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Bartlesville Public School District’s Weekly Email Newsletter
The Bruin
Educating
Tomorrow’s
Leaders
Volume 9, Number 9...Friday, October 17, 2014...www.bps-ok.org
Superintendent’s
Chalkboard
Education Support
Personnel Week
begins Monday
Each year, the Bartlesville
Public School District celebrates
Education Support Personnel
Week. This
year, the
week of recognition is set
for October
20-24.
On
Monday, October 13, the
BPSD Board
Dr. Gary W. Quinn
of Education
approved a special proclamation
to declare next week EducaTo learn how to give to this year’s Bartlesville Regional United Way campaign, please visit
tion Support Personnel Week
http://www.bartlesvilleuw.org/.
throughout our district.
The Bartlesville Public
School District has approximately 825 employees, about 375 of
whom are classified or “support”
employees. Our classified employees typically work in supEach year, the Bartlesville
in the Bartlesville community by
port roles such as administrative
Public School District joins the an- providing funding to a variety of
nual fundraising campaign for the
organizations and programs that are assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria
Bartlesville Regional United Way
integral in aiding many throughout workers, maintenance and custodial staff.
(BRUW). The district’s 2014 cam- the community. The theme for the
As a district, we would not
paign, which kicked off on Tues2014 BRUW United Way is built
be successful without our outday, October 7, will span six weeks around celebrating 75 years of imstanding classified employees.
and conclude on Friday, November pact by the BRUW in the BartlesAlthough many of our classi21.
ville community.
CHALKBOARD- Continued to page 7
The BRUW plays a vital role
CAMPAIGN- Continued to page 7
BPSD kicks off annual
BRUW campaign
Bartlesville Regional United Way: Agency Feature
Mary Martha Outreach helps family
Special to The Bruin
Last winter, a family with four children was
hitchhiking into Bartlesville, looking for work and
a place to stay. The man who gave them a ride told
them about Mary Martha Outreach, a United Way
partner agency.
The family
found a trailer they
could stay in while
the father looked
for a job. Then,
the father and one
of the daughters
walked to Mary Martha Outreach to get help.
“It was only a couple of miles, but it was very
cold, and we had no food and only the clothes on
our back,” the man said. “There was a big line out
front, but we got in, and like radar, people came to
us. They gave us food, clothes, blankets and underwear for all of my children. They put all the new
stuff in cars and drove us home.”
“My wife cried when she saw us drive up. …
God led us here to this town and helped us to find
hope and friends,” the man said.
Later that day, the man was able to walk to a
job interview. He credits MMO’s United Way supported programs with helping get his family back on
their feet.
Many Washington County families struggle to
make ends meet. A family of three in Washington
County needs to make $30,251- or $14.25 an hour –
to be self-sufficient, according to the 2010 Community Profile commissioned by the Bartlesville Regional United Way. The same study showed that 35
percent of the families in Washington County made
less than $40,000 a year, putting them in danger of
not reaching self-sufficiency wage.
The food and clothing programs at Mary Martha Outreach are a key part of the Bartlesville Regional United Way’s efforts to combat that problem.
“By supporting programs at Mary Martha and
other agencies that supplement families’ income, it
allows them to use the money they make on other
essentials, such as housing, childcare and more,”
Bartlesville Regional United Way CEO and Executive Director Jody Burch said. “Also, for those who
are on a fixed income, such as Social Security or
disability, it allows them to make ends meet.”
Last year, 6,554 people received assistance
through MMO’s food program, and 1.6 million
pounds of food was given out. The Mary Martha
Clothing room was visited 74,468 times by people
in need.
Through the clothing program, Mary Martha
Outreach also gave 1,102 children a new outfit for
the first day of school. While most of the other
clothes given out by MMO are gently used, these
clothes are brand-new, so the children from families
in need can start school on an even footing with the
other children.
