STILLWATER, Okla. — Last school year, graduating seniors at Stillwater High School recorded an average ACT score of 22.8, which ranked in the top 10 of all schools in the state and top five of all Class 6A schools.

Uwe Gordon wants to set the bar higher.

The Stillwater High School principal and his teaching staff have set a goal to improve the average ACT score to 24.

“We can do it. We can get there,” Gordon said.

To assist in that effort, Gordon has assigned advanced placement chemistry teacher Tracy Fugate to instruct four ACT prep classes prior to the next test on Oct. 27.

Fugate will administer practice tests and instruct students on reading skills and testing strategy from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Oct. 25 in the presentation room at the high school.

The cost is $20 per student, and Gordon said it’s worth it.

“It’s unrealistic to think you are going to have 5-point swings, but even if it’s 1 or 2 points, that’s an improvement,” Gordon said.

Gordon said five students at the high school have already recorded scores of 35 on the ACT. The maximum score is 36.

ACT prep specialist Chad Cargill will hold a one-night test preparation class Nov. 12 at the high school in advance of the Dec. 8 ACT testing date, Gordon said. Cost is $35.

Wednesday marks the last day of school before a short fall break. Stillwater High School uses the block schedule and will begin the second nine weeks of instruction when classes resume Monday.

Gordon said a primary focus for the second nine weeks will be December’s end of instruction tests Students are required to pass four of seven core subjects, including English II and English III, U.S. history, biology, algebra I and II and geometry.

• Stillwater Public Schools is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health to provide a Youth Suicide Prevention Workshop for teachers, staff, parents and community members Monday at Meridian Technology Center. The workshop for staff will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and for parents from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• The high school’s website features an Infinite Campus Parent Portal app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices so that parents can quickly access their student’s grades and data. The links are located at the bottom of the main Infinite Campus page on the website. The required school code is “JHJPVL.”

• Skyline Elementary School will be hosting a communitywide scrap metal collection day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3 in the school’s west parking lot.

Principal Andrea Rains said the metal collected will be sold to Northern Oklahoma Metal, a scrap metal company in Stillwater. Rains said the school will accept anything from bicycles, swing sets, old appliances, aluminum cans, window frames, etc.

Skyline’s project is being held in conjunction with America Recycles Day on Nov. 15. Rains said Skyline will promote environmental awareness at the school through Nov. 20, the last day of school before Thanksgiving break.

The Skyline Parent Teacher Association will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 in the outdoor classroom on the school’s campus.

Skyline received a $7,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife last May to renovate the outdoor classroom. Rains said the funding should arrive soon.