Nov. 13, 2007

Teacher Suprised with Award   Putnam City West High School English teacher Dionne Liebl (center) was named in late October as winner of one of the most prestigious awards a teacher may earn: the Milken Family Foundation’s National Educator Award. Only two such awards are given out each year in Oklahoma. The award comes with a check for $25,000. Main News For the Centennial, Read Some History   Did you know Putnam City almost became the site for Oklahoma's State Capitol? For details, check out page 5 of this Metropolitan Library Publication or dig into the history section of Putnam City's website. Advanced Placement Helps Students   Students at Putnam City’s three high schools last year earned college credit and saved money in college costs by taking advanced placement (AP) courses and passing AP tests. Students Earn Spots in Honor Bands   37 Putnam City middle school and high school students earned spots in Central Oklahoma Director's Association honor bands. Student Achievements   District students are honored for their outstanding accomplishments. Pealor Honored as Oklahoma’s Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year   Melanie Pealor, assistant principal at Putnam City West High School, has been named assistant principal of the year by the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals. Online Art Museum   Check out November's works in the district's online art museum. Podcasts Study of Shakespeare Accompanied by Advice from Parents   Hear a podcast on how students study Hamlet and hear words of wisdom from their own parents. Taking Debate   Hear a podcast about how high school debate teaches life skills. Teacher Features Crista Graham, Western Oaks Elementary School  Crista Graham has loved art since she was a child. Now as an art teacher, Graham works to help her own students enjoy exploring new ideas and techniques in art. Erica Nilsson, Putnam City High School   When her first career proved unsatisfying, Nilsson sought alternative certification and became a math teacher at Putnam City High School. She now says she's doing something meaningful. Tim Sanders, Hefner Middle SchoolT im Sanders left the world of finance to teach middle school students the technology skills they need to succeed in tomorrow's careers. Sally Kilby, Will Rogers Elementary School  Building strong relationships with her students and watching them soar higher and farther than they ever imagined are two of the most rewarding experiences to Sally Kilby. Especially for Parents Paying for College   The federal Department of Education's website provides information on federal aid programs, tax credits, student and parent repayment options and links to private scholarship sites. You’ll also find the online free application for federal student aid (the FAFSA) and general college planning information. Staph Infections   Reports of antibiotic-resistant staph infections have been in the news recently. Here's the latest fact sheet from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department. Tell Us What You Think About Putnam City Schools   Putnam City Schools has launched an online survey to gather input from the community about the quality of schools, the challenges schools face and more. Help us improve our schools and school district by taking this short survey. Kenneth Cooper Camouflage   Students at Kenneth Cooper Middle School celebrated Red Ribbon Week with "Camo Day" to demonstrate the fight against drugs. Students also decorated grocery bags from a nearby grocery store with drug-free messages, then returned them to the store to be used for customers' groceries. Send Us Your News   When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org

You're Doin' Fine, Oklahoma!   Putnam City High School students are celebrating the state’s centennial by competing to see which 2nd block class can best sing the state song. The spirited renditions of the song, sometimes sung by classes in costume, are being videotaped to be shown in school cafeterias the week of the centennial. Happy Trails   A fitness trail at Western Oaks Elementary School was recently completed. Eight fitness stations on a 1/4-mile trail give students a chance to jog and strengthen different muscle groups. The trail was funded through a grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Laughing Their Way to Health   A health fair at Ralph Downs Elementary School in early November included laughter yoga, Dance Dance Revolution, cup stacking, rock climbing, healthy foods and an assortment of health screenings and informational booths. Amy McSwane, the school’s physical education teacher, said the main reason for the event was to reach out to parents and children to remind them about the importance of health and physical activity. "This generation of children has been labeled Generation "O" for obesity. We want to change them to Generation "A" for active. For that to happen, it will take all of us – students, parents, teachers and the community," McSwane said. Come Back Soon, Mr. Red   Central Intermediate School physical education teacher Cory Redinger was surprised with a student assembly in mid-October on his last day at the school before deployment to the Middle East. In honor of the teacher known as "Mr. Red," students wore red shirts, read essays about heroes and presented their wishes for his safe return. A Little Recycling   Even 4-year-olds at Overholser Elementary School get into the recycling act. In the last four years at Overholser, students, parents, staff and the community have recycled more than 184,000 tons of paper. Crab Lab   The first-ever "Crab Lab" fed a hunger for learning in several classes at Putnam City North High School in mid-October. Food science students and zoology students at Putnam City North High School had live crabs in the classroom for a day as they learned about crab biology, behavior and habitat. A day later, the flavor of learning took a turn as students, teachers and Sodexho staff gathered to prepare crab cakes and crab bisque. Students learned about food safety, preparation and cooking techniques of crabs. Especially for Staff Parent Guides Available   The National Education Association has partnered with the Parent Teacher Association to provide a series of "Parent Guide" brochures. You can download PDFs (color or black and white) or order up to 10 color brochures free of charge. The 11 topics range from A Parent's Guide to Raising Ready Readers to A Parent's Guide to Testing at Your Child's School. Fill Someone's Bucket   Is there someone you want to publicly thank for the help they provided or the good things they do? Here’s your chance.