Claremore Public Schools

NEXT LEVEL ZEBRA: Layne Cooper, CHS Class of 2012

Service has always been at the heart of Layne Cooper’s journey.

After proudly serving in the United States Air Force, Layne continues his commitment to public service as a member of the Law Enforcement Office in Chelsea.

👏 From the halls of CHS to serving his country and community, Layne represents the best of Zebra Pride in action.

📩 Submitted by Penni Holmes
#NextLevelZebra

🎉 Field Day Fun—Staff Style!

Field Day wasn’t just for the students this year—our incredible teachers and staff jumped right into the action and had an absolute blast! Their energy and enthusiasm made the day even more memorable.

We love seeing our Zebra staff lead by example—work hard, play hard! 💪😄

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🦓 #ZebraTravelDiaries

One of our Zebras took her summer adventures international! Sunny Shults, a soon-to-be freshman, spent her vacation exploring the iconic cities of Paris and Rome—and sent us some amazing photos to prove it! 🗼🍝✈️

Sunny had a FABULOUS time soaking up the culture and making memories.

Headed out on your own adventure? Be sure to snap a photo in your Zebra gear and send it to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us to be featured in our #ZebraTravelDiaries!

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Chef Ryan recreates one of the fan favorites from our Junior Chef competition—Mini Taco Bites!

Perfect for parties, game nights, or a family snack, these bites are big on flavor and easy to make. Watch the video, try it at home, and bring a taste of #CPSZEBRAPRIDE to your table!

https://youtu.be/E4ZoLsm5DQs

👯‍♀️ Twinning Tuesday... Totally by Accident! 👯‍♀️

Great minds think alike! Ms. Kurth and Ms. James showed up in identical outfits—completely unplanned. 😂 Talk about true teacher telepathy!

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE #GreatMindsThinkAlike

🌟 Alumni Camp 2025 is officially in the books, and our Claremore FFA members are back from an unforgettable week at Camp Tulakogee, also known as the “Happiest Place on Earth!” 🏕️💙

Seven of our FFA students spent four days alongside members from across Oklahoma, building leadership and teamwork skills through hands-on activities and hearing from inspiring keynote speakers.

Alumni Camp is all about discovering your potential, growing as a leader, and bringing fresh energy back to your FFA chapter—and our students are ready to do just that! 💪🌾
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🌵🦓 #ZebraTravelDiaries

Desert adventures with a full herd of Zebras! Mrs. Mills, a 3rd grade teacher at Claremont, hit the road to Arizona with her favorite girls—Breezy (3rd grade at Roosa), Maizie (Pre-K at Roosa), and their future Zebra sister, Wrenlie! 🏜️

From red rock views to sunshine-filled memories, these ladies brought their Zebra spirit to the Southwest in style!

Headed out on your own adventure? Don’t forget to pack your Zebra gear and send your photos to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us to be featured in our #ZebraTravelDiaries!

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🏀 Our future hoop stars hit the court this week at Basketball Camp, sharpening their skills, building teamwork, and bringing the energy ! The future looks bright in Claremore! 🌟 🏆

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE #BasketballCamp

🍽️ NEXT LEVEL ZEBRA: Chris Biard Big news from Nashville! CHS alumni Chris Biard and his wife Emma were recently featured in the Nashville Business Journal for the success of their restaurant, S.S. Gai. Chris is the son of Bill & Linda Biard, longtime owners of Claremore’s iconic Hammett House! Known for their Thai-style hot chicken, the couple launched their business during the pandemic and are now preparing to open their first brick-and-mortar location in East Nashville. Not only has Eater.com hailed S.S. Gai as having the best fried chicken in Nashville, but last year, celebrity chef Bobby Flay stopped by specifically to try their famous Thai fried chicken after hearing the buzz! 👏 Proud of Chris & Emma and their incredible crew for making their mark in the culinary world. Read more about their story here: https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2025/07/01/ss-gai-nashville-chefs-brick-and-mortar.html 📩 Submitted by their proud family. #NextLevelZebra #ZebraAlumni #CPSZebraPride

🎶 WRJH Choir Hits All the Right Notes! 🎶 Our incredible WRJH choir wowed the judges at the Heartland Music Festival, bringing home Sweepstakes Trophies for the Mixed Choir, Treble Choir, and Show Choir! 🏆 Their stunning performances and hard work truly paid off—we couldn’t be prouder! To celebrate their big win, the choir capped off the day with well-earned fun at Frontier City Amusement Park! 🎢🎉 Huge congratulations to our talented students and a heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Ketterling for her leadership and dedication! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🏞️🦓 #ZebraTravelDiaries

The Ogden family took their Claremore pride to new heights on their Colorado adventure! Bethany Ogden (CHS para) with her daughter Mia (WRJH student), and Kaylee Ogden (Catalayah para) with Addi and Aaron (Catalayah students), proudly wore their Zebra shirts all the way to the top of Pikes Peak! ⛰️

Their trip was packed with incredible stops, including the ghost towns of Animas Forks and St. Elmo, Mesa Verde National Park, Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and the stunning Garden of the Gods.

