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School News - Tip Sheet - 9/16/2009

East High School at McLain Football Game Cancelled 

9/14/2009

The East High School of Kansas City/McLain football game scheduled for September 18 at McLain High School has been cancelled. Kansas officials say financial constraints require them to forfeit the game.

 

New Hire Drives Street School’s Internship Program 

9/15/2009

Street School, a tuition-free dropout prevention, intervention, and recovery program for Tulsa high school students, is expanding its internship program. The move mirrors a current trend in alternative education through which students receive hands-on learning opportunities to enrich their educational experience. Street School was on the cutting edge of this approach when it began its Student Internship program five years ago. The program has been a success and many participating companies have hired student interns while other students have used the skills they learned to find employment.

Milannie Siegfried recently joined Street’s staff as internship instructor. Siegfried is a Tulsa native and holds a master’s degree from TU.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to work here. The internship program is designed to show students the link between education and employment,” Siegfried said. “We want to create a well-rounded individual that has self-confidence and can see the purpose of serving our community.”

Street School has been in the Tulsa community for over 35 years. It continues to serve as a model for other alternative educations programs and is Oklahoma’s longest running and most successful program meeting the needs of at-risk youth.

 

Students Take Part in National Anthem Project 

9/17/2009, 9 a.m.

Children at McKinley Elementary School will be singing the “Star Spangled Banner” as part of their participation in the National Anthem Project. The project came about after a 2004 Harris Poll revealed two out of three Americans do not know the anthem’s lyrics.

Originally scheduled for Monday but rained out, McKinley students will stand in the form of the 1814 American flag flying over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key penned the legendary tune.

McKinley music teacher Sharon Hatfield says in addition to ensuring students know the anthem’s words, the project reminds them of America’s stunning achievements.

“We live in the greatest country in the world and sometimes you tell a student that and they say, ‘We do?’ So this event also shows patriotism,” she said.

 

Edison’s Ham Wins Prestigious Award 

9/17/2009

Tina Ham, library media specialist at Edison Preparatory School, has won this year’s Polly Clarke Award. Named after a veteran librarian that passed away in 1986, the award recognizes “an Oklahoma school library media specialist who has been instrumental in the establishment of an exemplary library media program,” according to the Oklahoma Association of School Library Media Specialists.

A 17-year employee of Tulsa Public Schools, Ham has served as library media specialist for over a decade. She is nationally board certified and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and Northeastern State University.

TPS has recently dominated the awards. Carver Middle School’s Mona Edwards received the honor in 2008 and Barbara McBride-Smith of Hoover Elementary in 2007.

 

McLain Golf Tournament 

9/19/2009, 8 a.m.

An upcoming golf tournament builds on the success McLain School for Science and Technology is experiencing after being removed from the state’s Needs to Improve List. In the past half decade McLain has achieved a stunning academic turnaround. In 2004 the average End-of-Instruction test score was 562 in Algebra 1 and 204 in English II. In 2009 those numbers skyrocketed to 1285 in Algebra 1, 1115 in English II.

“It feels great,” said Latina Busby, McLain’s parent facilitator, “and credit goes to everyone—the teachers, the students and the parents. Our students in particular need to be applauded for proving to the community that they can succeed and that we at McLain can match up with any high school in TPS.”

McLain activities move outdoors on Saturday, September 19, as the school holds its first annual golf tournament at the Cotton Club Golf Course in Mounds. A shotgun start is at 8 a.m. with lunch served at 12:30 p.m.

As one of four new, interest-based magnet high school in the district, McLain offers courses in aerospace, avionics, robotics, materials science, environmental and meteorological studies, wave mechanics, and aviation maintenance technology. Administrators at McLain, where a banner reads “Success is the ONLY Option,” say there is now an exciting sense of accomplishment at their school.

“There was a lot of hard work that everyone put in to get us where we are today,” said Ebony Johnson, co-principal at McLain.

The first annual McLain High School Golf Tournament is Saturday, September 19, at the Cotton Club Golf Course in Mounds, Oklahoma. A shotgun start is at 8 a.m. with lunch served at 12:30 p.m. Anyone interested in signing up or becoming a sponsor should call 853-3636 or 200-4427. The fee is $60 per golfer.

McLain's magnet program offers courses in aerospace, avionics, robotics, materials science, environmental and meteorological studies, wave mechanics and aviation maintenance technology.

 

Staying Prepared at Owen Elementary 

9/25/2009, 9 a.m.

The idea behind National Preparedness Month is simple: In the event of an emergency are you prepared and what to do if you aren't? Rest assured that by Friday, September 25, students attending at least one school in the TPS system will be ready and cool as the proverbial cucumber. That’s because Owen Elementary is participating in the Ready Oklahoma / Ready Kids campaign, a week-long joint effort by the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security and Radio Disney featuring information, teacher tools and disaster scenarios designed to ensure children are ready in case of a disaster. The week culminates with a 9:30 a.m. assembly on Friday, September 25, that includes members of Radio Disney bringing their special brand of music and energy.

“We are covering all sorts of disaster situations—including tornados. We believe that any information we can provide is a good thing,” said Angie Teas, Owen’s principal. “The more prepared our students are the less there is a chance they will panic and do the wrong thing.”

“Regardless of the type or size of the emergency when it is happening to you, it is a very stressful time,” said Oklahoma Homeland Security Director Kerry Pettingill. “That’s why we are encouraging all Oklahomans to take a few minutes now—before an emergency occurs—to get prepared. It’s easy to do and can only ease the anxiety when a crisis is affecting your family.”

 

Essay Contest Blows Away Competition 

9/25/2009

"Sustainable Energy: It's Important to Our Community" is the theme of an essay contest awarding $30 thousand in total prizes and open to all district middle school science students. The contest runs September 8-22, with Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor announcing the winner on September 25. The winner's school will receive a fully operational, 30-foot wind turbine to be unveiled October 23. Second and third place winners earn DVDS, books and other educational materials for their school’s library.

Other rules: The essay must be at least 500 words and no longer than 1500, typed and double-spaced using the Times New Roman 12-point font. The essay must also contain a cover page including the student’s name, school, grade and science teacher’s name. Submit printed entries to Trish Pruitt in the ESC by 4 p.m. on September 22. p>

Essay Flyer

 

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