The Bruin Weekly E-Mail Newsletter

Bartlesville Public Schools’ Friday, November 7, 2008www.bps-ok.org

Volume 3, Number 13

“BPSD:A Greatschool

district”

Superintendent’sChalkboard

The fall is an exciting time for school administrators, teach-ers and students throughout this great state.

In addition to all of the normal activity which is going on in our schools, there is always an eagerly anticipated announce-ment from the Oklahoma State

Department of Education in regards to the annual Academic Performance Index scores.

API is a state testing series which

monitors the academic prog-ress of school districts and the schools which comprise them. API scores range from 0 to 1,500 and are calculated using seven factors. Those factors include assessment results in math and reading, ACT (a college entrance exam) composite scores and participation, advanced place-ment class participation, college remediation, attendance rates,

Latest scores bring more great news

Run for perfectionHoover chalks up unblemished score; district’s other API results star as well

Not surprisingly, perfection feels pretty good.

Thus, whenever staff members at Hoover Elementary recently learned of their school’s unblemished score in the 2008 Academic Performance Index series – an Oklahoma State Department of Education calculation which moni-tors the academic progress of school districts and the schools which com-prise them – they were overjoyed.

But after the initial thrill began to fade, the Hoover teachers and admin-istrators started to focus on the new challenges in front of them.

“They are very proud of their accomplishment,” says Rene Beisley, who is in her first year as the principal at Hoover. “But the thought is, that was last year’s score. What will we do this year?

“How can we continue to improve?”

Hoover Elementary School is sprinting toward several accolades after scoring a perfect 1,500 on the 2008 Academic Performance Index series.

API - Continued to Page 9CHALKBOARD - Continued to Page 11

Rotary Students of the Month: November

Elk Students of the Month: NovemberBartlesville High School seniors Cale

Woodward and Caly Johnson have been named the Elks Students of the Month for November.

Cale is the son of Michael and Beverly Woodrward. He is the BHS yearbook edi-tor and is a member of the Senior Service

League as well. He is a member of the Banc-First Student Board and serves as a teller at Arvest Bank.

He enjoys reading in his spare time.

Caly is the daugh-ter of Lisa and Rick Johnson. She is a member of the Bartles-ville First Baptist

Church Youth Group and Praise Band. Caly is part of the K-Life Club and the K-Life Se-nior Girls Bible Study Group as well. She is a co-leader of the Eighth Grade Girls K-Life

Bible Study at Madi-son Middle School.

Caly has been a National Honor Soci-ety member for the last three years. She is co-president this year and served as president as a sophomore. She has been a student council member since the sixth grade.

Caly is a former volleyball player and served as a Bruin baseball manager for three years. She is a long-time volunteer leader at vacation Bible school.

Elks Students of the Month – all of whom are seniors – are chosen by a com-mittee of Bartlesville High School teachers. They must be of high moral character, have initiative, show leadership capabilities, be good students, and be active and interested in their school and community.

One boy and one girl are selected each month from October through May.

Cale Woodward

Caly Johnson

Craig Fentress

Alexis Wardinsky

Bartlesville High School juniors Craig Fentress and Alexis Wardinsky have been selected as the Rotary Students of the month for November.

Craig is the son of Tom and Cheryl Fentress. A member of the National Honor Society, he has held every major office with the 4-H Club as well. He is a lieuten-ant with the Bartles-ville Police Explorers and is a member of the BHS cross coun-try team.

Craig plays the violin in the BHS Orchestra and enjoys running, hiking, read-ing, watching mov-ies, and playing and listening to music. He works on his family’s ranch, also.

Alexis is the daughter of Michael and Sherri Wardinsky. She has been a member of the student council since she was in the sixth grade, serving as a vice president from 2005-06. A member of the

National Honor Society, she has been part of the BHS swimming team since 2006 and competed in the state finals last year.

The Bartlesville Mid-High School’s “Sophomore of the Year,” Alexis earned four awards for her science fair project last year. Hearing impaired, she en-joys teaching sign language to people. Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, and art.

The Rotary students of the month – both seniors and juniors are eligible – are chosen by a committee of BHS teachers. The students should be of high moral character, have initiative, show lead-ership capabilities, be good students, and

be active and interested in their school and community. One boy and one girl are selected each month from September through May.

