Jenks High School has the state`s most Academic All

Our Schools
Jenks Public
Schools Newslette May 2015
Jenks Public Schools Newsletter
w
ww.jenksps.org
Volume 34 Issue 3
Jenks High School has the state’s most
Academic All-State Scholars
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has announced the recipients of its prestigious 2015 Academic All-State Awards.
These 100 top public high school seniors, selected from 558 nominations statewide, hail from 74 schools in 66 Oklahoma
school districts. Jenks High School had the most academic all-state students in Oklahoma. Congratulations to Justin Reinking, Matthew
Brown, Sonali Gattani, Alexandra Kaste, and Jennifer Burleson.
Selection Criteria for Academic All-State Scholars
• Participants must be Oklahoma public high school seniors and must be nominated by their principals or
superintendents.
•
To be nominated for Academic All-State, students must meet one of the following criteria: an American College
Test (ACT) composite score of at least 30; a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) combined critical reading and math
score of at least 1340; or be selected as a semi-finalist for a National Merit, National Achievement (African
American) or National Hispanic Scholarship.
•
Once nominated, recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, leadership experience,
extracurricular activities and community involvement, as well as an essay submitted by each nominee.
•
The selection committee, chaired by retired Tulsa attorney Teresa B. Adwan, works independently of all other
foundation activities. The committee members are a diverse group of business, education and civic leaders.
Academic All-State alumni and former Medal for Excellence-winning educators also sit on the committee.
The 2015 Academic All-State Class is the 29th to be selected by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Since the award
program’s inception in 1987, some 2,900 high school seniors from 316 school districts have been named All-State scholars.
Two Oklahoma high schools, Luther and Rattan, will celebrate their first Academic All-Staters.
Each of this year’s All-Staters will receive a $1,000 merit-based scholarship and a medallion. The All-Staters will be recognized at the foundation’s 29th annual Academic Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 16, at the Renaissance Tulsa Convention
Center.
David L. Boren, chairman and founder of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, describes the selection of the scholars
as “Oklahoma’s most rigorous academic competition.” This year’s All-Staters scored an average of 33 on the ACT, with
10 recipients scoring a perfect 36. In addition, 31 of this year’s All-Staters are National Merit semifinalists, while two are
National Hispanic Scholars.
Matthew Brown
Jennifer Burleson
Sonali Gattani
Alexandra Kaste
Justin Reinking
JPS Announces New
Communication Initiative,
Let’s Talk!
Parent Portal Allows
Customizing Your Messages
Parents/Guardians are able to customize how telephone
numbers and email messages from the District and the
student’s school site are received. Telephone numbers and
email addresses may also be changed. Follow the steps
below to make these important changes:
District leaders welcome ongoing conversation
with the Jenks community.
Jenks Public Schools believes it is important to include
every voice in important conversations that affect local
schools. That’s why district leaders are pleased to announce
a new communications initiative named Let’s Talk! This
new tool will launch June 1, 2015 on the JPS website, www.
jenksps.org.
Designed by technology and communications firm K12
Insight, a link to the Let’s Talk! platform will be found on
the District website and is accessible anytime, anywhere,
from any device. By allowing everyone to share questions,
concerns or suggestions, Let’s Talk! will play a critical role
in strengthening relationships between Jenks families,
students, staff, and community members.
“All of us must work together to support our students’
teaching and learning,” said Stacey Butterfield, Superintendent of Jenks Public Schools. “And Let’s Talk! is an innovative communications channel that enables us to listen
and respond to the needs and concerns of everyone in the
district, as we continue to build a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability.”
When making a submission to Let’s Talk!, participants
may leave their contact information or choose to remain
anonymous. Submissions that include an email address will
receive a response within 2 business days. Every submission
will be carefully considered and directed to appropriate
staff for follow-up. Candid feedback is not only accepted,
it is encouraged.
“We’re committed to using technology in a way that
improves our district,” Butterfield said. “Let’s Talk! is a
convenient way to make sure the community’s voice is
heard. JPS has had many successes. But we need the
ongoing support of an engaged public to ensure our
students are prepared for future success.”