Mary Martha Outreach – with United Way support – also helps the work- BRUW- Continued to page 7
Life Principle of the Month: Common Sense
Each month, the Bartlesville Public School District and the Bartlesville Regional United Way designate a
Great Expectations Life Principle as Life Principle of the Month. BPSD students, staff and members of the
Bartlesville community are encouraged to incorporate the Life Principle into their respective lifestyles as
habit. The Life Principle of the Month for October is “common sense,” which means, “using good sense and
judgement.” With common sense, one will practice virtuous living using the Life Principles.
Bartlesville Regional United Way: Agency Feature
United Way funded programs address
domestic violence
Special to The Bruin
When he got arrested for domestic violence,
“Steve” had hit rock bottom in his personal relationships. After a stint in jail, he was directed to attend
the Men and Women Choosing to Change program
at Family Crisis and Counseling Center.
Steve had said that “things happened and I
have no control,”
insinuating that he
did not think the
violence was his
fault. He had a history of anger and
aggression since
he was a teenager, and had spent 12 years in the
military as an intelligence officer. He didn’t think
he needed help.
He was frequently absent, which led to more
legal consequences, so finally he started attending
and paying attention. Mid-way through, he began to
show signs of wanting to change and believing in
the program.
“I thought I was normal and everyone else was
messed up,” the client said. “I now realize it was
me. It was my beliefs and need to control others
that was messed up.”
When he graduated from the program, he
shared with the others that “change will only occur when you become willing to accept that the
way you have handled situations in the past doesn’t
work.”
Through Men and Women Choosing to Change,
a certified batterer’s intervention program, 103
people like Steve were taught tools to change their
behavior and end patterns of power and control in
their intimate relationships. The individuals who
participate have gotten into legal trouble through
their behavior, so the staff strive to teach them
healthier ways to respond to situations.
In Oklahoma, 49 percent of women and 40
percent of men have experienced domestic violence
at some point in their lives, according to a recent
study. Locally, two people lost their lives to domestic violence in 2012.
Through funding programs that intervene in
these situations, help the victims escape dangerous situations and rebuild their lives, and help the
abuser learn to change their behavior, the Bartlesville Regional United Way addresses all aspects of
domestic violence.
Services are provided to those who have experienced domestic violence to both guide them
through the court system and help them make a new
life for themselves. The Crisis Intervention for Victims program at FCC provided help to 535 victims
of domestic violence who requested help, and staff
facilitated 388 emergency protective orders. United
Way funding also helps maintain a safe shelter
through FCC so women and children have a safe
and secure place to go when they find themselves in
domestic violent situations. The Crisis program at
Mary Martha Outreach, which also receives United
Way funding, helps those leaving the safe shelter
with household supplies to set up their new living
quarters.
The Bartlesville United Way also provides
funding to help provide Prevention Education to
numerous students in various schools in Bartlesville
and its surrounding communities. The curriculum
used helps the students learn to recognize the signs
of abusive relationships and steps that can be taken
to develop healthy and non-violent relationships
with others. The curriculum also addresses substance use/abuse by educating the students about
protective factors and refusal skills that can be used
to help them combat peer pressure and other destructive decisions they may be encouraged to make
by others.
United Way focuses on improving lives in the
areas of education, income and health, which are
the building blocks of a successful future. The Men
and Women Choosing to Change and other domestic
violence-related programs are an important part of
that initiative to build a better Bartlesville.
“By addressing these issues that tear apart families, we are strengthening the local community. United
Way programs help women and children maintain both
mental and physical health by providing a safety net to
allow them to leave dangerous situations,” BRUW CEO
and Executive Director Jody Burch said.
Sixty BPSD orchestra students named to
All District String Orchestra
Sixty Bartlesville Public School District orchestra
students were named to the Northeastern Oklahoma All
District String Orchestra following auditions on October 1. The Northeastern region consists of Bartlesville,
Broken Arrow, Jenks, Union and Tulsa.
