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School News - Tip Sheet - 2/11/2009

Family Life Training Program 

2/11/2009

February – April 2009 Schedule

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. 137.

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

All classes are held in the Memorial High School Library – 5840 S. Hudson Avenue, Tulsa

Details of Classes:

• 2/11/08 - “He Hit Me First!”: Sibling Rivalry
• 2/25/08 - “Help! A Teenager Has Moved Into My Child’s Body!”: Easing Transitions into Adolescence
• 3/4/09 - “Get Out of My Space!”: Internet Safety
• 3/11/08 - “Mom’s House-Dad’s House”: Growing Through Single Parenting – Part 1
• 3/25/08 - “Mom’s House-Dad’s House”: Growing Through Single Parenting – Part 2
• 4/8/08 - “Are Our Kids Growing Up Too Fast?”: Parenting to Counterbalance Outside Influences; Pop Culture Collides with Family Values
• 4/22/08 - “Right/Wrong vs. Good/Bad”: Helping Children Learn To Make Healthy Choices

 

 

FREE Parent/Guardian Class
“He Hit Me First!”: Sibling Rivalry 

2/11/2009, 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 roller coaster 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.

“He Hit Me First!”: Sibling Rivalry

Wednesday, 2/11/08, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Memorial High School Library – 5840 S. Hudson Avenue, Tulsa

Sibling rivalry is probably one of the most frustrating and aggravating aspects of parenting. Some children seem to be in one battle after another, while others appear to be more subtle in their conflicts. During this class, we will discuss strategies for understanding sibling rivalry and techniques to minimize the conflict.

 

Come Taste the Winner 

2/11/2009, 6:30 p.m.

They creamed the competition and now you get a chance to taste the fruits of their labor.

The team from Will Rogers High School won this year’s Jr. Iron Chef contest and they’ll be serving up their winning meal on February 11 at the Junior League of Tulsa Headquarters, located at 3633 S. Yale Avenue. Tickets are $25.

Modeled after the game/cooking show hybrid “Iron Chef,” Jr. Iron Chef featured students from Edison, Hale, East Central and Rogers squaring off in the kitchen. That event, held on February 4, saw the Rogers team wow the judges with a dish called “Take a Culinary Journey to Morocco.” Ingredients included Moroccan chicken, braised carrot and olives with lemon zest, and couscous pilaf with raisins and almonds.

In addition to creating a culinary sensation, the Junior League banquet benefits a worthy cause: Anderson Elementary’s Eat Exercise and Excel program, a major bid to reduce childhood obesity rates through physical activity and proper nutrition.

 

University of Tulsa Elementary Art Show 

2/11/2009, 3:30 p.m.

It’s an art lovers dream. Over thirty schools and five-hundred pieces of art will be on display when the University of Tulsa holds its fourth annual art show. The show runs from February 11-20 at the Allan Chapman Activity Center. The opening kicks off with a reception for parents at 3:30 p.m.

The show is free and open to the public.

 

School, Businesses Seek Solutions for Today’s Youth 

2/12/2009, 9:30 a.m.

Positively impacting today’s youth—it’s something you hear a lot about, but what works?

Educators from Will Rogers High School are brainstorming solutions to that very question, getting feedback from the school’s Partners in Education including the YMCA, the Tulsa Area Community School Initiative and Conecciones, an organization working to help Latino students realize academic success.

The groups are meeting for brunch on Thursday, February 12, from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. “with the purpose of exploring partnership opportunities designed to make a positive impact in the lives of our students,” according to Lyda Wilbur, Rogers assistant principal.

The brunch is a follow-up to Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor’s proclamation of February as National Mentoring Month. The meal will be served by Rogers students fresh off their win in the recently-held Jr. Iron Chef contest. The brunch is in room 242 of the Will Rogers Freshman Academy.

 

Student’s Hobby Has Community Buzzing 

2/13/2009

A junior at Memorial High School has a honey of a hobby and bee-cause of it he’s getting some attention.

Scott Hannaford was recently named “Young Beekeeper of the Year” by the Northeast Oklahoma Beekeepers Association.