The Bartlesville High School varsity boys basketball team is set to take part in the 2008 Coaches Vs. Cancer Scrimmage on Saturday at Union Intermediate High School in Tulsa.

BHS will battle Broken Arrow (11:30 a.m.) and the host Red-skins (2:30 p.m.) in the four-team competition. All proceeds raised will support the local American Cancer Society. Call Margaux Dill (918-841-5411) for more information about the scrimmage.

Bruins set to tip off in Coaches Vs. Cancer Scrimmage

Now in its first year of use within Cindy Garrett’s pre-kinder-garten class at Jane Phillips Elemen-tary School, the language center has proven to be a popular place.

Constructed of durable material and designed in a way which makes all of its components easily acces-sible to its young users, the language center offers areas for reading, writ-ing and listening to books on tape. It has been set up next to the word wall in Garrett’s room, adding an-other available educational element to the area.

“We have markers and crayons at the language center and every-thing is within reach,” says Garrett. “It’s a great organizer for most of the language needs of the students.

“Children are enticed if some-thing looks easy and kid friendly.”

The language center was made possible by a grant from the Ver-digris Valley Electric Cooperative. The grant covered the costs of the language center as well as shipping. The center arrived at Jane Phil-lips on the final day of the 2007-08 academic year, and Garrett and her

assistant Angela Alexander quickly set it up.

Garrett had been unsuccessful in two other grant requests seeking funds for the language center. But Trudy Green, the director of federal programs for the Bartlesville Public School District, let Garrett know about grant possibilities through the VVEC and the subsequent submis-sion was accepted.

Prior to the language center’s arrival, students in Garrett’s class

didn’t always show interest in the designated reading area. However, the language center has proven pop-ular, allowing students to hone their reading, writing and comprehension skills in an inviting atmosphere.

“The students really do enjoy using the language center,” says Garrett. “It’s certainly more enticing than just having a couple of bean bags placed next to a bookshelf.

“We’re getting a lot of use out of it.”

Limo to LunchSelect students from Jane Phillips Elementary School enjoyed a limo ride to and from Mazzio’s Italian Eatery in Bartlesville for a special lunch last month. The students who were able to take part in the lunch were those who sold at least $200 worth of catalog merchandise as part of a school fundraising event. The money raised will go toward the purchase of curriculum items at Jane Phillips while also helping to fund special events.

J.P. students embrace new language center

The new language center in Cindy Garrett’s pre-kindergarten class at Jane Phillips Elementary School was made possible through a grant from the Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative.

Special to The Bruin

Special to The Bruin

District Wordof the Month

GratitudeOn a monthly basis, the Bartlesville Public School

District designates a word (or words) which students and staff members are encouraged to incorporate into their respective lifestyles as a habit. The word of the

month for November is “gratitude.” It means “the state of being grateful; thankfulness.” The BPSD releases a

new habit word monthly from August through May.

Bartlesville Public School District Teacher of the MonthJulie Giovannetti has been named the Teacher of

the Month for November by Arvest Bank and Oakley Pontiac-Buick-Jeep.

The art instructor at Madison Middle School, she comes from a long line of teachers, including her mother,

both grandmoth-ers and an aunt. In recognition of her

achievement, Giovannetti was presented with a plaque at Madison as well as a check for $200 by Stephen Colaw, the Arvest Bank senior vice president and trust officer.

Giovannetti doesn't try to make her students fit into the confines of her curriculum. Instead, she tailors her teaching style and lessons to fit the needs of each and every youngster in her class. During her first art class of any given academic year, she explains to her students that they are each on individualized education plans. Thus, she will gauge every child’s abilities and set her goals and expectations of them relative to her findings.

“I just love it when my students discover they can create something they are proud of in my class,” says Giovannetti. “And every now and then, I get students who are – or will be – far more talented than I am and they are dreaming about becoming artists.”

Though she is now very comfortable in her role as an educator, Giovannetti is far more than just a teacher to the youngsters at Madison. She is a friend and a role model. She is interested in knowing what their hobbies and interests are. She is there when a student needs a helping hand or just someone to listen to them.

“I teach so much more than art in my classroom,” says Giovannetti. “I am teaching my students that people really care about them and that they are unique, interesting and wonderful people.”

