Broken Arrow Public Schools Logo

Broken Arrow Public Schools’ homecoming traditions continually welcome hundreds of alumni, family and friends back home each fall. The 2019 edition of this year’s celebration is Oct. 21-25, and the theme is “Hollywood Magic.”

In keeping with tradition, the homecoming parade is Thursday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m., and will feature floats and displays from student groups, athletes and community members. The parade begins on Main Street at 1st and College and concludes at the Education Service Center (701 S. Main. St.).

The excitement continues at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 25, as the Tigers host Yukon. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. During the game, a special ceremony will recognize the 2019 Great Graduates. These individuals have brought honor to their community and alma mater through personal and professional accomplishments.

Known as the culminating event, Broken Arrow High School will host its annual homecoming dance on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7p.m. Tickets will be on sale for $15 the week of the dance or $20 at the door. The homecoming dance entry is included in the student All-Access pass, which can be purchased in the high school’s Student Union for $75.

For more information on this year’s homecoming events, please contact the high school’s student activities office at 918-259-8570. For information regarding football tickets, please contact the athletics office at 918-259-5900.

The Broken Arrow Public Schools athletic department is unveiling an updated version of a historic tiger logo to pay tribute to the generations of student-athletes who have been proud to compete as Broken Arrow Tigers.

The logo, which will occasionally be used as a secondary mark, is inspired by logos used by Broken Arrow High School dating back to at least the 1950s. The existing interlocking “BA” will remain as the district’s primary logo.

“Broken Arrow has such a rich history of being ‘one town, one Tiger,’” said Executive Director of Athletics Steve Dunn. “Bringing back a logo from our past honors our entire community and provides an opportunity for our coaches to teach our student-athletes about the importance of building a legacy and honoring tradition.”

The logo that served as the inspiration for this current version was believed to be painted by art students at BAHS in the 1970s. A photograph of that painting was digitized and modernized by a graphic design firm.

Jim Ragsdale, a 1972 BAHS graduate and son of legendary Broken Arrow football coach H.K. Ragsdale, says this classic logo strengthens the connection between the current generation of Tigers and those who came before. 

“Seeing this logo takes me back to my childhood growing up at Broken Arrow High School,” said Jim Ragsdale. “Dad always taught us to do something 100 percent if we were going to do it. I know he’d be proud to see how Broken Arrow has kept a strong sense of tradition over the years.”

“As Broken Arrow continues to reach new heights in athletics and as a district as a whole, it makes me proud as an alum to see us honor the past,” said Broken Arrow Board of Education President Steve Allen, a 1989 BAHS graduate and Broken Arrow Athletic Hall of Fame member. “Success is not possible without a great foundation, and this logo gives generations of Tigers a feeling of ownership in the great things that are going on in our schools.” 

The refreshed tiger logo will be featured on Broken Arrow’s football helmets as part of the throwback uniforms the team will wear for Friday night’s homecoming game against Yukon. 

Throwback-themed merchandise and tickets to Friday’s game will be available starting Monday at 9 a.m. at Tiger Threads inside the main entrance of BAHS. Tiger Threads is open to the public and is accessible without checking into the main campus.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students for Friday's game against Yukon. 

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Coronation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with kickoff set fot 7 p.m.

Broken Arrow Public Schools is excited to announce its 2019-20 Site Teachers of the Year. Each teacher was chosen by his/her colleagues and will be considered for District Teacher of the Year, which is announced at the annual Star Awards Gala every spring.

Congratulations to the 2019-20 Site Teachers of the Year:

More than 40 volunteers from the local manufacturing community recently visited the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy to provide students with hands-on exposure to potential career pathways in the manufacturing industry.

The visit was part of Manufacturing Month and the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation’s “#BAisMFG” campaign to showcase the modern technology being used by local manufacturers and to guide prospective workers on how to take the first steps toward a manufacturing career. Broken Arrow is one of the largest manufacturing hubs in Oklahoma with 300 companies and more than 7,000 employees.

“There is an incredible amount of manufacturing career pathways that pay high salaries and provide the health insurance and other benefits for employees to support a family right in our backyard,” said Superintendent Dr. Janet Dunlop. “The modern manufacturing industry may be completely different from what parents of our students may have been exposed to years ago. That is why visits like these from our community partners are so important.”

Each student received a visit from industry professionals during their science class. Presentations included a brief introduction to the types of manufacturing careers available in Broken Arrow and a group challenge activity where students worked together to design, create and market a product they would want to manufacture.

“A lot of our students really connected with the new product challenge,” said Freshman Academy Principal Josh Regnier. “It allowed them to see the wide range of careers involved in the manufacturing industry and how their specific skills or interests could match with a future job.”

The visit was a joint partnership between Broken Arrow Public Schools, the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation, OK2Grow, Dream It Do It Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), Northeastern State University Broken Arrow, Tulsa Tech and others.

To highlight the district’s progress both inside and outside of the classroom for the 2018-19 school year, the district’s communications division once again teamed with financial services to create Broken Arrow Public Schools’ Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR).

The PAFR is designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to the general public and other interested parties without a background in public finance. The PAFR combines the district’s financial information with district highlights and accomplishments from the previous year.

“Last year, the district received an award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the PAFR, and it was an honor to be the first school district in Oklahoma to receive the award,” said Director of Communications Christina Dixon. “With big shoes to fill, we truly believe this year’s report captures the essence of what it means to be a Broken Arrow Tiger. We hope you enjoy!”

Questions, comments and feedback regarding this report are encouraged, so please do not hesitate to contact the district at 918-259-5700.

This year’s United Way campaign provided staff with a number of opportunities to support this organization through various activities and fundraising events. This year, the district raised $105,649.66. These funds will help thousands of Broken Arrow residents through organizations like Broken Arrow Neighbors and A New Leaf.

“Broken Arrow Public Schools is known as one of the top contributors from surrounding educational institutions, and that is something we should all be proud of,” said Kim Vento, Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center director and this year’s district United Way campaign chair.

In addition to individual monetary donations, school sites across the district organized fundraising activities, ranging from chili cook-offs to silent auctions, to raise funds.

“No one is ever required to give, but each year, I am amazed at peoples’ generosity,” Vento said. “Every dollar donated will improve the lives of those who are struggling within our own community. We truly are difference makers.”

For more information about this year’s United Way campaign, please contact Kim Vento at 918-259-5700.