The Bruin (Vol. 6, Issue 12).indd

Bartlesville Public School District’s Weekly Email Newsletter
Leaders
Bruins
Volume 6, Number 12...Friday, Oct. 28, 2011...www.bps-ok.org Education
The Bruin
Superintendent’s
Chalkboard
Signs are all
around us that
season of giving
has arrived
A bus driver
with the
Bartlesville
Public School
District, Leon
Wilson takes
part in an
evacuation drill
on Tuesday
afternoon as
BPSD driver
trainer Jim
Fisk looks on.
The BPSD
features 35 bus
drivers in all,
and each of
them are taking
part in three
evacuation
scenarios
to help
them better
understand
exactly what
to do in
emergency
situations.
Safety is always focus
of BPSD bus drivers
Ongoing evacuation
drills help reinforce
what needs to be done
in emergency situations
For the last couple of weeks, bus
drivers within the Bartlesville Public
School District have been taking part
in bus evacuation drills.
The drills focus on possible
emergency situations, such as those
which might require all passengers on
the bus to exit it in a quick yet safe
manner.
The drills are expected to be
held over the course of around four
Though we’re still early
into fall and Halloween has yet
to arrive, there’s little doubt that
we’ve found our way into the
season of giving.
The annual fundraising
campaign for the Bartlesville Regional United Way is underway,
Bartlesville
High School
is in the
midst of
its Make
A Difference Week
activities,
and several
other events
Dr. Gary W. Quinn
which serve
those in
need within the community have
begun.
Every year, those of us
within the Bartlesville Public
School District join the annual
fundraising campaign for the
Bartlesville Regional United
Way. This year’s campaign –
which will span five weeks in all
within the district – began earlier
SAFETY - Continued to Page 13 CHALKBOARD - Continued to Page 14
Annual bingo
fundraising
event for Special
Olympics slated
for Nov. 5
The Bartlesville Public
School District’s Special Olympics program is set to hold its
annual bingo night fundraising
event on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the
American Legion.
The event is set to commence at 7:15 p.m., though early
bird play will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. The American
Legion is located at 501 NE
Washington Blvd.
Special baskets will be
awarded to the bingo winners,
and food will be available at the
concession stand as well. Among
the treats will be hotdogs, nachos, pies, cookies and brownies.
Tickets are priced at $10
in advance and $12 at the door.
Raffle tickets and special bingos
will be available for purchase
throughout the evening. This
year’s event will feature a nonsmoking environment.
The grand prizes at this
year’s event will include a 32inch flat-screen television as well
as a trip on a private plane for a
special Mexican dinner.
All proceeds raised through
the fundraiser will go toward
the BPSD’s Special Olympics
program.
Those who would like to
donate themed baskets for the
event are encouraged to do so.
Common themes revolve around
movies, sports and other activities, and most baskets should
carry a value of approximately
$35.
The Bruin Brigade Marching Band has qualified for the finals of the last two Oklahoma
Bandmasters Association Marching Band Championship competitions.
Bruin Brigade hoping to march
‘under the lights’ once again
On Saturday, band will
look to earn spot in finals
of OBA Championship
for third straight year
The Bruin Brigade Marching
Band is looking to end its season on a
high note for the third straight year.
The 2011 Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Marching Band
Championship is scheduled to take
place on Saturday at Broken Arrow
High School’s Memorial Stadium. An
estimated 20 marching bands from
Class 6A are set to take part in the
event, which is the final one of the
2011-12 academic year.
Marching under the direction of
Alex Claussen, who is the supervisor
of instrumental music for the Bartlesville Public School District, the Bruin
BINGO - Continued to Page 15 Brigade has qualified for the finals of
the OBA Marching Band Championship in each of the last two years.
Each of the competing bands performs
a show during the preliminary round
of the competition, and the top 12 finishers from that group earn a spot in
the finals. The Bruin Brigade finished
10th in last year’s OBA Championship finals.
Saturday’s competition is due
to begin at 10:30 a.m. with the first
of the preliminary shows. The Bruin
Brigade’s performance, which is expected to last around eight-and-a-half
minutes, is due to commence at 2 p.m.
The show is known as “Rise” and will
be performed along with the Bruin
Color Guard.
Seven judges will score each of
the preliminary performances. Four
will focus on the music while the other three will concentrate on the visual
BAND - Continued to Page 12
A graduate
of the Lowe
Family Young
Scholars
Program,
Dallas Lewis
served as
a featured
speaker during
a special
dinner event for
the LFYSP on
the Oklahoma
Wesleyan
University
campus on
Saturday
evening. Lewis
is a student at
OWU, where
he is majoring
in math with
a minor in
chemistry.
LFYSP holds dinner event
for potential members
Innovative mentoring program
helps less fortunate students
realize dream of attending college
A crowd filled the dining center on the Oklahoma
Wesleyan University campus on Saturday evening for a
special Lowe Family Young Scholars Program event.
In attendance were around 30 fifth graders from
elementary sites throughout the Bartlesville Public
School District – potential members of the LFYSP who
had been recommended by their respective principals,
teachers and counselors. Also on hand for the event,
which included dinner provided compliments of OWU,
were the students’ family members as well as mentors
and organizers from the program.
“It was a very successful event,” notes Karen
Lowe, who along with husband and former president
of the Bartlesville Board of Education Barry W. Lowe
founded the program in February of 2006. “We accomplished our goal, which was to help familiarize some
potential members of the program with exactly what the
LFYSP is all about.”
