Helping Struggling Students   For some students, classes are easy and school is a breeze. For others, classes drain them and school strains them. When student struggles go beyond assistance that a classroom teacher can offer, what’s left? Read these brief summaries of help programs available to Putnam City’s middle school and high school students. Features End of an Era    For more than three decades, Myrna Sipes succeeded in a job in which many people would have trouble lasting a day. Now Putnam City's first woman bus driver is retiring. Big Benefits, Little Known   Putnam City offers a number of programs that are not widely known but are valuable for those involved. In this first of a series, learn about Putnam City’s Even Start program.  Author Visits Elementary Schools   Students at 16 district elementary schools will enjoy appearances in November by award-winning Oklahoma author Darleen Bailey Beard. Achievements and Awards Mr. Write   A Putnam City North High School senior is among nine Oklahoma high school seniors and 628 seniors across the country recognized as outstanding writers in the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in Writing. Students Lead the Way  Seven district high school students are part of the 2005-2006 Youth Leadership Exchange. Year In, Year Out, Yearbook Wins Awards   Putnam City North High School’s 2005 yearbook was honored at the fall convention of the Oklahoma Scholastic Media/Oklahoma Interscholastic Press Association. Performers on Winning Streak   Students from Putnam City North and Putnam City West earned honors in recent debate, drama and band competition. Staff Awards and Accomplishments   A variety of community organizations recognize district teachers for their efforts. Not Too Late to Nominate   Nomination forms are still available for 2006 Academic All-State scholarships. Nomination forms are also available for the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence Awards in Teaching and Administration, and the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence Awards in Alternative Education. Events Into the Woods   In one play you get fairy tale favorites, witty dialogue, inventive song lyrics and a great musical score. Could you ask for more? See this Putnam City West Performing Arts Department production Friday, Nov. 4, or Saturday, Nov. 5. Souding the Thunder   Putnam City North High School’s Drama Department offers Thunder on Sycamore Street  on Thursday, Dec. 1, and Friday, Dec. 2. Especially for Parents Teachers' Top 100 Books   Looking for good books for your child? The NEA surveyed teachers across the nation several years ago and came up with this list of good literature for children. Kids’ Top 100 Books   Teachers aren’t the only ones who know good books for children. Kids do, too. Here’s results of a survey of students about their favorite books. Reading With Your Child   Children who are read to and who read for pleasure are typically more successful in school than children without these experiences. From the NEA, here are tips for parents for reading with infants and toddlers, students in kindergarten through third grade and students in fourth through sixth grade. The Value of Reading   "I find television very educating. Every time someone turns the set on, I go into the other room and read a book," Groucho Marx once said. Read what others have said about the value of reading. Especially for Staff Learning About Disability Income Insurance   Here's a chance to learn more about disability income insurance, one of your benefits as an employee of Putnam City Schools. How Many Students Are in Your School?   See where your school stands in terms of numbers of students, and see where the district stands as a whole. Tighten Your Writing by Tossing Tautologies   Using unnecessary words makes our written and spoken language a mess, a communications professor says.

Students Show Constitution's True Colors   As part of their study of the U.S. Constitution, 20 Mayfield Middle School students designed and painted a mural illustrating the uniqueness and importance of the document. Teacher Andrea Uphaus says the mural gave students the chance to connect Constitutional concepts to powerful visual images. Singer Sells Success   O'So Krispie (center), the singer and dancer who recently joined TLC, one of the highest-selling female groups of all time, was at Tulakes Elementary in mid-October to talk with students about the importance of education. Pictured with O’so Krispie are her cousin Ashanti, a Tulakes student, and Lee Roland, the Tulakes principal. Books are Binding   More than 100 parents joined their children at Overholser Elementary School in late October for a family literacy event. At the school’s first-ever Camp Readalot, parents and their children read together in the school cafeteria and students were allowed to choose one book to keep. The event was modeled on Central Elementary’s Camp Readalot, which has been held each winter for more than 15 years. Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix   Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson visited Western Oaks Middle School in late October to announce a statewide initiative to fight underage drinking in Oklahoma. Talk to Us Tell Us About Your Tutors   Do you have tutors working with students at your school? Tell us about it! Tell us how much you like them. Send us stories of the good work they’re doing. Tell us how your students benefit. Tell us how the tutors themselves benefit. When we gather enough material, we’ll run an article in Putnam City Now. Send your information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org Send Us Your News   When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org