Giovannetti is a member of the Bartlesville, Okla-homa and National Education Associations. In the near future, she plans to earn her National Board certifica-tion. She has served on numerous education-oriented committees.

Outside of the teaching environment, she is an ac-tive member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Owasso and coaches two YMCA girls’ basketball teams.

Though she didn’t always plan to follow her fam-ily’s footsteps into the field of education, Giovannetti has apparently found her true calling.

“I am passionate about teaching,” she says. “I ab-solutely love what I do.

“Every day, I feel blessed to be teaching art to my middle school students.”

Madison Middle School art instructor Julie Giovannetti, the Teacher of the Month for November, is congratulated by Stephen Colaw, the Arvest Bank senior vice president and trust officer.

November

The Bartlesville Bruins will wrap up the regu-lar season of their 2008 varsity football campaign this evening at Custer Stadium in a District 6A-3 match-up against the visiting Broken Arrow Tigers.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Bruins are 5-4 overall this season and

3-3 in district play, a game behind Broken Arrow and Sand Springs, which are tied for third place in 6A-3 with like 4-2 marks. The top four finishers in the district will advance to the Class 6A playoffs. Jenks (6-0) and Muskogee (5-1) lead the district.

Bruins looking to break into playoff picture

Craig Prosser has been named the new manager of the Youth Canteen.

A junior at Oklahoma Wesleyan Univer-sity, Prosser is majoring in pastoral ministry.

“Craig brings an abundance of energy and a real passion for young people to our fa-cility,” said Linda Robertson, Service League Canteen Committee chair. “He already has some new ideas which will continue to build

on our great environ-ment.”

The Youth Canteen is owned and operated by the Service League of Bartlesville and pro-vides a fun alcohol-, tobacco- and drug-free place for teens. The recently remod-eled facility is open

to all Washington County students from grades nine through 12.

“The Y.C. is a one-of-a-kind facility,” says Prosser. “There is nothing like it in the area. It has a big screen TV, basketball courts, an outside band shell, and a 2,400 square foot dance room with state-of-the-art sound and lighting.

“I plan to bring in new and unique events and hope to see a steady growth in attendance.”

A Tulsa native, Prosser has lived in Bartlesville for the past two years with his wife Kimberly. A veteran with the U.S. Army, he served two tours of duty in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division.

The Youth Canteen is located at 3401 SE Price Road. Those who would like to learn more about the facility, as well as events and operating times, can call the main number at 333-2470.

OWU junior named new manager of

Youth Canteen

Craig Prosser

Pucker Up for Piggy

Kindergarten teacher Trish Johnson kisses a pig in front of the Will Rogers Early Childhood Center student body and staff members on Tuesday. Johnson received the “honor” as part of a fundraising effort which was part of Will Rogers’ first-ever Fall Carnival, which was held on Oct. 24. Each teacher had a “Kiss the Pig” jar in their rooms. Johnson’s jar was filled with the most money as she won by a quarter. The money raised goes toward the Will Rogers Parent-Teacher Organization. The Fall Carnival was for students and parents, and featured games and a Jupiter Jump among other fun activities.

Bruin Brigade Marching Band closes season in style

The Bruin Brigade Marching Band wrapped up its 2008 season on a high note.

Comprised of approximately 115 students from Bartlesville High School and the Bartlesville Mid-High School, the Bruins earned a superior rating in last week’s Oklahoma Secondary School Ac-tivities Association East 6A Regional March-ing Contest in Broken Arrow. The rating was unanimous among all three judges.

“It’s been a great season,” said Alex Claussen, who is in his first year as the direc-tor of instrumental music for the Bartlesville Public School District. “Getting such a great rating at the OSSAA Regional was a great boost for the program.”

“I was very pleased with the progress the group made. One of my biggest highlights was getting to know the students. The staff and I had a great time with them. I think they had a great time with us as

Alex Claussen

BRUIN BRIGADE - Continued to Page 8

Several Bruins were selected to be part of the 2008 Northeast Okla-homa All-District String Orchestra.

Selections were made on Satur-day at the Tulsa Union Performing Arts Center during the 2008 North-east Oklahoma All-District String Orchestra Clinic. Competing for all-district slots were students from Bartlesville, Broken Arrow, Jenks and Tulsa. Rehearsals were held throughout the day followed by an evening concert.