To access Let’s Talk!, go to the JPS website, www.jenksps.
org and click on the icon shown below.
1. Log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account. (If
you do not have an account, contact your student’s
site for more information.)
2. Click on the white arrow icon, located in the upper
right corner of the page. It will say “Applications”
when you hover over the icon with your mouse.
3. Click on “Contact Manager.”
4. Click on the “Contacts” tab, located at the top of the
screen on the left side of the page.
5. Click on “Edit,” located to the right of the student’s
name, next to the pencil icon.
6. Change telephone numbers, email addresses, and
text information and choose the types of messages
received for each of these. (Please note: You must
enter your phone number if you wish to receive text
messages.)
7. Click on the box next to “Save to All Contacts” if you
desire the same settings for all students listed under
“Contacts.”
8. Click “Save.”
Notice - Jenks Public Schools prohibits discrimination in it’s educational
programs and activities, admission programs of students, recruitment,
selection and/or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex , age,
national origin, veteran status or disability. The District provides equal access
to designated youth groups, including the Boy Scouts of America. Jenks Public
Schools complies with federal and state regulations for implementing Title
IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Title VI, The Age Discrimination Act,
Section 504, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Las Escuelas Públicas de Jenks prohíben la discriminación en los programas
y actividades educacionales, programas de admisiones para los estudiantes,
reclutamiento, selección y/o empleo sobre las bases de raza, religión, sexo,
edad, nacionalidad, estado de veterano o discapacidad. El distrito escolar se
acata a las regulaciones federales y estatales por implementar el Título IX de la
Enmienda Educacional 972, Título VI, Sección 504 y del Acta de Norteamericanos
con Discapacidades (ADA).
(USPS # 000-609) is published monthly by Jenks Public Schools, 205 E B ST,
Jenks, OK 74037-3900, (918) 299-4411. Our Schools is issued free to parents or
guardians of school-age children who attend Jenks Public Schools. Periodical
postage paid at Jenks, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our
Schools, 205 E B St, Jenks, OK 74037-3900.
2
Jenks Public Schools
News
Jenks Public Schools is thankful for its many volunteers throughout our District! The SAFETY and CONFIDENTIALITY of
our students is of utmost importance. In order to ensure the safety of our students and to comply with school regulations,
volunteer policies and procedures are required for every volunteer.
NEW for 2015-16 and beyond: Jenks requires all volunteers to complete a Volunteer Confidentiality Training every
year. Completing these requirements gives everyone an opportunity to understand what is expected of them as volunteers
and what they, as volunteers, can expect from the school. Completing this at the beginning of the school year will be
beneficial to staff and teachers that you may be volunteering for.
Please LOG your volunteer hours! Enter your total volunteer hours by site. Keeping them recorded monthly is
recommended in order to eliminate trying to remember them towards the end of the year. Please try to record any hours,
per site, by May 31st of each year.
Confidentiality Training and Logging Volunteer Hours can be found at the volunteer website under “jenksps.org / Quick
Links / Volunteer Information.”
Questions? Contact Kathy Guenther, District Volunteer Coordinator,
at [email protected] or by calling 918-299-4415, Ext. 2291.
Below are upcoming volunteer opportunities. Please contact Kathy Guenther at [email protected] or 918299-4415, ext. 2291 to volunteer or to find out more. You can also contact your preferred site that is not listed here for their
opportunities. All sites always need volunteer help with Enrollment/Schedule Pick-ups in August!
•
Community Education – July Testing Monitors – Monitors are needed during summer school testing. The day is
July 8th from 8:00am to 1:00pm, and at least 4 monitors are needed.
•
High School – Schedule Pick-up volunteers needed. Shifts are 8:30am to 11:30am, and 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Senior Day is August 10; Junior Day is August 11; Sophomore Day is August 12.
