People either love kids or hate them. While loud, opinionated, sticky, and gross, they can also be sweet, playful, and caring. It takes a special person to be able to take care of kids, especially ones that aren’t even their own. Our Child Development class takes a dive into the development of children and possible job opportunities.

It’s a place where curiosity and community come together, where the pursuit of knowledge takes on an exciting twist. If you haven’t heard of Jenks Community Education, you’re in for a unique surprise. A hidden gem designed for Jenks’ lifelong learners, Jenks Community Ed. serves as an opportunity to visit the district buildings after hours to participate in fun, collaborative-driven activities.

On October 13th, Jenks students watched in anticipation to see who would be bestowed the honor of becoming Homecoming’s new reigning royals. Seniors Eduardo Pereyra and Magnolia Crissup share their experience on winning the homecoming crowns for the 2023-2024 school year. The title of homecoming king and queen is thought to be an honor at Jenks High School, and these two spectacular seniors took the honor with enthusiasm, joy, and humility.

If you are a Jenks Lifer, or even just a student who frolicked in the hallowed halls of a Jenks Public Elementary School, you’ve done the Jogathon. A day out of the year where logoed shirts are passed out beforehand, and bananas and apples are passed out after. Somewhere along the way in the middle, kids are unleashed like the running of the bulls. But instead of the narrow streets of Pamplona Spain, grades k-4 run the gravel track, getting a mark on their hand for every lap they run.

It's been a month since Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters retweeted a Tik-Tok by a Union librarian that snowballed into threats of violence towards the teacher and the school itself, with even more still pouring in. After spreading to other Union schools, as well as the Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) district, Union’s 8th grade center received a new threat on the morning of September 14th, over three weeks after the initial threat.

Have you heard the news? Jenks, America is growing!

Almost everyone in town can say that they have seen at least one sign advertising “new construction” or “coming soon,” read an article, seen a post on social media, or heard a rumor or two.

Imagine you are on the field under the blistering sun, heart pounding, sweat dripping down your face. You feel the sun beams hit your back as exhaustion overcomes you. Every day is the same. Same burning sun, same draining drills. Your breath is shaky and your body is about to give out, but a surge of pure adrenaline rushes through your veins.

Jenks High School has always had a “Tradition of Excellence,” proudly displaying the achievements of its students, complete with an ACT and AP score wall, and National Merit plaques. But how does pursuing that “excellence” affect Jenks students?

Dysgraphia is one of the most undiagnosed learning disabilities, but House Bill (HB) 2768 is working to change that, by transforming Oklahoma's education system to empower students with learning disabilities. HB 2768, introduced in January 2021 and passed in May 2022 represents a significant milestone in Oklahoma's education system. This legislation took effect September 1st, 2023, and aims to better support students with learning disabilities, specifically those with dysgraphia.

Have you ever questioned your safety at Jenks High School? With all of the violence and frightening events happening in our world, the administration at Jenks has been forced to make numerous safety improvements to our school. But how is one of these changes, having teachers monitor the bathrooms, affecting our students?

The Gathering Place is a 66.5 acre park next to the Arkansas river, with basketball and tennis courts, along with interactive landscaping, and playgrounds. But questions still remain on how this place was thought of? Who was the true creator? And how does this truly benefit the community?

Bright lights, long ball gowns, and disco music. All of these are what make up the annual Jenks Pom Fashion Show. On Tuesday, September 12, the PAC held this program's main fundraiser for the year. But what is this money going towards?

The Jenks Volleyball teams are jumping into their 2023-2024 season! On and off the court, the athletes have been putting in the work to improve their skills and get ready to fight for their states titles.

It’s been nearly 4 years since a play has been added to the shows the Jenks Theatre Department cycles through every few years. The last play to enter the cycle, The Grapes of Wrath, ran in the fall of 2019.

Entering the new year, students at Jenks High School took notice of a subtle but powerful addition to their school IDs. Alongside their picture and grade level now displays the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as well as the Crisis Text Line. The new attachment has sparked several discussions among students and teachers about the ongoing mental health epidemic that lingers throughout schools.

Walking into the music building, you would expect every classroom to be filled with sound, but one is different. In one classroom you’ll be met with 24 students playing instruments silently. Each one is a piano student. Immersed in their own musical world with a keyboard each, they play into their headphones diligently.

It’s a Friday night in Jenks, Oklahoma as the entire community comes together to watch the Trojans play football. The sidelines are filled with supporters and athletes tediously watching the game. A new edition can be found clustered on the sidelines this year. Spotted with a large camera and a microphone, the students of the Trojan TV program can be found covering the exciting action.

Classroom teachers make ends meet by working seven hours a day, five days a week. But when the school day ends and the bell rings, many disperse to do their secondary professions so they actually can afford to live. To get the personal experience of what goes on behind the teacher’s desk, I interviewed Carrie Loeber, Blake Connelly, Katie Franco, and Juliana Lynch, as well as Tim Abel–all of whom work second jobs.

We all know the feeling, the moment when lights blind your eyes, when your ears violently shake from the echo of the crowd's cheers, when the only thing you can smell is cheaply buttered popcorn, as your body is closely crammed against the backs of fans. Friday’s are spent at stadiums, on courts, waving banners and screaming at the top of your lungs.

Hello! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Sophia Stunkard and I’m the current editor-in-chief for the Jenks Trojan Torch. For my last story, we were prompted to create an Op-Ed, an article in which we state an opinion about a given topic, and discuss how it has affected our everyday lives. After reflecting on my years at Jenks Public Schools, I decided to dedicate this article to a program that has changed my views on the world, created cultural awareness, and shaped me into the student I am today.