Description
The program was founded to improve the academic success of Native American students. It provides students with an incentive to strive for the highest level of academic achievement. The program includes all Johnson O'Malley (JOM) 3rd through 12th-grade Native American students within the Chickasaw Nation whose school is a participating member. The program also includes both in-state/out-of-state 3rd through 12th-grade Chickasaw students whose school is not participating through the JOM program. Students must have a valid CDIB card and achieve no grade lower than B to be a member of the Chickasaw Honor Club.
Students will be recognized for their academic achievements. The coordinator of educational program development is responsible for administering student recognition through the school coordinators, if applicable.
Students making all A's for a nine-week period will receive a gift card to Wal-Mart for $25. Students making A's and/or B's will receive a $10 gift card. Note for honor classes: For students attending honor classes a grade of B will be equivalent to an A; a grade of C will be equivalent to a B.
The gift cards will be sent by certified mail to each school. A designated school official will be allowed to pick up the certificates, or they will be delivered by the coordinator of educational program development.
Members of the Chickasaw Honor Club will receive a certificate of recognition signed by the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. Certificates will be sent along with the gift cards by certified mail, picked up or delivered by the coordinator of educational program development.
Schools may participate in two planned social and/or cultural activities per year. Examples of social activities will include pizza parties, skating, bowling, picnics or movie passes. Cultural activities may include: visiting museums, exposure to Native American language, art, music, dance and history through field trips, guest speakers and plays. Chickasaw students in non-JOM schools will be ineligible for participation in activities, but will be eligible for Chickasaw Honor Club T-shirts.
Purchase and distribution of the Chickasaw Honor Club T-shirts will be coordinated through the coordinator of educational program development.
The intent of this program is to improve the academic success of all eligible 3rd through 12th grade students.
Procedures:
1. Implementation of the program
The coordinator of educational program development is responsible for the implementation/administration of a program with each participating JOM school, as well as the eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students, as follows:
a. Ensure that each school will have an application on file each new academic year to be an eligible member. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be required to have an individual application form on file each new academic year to be an eligible member.
b. Ensure that each school will designate at least one employee (teacher, counselor, Indian education coordinator or school administrator) to be accountable for all documentation. The designated employee(s) shall be the school coordinator of the program. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be responsible for all documentation with appropriate verification by a school official (teacher, couselor or principal) as required.
c. Ensure that each school will have a proposed budget to the coordinator of educational program development prior to each new academic year for consideration. Budgeting for eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be budgeted by the Chickasaw Honor Club Coordinator.
d. The coordinator will make on-site visits with each participating school during the academic year for an evaluation and support of the program. On-site visits to implement the program for new schools becoming participants will be required. The coordinator will be responsible for monitoring and support of the eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students' participation.
2. Coordinator support
The coordinator of educational program development is responsible for the guidance and operational support of each participating school coordinator and each eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw student. Each school coordinator of the Chickasaw Honor Club, as well as the eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students, will be made aware of his/her responsibilities by the coordinator as follows:
a. After the proposed school's budget has been approved, the school coordinator will meet with all JOM students at the beginning of the new academic school year to inform students of the Chickasaw Honor Club requirements. Inquiries from in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be responded to informing these students of the Chickasaw Honor Club requirements by letter from the Chickasaw Honor Club coordinator.
b. School coordinators will evaluate students' grades each nine weeks. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students' grades will be verified by a school official (teacher, counselor or principal).
c. Students will be notified of their award after the school coordinators have determined which students are eligible. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be notified by certified mail.
d. A list of qualified students will be typed and signed by the school coordinator/JOM counselor. The list will indicate the names of students making all A's and the names of students making A's and/or B's. The list will be mailed or sent by fax to the coordinator of educational program development at the Chickasaw Nation after each nine-week period. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will mail or send by fax a copy of his/her report card, verified as true and correct by their appropriate school official (teacher, counselor or principal.) All school lists and individual student documentation of qualified students must be submitted no later than four weeks from the conclusion of each nine-week period. Any list or documentation received after the deadline date may jeopardize the eligibility of the student(s).
e. A one-week grace-period will be allowed to add names that may have been omitted from the list. The school coordinator should expediently provide this information to the coordinator of educational program development. Any names not submitted within this grace period will be resubmitted on the list for the next nine-week period. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be governed by the same grace period guidelines.
f. School coordinators will submit invoices or some letter describing activities and expenses at least three weeks prior to the activity. Invoices or the letter will be mailed or sent by fax to the coordinator of educational program development at the Chickasaw Nation. School coordinators should allow three weeks for processing from the date Honor Club lists are received by the Chickasaw Nation. The in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be ineligible for participation in activities, but will be eligible for Chickasaw Honor Club tee shirts.