•
High School - Building 6 Guidance Office - Weekly or bi-weekly commitment. Volunteers are needed in the
morning from 7:45am to 11:00am or in the afternoon from 11:00am to 2:30pm. The times can be flexible and
job-sharing is accepted.
•
Freshman Academy – Schedule Pick-up volunteers needed. August 10 (students A through L) and August 11 (students M through Z.) Shifts are 8:30am to 11:30am, and 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
•
Freshman Academy – Office Volunteers - Volunteers needed for attendance office help. One or two volunteers
per shift. Shifts are Monday-Friday, from 7:45am to 11:00am or 11:00am to 2:45pm. Afternoon shifts needed
first.
•
TESTING! All of our sites are always in great need of testing monitors. You can sign up at the beginning of the
year at the back-to-school night of your interest.
•
LOOKING for donations of any coupons, small giveaway items, small snacks (wrapped), for the District Volunteer
Department. These donations will be shared throughout the District during our fall and spring testing to give to
volunteers. Please contact Kathy Guenther, District Volunteer Coordinator, with any donations, suggestions, or
questions! [email protected], 918-299-4415, Ext. 2291.
Thank you to our volunteers for giving so selflessly
of their time this year. You are appreciated!
“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted”. – Garrison Keillor.
3
TROJANS
HS Student to Attend Youth Odyssey of the Mind
Summit in D.C.
Wins State Championships!
Congratulations to Joshua Ivey,
junior at Jenks High School, on
his acceptance into the 2015
American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) Youth Summit.
The summit will be held June
28 – July 2, 2015 on the campus
of Trinity Washington University
in Washington, D.C. Joshua was
selected as 1 of only 50 students
from across the country based on
established criteria that demonstrated an interest in educational and career opportunities in the public transportation
industry. Students will explore the educational and environmental benefits of public transportation, how communities
as a whole can prosper with increased services, the role
local and federal policies play in public transit usage, and
educational and career opportunities in the public transportation industry.
Front: Kate Stephani, Amber Bick
Back: Zach Anderson, Moin Nadeem, Riley Bick, and Chris Cleveland
The Jenks Odyssey of the Mind was represented
by two teams at State Finals Competition recently. The months of hard work resulted in TWO State
Championships! Congratulations to high school team
members: Zachary Anderson, Amber Bick, Riley Bick, Moin
Nadeem, Chris Cleveland and Kate Stephani. Freshman/
Middle School team members: Saam Ashnayi, Sepand
Ashenayi, Rylee Buchert, Koby Cowan, Sanjeev Musuvathy,
Nicholas Thompson and George Wang. The teams will now
prepare to represent Jenks Schools and Oklahoma at World
Finals the end of May. World Finals is scheduled for May
19-24.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational
program that provides creative problem-solving
opportunities for students from kindergarten through
college. Team members apply their creativity to solve
problems that range from building mechanical devices to
presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.
They bring their solutions to competition on the local, state,
and World level.
World Finals is an International competition where teams
from the US and 25 other countries compete. Argentine,
Australia, China, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Canada,
Philippines, Russia, Singapore and Uzbekistan to name a
few. Jenks is fortunate to have two teams competing this
year. Jenks Freshman/Middle School is competing in the
vehicle problem. JHS is competing in the structure problem.
Varsity Cheer STUNT Team
Wins State!
Congratulations to the Varsity Cheer STUNT team for
winning the first ever State STUNT tournament. The state
STUNT tournament took place at OBU on April 17 and the
Varsity team went undefeated to claim the title in the finals
against Broken Arrow. Congrats to the Varsity team on their
success with this new and exciting sport.
