WELLS PRESS

A new deputy in town: Wells Assistant Principal Michael Douglas meets with second period office aids Reagan Gable and Claire Rawls. [Photo by Brianna Gonzalez]

by Brianna Gonzalez

Wells Four-Seven has started the 2024-25 school year with both a new assistant principal and dean of students.

Assistant Principal Michael Douglas has come to Catoosa from Union Public Schools where he taught social studies at the Union Sixth and Seventh Grade Center. Wells Dean of Students Chase Stookey came to Catoosa from Inola Public Schools.

“I liked building relationships with my students, the teachers, and the families,” said Mr. Douglas about this time as a teacher. “When you are the assistant principal and principal, you get to do all those things that I like with everyone.”

“I just like serving people," Mr. Douglas said, talking about an assistant principal he admired at his former school. "When (students) saw her walking the halls, they’d be like, ‘I’ll take my hood off and I am taking my headphones out, and I'm going to be on my best behavior.’ So, she kind of had that perception from the students. But really, when you were in her office or seeing her work with the students and the families, you could see she really loved them and wanted to help them. She was probably my favorite boss."

This is Mr. Stookey's first year as an administrator, and he has joined Catoosa High School's football coaching staff to work with the team's offense. He said he has aspirations in his career as an administrator someday to become a principal or assistant.

"I thought, 'What better way to start the climb up,'" Mr. Stookey said about taking the dean job at Wells. "I'm only a week into it, and it's been good so far. Some people will ask you why you do things: you got to love what you do. And one of my big things is to help students become better."

New, friendly faces: Mary Purvis, left, and Haley Thomas have joined the Wells faculty, both teaching fifth grade English language arts and social studies. [Photo by Brianna Gable]

Less than a month into their tenure with Catoosa, fifth grade English language arts and social studies teachers Mary Purvis and Haley Thomas say they already have noticed their new school's hospitality and professionalism.

"I like it so far. It's more of a family feel -- a friendly environment," Ms. Thomas said. "I love my fifth-grade team and building a bond with my team."

"I like it a lot," Ms. Purvis said. "The kids are fun, and the admin is great. "No school on Fridays and the friendship between everyone is really nice."

Teacher, coach, tech support: Social studies and computer tech teacher Mark Wheeland helps set up sixth grader Triton Thompson on a Chromebook. [Photo by Kynadi Carl]

by Tony Ya and Kynadi Carl

Wells Middle School welcomes three new sixth and seventh grade teachers for this school year.

“I teach two hours of outdoor education for middle school and high school, and coach high school softball,” said Todd Henshaw. “This is my 30th year teaching, and I taught drivers ed for 20 years. I also taught high school PE, and elementary PE. Before I came to Catoosa, I was the head boys golf coach at Bixby High School.”

“I started coaching and teaching because it was my passion,” said Mark Wheeland. “I teach computers and geography for middle school, and I used to teach (Catoosa) high school PE. Also, I coach football and track for high school.”

“I wanted to start teaching because I wanted to change kids' lives to make them better,” said M’Kayla Hillman, a new PE teacher. “I teach middle school PE and coach high school softball and basketball." Ms. Hillman came to Catoosa from Inola where she was a special education teacher.

Children at work: Ms. Oakes' fourth grade students concentrate on an assignment.

[Photo by Yanely Olvera]

by Yanely Olvera and Alondra Gallegos

The new fourth graders have been moved to Wells Middle School, leaving Helen Paul Learning Center, and they say they have positive feelings about being at Wells.

“I'm happy about being in Wells since the hallways are more open,” said fourth grader Alexa Rosart.

"Wells is better because the bathrooms don’t stink," added fourth grader Rex Richerson.

Fourth grade teachers say they see plenty of room for growth among the school's youngest students. “They are messy, and they don't like to clean up," observed fourth grade teacher Fonda Rankin. "It’s been off once in a while, but pretty good. We will just learn our ways.”

These fourth graders will move to the new Cherokee Elementary School for fifth grade when construction is completed on a new wing of classrooms, then return to Wells for sixth grade.

Helping hand in the classroom: Paraprofessional Gina Alderman assists sixth graders in one of Mr. Alexander's geography classes. [Photo by James Alderman]

by James Alderman and Jacob Bearbow

Wells Four-Seven paraprofessional Gina Alderman, now in her third year at Wells, is studying to be a teacher.

“I've wanted to help kids ever since I was a kid,” Mrs. Alderman said, “because my teacher made such a positive impact on my life.”

It was her ninth grade English teacher who inspired her, she said. “She always believed in me. I doubted myself a lot, and she never let me put myself down.

“I want to teach middle school because it’s fun, and I love working with (the) guys in E-sports.

“I’m hoping to teach STEM,” Mrs. Alderman said. “I love engineering and robotics, and I was inspired by being an E-sports coach."

“I don’t really have a whole lot of worries, but it is scary with something new. But other than that, I don’t really have a whole lot of worries – just getting through it to get to that point.”

