CARNEGIE DEFINITIONS

Adopters - Through the Adopt-A-School program, businesses and corporations may adopt an individual school.  This allows the company’s employees to work with the students to enhance their education.  Adopters also help the school with special needs. Carnegie’s current adopters are Southern Hills Retirement Center, and Celebration Station.

Assemblies - These are usually held at the end of each month or as need arises.  School spirit, positive action and student recognition are included in agenda.  Parents are always welcome to attend.

Authors' Party - This is a book signing reception for students who have written and published a book through the Carnegie Publishing Company.  Students read and share their work with each other and guests.  Family and friends are invited to attend.  An RSVP is requested as refreshments are served.

Back-To-School Night - This is an opportunity for parents to visit their child’s classroom and visit with the teacher.  The teacher will usually give a brief description of the agenda for the upcoming school year and classroom procedures.

Bicycle Rodeo - This event combines fun with safety.  Qualified adults give free safety checks on the students’ bikes and teach students bicycle safety and rules of the road.

Book Fair - Students may purchase new books at the Book Fair that is held in the library and usually takes place in January.  Proceeds are designated to the library.

Building Use Form - If an area of the Carnegie school building needs to be reserved for a club activity, a ‘Building Use Form’ is required.  These forms are available in the front office.  The form must be approved by the principal and marked on the master calendar in the front office.  Please allow 2 weeks for completion of approval.

Carnegie Publishing Company - This is a PTA-sponsored program that encourages students to participate in creative writing.  Students may submit their stories or collection of stories to their teachers.  The Publishing Company provides editors to work one-on-one with the students during the editing process.  Once the books are edited, they are scheduled to be typed, proofed, hardcover bound and returned to students for any artwork to be included in the book.  The culminating event is the Authors' Party.

Carnegie Showcase - An exhibition of student art work in grades K-5 that is held each year.  Family and friends are encouraged to attend the exhibition in conjunction with the March PTA Unit Meeting.  Selected students' works are chosen to be displayed at the District Art Exhibit held at the Education Service Center.  All district entrants receive a participation certificate.

Class Parties - Fall and Valentine parties are held in each Homeroom class.  Parents plan and host the parties.  Contributions are collected from each student at the beginning of the year to provide funds for these parties.

Copy Machines - Copy machines are available for official school use by PTA volunteers or staff.  If you need assistance with a machine, please ask the office staff.

Foreign Language - Through PTA sponsorship, classes in French and Spanish are made available to Carnegie students.  These classes meet before or after school and consist of a 10-week study course in the fall and again in the spring. There is a nominal fee for these courses.

Foundation - The Carnegie Elementary School Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to promote the advancement of educational excellence at Carnegie.  The Foundation provides financial assistance for programs and projects at Carnegie.  These may include academic, cultural, athletic, and other activities that benefit the Carnegie Elementary School student body and faculty.  The Foundation Board of Directors oversees investments, as dictated by the by-laws of the Foundation.

Grandparents' Day - Students may invite their grandparents to have lunch with them during their normal lunch hour on Grandparents' Day.  After invitations are issued, students must turn in the number of reservations for their grandparents before the deadline to ensure that the appropriate number of lunches is ordered.  Because of the limited serving capability of the cafeteria, parents are discouraged from attending the Grandparents' Day lunch.

Ice Cream Bulletin - The monthly PTA Bulletin with information and dates of important PTA programs and events.  The information in the bulletin directly affects the students and the school; every parent should read it to be aware of upcoming events and deadlines.  Ice cream treats are given to a number of students each month who return the portion of the bulletin designated for a parental signature.

Invention Convention - Carnegie students get a chance to exhibit any invention they have created.  All exhibits will receive a ribbon for participating.  This event is held in conjunction with the Science Fair in February.

Jog-A-Thon - The major fundraising event of the year for the Carnegie PTA is the Carnegie Challenge Jog-A-Thon.  It is usually held in early fall.  Students are given pledge envelopes to collect pledges either by flat donation or on a per-lap basis.  The students are given a certain amount of time to complete as many laps as possible.

Junior Achievement - This is an activity where students in grades K-5 can participate in advanced humanities concepts of social studies and economics.  Trained volunteers from the community manage the program.

Junior Great Books - This is a PTA-sponsored program where Carnegie students (2nd - 5th grade) can sign up to read a classic short story each week and participate in a group discussion led by a trained volunteer.  This is a 6-12 week program.  

Labels/Box Tops for Education - This is an ongoing campaign to collect various product labels associated with the Campbell’s Soup Company (such as Pepperidge Farm, Marie’s, Prego, Pace) and the General Mills Company (such as various cereals marked ‘Boxtops for Education’).  These coupons are redeemed for credit to purchase educational items for the school.  Information on what labels to collect is available in the front office.

