SPS Families and Staff,

Hello all, Barry Fuxa, your friendly neighborhood PR & Communications Coordinator still filling in on our SPS updates.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit a couple of our in progress Capital Improvement (Bond) projects. I swung by our Operations and Educational Services Facility to check out Nutrition’s new offices, and freezer. The “Old Kicker” facility was acquired in 2012 and other than a few functional modifications here and there it has been largely untouched since that time. It was great to see Nutrition in a much improved space and with the great equipment they need to store and deliver nutritious meals to our students. Renovations to the spaces are being paid for with Bond money, but the freezer  which is separate from other SPS budgets. The new, super cool (pun intended) freezer, for instance, was entirely purchased with Nutrition funds.  Walking through the plastic flaps of that doorway into an 8 degree room immediately took me back to my many hours spent unloading Chick-fil-A deliveries long ago. Shout out to Morgan Arnold and all our staff that spend brisk moments in there maintaining the “first in, first out” rotation!

 

I also stuck my head into the space that Technology will soon occupy, but it was filled with a cleaning crew moving with dizzying efficiency as they finish preparing the space for Technology to relocate there from their current home in the last remaining piece of Cimarron Plaza, so I got out of their way. It’s looking great and is almost ready for Tech to take over.

It was also great to see the warehouse racking system and to learn how quickly and efficiently they can locate and get to what’s needed through an inventory system and scannable codes. It always makes me happy to see QR codes being used in functional ways.

Phase 1 (interior and office) of transportation is set to begin first of the year, with phase 2 (outside ) beginning shortly after that , with the goal of having transportation out there for th 25-26 school year.

Roofing projects aren’t as flashy or exciting as new spaces, but they are vital and important. We’re currently completing roofing and mechanical projects  at Richmond and the Junior High, with only minor tweaks still occurring. The current SHS campus roofing project, which includes the PAC, fieldhouse, wrestling room, and stadium is coming to a close. The bids for the mechanical components of the PAC and Fieldhouse will be awarded by the board at the December meeting this week. Also awarded at that meeting will be bids for Sangre Ridge and SMS roofing and mechanical projects, which are scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the ‘25-’26 school year. 

Completion of these projects will ensure that SPS has no roofing or roof mechanical equipment older than 2013 at any of our sites, except for the SHS building itself, Lincoln, and the Virtual Academy. These projects are funded by bond dollars, which, in addition to capital improvements to buildings, can also be used for textbooks, transportation vehicles, technology, extracurricular uniforms, instruments, and equipment—essentially bond dollars can be used for a significant portion of district expenses, with the exception of salaries.

Now as exciting as roofs are…  I want to share something with a little more oomph. I don’t want to jinx it, but…

We’re just a little over 600 days from the first day of school in the new SHS! Steel decking, prefabricated components, and precast panels are going into place and you can really start to get a feel for the scale of the new facility. Construction has begun at the north end, which has a large amount of steel in place. The large concrete section coming of to the west is the beginning of the gym/storm shelter.  When completed the new facility will have 68 instructional areas.

Steel beams are largely in place on the north wing.

 

Crews install structural components of the gym/storm shelter.

An exterior wall precast panel of the visual arts wing.

Groundwork on the cafeteria and family and consumer sciences classrooms means loads of drains and pipes.

A southerly panel room will house a lot of wiring.

This space will eventually be the student center.

I also had the opportunity to meet with the architect this week to review some interior graphics (gotta make sure we’ve got the Ss, Pioneers,  and blues and golds correct), see a rendered walkthrough of the spaces, and provide feedback on graphics. It’s really cool to see things that started as sketches and conversations with staff and students, turn into designs, and actually start to be realized as structures go up!

 

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“Well, I just thought that you’d be getting tired of the same old stuff.”
As we head into the last weeks of the year, it’s not uncommon for students to bring gifts for teachers and staff.  We want to make sure that every student and family knows a few things. First and foremost, there is certainly no expectation of gifts for anyone working in any capacity, and we definitely don’t want anyone feeling like they need to compete with others to give “better” gifts.