The LFYSP is a mentoring program which utilizes
scholarships to help students who might not otherwise
have the means to attend a college or university. The
program partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters as well
LFYSP - Continued to Page 15
BHS seniors Culver, Heald named National Merit
Scholarship Program commended students
Bartlesville High School seniors Haley Culver and
Lauren Heald have been named commended students in
the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.
In recognition of their achievement, a letter of
commendation from the Bartlesville High School and
the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which
conducts the program, has been presented by BHS
principal Teri Brant to the scholastically talented students.
Throughout the country, approximately 34,000
students are being recognized for their exceptional
academic promise. Although they will not continue in
the 2012 competition for National Merit Scholarships,
commended students placed among the top five percent
of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012
competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
2011 Fall
Choir Concert
scheduled for
Thursday evening
The 2011 Bartlesville
High School and Bartlesville
Mid-High School Fall Choir
Concert is scheduled to be
held on Thursday evening in
the Fine Arts Center on the
BHS campus.
The free event – which
will showcase the skills
of the BHS and Mid-High
School choirs – is scheduled
to begin at 7 p.m. in the FAC
auditorium. Everyone is
invited to attend.
The Bartlesville High
School choir is led by Wes
Singleton, while Tamara
Walker guides the Mid-High
School choir.
The BHS campus – the
Fine Arts Center can be
found on the south side of
it – is located at 1700 SE
Hillcrest Drive.
“The young men and women being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” noted a spokesperson for the
NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national
resource. Recognizing their accomplishments, as well
as the key role their schools play in their academic
development, is vital to the advancement of educational
excellence in our nation.
“We hope that this recognition will help broaden
their educational opportunities and encourage them as
they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
In September, two BHS seniors –Nicholas Morgan
and Claire Malaby – were named semifinalists in the
57th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Both
students will have the opportunity to reach finalist status
and qualify for National Merit Scholarships through the
program.
Barrage Performs With BHS, Mid-High School Orchestras
Photo Special to The Bruin
A renowned group which has toured throughout the world, Barrage performed a special concert
with the Bartlesville High School and Bartlesville Mid-High School orchestras on Monday
evening in the Fine Arts Center auditorium on the BHS campus. Barrage, which is an alternative
string group based in Canada, held a special workshop for orchestra students prior to the show.
MAD Week set to span through Nov. 2 on BHS
campus as students work to make positive impact
Offered as an acronym, Make a
Schedule of Events for 2012 MAD Week on BHS Campus
Difference Week – which is typically shortened to MAD Week – is a
little misleading.
Celebrated on campuses
throughout the country, MAD Week
sounds like something out of an
anger management session. Instead,
it’s about love, laughter and smiles –
and moreover – giving back.
MAD Week has been recognized annually on the Bartlesville
High School campus for the last
several years and always features
a bevy of special events focused
on fundraising for a worthy cause.
This year’s target for giving is a first
grade student at Jane Phillips Elementary School and his family. The
student suffers from Prader-Willi
Syndrome, a life-threatening genetic
disease. The money raised through
the MAD Week efforts on the BHS
campus this year – which began
on Thursday, Oct. 27 and will span
through Wednesday, Nov. 2 – will
go toward helping the student’s family offset his medical costs.
MAD Week events at BHS are
always coordinated by the school’s
student council, which features 35
youngsters this year.
“We always try to find a local
student and his or her family who
need some help,” says Kim Lashbrook, the sponsor for the BHS student council. “Our students love the
opportunity to give back and make a
positive impact in the community.”
As the student council coordinates the events for a given MAD
Week, it tries to come up with fun
activities which will raise money.
This year’s events include a dance,
a talent show and a bake sale, just to
name a few.
Preparations for this year’s
Thursday, October 27
Pawmart open from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Saturday, October 29
2012 MAD Week Dance in Fine Arts Center lobby (8:30 p.m. to
midnight)
Sunday, October 30
2012 MAD Week Talent Show in Fine Arts Center auditorium (4 p.m.)
Tuesday, November 1
Bake sale (noon to 1:05 p.m.)
Volleyball tournament (12:15-1:15 p.m.)
Powderpuff girls’ football game at Custer Stadium (6:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, November 2
Picnic lunch (noon to 1:05 p.m.)
MAD Week events began at the
beginning of the current 2011-12
academic year – which kicked off in
August – and have really picked up
speed in the last month.
While most of the MAD Week
activities are open to all of those
who want to take them in, the dance
on Saturday evening is for BHS
students only. The event is scheduled to take place from 8:30 p.m.
to midnight in the Fine Arts Center
lobby on the BHS campus. Admission is $5 apiece and tickets will be
available in the BHS Library/Media
Center during regular school hours
through Friday.
Dress for the dance is informal
or students can wear school-appropriate costumes since Halloween is
just around the corner.
The 2011 MAD Week Talent
Show is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
on Sunday in the Fine Arts Center
auditorium. The show is expected to
last an hour and will feature music,
skits and a little magic among other
fun activities. Admission to the
event – and tickets will be available
shortly before the show begins – is
$5 per person.
