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School News - Tip Sheet - 12/10/2008

Tulsa Leads State in Nationally Board Certified Teachers 

12/9/2008

Oklahoma is one of seven states where Nationally Board Certified teachers comprise at least five-percent of the total teaching force, and the state ranks eighth in the nation in the number of new board-certified teachers. Tulsa leads all Oklahoma cities with 131.

“National Board Certification is a sound investment, a force in student achievement and a factor in teaching excellence that is reshaping teaching and learning in our schools,” said Joseph A. Aguerrebere, president and chief executive officer of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

One example of a TPS school that values certification is Grissom Elementary, which boasts seven educators that have passed the board’s requirements.

“It increases the professional standards you use in the classroom,” said Grissom Principal Jennifer Gripado, one of the seven. “It makes for what I would call a reflective teacher. You think about your practice, how it can be modified, and what you can do to make your students learn.”

To interview Gripado or one of the six other board-certified teachers at Grissom call 918- 833-9460 or e-mail gripaje@tulsaschools.org. The national board’s website is www.nbpts.org.

 

Wilson Signs PIE Agreement 

12/10/2008, 10:15 a.m.

 

Woodrow Wilson Middle School today signed a Partners in Education agreement with both the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by black college students, and a business specializing in oil and natural gas recovery.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and New Dominion, L.L.C., have already been mentoring and providing other assistance to Wilson students. Today’s ceremony formalized the partnership.

“We cannot have enough mentors” said Wilson principal Oliver Wallace. “It is so important to our students. Our parents are appreciative and so is our staff.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha was established in 1908 and currently has 200,000 members. The sorority’s partnership with Wilson includes mentoring sixth graders.

“We will talk with the students about careers, colleges and leadership skills,” said sorority president La Verne Ford Wimberly. “You name it—we’ll talk about it.”

Partners in Education is a collaborative effort between the Tulsa Metro Chamber and Tulsa Public Schools. The program's focus is to link TPS students with community resources in order to provide skills and knowledge needed for success.

“It’s cool,” said Wilson student Selma Drake. “It’s nice to know someone is out there to help.” To view current Partners in Education success stories or for more information go to www.tulsachamber.com.

 

FREE Parent/Guardian Class
"Don't Pop Your Cork!": Dealing with Anger and Stress in the Home 

12/10/2008, 6:30 p.m.

The CREOKS Family Life Training Program provides families, grandparents, etc. with outstanding parenting classes, resources, and referral services to strengthen our parenting skills and parental involvement. Every parent faces challenges while raising children. Unfortunately, our children were not born with an instruction manual. This program will also provide parents with new ideas, tips, advice, and even a support group for the rollercoaster journey of raising children. Reservations are required.

For more information, or to enroll please contact Stacey Berry, the Family Life Coordinator, at stacey.berry@creoks.org or by phone 227-2016 ext. 150.

According to the Family Life policy, a class minimum of 3 is required. All classes are subject to cancellation.

"Don't Pop Your Cork!": Dealing with Anger and Stress in the Home

WED. 12/10/08. 6:30PM - 8:00PM, Memorial High School Library – 5840 S. Hudson Avenue, Tulsa

Anger is an emotion that exists in all families and all human beings. Unfortunately, families of this generation bear little resemblance to the “Leave It to Beaver” clan. The lifestyles of this generation create a host of stresses on the family. Come learn about the emotion of anger, develop skills in recognizing the underlying causes of anger, and learn how to express anger in healthy ways. You will also learn to recognize that stress is a natural part of life, learn how to identify and cope with stressors and the signs of stressors, and recognize ways we can help our families get the support they need during times of stress.

 

Tulsa Academic Center to Receive Thousands of Books 

12/16/2008, 11:30 a.m.

The largest after-school math and reading program in the world is donating in the neighborhood of a thousand books to the Tulsa Academic Center.

Kumon Central Math & Reading, a Tulsa franchise of the New Jersey-based company with offices in forty countries around the globe, is delivering the books to TAC on Tuesday, December 16, at 11:30 a.m. The timing is intentional.

“We thought that by putting the books in the hands of the students during the holiday season we could generate more reading,” said Varsha Desai, director of Kumon. “Maybe their parents and siblings will read them, too.”

Kumon solicited the donated books from multiple sources including students, parents, private businesses and civic organizations. For the past several weeks visitors to the company’s south-central Tulsa offices were greeted by a box outside affixed with a note asking for new and used books. Kumon staffers coordinated with TAC Principal Candas Bullock on the project.

Created by educator Toru Kumon, Kumon centers—incorporating the Kumon Method—allow students to work at their own pace in order to master fundamental skills in reading and mathematics. There are 1,500 of the centers in North America.

“Most of the schools out there do a good job,” Desai said, “but there are always going to be students that fall through the cracks. That’s where we can come in and help. We can partner with the schools and help them.”

Go to www.kumonsctulsa.com for more information

 

Elementary Students to Visit Assisted Living Center 

12/19/2008, 10 a.m.

McKinley Elementary School students are delivering holiday cheer to residents of the Prairie Rose Assisted Living Center.

Teacher Carolyn McDonald—who will also, along with her class, demonstrate pillow making—reports her students have been hard at work preparing gifts to give to the residents. McKinley music teacher Sharon Hatfield is teaching her charges to perform “Christmas at the OK Corral.”

The public and media are invited to attend. Call 833-8720 for more information.

 

Award-Wining TPS Students to Perform MLK Speeches 

1/15/2009, 6:30 p.m.

Three students in the Tulsa Public Schools system that received accolades during a speech contest honoring legendary civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., will reprise their performances this week.

The contest’s theme was: “I Have a Dream, Too.” Students were not allowed to paraphrase or directly quote from Dr. King’s original “I Have a Dream” speech. The competition, a mainstay for over a decade and judged by members of the local media, was held at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.

Eighteen students entered. The third place winner was Kerr Elementary’s Robert Oterra, second place went to Mitchell Elementary’s Angelo Ramirez and Kennedy Brooks, a student at Carnegie Elementary, took first.

“All of the students did outstanding,” said Bill Crowell, an associate minister at the church. “Kennedy—she’s a ball of fire. The first line in her speech was, ‘I may be small but I have big dreams.’ The crowd was hanging on her every word.”

You can hear it for yourself. Angelo, Kennedy and Robert will deliver their speeches again when the church holds their annual awards dinner on January 15 at 6:30 p.m. Contact Crowell at 699-0127 for more information.

 

District Students Selected by Music Educators Association 

1/28/2009

Tulsa Public Schools is extremely well-represented as the Oklahoma Music Educators Association selects its All-State Choir and Jazz Ensemble.

Paige Godfrey, the district’s music curriculum specialist, reports the choir and ensemble are “very prestigious groups chosen from the top musicians across the state.”

Here is the TPS line-up: Betsy Hays, Edison High School and Madelyn Edwards, East Central High School, were selected for the choir.

Ben Cowen and Taylor Johnson, Edison, have been tapped for the jazz ensemble. Booker T. Washington’s Terri Fleming and Madeline Lackey and Memorial High School’s Sara Weisman are part of the All-State Women’s Choir. The association’s annual conference is January 28-31, 2009, at the Tulsa Convention Center. Go to www.OKMEA.org for more information.

 

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