Ralphie presents his teacher with a bountiful fruit basket in A Christmas Story.

Now, if gift giving is your love language, we don’t want you to feel restricted either.  So if you’d like to send your teacher a gift this time of year (or maybe you want to send someone you know, say…  Star Wars Lego), please feel free.

Most importantly, we want to make sure that those who want to express themselves with gifts, but for whom the home budget doesn't allow extra gift purchases, know that gifts from the heart, be they kind words written or spoken, a drawing expressing the joy of being a student in a teacher’s classroom, or some other expression of appreciation are the gifts that really resonate with teachers. Look in nearly any teacher’s classroom drawers, and you’ll find notes and cards kept for many years that touched their hearts. If you choose to give gifts this time of year they don’t have to be elaborate to be the best gift ever.   

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“Count your blessings instead of sheep…”
A few recent PioneerProud moments!

• Froshmore Gold Team took the championship in social studies

• Coach Drue Brown was named to the 2024 class of American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 High School honorees

• All State Musicians

  • Choir

    • Kyeson Daffern - Mixed Choir

    • Hannah Garrison - Treble Choir

    • Aiden Ray - Mixed Choir alternate

  • Orchestra

    • Stephan Zhang- 1st Chair First Violin

    • Alex Kim- 2nd Chair Second Violin (6th rank violin overall)

    • Emmy Xiang- 5th Chair Second Violin 

    • Joshua Li- 6th Chair Second Violin

    • Nicole Xiang- 3rd Chair Viola

    • Kathy Liu- 1st Chair Cello

    • Noah Taylor- 5th Chair Cello

    • Aiden Kim- 13th Chair Cello

    • Olivia Lao-Alvarado- 1st Alternate Cello

    • Stephan is leading the All-State Orchestra as concertmaster for the second year in a row, and Seniors Nicole and Alex have earned the rare 3-year-All-State medallion!

  • Band

    • Jenna Christian, 1st chair Wind Symphony piccolo

    • Audrey Zhang, 1st chair Symphonic Band flute

    • Julius Cundiff - 3rd chair Symphonic Band flute

    • Bella Genevro - 2nd chair Wind Symphony oboe

    • Emilie Knapp - 2nd chair Symphonic Band oboe

    • Cooper Perkins - 1st chair Wind Symphony bassoon

    • Joel Villasenor - 4th chair Symphonic Band bassoon

    • Moustafa Soliman - 1st alternate bassoon

    • Van Ho - 6th chair Wind Symphony clarinet

    • Audrey Edgar - 12th chair Symphonic Band clarinet

    • Allison Hoback - 15th chair Symphonic Band clarinet

    • SanJaya Burton - 5th chair Symphonic Band bass clarinet

    • Gabe Cantu - 1st alternate alto saxophone

    • Wyatt McNickle - 1st chair Wind Symphony French horn

    • Ben Wick - 4th chair Orchestra French horn

    • Isaac Ingram - 3rd chair Symphonic Band trombone

    • Matthew Li - 8th chair Wind Symphony percussion

• Wrestling had a great weekend!  

  • SJHS Wrestlers brought home the Sand Springs Jr. High Tournament Championship. 

  • At the Walsh Ironman Tournament, Ironman Champion Dee Lockett, Finalist Nos Villasenor 2nd, and Ish Guerrero 4th lead the Pioneers to a 6th place finish. Aydan Thomas and Ethan Teague both finished in the top 12, and Stockton Allen in the top 16.

• Stillwater Robotics teams continue to dominate.

  • 7 of 8 SMS made the teamwork finals at the Bixby VEX IQ Tournament.

    • SMS Team 18721B won the judges award.

    • SMS Team 18721F won tournament champions and will go to state!

  • SJHS Robotics attended Rudolf’s Red Dirt Rumble Robotics Tournament in El Reno.

    • 74074E Eclipse & 74074B Brainstorm - Tournament Finalists

    • 74074A Paradox - Design Award

    • 74074V Oblivion - Judges Award

    • This means so far this season Eclipse, Brainstorm, Seismic, and Paradox are already qualified for the state tournament in March.

