Council Grove Elementary School

Thank you to all of our special education teachers and staff at Council Grove!! you are all AMAZING!! This afternoon, Mr. Khol and Mrs. Roehm presented at the Oklahoma Autism Conference and then made sure our CG families were offered some very important conversations and training at our parent SPARKS meeting at Council Grove! Mr. Kohl, Miss White, Mrs. Custer, our speech pathologist, and Dr. Dawn Collums, our Special Education Director, led the discussions and trainings while our wonderful special education paraprofessionals provided childcare! They even provided yummy food for everyone! Thank you to the parents who attended and to our staff. It was a fun and informative evening!!

Tonight we kicked off our first SPARKS Parent Support Meeting of the year, and what an amazing evening it was! 💙 Families of students with IEPs and 504s came together to share stories, learn, and support one another. We are so thankful to our Speech Administrator, who guided parents through understanding services and using AAC devices, and to our Special Education Director and School Counselor for their encouragement and wisdom. Parents had the chance to connect in small groups, ask questions, and walk away with both resources and community. SPARKS is all about Supporting Parents and Resources for Kids with Special Needs, and nights like this remind us that when we come together, we grow stronger. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the staff and volunteers who made this possible. Together, we are writing a story of inclusion, connection, and hope. 💡 This is Our Story. #CouncilGroveElementary #ThisIsOurStory #SPARKS #ThunderbirdStrong #SpecialEducationSupport #FamilyConnections #InclusionMatters

📢 Surprise Day Tomorrow – 10/01/2025! 🎉 Get ready because tomorrow is Crazy Hair Day at Council Grove! The crazier the hair, the better! ✨ Students with the craziest hair will win a prize. ✨ Teachers with the wildest hair will also win a prize. So show up and show out tomorrow with your most creative and crazy hairstyles! Let’s make it a fun day full of Thunderbird spirit! 🦅💛💙

These Thunderbirds stood out for their amazing effort and character. Each winner earned a free book 📚 and a free Whataburger 🍔 to celebrate their success!

🎉 A special shout-out also goes to Mrs. Koch’s class for showing perfect Voice Level 0 in the hallways! Their whole class earned rewards from Panera Bread 🥖 for setting such a great example.

We are proud of every student who continues to shine and show what it means to be a Thunderbird. Keep soaring high! 🦅💙💛

#ThisIsOurStory #ThunderbirdStrong #BravoForBetty

This week, our Bravo From Betty winners were celebrated for showing the true meaning of Hard Work. 💪📚 These Thunderbirds proved that effort and perseverance help us soar, and each winner took home a free book and a Whataburger treat! 🍔💛 Our 3rd graders also had a special visit from the OKC Thunder Book Bus 🏀🚌💙 — bringing the joy of reading and a spark of Thunder spirit to our campus. Every day, our students are writing a story of dedication, learning, and pride. Together… This Is Our Story. 💜💛 #ThisIsOurStory #ThunderbirdStrong #WesternHeights #CouncilGroveElementary #JetNation #OurStory

Parents/Guardians, Please join us for our Title I and Safe & Healthy Schools Meeting September 18th at 3:30pm.

This week we celebrated Thunderbirds who were “Ready to Listen, Ready to Learn.” 🦅✨ Our winners showed how being focused and prepared helps everyone succeed.

Each recipient of the Bravo From Betty Award earned a free book 📚 and a free Whataburger 🍔 as a reward for their effort and example!

We’re so proud of these students for leading the way and reminding us that every small action adds to the bigger story we’re writing together.

💜💛 This Is Our Story. 💛💜

#BravoFromBetty #ThunderbirdStrong #OurStory #WesternHeights #CouncilGroveElementary #JetNation

Council Grove is so grateful for the Caring Van’s continued partnership in bringing vital healthcare right to our campus. They’ll be back in November to host a Flu Shot Clinic. 📌 Who can participate? Parents, staff, and students 💉 Cost: Free 📅 When: November 10 We love being able to keep our Thunderbird family healthy and strong, thank you to the Caring Van for always showing up for our community!

Onsite Enrollment Help - Monday, August 4th
ALL SCHOOL SITES will be OPEN 4-7 pm.

Stop in and get help with your child’s online enrollment!