Tuesday will be a big day
during MAD Week as it will feature a bake sale, volleyball and
powderpuff football. The bake sale,
which will offer a wide array of
tasty treats, is scheduled to take
place from noon to 1:05 p.m. in the
main lobby at BHS. A six-on-six
volleyball tournament for students
will take place in the grassy area
between the connecting link and
Custer Stadium from around 12:151:15 p.m. Everyone is invited to
watch the tourney, which usually
draws several teams.
The powderpuff girls’ football
game is set to kick off at Custer
Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday
evening. Admission to the game will
be $5 per person.
2012 MAD Week events are
due to conclude on Wednesday with
a special picnic lunch from noon to
1:05 p.m.
Located near the cafeteria and
featuring plenty of snacks, the BHS
Pawmart was open from 8 a.m. to
1:15 p.m. on Thursday. All of Thursday’s proceeds raised through the
Pawmart, which is run by volunteers
MAD - Continued to Page 14
Tuesday’s Holiday
Extravaganza
to offer special
items, benefit
Mid-High School
chapter of FCCLA
A special fundraising event,
the 2011 Holiday Extravaganza is
scheduled to offer plenty of special
treats on Tuesday.
The Holiday Extravaganza will
be held in the upstairs community
room of the RE/MAX office, which
is located at 1809 SE Washington
Blvd., from 4-8 p.m. It will feature
several booths which shoppers can
wind through offering Halloween,
Thanksgiving and Christmas items.
Offering products for the booths
will be several businesses such as
Heather & Hadley Earrings, Home
& Garden, Marie’s Jewelry, Okie
Steak House BBQ Sauce, Pampered
Chief, Premier Designs Jewelry,
Private Quarters, Scentsy, Tastefully
Simple, Thirty-one, Touch of Country Quilts, and Willow House.
Proceeds collected from the
rental fees for the booths will go
toward the Bartlesville Mid-High
School chapter of the Family,
Career and Community Leaders of
America. The money will be used to
support several of the organization’s
community projects as well as travel
expenses for upcoming contests and
conventions.
Among the Mid-High School
chapter of the FCCLA’s planned
projects this year are a basket for the
upcoming Special Olympics bingo
fundraising event, the purchase and
preparation of a full meal for the
Lighthouse Outreach Center, and
the purchase of items to supply care
boxes for the Angel Tree project.
HOLIDAY - Continued to Page 14
Madison MOYA Mini-Carnival Is a Splashing Success
As Madison Middle School’s “Month of the Young Adolescent” celebration winds down
- the special time has been recognized throughout the month of October with a wide
array of fun events – a mini-carnival was held Thursday during an extended lunch period
for the students. Among the activities was a sponge throw – which allowed students to
target some select teachers and administrators – as well as games like a pop bottle and
dart toss (pictured below). Pictured above, (from left) Madison assistant principal Greg
Tackett, principal Joey Eidson and technology/engineering instructor Steve Nett try to
avoid a soaked sponge thrown by a student.
Oak Park forms neighborhood watch program
The Oak Park Community Association has formed
a neighborhood watch program to help ensure the safety
of residents and their property.
The OPCA’s public safety committee has worked
with officials from the Bartlesville Police Department
– including Police Chief Tom Holland and Lieutenant
Kevin Ickleberry – to help establish the neighborhood
watch program.
“Chief Holland and Lt. Ickleberry have helped us
to get this program off to a good start,” says David Pennell, of the OPCA. “They enthusiastically supported us
when we approached them to ask for their help. Chief
Holland provided us with the literature on how to set up
a neighborhood watch, and Lt. Ickleberry met with us
to advise us on how to report problems and keep watch
members safe while on patrol.
“We’ll even be provided with photo I.D. cards.”
Neighborhood watch programs work in conjunction with local authorities to help crack down on crime in
communities across the country. Members of the watch
programs keep an eye on their respective neighborhoods
and report crimes and other suspicious activities – such as
break-ins and vandalism – to the authorities.
The members of the newly formed Oak Park
neighborhood watch program will work with other
members of the community also and will welcome
helpful information from them. Those who do provide
information – especially that which helps to stop criminal activity – will be able to do so anonymously, thus
ensuring their safety.
The OPCA gathers regularly, and during a recent
general meeting, Ickleberry noted that the Oak Park
neighborhood experiences no more criminal activity –
or different kinds of criminal activity – than any other
part of Bartlesville. However, the newly formed neighborhood watch program is expected to help crack down
on any criminal activity that may exist.
Those who would like to provide information
about criminal or suspicious activity which is taking
place in Oak Park may do so through the BPD, the Oak
Park neighborhood watch program or the OPCA.
The OPCA can be contacted via email (opcapr@
gmail.com), phone (918-766-3831) or mail (OPCA,
Inc.; P.O. Box 5007; Bartlesville, OK 74005). The
OPCA maintains a Facebook page as well at www.facebook.com/OPCAINC.
Special ‘Lunch & Learn’ Session Held on Wilson Campus
Sylvia Starr, a community
training and prevention specialist
with the Family Crisis &
Counseling Center, served as
the featured speaker during a
special “Lunch & Learn” session
for parents and guardians at
Woodrow Wilson Elementary
School on Monday afternoon.
The special event, which drew
approximately 30 people,
was held in the Wilson music
room and was coordinated by
Christina Rigdon, the Bartlesville
Public School District’s family
support coordinator for Title
I schools. Starr’s presentation
was entitled “Parenting the
Behaviorally Challenged Child,”
and McAllister’s provided the
complimentary meal for the free
event. The Wal-Mart SuperCenter
donated a $25 gift card as the
top door prize at the event, and it
was won by Danny Reynolds. In
November, Wilson is scheduled to
play host to a special “Lunch &
Learn” session focused on “Meal
Planning and Shopping for a
Family on a Budget.”
