PCPS Reports nearly 4,400 Students for 2020-2021

The Ponca City Public School district reported a great start to the 2020-2021 school year. Superintendent Shelley Arrott spent the day visiting schools greeting students and employees. She was also streaming students and employees on Facebook Live during the morning.

The district encouraged parents to post their first day of school photos on the district Facebook page this year. The result was over 250 photos posted!!!

Arrott reported, “Team PCPS welcomed about 4,400 Wildcats to the 2020-2021 school year, both traditionally and virtually. After 164 days of not seeing our Wildcats at school, today was certainly a wonderful day. I was excited to visit every school and even though things were definitely different to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, everyone was thoroughly excited to be back at school.”

“Obviously, with many new safety protocols implemented and changes being new to all of us, we do have some kinks to work through,” continued Arrott. “Our district leaders and principals are already developing modifications to our plans to further protect the health of our students. This year will definitely require many adjustments, and we will change plans immediately as soon as we identify an issue. On the first day, it was very hard to predict how many people would be coming through each entrance. Principals arranged for different groups such as car riders, bus riders, breakfast eaters, and walkers to come in specific entrances. In some cases, we were off on predictions. However, we have already made changes for tomorrow based on issues faced today. I would encourage all parents to talk to their children about the need to social distance, even if they are waiting outside, and to avoid having their child on campus before 7:30 AM. Everyone was eager to get to school after being gone so long and the students were anxious to see each other, but we have to work together to take responsibility for mitigating the spread of the virus.”

“Things went very smoothly today, with all things considered!   It has taken a great deal of teamwork to make this first day of school happen after a long, hard closure. Thank you for your patience and grace as we return to learn. I am looking forward to having a successful year of opportunities and possibilities for the students of Ponca City.” #teampcps #wildcatway #unitedwestand #extendlovepatienceandgrace #weareinthistogether

Aubree Sentel – Kindergarten at Woodlands:

Colton Short – 2^nd Grade at Trout Elementary 

Karsyn Fortney – Washington PreK 

Superintendent Shelley Arrott with PCPS Title VI Assistant Zoe Freeman 

Krystina Muralt (Assistant Principal) & Ryan Shelton (Teacher) at Po-Hi 

Pictured Top Left: Stephanie Gentry – Senior in Virtual Academy 

Kari Bartley’s 5th Grade Class at Roosevelt 

Denise Baldwin’s 5th Grade Class at Garfield