year with my dad. When he was still here, he went every year with us and I usually have my best friend, her husband and their daughter come with us, and they do the costume contest.”
“I think Hometown Halloween is a pretty cool thing, especially when the whole town comes together," said seventh grader Avery Tiffany. "Hanging out with my friends and seeing everyone together is my favorite. It's fun to hang out and goof around. Friends and family go with me. I usually find some people along the way, and every once in and a while my mom will look up and check on us.”
“I think it’s a lot of fun to go to Hometown halloween," said seventh grader Riley Wilson. "My favorite part is finding new friends and having fun with them. I like it because we always do dumb things together."
“I think Hometown Halloween is great for families and it's a lot of fun," math teacher Kim Dillard said. "My favorite part is us as a community spending time together for a positive atmosphere. I also like watching the kids have fun.”
Wells kids, moms give advice for a safe Halloween
by Yecica Vasquez and Paola Nunez
Halloween can be dangerous so it's important to keep an eye on your child. Here are some safety tips from three students and two teachers to keep your child safe!
“If I saw a scary or suspicious person, I would run to my mom and tell her, ” said
seventh grader Antonio Arce, “To keep someone else safe on Halloween, they should tell a parent where they’re going just in case and should have their location turned on their phone.”
Fourth and fifth grade teacher Canzada Rogers, who is a mother of five said she walks around with her kids on Halloween night. “I watch them as they go to people’s homes to get candy. I make sure they don't go inside people's homes, and before they eat it I try their candy.”
“How I would keep myself and others safe is to always check your candy with an adult before eating it,'' said seventh grader Keyla Banda,” because it might have drugs or something sharp.”
Science teacher Shawnee Hodge is a mother of three. “I go with them anywhere they go, but on Halloween we're always at Hometown Halloween. We go back to our neighborhood and it's usually pretty late. They go to a couple of houses, but it's people that we know.”
“I think Halloween should be in the daytime instead of night,” said seventh grader Aidyn Mendoza. “Kids should go trick-or-treating during the daytime and teens go night-ish.”
Remember to keep an eye on your kids and have a fun Halloween!
Inquiries to kmcanany@catoosa.k12.ok.us