Photo Special to The Bruin
Representing the Bartlesville
Public School District,
Christina Rigdon (pictured
left) and Kerry Ickleberry
(right) took part in the
2011 Fall Forum for Local
Education Foundations and
Youth Mentoring Programs on
Tuesday in Norman. Rigdon
is the district’s family support
coordinator for Title I schools
while Ickleberry serves as the
safe and drug free schools
coordinator for the BPSD.
Pictured with Rigdon and
Ickleberry is former Oklahoma
governor David Boren
(center), who along with
his wife founded the David
and Molly Boren Mentoring
Initiative, a featured program
at this year’s Fall Forum.
BPSD’s Rigdon, Ickleberry attend 2011 Fall Forum for Local
Education Foundations and Youth Mentoring Programs
The 2011 Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations and Youth Mentoring Programs was held on
Tuesday on the University of Oklahoma campus in
Norman.
Among those in attendance were Kerry Ickleberry
and Christina Rigdon of the Bartlesville Public School
District. Ickleberry serves as the safe and drug free
schools coordinator for the BPSD while Rigdon is the
district’s family support coordinator for Title I schools.
All told, an estimated 300 local education foundation board members, mentoring volunteers, community
leaders and educators attended the 2011 Fall Forum. For
more than two decades, the Oklahoma Foundation for
Excellence has presented the forum as the state’s premier event for those seeking to improve the quality of
public education in their communities.
As part of its David and Molly Boren Mentoring
Initiative, the Foundation for Excellence expanded this
year’s Fall Forum to include sessions on youth mentoring. The former Oklahoma governor, David Boren was
in attendance at this year’s event.
The theme for this year’s Fall Forum was “Building Better Schools Begins With You.” Serving as the
keynote speaker for a special luncheon event was Janet
Barresi, the state superintendent of schools. Also serving as a featured speaker was Tom Pace, a mentoring
advocate and the author of “Mentor: The Kid and the
CEO.”
Participants in this year’s Fall Forum had the opportunity to attend a wide array of breakout sessions
which were led by national and state leaders in areas
such as nonprofit leadership, local education foundation
administration and youth mentoring. The event culminated with the $1,000 Outstanding Program Award for
Local Education Foundations, which was presented during the luncheon to the Putnam City Schools Foundation in recognition of its Early Birds Childhood Readiness and Parent Education Program.
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is a
non-profit, charitable organization which was created
in 1985 to recognize and encourage academic success
in the state’s public schools. Through its programs,
the foundation provides technical support and assistance to local education foundations across the
state and sponsors the Fall Forum and other training
events.
Oklahoma is recognized as a national leader in the
number of local education foundations which it features,
with more than 220 established to date. Through its
David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence promotes the growth
and development of quality youth mentoring programs
in the state. To date, more than 60 Oklahoma mentoring programs have joined the foundation’s network to
promote mentoring as a positive step toward academic
excellence.
Bartlesville Regional United Way: Agency Feature
Family Crisis and Counseling Center assists
those in need with wide array of programs
Special to The Bruin
“While teaching a group of adult education students, I became aware through questions being asked
that a young woman – ‘Marie’ – was in great need of
services offered at Family Crisis and Counseling Center, Inc.,” relates Sylvia Starr, the community liaison,
marketing director and prevention specialist for FCC.
The services Starr is
referring to are
provided through
FCC’s Washington County
Substance Abuse
and Domestic
Violence Prevention program, which was initiated with
the purpose of supporting youth and adults through
education, awareness and community events to prevent
them from experiencing the effects of addiction to alcohol, drugs and domestic violence.
FCC is a member of the Bartlesville Regional
United Way, which is currently conducting its annual
fundraising campaign. The prevention program is just
one of six FCC programs that the Bartlesville Regional
United Way helps to fund.
FCC provides many prevention classes in local
school districts in Bartlesville, Dewey and Nowata.
Curriculum used in the classes includes “Too Good for
Drugs,” “Too Good for Violence,” “Safe Dates” and
“Expect Respect.” Each component is research based,
with an emphasis on educating the students about the
effects of drugs, alcohol and domestic violence.
“The prevention program is used to increase public
awareness and education in the community by helping
them recognize warning signs of domestic violence,
sexual assault, stalking and substance abuse,” says Barbara Turner, the executive director of FCC.
Starr’s goal during classes is to provide students
with prevention education to help them avoid some of
the painful experiences which result from dealing with
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, and drug and alcohol abuse.
Starr was able to help achieve these goals after
learning that Marie’s ex-husband was using a protection order process to lie and gain custody of her two
children, naming Marie as the abuser on the protection
order to withhold visitations with her children.
Unfortunately, the protective order filed against
Marie with false accusations put her in the category of
abuser – not a victim – thus making it more difficult
for her to receive services such as emergency housing,
counseling and legal services. Luckily, Marie had evidence she was being victimized by her ex-husband and
reached out to FCC for help.
Marie’s story represents the one in four Oklahoma
women who are subject to domestic violence, which is
where FCC steps in to provide assistance.
