Wednesday, March 6th, the Oklahoma Baptist University Symphonic Winds Ensemble came to our campus and partnered with our band department to host a united concert! Our students worked with the OBU students in rehearsals and sectionals throughout the day. Their hard work culminated with an incredible concert for all in the Gym.  It was great…

As told by Student Ambassador Maya This year, on a brisk day in mid-November, all the Cookson Hills students got out of school early. The staff packed up, and all headed to downtown Oklahoma City to the International Conference on Missions (ICOM). There, one could find hundreds of booths for all kinds of missions and…

When a kid is looking at Cookson Hills as a possibility they usually have many questions. Sarah Curry sat down with senior, Sidney, to ask her the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to get a perspective from one of our kids who has been through it all. This is the video (and transcript) of the…

When a family is looking at Cookson Hills as a possibility they usually have many questions. Sarah Curry and Lauren Hard answer our most frequently asked questions (FAQs). This is the video (and transcript) of these prospective family FAQs. Lauren: Hi. I am Lauren Hard, and this is Sarah Curry. We are your Storytelling Group…

A PLAY BY SIDNEY & JONNY Narrator: Every year Van and Tammy Benson bring their expertise and do a Motive Matters training based on The People Code by Dr. Taylor Harman for the staff and senior students of Cookson Hills. Before the class, every person takes the Personality Test to see what their color code…

People often do things in their spare time that they enjoy. Most would call that a hobby. For the past four years, I have found joy in something called woodburning, and it has taught me the lesson of patience.  Woodburning is a type of art that uses a tool, much like a pen, heated up…

Some schools have a senior trip where students spend time together doing fun activities and creating memories. Cookson Hills adds another component to the Senior Trip experience; service. For decades Cookson Hills seniors have had the opportunity to go on a mission trip over their spring break. This year looked a little different because of…

School shut down because of Covid-19. When that happened, one of the first things that came to my mind was, “What about CIY?”. My name is Micah and this is my second year as a student at Cookson Hills. I and a few other high school students had filled out an application and written an…

Looking back over the past couple of months reveals a Christmas and New Year season filled with fun activities, school improvements, contests, concerts, and parades. Our high school newspaper and yearbook staff has compiled a list of the highlights. We hope you enjoy this glimpse of life at Cookson Hills. New Tree Ornaments & Door…

We call it “Middle School Mentors,” and it is a part of our Cookson Hills Christian School service learning focus.

As a teacher, I believe it is my job to prepare students for life after school. In the real world, you don’t always have extra supplies, so you have to improvise.  In 6th grade reading, the students had a craft project that went along with the reading assignment. I had just the right amount of…

Four years ago I was tasked with the responsibility of planning a marriage retreat for the houseparents of Cookson Hills. With my husband and I having just been houseparents, my memory was still fresh as to what it felt like to try to sustain a marriage in the midst of ministry to kids who are…

As a part of our school’s re-accreditation efforts last year, we took a look at what we call our Expected Student Outcomes. That is, after a student’s time in our school, what are some of the things we want them to walk away with? One of the things we discussed was that they could recognize the…

I believe music is so impactful in our lives because it comes from the Creator of the universe. In fact, music or references to music are mentioned in God’s Word over 1,000 times. The book of Psalms is filled entirely with songs written to God. Not only is music and singing something that is important…

This was our 5th year of taking ten awesome high school students to CIY MOVE. Every year, prior to the event, Satan whispers in our ear, “It’s too much time… the drive is too long… it’s too much work.”  But, it’s an honor to do it, and we praise God as we watch changes occur…

After I was approached to write about a day in the life of a social worker, I have to admit I had some rather irregular brain activity. I immediately had The Beatles song “A Day in the Life” stuck in my head. You know what I mean? It’s the part in the middle that everyone…

At the beginning of each school year, I ask my students one question: “What would it take to make this the most productive year you have ever had in an English class?” I then ask each class to create a creed or poem to identify themselves, try their best to answer the question, and state…

  The 1970s brought rapid growth to Cookson Hills. The motto became “Serving Children with a Need,” and the intent was to fill needs that were observed in the lives of children who were hurting. This intent became clear by the growth of the main unit in Kansas, Oklahoma, and the addition of 12 satellite…

Cookson Hills was founded on love of God and love for humanity, especially children who were hurting, abandoned, or abused. This is the story of that small beginning and how it has unfolded throughout the decades. Howard and Joyce Dillon traveled to northeast Oklahoma and saw a vast need for mission work. In the early…

  To our brothers and sisters in San Carlos, It’s hard to believe that only a month ago we journeyed through the deserts of Arizona to you. We didn’t know what to expect, all we knew was that there were some people running a ministry called 3:18 on a reservation. We thought we were being…

  Middle school kids are funny. When you ask them to write about what they are thankful for, you may be surprised by the response. Some kids talk about fun stuff, things that bring joy their lives, like video games and their favorite books and games; others go super spiritual and write a three part…

  In real life, social workers are largely unknown to children and families…until they are in crisis. The turmoil of their crisis makes it difficult to trust anyone, let alone someone they don’t know. Unfortunately, many families are in crisis. Quite often these families receive help from a social worker who is overloaded, overworked, and…

Each day students walk into schools all across the nation with pencils, paper, a backpack, and their unique life experiences. At Cookson Hills, many of these unique life experiences have been impacted by past abuse and neglect which has left a traumatized hole in their hearts. Today’s research has shown that trauma can negatively impact a…

  At our recent Open House event, we had a few staff members who openly shared their heart about how Cookson Hills comes TOGETHER to serve kids and families. Here’s a snapshot of the conversation: Ryan (Houseparent): We believe that God uses the family to accomplish His will here on earth. Because of this, when a…

  “Our class of seniors excelled at ministering to people. They worked hard, yes, but more importantly, they understood the heart behind it.”  – Rod Johnson, Senior Trip Sponsor Each year at Cookson Hills, our high school seniors have the opportunity to go on a Senior Mission Trip. This is more than just a fun…

  Government is one of those topics that many students write off as boring or unimportant because they aren’t old enough to vote. But when they see it up close and personal,  their view of democracy and politics can change, empowering them with the belief that someday they might be able to change the future.…

  College Classic is a Christian College Basketball tournament hosted by Cookson Hills every January. The teams play back-to-back for 3 days straight and they stay in the homes of staff members and houseparents, eating their meals in the dining hall. They connect with all the kids and earn loyal fans from each of their…

  During a break week, 21 elementary students visited the Amazeum. Hear about their experience here! Cookson Hills provides students with various opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. During a one of our break weeks, we boarded 21 elementary students on a bus to check out the Amazeum in Bentonville. It was advertised to…

  There’s a lot more to vacation that just fun and games. What comes to mind when you think of a family vacation? Long road trips? Fun adventures? Sibling arguments? Crazy car games? Well these are all bound to be included in a Cookson Family Vacation. Every year, houseparents are given the opportunity to take…