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School News - Tip Sheet - 3/26/2008

Parents as Teachers a Grant Recipient 

3/26/2008

The TPS Parents as Teachers program has received a grant from the Pan American Round Table of Tulsa to help with literacy activities for Hispanic families in Tulsa. The grant, totaling $1,000, will fund meetings at a trio of area elementary schools, Marshall, Kendall-Whittier and Springdale, for Hispanic parents with children under school age.

PAT coordinator Chris Maricle says the meetings, dubbed “Block Fests” — “Festivale de Bloques” in Espanol — will feature stations for parents to engage in learning activities with their children, along with tips on facilitating such learning at home.

Parents as Teachers is a national organization working to provide parents with child development knowledge and support. The local chapter’s website is: http://www.tulsaschools.org/sp/pat/

 

Rogers Skateboard Contest 

3/27/2008, 5 p.m.

Since the first modern skateboard was constructed in a California surf shop in 1958, the art of skateboarding has exploded like an Ollie (an aerial skateboarding trick for those of us not hip enough to know). Now a teacher at Rogers High School is sponsoring a skateboard design contest for his students.

Leslie Alden reports that the designs are being created on poster boards in the shape of skateboards. You can check them out on March 27 at The Board Shop, located at 1142 S. Harvard. That’s also when the winning design and runners-up will be selected.

 

All Around Asia 

3/27/2008, 6:30 p.m.

“All Around Asia” is the theme at Eisenhower International Elementary School. Second and third graders are working on a musical presentation — using Orff instruments — complete with dances from the countries in the continent of Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Russia.

 

Booker T. Grads Return For Concert 

3/28/2008, 1:30 p.m.

See—you can go home again, at least if your one of the six Booker T. Washington graduates coming back to Tulsa to perform a series of concerts this month.

The students are members of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vesper Choir and they’ve already had some prestigious gigs, including a concert at the Vatican. On March 28 at 1:30 p.m. they’ll be performing at BTW. Other venues during their Tulsa visit include the Metropolitan Baptist Church and St. Andrew Baptist Church.

The choir performs a varied program of classical choral repertoire, spirituals, choral jazz, commercial music, music of popular appeal and gospel selections.

The former BTW students are: Jamaal Dyer, Brandy Gildon, Akela Leach, Skylar Scott and Robert Washington from the Class of 2004 and Janitha Lawson from the Class of 2007.

 

Bust That Test At Penn 

3/28/2008, 1 p.m.

They’ll have a drum line, what Victoria Ellington of William Penn Elementary calls “a dynamite explosion of rhythm and sound.” Add to that a first and second grade teachers cheerleading team and you just might end up with some pretty pumped kids.

Which is the idea.

Penn’s brain trust is preparing for the “Bust That Test” pep rally, a massive effort to get students psyched up and on the top of their game for April’s state tests. The rally is Friday afternoon in Penn’s gym. Central High School’s celebrated drum line is coming. The public is invited to attend.

 

Roosevelt Movers and Shakers 

3/28/2008

Students and staffers at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School are branching out, with fourth graders readying to go road trippin’ and the school’s library specialist recognized for her intellectual prowess.

The students are traveling to Oklahoma City on March 24 courtesy of a grant from longtime Tulsa company Williams. The purpose of the trip is the Omniplex Science Museum, a sensory treat boasting a dome theatre, aviation and space artifacts, hands-on science exhibits, cultural galleries and a planetarium.

Roosevelt parent facilitator Sandra Joseph says her mini-Einsteins can’t wait to visit the Omniplex.

“They’ve earned it,” she said.

Two days later library specialist Grace Lockridge will be in Florida getting inducted into the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Alumni Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes Lockridge’s three straight years representing Langston University in the quizbowl tournament. Lockridge says she’ll parlay the induction into a lesson.

“I think I can come back and show the kids that it pays to read, pays to use an almanac,” she said.

The Honda all-star challenge is administered by the College Bowl Company for historically black colleges. Sponsored by the Honda Motor Company, the tourney has been around since 1989.

 

Busy Time at Remington 

3/28/2008, 11 a.m.

Remington Elementary has a full stale in the next few weeks, with a volunteer luncheon, family literacy night, parent/teacher conferences and a book fair all coming up.

First up is a volunteer luncheon on March 28 at 11 a.m. Lela Clayton, parent involvement facilitator, says it’s an opportunity “to honor those in our community who have partnered with Remington — as well as our parents — who support Remington with their invaluable contributions to our boys and girls.”

Next is a series of conferences between parents and teachers, designed to create better communication between the two. The conferences are March 31, April 1 and April 3.

Sandwiched between the conferences is the first Book Fair Tuesday, running from Tuesday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 8.

Family Literacy Night is Thursday, April 3. Literature is available that provides parents tips on imparting a lifelong love of reading to their offspring. Refreshments will be served and free gift certificates given away.

 

Pirates of Penzance Comes to McKinley 

3/28/2008, 1:30 p.m.

Members of the Tulsa Opera are paying a visit to McKinley Elementary School this month, bringing sets and costumes so that fifth-grade students can perform “The Pirates of Penzance.”

The Tulsa Opera is one of McKinley’s Partners in Education and have provided the McKinley family with free tickets to attend an opera performance, the “Magic Flute,” in April.

