Dec. 16, 2004

Every Dog Has His Day   Central Intermediate School third-graders don’t have to be hounded to write. Central Intermediate third-grader Blake Jackson holds "Owney the Traveling Dog" (left) as she writes a story about Owney’s visit to her school. Owney travels to classrooms around the country by mail. When Owney arrives in a class, students write facts about their state on postcards and mail them to participating classes in the other 49 states. Students learn about the United States by receiving postcards from other schools. Many Hands Make Lights Work   Putnam City High School students spent a day in mid-November at the Children’s Center in Bethany, helping hospital staff put up lights for their annual Christmas Wonderland. Students are members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club. Top of the Class   Teachers of the Year for each of Putnam City’s 27 schools have been named. They will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year reception at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, at the Oklahoma City Marriott, 3233 N.W. Expressway Awards and Achievements   Read about the accomplishments of district teachers and students. Nine is the Number   Nine more Putnam City teachers have earned National Board Certification, the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards announced in early December. Students Named AP Scholar   Forty-six students from Putnam City high schools earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. Training for Tech on Deck   The Technololgy Department is once again proving opportunites for District teachers and employees to increase their technology knowledge. See the spring schedule! United Way Report  This year's United Way campaign has concluded in the district. Thanks so much to all 438 employees who donated! Totals from this year and the six previous years: 2004-2005: 438 givers, $29,871 2003-2004: 391 givers, $27,937 2002-2003: 452 givers, $30,889 2001-2002: 552 givers, $35,613 2000-2001: 595 givers, $36,227 1999-2000: 561 givers, $29,776 1998-1999: 524 givers, $26,660 Especially for Parents Teen-age Drug Use   Research shows that young people are less likely to use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs if their parents set clear rules about not doing so. From Parents, the Anti-Drug, here’s information about how to set clear rules, how to talk with your teen about the rules and what to say if the rules get broken. Learning at an Early Age   You are your child's first and most influential teacher. The Parents as Teacher National Center offers fun things you can do with your child – before birth up to age 6 -- to promote pre-reading development. Make Your Plans   The 2005-2006 district calendar has been approved and is now online.  College Costs   Saving enough to pay for higher education costs can seem almost overwhelming. Here's information on the Oklahoma College Savings Plan.		Golden Apples Awarded   At the Dec. 6 meeting of the Putnam City Board of Education, five employees were awarded Golden Apples by the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation. Honorees were (front row, from left) Linda Rogers of Putnam City West; Sandy Cook of Mayfield Middle School; (standing, from left) Diane Welker of Central Intermediate School; Andria Phillips of Putnam City West; and Sheila Zummer of Hilldale Elementary.   Band Aid   Putnam City West principal Dr. Linda Everett was one of several guest conductors of the Putnam City West High School band and orchestra during a concert for younger students in mid-November. The concert was held to generate interest in playing in the band or orchestra among students in elementary and middle school that feed into Putnam City West. Students heard a variety of music, including songs from Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, songs from Bugs Bunny and Sponge Bob Squarepants cartoons and a Sousa march. Traveling in Style   Students in one Windsor Hills Elementary School 3rd-grade class were treated to a limousine ride, a pizza party and a visit from Santa in mid-December. Chesapeake Energy Corporation, one of the country’s largest natural gas producers and a “Partner in Education” for Windsor Hills, took the entire class to corporate headquarters for a holiday party. The Writing is on the Wall   In the spring, former Putnam City teacher, principal and superintendent Leo Mayfield became the first member of the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation Wall of Fame. In November, the wall itself became a reality in the district’s administration building. Above, Mayfield (left) views his portrait along with Foundation president James R. Dickson. Send Us Your News   When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org
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