Glow Golf was a Glowing Success!

Thank you, Tahlequah, for joining us for another fun-filled night at the Tahlequah City Golf Course. Mesha Sanchez, Kevin Burns, and Luke Foster led the Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation to a successful Glow Golf event.


Congratulations to Jerry Cook's team who won the scramble this year. The team took home a Yeti cooler and tumblers courtesy of Dower Combs and Premier Consulting Partners. The tumblers each included a $50 gift certificate from Buffalo Wild Wings. Thank you to those businesses for their support.

Our long time supporter Document Imaging Solutions provided televisions as prizes again this year. They were for Skill Shots as well as a door prize. JD Carey took home the door prize.

Both wacky skill shots were won by the same man this year.  You probably want him on your team, next year. Congratulations, Nathan Limore!

Thanks to all of our teams: Ace Facilities, Armstrong Bank, BancFirst, Bill's Body Shop/ Locke Supply, C21 Wright Real Estate, JD Carey, Jerry Cook, DOE Bus Crew, First Flight, First State Bank, NEO Health, Northeastern Health System, Tahlequah Middle School, One Degree, American Fidelity. Check out our Facebook event page for the team pics.


We'd also like to thank Love's Bottling for providing the the non-alcoholic beverages, Walmart for supplying the food, and Mary's Liquor for supplying the adult beverages.

The evening would not have gone as smoothly without help from two organizations. The men of Lambda Chi Alpha from NSU served as caddies. THS S-Club ladies volunteered again with food, set up, registration, clean up and pumpkin decor.  If you know anyone associated with these organizations, please thank them. It truly has been a smoother event with their participation.

Also, our Friends of the Foundation and Partners make it possible for us to host events to raise money and ensure that all other donations go toward our cause and not overhead.  Please thank them when you have the opportunity.

Friends of the Foundation

American Fidelity

Celeste Looney Insurance

Century 21 Wright Real Estate

Downtown Family Dentistry

Green Country Cinema

Riverhawk Nutrition

TRA Photography

TPSF Partners

First Flight

Mary's Liquor

Hank and Jeannie Van Veen

Northeastern Health System

We'll see you next year!

Glow Golf is Thursday

Hey, Glow Golfers!

We look forward to seeing you Thursday. We have the following teams registered:

First Flight

ACE Facilities

JD Carey

Locke Supply, Inc.

BancFirst

Northeastern Health System

One Degree

Jerry Cook

Armstrong Bank

Century 21 Wright Real Estate

Childers Architecture

Arvest Bank

Bill’s Body Shop

DOE Bus Crew

First State Bank
Felts Shoes
Tahlequah Middle School
NEO Health

If you want a team, click here for the registration form and let us know. If you thought you were signed up and don't see your team's name, then please contact us on Facebook or at tpsfoundation at gmail dot com or call Mesha (918) 931-1799.

If you aren't able to make a team of 4 for the scramble, you may still participate with opportunities to win a large screen tv with our Dinner & 2 Skill Shots Bundle for $50, or try your hand at either or both of the skill shots which are unlimited purchases and only $10 per chance. Even non-golfers have a shot at winning.

Did we mention prizes? You could win a big-screen HD TV just by being present. Drawing will be at the end of the night. We are also giving away TVs to the winners of the putting and chipping contests. The winning team scores a Yeti cooler and 4 Yeti tumblers, each with $50 Buffalo Wild Wings gift cards.  Sweet prizes, dinner, drinks, night golf, fun with friends...

What are you waiting for?  It's "glowing" down this Thursday!

Extension on Grant Proposals

Dear teachers,

We announced at the Welcome Back session before school that we heard your requests and are giving the grants earlier this year so the deadline was moved to October 1. We sent emails, letters, blog posts and Facebook posts. We placed it on posters plastered around town and at each school site.

However, we left the old deadline on a very important place on our website. It was brought to our attention yesterday that at least one teacher thought the deadline was the old deadline and had been working very hard on a grant and would now miss the deadline.

Well, we can't have that.

We at TPSF are in this for the teachers and the students. I made a mistake by not ensuring every area had been changed to indicate the accurate date. I discussed with the officers and grant committee chairs and we all agree. We don't want our teachers to miss out on an opportunity that might be the one that makes the difference in a student's life. We are inclusive rather than exclusive.

So, we are extending the deadline by one week: October 8.

Yes, by all means, please try to get your grants in by October 1. Our grant committee has a big job every year. But if you had gone to the application page and been confused by seeing a different deadline, you have one more week: October 8. Also, if you had hoped to write a grant, but run out of time, here's your sign that you should do it now. Go and be awesome.

Good luck! Deadline will be officially cut off at midnight on October 8.

Click here for application.
Click here for rubric.
Click here to donate.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Brandi Barnett
TPSF president, 2017-2018

How can you be a superhero? Do something just like this.