3. Budget/procurement management and documentation
The coordinator of educational program development will ensure that budgetary guidelines/procedures are in place for program security as follows:
a. The budget proposal will be for the entire year.
b. The Chickasaw Honor Club budget proposal will be based on the number of 3rd through 12th-grade JOM students who make A's, or A's and/or B's each nine-week period. Eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be based on the same grade requirements.
c. Chickasaw Honor Club certificates of recognition will be included in the budget proposal. A cost will be included in the budget for the certificate expense. The coordinator of educational program development will provide this. Certificate expense for eligible in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will also be provided by the Coordinator of educational program development.
d. The two social and/or cultural activities should be included in the budget proposal as well as the Chickasaw Honor Club T-shirts. The in-state/out-of-state Chickasaw students will be ineligible for participation in activities, but will be eligible for Chickasaw Honor Club tee shirts only.
Once funding has been approved at the beginning of each fiscal year, October 1, the coordinator of educational program development will submit a check request to the governor. A check will be drafted from the finance department and routed to the coordinator of educational program development for further handling. Note: A listing of the approved students will be documented.
Purchasing of gift cards will be initiated once the check is received. Note: The purchase of gift cards will be obtained from the following outlet store:
Wal-Mart
Chickasaw Honor Club Outstanding Achievement
This program recognizes outstanding achievement by Chickasaw students.
Students residing inside tribal boundaries:
• Must have a Chickasaw citizenship card on file with the school
• Must be in 2nd -12th grade
• School coordinator/JOM representative handles paperwork and submission forms
Students residing outside tribal boundaries or who attend home/private school:
• Must have Chickasaw citizenship card
• Must be in 2nd-12th grade
• Must provide school photo
• Must submit application and biography for consideration
Applications are submitted monthly and awards are presented monthly in various aspects of outstanding achievement. Areas of outstanding achievement are listed on the application. Students who complete their IEP for the current school year are also eligible for outstanding achievement. A $25 Wal-Mart gift card is awarded to students qualifying for outstanding achievement and students are eligible for one award per school year. For more information, contact Beth Campbell or Callie Roebuck at 580-421-7712 or by fax at 580-310-9531.
Eligibility
The program includes all Johnson O'Malley (JOM) 3rd through 12th-grade Native American students within the Chickasaw Nation whose school is a participating member. The program shall include both in-state/out-of-state 3rd through 12th-grade Chickasaw students whose school is not participating through the JOM program. Students must have a valid CDIB card and achieve no grade lower than B to be a member of the Chickasaw Honor Club.
To enroll a child in the Chickasaw Honor Club Program, the parent should complete the application form and return it to Chickasaw Nation Department of Education Services, Attention: Ms. Beth Campbell or Ms. Callie Roebuck, 122 E. Main St, Ada, Oklahoma 74820, or call (580) 421-7712. A copy of the child's CDIB card is required with the application. If the child is eligible for enrollment in the Chickasaw Nation, but has not enrolled, the parent may contact Tribal Governmental Services, Attention: Ms. Gina Brown, P. O. Box 1548, Ada, Oklahoma, 74821, or call (580) 436-2603.
History of the Chickasaw Honor Club
The program began in 1997 as a pilot project in the Ada Public Schools. Governor Bill Anoatubby believed that if young people were given recognition for achievement, they would strive to do their very best. The program has been expanded to include 55 schools in the Chickasaw Nation. These schools work hand-in-hand with the tribe to identify the students who have earned recognition. Logistical problems make it impossible to install the program in every school in the United States where Chickasaw students attend. However, Governor Anoatubby has directed that the program be made available to every Chickasaw student, on an individual basis, between the 3rd and 12th grades.
When the Department of Education Services receives an application, it is entered in our database and the department advises the parent of their child's eligibility for the program. At the end of each six or nine week grade period, a duly verified copy of the child's report card must be sent to the Department of Education Services for processing.
The copy must establish that the child is eligible for an incentive and must be verified as a true and correct copy by the child's teacher, counselor or principal. If the report card has not been verified, the child will be ineligible for an incentive. Please type or write the following on the copy of the report card and obtain the proper verifying signature.
This is a true and correct copy of (student's name) report card for the period ending on the _______ day of ________, 20__.
______________________________________
(Teacher, counselor or principal's signature)
