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School News - Tip Sheet - 10/1/2008

TPS Police Officers Agree: It’s all about the Children 

9/29/2008

Scott Streeter is a third generation police officer. Billy Shriver spent ten years in the United States Marine Corps before getting involved in community policing. Tony Moore is a 17-year law enforcement veteran that most recently ran his own business.

Scott, Billy and Tony are three of the officers recruited by TPS Campus Police Chief Gary Rudick to serve as patrolmen in the district’s schools. The men, along with about a dozen others, are undergoing orientation all week.

While the recruits give varying accounts for joining the district, there’s a common thread: A desire to help children.

“If we can reach out and change the life of even one child it will be worth everything,” Moore said.

Shriver has been a football, baseball and wrestling coach. He also served a stint as the schools resource officer for the Tahlequah Police Department.

“Having a son of my own means I’ve been around kids for a long time,” he said. “Trying to make my son the best citizen he can be makes me want to translate that into the schools.”

“This job is a good way to get in with kids,” Streeter said. “I want to make a difference for the future because I love children.”

Rudick has been recruiting since last summer. He knows that in addition to patrolling, observing and keeping the peace, his officers—the vast majority of them parents themselves—will be called upon to perform an even greater task.

“So many of our (students in the district) may not have male role models at home,” he says, “and these guys are role models. So maybe they can be the big brother or father figure that some of these children are lacking.”

 

East Central’s Dawson Named Counselor of the Year 

10/1/2008

She’s called the “Energizer Bunny” by at least one of her colleagues so perhaps it’s no surprise that Dr. Karen Dawson has been named the Oklahoma Counseling Association’s Counselor of the Year.

Dawson instructs at East Central and she’s amassed an array of professional accomplishments. She’s a nationally board certified counselor, a licensed professional counselor and counselor supervisor, and holds a Master’s Degree in psychology.

“I refer to her as the Energizer Bunny because of her incredible energy and enthusiasm. She has a fabulous relationship with our students,” said fellow East Central counselor Carol Axley.

“A brilliant lady, a hard worker, a true professional and a person who is devoted to the education and success of her students in three words—Dr. Karen Dawson,” said East Central teacher John Nein.

Dawson is a 1980 graduate of Northeastern University. She’s also won the Northeast Regional Counselor of the Year Award, the Oklahoma Education Association’s Excellence Award for Teachers Teaching Teachers and the Mayor’s Pinnacle Award.

 

Chinese Students Arrive At Airport 

10/2/2008, 5:15 p.m

Chinese students from Hoover Elementary’s sister school are arriving on a United Airlines flight at Tulsa International Airport on October 2 at 5:15 p.m.

It’s the kick-off a whirlwind five-day visit to Tulsa. The students hail from Chongqing, a city of 31,442,300 located in western China.

The day after they arrive, the students will be feted at an 8:30 a.m. Hoover assembly. They’ll be visiting classrooms the rest of the day.

The media is welcome to catch up with the students and spotlight Hoover’s fruitful partnership.

 

Chinese Students Visit Salk 

10/2/2008, 9 a.m.

Many Americans received a lesson on Chinese culture during the recent Beijing Olympics and now it’s Salk Elementary School’s turn to play host. On Wednesday, October 2, a group of middle school students from Beijing visit the school as part of an exchange program. Salk officials are rolling out the welcome mat: When the visitors from the Far East stop by Cathy Breslin's first grade class they’ll be serenaded by students that have been studying Chinese to the point of learning words and phrases (including a song).

 

Hoover Students Welcome Chinese Counterparts 

10/3/2008

A friendship spanning thousands of miles is renewed as students from Hoover Elementary’s sister school were greeted by their peers at Tulsa International Airport. The arrival of students from Chongqing, a city of 31,442,300 located in western China, kicked-off a week’s worth of a whirlwind tour.

Hoover students and staffers greeted the visitors with sings and banners. The love goes both ways.