On Saturday, November 1, All District String
Orchestra students will take part in the Northeastern
Oklahoma Honors Clinic at Bartlesville High School.
The clinic will consist of three orchestras, cadet orchestra for 7th grade students, intermediate orchestra for
8th and 9th grade students, and advanced orchestra for
students in grades 10-12. The directors for the clinic are
Rachel Dirks from Lawrence Kansas Youth Symphony
directing the cadet orchestra, Dr. Brad Benson, Fine
Arts Administrator of Norman Public Schools, directing
the intermediate orchestra, and Dr. Ben Nilles, Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra Director,
directing the advanced orchestra. The day will conclude
with a concert in the Fine Arts Center at 7 p.m.
BPSD students qualifying for the cadet orchestra
include Sabrina Chaun, Olivia Park, Austin Ralph, Jade
Fielder, Alex Garcia, Alan Cavarrubias, Ambika Krishnan, Tori Hackenbarger, Ruth Brown and Zoe Stratten
on violin, Izabelle Ames and Regan Gorman on viola,
cello players Stone Yang, Tadessa Cordrey and Raven
Gariss, and on bass Freddy Rocha, Chloe Sullivan and
Abigail Cunningham.
Intermediate orchestra participants from Bartlesville
include Vishnu Vasudevan, Suzanne Yeabower, Markus
Klawun, Emma Shelly, Megan Talbot, Peihan Liu, Allison Biddinger, Aarya Ghonasghi, Abigail Barriga and
Lauren Bell on violin, Mae Glock, Keely Lawrence,
Gage Davis and Fernando Gomez-Moran on viola, cello
players Arturi DiBlieck, Quinton Willcox and Carinna
Marling, and bass players Maverick Garza, Tyler Myers
and Ashton Hayden. Alternates include Sam Anderson
and Avery Lee on violin, Kaylee Garrett, Eleanor Shepard and Olivia Galvez on cello and Keaton Allen on bass.
Finally, BPSD students in advanced orchestra
include violin players Courtney Brendal, Gloria Tso,
Pranoy Behara, Akseli DiBlieck, Prianka Monwar, Takota Williams, Shayoni Banerjee, Clara Gomez-Moran, David Wiseman, Heather Clark and Sebastian Brim, Noah
Eiden, Avery Carr, Emma Claiborne, Maggie Giovanetti,
Katie Southwick and Alexis Cordrey on viola, Lucia
Montiel, Ashley Raatz and Kaycee Schaper on cello and
bass player Victoria Curry. Haley Davis was selected as
an alternate on cello.
The China Circus set to perform at
Bartlesville Community Center
Special to The Bruin
Direct from Anhui, China, one of the world’s most
awarded Acrobatic Troupes will be performing at the
Bartlesville Community Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at 7 p.m. “The China
Circus presents the Anhui Acrobatic Troupe” has chosen to
partner with the Bartlesville Boys and Girls Club and will
donate part of the proceeds from their performance to this
organization. The Anhui Acrobatic Troupe, known for its
cool precision, playful fun, and awe inspiring demonstrations of human performance art, is considered to be one
of the most skilled and highly awarded Chinese Acrobatic
Troupes. Their daring feats of acrobatic expertise are amazing and the beauty they bring to human performance art
is breathtaking. This troupe features over twenty acrobats
from China and has been seen around the world. The Anhui Acrobats are know for leading the way in creating new
and stunning acrobatic acts and combining elegant dance
with playfulness. This will be their first appearance in the
Bartlesville area.
Many Oklahomans are quite familiar with the “Incredible! Acrobats of China featuring the New Shanghai
Circus” based in Branson Missouri and they highly recommend The China Circus featuring the Anhui Acrobatic
Troupe as a fun show, entertaining for all ages, and unique
among visiting Chinese Acrobat troupes. It’s a circus like
you’ve never seen before!
