The District of Choice
Tami Marler, Director
Public Information
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School News - Tip Sheet - 7/30/2008
Grand Opening for Early Childhood Education Center
7/31/2008, 1:30 p.m.
A grand opening for the Skelly Early Childhood Education Center is July 31st at 1:30 p.m.
Funded through a combination of state and private donations—including a multi-million dollar contribution from the George Kaiser Family Foundation—the center reflects a commitment to enhance and expand learning through Oklahoma’s Pilot Early Childhood Program, approved by state lawmakers in 2006 and touted by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett as “one of Oklahoma's greatest hopes for a successful future.” The program caters to low-income children. Almost nine out of ten recipients are minorities and six out of ten live in a single-parent home.
The center “will provide our community with services that will help prepare children and their families for a successful entry into Skelly Elementary. We look forward to the opportunity to work with CAP,” said Skelly Principal Mike Howe.
The Community Action Project of Tulsa County is tasked with running the center. The project has issued the following statement on the childhood program: “We believe that early childhood education coupled with family strengthening programs represent the best pathway out of poverty for low-income families, improving prospects for academic success, wage-earning capacity, and economic independence.”
“Tulsa Public Schools is a strategic partner for us in terms of where we site and build our early childhood education centers,” said Catheryn Mason, the Community Action Project of Tulsa County’s Director of Development and Communication.
The grand opening includes a tour of the facility, located at 8811 East 31st Street. Organizers are not wasting any time making the center operable: On-site enrollment services will available at 2 p.m. that day.
Play Examines Parenting, Learning
8/1/2008
A locally-produced play featuring a TPS employee and Booker T. Washington student takes a unique look at the education process.
“This is an example of how young men are taught not only by their school, but by their parents,” Ronald Friedberg says of the production of “The Chosen,” in which he plays the lead character’s father. Friedberg’s day job is coordinator of purchasing for TPS, and he appears in the play along with August Luc, a BTW student.
Based on an award-winning novel, “The Chosen” is August 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. and August 3 at 2 p.m. at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10. For reservations contact the center at 596-7111. This event is part of SummerStage and sponsored in part by the Tulsa PAC Trust.
Cutt-Off Sends Students to School in Style
8/11/2008, 8 a.m.
A close shave can be a good thing. Just ask one of the several thousand area youngsters that took advantage of the Barber Cutt-Off, an annual event that sends students to school looking styled and spiffy.
This year’s Cutt-Off marks the sixteenth annual. As they have done since 1992 local barbers and stylists donate their time and skills to students in elementary and middle schools, also chipping in with school supplies and free lunches.
“Last year we serviced over 2,000 kids,” said Tamara Lockett, one of the Cutt-Off’s coordinators, “because some parents can’t even afford haircuts for their children and this helps them start school with confidence.”
The Cutt-Off is Sunday, Aug 10, at the Hutcherson YMCA, located on east Pine and Peoria. Organizers say they are always looking for volunteers. Contact Kenya Hill at 405-881-4817 or email barbercuttoff@gmail.com, for more information.
Input Wanted On Alternative Ed.
8/20/2008, 5 p.m.
Tulsa Public Schools wants your input as part of an alternative education audit. The effort, mandated by the TPS Board of Education, is all about keeping the district at the head of the class.
“We look at all of our alternative education sites,” said Roberta Ellis, Assistant to the Superintendent for Accountability and Research. “We want to be at the cutting edge of what alternative schools do nationally.”
The district is partnering with MGT of America, Inc, one of the nation’s leading educational management consulting firms, in hosting an Alternative Education Community Open House. The public is invited to participate in what’s called a “Walk About”—essentially sharing ideas through written comments. Topics will be varied and open, ranging from accommodations and eligibility to professional development and parent involvement.
The Walk About is 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, at the Education Service Center, Cheryl Selman Room, 3027 South New Haven Avenue.