The mission and vision of FCC is multi-fold:
FCC strives to restore the lives of those with substance
abuse/dependency issues and their families to become
healthy, productive members of the community.
Additionally, FCC strives to reduce and eliminate
domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in family
and similar relationships through intervention and prevention, and by changing society’s attitudes and systems
which permit and promote violence.
FCC currently works with an Operation Tri-County Triumph – NOW (OTT-NOW) program to provide
people like Marie with attorneys to assist with legal
issues in the protection order process.
Starr’s main goal for Marie was to provide her
with legal services, but she knew it was impossible to
do as long as Marie was seen as the batterer. She was
found to be the victim of the situation, and after a long
process, was able to receive legal assistance.
FCC offered protection order assistance to Marie free of charge, as it does for any client involved in
counseling, safe shelter and support groups.
“I am thankful for being able to teach students
about prevention,” says Starr. “As a team, the FCC staff
members aided in preventing Marie’s batterer from
emotional abuse and using the court system to further
cause her pain.”
By the end of the week, Marie arrived at the FCC
offices to thank FCC staff members for their help. Her
children had been returned to her, and she was smiling
because her children were safe from the “real” abuser,
all because someone cared to listen.
For more information or to contact Family Crisis
FCC - Continued to Page 14
Osage Casino Makes Generous Donation to BPSD
The Osage Casino
made a $7,500 donation
to the Bartlesville
Public School District
on Oct. 19. Pictured
are (from left) BPSD
superintendent Dr. Gary
W. Quinn, Osage Casino
general manager Reesa
Files, Osage Casino
table games manager
Regina Livingston and
BPSD Indian education
coordinator Monica Britt.
The donation will be used
to help cover classroom,
band, physical education,
music and field trip
expenses at schools within
the district as well as in
the BPSD’s Operation
Eagle Indian Education
Program. “This generous
donation,” said Britt, “is
very much appreciated.”
YAK President Delivers Red Ribbon Week Message at Madison
BAND - Continued from Page 2
aspects of each show. Another official will be on hand
to serve as a penalty judge. The dozen bands which earn
the top scores will be invited to compete in the finals.
The finals are due to begin at 7 p.m., and competing in
them is a coveted honor known as marching “under the
lights.”
“The way our students are performing, I think we
have a great chance of marching under the lights again
this year,” says Claussen, who is now in his fourth year
at the helm of the Bruin Brigade. “They have really
been performing at a high level.
“We’ve had some great rehearsals in the last few days.”
The Bruin Brigade’s “Rise” show is an original
performance which utilizes music from Igor Stravinsky’s famed ballet “The Firebird.” It explores the
subject of flight and is accompanied by visual representation provided by the Bruin Color Guard as well as the
band itself.
Ticket prices for this year’s OBA Championship
will be available at Broken Arrow’s Memorial Stadium,
where the event will be held. They are priced at $10 for
the preliminary round and $10 for the final round. Day
passes – which provide entry to both rounds – are priced
at $18 apiece. Children aged three and under will be
admitted free of charge.
The Bruin Brigade is comprised of 130 Bartlesville
High School and Bartlesville Mid-High School students
from grades nine through 12. The band features 23
seniors who have provided fine leadership in a season
which began in late July.
“Our seniors have provided fantastic leadership
Photo Special to The Bruin
Red Ribbon Week was recognized
throughout the Bartlesville Public
School District this week. A national
campaign focused on raising
awareness among students about the
dangers of drug and alcohol abuse,
Red Ribbon Week and its message
was spotlighted during several
special events. Pictured, Christy
Ervin, the president of the Young
Adult Koalition of Bartlesville, speaks
to students at Madison Middle School
on Monday. The focus of YAK is to
educate the community about the
dangers of alcohol and drug abuse
as well as violence. Those who would
like to learn more about YAK, which
is affiliated with the Washington
County Anti-Drug Network, can go
online to www.theyak.org.
this year,” notes Claussen. “The thing that has been so
impressive is how well they work together and how
selfless they have been.
“They always put the group first.”
During the season, which saw the Bruin Brigade
take part in other competitions and perform at halftime
during the varsity football campaign, the students typically practiced every morning –Monday through Friday
– from 7-8:30 a.m. There would be practices on Thursday evenings as well and hour sectionals were held on a
weekly basis for the particular instrument groupings.
“It’s been quite a process,” notes Claussen. “We
started practicing in triple-digit heat and had our coldest
rehearsal this morning.”
The Bruin Brigade is red hot entering this year’s
OBA Championship. Competing in the 2011 Oklahoma
Secondary School Activities Association Class 6A East
Regional Marching Band Contest on Wednesday in
Broken Arrow, the group earned the top possible score –
perfect “superior” ratings from each of the three judges.
On Thursday night, the Bruin Brigade held a free performance of “Rise” at Custer Stadium for all of those who
were interested in viewing it. The show drew a bustling
crowd, and several people in the audience released heliumfilled balloons at the conclusion of the performance.
Claussen is hoping the Bruin Brigade reaches new
heights on Saturday with its performance of “Rise” at
the OBA Championship.
“I’m extremely proud of how hard the students
have worked this season and how far we’ve come,” he
says. “It’s been so rewarding to watch this maturation
process take place.”
SAFETY - Continued from Page 1
weeks – from the middle of October through midNovember. By that time, each of the district’s 35
drivers will have completed all three evacuation
drills.