“The Pirates of Penzance” is a classic from the legendary duo of Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert. It debuted in 1879 and is one of the most frequently played Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Its 1981 Broadway revival by Joseph Papp ran for 787 performances and spawned a slew of imitations.

 

Central Golfer Scores Again 

3/29/2008, 1 p.m.

What a year it’s been for Lee Prince. The Central High School senior has already been selected to play at a tournament in California’s Pebble Beach, and now he’s also netted a $40,000 scholarship.

We first told you about Prince a few months back when DeMarco Morgan, a Tulsa native currently working as a news anchor in Florida, became so impressed by the teen that he awarded him a scholarship. Now Prince has also netted a scholarship from The First Tee, a organization with the goal of improving the lives of youth through the game of golf and the values that are required to play it.

Prince has also been picked to play at the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

“These young people displayed excellent golf skills and knowledge of the life skills curriculum,” said The First Tee Executive Director Joe Louis Barrow, Jr.

Prince will be formally awarded The First Tee scholarship during a 1 p.m. ceremony at Mohawk Park in North Tulsa on March 29.

 

Dolphin Golf Scramble 

3/31/2008, 11 a.m.

Grab your clubs and prepare to engage in one of Scotland’s greatest inventions as Eisenhower International Elementary School hosts a golf scramble this month.

Set for March 31 at 11 a.m. the scramble is designed to raise money for the school’s Spanish and French immersion programs. Eisenhower administrators say everyone — from students to parents to teachers to the general public — is invited to attend.

 

Carver, Eisenhower, Byrd Students to Compete In Bee 

4/4/2008

At least three TPS students have promising careers ahead of them as cartographers. Patrick Wilson of Eisenhower, Nicholas Vandivort of Carver and Michael Kramer of Byrd qualified for the Oklahoma Geographic Bee, taking place at the University of Oklahoma in Norman on April 4.

The trio made the cut after fourth through eighth graders competed to determine their school’s geographic bee winner. Those winners then took a qualifying quiz submitted to the National Geographic Society. The society picked those with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level. The state winner moves to the national competition.

Nicholas is a sixth grader, Carver, fifth grade; Kramer, eighth.

 

Art Ambassadors on the Move 

4/9/2008

Beth Howard, art teacher at Mark Twain Elementary and mentor of the Art Ambassadors, continues to blaze a trail of creativity. Her workshop proposal has been picked for next year’s 19th Annual National Service-Learning Conference, Youth for a Change.

The conference is billed as the largest gathering of youths and practitioners involved in the service-learning movement. The 2007 conference drew attendees from across the United States and 19 other countries. The event provides access to new ideas and networking opportunities, with more than 200 workshops and countless opportunities for informal meetings.

The conference runs from April 9-12 in Minneapolis. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and urban educator Pedro Noguera are delivering the keynote addresses.

Howard is used to awards. In 2006 she was named the Oklahoma Elementary Art Teacher of the Year. She mentors the Art Ambassadors, an organization of students attempting to bridge the gap between school and community with art that beautifies and teaches us all to give back.

 

Zarrow 5K Run 

4/26/2008, 7:30 a.m.

The sixth annual Zarrow 5K Run is coming up April 26, with the Riverside Drive event again benefiting the Foundation for Tulsa Schools.

A one kilometer fun run occurs simultaneously. Early registration costs are: $20 for the 5k run, $10 for the fun run; same-day registration for the 5k is $25, $15 for the fun run. Early registration must be postmarked by April 19. Make checks out to the TPS Athletic Department, PO Box 470208 Tulsa, OK 74147-0208.

 

Park Celebrates a Century 

5/2/2008, 10:30 a.m

Park Elementary School celebrates its ten carat diamond anniversary on May 2, marking a century that the school has been in existence. Taking place from 10:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., the celebration includes the school’s annual May Pole event along with a hamburger cookout and entertainment by area performers.

Located in West Tulsa’s Red Fork community, Park was established in 1908, one year after Oklahoma became a state. Park became a part of TPS in 1927. Their current building was built in 1972.

Anyone interested in attending the celebration should RSVP to stoddju@tulsaschools.org or call 746-8860.

 

A Day at the Aquarium 

5/6/2008, 10 a.m.

Children attending Mark Twain Elementary School are taking a trip to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks courtesy of a national retailer with local stores.

The Target Corporation is footing the bill for the students to check out the aquarium’s numerous marine and aquatic animal exhibits.

The aquarium is public and non-profit, dedicated to the mission, “Conservation Through Education.” Located on the Arkansas River, the aquarium opened in 2003.

 

Booker T Students Make Team Oklahoma 

6/6/2008

Dylan Hames and Onkur Sen have their summer plans already set.

At least for a couple of days in June that is.

The two Booker T. Washington students have earned positions on the six-member academic quiz team that will represent the state of Oklahoma at the Panasonic Academic Challenge to be held at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Hames is a senior and Sen is a sophomore. Their trip to the Sunshine State comes after the duo took part in a three- hour competition against students from Oklahoma in the areas of mathematics, science, social studies, and humanities to earn the right to be a part of Team Oklahoma this year. The Panasonic Academic Challenge runs from June 6 through June 11.

 

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