The three all-district orchestras were divided three groups: advanced (10th through 12 grade), intermedi-ate (ninth through 10th grade) and cadet (seventh grade).

Fifteen students from within the Bartlesville Public School District achieved “high chair” status. The group includes Anthony Gaskill (1st chair bass – advanced), Victoria Stein-hart (2nd chair viola – advanced), Nikki Jackson (4th Chair 1st violin – advanced), Pablo Lopez (concert master – intermediate), Haley Culver (3rd chair viola – intermediate), Ga-briel Carr (3rd chair cello – intermedi-ate), Kevin Harrison (4th chair 2nd violin – intermediate), Claire Malaby (6th chair 1st violin – intermediate), Nick Gaskill (1st chair bass – cadet), Stacee Blake (2nd chair 1st violin – cadet), Tristen Davis (4th chair viola – cadet), Joel French (4th chair 1st violin – cadet), Laura Lopez (6th chair 1st violin – cadet), Briana Sayles (6th chair viola – cadet) and Jack Wiseman (4th chair bass).

Three distinguished clinicians took part in the event on Satur-day. A former conductor with the Wichita Youth Symphony, Ingri Fowler served as the clinician for

the advanced group. She has taught at Wichita State University, Bethel University and Wichita East High School. Cheryl Meyer, the clini-cian for the intermediate group, has taught in Wichita schools for 35 years and has performed in the Wichita Symphony since 1969.

The former president of the American String Teachers Associa-tion, Elizabeth Carroll served as the clinician for the cadet orchestra. She is the founder of String Romp for middle school students, a camp held every fall at Rock Springs Ranch near Junction City, Kan. A long-time orchestra director in Wichita, Kan., she has also been consistently involved in string clinics at Kansas State University.

More than 60 Bruins were se-lected for all-district orchestra. The list is included below.

2008 Northeast Oklahoma All-District String Orchestra

(Bruin representatives)10th Through 12th Grade Orchestra

Violin IAndrew Willis

Nikki JacksonHannah FrenchAnna GarrettShelby StambeckViolin IISarai OgansViolaVictoria SteinhartRachel MoorelandNick DuVarneyViola AlternateTaylor AllenSean HarrisonCelloErica CurtissStephanie BaillargeonEmily MuellerBassAnthony GaskillKevin Knight

8th Through 9th Grade OrchestraViolin IPablo LopezClaire MalabyTracy SungJennifer ChungAlex CoppengerViolin IITom WisemanRyan StevensTab LeMasterEmily KirchnerLatesa SaylesViolin Alternate

Bruins recognized with multiple orchestra honorsMusicians collect ‘high chair’ and all-district

accolades at clinic

Bartlesville students competed against those from Broken Arrow, Jenks and Tulsa for spots in the 2008 Northeast Oklahoma All-District String Orchestra.

ALL - Continued to Page 8

Special to The Bruin

During this year’s national Red Ribbon Week observance, students from Madison Middle School used creativity to help spread a positive message.

An awareness campaign ob-served annually during the last full week in October, Red Ribbon Week is meant to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal drug use. Madison students helped recognize the special week with poster, poetry and writing contests.

The top three finishers in the poster contest – which saw young-sters fashion their creations based on the theme of the 2008 Red Ribbon Week (“Step It Up: A Call To Ac-tion!”) – were eighth grader Beth Fentress (first place), sixth grader Taylor Anderson (second place) and seventh grader Andrea Baldwin (third place).

Julie Giovannetti, the art teacher at Madison, had all of her sixth and seventh grade students take parting the contest and col-lected approximately 60 entries from them. Around four eighth graders took part in the contest as well.

In addition to learning about graphic design, students in Giovannetti’s classes were able to focus on the message behind this year’s Red Rib-bon Week observance while working on their posters.

“I reinforced the theme of ‘Step It Up: A Call To Action!’” says Giovannetti. “It’s not OK just to let something happen. Do something about it.

“We talked about that.”Cash prizes of $15 (first place),

$10 (second) and $5 (third) were awarded to the top three finishers in each of the Red Ribbon Week-themed contests at Madison. While the school’s parent support group sponsored the poster and essay

contests, Hood & Associates provided the prize money for the poetry and writing contests. Nurse Kath-ie Jacobs coordinated the poetry contest while Bridgette Lara-mie, an English and geography teacher, oversaw the writing contest.

