Monthly Highlights at Happy Hands & DCA
One of the things we love most about our community is how much happens in a single month. From classroom learning to campus improvements to meaningful partnerships, each season brings something worth celebrating. This space is where we’ll be capturing those moments, month by month, as a record of growth, gratitude, and God’s faithfulness.
January Highlights
We began the year with big changes and big moments. Marcia Cato was announced as our new Director of Early Education, marking an exciting leadership transition as we began the search for a new teacher to step into her classroom role.
We also had the opportunity to present to Schuber Mitchell Homes, strengthening a valued partnership that continues to invest in our mission and students.
Winter made its presence known in a big way with SNOW days that brought both challenge and joy to campus rhythms.
And finally, we were honored to be featured on The Hidden Workforce radio podcast, sharing more about our story and the heart behind our work.
February Highlights
February was full of connection, growth, and celebration across campus.
Eight staff members attended the ACSI Flourishing Schools Institute in Fort Worth, fully supported by The Herzog Foundation, investing deeply in professional development and school excellence.
We welcomed two new substitute teachers to our team, strengthening our classroom support system.
The Chapman Foundation completed a site visit, and Development Director Bri Kinnison completed a two-day Standards for Excellence training through the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.
We also welcomed Mandy Smith as the new teacher in our 2s & 3s class. A graduate of the University of Tulsa’s Deaf Education program, Mandy stepped into the classroom as Marcia Cato transitioned into her new leadership role. Peyton Brent also joined the team as assistant teacher, bringing a meaningful personal connection as the adult sister of two of our students.
We were honored to host two state senators on campus, who committed to advocate for us in the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship process.
And of course, February brought plenty of joy: we celebrated the 100th day of school, Valentine’s Day (with full parent participation), and hosted our own Winter Olympics. Our students also joined with DCA schools around the world for ACSI’s International Day of Prayer.
On the campus side, Lennar Construction completed several improvements including rebuilding our greenhouse, repairing a roof leak, and refreshing the lobby ceiling.
We also finalized important preparations for our five-year ACSI re-accreditation visit.
March Highlights
March brought hands-on learning, meaningful reflection, and moments of refreshment.
Students explored Transportation and Community Helpers through immersive experiences, getting up close with a hot air balloon, construction vehicles, fire trucks, and even an ice cream truck. Learning truly came to life in ways students could see, touch, and experience.
Students and staff also enjoyed a well-deserved Spring Break, with DCA taking a full week and Happy Hands observing a two-day break.
A major milestone came with our five-year ACSI re-accreditation visit, which went very well. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to reflect on our progress, celebrate growth, and continue strengthening our mission moving forward.
We also celebrated a meaningful technology upgrade thanks to a generous gift from Schuber Mitchell Homes. New Mac computers and a dedicated iPhone are already making it easier to capture and share the moments that matter most across our community.
Our Executive Director, Jan Pride, was featured on the School Success podcast to share more about the mission of Happy Hands.
April Highlights
April was no fooling around! It was a busy month filled with growth, community connections, and exciting opportunities.
We received several calls from organizations across the U.S. interested in learning more about the Happy Hands model. It's encouraging to see others pursuing quality Christian education for Deaf children and exploring ways to expand access to language and learning.
Deaf Christian Academy continues to grow, and we have been actively seeking a space closer to Happy Hands for the upcoming school year. We appreciate your continued prayers for favor and timely provision.
Our families enjoyed a special evening at the Tulsa Zoo's Dream Night, complete with interpreters and accommodations for children with special needs.
Students celebrated Book Character Day in creative and fun ways, and Earth Day provided opportunities to learn about caring for God's creation.
Happy Hands officially became a CarePortal partner with our Launch Day on April 16, opening new opportunities to serve families in our community.
A special thank you to Stewart Martin Kubota for featuring Happy Hands during Orange Days, with April highlighting their Bixby location. We were also honored to receive proceeds from Rotary of Broken Arrow's Trivia Night.
To round out the month, our team participated in Leadership Broken Arrow's Common Ground event, connecting with the community and sharing about the work and mission of Happy Hands.
May Highlights
May was packed with celebrations, community partnerships, and memorable moments.
We kicked off the month by hosting a BNI speed networking event, giving local businesses the opportunity to connect with one another while experiencing the mission of Happy Hands firsthand.
Our 2026 Fun Run was a tremendous success, raising more than $65,500 to support language and education for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are incredibly grateful to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, and participant who made the event possible.
Families also had the opportunity to connect through a Parent Support LIVE event with Deaf Kids Connect, with about 18 parents in attendance. We were especially thankful to welcome our friends Tanya Polstra and Brittany Stacey, whose visit was an encouragement to both our staff and families.
Our Spring Program was a wonderful celebration of student growth throughout the year. Each Happy Hands class shared highlights from their learning, and Deaf Christian Academy students delighted the audience with their performance of Click, Clack, Moo!, showcasing some impressive acting talent.
We also had the privilege of hosting the Deaf Bible Society's board of directors and their families for a campus tour and quarterly board meeting.
As the school year came to a close, students celebrated with special end-of-year traditions. DCA enjoyed a work morning followed by pizza and games, while Happy Hands wrapped up the year with Pizza, Pajamas, and a movie, creating lasting memories before summer break.
More highlights to come as we continue through the year...Thank you for being part of the story!