Some of the award-winning acts include Group Bicycling, Juggling on Stand, Tight Rope, Aerial Fish Ballet,
Hoop Diving, Hats, Spinning Plates, Hula Hoop, Diabolo
(Chinese Yo Yo), and more. Their dramatic interpretation
of classic Chinese dance highlights the fact that each province of China has its own acrobatic troupe which, while using traditional Chinese Acrobatic performances, is distinctly
different in presentation, costuming, and performance style.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased in
advance by calling the Bartlesville Community Center at
918-337-2787.
T
Sing-a-thon/Rock- ConocoPhillips United
Way 5K and Fun Run
a-thon set for
for November 1
October 25 to help Specialset
to The Bruin
place on the grounds of
Everyone is invited to
the Bartlesville Municipal
choir students
get “On Your Mark” for the
Airport. The 5K Run will
2014 ConocoPhillips United begin and end on the south
5K and Fun Run,
end of the taxi way while
raise money for Way
which is scheduled to take
encompassing a hangar area
on Saturday, Nov. 1 at and Will Rogers Drive. The
trip to Chicago place
the Bartlesville Municipal
flat surface should allow
Special to The Bruin
In order to help raise money for the annual
choir trip, Bartlesville High School and Bartlesville Mid-High choir students are holding the
2nd Annual Sing-a-thon/Rock-a-thon Fundraiser
on Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at
Washington Park Mall.
Choir students are seeking sponsorships or
donations for their participation during the two
hour event. BMHS 9th and 10th grade choir students will rock along as BHS 11th and 12th grade
students sing karaoke-style to DJ Terry Miller’s
music. Expect anything from garden furniture to
recliners as BMHS choir students encourage the
BHS singers. Silly prizes will be awarded for the
best rocker, best rocking apparatus, most originally
decorated rocker, most entertaining, most creative,
and most talented signing individual or group.
All money raised will go toward the annual
choir trip to Chicago this spring. Choir students
will sing in various places around Chicago and see
the musical “Million Dollar Quartet” which dramatizes the December 4, 1956 recording session by
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and, then
newcomer, Jerry Lee Lewis. With a side trip to the
St. Louis Arch and a riverboat tour, choir students
will have the opportunity to tour several of Chicago’s
famous science and art museums. Attending a Blue
Man Group show will cap-off the Chicago trip.
The Sing-a-thon/Rock-a-thon Fundraiser is one
of many fundraising opportunities for BHS/BMHS
choir students. The students are selling Sonic Cards
for $5, citrus fruit in November, and cookie dough in
the spring. Join the fun, help out a choir student, and
support the BPSD vocal program by attending the
2nd Annual Sing-a-thon/Rock-a-thon Fundraiser on
October 25!
Airport.
A fundraising activity
for ConocoPhillips’ annual
campaign to benefit the
Bartlesville Regional United
Way, the second-year event
promises plenty of fun and
prizes for everyone – participants and spectators alike.
Top prize giveaways
will include two airline
tickets to anywhere within
the continental United States
as well as an Xbox One, a
Drone and a Keurig single
cup coffee maker. All of
those who register for the
5K and/or Fun Run will be
automatically entered into
the prize drawing. In addition, those who are on hand
during the day of the event –
participants as well as spectators – can purchase tickets
for $5 apiece as entry into
the prize drawing. Unlimited
tickets can be purchased, and
you must be present to win.
In addition to prize
drawings, the event will feature music, food and refreshments. Also, since the event
will be held the day after
Halloween, prizes for best
costumes will be awarded.
Both the 5K and the
one-mile Fun Run will take
for some very competitive
times.
The Fun Run is due
to begin at 8:30 a.m. and
the 5K will follow at 9 a.m.
Awards and prizes will be
presented at the awards
ceremony, which will be
held on site beginning at 10
a.m. Late registration for the
event begins at 7:30 a.m.
with packet pick-ups starting
at 8 a.m.
The early registration
fee for the 5K is $25 per
person if purchased by Oct.