“We had about 50 entries between the two contests,” says Laramie. “It was

really a huge success.”While the essay contest was

research based, the writing included several sub-categories including per-sonal and original stories.

Like the writing contest, the

poetry contest was optional for stu-dents. Rap lyrics were accepted and there were five entries in all.

Jacobs, who is the nurse at Madison as well as Ranch Heights Elementary School and the Bartlesville Mid-High School, organized an essay contest at the Mid-High as well. Twenty-one entries were handed in there and Hood & Associates, certified pub-lic accountants, provided the prize money.

In existence for more than two decades, Red Ribbon Week is known as the largest drug preven-tion campaign in the country. Ac-cording to the Red Ribbon Coalition – which is for parent, teacher and student volunteers responsible for coordinating and hosting Red Rib-bon Week – the Red Ribbon celebra-tion “brings millions of people to-gether to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention, early intervention, and treatment services.”

Contests help spread Red Ribbon Week message

Students at Madison Middle School had the opportunity to take part in several contests revolving around the 2008 Red Ribbon Week observation.

‘I reinforced the theme of ‘Step It Up:

A Call To Action!’ It’s not OK just to let something happen.

Do something about it.’

- Julie Giovannetti, art teacher at

Madison Middle School

well.”The Bruin Brigade Marching Band competed in

the always tough Oklahoma Bandmasters Association State Marching Band Championships in Broken Ar-row on Saturday and finished 13th overall, just one spot short of the finals.

The Bruins’ fine showing in both competitions was no accident. During the season, the band practiced five mornings a week and had been doing so since approxi-mately Aug. 1, around two weeks before the current academic year had commenced.

“Having the students practice every morning at 7 a.m. – sometimes when it’s very hot and other times when it’s very cold – is asking a lot,” said Claussen. “But they never wavered. Their morale was really good.”

As were their performances. At the regional com-petition, one judge commented on the “great drill design and show concept” while another noted that “the stu-dents showed lots of musicianship today.”

Though the marching band season has officially concluded, there are still ample opportunities for the members of the Bruin Brigade to showcase their musi-cal talents. Virtually all of the students are part of the Bruins’ concert band and have already begun work on their performances in the upcoming Christmas-themed concerts. Concert band practice takes place during first hour. Following the Christmas shows will be district solo and ensemble contests.

In April, the concert band will work toward earn-ing two more superior ratings at the OSSAA Concert Band Festival, which will be held in Jenks. The Bruins have earned one step toward a coveted sweepstakes award with the superior rating earned at last week’s regional competition. With a superior rating in the sight reading and concert band categories at the Concert Band Festival, a sweepstakes award would be theirs.

“If the students work as hard this winter and this spring as they worked this fall,” said Claussen, “I think our chances are excellent.”

BRUIN BRIGADE - Continued from Page 5

Kevin HarrisonElizabeth UnderwoodViolaHaley CulverBrien DawnSkyler StormViola AlternateTony DavisCelloGabriel CarrGavin DolskyMauricio Goro

Cello AlternateBrandy HadleyEmily OwenBassJack WisemanAustin Stone

7th Grade OrchestraViolin ILaura LopezJoel FrenchStacee BlakeAndrea BaldwinNicole EliasViolin II

Agustina GoroGabrielle CummingsKaulen RannerStormie NeeceJaylyn EllisViolin AlternateAlex DearmanTravis SattlerViolaBriana SaylesTristen DavisChris ThompsonViola AlternateIsabella Gawlik

CelloPreston GarrettBrianna BrownAdam TalaskaCello AlternateEmily NewbyLindsey HensonBassNick GaskillJack AppleYardBass AlternateTyler IvySandy Meadows

ALL - Continued from Page 6

The Bruin Brigade Marching Band performs during halftime of the Bartlesville Bruins’ varsity football homecoming game on Oct. 3 at Custer Stadium. The Bruin Brigade Marching Band, which is comprised of approximately 115 students from Bartlesville High School and the Bartlesville Mid-High School, recently concluded its 2008 season.

