Meeting Today’s Challenges   

Chickasha Public school’s teachers face greater challenges teaching today’s students to dream of becoming tomorrow’s leaders. CPS, like every school district, is reeling from budget cuts , teacher layoffs and doing “more with less”.  Compounding that, over 80% of the CPS’s children are living at or below poverty levels. The conditions they live in and their day-to-day life experiences can have a significant effect on their education and achievement. Many teachers spend their own money on new educational programs, student supplies and other items for children in need. Too often a teacher has to be more focused on behavioral management then today’s curriculum. With your support the Chickasha Public School Foundation can stand by our teachers and support them in their work to engage and inspire our children to dream of a limitless future.

In response to the diverse needs of our students, your investment in CPSF supports our innovative programs such as:

• Grants to Teachers: Inspiring students through in innovative and creative programs with over $ 650,000 awarded in our 25 year history.
• Diamonds in the Rough: our award winning program, which inspires 5th grade girls to accomplish their dreams.
•  Challenge Day: an anti- bullying program that teachers 8th graders to be the change in their school.
•  Scholarships to Chickasha High School graduates.

 Depth and Breadth: Reaching every student

Inspiring a student through music:

For a child growing up in poverty, music can be the inspiration and the thread that keeps them in school. It can be the motivation to keep them from getting involved with drugs or to show up at school today, even when there is no parent making sure they get on the bus. It can be the difference between a future full of hope and possibilities or a future of struggles and failures. Research has demonstrated that children who participate in music programs have higher attendance and graduation rates. They score higher in reading, math and are more focused and disciplined.  CPSF believes in the power of music to inspire a child. Every year CPSF partners with USAO’s Davis Waldof music series to bring world renowned musicians to children in CPS.   This program could be the spark that inspires a student; this program could not happen with your support.

The Importance of Education and Opportunity

When we talk about public education, it's easy to get caught up in test scores, failing schools, classroom sizes, decaying buildings and seemingly intractable issues. While it is important to evaluate how we are teaching our children, we must never lose track of the intended result. Education is the deciding factor in giving children an opportunity and the inspiration to eventually live the lives they want.  Many of Chickasha’s children start school with a rich exposure to educational knowledge, however, many do not. It is up to our teachers to fill in the “gaps” for some, while enhancing the learning of those who have had more educational exposure prior to school. 

When you walk into various classrooms at Bill Wallace you are witnessing social skills, counting, and reading skills that have all been practiced at an activity station. As you look around the room you notice a group of children engaged in the home station.  The “mother” is rocking the baby to sleep while the “father” is cooking dinner. The “kids” are setting the table. You see children building houses with blocks or playing “fireman” in the dramatic play station. You see children being inspired. You can’t help but notice the impact a diverse and rich learning environment can have on learning. For small children, exposure to a variety of learning stations such as kitchen sets, grocery shopping, dramatic play activities and block counting activities are the “hands on” resources our teachers need to ensure each child has a solid foundation of knowledge to build on.  However, these activity stations, that are so important to increasing and enhancing a child’s knowledge base, are not part of school budget. As one teacher states ,“I constantly scour Goodwill and garage sales to find items to supplement and support this activity center and pay for them out of pocket.” Last year we gave thousands of dollars not only to teachers at Bill Wallace but teachers all over the district to buy age appropriate activity items to inspire students.  With hands on engaging supplemental activities that enrich and reinforce learning - education and opportunity are virtually synonymous with one another.  They are inseparable when determining the future of a child and a community.  I am asking you to make a donation to the CPSF, your gift is an investment into the future of not just a student, but the future of the Chickasha Community.

Grants To Teachers

Diamonds in the Rough

Scholarships

Challenge Day

 Thank you to Our Business Supporters:

 

 

 

 Grants to Teachers: CPSF provided seven CPS School locations and a multitude of teachers 25 grants totalling approximately $45, 000 in gifts for the 2012-2013 school year