Howe Public Schools

Meet Our New Staff . . . Please help us WELCOME Mrs. Debbie Johnston, 5th Grade Teacher! Hello! I am Debbie Johnston, and I am about to begin my 31st year in education! I have experiences in both Oklahoma and Arkansas and have worked as a classroom teacher, elementary specialist, as well as an elementary asst. principal and principal. I am excited to be joining Howe Public Schools as a 5th grade teacher! I am married, have two grown sons, three granddaughters,and a diva dog named Zoey. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, working in my garden, completing DIY projects, learning new things, and ZUMBA!! #HPSLions #LionStrong

Meet Our New Staff . . . Please help us WELCOME Mrs. Jennifer Cox, Elem Behavioral Counselor I have been in the mental health field for the last thirteen years. I started out as a Case Manager for a Mental Health Outpatient Center and then went back to school to obtain my Masters in Human Relations with the Licensed Professional Counselor emphasis. After receiving my degree and counseling license I became a Clinical Director/LPC at a Mental Health Outpatient Center. My husband, Bobby and I are both Howe graduates and have been married for seventeen years. We have three children; Aniston, Kinsler, and Magnolia. I enjoy reading, baking, Starbucks, and going to the beach. I am excited to join Howe Schools this year serving as the Elementary Behavioral Counselor. #HPSLions #LionStrong

Attention JOM Students: (Cherokee Nation students only)The Respond, Recover and Rebuild initiative was developed to combat the pandemic affecting Cherokee citizens around the world. Cherokee Nation provides these educational assistance funds for COVID-19 impacted families and students. All resources are to be used to provide technology or clothing resources for Cherokee Nation students. Please review the eligibility requirements listed below BEFORE proceeding to the next step. Visit https://bit.ly/howejomcherokeenation for more information. Application Deadline: August 7, 2020 before 11:59pm CST Eligibility Requirements Each child may only be reported by one applicant and must be the custodial parent or guardian of the child. Educational Assistance Program Citizenship: Must be Cherokee citizens on or before July 13, 2020 Residency: NO residency requirement Age: Children between ages of five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age on or between the dates of July 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Enrollment: Concurrent enrollment scholarship student applicants will be automatically enrolled for the $750 Educational Technology program, and no additional processing is necessary. If a concurrent enrollment student has not applied for the Concurrent Enrollment scholarship, the he/she should apply using this application. School Clothes Program Citizenship: Must be Cherokee citizens on or before July 13, 2020 Residency: Must live within the Cherokee Nation jurisdiction. Age: Children between ages of five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age on or between the dates of July 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Existing Applications: Any students previously submitted for the School Clothing Voucher Program will be processed and paid from the existing program. Students that have previously submitted will be processed under the income guidelines established by Cherokee Nation Human Services. If you have any questions regarding eligibility or submission please call 918-453-5088 to be directed to Cherokee Nation staff assisting with questions. You may also contact staff at education@cherokee.org. Applications will be reviewed after August 7, 2020. Payment processing will be completed after all information is verified in the application. Payments may be made electronically, and valid email addresses will expedite processing. Any inconsistent or missing data may delay processing, and further action by Cherokee Nation staff may take additional time before processing and payment is complete.

Attention Howe JOM Students: Halito, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is currently assisting tribal members with COVID-19 Coronavirus relief funds. COVID-19 funds available to help school aged students include COVID-19 Technology Allowance ($400.00) and the COVID-19 Student Assistance Program ($300.00). Choctaw families who have negatively been impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency may benefit from these programs. Both programs are a one-time occurrence and will end on September 30th, 2020. The COVID-19 Technology Program is being offered to equip Choctaw children ages 5 to 18 with technology tools, such as laptops and internet access, that will better enable distance learning necessitated by COVID-19. Eligible applicants would receive a one-time $400.00 allowance per eligible Choctaw dependent. The $400.00 VISA® prepaid card can be used at most electronic stores and telecommunication providers across the nation. The COVID-19 Student Assistance Program is designed to assist Choctaw children ages 3 – 18 with school clothing, school supplies, and masks. The $300.00 VISA® prepaid card can be used at most clothing outlets across the nation. Additionally, the card can be used at music stores, bookstores, office and school supply stores, elementary and secondary schools, childcare providers, and social service organizations. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Fund programs will be offered based on available funding; applications are now open. For program information and qualification requirements, please visit www.choctawnation.com/covidrelief. Yakoke, James Parrish Executive Education Director Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma jparrish@choctawnation.com | (580)924-8280 Ext. 2250

Attention Howe JOM Students: This is for Muscogee (CREEK) Nation students ONLY. Here is a link to the FAQ: https://5il.co/j80l Deadline to submit is December 1, 2020. Virtual Learning Support Program This program is to provide a one-time educational support payment of $850.00 to individual Muscogee (Creek) Nation (MCN) students whose learning opportunities have been negatively impacted as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Eligibility: MCN citizen, and must be an enrolled student (PreK-12, Vocational-Technical, Post-Secondary, or Graduate school) for the Fall 2020 school term. Must be able to verify school enrollment. Students under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian to complete the application for them to receive the funding. **In order to ensure this application is submitted successfully, please utilize a desktop or laptop computer to fill out the application for it to be considered.** https://eforms.mcn-nsn.gov/lincdoc/doc/run/muscogeeh/ET_VirtualLearningApp For further information please reach out to Regina Keith at reginat@mcn-nsn.gov

Updated School Calendar: Please note modifications to the school calendar: Sept 4 & Oct 2 have been added as Virtual Days. Students will engage in virtual learning from home. The staff will be in Professional Development from 8 am - 12 noon with office hours for student assistance from 1 - 3 pm. You can view the UPDATED calendar at https://5il.co/j4vn #HPSLions

