March 11, 2009

Randy Utt Named District's Teacher of the Year   James L. Dennis Elementary School gifted and talented teacher Randy Utt was named Putnam City Schools’ “Teacher of the Year” during the district’s annual celebration of teaching excellence on March 2. Foundation Awards Grants   Jana Rosenkranz (center) of Rollingwood Elementary received one of eight grants given Putnam City Public Schools Foundation awarded in late February and early March. The grants totaled $15,000. With Rosenkranz are Foundation board member Lisa Taylor, left, and Foundation executive director Caroline Gist. Putnam City High Graduate Now a Television Regular   Read how a 1999 Putnam City High graduate says her high school experiences contributed to her success as an actor.   Main News Three Students Named Academic All-State  Teachers of the year for each of Putnam City’s 27 schools will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year reception on Monday, March 2. Teacher Job Fair   Putnam City's fifth annual teacher job fair is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14. Check out the details and spread the word! Online Art Museum   See the artwork by district elementary students in Putnam City's Online Art Museum for March. Arts Coordinator to be Given Medal of Honor   Barbara Gabel, Putnam City’s Fine Arts curriculum specialist, is being honored by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence as one of the state’s top educators. Technology Director Recognized as Best in State  Putnam City’s Executive Director of Information Technology Services, Bettie Estes-Rickner, was named 2009 District Director of Technology of the Year by the Oklahoma Technology Association. Student Achievements   Putnam City students are recognized for their achievements. 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. Teacher Features Donna Kirkevold, Putnam City Academy   Donna Kirkevold says she knew in 6th-grade that she wanted to be a teacher. Fourteen years ago she became the art teacher at Putnam City Academy. Read her thoughts on teaching and her teaching career. Courtney Keck, Putnam City West High School   Putnam City West High School math teacher Courtney Keck believes in making math fun and teaching concepts in different ways so that all students understand. Learn about her teaching philosophies. Stacey Sheldon, Rollingwood Elementary School   Stacey Sheldon still remembers the caring Putnam City teachers who taught her in junior high and high school. Now a teacher herself, Sheldon talks about what she finds meaningful in her own classroom. Especially for Parents Find Your Legislators   Here's a simple way to find the name and contact information for the state and national representatives and senators who represent you. Putnam City Parent News   Read the March issue of Putnam City's newsletter for parents. Especially for Staff Good Stuff   The Library of Congress has a specific site for teachers with lesson plans, interactive projects, and links to primary resources. Pre-retirement Seminars Scheduled   Employees who are thinking about retiring in a few years should attend a pre-retirement meeting to get information to help with making this major decision. Word Processing   What are the most ancient words still in our vocabulary? And years from now, what words are most likely to disappear from use? Send Us Your News   When you have news to share in Putnam City Now, please send information to slindley@putnamcityschools.org

Ferris Wheel Physics   Students in Technology Education classes at Capps Middle School recently studied amusement park ride construction, operation and safety. Students learned vocabulary and concepts associated with amusement park ride construction such as velocity, gravitational force and inertia. As part of the studies, four students built a working 6-foot tall motorized Ferris wheel. Top-notch   More than 30 Lake Park Elementary School students received awards for their accomplishments and abilities in mid-February at the school’s “Lions Pause” assembly. Lions Pause assemblies have been held at Lake Park for more than 17 years. Putnam City's Latest Author   Putnam City STRIVE Center teacher Karen Cross is the district's latest published author. Her new book, If I Had Known, encourages parents to treasure time with their children. Zambian Zest   The Zambian Vocal Group visited Coronado Heights Elementary School in early February, teaching students music concepts such as harmony, vocal percussion and acapella. The group also educated students about Zambia’s culture and challenges. The Cat in the Hat ...   came back to Rollingwood Elementary School on March 2 as part of "Read Across America Day." Elementary schools across the district celebrated the day with readings of Dr. Seuss books and related activities. Every Putnam City elementary student was given a free book from Feed the Children and the Oklahoma Education Association. Reading with the Gingerbread Man   More than 150 parents and students gathered at Western Oaks Elementary School in mid-February to learn fun ways to work on reading at home. Reading teachers Halcy Hall and Laura Ivy modeled a read-aloud using “The Gingerbread Man” story, after which students and parents iced and decorated gingerbread men. Each parent received a copy of “The Gingerbread Man” book along with handouts full of activities to use at home. The event was designed for parents of 1st-grade and 2nd-grade students. Take this Short Survey to 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 Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, or disability.