News

A letter from Principal Cross.

Peary Elementary teachers share a video to celebrate the current 6th graders move to middle school.

We recently received notice that SchoolWay will be retired as of July 1, 2019, so our schools will no longer be able to use it. Because of this, we are transitioning to SchoolMessenger.

Peary Elementary school is on the move. Tucked away inside a neighborhood on the city’s east side, the school has seen a dramatic increase in academics, attendance, and behavior. The staff and leadership of the school believe the main reason is the family atmosphere they strive to maintain in the building. “We’re the polar bear family,” explains Principal Tessa Cross. “We’re a family, it’s not ‘you’re the students, I’m the principal,’ we’re a family, I’m your momma bear and that’s seriously what we talk about. I’m momma bear.”

There is an ongoing nationwide conversation occurring around the use of mascots with Native American imagery and terms. From school districts to universities to professional sports teams there is active engagement to review the use of these mascots and to understand the concerns regarding cultural appropriation and the impacts of Native American mascots on our youth. Based on our commitment to Equity as a core value and along with the Board of Education and encouragement from our Indian Education Parent Committee we have opened this conversation with our own community.

This morning, Tulsa Public Schools announced Marlon Houston as the district’s new assistant athletics director. Houston previously served as East Central Junior High School’s athletic director and dean of students.

On Monday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 12, Tulsa Public Schools will serve all Tulsa children ages 18 and under several days’ worth of snacks and dinner meals free of charge to provide meals for the days that classes are not in session for fall break. The district will not serve grab-and-go meals starting Wednesday, October 13 to Friday, October 15. Families can pick up one snack and one dinner meal on Monday October 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and six days’ worth of snacks and dinner meals on Tuesday, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families who bring their child to meal pick-up will not need to show identification.