Donation opportunities
Deadline September 15

$15,000 Partnership

• Glow Golf: 2 teams, glow golf materials, dinner
• Uncorked: 12 pairing tickets to Uncorked, 2 reserved tables,  and two bottles of wine
• Headliner recognition on all 2017-2018 school year digital, electronic, and print media after September 15
• Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation 2017-2018 partner sticker
• Recognition on Facebook cover photo throughout school year

$10,000 Partnership

• Glow Golf: 1 team, glow golf materials, dinner
• Uncorked: 6 pairing tickets to Uncorked, reserved table, and one bottle of wine
• Headliner recognition on all 2017-2018 school year digital, electronic, and print media after September 15
• Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation 2017-2018 partner sticker
• Recognition on Facebook cover photo throughout school year

$5000 Partnership

• Choose one:
• Glow Golf: 1 team, glow golf materials, dinner
• Uncorked: 6 pairing tickets to Uncorked and reserved table
• Headliner recognition on all 2017-2018 school year digital, electronic, and print media after September 15
• Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation 2017-2018 partner sticker
• Recognition on Facebook cover photo throughout school year

$500 Friends of the Foundation

• name on banner at both events

$300 Event Sponsor

• recognition at your choice of either Glow Golf or Uncorked

$? Name your amount. We gratefully accept tax-deductible donations in any amount.

Mail donations to Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation at 1 Plaza South PMB#276 Tahlequah, OK 74464

or donate online by clicking here.

Please contact us on Facebook Messenger or at tpsfoundation at gmail dot com if you have any questions.

Our calendar for 2017-2018

Children dream of superheroes. 

Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation is not a group of superheroes.  Educators are superheroes. Lack of funding is their kryptonite.  Teachers know what our schools need. Help us help them.

You can be a superhero, too. How do you make a difference? Donate.  

Grants in Action: Space Camp 2017

Mrs. Rader sent us an email about the Space Camp TPSF funded through donations from our community.  Her enthusiastic commentary and the children's faces really tell the story of what a difference a donation can make.

From Mrs. Rader:

Imagining a trip to Mars!  We researched using books from our grant and made green screen pics!

Building and programming Mars Rovers with our Lego WEDO 2.0 Robotics Kits...thank you TPSF!

Launching Aquapod Rockets on graduation day--this launcher was funded through the grant.

Engineering "lunar Landers" --watching with anticipation during our egg drop trials.

We even got to investigate real lunar and meteorite samples on loan from NASA while reading our Who Was Neil Armstrong biographies!

Watching a new crew of astronauts join the International Space Station while we cared for our Tomatosphere seeds. Half of the seeds stayed on Earth. The other half spent a  month on the Space Station. We loved doing real science for NASA.

If you'd like to make a difference in public education and help support students and teachers, please make your tax deductible donation to Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation.  

First Time Ever: Blind Date With a Book and a Bottle

Barnes and Noble 

has teamed up with Tomcat Liquor 

to help TPSF create our first ever Blind Date With a Book and a Bottle.

For only $30, you can select a brown paper bag.  A label on the bag will hint at its contents. It might say something like, "If you want to eat like Tony Soprano, then spend some time with this!"  The bag will contain a book and a beverage that has been carefully paired.

Just like a blind date, you don't know if you will get a trendy, hot title of the week or a classic beauty.

We guarantee there will be no duds! Who can go wrong with a book and a bottle, right?

People who are over 21 can purchase a bag with a book and a bottle of wine that has been matched to the book.  We will also have alcohol-free options that are paired for those under 21.

First Time Live Auction

Uncorked has gained the reputation of being a good, good time.  Each year it gets bigger and better. The silent auctions and door prizes have worked so well, we thought we'd try throwing in a LIVE AUCTION...with a twist.

Tahlequah Lumber has generously (aren't they always?) donated three Yeti coolers.

Yes, three Yeti coolers.

On May 12, 2017, after each Yeti cooler has been auctioned, the winners will open them.

Inside one of them is a special prize: 

a 

a $100 gift certificate to Rum Runners!

You know you want it.

All proceeds go to Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation.

Thank you to Tahlequah Lumber and Rum Runners!

Uncorked 2017 is Near!

You've probably seen these posters around town. We are so excited that Uncorked is just around the corner.  In the next few weeks, we will be sharing more exciting details with you.  Please go to Facebook and like our events page Uncorked 2017.  We've been posting fabulous auction items and will update it with more exciting news.

Glow Golf 2016

The air is turning crisp.  The nights are getting longer. Soon, these foothills of the Ozarks will be covered in various shades of orange and red.

All of these nostalgia-stirring cues indicate another favorite seasonal tradition: It's time to play golf.

In the dark.

