Principal's Letter

November 5, 2024

Please join me in wishing Christ the King a very happy 75th anniversary!  My, how far we have come from the days when I was a student at this school.  Sister Diane was principal at that time and she ran a tight ship! I can still recall my teachers’ names from 1st-8th grade and can picture them in my mind - all hardworking people committed to the mission of Catholic education. The Knights were a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, the track, and the softball field.  We had about 30 kids in our class and I loved lunchtime with home cooked meals by Mama Glover - her speciality being “Mama Glover’s Goulash.”  We used to have monkey bar races during recess, but alas, the bars were lowered after two broken arms in one day (my arm included).  There were about 10 of us who contracted chickenpox and could not attend our First Holy Communion, so there was a special “Chickenpox Sunday” for the pock-marked students who had to miss the original date. I was surprised and honored to receive the Leadership Award from Father Mayfield during my 8th grade graduation ceremony in 1989 - a treasured memory for me.  Little did I know that 35 years later I would be tasked with the leadership of this incredible school. 

Christ the King School continues a long tradition of faith and excellence due to the commitment and hard work of some select individuals who cared deeply about this place.  There are a lot of names I could list here, and they span from school and church leadership to faculty and staff to individual volunteers.  These people saw a vision of CK and worked through good times and bad to form faith-filled, educated, and conscientious citizens of the community and world at large.  During my tenure as a student, Christ the King was regarded as one of the best Catholic schools in the state, and that reputation continues to this day thanks to those who came before and laid a solid foundation from which to continue working towards the betterment of our beloved school and church.

Here is a snapshot of Christ the King Catholic School in 2024:
• Enrollment of 529 students from 3-year old preschool to 8th grade; largest diocesean elementary school in the state;
• Nearly 60 faculty and staff members;Visual art, library, computer, music, Spanish and physical education offered as special classes;
• CK SOAR program offers specialized small group classes for students needing extra support and more challenge;
• Sports offerings include volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track;
• Fine Arts include choir, band, drama, and journalism (watch CK News - you will be impressed!);
• Club offerings include Scouts, Green Team, Chess, and Building Club;
• Students attend weekly school Mass, have daily religious instruction, and attend Rosary during the month of October and Stations of the Cross during Lent;
• Matthew 25, a campus service organization, involves CK students in service projects for various non-profits in OKC;
• Virtue program wherein students are recognized each month for showing a particular virtue (Knightly Virtue Award);
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Catholic, Montessori-based learning program, is offered to students in Preschool-1st grade.
• Part-time counselor on staff who provides social emotional programming;
• CK is an Oklahoma Green School after successfully completing a campus-wide site investigation in 2022;
• Newly launched Academic Team - CK competes in its first Quiz Bowl this month;
• CK is an Oklahoma A+ School, which embraces arts-integrated teaching practices;
• Parent University opportunities hosted by the school for free to CK parents;
• CK has made massive safety improvements to the campus including a full-time School Resource Officer, bullet-resistant glass on all windows and doors, and walkie-talkies for all staff members;
• CK is supported by a robust PTO that provides the school with resources needed for the success of the school.

As you can see, we have been busy here at CK!  Over the past 75 years the mission of CK has not changed.  We continue to strive towards offering a well-rounded education with exceptional teachers and staff.  We know our students spend a large portion of their childhood at CK, and we aim to support their spiritual, academic, physical, and social formation.  In partnership with families, we want to nurture the unique gifts and talents of each of our students.  We want them to remember that CK was the place where they discovered what they were good at, where their passions lie, and where their faith blossomed.  Our Pastor’s leadership, coupled with a collaborative administration team, and an excellent group of teachers, students, and parents creates a special community at Christ the King.  It is our community that truly sets us apart from other Catholic schools, and it is our community that we celebrate today.

Thank you to all of you who have supported and continue to support Christ the King Catholic School and Church.  Parents, thank you for the sacrifice you make/have made to send your children to a Catholic school.  Thank you to Father Rex Arnold and the priests who came before him and have shepherded us through the highs and lows of life.  Thank you to the teachers who support the mission of Catholic education through their tireless service to our school. Thank you to the students who share their gifts and talents with us and make us so proud. We would not be where we are today but for the faith, support, and hopes of those who came before, and we will continue to embrace the vision of a strong future through the work ahead.  I hope you can join us for our Alumni Night on November 15th and/or the Gala on the 16th. We grow, we flourish, and we help others flourish when we let God’s light do its work in us.  May God continue to bless this special school & church.

Sincerely,
Jenny Richard, PhD
Principal
Christ the King Catholic School