“I was around eight or nine and one of my teacher’s in-laws brought an operation hive in to school and I was fascinated with how every single worker bee has their own job,” Scott said, “so when I got home I began bugging my dad to get my own hive.”

A decade or so down the road and Scott now has multiple hives. He’s also parlayed his bee acumen into a cool nickname: He’s known around campus as "The King of Sting."

Scott's unusual hobby has won the respect of his peers.

“This kid is a great guy and he could be doing a lot of dumb things to get in trouble but he is not, he is helping provide us with food, teaching the public about bees, and he is very active in the local bee club,” said friend and fellow classmate Jake Young.

 

CareerTech Marks Career and Technology Month 

2/17/2009, 8 a.m.

Did you know the week of February 13-19 was designated Career and Technology week? To mark the event, let’s tell you a bit about the CareerTech Department of Tulsa Public Schools.

According to Academic Integration Specialist Pam Lundy, CareerTech uses 67 programs to serve approximately 10,000 students. These programs receive $1.8 million in funding through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 and state CareerTech funding. The Perkins’ legislation includes No Child Left Behind guidelines that require CareerTech curriculum be designed to improve reading and math skills.

Career and Technology Education has always promoted hands-on education. Students show competence in a skill by completing projects that bring real-world experience into the classroom. Those skill sets have become more complex as technology has rapidly changed the way business and industry function. CareerTech teachers use the latest labor market data to develop new curriculum projects that are based on high skill, high wage, or high demand jobs.

“Our staff works diligently in meeting the challenges before us,” Lundy says. “Rapidly changing technology forces changes in curriculum and teaching methods. Accommodating our students’ varied learning styles forces changes in delivery methods. But the goal has remained the same in CareerTech—to prepare students to enter the workforce, to think critically, to solve problems and to encourage lifelong learning.”

To learn more go to the CareerTech website under "departments" on the TPS homepage.

 

Engineering Design Challenge Highlights Creativity 

2/19/2009, 8:30 a.m.

The Engineering Design Challenge gives students in the Tulsa Public Schools system a chance to flex their creative muscles. Held at OSU-Tulsa, the challenge is geared toward elementary through high school-aged students and is designed to be an enjoyable approach to learning and applying engineering principles, as mini-Einsteins construct a boat from soup to nuts, designing, building and finally racing.

During the event teams solve problems related to stability, thrust, buoyancy electronics, sensors and more. Many of the concepts addressed are suitable topics for classroom lessons. During the design and construction phases, the students will have access to help stations to assist them in electronics testing, propeller design and sources for helpful hints.

“The kids get hands-on experience,” said Angie Erickson of the Learning Services Center at OSU-Tulsa. “Not every kid thinks reading a book is fun so this has more of an appeal.”

Not to say the students participating aren’t smart—just the opposite. In fact, the challenge will spotlight some of the most creative minds among the district’s student body. The challenge begins at 8:30 a.m. on February 19 and runs until 2 p.m. You can go to www.osu-tulsa.okstate.edu/engineeringdesignchallenge/event.asp for more information.

 

Mini-Chefs Square Off 

2/20/2009, 1:30 p.m.

If you consider yourself a connoisseur of fine cuisine, you’ll certainly want to check out these kids! They are mini-masters in the kitchen and they square off at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Webster High School in a cooking contest sponsored by the TPS Child Nutrition Office.

The contest began in January with third, fourth and fifth graders submitting recipes judged on health, simplicity and fun. Of all the recipes received 10 were selected to personally prepare and serve their culinary concoctions. Judges will determine the top three winners based on ease of preparation, healthy ingredients and presentation.

Kit Hines in the TPS Child Nutrition Office says the cook-off will be a great photo-op.

“It’s fun. They’ll have on their chef’s hats. Last year’s winning recipe was a black bean salsa so we’ll see what happens this year,” she said.

All ten finalists will receive a chef’s coat, medal and backpack full of kitchen supplies, and a recipe book. The recipes will be compiled into a cookbook for parents, staff and students.

 

FREE Parent/Guardian Classes
Easing Transitions into Adolescence 

2/25/2009, 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 roller coaster 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. 137.