The Oklahoma State Board of Education has been utilizing the API for the last eight years. Scores range from 0 to 1,500 and are calculated us-ing seven factors – assessment results in math and reading, ACT (a college entrance exam) composite scores and participation, advanced placement class participation, college remedia-tion, attendance rates, and graduation and dropout rates. At the elementary level, API scores are compiled from reading and math tallies from grades three through five as well as the school’s overall attendance rate.

Hoover scored a stellar 1,498 in 2007, which earned the school a coveted Academic Achievement Award from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and left it just two points shy of perfection. There was obvi-ously little room for improvement this year. Still, the school achieved it with a sterling 1,500. More accolades, likely including another Academic Achieve-ment Award, no doubt await the Rams.

“While I’m in my first year as principal at Hoover, it didn’t take me long to notice how dedicated to student learning the staff is,” says Beisley, who served as the principal at the Will Rogers Early Childhood Center within the Bartlesville Pub-lic School District from 2006-08. “Hoover is truly an amazing place. The teachers work diligently to en-sure each and every child succeeds to his or her fullest potential.

“For Hoover to have achieved an API of 1,500, it took effort from the entire staff as well as support from our parents.”

The Bartlesville Public School District as a whole achieved some-thing special this year in regards to the API. In each of the eight years in which the calculation has been in exis-tence, the district has seen its scores improve. This year, the BPSD enjoyed a 25-point jump from its 2007 tally,

from 1,347 to 1,372. The state aver-age in the API is a 1,279, and each of the 12 schools which comprise the Bartlesville Public School District easily surpassed that number. Among the highlights for the Bruin family – in addition to Hoover’s fantastic feat – was the score of 1,486 put up by Way-side Elementary School (a 30-point improvement from the previous year), a 1,457 chalked up by Richard Kane Elementary (a 52-point improvement) and a 1,421 tallied by Will Rogers (a 59-point gain).

Oak Park Elementary School enjoyed the district’s biggest leap from 2007 to 2008 – a whopping 165 points – to chime in with a very enviable 1,431.

“We are quite proud of our API scores this year,” says Dr. Gary W. Quinn, superintendent of the Bar-tlesville Public School District. “Our teachers, administrators and staff members work very hard throughout the course of each and every aca-demic year to provide the very best education possible for our students.

“That hard work and diligence has been reflected in our consistently strong and improving API scores.”

Strong improvement was seen in the 2008 API scores of all four secondary sites within the Bartles-ville Public School District. In fact, each of the four schools compiled

their best-ever API scores this year. Bartlesville High School chalked up a 1,348 (a 53-point improvement from the previous year), the Bartles-ville Mid-High School chimed in at 1,365 (a 40-point gain), Central Middle School tacked up a 1,347 (a 48-point climb) and Madison Middle School had a 1,385 (a 40-point rise).

For BHS, its API score is based on students’ cumulative showings in their Algebra I and English II classes as well as the Bruins’ academic excel-lence indicators and percent of students who complete school. Since BHS doesn’t offer Algebra I and English II – those classes are offered at the Bartlesville Mid-High School, home to freshmen and sophomores – 80 percent of its API score is actually out of its hands. Mid-High API scores are comprised of End of Instruction state testing results in English II and Algebra I as well as overall school attendance.

At the middle school level, API scores are comprised of state reading and math tallies among sixth, seventh and eighth graders as well as overall school attendance.

“I think the key to our improve-ment is the fact that our teachers are looking at individual students as opposed to groups of students,” says Mid-High principal Jason Langham. “The fact that our teachers are target-

API - Continued from Page 1District API

1372134713271263120711291072

0350

7001050

1400

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

SCORES - Continued to Page 10

Washington Comes to Madison

Jan McClaren works with Madison Middle School eighth-grade students on Monday as part of the George Washington Oklahoma Teaching Ambassador Program, which educates youngsters about the United States’ first president and government in general. McClaren, the George Washington Oklahoma ambassador, was at Madison to work with students on Monday and Tuesday, leading interactive lessons in the school library.

The Bartlesville Limestone Lions Club, in coordination with the Bartlesville Public School District’s Special Services Department, is scheduled to hold free health screen-ings for children later this month.

