MEMORANDUM
Date: May 20, 2025
To: Public
From: OSSAA
Subject: Public Service Announcement – One-Time Change of School Hardship Waiver
To be eligible for a one-time change of school hardship, students must submit a Student Transfer Application through the State Department of Education’s website between June 1st and July 15th.
If a student is returning to their home district, the school must provide documentation showing the student began the enrollment process on or before July 15th.
Details of the criteria can be found on the OSSAA Website under “One Time Change of School Hardship Criteria.” Students who miss the July 15th deadline will not be granted a hardship under the “one-time change of school” criteria.
A hardship waiver submitted after the deadline must demonstrate an unusual, unforeseen, or unavoidable circumstance that compelled the student to change schools.
Once the student has begun the enrollment process, the school is responsible for submitting the hardship waiver to the OSSAA.
Link to Public Service Announcement Regarding "One-Time Change of School Hardship Waiver (Please download and distribute)
https://tinyurl.com/PSA-One-Time-Change
Link to Guide to Submitting a Hardship Waiver
https://tinyurl.com/GuideSubmitHardship
Report cards will not be ready until June 2nd.
Parents/Guardians: Please visit www.howeschools.org or https://bit.ly/howeafterschool to take a quick parent/guardian survey regarding an afterschool/summer program planning questionnaire. Thank you for your assistance.
Congratulations to Howe Softballs Preslee Jackson on being named to the 4A Middle East Slowpitch Allstate Team! #KappaHowe #HearOurRoar
⛑️ SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE - SHELTER OPEN ⛑️
The Howe Public Schools Tornado Shelter, located in the lobby of the new gym, is now open to the public.
This is in response to a tornado-warned storm currently tracking near Wilburton and moving toward our area.
Please stay weather-aware and take precautions. Your safety is our top priority.
📍 Address: Lion Street, Howe, OK
🚪 Enter through the new gym lobby doors
Stay safe, Lions. 🦁💛
#HoweLions #StaySafe #OKWX
We’re excited to welcome Mr. Bryan Warren as the new principal of Howe High School! A familiar face to many, Mr. Warren is originally from this area and brings both a strong background in education and a heart for community.
We’ll be sharing more about his experience, goals, and personal story soon—stay tuned!
Please join us in giving Mr. Warren a warm Lion welcome! #HPSLions #UnleashThePride #LeadLikeALion
Howe Public Schools is seeking candidates for the following position:
High School Vocational Business Teacher
Position start date: 08/01/2025
Howe Public Schools is accepting applications for a High School Vocational Business Teacher for grades 9-12. Applicant must be certified in Vocational Business or a have a path to Certification.
Please submit a resume to Mr. Scott Parks, Supt at sparks@howeschools.org
Choctaw Nation Summer Food Service Program.
Girls Summer Pride (strength and conditioning) for grades 5-12 starts this week.! Workouts will begin at 9am in the new gym on Tuesday and Wednesday. Approved shoes only on the gym floor. For any questions please contact Coach Smitty.
Choctaw Nation POSSE summer school program for K through 3rd Grade is up and running. Lots of learning and fun. Here is the calendar for the days we will be in session and the fun activities that are planned.
Just a reminder tonight is the all sports banquet for 9-12th grade at the Warehouse! Dinner is being catered and tickets are $10/per at the door! All student athletes are free. #HoweAthletics
Kindergarten through 3rd grade summer school starts tomorrow. Breakfast will be served from 7:40 till 8:00. Students will go directly to the cafeteria to meet their teacher. Dismissal is at 3:15 from the cafeteria also. If you indicated your child will ride the bus, you will be contacted late this afternoon with times of pickup and drop-off.
Point of clarification for current seniors: Seniors were given check-out sheets this week as a checklist to make sure they have everything in order as they graduate. This is to streamline the process of checking for obligations before releasing diplomas when final grades are ready in a couple of weeks. Incomplete forms, cafeteria outstanding balances, library dues, etc. will not prevent a student from graduating. These must be reconciled before diplomas are released, but it will not keep an already-authorized senior from graduating. Congratulations, again, Class of 2025!
Howe Baseball will be in action today at Panama in Day 2 of the Panama tournament vs. Pawhuska at 2pm.
Upcoming events:
Sunday, May 11 - High School Baccalaureate (5:30 pm) and Graduation (7:00 pm) in the Gym;
Tuesday, May 13 - Athletic Banquet at The Warehouse (6 pm) Entry Fee: Athletes being honored (FREE) and $10 per person for their family members. Meal catered by Eli French;
Wednesday, May 14 - Kdg - 3rd grade POSSE Summer School begins;
Happy retirement to Mrs. Cindy Mitchell, whose 12 years of service at Howe High School have made a lasting impact on our students and school community. From her start as a business teacher to her role as Graduation Coach, she played a vital part in launching and sustaining our High School Internship Program, while also expanding opportunities through concurrent enrollment and Kiamichi Technology Center. Under her leadership, Howe consistently earned an A in the Postsecondary Opportunities category on the Oklahoma School Report Card. In addition, she faithfully served as the Senior Sponsor for numerous years, coordinating field trips, graduation, and other milestone events, and also poured her creativity into documenting school memories as the Yearbook sponsor. Mrs. Mitchell’s dedication, leadership, and heart for students will be deeply missed, and her legacy will continue to inspire.
📚🍎 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎📚
At Howe Public Schools, we are incredibly grateful for the heart, hustle, and unwavering dedication our teachers bring to the classroom each and every day. They go above and beyond to inspire, encourage, and support our students—not just academically, but emotionally and personally.
Our teachers stay late to help students, spend their own money on snacks and classroom incentives, attend students’ ball games, concerts, and livestock shows, and continue cheering them on long after the final bell rings. They are role models, mentors, and champions for our kids.
“Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them… and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” – Rita Pierson
This week, let’s celebrate the champions in our classrooms.
We invite all parents and guardians to help us recognize these everyday heroes. 💌
✔️ Send an email or handwritten note to your child’s teacher
✔️ Post a shout-out on your own social media and tag them
✔️ Let them know the difference they’ve made this year!
A few kind words can go a long way in reminding our educators just how valued they truly are.
Let’s make sure our amazing teachers feel the love they deserve this week—and every week!
#ThankATeacher #HowePride #TeacherAppreciationWeek
Howe baseball Regional Tournament has been moved back 2 hours today. We will now play our first game at 3pm @Panama
Howe Baseball in action tomorrow in the Regional Tournament @Panama. Howe plays first game at 1:30.
We are just 2 weeks away from softball camp!! Come spend a few days with us and join the fun!!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflZOj7alTT2am5tJ6ztk2pYpOocHY-fwZvd0mYOcybRBBYTA/viewform