“We have had six of our drivers complete the
evacuation drills so far,” notes BPSD driver trainer Jim
Fisk. “Each of them did an excellent job.”
At the beginning of the current 2011-12 academic year, each of the district’s bus drivers received
a copy of the sheet spelling out the bus evacuation
drills and the three scenarios which they featured.
The sheets explained the three scenarios and let the
drivers know how they should respond in a step-bystep manner.
In the first scenario, the bus had been hit from behind, leaving the rear emergency exit door inoperable.
The students would need to be evacuated, but one had
been rendered unconscious in the collision. The second
scenario featured an accident in which the hood of the
bus had caught fire.
The scenarios each covered what should be done in
terms of informing the bus dispatcher so that emergency
crews could be contacted, rendering first aid, and handling fire extinguishers and bus alarms. In each of the
three scenarios, the tasks had to be done within a certain
timeframe – quickly, but also correctly.
During the scenarios, the bus drivers reacted in a
parked bus as they would during an actual emergency
situation as Fisk observed.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education
mandates certain things that all bus drivers need to
know and learn, such as informing every student on
each of their routes about emergency exits on their
vehicles as well as evacuation procedures. Those drills
are done once per semester. However, the BPSD Transportation Department goes above and beyond what
is required by the OSDE with its evacuation drills. In
addition, the BPSD Transportation Department produces a safety bulletin every two weeks and distributes
it to each of its members. In the bulletin is information
focused on general safety practices as well as those
pertinent to Bartlesville, such as alerting drivers of areas
under construction or those which might have some
traffic congestion.
“I think our focus on safety has helped us raise
awareness about potential hazards while helping us to
curb the number of incidents that we see in a given academic year,” says BPSD transportation supervisor Fred
Auschwitz. “We have managed to keep our number of
incidents to a minimum.”
Of the BPSD’s 35 bus drivers, 32 see regular
duty while three are substitutes. The district, which
features approximately 5,900 students, added five
new routes this year and has 32 all told. In a given
year, BPSD bus drivers rack up around 500,000 cumulative miles.
To become a bus driver for the district, candidates must take a written test and pass the Class
B Commercial Driver’s Licence (CDL) exam with
Passenger & School (P&S) endorsements at a
Bartlesville driver’s license testing facility. Fisk
then trains them for approximately 20 hours until he
is certain they will pass a subsequent driving exam
in Tulsa.
The next step toward becoming a bus driver is to
take the 25-hour Bus Driver Training course. The course
is taught by the BPSD head mechanic Orville Burks,
who is a certified OSDE bus driver trainer as well. By
completing the course, drivers are certified with the
OSDE. All told, training for the three tests spans around
40 hours.
On a monthly basis, BPSD Transportation Department officials distribute safety quizzes for district bus
drivers. The question that produces the most wrong
answers becomes a topic of focus during subsequent
safety meetings within the Transportation Department.
The quizzes typically spotlight state laws, and the
queries are usually taken out of the OSDE bus driver
handbook.
Safety never takes a back seat within the Bartlesville Public School District.
District Words of the Month: Service/Citizenship
Every month during the academic year, the Bartlesville Public School District designates a word or
words which students and staff members are encouraged to incorporate into their respective
lifestyles as habit. The words of the month for October are “service/citizenship.” “Service” means “an
act of assistance or benefit to another or others.” “Citzenship” means “the status of a citizen with its
attendant duties, rights and privileges.” The Bartlesville Public School District releases a new habit
word monthly from August through May.
CHALKBOARD - Continued from Page 1
this month and is due to conclude early in November.
The BPSD boasts approximately 815 employees in all,
and chances are good that each of them knows someone
who has been helped by one of the BRUW’s 15 member
agencies.
The non-profit member agencies include organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation
Army, the Richard Kane YMCA and the Mary Martha
Outreach. The programs of these organizations – which
the BRUW helps to fund – assist those in need in a
myriad of ways.
Within the BPSD, we’re always happy to assist the
United Way and its excellent member agencies.
Make a Difference Week is a great way for our
young people to become engaged in the giving process.
The special week has been recognized at BHS for the
last several years, and is coordinated by the school’s
student council, which features around 35 youngsters.
During Make a Difference Week, which will span from
Oct. 27-Nov. 2 this year, the student council members
plan several fun fundraising activities. They include
events like a special dance, a volleyball tournament
and a girls’ powderpuff football game. There is a small
cost associated with participating in the events – and
donations are accepted as well – and that money will go
toward a student and his or her family who is in need.
This year, the MAD Week fundraising effort at
BHS will assist a first grade student at Jane Phillips
Elementary School who suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome, a life-threatening genetic disease. The money
raised will help his family offset his medical costs.
MAD - Continued from Page 5
from the BHS parent support group,
will go toward the MAD Week effort for the student and his family.
With the weather beginning to turn from cool to
cold, several businesses and organizations are assisting
in the 2011 Washington County One Warm Coat Drive.
Throughout the month of October, those who were interested were encouraged to donate gently used or even
new coats toward the drive. The coats could be dropped
off at the participating businesses and organizations
during their respective normal hours of business, and 10
took part in all.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8 – from 6-8 p.m. – those families
in need who could use a warm coat for the fall and winter
months will be invited to pick one up at the Elks Lodge,
which is located at 1060 Swan Drive in Bartlesville.