Lions Club Mobile Health Unit volunteers will perform vision screenings, check blood sugar, deter-mine bone density, perform hearing screenings, check for glaucoma and monitor blood pressure. The Mobile Health Unit is due to be at Richard Kane Elementary School - in the east parking area - on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s set to drop in on the Bartlesville Mid-High School - in the west parking area - on Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Children wishing to be screened must be accompanied by a legal guardian who can sign a release form for the screening.

Those wishing to learn more about the Bartlesville Limestone Lions Club’s free health screenings can contact BPSD nurse Julie Jack-son at jacksonja@bps-ok.org.

For more information on the Bartlesville Limestone Lions Club, go online to www.lionwap.org/bartlesvillelsok.

Limestone Lions Club to offer free health screenings

for youngsters

ing individual students’ needs has really helped us at the Mid-High.

“As far as the API, our goal for next year is to surpass 1,400.”

In all, nine of the Bartlesville Public School District’s dozen sites posted their best-ever scores this year. In fact, all 12 have put up their top scores either this year or last. Taken as a whole, Oklahoma’s state average mark of 1,279 this year was a 27-point improvement from the previous year.

Rounding out the 2008 API scores from within the Bartlesville Public School District were a trio of elemen-

tary schools – Woodrow Wilson (1,421), Ranch Heights (1,385) and Jane Phillips (1,331). The API scores for every Oklahoma school and district are posted on the Oklahoma State Department of Education web site at www.sde.state.ok.us/AcctAssess/pdf/API/api2008.pdf.

Hoover’s perfect API score of 1,500 is a hard one to miss. And while a slight drop-off could be forgiven next year, Beisley and her staff are planning for no such thing.

“We aren’t happy with just one year of getting a 1,500,” says Beisley. “We want several years of getting 1,500s. We want more.”

Perfection does indeed feel good.

SCORES - Continued from Page 9

and graduation and dropout rates.Late last week, the Oklahoma

State Department of Education sent out the 2008 API test scores. When we received our score, we certainly liked what we saw. This year marks the eighth in the history of the AP series. And in each of those eight years, we have seen our score for the entire district – which is com-prised of 12 schools – increase. Our district API score last year was cer-tainly one in which we could take a lot of pride, a lofty 1,347. But while we were certainly happy with our fine standing, upon receiving that score, we immediately began looking at ways in which we could improve. How could we make sure each and every student was per-forming to the best of his or her ability? How could we increase our attendance rates, thereby making sure youngsters were going to class and receiving a first-rate education?

How could we make sure students were staying in school so that they could one day walk across the stage during a Bartlesville High School graduation ceremony and toward a bright future?

While work still needs to be done in all of those areas, progress has been made. It was reflected last week when our 2008 API score of 1,372 was revealed, marking a 25-point increase from the previous year.

The state’s average API score is a 1,279, and each of the 12 schools from within our district eas-ily surpassed that number. Wayside Elementary School came within 14 points of a perfect score with a 1,486, a 30-point improvement from the previous year. Richard Kane El-ementary School boasted a 52-point improvement over their 2007 tally with a terrific 1,457.

Oak Park Elementary School

chalked up this year’s biggest im-provement, an awesome 165-point leap from last year’s 1,266 to this year’s sterling 1,431.

Then, there’s Hoover Elemen-tary School. Last year, Hoover chalked up a magnificent API score of 1,498, just two points shy of perfection. That effort earned the school a coveted Aca-demic Achievement Award from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Hoover finished with the second best score among Group 4 schools, which are those with an enrollment between 346 and 505 students. At the elemen-tary level, API scores are compiled from reading and math tallies from grades three through five as well as the school’s overall attendance rate.

A score of 1,498 leaves little room for improvement. But some-how, Hoover made it. In fact, they tallied a tremendous 1,500 this year, the first perfect score ever achieved for a site within the Bartlesville Public School District. Another

Academic Achievement Award no doubt awaits, and we couldn’t be more proud.

Of course the district’s good news in regards to API scores wasn’t reserved strictly for the elementary schools. Each of our four second-ary schools within the Bruin family showed marked improvement this year. Bartlesville High School’s API score jumped 53 points from last year’s 1,295 to this year’s 1,348. The Bartlesville Mid-High School saw a fine 40-point jump from a 1,325 to a 1,365.

