Nation upgrades early learning in Skiatook
Former Head Start School has transformed into progressive learning center for Barnsdall and Skiatook children
By ON Communications
SKIATOOK, Okla. (September 22, 2015) — The Wahzhazhe Early Learning Academy in Skiatook is working towards providing an optimal learning environment. This involves improving curriculum and environment. Osage Nation Tribal Works recently removed several small hazardous structures from the playground area at the school and staff worked nights and weekends to clean and improve classrooms. The improvements are part of an on-going process to elevate the standards of the learning environment at the school.
“We’re going through and getting rid of some this old playground equipment and some hazardous structures so the teachers can actually view the children, they’ll have more play space and the teachers can keep a better eye on them,” said Ed Zaun, Tribal Works Director. While attempting to remove one of the largest structures, a shed, the bottom completely came apart. The old shed was located directly on the playground.
Before the doors could open for students at the beginning of the school year, a lot of changes needed to happen, quickly. The school, formally the Osage Nation Head Start in Skiatook, had to transform almost overnight to be able to provide a premier learning academy for Osage children from the Skiatook and Barnsdall areas. The school and Tribal Works are still working on improvements for the school.
“The overall changes that we are making are going to make it fresh, open and more inviting,” said Center Manager for Preschool Operations Sandra Latty. “I think it sets goals for [the children] at home. We help them pick their toys up every day and they have to keep things neat and clean. So if they see their school already set-up, it sets them up for self-help skills and helps them set personal goals for themselves.”
In July, the Osage Nation Head Start in Barnsdall closed due to a zero enrollment by Osage children. This was followed by an inspection of the Skiatook Head Start that revealed several areas of concern that needed immediate attention. The outside of the school looked haphazard and unkempt with overgrown weeds and neglected exterior. There were four structures near or on the playground that were falling apart. One small structure had previously been used as a smoking area. The state of the school was unacceptable for Debbra Atterberry, Executive Advisor and Education Lead for the Osage Nation.
“I want it to be a clean and clutter free environment, if it’s distracting to me it’s going to be distracting to a child. We want our Osage children to learn and not be distracted by clutter,” said Atterberry about the unacceptable and cluttered state of the school. Atterberry and Education Task Force Lead Melvina Prather have been leading the Nation’s education reorganization that was initiated at the beginning of July. The focus of the reorganization is to provide an optimal learning process that is centered on Osage language and culture.
Another big change for the school, is starting education in infancy. Staff at Skiatook had to act fast to transition into a learning academy for children ages six weeks to five years. The academy also made room for Osage children from the Barnsdall area. The school had only served Native American children in Skiatook ages three to five years before the reorganization. Three Osage children from Barnsdall now attend the Skiatook WELA.
Since Latty assumed direction of the school, the facility is teeming with activity. There are additional classrooms including classrooms for infants and toddlers and more facility improvements are scheduled with the focus on providing an optimal learning facility.
“We’ve taken the childcare and Head Start and combined them and now we are the Wahzhazhe Early Learning Academy. It is one facility and we are collaborating and doing the same curriculum. The six week old to two year old class is following the same curriculum as the three year old to five year old class. It’s all the same curriculum and it’s a progressive curriculum. So when they leave the childcare and come into the [preschool] classes it’s an easy transition because they are already meeting the milestones that they need to be,” said Latty.
Included in the comprehensive educational plan, is a “wrap-around program” that assists families with afterschool care. “[The children] have the same caregivers every day, the same routine every day and it’s an extension of their learning time,” said Latty. 
So far, the transition has been smooth and Latty said she can see the benefits of the academy structure for all the children. “They are going to be working at developmental levels. It’s not going to just be a place where children come and do nothing. It’s actually an education facility. Kindergarten readiness is our goal and that is what we are going to achieve.”
For Media Inquiries: Osage Nation Communications 918-287-5599