Don't miss out on our award-winning Glow Golf event! Register your team now and secure your spot.

Thank you to our 2016-2017 partners: Reasor's, Mary's Liquor, EagleMed, Trans-Med, and  Northeastern Health System.

Register today and email your forms to tpsfoundation@gmail.com.

Parent Letter to elementary students...

Parents of elementary school students, you will receive this letter soon. Everyone else, we thought you might like to see it, too!

Crossfit Tahlequah Hosts Row for Education

Crossfit Tahlequah will host a four-person marathon row on September 10, 2016 at 7:30 AM-11:30 AM at Norris Park. All proceeds will go to Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation.  Entry fee is $60, and each team must be comprised of 2 males and 2 females. There is a cap of 30 teams, but that hasn't been reached yet. Sign up forms are available at Crossfit Tahlequah.

It's no secret that funding for education in Oklahoma hit crisis mode in recent months. Barry Dotson, the owner of Crossfit Tahlequah, said, "Row for Education is an opportunity for us as a small town to do what we do best, which is to take care of our neighbors."

Dotson came up with this fundraising idea while he was shopping for school supplies with his wife.  "I took a look at the list and noticed a lot of it had nothing to do with the kids in my house. It dawned on me that we were spending our grocery money trying to get schools supplies, and I wondered how many teachers who don't have dual incomes sacrifice their own groceries to provide school supplies. I didn't want that to happen."

So, he decided to use his resources and what he knows to do something about it.

"Row for Education is an opportunity for us as a small town to do what we do best, which is to take care of our neighbors."

The event is a marathon row, which is 42,195 meters. He said, "It will take somewhere between 3-4 hours of rowing for a four person team. It will be quite the endurance for them. Myself and four of my best coaches won it at NSU last year. We won it in 3 hours and 22 minutes."

Aerofit, Quafit, and Marcoma are loaning their equipment to help make this event a success. Local businesses are donating prizes, door prizes, and drawings. So, even if participants aren't fierce competitors, they may still walk away with a prize.

Dotson's goal is simple: "Forget the competition side. It's an opportunity to raise money for education, and it's an excuse to get up and excerise on a Saturday, which most people need."

Many thanks to Barry Dotson, Crossfit Tahlequah, and everyone else who is helping put together this wonderful fundraising opportunity.  Check back with us in January to see the educational grants that will be funded right here in Tahlequah.

The mission of the Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation is to encourage the local community to support our educational system, to secure contributions and to distribute funds and equipment for the educational benefit of our students.

Ways to give

Paypal

Amazon Smile

mail check or money order to 

TPSF

1 Plaza South, PMB #276

Tahlequah, OK 74464

TPSF 2016-2017 Board and Officers

Who is ready for another incredible school year?   We are #TPSFfullycommitted! 

Our board members are planning and implementing all sorts of ideas.  Stay tuned for exciting events and ways to contribute. If you can help us help our schools, please contact any of us on the Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation board.  

Board and Officers for 2016-2017

President: Lucas Foster

Vice President: Brandi Barnett

Secretary: Kim Copeland

Treasurer: Lisa Czlonka

Breanna Batey

Barbara Fuller

Amber George

Janine Hembree

Loretta Keener

Suzanne Lovell

Libby Rogers

Mesha Sanchez

Carrie Scearce

Allan Scroggins

Ashley Talburt

Kin Thompson

Thank you to 2015-2016 TPSF President Barbara Fuller! We had an amazing year. Barbara will continue to serve Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation this year as our Public Relations Chair. Woohoo!

Give a special thanks to Barbara Fuller when you see her around town, please!

If you'd like to know more about TPSF and/or donate, please go to our website at www.tahlequahpublicschoolsfoundation.org. 

Uncorked 2016: It's coming!

Uncorked 2016 promises to be another fabulous celebration of our schools.  Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation welcomes the community on Thursday, May 5, 2016, from 7-9 at the Armory Municipal Building.

Free admission allows the opportunity for everyone who would like to participate. Enjoy the entertainment from our middle school show choir, congratulate the TPSF grant recipients, bid on our silent auction items, purchase extra door prize tickets--because you know you'll want to--and nosh on snacks from our local restaurants. Additional door prize tickets will be available: one for $5 or five for $20.

The wine and beer pairing area will be extra special this year thanks to our very own sommelier Heather Ezell. (You may also know her as the owner of Hang Zen yoga.) Not only has she hand-selected the wines and food pairings, but she will offer several classes throughout the night discussing how to pair the wines and beers with the food donated from Reasor's. Also, she will be available for questions throughout the evening, so take advantage of her expertise. Once again, Mary's Liquor is donating all wine for the evening and will have extra for sale--proceeds go to TPSF. Tickets are available for $20 in advance at Mary's Liquor, Celeste Looney Insurance, Health First Chiropractic, and TRA Photography.  They will be $30 at the door. The first 100 tickets receive a commemorative wine glass.