Just a few days prior to the date on which the One
Warm Coat Drive pick-ups can be made, the BPSD’s
Special Olympics program will hold its annual bingo
night fundraising event. The fun fundraising night
is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the
Bartlesville-based American Legion, which is located at
501 NE Washington Blvd.
Several prize baskets will be available for the
lucky bingo winners as will special grand prizes of a 32inch flat screen television and a trip in a private plane.
All of the proceeds raised through the bingo night
fundraiser – this year’s event is due to begin at 6:30
p.m. for the early birds and 7:15 p.m. for regular play
– helps cover the cost of sending the Bruin Special
Olympics team to the annual state summer games in
Stillwater.
During the fall and winter months, nothing warms
the heart quite as much as offering a helping hand to
those in need.
The Pawmart is typically open during regular lunch hours on Monday
through Friday at BHS.
“Our students absolutely love
HOLIDAY - Continued from Page 6
Past FCCLA projects have included the purchase of tables and benches for the commons area located near the
main entrance to the Mid-High School as well as bench
seating in the building’s front entry hall. Members have
painted several school restrooms, also.
The 2011 Holiday Extravaganza is being hosted by
FCC - Continued from Page 9
and Counseling Center, Inc., call (918) 336-1188, or
visit www.familycrisis.us.
The Bartlesville Regional United Way’s annual
campaign is underway. To find out how you can con-
MAD Week,” notes Lashbrook.
“They look forward to it every year.
“They look forward to making
a difference.”
Erica Garretson, a realtor with RE/MAX of Bartlesville
and the mother of an FCCLA member. The upstairs
conference room of the RE/MAX office is accessible
only by stairs.
The Mid-High School chapter of the FCCLA is led
by Rita Durrett, the school’s family and consumer sciences teacher.
tribute to Family Crisis and Counseling Center, Inc. – or
other member agencies – contact the BRUW office via
phone at (918) 336-1044; in person at 501 S. Johnston
Ste. 550, Bartlesville, OK 74003; or online at www.
bartlesvilleuw.org.
BINGO - Continued from Page 2
Those who would like to learn
more about this year’s bingo night
event – or how they can assist with
it – can contact either Sandy Bliss
(918-766-1826 or BlissSL@bps-ok.
org) or Joyce Nickels (918-914-
1050 or [email protected]).
“Our annual bingo night fundraising event always makes for a
great evening that the whole family
can enjoy,” says Nickels, a Ranch
Heights Elementary School teacher
and one of the organizers of the
LFYSP - Continued from Page 3
as Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Wesleyan
University and Rogers State University.
Sixteen students – all of whom are enrolled
within the Bartlesville Public School District – are
currently in the LFYSP. Three others have graduated
the program and are currently enrolled in two of the
three participating institutions – Kelsey Bridges and
younger brother Thomas Bridges at OSU, and Dallas
Lewis at OWU.
The LFYSP originally aided students who attended
– or had attended – Jane Phillips Elementary School
before evolving to include Oak Park and Richard Kane
elementary schools as well. On Aug. 31, however, the
Lowes announced that the program will accept students
– from the fifth through the 11th grades – from all 10 of
the schools which comprise the BPSD.
The LFYSP currently has approximately $1.4 million
in endowments available for scholarships to help students
who are enrolled in the program go on to OSU, OWU or
Rogers State. The minimum scholarship available through
the program is valued at $4,000 annually for four years.
Applications are currently being accepted for those
students who would like to be considered for the 201112 class of the LFYSP. Typically, around five students
comprise a class in a given year, and students must
apply to be accepted. Applications are available online
at the LFYSP website – www.loweyoungscholar.org –
or through a counselor at one of the BPSD’s schools.
Weighing heavily on applications are areas such as
grade-point average, attendance rates, need of the family and recommendations by the students’ teachers,
counselors and/or administrators.
Applications for those students who wish to be
considered for the program can be turned in at their
respective schools, and must be done so by Nov. 16.
Saturday’s event on the OWU campus gave those
involved with the program an opportunity to offer
insight about it and answer any questions that prospective members might have. Several people spoke from a
podium set up in the front of the dining center, including the Lowes, Lewis, parent Melissa Cole and OWU
representative Kandi Molder.
event. “There are plenty of prizes
to be won, and those gift baskets
that aren’t claimed during the bingo
rounds are raffled off to those who
are interested.
“All of the money raised goes
to an excellent cause.”
The fifth grade students who attended the event
were able to spend some time with members of the
OWU men’s basketball and women’s soccer teams,
who were on hand. They were able to meet some of the
LFYSP mentors as well.
Students who are selected for the program are asked
to help out in the community by assisting in organized efforts for local non-profit organizations such as the Kiddie
Park and the Salvation Army. They attend quarterly meetings and have access to programs which help them learn
about areas such as money management and investing.
The LFYSP’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled
to be held Jan. 7 on the OWU campus. As is tradition, in
May, officials will introduce the program’s newest class.
The program’s next volunteering effort is scheduled to take place on Nov. 19 at the Bartlesville-based
branch of the Salvation Army as the members help to
prepare special food baskets for Christmas. Also, plans
are afoot for a second fashion show fundraising event
for the program to be held next summer. The 2010
Lowe Family Young Scholars Program Afternoon Tea,
Fashion Show and Silent Auction was held during the
spring on the OWU campus and proved quite popular,
prompting discussions for a follow-up event.
