April 15, 2008

Meet Rhonda Roby    Rhonda Roby, a 1981 graduate of Putnam City North High School, will become the newest member of the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation Wall of Fame at the Foundation banquet on April 22. Learn more about this world-renowned scientist. Photo by Sergio Azenha Remembrances of a Putnam City High Graduate   Forth-two years ago, Ken Dill walked across a stage to accept his diploma from Putnam City High School. Now an accomplished scientist, Dill remembers how his high school experience helped shape his life. Main News Oklahoma Academic Scholars Named   Ninety-four district students have been named Oklahoma Academic Scholars by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. District Art Students Lead Honorees for Third Year in a Row   Thirteen Putnam City students and one assistant principal will be honored at the State Superintendent's Arts Awards of Excellence ceremonies at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at the Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie. For the third year in a row, Putnam City has more students being honored than any other district. Putnam City Arts Festival Set   Add some color to your life by attending the annual Putnam City Visual and Performing Arts Festival Celebration  on Saturday, May 3, at Putnam City North High School. You'll see art from students in all 27 Putnam City schools and enjoy performances from district vocal music groups, dance troupes, orchestras and bands. Online Art Museum   See the newest exhibit in our online art museum! Student Achievements   Putnam City students at all levels are winning honors and recognition. Staff Accomplishments   Putnam City teachers are earning awards and classroom grants. Outstanding Support Staff Named   Five district employees have been honored by the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation with “Outstanding Support Staff” awards for the vital roles they play in the mission and operation of district schools. Podcast Learning through Service   For students in a service learning class at Putnam City West High School, volunteering not only helps the community, it teaches the students a few things about themselves. Teacher Features Joann Rogers, Tulakes Elementary School    Joann Rogers says that from an early age, she knew teaching was what she wanted to do. Karen Cross, Putnam City STRIVE   Karen Cross' teaching is intended to help her students uncover “the dream within – the desire for something better.”   Robin Devere, Kenneth Cooper Middle School   Robin DeVere has taught in Putnam City for 25 years, the last 15 at Kenneth Cooper Middle School. As a science teacher, she's a proponent of hands-on activities to help students learn.   Especially for Parents College Checklists for High School Juniors And Seniors   The school year may be coming to a close, but there's still college planning work to do. Scholars of Note   Putnam North High School’s orchestra (senor orchestra members show above) and Putnam City West High School's orchestra have both been honored by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association with a Distinguished Academic Award for cumulative grade point averages above 3.50. Putnam City West's choir also won the same award.

Poetry Slam Dunk   5th-grade students at Central Intermediate School have been stepping up to the microphone to recite poems as part of recently-held poetry slams. The poems, some original and others drawn from poetry books, have themes appealing to 5th-graders such as animals, eating too much candy, and basketball (as shown above). Fifth-grade teacher James Pratt says reading and reciting poetry creates an appreciation for a different literary form and an appreciation of the versatility of the English language. Deal or No Deal?   That’s the question Coronado Heights Principal Kelly Suchy is trying to answer with her students’ help. The school used the game show theme in a recent assembly to remind students about strategies to use when taking tests. Tips included getting a good night’s sleep, eating a healthy breakfast and using "unraavel" strategies to identify and organize information. PTA Top Teacher   Dennis Elementary School 1st-grade teacher Lynda Imhoff (center) was presented with the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award by the Putnam City PTA Council. Presenting her with the award was Becky Haliburton, a district board member and PTA Council president, and Dianna Wells, PTA president at Dennis Elementary. A nomination letter for Imhoff cited her energy, helpful spirit, welcoming nature and relationship-building skills with students and parents. Imhoff is in her 42nd year of teaching. Seuss Troupe Shares Scoop   Harvest Hills Elementary School 3rd-graders recently learned about tolerance and acceptance from some unusual teachers: Star-Bellied Sneetches, the Who’s from Whoville and other Dr. Seuss characters. The program was performed for Harvest Hills 3rd-graders by “The Seuss Troupe,” an educational performance arts group. The troupe features several students from Putnam City middle schools. Construction Job Progresses   Improvements are underway to Putnam City High School's auditorium backstage area to make it more functional and safe. Included in the improvements are raising and leveling the sloped backstage roof to allow full-size scenery to be flown out of view, addition of a scene shop, new catwalks and moving a dressing room from a second level to stage level. The improvements, which are expected to be completed this summer, are being paid for through MAPS for Kids funds. Click to see the status of all bond projects approved by voters in 2007; bond projects approved by voters in 2005; and MAPS for Kids projects. Talk to Us Are You a Former Junior Scientist?   Putnam City Schools is looking for people who in the last 25 years have taken part in a Junior Scientist Day at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. We’d like to hear from you how that day affected you. Did it further your interest in science? Did it impact your life in an important way? Tell us by e-mailing us at slindley@putnamcityschools.org 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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