Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey
Passive Consent Parent Letter
January 29, 2026
Dear Parent or Guardian:
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is conducting an important survey on student behaviors and beliefs. The survey is called the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) Survey. This is for grades 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th. Your child’s class is set to take this survey on Feb. 12, 2026.
The purpose of the survey is to gather information needed to plan prevention and intervention programs in our community and schools. These programs will address problems of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, school dropout, delinquency, violence, mental health, and other issues in our schools and communities. Information will also help judge the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention efforts. The survey instrument is available at https://oklahoma.gov/odmhsas/prevention/schools/opna.html. I also have a copy of the survey instrument at the school office if you wish to stop by and review it.
The survey is entirely anonymous and confidential. Students will not include their names or any other identifying information. All results from the survey will be presented only in group summary form.
The survey asks questions about behaviors students or students’ friends may or may not have done. It is important to remember the survey is anonymous, so no student’s response will ever be able to be connected with that student. For the survey, students will be asked to respond to questions such as “How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to pick a fight with someone?” “Now thinking back over the past year in school, how often did you enjoy being in school?” “How many times (if any) have you had alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, or another drink containing alcohol) to drink in the past 30 days?” “Do you share your thoughts and feelings with at least one of your parents/guardians?”
Your child’s participation in the survey is completely voluntary. Each child will be given the option of skipping any question that he or she prefers not to answer. You may decline to have your child participate if you wish. Please remember this survey offers your child the opportunity to share his or her confidential opinions on very important issues being faced by our youth today. If you do decline, your son or daughter will be allowed to read or participate in some other alternative activity while his or her classmates are taking the survey.
If you have any questions for the ODMHSAS regarding the OPNA Survey, please contact the OPNA Survey Coordinator at 405-615-4287 or OPNA@odmhsas.org.
Please let me know only if you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the study. You may do this by contacting the school in writing at least two school days before the survey requesting your child not participate. (For example, contact the school in writing by Tuesday for a survey to be given on Thursday.) Feel free to call me if you have any other questions about this important study.
Sincerely,
Heather Husted
School Counselor
Passive Consent Parent Letter
January 29, 2026
Dear Parent or Guardian:
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is conducting an important survey on student behaviors and beliefs. The survey is called the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) Survey. This is for grades 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th. Your child’s class is set to take this survey on Feb. 12, 2026.
The purpose of the survey is to gather information needed to plan prevention and intervention programs in our community and schools. These programs will address problems of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, school dropout, delinquency, violence, mental health, and other issues in our schools and communities. Information will also help judge the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention efforts. The survey instrument is available at https://oklahoma.gov/odmhsas/prevention/schools/opna.html. I also have a copy of the survey instrument at the school office if you wish to stop by and review it.
The survey is entirely anonymous and confidential. Students will not include their names or any other identifying information. All results from the survey will be presented only in group summary form.
The survey asks questions about behaviors students or students’ friends may or may not have done. It is important to remember the survey is anonymous, so no student’s response will ever be able to be connected with that student. For the survey, students will be asked to respond to questions such as “How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to pick a fight with someone?” “Now thinking back over the past year in school, how often did you enjoy being in school?” “How many times (if any) have you had alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, or another drink containing alcohol) to drink in the past 30 days?” “Do you share your thoughts and feelings with at least one of your parents/guardians?”
Your child’s participation in the survey is completely voluntary. Each child will be given the option of skipping any question that he or she prefers not to answer. You may decline to have your child participate if you wish. Please remember this survey offers your child the opportunity to share his or her confidential opinions on very important issues being faced by our youth today. If you do decline, your son or daughter will be allowed to read or participate in some other alternative activity while his or her classmates are taking the survey.
If you have any questions for the ODMHSAS regarding the OPNA Survey, please contact the OPNA Survey Coordinator at 405-615-4287 or OPNA@odmhsas.org.
Please let me know only if you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the study. You may do this by contacting the school in writing at least two school days before the survey requesting your child not participate. (For example, contact the school in writing by Tuesday for a survey to be given on Thursday.) Feel free to call me if you have any other questions about this important study.
Sincerely,
Heather Husted
School Counselor
Just a reminder no school tomorrow, Friday, January 30.
Basketball Alumni Night
We would like to invite all of our basketball alumni back on February 6, as we take on Crescent, and celebrate homecoming! We will have finger foods, cookies, and punch in room 109 of the high school, beginning at 5:00, for our alumni. The girls game begins at 6:30, and we will recognize all alumni at halftime of the girls game. Also, if you have any player pictures you would like for us to run on our video board, please send them to Coach Hicks at 580-541-4866 with a brief description. We still have all alumni pictures that were sent to us in past years. Thank you!
JH Skeltur basketball tournament continues today. The girls play in the consolation game at 2:00 in Covington. The boys will play for the championship at 7:50 in Covington.
Chief Nation-There is a possibility of freezing drizzle/fog tomorrow (Thursday) morning that could cause some travel problems. We will continue to monitor the weather and travel conditions to make adjustments to our school day if necessary.
Parents
We are now entering the part of our school calendar where we will not have school on Fridays. That will begin this Friday 30th. School will not be in session this Friday 30th.
🚨 Mark you calendars!!! Mini cheer has new dates… 🚨
Valentines Dance on February 5th from 6:00-8:00 for Waukomis elementary students!
Updated JH basketball Skeltur conference tournament bracket. Girls play today in Covington at 4:30. Boys play today in Garber at 5:40.
Upcoming events!!
We will be in school tomorrow! One hour later than normal. Please be safe around campus. Much of it is clear, however, there are spots that may be slick.
Unfortunately, we haven't gotten the melting that we really need in order to safely have school. A big thank you to the Cue boys, Mr. Milacek, Keith, and Cody Keller for all your hard work today.
Due to weather and school being closed we will not have Mini Cheer Clinic Monday and with the unknown for Tuesday we have decided to pick a different home game to do Mini Cheer on. The new dates will be posted and sent out as soon as possible! Thank you for understanding and stay safe and warm!
School has been canceled for Monday, January 26. Stay safe and warm!
Basketball Information
Due to impending weather the boys championship game has been postponed. The girls championship game will go on as scheduled. When we receive more information I will let you know.
CHAMPIONSHIP TIME!
In case you get bored at home this weekend being all couped up because of the weather and want to do some online shopping. The Waukomis Spirit Store is still open. Just click on the link to find all your Waukomis Chief gear.
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/evZDpfzdzZ
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/evZDpfzdzZ
GAME DAY!
Important Weather Update: Upcoming Winter Storm
We are closely monitoring the major winter storm that will impact our area. Early reports (depending on which news outlet you watch) call for snow, possible sleet/ice, and dangerous windchill temperatures that could affect school operations.
If closures are necessary we will alert parents immediately through text messages, our Facebook pages, as well as, the Oklahoma City television stations.
Please stay tuned for further updates and begin making necessary preparations for the storm. Thank you for your support and understanding that we will always err on the side of caution when it comes to these types of decisions.
GAME DAY!