In May, seniors Vanessa Carreno and Moncerat
Sanchez are scheduled to graduate from Bartlesville High
School as well as the LFYSP. Thanks to the program,
they will both go on to attend OWU. Prior to that, the
program’s first-ever graduate – Kelsey Bridges, who is
an education major at OSU – is due to earn her degree in
December. Her plan is to eventually teach at Jane Phillips
Elementary School, which she attended as a child.
Those who would like to learn more about the
LFYSP program and all that it has to offer can send an
email to [email protected] or call (918) 3365678. With new students due to join the program in the
coming months, more mentors will be needed as well.
Saturday evening’s dinner event spanned approximately two hours, and everyone seemed to come away
from it smiling.
“I think everyone really enjoyed themselves,” notes
Barry W. Lowe. “The feedback we received was great.
“It was an excellent evening.”
One Warm Coat Drive donations
to be accepted through Sunday
Donations for the 2011 Washington County One
Warm Coat Drive will continue to be accepted at participating businesses and organizations through Sunday.
The focus of the drive is to provide new, gently
used and clean coats of all sizes to area families in need.
Businesses and organizations which are accepting
the coats during the drive include Dentistry By Design
(which is located at 701 S. Keeler Avenue), Food Pyramid (2501 SE Washington Blvd.), McAnaw & Company Realtors in Bartlesville (515 SE Delaware Ave.), Dr.
Bradley Cobb (4037 Nowata Road), Elks Lodge (1060
Swan Drive), Lookin’ Sharp Laundry & Dry Cleaning
(112 S. Osage Ave.), the Good Shepherd Presbyterian
Church (801 SE Washington Blvd.), Life Church of
Bartlesville (1607 Swan Drive), McCoy Jewelers (306
SE Dewey Ave.), and the Dewey Police Department
(409 E. Don Tyler Ave. in Dewey). The organizations
and businesses will collect the coats during their normal
hours of operation.
Once the drive has concluded, families in need will
be invited to collect a free coat at the Elks Lodge on
Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 6-8 p.m.
Stellar Sites
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:
PowerSchool
http://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 Island
http://www.studyisland.com Use the “Member Login.”
· Student login information must be obtained from
teachers.
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/BartlesvilleHighSchool#!/
BartlesvillePublicSchools or http://www.facebook.com/
BartlesvilleHighSchool
· Everyone can keep up with what’s going throughout
the BPSD or at Bartlesville High School by becoming fans of
these pages, which are updated regularly with news and events.
Bartlesville Public School District Activities (October 28 - November 3, 2011)
Friday, October 28
*** Parent-teacher conferences: No classes in session for pre-kindergarten
through 6th grade ***
*** Red Ribbon Week observed throughout BPSD ***
2011 Fall Book Fair (TBA) (Hoover)
2011 MOYA “Minute to Win It” lunches (TBA) (Madison)
Sixth grade parent-teacher conferences (TBA) (Central)
Sixth grade parent-teacher conferences (TBA) (Madison)
2011 Fall Book Fair (8 a.m.-noon) (Wayside)
Football: Varsity at Stillwater (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 29
2011 Junior High Choir All-State auditions (first round) (TBA)
2011 NOADSO All-State Orchestra Clinic (TBA)
2011 Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Marching Contest (TBA)
Cross country: Varsity boys and girls at Class 6A state meet (TBA)
2011 MAD Week Dance at Fine Arts Center (8 p.m.-midnight) (BHS)
Sunday, October 30
2011 Mad Week Talent Show at Fine Arts Center (4 p.m.) (BHS)
Monday, October 31
*** Happy Halloween ***
2011 Salvation Army Canned Food Drive underway
2011 Ranch Heights Fall Book Fair in library (TBA)
District Honor Choir clinic in Tulsa (TBA)
Fall class parties (TBA) (Wayside)
“Leaders In Education”
Fall parties and mask parties (2:45 p.m.) (Wilson)
Fall class parties (3 p.m.) (Hoover)
Football: Junior varsity hosts Stillwater (6 p.m.)
Editing, writing, design
and photography by
David Austin, Bartlesville
Public School District’s
Tuesday, November 1
2011 Salvation Army Canned Food Drive underway community relations
2011 Ranch Heights Fall Book Fair in library (TBA) coordinator, unless
otherwise noted
Fall picture retakes (TBA) (Ranch Heights)
Bruins for Christ in library (7:25 a.m.) (Madison)
Sixth grade academic reward lunch (11:10 a.m.) (Central)
Basketball: Varsity girls at Oklahoma Union (scrimmage) (3 p.m.)
District Honor Choir concert in Tulsa (7 p.m.)
Wednesday, November 2
2011 Salvation Army Canned Food Drive underway
2011 Ranch Heights Fall Book Fair in library (TBA)
Seventh grade academic reward lunch (11:10 a.m.) (Central)
Central Parent Support Group meeting library (noon)
Thursday, November 3
2011 Salvation Army Canned Food Drive underway
2011 Ranch Heights Fall Book Fair in library (TBA)
Student council officers meeting in Room 320 (7:45 a.m.)
Eighth grade academic reward lunch (11:10 a.m.) (Central)
Basketball: Varsity boys at Tulsa Union (scrimmage) (4 p.m.)
2011 Bartlesville High School and Bartlesville Mid-High School Fall Choir Concert in Fine Arts Center auditorium (7 p.m.)