WELLS PRESS
March 2023 -- Wells Four-Seven -- Catoosa, Oklahoma
Wells students, staff preparing for state testing
by Alexis Xiong
State testing begins at Wells April 17, and lots of students may not be prepared yet. So teachers are trying their best to help students review and prepare for the tests.
“Everything we do over the course of the entire school year is preparation for state testing,” said language arts teacher Kirk McAnany.
“I like to get a lot of rest first. That's what I do to prepare myself,” said Wells counselor Luanne Guerrero. “I start meeting with the teachers to see what their needs are, what's best for students, and how we need to divi-up the test. (We) prepare the students, what time we need to test, how many tests we need to do – things like that."
Mrs. Guerrero added that, as testing days get closer, she communicates testing plans to teachers, and then teachers communicate that to their classes.
Some students have mixed opinions about state testing. “I don’t wanna do it. It’s not gonna affect me in the future, (but) I’ll be fine,” said seventh grader JaneLynn Rodela.
For grades four through seven, state testing will occur over a two-week period. Most testing will happen in the mornings, and students will be separated into classrooms by grade level to take the tests.
“It's kind of an all-year-long adventure, so we start at day one preparing concepts that we need,” said math teacher Kristin Applegate. “And as we get closer, we start reviewing the things that we learned earlier since September, and review and keep following the content all year long.”
Some students are really chill about the test. “It’s good. Read through it,” said sixth grader Alan Crittenden. “Just don’t fail.”
Wells seventh grade musicians among state solo honorees
Catoosa band musicians performed solos for contest judges March 4 at Claremore High School, and 13 earned superior ratings. Five of those students -- Clarisa Trigueros, Summer Furrey, Giovani Escareno-Arellanes, Cheyenne Fry and Jennifer De La Cruz -- are Wells seventh graders.
Catoosa bands compete in a District Solo Contest at this time each year. In addition to the superior ratings, five other students from Catoosa High School earned excellent ratings. Six Catoosa High School musicians advanced to state solo competition, which will be held in April at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Checking in on Wells' west-side occupants
by Riley Miller and Summer Furrey
Since moving into Wells Middle School at the beginning of the school year in 2022, fourth and fifth grade students and teachers alike report having a good start at their new school life.
“I like making new friends," said fourth grader Andersyn Tryney. "I like how I'm doing new things in math.”
With the fourth and fifth graders coming to Wells from the former Cherokee Elementary School while the new one is under construction, teachers say it has been a positive experience. “We have made changes, and we roll with the punches, but it has been so fun beginning here,” said fifth grade teacher Jamie Pursley.
All the grades have made adjustments "We have to be mindful about the younger kids coming from lunch and outside as we go," said science teacher Bryan Andrew. "We leave a minute early.”
Some kids said they would prefer the entire school rather than half. “I would prefer the entire school so I wouldn't be packed tight with the other kids.” said sixth grader Axtyn Kurosky.
By the fall of 2024 when the new Cherokee Elementary opens, Kurosky will get his wish.
Jr. high track team preparing for its first meet
by Brynlee Benton
As the track season starts, some of the athletes have noticed they need to work out and practice harder.
“I grab weights and exercise my feet and exercise my legs to get better and to get ready for track,” said seventh grader Trinady Olden.
“The only thing I do to practice is to run,” says seventh grader Richard Pouncil.
So with all the track athletes practicing in multiple ways, some say that their first meet will go well, but some other athletes are less confident. Their coach seems to agree with the confident ones.
“I think it'll be good; we have some athletes,” said Head Coach Konner Johnston, "so I think we can compete. We aren't going to do 6A; we are going to do 4A, so we should do well.”
Catoosa jr. high boys soccer shuts out multiple opponents
by Yecica Vasquez and Courtney Slavens
Catoosa’s junior high boys soccer team expects to be competitive and intends to win, Head Coach Nathan Fultz said, but the players say they don’t just play to win. Some say they play because they enjoy it.