The 2019-20 Yearbooks have arrived. Mrs. Mitchell has scheduled a grab and go pickup for Thursday, Aug 6 from 3:30-5:30 pm in front of the HS bldg. If you ordered a yearbook, you may pick-up your order at this time. Enter the campus using Entrance C. If you have any questions, please contact cindymitchell@howeschools.org. #HPSLions

REMINDER: Next Tuesday, Aug 11 (5-8 pm) is our Back To School Night for ANY NEW students in grades PK-12th and transitional grade-level classes (PK, Kdg, 2nd, & 6th). We are asking our parents to wear masks when in the bldgs, and limit students' family attending the event to parents/guardians only if possible. Temperature checks will be done at all entries. If you have any questions/concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Elem or HS offices! Mr. Dyer, Elem Principal at 918.658.3508 or Mr. Shoup, HS Principal at 918.658.3368 or visit our website at www.howeschools.org Thank you! #HPSLions

Attn: Howe JOM students! We hope to have a date for the $30 Educational Supply Card (and academic incentive FY20) pick-up soon! Local Wal-Mart stores no longer allow large bulk purchasing of gift cards, so we are in the process of acquiring the cards through Wal-Mart Corporate Gift Card sales. NEW students will be required to submit a copy of their CDIB card (and birth certificate if card is in their parents name) to the HS or ELEM office for JOM Verification. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8 am - 3 pm. If you have questions or would like to submit your documents digitally, please contact Mrs. Tammy Parks at tammygparks@howeschools.org. Thank you!

Attention New Students and Parents: Just a reminder, you are invited to attend our open house night on campus scheduled for Tuesday, Aug 11 from 5 - 8 pm. Please bring the following documents for enrollment: 1) birth certificate 2) shot records 3) SS card 4) CDIB card If you have Qs, please contact the Elem or HS! Mr. Dyer, Elem Principal at 918.658.3508 or Mr. Shoup, HS Principal at 918.658.3368 Thank you! We look forward to meeting you! #HPSLions

We are excited to announce that Howe Public Schools was awarded 100 hotspots "to help ensure all students have connectivity to access online learning!" "State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today announced that 175 Oklahoma school districts have been awarded mobile internet access and devices through 50,000 Verizon Unlimited 4GE data plans and Jetpacks, following a competitive grant process." READ MORE: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKSDE/bulletins/2983b32 #HPSLions

Monday, Aug 3 is the last date for Grab and Go Meals. To help our food service staff prepare for accurate meal distribution, please COMPLETE THE MEAL REQUEST SURVEY at https://bit.ly/howemeals.

Reminder! Attention Parents: Online enrollment is now available for ALL students (both new and returning). Please complete online enrollment by Friday, July 24. High School https://bit.ly/howehsenroll2021 
and Elem https://bit.ly/howeelemenroll2021. The school calendar is linked at https://bit.ly/lionscalendar2021. The online enrollment forms have a message from the Principal and additional information pertaining to the 2020-21 school year. #HPSLions

Just a reminder . . . to help our food service staff prepare for accurate meal distribution each week, please COMPLETE THE MEAL REQUEST SURVEY EACH WEEK- bit.ly/howemeals.

Just a reminder . . . to help our food service staff prepare for accurate meal distribution each week, please COMPLETE THE MEAL REQUEST SURVEY EACH WEEK- bit.ly/howemeals.

Attention Parents: Online enrollment is now available for ALL students (both new and returning). Please complete online enrollment by Friday, July 24. High School https://bit.ly/howehsenroll2021 
and Elem https://bit.ly/howeelemenroll2021. The school calendar is linked at https://bit.ly/lionscalendar2021. The online enrollment forms have a message from the Principal and additional information pertaining to the 2020-21 school year. #HPSLions

Attention Parents: Online enrollment is now available for ALL students (both new and returning). Please complete online enrollment by Friday, July 24. High School bit.ly/howehsenroll2021 
and Elem bit.ly/howeelemenroll2021. The school calendar is linked at https://bit.ly/lionscalendar2021. The online enrollment forms have a message from the Principal and additional information pertaining to the 2020-21 school year. #HPSLions

Attn Howe Families: OKSDE has “partnered with Oklahoma Human Services to provide extra food benefits for families due to COVID-19. Under this new plan, current households receiving SNAP benefits *AND* non-SNAP households that include children eligible for free and reduced-priced meals, will automatically receive benefits without needing to complete an application. Benefits will be issued for the 44-day period that schools were closed at the end of the 2019-20 school year and are equivalent to the daily reimbursement for free breakfast and lunch. Benefits will be automatically issued in staggered allotments by August 30. Families already receiving SNAP will receive the benefits on their cards. Non-SNAP families will be issued cards, which they will receive in the mail along with instructions on pinning the card, how to decline the benefit or return the card. “We appreciate this partnership to reach children and families who are economically impacted most because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children must have their basic needs met to be ready to learn, and many Oklahoma families rely on free or reduced-priced school meals when schools are open. We’re grateful that OKDHS is a strong ally in making sure our children have every opportunity for high-quality nutrition during this unprecedented time.” - State Supt. Joy Hofmeister” Learn more: http://www.okdhs.org/library/news/rel/Pages/comm07072020.aspx

We have been averaging around 150 grab-and-go meals each Monday . . . To help our food service staff prepare for accurate meal distribution each week, please COMPLETE THE MEAL REQUEST SURVEY EACH WEEK- bit.ly/howemeals.

Attention Parents: 2020-21 Online enrollment for all grade levels will be posted soon. #HPSLions