Check out our 2025-26 WHPS Flyer!
All of our back-to-school information is included! You will find online enrollment information, school supply lists, Meet the Teacher/Open House date & times, and more!
We are excited to see you in August!
https://www.westernheights.k12.ok.us/page/jets-flyer-2025

Happy Independence Day!

Heather Zacarias is an experienced educator with 24 years in public education, including 13 years in school leadership and 11 years in the classroom. Her leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to students, their families, and the educators who support them. Heather most recently served as the Head of School at Western Gateway Elementary, Oklahoma City’s first dual-language immersion charter school. Prior to that, she was the Elementary Director and Interim Superintendent at John Rex Charter School. She also served for six years in school leadership roles within Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), helping lead efforts focused on instructional improvement, family engagement, and school culture. Heather earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2012 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish from Northern Arizona University in 1996. She and her husband, Eric, live in Oklahoma City and are grateful for their close-knit family of five, which includes two daughters and a son. Though their children are now grown, they still enjoy regular family dinners and game nights together. Together, Heather and Eric serve in children's ministry at their local church and have led marriage small groups for over a decade. Her personal motto is: “We don’t say our students can’t do this, we say there’s nothing our students can’t do. -------- Heather Zacarías es una educadora experimentada con 24 años de experiencia en educación pública, incluyendo 13 años en liderazgo escolar y 11 años en el aula. Su liderazgo se basa en un profundo compromiso con los estudiantes, sus familias y los educadores que los apoyan. Recientemente, Heather se desempeñó como directora de la escuela primaria Western Gateway, la primera escuela chárter de inmersión bilingüe de Oklahoma City. Anteriormente, fue directora de primaria y superintendente interina de la escuela chárter John Rex. También ocupó durante seis años puestos de liderazgo escolar en las Escuelas Públicas de Oklahoma City (OKCPS), ayudando a liderar iniciativas centradas en la mejora de la instrucción, la participación familiar y la cultura escolar. Heather obtuvo su maestría en Liderazgo Educativo en la Universidad de Central Oklahoma en 2012 y su licenciatura en Educación Primaria con especialización en español en la Universidad del Norte de Arizona en 1996. Ella y su esposo, Eric, viven en Oklahoma City y están agradecidos por su unida familia de cinco miembros, que incluye dos hijas y un hijo. Aunque sus hijos ya son mayores, aún disfrutan de cenas familiares y noches de juegos juntos. Juntos, Heather y Eric sirven en el ministerio infantil de su iglesia local y han dirigido grupos pequeños de matrimonios durante más de una década. Su lema personal es: "No decimos que nuestros estudiantes no puedan lograr esto, decimos que no hay nada que nuestros estudiantes no puedan hacer".

The WHPS School Board voted to appoint Dawrenda Cooper to the vacant Seat 5 seat during the June 9th Board Meeting. Mrs. Johnson will fulfill the term of departing board member Jerome Johnson.

Elementary Softball Camp: June 9th/10th/12th 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Yesterday, 5/21/2025, we had our End of the year award Ceremony for our 1st - 4th graders. Here are our 1st and 2nd graders who won the principal awards.

Yesterday, we celebrate a very special group of students — our incredible 4th graders — as they take the next big step in their journey: promoting to 5th grade! We are so proud of the hard work, growth, and kindness these students have shown throughout the year. From their bright curiosity to their creative spirits, they've made a lasting impact on our school community. Though we'll miss their laughter, energy, and smiling faces in our classrooms, we know they are more than ready to soar to new heights. Congratulations, 4th graders! Keep being amazing — the future is bright, and it starts with YOU.

What a wonderful way to close out the school year! Yesterday, we celebrated our students’ achievements at our End of the Year Ceremony, and it was a joyful reminder of all the hard work, growth, and dedication our students have shown. We recognized our 1st - 4th grade students for: Excellent Attendance – showing up and giving their best every day Specials Awards – shining in areas like steam, music, P.E., and the Library. Reading Awards – most growth in their reading scores. EDL Awards – making great strides in their English language development We’re so proud of every student who was recognized today—and of all our students for an amazing year of learning and growing. Congratulations to our young achievers! Keep reaching for the stars!