The team includes mostly sixth and seventh graders, plus three eighth graders from Catoosa High School. The team earned a 3-0 win in its first match Feb. 16 against Oolagah, plus other dominant performances in a 4-0 win against Claremore Sequoia and a 7-0 win against Verdigris.
"I enjoy playing soccer because it's a part of my culture," said sixth grader Cristian DeLeon. Several members of the team have played for years, and they say they appreciate getting to play.
Coach Fultz expresses confidence in his team’s performance this season, but continues pushing players to their potential. "I believe they'll be fairly solid; they just need to work hard and play their best," he said.
Jr. high girls soccer features good mix of players, coach says
by Rylin Thornton and Jaidyn Swarer
Catoosa jr. high girls soccer Head Coach Shawnee Hodge went into her team’s Feb. 28 home match against Verdigris saying she felt good about the match that evening, adding that Verdigris would give her team good competition.
Coach Hodge also said she feels good about the season so far. “We have a lot of girls, some who have a ton of experience, and some who have never played before,” she said, adding that her team has lots of chemistry and plays well together.
The Indians tied Verdigris 3-3.
Defender Alison Bailey said the team needs a little more practice, but they are improving. She said she is excited about the coming season.
Defender Riley Wilson said she plays soccer because she has played since she was little and that she loves playing soccer.
Forward Katie Pruett said she feels like the 2023 jr. high soccer team is going to have a great season. “My teammates are very enthusiastic and the team is really good; we communicate really well and we don’t give up,” Pruett said.
Defender Brooklynn Scott said her coach and teammates are very supportive and help her to be a better player. Scott said she started to play soccer because her dad made her play at first, but then she began to love the sport and continue to play.
'E-sports' starts, though with a possibly inaccurate name
by Brynlee Benton
Some know about soccer, some know about track, but what about e-sports? Whether e-sports is a “sport,” some have mixed feelings.
“I wouldn't classify it as a sport like softball or track, but it's more a hobby,” said sixth grader Izzi Garrigus.
It's where multiple kids who are gamers come together and sit on a couch and play video games. “We usually go in and have announcements, and then sit down and play video games. We take turns and stuff,” said seventh grader Maddox Welch.
E-sports just started Its season in February. “It's not fun” said seventh grader Drake Cooper, with no explanation when asked.
“I like it a lot. It”s really cool, and I like gaming, so it's really fun for me,” said seventh grader Hayden Smith.
“Practice” isn’t like it is with actual sports, though. “I practice by playing games on my laptop, so I know how to work the controls,” Garrigus said.
Outside school hours, of course.
“It's really popular with the kids, so I'm happy kids are volunteering their time to a club,” says head principal Mark McVay.
St. Patrick celebrated despite scant knowledge of the man
by Ayden Burns and Lily Ray
People at Wells Middle School have bunches of ways they celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Some people consider themselves leprechauns, such as sixth grader Jarret Gruschin. “I always got to get that pot of gold,” he said. “I think it's about leprechauns and gold and green,” he added.
“I wear green and hang out with my family,” seventh grader Sydnee McClure said when asked how she celebrates. “I honestly have no clue what Saint Patrick's Day is about.”
“I celebrate St. Patrick's Day by doing nothing,” seventh grader Joel Moren said, but acknowledged "I look like a leprechaun.”
“I don’t really consider myself as a leprechaun," said seventh grader Timmy White. "I’m like only 5 percent Irish because my great great grandmother is Irish,” adding that all he knows about St. Patrick's Day is that it "is about this guy named St. Patrick, and he died a lot of years ago.”
St. Patrick was a fifth century Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. It is believed he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century into a wealthy family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland.
Patrick spent six years in Ireland working as a shepherd and that during this time he found God. Patrick eventually made his way home, went on to become a priest, and later returned to Ireland. According to tradition, Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, converting a pagan society.
Inquiries to kmcanany@catoosa.k12.ok.us