  • SHS Robotics also attended Rudolf’s tournament in El Reno.

    • 74074Y Bamboozled - Excellence Award

    • 74074Y Bamboozled - Robots Skills Champion

    • 74074R Revenant - Design Award

    • 74074X Nexus - Sportsmanship

    • 74074X Nexus - Amaze Award

    • 74074X Nexus & 74074Y Bamboozled - Tournament Champs

    • Bamboozled, Nexus, and Revenant are all qualified for the state tournament.

 

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Coming Up - Stillwaterschools.com/calendar

Mr. Gordon has asked for grace around this coming up section, and I will ask for that as well as this week is PACKED with activities. My apologies if I’ve missed anything. Of particular note…  Holiday concerts, of course, and one of the rare home meets on Thursday for swimming.

• Tuesday, Dec 10

  • HS - Basketball vs. Ponca City (JVG 3:30 / JVB 4:45 / Varsity Girls 6:00 / Varsity Boys 7:30)

  • Stillwater Board of Education Meeting

  • HS - Swim at Booker T Washington

  • SMS and SJHS Bands Holiday Concert 7pm

• Wednesday, Dec 11

  • Richmond Restaurant Night - Ted's Tacos Cantina

• Thursday, Dec 12

  • HS - Basketball Boys Varsity at CCS Tournament (Day 1/3)

  • HS - Basketball Girls Varsity at Norman Tournament (Day 1/3)

  • JH - Basketball 9th at Union Tournament - TBD (Day 1/3)

  • SHS Art Show 4-6pm

  • MS/JH - Basketball at Yukon (7th G 4:30 / 7th B 5:30 / 8th G 6:30 / 8th B 7:30)

  • HS - Swim vs. Moore/Westmoore/Southmoore/PC North

  • SJHS Drama Production - The Great American Talent Show 5:30pm

  • HS-JH Wrestling at Broken Arrow (JH 6:00 / HS 7:00)

  • SHS Band - Holiday Concert 7pm

• Friday, Dec 13

  • HS - Basketball Boys Varsity at CCS Tournament (Day 2/3)

  • HS - Basketball Girls Varsity at Norman Tournament (Day 2/3)

  • JH - Basketball 9th at Union Tournament - TBD (Day 2/3)

  • HS - OSDTDA Pom State (Day 1/3)

  • HS/JH - Wrestling Girls at Wrestle Like A Girl Tournament (Day 1/2)

  • JH - Basketball at Sand Springs Tournament (8th VB / 8th VG) (Day 1/2)

  • JH - Basketball at Deer Creek JV Festival (8th JVB / 8th JVG)

  • HS/JH - Wrestling vs. Bixby

  • Advanced Acting One Act Plays (7:30pm Black Box Theater)

• Saturday, Dec 14

  • HS - Basketball Boys Varsity at CCS Tournament (Day 3/3)

  • HS - Basketball Girls Varsity at Norman Tournament (Day 3/3)

  • JH - Basketball 9th at Union Tournament - TBD (Day 3/3)

  • HS - OSDTDA Pom State (Day 2/3)

  • HS/JH - Wrestling Girls at Wrestle Like A Girl Tournament (Day 2/2)

  • JH - Basketball at Sand Springs Tournament (8th VB / 8th VG) (Day 2/2)

  • SJHS Theatre's Jolly Jamboree 1-4pm

• Sunday, Dec 15

  • HS - OSDTDA Pom State (Day 3/3)

  • HS - Cheer Basketball Clinic

• Monday, Dec 16

  • MS/JH - Basketball vs. Mustang North (7th G 4:30 / 7th B 5:30 / 8th G 6:30 / 8th B 7:30)

  • JH - Basketball 9th vs. Edmond Santa Fe (9th G 5:30 / 9th B 6:45)

 

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Go Pioneers!

Barry Fuxa
PR & Communications Coordinator
Stillwater Public Schools