Mentors - This is a program sponsored by the Tulsa Public School System where adults are individually teamed with a child for weekly interaction to discuss the child’s interests.  Our school counselor works with each teacher to determine which students would most benefit from these relationships. These are not counseling sessions, but more of an adult/child friendship.

Peer Tutoring - Older students are paired with younger students to assist them with a challenging subject.

Pizza Bingo - Families participate in this spring PTA fundraiser by eating pizza in the cafeteria and playing bingo in the gymnasium.  All food and bingo cards must be purchased with tickets, which are sold in advance or at the door.  Prizes for bingo are donated by local businesses.  A silent auction of “theme” baskets takes place in conjunction with Pizza Bingo.  Each homeroom class provides a basket for the auction. Individuals or families may also donate baskets.

PTA Board Meetings - Held the first Thursday of each month in the cafeteria at 9:00 a.m.; refreshments are served at 8:45 a.m. These meetings are open to all Carnegie PTA members and parents.  The elected officers and committee chairmen are expected to attend. The Board discusses current business, fundraising activities, and receives committee reports.  

PTA Membership - This is a standing committee of the PTA Board.  Its purpose is to promote PTA membership within the Carnegie community.  A portion of the membership fee funds the National and State PTA programs and the remainder supports the local PTA Unit.  The purchase of a PTA Membership allows you to vote on business issues at the monthly PTA Unit Meetings.  Memberships are available to everyone, including parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and the community.

PTA Unit Meetings - Usually held the second Tuesday of each month.  A brief business meeting begins the program.  A current Treasurer’s Report is posted at each meeting.  After the business portion of the meeting has concluded, there is usually a guest speaker or a program by the students of Carnegie, such as the Carnegie Showcase, the Invention Convention & Science Fair, or physical education and grade level programs.  All card-carrying members of the Carnegie PTA Unit are eligible to vote on business items.

PTA Volunteer room - This room is located across from the library.  It is the home of the Carnegie Publishing Company.  The laminating machine and the Ellison die-cut machine are both located in this room.  Volunteer hours can be recorded here.

Reflections - This is a Cultural Arts Program sponsored by the National PTA.  Students submit an art form for competition on a local level.  This art form may consist of a piece of art work, photography, literature or musical competition.  This year’s nationally chosen theme is “I hold in my hand…".  Students receive certificates for participating and the top participants can go on to the City, State, and National competitions.

School Supply Sale - Approximately one week before school starts, the PTA sponsors a School Supply Sale.  Parents are able to purchase pre-packaged school supplies for their child’s grade level.  All necessary supplies are included in these packets.  This is a convenient service to Carnegie parents and students.  Notices of the summer sale are sent to all students currently enrolled at Carnegie.

School Window Decals - These non-adhesive decals are available in office for $3.00.

Science Enrichment - This is a PTA-funded activity for 4th and 5th graders.  It is a hands-on lab experiment program that enables students to experience advanced science concepts in biology and physical science.  Trained volunteers conduct the lab sessions.

Science Fair - Students from all grades have the opportunity to perform experiments and display their results.  All participants receive recognition.  Top participants go on to participate in a District competition.

Shared Decision-Making Council - The Shared Decision-Making Council serves solely in an advisory capacity to the Principal.  The Principal has the ultimate responsibility for all decisions made at the site level.  Topics that may be brought before the Shared Decision Making Council may include: annual site improvement plans, class schedules, school restructuring, use of space, extra-curricular activities, field trips, fundraising, technology, financial resources allocated to the school, safety, and building and grounds concerns.  All Carnegie parents are welcome to attend the monthly meetings held the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the teachers’ lounge.  To be placed on the agenda for any given meeting, please contact the Council’s chairperson.

Speech Arts Festival - The Speech Arts Festival is a yearly speech competition.  Participation is on a voluntary basis and open to all students in grades K-5.  Students in K-2 may participate in poetry, expository speech, or retold stories.  Students in grades 3-5 may participate in poetry, expository speech, retold stories, and fables.

Talent Show - This is an annual PTA-sponsored event showcasing a variety of talents performed by students.  Grades K-5 are eligible to participate.  The talent show committee will screen all acts during a "try-out" session.  All students who try-out will be in the show.

Volunteer Hours - Hours turned in by anyone who volunteers time to our school or students.  These hours are very important to record.  Record sheets for writing down volunteer hours can be found in the front office, the volunteer room, the primary wing and the kindergarten work room.  These hours represent to the School District the amount of volunteerism that takes place in our school.  Volunteer Hours may be recorded for PTA meetings, calls, work, etc. as well as Cub and Girl Scouting.  Any activity sponsored by the PTA or the School qualifies as Volunteer Hours.  Ask the 2nd Vice President-Volunteer Coordinator for help in recording any hours.