Celebration of Excellence   More than 400 people in attendance at the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation Celebration of Excellence banquet on April 3 took part in honoring a distinguished district graduate, Dr. Carlan Yates. Excellent Educators, school site grants and scholarship winners were also announced.   Dino Art   Three Hilldale Elementary School students have their work hanging in an exhibit of dinosaur art at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in Norman. Features Putnam City to Hold Teacher Job Fair   Graduating education students or certified teachers from other districts are invited to attend the Putnam City Schools Teacher Job Fair from 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17. Academy Students Write Books of Hope   A project in two English classes at Putnam City Academy has opened students’ eyes and hearts to the plight of the "Invisible Children of Uganda."  Creative Writing Podcast   Students in Angela Lee's Creative Writing Class at Putnam City North High School recently wrote stories that contain lessons for readers. Hear students read their stories. Putnam City North Prepares for State Student Council Meeting   More than 20 committees consisting of Putnam City North High School students, staff and parents are busily working to ensure hundreds of Oklahoma high school students enjoy a meaningful experience during the state student council convention scheduled for November at Putnam City North. District Fine Arts Students, Teacher to be Honored    Twelve Putnam City students and one district art teacher will be honored at the State Superintendent's Arts Awards of Excellence ceremonies. Putnam City has more students being honored than any other district. Student's Work Goes on Billboards   A Putnam City North High School student has her disability contest-winning poster on display on billboards across Oklahoma City.   Putnam City West Student Wins State Poetry Contest   A Putnam City West High School student is the state winner of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Student Achievements   Students are speaking, singing and thinking their way to awards across the state. Visit Putnam City's Online Art Museum   See art by district students.   Kids' Cooking Contest Coming Up   All Putnam City elementary students are invited to enter the First Annual Kids’ Cooking Contest sponsored by Putnam City’s Child Nutrition Department and Sodexho. Staff Honors   Putnam City teachers are honored for their talent and dedication. Especially for Parents  Driving: Through the Eyes of Teens   A study by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm reports on what it's like to be a teen driver. One finding: distractions from cell phones to passengers contribute to thousands of crashes a year. Tornado Tips   Tornadoes have already spun through Oklahoma County this year, one just barely skipping past Putnam City boundaries. Is your family ready for a tornado coming your way?  Help Us Improve Putnam City Now   As a reader of Putnam City Now, you’re in a position to help us make it better. Please take a short reader survey. We’ll use the results to make Putnam City Now more informative and enjoyable. Especially for Staff Let’s Hear Some Applause   Is there someone you want to publicly thank for the help they provided or the good things they do? Here’s your chance.  Help Us Improve Putnam City Now   As a reader of Putnam City Now, you’re in a position to help us make it better. Please take a short reader survey. We’ll use the results to make Putnam City Now more informative and enjoyable. Putnam City Students Don Lab Coats   The white lab coats may have been a bit baggy and the safety goggles slightly loose, but that didn’t stop 36 Putnam City students from learning about science on Junior Scientist Day at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Library Legends   Bettie Estes-Rickner (left), the district’s current director of Library Media Services, and Gerry Willingham, the district’s director of Library Media Services from 1971-1991, were honored as two of Oklahoma’s 100 Library Legends by the Oklahoma Library Association in early April. The Oklahoma Library Legends is a centennial project to recognize the 100 individuals and groups who have made the most significant contributions to the growth, development and excellence of Oklahoma’s libraries during the state’s first 100 years. Educator of the Year   Debora Stover (right), a counselor at Mayfield Middle School, was named Putnam City Council PTA Outstanding Educator of the Year in early April. Presenting the award were Becky Haliburton (left) and Cindy Gibbs.

A Fiesta at Central Intermediate   Central Intermediate teacher Amy Williams held a fiesta for some of the school’s ELL students in early March. Students read a story about a fiesta to their parents, ate food brought by families and took the opportunity to sign up for Metropolitan Library cards. A Hair-raising Event   Students at Lake Park Elementary School took part in cutting and coloring Principal John Lunn’s hair into a blue Mohawk. Lunn’s new look was the result of students meeting a fund-raising challenge for the school's annual cancer drive. Marine Science   Overholser Elementary 4th-grade and 5th-grade students have been engaged in weeks of research and experiments as they study marine science. Above, two students investigate density using water, salt and an egg. Mighty Minds   Third-grade and fourth-grade students at Ralph Downs Elementary starred in Mighty Minds, a play written by music teacher Cristi Miller. Through characters representing subjects students study in school, the play provided testing tips and assurance to students in the audience. Her Art is in the Right Place   As part of Youth Arts Month in the disrict, a Central Elementary School student donated a piece of her art to the district for permanent display. A Shot in the Arm   Thanks to Putnam City nurses, hundreds of students at Putnam City West, Putnam City North and Putnam City High have received immunization for meningitis at no cost. The shots are a requirement for entrance into college, so the opportunity for students to get the shots at school for free saves parents time and money. High school nurses organized the immunization days by notifying students and parents, acquiring permission slips and inviting the Oklahoma City-County Health Department to provide vaccines. Students Get Ready for Storms   Hundreds of Putnam City students are now safer in stormy weather, thanks to visits by Ch. 5 Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell, OG&E's Larry the Lineman, Ronald McDonald and others to Western Oaks Elementary School and Will Rogers Elementary School. The visits were part of the McReady program coordinated by Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The program teaches students what to do before, during and after storms and emergencies in order to be safe. Send Us Your News   When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org