Oakley Schools Introducing "Plainsmen Prides" Program Next School Year

Tori Goetz Interview 6-3-26

6:35

At USD 274 Oakley Schools, they really focus are schools' pride and a sense of belonging for all students. A large part of this comes from the programs at their schools, including the Kind Kids Connecting Program which has been implemented for a few years. Now, they're going to expand this kind of program to include K-12 students.

Tori Goetz, the Preschool to Sixth Grade principal at Oakley Elementary School, joined the Good Neighbor Hour to talk about this amazing new program to get kids of all ages connected.

The program is called Plainsmen Prides, and it essentially puts kids of all ages in a group together to interact and do activities.

"It's a district-wide initiative for students in kindergarten through 12th grade that is designed to foster mentorship, school spirit, and a stronger sense of belonging."

In the program, each teacher is going to have their own "pride", which consists of kids from kindergarten all the way up to Seniors in High School. These groups will get together once a month to do all sorts of bonding activities.

Another cool aspect is that the "pride" that the children get placed in will stay in the same group throughout their entire journey through the Oakley school system. Goetz mentioned that connectivity through grades is one of the reasons they wanted to implement this program.

"One thing we often hear from students transitioning between buildings is that they're nervous because they don't know anyone in the next building. Through this program, we're hoping students will build connections with both teachers and other students, helping make those transitions less intimidating."

This incredible program will hopefully connect students of any age and grade, creating a safer and more fun place to learn and interact.

If you have any questions about this program or would like to inquire about their process, you can contact Tori Goetz by email at tgoetz@oakleyschoolsks.com or you can call the elementary school at 785-671-3842.

Catch the Good Neighbor Hour on Rockit 102.5 KLOE from 5:30 am to 7 am Mountain Time every weekday with Lucas Kenney.