Law and order: Mrs. Zugelder's fifth grade class lines up outside its classroom in the same way students do from Wells' 11 other fourth and fifth grade classes. This is not how it's done on the other side of the building. [Photo by Zyana Hosey]

Although Well Four-Seven's hallways are in the same building, it might not seem that way when moving from the far west end of the building to the east end.

That's because fourth and fifth graders on the west end move quietly and in straight lines. But sixth and seventh graders between classes on the east end are not quiet and move in no formation at all.

"I don't know how I feel about the difference in the hallway rules from last year," said sixth grader Laney Coulston. "I do know we should be respectful, walk to our classes and not run," adding that she gets annoyed because everyone walks so slowly, which can make for not enough time between classes.

For fourth graders, hallway culture hasn't changed noticeably from that at Helen Paul. "Fourth graders are supposed to be good, respectful and quiet in the hallways, just like last year,” said fourth grader Alexa Cozart. She said she was nervous about switching classes at first, but now she said it’s not that bad.

"We feel good about the hallway rules at Wells Middle School,” said fifth grader Easton Sakewicz who also said he likes switching classes.

Not everyone agrees. "The hallway rules (stink)," said fourth grader Kanaan Fox, "because we can’t talk to our friends."

”It is okay to talk in the hallways," said fifth grader Amelia Thomas. "Let's hope we don’t get caught.”

Young thespians: Middle school theatre students take parts in an acting exercise.

[Photo by Brianna Gonzalez]

by Sadie Pierce

Catoosa has a new theatre director, Cherri Rehake, who’s already making plans for the 2024-25 school year.

“I am trying to teach kids how to use their imagination, be creative, and think for themselves,” Ms. Rehake said.

She shows great joy in teaching drama and tries to model that attitude. “The students -- the ones that really want to come in here -- are paying attention and learning things," she said.

Ms. Rehake said she has big plans for later in this school year. “We’re hoping to do a 1940’s radio program either around Christmas or spring."

Get psyched: Catoosa's seventh grade volleyball team huddles up before hosting a match against Verdigris Aug. 27. [Photo by Alondra Gallegos]

by Araya Cross and Addison Smith

The Catoosa seventh grade volleyball season has begun, and the players say they are having fun and like working with their coaches despite the early season struggles.

“I'm starting to really love volleyball,” said Coach Bryan Andrew. “When I got into it, I did not know a whole bunch about the games and didn't know if I would be able to teach the girls anything. But I'm getting comfortable, and I'm starting to love it.”

The players say that Head Coach Brandi Wilsey is nice and motivates them to try their best. “I like her, and she pushes us to do better,” said sixth grader Sadie Goins, a first-year player.

Volleyball “is a competitive sport; I like to be competitive and to be on the team,” said seventh grader Bentlea Richison, a three-year volleyball veteran.

Big cut: Catoosa junior high softball hosted Jay on Aug. 19. [Photo by Jaydyn Woodruff]

by Jaydyn Woodruff

Junior high softball season started even before the first day of school, and Catoosa’s junior high team has struggled in the early going with an 0-6 start, but the players are having fun anyway.

“I like all of what we do in softball,” said seventh grader Emma Monk.

“All of it is fun, and I like left field,” added seventh grader Annalise Prickett.

“I expect to compete every single game; every pitch,” said Head Coach Sklyer Ellis. “We have to get our pitcher on the mound, which is Zyana (Hosey). We should be able to hang out with everybody we see.”

Coach Ellis also said he chose to coach the middle school softball team because he has been Catoosa’s baseball head coach, and they had a need for junior high softball, and he wanted to see what they had, and so he took the job.

by Dakohtah Jordan and Analia Rosales-Avelar

Catoosa's seventh grade football team since before school started has been working hard for this upcoming season, their coaches say. The team has been practicing the new offense and defense, as well as new formations, for their first game on Sept. 4.

“There are new faces and new people on the team,” coach Mason Russ said. “I think this will be a great season.”

When football coach, Mark Wheeland, was in high school, he played football, basketball, baseball, and track, which led him to coach those sports now. Coach Russ played football, baseball, basketball, and track when he was in school. Coaches Russ and Wheeland both will coach track in the spring.

“I'm excited that football season is here, so I'm ready to improve and get better," said lineman Brycen Ward, who has been playing football for seven years. "My older brothers inspired me to play football just like they did.”

Linemen stand on the line of scrimmage at the beginning of each play. Ward said he thinks that center is the most difficult position "because you get run over most of the time."

Wells Press staff: James Alderman, Jacob Bearbow, Erin Brown, Kynadi Carl, Ariana Cozart, Araya Cross, Izabell Duran, Harlee Fox, Alondra Gallegos, Brianna Gonzales, Kenleigh Hanford-Plumlee, Zyana Hosey, Dakohtah Jordan, Yanely Olvera-Stephenson, Sadie Pierce, Analia Rosales-Avelar, Addison Smith, Jaydyn Woodruff, Tony Ya ... Send inquiries to kmcanany@catoosa.k12.ok.us