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

“Help! A Teenager Has Moved Into My Child’s Body!”: Easing Transitions into Adolescence

Wednesday, 2/25/08, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Memorial High School Library - 5840 S. Hudson Avenue, Tulsa

If you’re worried about your child transitioning from elementary to intermediate to middle school or you’ve noticed those drastic changes in your child as the teenage years hit, this is the class for you! This will be an informative class about how to understand the dramatic changes associated with becoming a teenager and how to best communicate with your child during this amazing time. Get the inside scoop!

 

Reception for Board-Certified Teachers Rescheduled 

3/3/2009, 7 p.m.

A reception honoring teachers that have achieved National Board Certification has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m.

The original January 27 date was cancelled due to the region’s ice storms.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, TPS boasts the most board-certified teachers in the state with 131. The district has cultivated a culture that values the distinction.

The program “prepares teachers in a unique and highly successful manner,” said TPS Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard, who is set to speak at the reception. “I strongly encourage all TPS teachers to explore the possibility of becoming an NBC teacher.”

“With the national certification process, great teachers become even better and also set an example for their colleagues,” said State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett.

The reception is at Fulton Teaching and Learning Academy. Board certified teachers from other districts have also been invited to attend.

 

FREE Parent/Guardian Classes
“Get Out of My Space!”: Internet Safety 

3/4/2009, 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 roller coaster 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. 137.

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

“Get Out of My Space!”: Internet Safety
Fulton Teaching & Learning Academy
Auditorium

Wherever there are children/teenagers and computers, there is the potential for dangerous interactions with anonymous “friends” who are not what they seem. Vulnerable or inexperienced children/teens may reveal more personal information than they should, and the consequences may be more than they can handle. How can you protect your child? Come join other interested parents, and listen to Detective Wanzer from the Tulsa Poilce Cyber Crimes Unit. You will learn some technology basics, and discuss ways to reinforce the communication and mutual respect that are the foundation of a healthy child/teen-parent relationship.

 

Skelly Students Field Trip to the Aquarium 

3/11/2009, 9 a.m.

A research project at Skelly Elementary School will culminate in students there going to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks.

Terri Mynatt’s kindergarten class and their fifth-grade reading buddies are able to make the trip courtesy of an $800 grant from the Target Corporation.

An attraction for tourists and locals alike, the 66-acre aquarium opened its doors in 2003. It’s Oklahoma’s only freestanding aquarium and draws about 500,000 visitors annually

 

Kids, Kows, and More  

3/12/2009

TPS third and fourth graders are invited to participate in a program providing an up-close look at agriculture.

“Kids, Kows and More” is sponsored by the Tulsa County OSU Extension Service, Southwest Dairy Association and the Texas Extension Service. The program takes place March 12 and 13 at the Tulsa State Fair Grounds.

The exhibits and demonstrations include dairy, cotton, beef, swine, wheat, sheep and wool. Students attending the expo are encouraged to write an essay called, “What I learned about agriculture on my field trip to Kids, Kows, and More.” Essays are evaluated on agriculture knowledge, originality, creativity and mechanics —including grammar, organization, and punctuation. The winning student will receive a $100 savings bond and the class will receive an ice cream party. For more information, contact the Tulsa County OSU Extension Center at 746-3709.

 

Neighborhood in Rogers' Feeder Pattern Hosts Block Party 

4/18/2009, 11 a.m.

An upcoming block party is being coordinated by a district school.

McKinley Elementary Principal Cassandra Funderburk says the shindig, set for Saturday, April 18, is one aspect of how the school and community are teaming up to beautify their area.

Funderburk and other McKinley staffers have been working with Cathey Hill, a neighborhood liaison for the city, on a Neighborhood Enhancement Project involving all of Will Rogers’ feeder schools.

One example: “We have gone into the neighborhood with Rogers High School students and painted over vandalism,” Funderburk said.

The upcoming block party has been dubbed "Family Fest.” It’s taking place at Maxwell Park, located at 5251 E. Newton. The public is invited to come on out and have some good, clean fun.

 

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