Please help us publicize Uncorked 2016 that kicks off our fundraising campaign for the 2016-2017 school year and celebrates the recipients from the current year. Go ahead and invite your friends to our event through Facebook. For all social media, use #TPSFuncorked.

As always, donations are welcome. Simply click here to give online.

TPSF Prize Patrol 2016

Funding for education has everyone feeling "inside out" these days. Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation is a group of volunteers who raise money to fund grants for schools. Thanks to the donations from our generous community, we were able to announce the grant recipients on Friday, January 21, 2015.  

It appears the cast of Inside Out joined TPSF members to congratulate the teachers!

2016 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Tahlequah High School

Robotics Instruction STEMAwareness Megan Bloom

Chromebooks for Biology Amelia Brown

Advancing Technology in Fine Arts Ellie Vega

Improving Special Education Mathematics Mandi Jordan

Tahlequah Middle School

Oh the Places We Will Go--Summer Arts Academy  David Fuller/Amy Wright

Heritage and Central

Making Our Mark With Edmark Reading: Reaching All Learners Jackie Bonner and Rebecca Parrish

Heritage Elementary

Engaged Bodies Mean Engaged Minds Shelli Lamons

Learning Through Technology Kelli Tibbits

Cherokee Elementary

May I have your Attention, Please? Bethany David

Math in a Flash Gina Fisher

A Path Toward Mathematical Discoveries Amie Batie

Wires, Wires Everywhere and Not One Fully Charged! Jessica Morrison

AllSites

Speech Buddies for Speech Therapy Emily Friese

Greenwood Elementary

Active Learning Through Mobility Chrissy Waldhoer

Building Classroom Libraries Lorie McGee

STREAM: Locating the Einstein in Every Child Deena Jones

Mobile Engineering Lab Shelli Cox

Math Reads Brooke Anderson

One-to-World Kym Tinsley

Stem Enrichment Mobile Classroom Lori Freymuth

Sequoyah Elementary

Discovery Science Lab Carol Horn

Mini Ways to Reach Many Learners: Dear TPSF,

Here are some pictures of students using the iPad minis.  Without the Tahlequah (Public Schools) Foundation this technology wouldn't be possible! Students use these to read & listen to books in English & Spanish.  They also use them on projects to research, take pictures, and record.  They are such a blessing! I'm wanting to add more software and technology to take the library to a new level. Enhancing the space to STREAM with a Makerspace feel.  My goal . . . total hands on May 2017. It will be the third phase of my library dream for the space & students.

Deena Jones
librarian, Greenwood Elementary School

These iPads are provided with donations from people just like you. 

With your help, we can fund more grants that reach more kids. 

Grants are due December 18, 2015. Prize Patrol is January 15, 2016.

 Donations accepted now by clicking here or mailing here:

Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation

1 Plaza South, PMB #276

Tahlequah, OK 74464

Thank you! 

Tech for Reading Fluency: Dear TPSF,

Our kiddos are able to improve their reading fluency with a number of programs and apps on the 2 ipads purchased for each 1^st grade classroom.  We have one particular program that allows students to listen to a book, read it, then record themselves reading it again so they can hear their miscues and make corrections.  The children are inspired to read and re-read to improve their fluency.  This has really impacted the way they think about how they read and what others hear when they read.  We have the unexpected added bonus of fluency with sight words and math facts as well.  Your donation has made a huge impact on reading fluency and engagement in our classrooms.  We can’t be more thankful to you all!!

Sincerely,

Amy Batie

1^st Grade Dept. Chair

Cherokee Elementary

These iPads are provided with donations from people just like you. 

With your help, we can fund more grants that reach more kids. 

Grants are due December 18, 2015. Prize Patrol is January 15, 2016.

 Donations accepted now by clicking here or mailing here:

Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation

1 Plaza South, PMB #276

Tahlequah, OK 74464

Thank you! 

iPads for Impact: Dear TPSF,

Good Afternoon!

My first graders use our iPad minis for leveled reading and comprehension games, as well as math fact practice. With the help of this technology in our classroom, our students have made tremendous gains and they anticipate using them every day! The first question I hear most mornings is “Whose iPad day is it?” The foundation has truly blessed each of our first grade teachers and students. We truly appreciate their help in encouraging our students toward success!

J Leslie Richardson

1^st Grade Teacher

Greenwood Elementary School

These iPads are provided with donations from people just like you. 

With your help, we can fund more grants that reach more kids. 

Grants are due December 18, 2015. Prize Patrol is January 15, 2016.

 Donations accepted now by clicking here or mailing here:

Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation

1 Plaza South, PMB #276

Tahlequah, OK 74464

Thank you!