“Our friendship has lasted for three years,” said Xu Tao, the principal of a Hoover’s sister schools, through interpreter Yo Yo. “Tulsa is very good. Fabulous people here and they are so friendly. It feels to us like we are at home.”

“It’s a connection felt by both educators and students,” said Hoover principal Elaine Reusser. “You really can see the commonalities of schools thousands of miles apart.”

A delegation from Hoover has already visited Chongqing. Following their dramatic arrival at the airport, the Chinese delegation was welcomed with a large assembly the following morning and is spending the rest of their visit touring Hoover’s classrooms and facilities and checking Tulsa out.

 

Hamilton Students to be Exposed to Law Enforcement Careers 

10/3/2008, 8:45 a.m.

A career fair at Hamilton Middle School aims to illustrate to students the myriad of employment opportunities available in fields related to law enforcement. Representatives at the fair include volunteers from the FBI, regional fire departments, area law firms and other members of the local judicial system, and the Tulsa County Parks Department.

The fair is sponsored by the Tulsa County Bar Association and Hamilton Middle School Career Academy. There is no charge for the event.

 

Celebration of Frederic Remington's Birthday 

10/3/2008, 8:30 a.m.

Happy 147th birthday Frederick Remington. Remington’s namesake, Remington Elementary, celebrates the posthumous birthday of the famed American painter, illustrator, sculptor and writer with a week’s worth of celebrations that kicked off September 29 and runs until 0ctober 3.

Students at the school are creating monochromatic paintings modeled after Remington’s nightscapes. On Friday, October 3, a gallery of the students’ works will be on display for all to see. The artist’s paintings frequently focused on the Old West and to mark his forte the school’s music teacher, Jolynn Sanders, has been rehearsing old-time cowboy songs to sing with students while marshmallows are roasted (yum!).

Born October 4, 1861, Remington concentrated on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and recreated images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry. He died December 26, 1909.

 

Zarrow Students Display Artwork at Noche de Gala  

10/11/2008, 6:30 p.m.

Artwork created by students at Henry Zarrow International School represents some of the items auctioned off at this year’s Noche de Gala, a fundraiser for the Hispanic American Foundation. The foundation provides “scholarships for students studying Spanish and promoting Spanish cultural issues. They also partner with educational intuitions in the city,” said Cristina Smith Williams, a foundation board member.

“The Zarrow International art project is an example of a wonderful partnership between (the foundation) and educational programs in the community. The children are so proud to be making something that helps raise money for scholarships,” said Dr. Nilda Reyes, chair of the foundation.

Zarrow teacher Sondra Williamson says Tulsa artist Juan Robinson Franco served as a creative muse for the students, inspiring their artwork.

Noche de Gala (the closest literal translation is “fancy evening”) is at the Southern Hills Country Club on Saturday, October 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

Bully Proofing Kids 

10/11/2008, 10 a.m.

While hard statistics are tough to obtain, most people that have attended school in the United States have at least anecdotal evidence of bullying and the pain it causes.

A one-day workshop aimed at all parents and teachers—as well as students in the fourth and fifth grades—will address the problem. “Bully Proofing Kids” is at the Tulsa Technology Center’s Lemley Campus on Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In a flyer promoting the event, organizers sound an alarm about bullying: “Across the United States, countless students are afraid to go to school while others are helpless witnesses. And children who bully have been shown to have significant problems later in life.”

For more information or to pre-register call 918-560-1114. The deadline to register is Oct. 8.

 

Renowned Educator Headlining OECTA Conference 

10/16/2008, 8 a.m.

Internationally known educator, author and licensed professional counselor Esther Williams is headlining the Oklahoma Early Childhood Teacher’s Association conference at Salk Elementary on October 16.

The conference is open to pre-k through second grade teachers. Various topics will be examined during breakout sessions.

Williams holds a Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in counseling from Auburn University. In 1999 she founded the consulting firm Positive Paths.

 

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