Oct. 10, 2007

Kirkland Celebrates 50   Kirkland Elementary School is now 50 years old. Read about its history and check out some of the black-and-white world in which it began. Main News District Students Recognized for Exceptional AP Performance   Eighty-one district high school students have been named AP Scholars. Student Named National Achievement Program Semifinalist   Niekia Franklin of Putnam City High School is one of about 1,600 talented African American high school seniors across the nation and seven in Oklahoma to be named a National Achievement Program semifinalist. District Students Enter Leadership Academy   15 district high school students were among 25 selected in early October for the Superintendent's Leadership Academy at Francis Tuttle Technology Center. Student Achievements   District students are honored for their outstanding accomplishments. Dance Celebration   Hundreds of students at six Putnam City elementary schools will cap five weeks of dance instruction with performances at their schools on Thursday, Oct. 11, and Friday, Oct. 12. Golden Apples   Want to recognize a school employee or a volunteer for promoting excellence in education? Nominate them for a Golden Apple Award. The deadline for fall nominations is Wednesday, Nov. 7. Everything You Want to Know About Putnam City Schools   If you didn’t see the recent Putnam City supplement in the Oklahoman, you can see it online right here. Teacher Features Nina Lindsey, Windsor Hills Elementary School   When she was 5 years old, Nina Lindsey decided she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. Her dream became a reality, and she now spends each day making sure kindergarten is memorable for her students. Cheryl Sade, James L. Dennis Elementary School   Cheryl Sade teaches 4-year olds and finds that the most rewarding part of her job is the look of pride her students have when they accomplish something new. Cindy Wagner, Ralph Downs Elementary School   Looking at the whole child rather than just at his or her academic success is one of the primary goals of 3rd-grade teacher Cindy Wagner. Brooke Wilson, Northridge Elementary School   Brooke Wilson tells her 5th-graders that everyone will succeed in her class and that no one will fail. That's exactly what happens.   Especially for Parents Parents Now Connected   Putnam City parents can now go online to check student grades, attendance and more. It's the Law: Things Parents Can Never Know About Student Discipline   Federal laws concerning privacy of information don't allow parents to know about discipline given to any student other than their own. 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. Send Us Your News   When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org

Sending to Soldiers   Central Elementary School 1st-graders and 2nd-graders recently created and sent more than 250 cards to soldiers serving in Iraq. Pinwheels for Peace   Students at eight Putnam City schools took part in "Pinwheels for Peace," an event marking International Day of Peace on Sept. 21. Students constructed and decorated thousands of pinwheels and placed them in schoolyards. Students Get their ABCs at Lunch   In late September, students in all 18 Putnam City elementary schools tried out a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables – some they had never seen before – as part of a special school lunch program called the "A to Z Salad Bar." For one week, the elementary salad bar each day featured five fruits or vegetables representing a different letter of the alphabet. Some of the foods sampled by students included jicama, loquat, quince, Ugli Fruit and Zante currants. The program, sponsored by Sodexho, was designed to teach students the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and encourage them to try new foods. Supplying Fitness and Flags   Western Oaks Elementary School recently received a donation of $500 and an American flag from Woodmen of the World/Omaha Life Insurance Society. The funds will encourage student fitness by providing supplies for the school’s 100-mile club. Especially for Staff Dear Ray Bradbury   The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to enter Letters About Literature, a national reading-writing contest. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre – fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. 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.