27 and $30 for late registration after Oct. 30. The
registration fee for the Fun
Run is $15. Registration for
the 5K and Fun Run can be
done online at https://onyourmarkrun2014.eventbrite.
com. All those who register
in advance to participate in
the 5K and/or Fun Run will
receive a commemorative
T-shirt.
To learn more about
how to get “On Your
Mark” for the 2014 ConocoPhillips United Way 5K
and Fun Run – including
sponsorship opportunities
– please go online to www.
conocophillipsonyourmarkrun.com.
BPSF now accepting
Educator Hall of Fame nominations
The Bartlesville Public School Foundation is
now accepting nominations for the BPSF Educator
Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
In its sixth year, the Educator Hall of Fame
seeks to recognize outstanding former Bartlesville
Public School District educators that made a positive impact on students and the Bartlesville community. Last year’s inductees included Ron Jared, Betty
Schmid and Marilyn Williams.
If you know of a former BPSD educator that
you feel deserves to be a member of the BPSF Educator Hall of Fame, you are encouraged to nominate
that person for this prestigious honor. Nomination
forms can be found on the BPSF website at http://
www.bps-ok.org/bpsfoundation/halloffame.htm. If
you are unable to complete the online form, you can
also submit a short excerpt describing the nominee’s
employment history at BPSD and why the educator
is worthy of Hall of Fame induction.
All forms must be submitted to the BPSF office
located at the Education Service Center, 1100 S.
Jennings. The deadline to submit all nominations is
Tuesday, November 11. Please visit the BPSF website at http://www.bps-ok.org/bpsfoundation/index.
htm if you have any questions. Inductees will be
announced early next year.
Walk to School Day a big success
Photo Special to The Bruin/
Approximately 2,500 students
throughout the Bartlesville Public
School District took part in Walk
to School Day on Wednesday,
October 8. In its sixth year, the
event has become wildly popular in
Bartlesville and helps to promote
a healthy lifestyle. Pictured,
representatives at Jane Phillips
Elementary School prepare to greet
students on October 8.
BHS art students honored
Photos Special to The Bruin/Several Bartlesville High School artists were recognized for outstanding artistic achievements.
Recently, art students received awards at the Indian Summer Festival including Virginia Drummond and Megha Patel who
received an Excellence in Drawing Award, Sidney Thompson and Cameron Powell received an Excellence in Painting Award,
Sidney Thompson and Kayna Powell received and Excellence in Mixed Media Award, and Christine Lord, Kayna Williams,
Gabby Storey and Virginia Drummond received Honorable Mention Awards in one or more categories. Pictured from left to
right, Virginia Drummond, Sidney Thompson, Megha Patel, Christine Lord, Madison Scullawl, Kayna Williams (not pictured
are Cameron Powell and Gabby Storey). Pictured right,Tiffany Taylor and Chance Harper. Taylor and Harper won 2nd and
3rd place respectively in the 2014 Emerging Artists High School Scholarship Juried Exhibition.
CAMPAIGN- Continued from page 1
Many organizations funded
by the BRUW provide important services that greatly benefit
BPSD students. Organizations
such as the Boy Scouts, the Girl
Scouts, the American Red Cross,
the Westside Community Center,
and the Richard Kane YMCA provide services that are invaluable
to many students and their families. To learn more about agencies and programs funded by the
BRUW, please visit http://www.
bartlesvilleuw.org/programs.
To create a little healthy
competition throughout the district during campaign time, the
BPSD will be naming the BPSD
site with the highest participation
rate the 2014 BPSD United Way
Giving Champion. The winner
will have its name put on a plaque
located at the ESC. The following sites will be competing for the
award, Bartlesville High School,
Bartlesville Mid-High School,
Central Middle School, Madison
Middle School, Hoover Elementary School, Ranch Heights
Elementary School, Richard Kane
Elementary School, Jane Phillips Elementary School, Wayside Elementary School, Wilson
Elementary School, the Education
Service Center, Transportation/
Maintenance and the Will Rogers
Complex.
