Content about Education

The Osage Nation has purchased a health kiosk and started a fitness challenge to encourage employees to lead a healthy life.   

“After reviewing our health claims history and overall wellness of our employees, it helped us (Osage Nation) make the decision to pursue a healthier work force,” said Clint Hill, benefits analyst for the Osage Nation.

Students from seven different schools attended an ACT Prep Workshop hosted by the Osage Nation Education Department Feb. 1.

“I was very happy with the turn out,” said Ida Doyle, director of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED). “It was a collaborative effort between the schools, the field facilitators, counselors, students and education department.”

Nearly 100 students from Pawhuska, Hominy, Woodland, Skiatook, Sand Springs, Shidler and Caney Valley attended the workshop. Half of the students were Osage.

In conjunction with Tri-County Technology Center, the Osage Nation Department of Education will be offering classes to Native Americans, 18 years of age and older, who live in Osage County and meet income guidelines.

Classes being offered are:

Forty-two Osage students were overjoyed on Jan. 26 when they were awarded the first place trophy at the 11^th Annual Battle of the Plains Youth Competition.

“The students were ecstatic especially since a lot of the students have been coming every year,” said Avis Ballard, Osage Nation Johnson O’Malley (JOM) coordinator.

Come out and enjoy some bingo and chili at Family Bingo Night, Feb. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the ON Boys & Girls Club. All are welcome.

The Osage father and daughter team is coming back to Pawhuska for another reading program to promote literacy. On the agenda; free books, cookies, juice and sing-alongs.

San Antonio Osages Kendall Chapman-Ryan, 13, and her father Jim Ryan and mother Carol Chapman-Ryan will be in town March 16 at 1:30 p.m. to visit the Pawhuska Public Library and read to area youth. They were originally scheduled for Friday, Jan. 4, but due to a scheduling conflict they changed the date.

The Pawhuska Johnson O’Malley Program celebrated their Native American Heritage day by bringing motivational speakers Rezheadz to the Pawhuska Public Schools.

“I decided why not bring them here to share their message with our kids – not only with the Native Americans but the whole school,” said Asa Cunningham, Pawhuska JOM President.

Rezheadz is made up of Jason “Smoke” Nichols, Melissa “MiMi” Nichols and Stuart “Big S2” Perkins, who addresses bullying, self-esteem, leadership and academic achievement.

The Osage Nation Department of Education is now accepting applications from Osage high school students that are currently juniors or seniors from across the country to attend the Close Up program held in conjunction with the National Indian Education Association’s legislative summit Feb. 25 - March 2, 2013 in Washington D.C. Selected students will represent the Osage Nation at the national level while learning about the unique importance of tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relationships. Deadline for application is Dec. 11, 2012. 

Students have returned to school and the Osage Nation Department of Education has programs and services available to assist Osage students. The following tribally-funded programs are designed to assist students with the academic assistance and services they need to excel in their educational endeavors. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Anyone seeking additional information on these programs can contact Cherise Lookout (918) 287-5544 or clookout@osagetribe.org .

October is designated as Head Start Awareness Month in the United States. It is a federally funded program in the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Children and Families.

As a comprehensive child development program for preschoolers beginning in 1979, Osage Nation Head Start is funded to provide education, health, nutrition, culture and social services to young children and their families.

An Osage father-daughter team recently brought their children’s reading program to Pawhuska and left several area youngsters with a few new books to take home.