4
EI Archery Takes Third at Regionals
Jenks East Intermediate’s competitive archery team, in only its third year
of competition, placed 3rd at regionals. The competition was held at the
Tulsa Expo Center and JEI competed
against 11 other elementary schools
from the Tulsa region. The team spent
many hours practicing their skills and
has quickly become one of the best
archery teams in the state. Made
up of 5th and 6th grade students, the
team is coached by JEI teacher, Peggy
Morrow. Through the Oklahoma
National Archery in the Schools
Program (OKNASP), students have the
chance to excel today, tomorrow and throughout a lifetime in the unique sport of archery. The National Archery in the
Schools Program (NASP), of which OKNASP is a part, is a coordinated effort and partnership between schools, state wildlife
agencies and the nation’s archery industry. In Oklahoma, OKNASP promotes physical education by providing target archery
training to the state’s youth. Designed for 4th-12th graders, the curriculum covers archery history, safety, techniques, equipment, mental concentration, and self-improvement.
EI Students Qualify for
Kymes Wins Letters About
Geography Bee/Spelling Bee Literature Competition
Congratulations to Jenks
East Intermediate students
Jackson Fouras, and Sophia
Guy! Jackson is the JEI
Geography Bee winner and
he qualified for the State
Geography Bee which was
held at the University of
Oklahoma. Jackson had to
take a written test following the school Geography Bee and
scored in the Top 100 in the state and was therefore chosen
to participate at the state level. Sophia is the JEI Spelling
Bee winner and she qualified to attend the District Bee.
East Intermediate
student Luke Kymes
won 1st place in his
division in the statewide Letters About
Literature competition.
This competition is one
in which 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. Luke wrote
his letter to Jim Davis, author of the Garfield comic strip. Luke
was one of more than 50,000 applicants. He was recognized
in Oklahoma City at the Capitol. He also earned a $1000 grant
to go towards either a local library or his school media center, whichever he so chooses. Luke’s teacher at Jenks East
Intermediate is Becky Drouillard.
Cing selected as
Dell Scholar
There are 300 students chosen
each year and Lian Cing is the first
JHS AVID senior awarded this
honor. Lian will receive $20,000,
a laptop and textbook credits
as well as enormous resources
and support through the Dell Scholars network. This is a
remarkable achievement and congratulations go to Lian
and her family, as well as, District AVID Director, Judi Thorn,
Site AVID Coordinator Shelli Temple, Senior AVID Elective
teacher, Ron Acebo and Freshman AVID Elective teacher,
Rebbie Wale who supported her nomination with teacher
recommendations.
5
Proficiency Based Promotion Jenks Public School’s
Foundation Receives
Pursuant to Section 6 of HB1017, students may progress
in their educational endeavors by subject, course, and/
Donation
or grade level based on mastery of the Priority Academic
Student Skills/Oklahoma Academic Standards (PASS/OAS),
not on time spent in classes, completion of assignments, or
prerequisites. The student who can successfully be moved
ahead under Proficiency Based Promotion guidelines can
demonstrate content knowledge, skills, and application of
learning in the core areas regardless of time spent in the
classroom. Parental involvement is integral in the credit for
learning/promotion process as is consideration of the student’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs.
Proficiency Based Promotion is intended to serve those
unique students enrolled in Jenks Public Schools whose
needs cannot be met by following a traditional timetable
and sequence, but require promotion beyond current
placement. Proficiency Based Promotion opportunities will
be available for students from grades K-12 in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social
studies, languages, and the arts.
Students who request Proficiency Based Promotion will
complete an application process and take a criterion-referenced test to measure the priority skills and knowledge
relevant to each core course or subject for which credit is
desired. If passed at a level of 90% or higher, student applicants will then complete a performance component.
That component will be evaluated by selected staff and
must meet standards comparable to superior or 90% performance.
Upon successful completion of both the criterion and performance components, and after appropriate consultation
with parents, a student may be promoted and receive appropriate credit. Credits earned in high school level courses
will count toward meeting graduation requirements. Credit
will be noted as a pass with no grade assigned. No record of
unsuccessful attempts will be maintained in the student’s
permanent school records.
Guidelines, application procedures, and testing information will be available in the Guidance Office at each school.
Contact the site where your student will be attending for
the 2015-2016 school year for testing dates.
