August 2021

El Reno Public Schools was able to secure special funding to offer free afterschool care to students in pre-kindergarten through second grade this year.

Specifically, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will be at Hillcrest in a play-based program. Students in first and second grade will be at Rose Witcher in a STEM-based program.

Third through sixth grades will continue their free, grant-funded program at Roblyer Learning Center.

Dear parents and students,

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year. I would like to introduce myself, my name is Kurt Myers and this is my second year as principal at Etta Dale Junior High School and will be my 25th year in education.

I have been a teacher, coach and administrator in school districts throughout Oklahoma and Texas. I can’t put into words the excitement that I have for the continued opportunity to serve the stakeholders of El Reno Public Schools.

El Reno Public Schools mission is to ensure every student’s achievement and inspire excellence.

As principal, I am so excited for the upcoming school year with El Reno Public Schools. Roblyer is a special place in this wonderful community.

Though we were in the midst of a pandemic last year, the students and staff at RLC were amazing! They exhibited determination, kindness and resilience, all while wearing masks and at times being quarantined.

Our theme this year is “Learning at Roblyer Will Take You Places.”

This year our battle with COVID-19 isn’t over, but we have tasted the sweetness of events, travels and freedoms more than we have in the past year.

Once upon a time, Aug. 12, 2021, to be exact, there was an Enchanted School (Lincoln Learning Center) far, far on the western prairie (El Reno, Oklahoma) that awaited the arrival of students past and present.

An enchanted year awaits at Lincoln Learning Center. We are super excited to see the return of all our students for the 2021-2022 school year.

Welcome to the El Reno Learning Center at our location at 1100 W. Pine.

We are excited about our new school year and the great changes that have come with it as we continue to build relationships with our students, families and community.

Our commitment continues as we ensure every student’s achievement and inspire excellence.

The El Reno Learning Center (ERLC) is a non-traditional approach to education and the individualized learning process.

Rose Witcher Learning Center is so excited to begin the 2021-2022 school year.

We are welcoming back our entire staff, plus two new teachers. Makenzie Hickman and Brittany Voth are joining the team as second-grade teachers.

Nicky Howell is changing roles, providing our school’s social-emotional services.

Cynthia Bennett will be the full-time librarian at RW beginning this year, while Kaitlyn Taber will be working with the Reading Lab.

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year at Hillcrest Learning Center.

We are ready to “shine bright” and share the many experiences that Hillcrest has to offer.

We are excited and ready to start another year of learning.

The staff has been super busy getting our school ready to meet our shining Head Start, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.

Hillcrest Learning Center welcomes Aubrey Findley, Deangelo Jenkins and Jennifer Harding teaching Head Start, Christi Frank and Jessica Meyers teaching kindergarten, and Sara Heasley as our SEL director.

State health officials believe the Delta variant of COVID will move quickly through Oklahoma.

That’s what El Reno Schools Superintendent Craig McVay said at Thursday’s El Reno Now broadcast. He was joined by Mayor Matt White.

McVay said officials from the state Health Department believe the Delta variant will spread quickly and with less harmful effects as the original COVID virus. The thought is by mid-September it may have run its course.

Help with utility bill payments and rent assistance may be available to qualifying residents if they fell behind because of COVID-related issues.

El Reno Mayor Matt White said the COVID-19 Assistance Program is being coordinated through the Community Action Agency. He made the comments at last week’s El Reno Now program.