Both of our middle schools – Central and Madison – made great showings. Central climbed 48 points from a 1,299 to a 1,347 while Madi-son moved forward 40 points, from a 1,345 to a 1,385.

Within the Bartlesville Public School District, we are constantly working to live up to our theme for the 2008-09 academic year: “A great school district.” The latest API scores are strong indicators that the family of Bruin schools is indeed a great one.

CHALKBOARD - Continued from Page 1

Hoover Elementary School was recognized at the Bartlesville Public School District’s 2008 Teacher of the Year Ceremony after being awarded a coveted Academic Achievement Award from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. After chalking up a perfect API score of 1,500 this year, Hoover is likely in line for another award.

Bartlesville Public Schools Activities (Week of Nov. 7-13, 2008)

Friday, November 7Make a Difference Week (Mid-High)Spirit Day (Kane)Speech and Drama Tournament at Bishop Kelley H.S. in Tulsa (TBA)Parent Support Group Meeting in Conference Room (Noon) (Madison)Mrs. Nash Assembly (2:45 p.m.) (Oak Park)Fall Parties (3 p.m.) (Ranch Heights)Football: Varsity Hosts Broken Arrow (7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, November 8Speech/Drama Tournament at Bishop Kelley High School (TBA)Instrumental All-State Auditions (Round 1) (TBA)Student Council Convention at Jenks (TBA)Veterans Day Parade (9 a.m.)

Sunday, November 9Student Council Convention at Jenks (TBA)

Monday, November 10Canned Food Drive (TBA) (Central)Mid-High Book Fair (TBA)Oak Park Book Fair (TBA)Student Council Convention at Jenks (TBA)WPSA Meeting (Noon)

Tuesday, November 11Veterans Day Assembly (9:15 a.m.) (Wayside)Canned Food Drive (TBA) (Central)GED Testing (TBA) (McKinley)

Mid-High Book Fair (TBA)Oak Park Book Fair (TBA)Student Council Canned Food Drive for Salvation Army (TBA)Bruins for Christ in Library (7:30 a.m.) (Madison)Student Council Officers and Representatives Meeting in Room 320 (7:45 a.m.)Veterans Day Program (9:15 a.m.) (Ranch Heights)Fourth Grade Veterans Day Program (9:30 a.m.) (Kane)Parent Support Group Meeting (1 p.m.) (Mid-High)Veterans Day Program (1 p.m.) (Oak Park)Third Grade Musical (2:30 p.m.) (Hoover)Basketball: Girls Varsity Scrimmage at Bethel (3 p.m.)Tutor Bus (4 p.m.) (Central)FCCLA Meeting in Room 002 (4:30 p.m.) (BHS)Third Grade Musical (7 p.m.) (Hoover)

Wednesday, November 12Canned Food Drive (TBA) (Central)Mid-High Book Fair (TBA)Oak Park Book Fair (TBA)Student Council Canned Food Drive for Salvation Army (TBA) (Mid-High)

Thursday, November 13Canned Food Drive (TBA) (Central)Mid-High Book Fair (TBA)Oak Park Book Fair (TBA)Student Council Canned Food Drive for Salvation Army (TBA) (Mid-High)Parent Support Group Meeting (Noon) (BHS)Tutor Bus (4 p.m.) (Central)

“BPSD: A Great school district”

Editing, writing, design and

photography by David Austin,

Bartlesville Public School District’s

communityrelations

coordinator,unless otherwise

noted

The Bartlesville Public School District offers a wide array of useful tools for students as well as parents.

For some extra educational insight, give these web sites a look:

PowerSchoolhttp://www.bps-ok.org Click on

the PowerSchool link toward the top of the home page.

· Parents and legal guardians can check with office personnel at their student’s school to find out how to access PowerSchool.

· Information on students - such as grades and attendance records available via PowerSchool.

Study Islandhttp://www.studyisland.com

Use the “Member Login.”· Student login information

must be obtained from teachers.

Stellar Sites Learning Environment Materializing

Work has begun on the concrete which will help comprise Madison Middle School’s new Outdoor Learning Environment. Once completed, it will be a 14,000-square foot expanse featuring four separate classroom areas amongst natural vegetation, a waterfall, a turbine windmill, a weather station and bird houses.