From mountain peaks to historic sites, they proved that no matter where you go, Zebra pride always comes along for the ride!

Got summer adventures of your own? Send your Zebra gear photos to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us and join our #ZebraTravelDiaries!

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

📣Youth Cheer Camp starts this week! 🏀-🏈-🏐-⚾ -📣- 🎨- 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧- 🍔- 🤠 Check out our website for a complete school and community summer activities list ➡ Go to > https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/page/camps #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🦓 #ZebraTravelDiaries This crew packed plenty of adventure (and Zebra pride!) into their Fourth of July weekend! 8th graders Kayson and Kelan, Karson (a 4th grader at Catalayah), and future Zebras Cash and Presley kicked off their trip with a stop in West Monroe, Louisiana, to visit Duck Commander/Buck Commander, and they ended up as extras in a promo video for Willie Robertson’s podcast! 🎥🦆 Karson even got to meet Willie himself! Then it was off to soak up the sun at Orange Beach, Alabama, to celebrate Independence Day with plenty of beach fun, fireworks, and family memories. ☀️🌊🎇 Summer adventures don’t get much more all-American than this! Got your own Zebra gear on the move? Send your pics to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us to be featured in our #ZebraTravelDiaries! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🎓 Future Friday 🏫💰 Congratulations to Kizer Ballard, Jessica Ericksen (not pictured), and Cooper Zickefoose (not pictured), each awarded a $900 Rotary Club Scholarship! Thank you to the Rotary Club of Claremore for investing in the future of our students and recognizing their leadership, service, and academic excellence. Want to support the next generation of Zebras? Partner with the Claremore Public Schools Foundation: 👉 https://claremorepublicschoolsfoundation.org/ #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #FutureFriday

🦓 #ZebraTravelDiaries

The Beasley family is serving up sweet summer vibes and Zebra pride in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida! Nothing beats beach days and ice cream with your crew! ☀️🍦

We love seeing our Zebra families making memories and repping CPS wherever they go!

On a summer trip of your own? Don’t forget to send your photos in Zebra gear to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us to be featured in our #ZebraTravelDiaries!

#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🦓🚗 #ZebraTravelDiaries The Gonzalez family, led by Kristin Gonzalez (CHS Spanish teacher), packed up their Zebra spirit and hit the road for an epic summer adventure! Along with her husband and four kids, Keziah (9th, CHS), Elianna (7th, WRJH), Gabriela (5th, Roosa), and Josiah (3rd, Roosa), they traveled through seven states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas! 🌄📍 Highlights of their journey included visiting friends in New Mexico, taking in the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, attending a church convention, and stopping by the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Seven states, countless memories, and plenty of Zebra pride along the way! Got a summer story in Zebra gear of your own? Send your travel photos to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us to be featured in our #ZebraTravelDiaries!#CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🎭 Elementary Students Take a Stand with Tulsa Opera! 🎶 All four Claremore elementary schools had the exciting opportunity to attend a special performance of "Stop, Bully!", thanks to a generous grant from the Claremore Public Schools Foundation! This powerful performance by Tulsa Opera helped reinforce important lessons about friendship, teamwork, and self-confidence in a fun and meaningful way. 💛👏 Thank you to CPS Foundation for making this memorable experience possible! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Work family = Real family 💕 Even in the summer, our Catalayah crew makes time to catch up, laugh, and celebrate the bond that makes our school so special. Once a Zebra, always a Zebra! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🌱 A big thank you to the Master Gardeners who visited our K–2 students at Claremont Elementary! 🌼 They shared their knowledge on plants, gardening, and how to grow amazing things from the ground up. Our students were all smiles as they got their hands dirty and learned what it takes to be a great gardener! 🌿🌻 We were grateful for this fun, hands-on experience from the school year. It left our young Zebras inspired and ready to grow! 🌞💧 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🏫 Six weeks from today, we will welcome all our students back into our halls! Although we are enjoying the opportunity to recharge, we have not stopped planning. In the spirit of planning, we have created a BACK-TO-SCHOOL page on our website where you can find "all the things" in one place. We still need to work out a few details, but we will update the webpage weekly as those decisions are made. 👀 From Athletic passes to Zebra Stripes, find out what we know at this time - https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/page/back-to-school