Sept. 7, 2006

Nursing Students to Success  School nurses strengthen the educational process through better student health. Celebrating Scores  Students, teachers and high school cheerleaders celebrate Central Intermediate School's improved state test scores at a gathering in late August. Results of state tests in reading, math and other subjects show continued improvement in achievement by Putnam City elementary students. Features 8th-grade Test Scores Hit All-time Highs   Achievement by Putnam City 8th-grade students on state tests of proficiency in reading, math and other subjects show steady gains over a four-year period and are now at their highest levels ever. 6th- and 7th-grade Test Scores   Results from Oklahoma's first tests of state 6th and 7th-graders in reading and math showed Putnam City students are doing well. ACT Scores Climb Higher   ACT scores of the Putnam City’s 2006 graduates increased in every area compared to 2005 graduates and continued to be higher than state averages. Clothes-minded   Tulakes Elementary students reported to school this year in uniforms. Parents and teachers support the endeavor, and results so far are encouraging. Students Join Youth Council   Five district high school students have been selected to be part of the 2006-2007 Youth Council of Oklahoma City. Music to Your Ears   More than 2,000 student musicians playing in 22 high school marching bands will take part in the Sixth Annual Putnam City Marching Classic on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Putnam City Stadium. Accomplishments   District staff are honored for their outstanding work. On the Move   Here's a list of moved or new principals, assistant principals and administrative interns. It's Fore the Schools  Swing by the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation annual golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 30, to help raise funds for district schools. Points of Pride   Here's a reminder of the many successes in the district last year. Especially for Parents How to Contact Your Child's School  Here’s how to find phone numbers or e-mail addresses for staff at your child’s school. Survey Shows Minors Get Liquor Close To HomeAccording to recent surveys, 65 percent of teens get alcohol from family and friends. "Be a parent, not a bartender," Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson says. Basic (and Sometimes Surprising) Facts about the U.S. Education System   This report by the Center on Education Policy highlights important facts about students, teachers, achievement, funding and other facets of the U.S. education system and how things have changed -- and will continue to change -- over time. Putting the Cat Before the Horse   If it has finally donged on you that the English language is changing, you may enjoy checking out a website devoted to collecting the kind of unusual English spellings known as "eggcorns." What separates eggcorns from simply a wrong word choice is that an eggcorn often makes sense at some level. If this gets your dandruff up, you may just have to give up the goat. 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. And read our first "applause" moment about the three Putnam City West teachers who helped an accident victim pinned underneath his truck. Colonial Williamsburg Deadline Near   The deadline is almost here for Oklahoma teachers in grades 5 and 8 to apply for free subscriptions to Colonial Williamsburg electronic field trips.

The Secrets of Middle School   It's common for elementary students to be anxious when they start middle school. Experienced middle schoolers tell the rookies what to expect and how to handle themselves. A Guide to High School  Last year's high school seniors give advice to incoming 9th-graders about how to make high school years a success. New Computers   Putnam City’s 10 middle school keyboarding labs received new computers over the summer. Each of the 250 new computers has a 3GHz processor, 512 Mb of memory and an 80 GB hard drive. The cost of the new computers was covered by bonds approved by Putnam City voters in October 2003. Construction Adds Offices, Classrooms    Nine new classrooms and a new office are in use on the east side of Putnam City North High School this year. The new office is part of a new visitor main entrance to the school that increases security in the building. The new classrooms take the place of temporary buildings formerly on the site. The $1.58 million cost of the construction was paid for through bonds approved by voters in October 2003. Other projects this summer included: Remodeling of the consumer science area at Putnam City High School Installation of more energy-efficient windows and doors at Putnam City West New heat and air at Capps Middle School Electrical improvements at Capps Middle School and Western Oaks Middle School Installation of new lights in the middle school football stadium Installation of artificial turf at high schools Continued work on auditorium improvements at all three high schools Send Us Your News  When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org