A reception was held in honor of former Jenks employee, Joan L. Crawford, at the Education Service Center on
Monday, May 4, 2015. A donation was made to the Jenks
Public Schools Foundation in her memory by her husband,
former Tulsa mayor, Dick Crawford and children.
Joan Crawford was a lifelong educator. For more than a
decade, Joan worked as a tutor at Jenks Public Schools for
homebound students – children who couldn’t attend regular classes because of medical problems or other reasons.
Joan had two rules for her students: Every lesson starts
with a hug and no one was allowed to quit. Jenks Public
Schools recognizes and honors Joan’s dedication to homebound students. Joan’s calling was to help those most in
need and most at risk. She believed no child was too difficult to teach and no home was impossible to reach. Her
legacy will continue at Jenks Public Schools.
Your Bond Dollars at Work
New Golf Facility Now Open
Jenks Public Schools golfers have a new, first-class facility,
thanks to the supportive Jenks community. This approximately
4,000 square foot building includes girls’ and boys’ locker
rooms, as well as, areas to practice and perfect their swing and putting abilities using state-of-the-art technology. Located
at 823 North 5th Street, across from the baseball field and track, a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is planned for Thursday, May 21
at 5:30 p.m. The Golf Facility was paid for with bond dollars from a previous bond issue election. Without the loyal support
of the Jenks community, this structure, and many other capital improvements, would not be possible.
6
JWE Teacher
Selected as
Innovator
Angela Timmons has been
named a 2015 PBS LearningMedia
Digital Innovator. She was selected as one of the top 100
applicants across the nation.
Angela will receive yearlong professional development opportunities that includes one-of-a kind virtual trainings with
a focus on innovative instructional strategies and digital
best practices, access to premium and exclusive resources from PBS LearningMedia Custom, invitations to special
events, access to a free PBS TeacherLine professional development course, membership into a robust professional
learning community, and networking opportunities with
other innovative educators and thought leaders. In addition, PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators will receive
ongoing support from their local PBS member stations.
Congratulations to Ms. Timmons!
s
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Staf f
Congratulations to JPS
Retirees
Thank you for your service to our students
The end of a school year always includes saying Thank
You and Congratulations to those across the District who
are closing a chapter in their lives through retirement. They
have served the District in different ways with the same
goal of doing what is best for the students of Jenks Public
Schools.
Retirees include: George Abshire (Middle School),
Diana Bradley (West Elementary), Mitzi Carrington (West
Elementary), Larry Downey (High School), Ben Ferem
(Construction), Gail Foster (West Elementary), Gregg
Hartney (High School), Karen Henderson (ESC), Elizabeth
Ketrick (Middle School), Sandra Lundak (East Intermediate),
Kerry McClain (West Intermediate), Cheryl McCord
(ESC), Linda Moran (East Elementary), Phyllis Nethercot
(Freshman Academy), Darnell Perritt (Freshman Academy),
Jeff Prince (High School), Larry Ravenscroft (Middle
School), Linda Rock (Middle School), Staci Schepers (West
Intermediate), Sharon Swagerty (East Intermediate), and
Nancee Vaughn (East Elementary). Best wishes, to all, for a
very happy retirement.
Langley Named Key Club
Advisor of the Year
Congratulations to
JHS Key Club Sponsor
Rachel Langley for being
named Key Club Advisor
of the Year for all of
Oklahoma and Texas.
Key Club International
is the high school organization sponsored by
Kiwanis International.
High school student
members of Key Club
perform acts of service
in their communities,
such as cleaning up
parks, collecting clothing and organizing food drives. They
also learn leadership skills by running meetings, planning
projects, and holding elected leadership positions at the
club, district, and international levels. Ms. Langley is a science teacher at Jenks High School.
Kham Awarded Lifetime
Achievement
Award
Congratulations to the Jenks
Freshman Academy’s Instructional
Assistant, Thawng Kham, for being
awarded the 2014 UNHCR Lifetime
Achievement Award!
Last Day
of School
May 29
7
Jenks Public Schools
205 East B Street
Jenks, OK 74037-3900
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