Superintendent's Newsletter
Dr. Mike Simpson, Superintendent
With Thanksgiving behind us and the Winter Break quickly on the horizon, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some accomplishments of our students this fall and provide some updates for exciting future milestones.
This fall, Guthrie High School students represented our community in admirable fashion. It started with our fledgling volleyball team as they successfully grew into a junior varsity schedule. You may remember we started this sport last year at Guthrie Junior High. We are optimistic that interest will allow us to compete at the varsity level in 2024-25. GHS advanced to the state playoffs in the One Act Play competition for the first time. The GHS Band finished 8th at the OBA finals. Our softball team finished state runner-up losing a heartbreaker in the championship. This was the most successful GHS softball team in school history. Our boys cross country team finished fifth at the state meet and our girls team was the state runner-up. The Bluejay football team finished second in our district and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. They finished the season ranked 3rd in the state. The crowning achievement was by our FFA program as they returned from the national conference as national champions in livestock judging.
Let all of that sink in! In four months of school, our students achieved a higher level of success in so many areas than those who have gone before them. These achievements were accomplished while representing our community in a tremendously positive manner.
I also wanted to provide a construction update for some of the projects in the district. We have completed the renovation of all heat and air systems at Guthrie Upper Elementary and Guthrie Junior High School. Also, the work on the exterior of the Junior High Building and new windows is complete. We are finishing up the final touches of the restroom renovations at the High School. The most exciting news regarding construction is we plan to begin the work of rebuilding Cotteral Elementary as soon as the Winter break begins. This work is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Recently, we have convened a Long Range Planning Committee which will provide our Board of Education with a list of identified priorities which could be addressed by future bond issues. They will gather their knowledge by touring each facility in our district to see what is really inside our buildings. They will also meet building principals and directors to gain insight to the challenges faced daily in providing a quality educational experience for our students. This is a diverse group of people from our community. Some members have served on previous committees and some are new to the process. This will be the third time we have convened this committee as it has met every five years.
As we truly enter the holiday season, I’m reminded of the beauty our community possesses. I’m also thankful for the quality people who represent our school district across the state and nation. Our students, coaches, teachers and sponsors all work together to provide a glimpse into what being a Bluejay means. I would encourage you to attend the holiday concerts in the coming days. It is a reminder of the talent our students have and our community should be very proud!
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