“Throughout our district, we
pride ourselves on valuing our
community and setting a positive
example,” said BPSD Superintendent Dr. Gary W. Quinn. “We
work hard throughout the BPSD
to help our local community and
have a positive influence. Participating in the annual Bartlesville
Regional United Way campaign
is a great way to help the Bartlesville community and have a positive impact.”
The BPSD is proud to support the efforts of the BRUW in
helping achieve its fundraising
goal and providing valuable support to the local community. To
learn how to give to this year’s
BRUW campaign, please visit the
BRUW website at http://www.
bartlesvilleuw.org/.
CHALKBOARD- Continued from page 1
fied employees are
not in the classroom, their impact on our district and
our students is immense. These employees assist us in
achieving excellence in the BPSD and we are proud to
have such a great group of classified employees.
Year round, classified employees are busy helping to keep our district running smoothly. Many
things done by our classified employees may go unseen by the public, but are vital to our school district.
Tasks such as bringing your child to and from school
on the bus, cleaning up the school sites or serving
your child lunch are done every day by our great support staff.
Special events to honor our hardworking employees are extremely important and we are proud to
have annual events such as Education Support Personnel Week and the BPSD Classified Person of the
Year Reception.
On behalf of the BPSD, I would to thank all classified employees in our district. We are fortunate to have
such an excellent group of dedicated employees. Thank
you for all you do!
ing poor through MMO
2 Go, a program that brings toiletries to minimum
wage workers at their jobs. It encourages them to
keep working by providing them with help at a time
they can access it and by giving them tools they
need to maintain a professional appearance and
keep those jobs.
United Way focuses on improving lives in the
areas of education, income and health, which are
the building blocks of a successful future.
“By providing food and clothing to those in
need, Mary Martha Outreach is partnering with
United Way to build a stronger Bartlesville,” Burch
said.
The Bartlesville Regional United Way’s Annual Campaign is underway. To find out how to
contribute to Mary Martha Outreach or other member agencies, contact the BRUW office at 918-3361044, 415 S.E. Silas Street, Bartlesville, OK 74003
or visit www.bartlesvilleuw.org.
BRUW- Continued from page 2
Reminder: No school for
elementary and sixth grade students on Friday,
October 24 due to Parent/Teacher Conferences
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 websites 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/BartlesvillePublicSchools or
http://www.facebook.com/BartlesvilleHighSchool
- Everyone can keep up with what’s going on throughout
the BPSD or at Bartlesville High School by becoming fans
of these pages, which are updated regularly with news and
events.
Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/BPSDBruins
- Keep up with the latest news and announcements from
throughout the BPSD.
Bartlesville Public School District Activities (October 17 - October 23)
Friday, October 17
***Fall Break***
Thursday, October 23
-Book fair @ Kane
-Book fair family night @ Wayside (3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.)
-Hoover pictures retakes
-Kane PTO meeting (12:15 p.m.)
-Elementary level evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
-BMHS and BHS Orchestra concert @ FAC (7 p.m.)
-Madison NJHS Induction Ceremony (7 p.m.)
Saturday, October 18
(No events scheduled)
Sunday, October 19
(No events scheduled)
Monday, October 20
-Classified Personnel Week (all week)
-Book fair @ Kane
-Book fair @ Wayside
-Blackbox audition @ FAC (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.)
-JV football @ Booker T. Washington (7:30 p.m.)
-8th grade football vs. Bishop Kelley (6 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 21
-Book fair @ Kane
-Central Science Olympiad meeting (3 p.m.)
-Blackbox audition @ FAC (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.)
-Book fair family night @ Wayside (3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.)
-Freshman football vs. Broken Arrow (6 p.m.)
Wednesday, October 22
-Book fair @ Kane
-Book fair @ Wayside
-Ranch Heights picture retakes (8 a.m. - 11 a.m.)
-BMHS picture retakes
Editing, writing, design and photography by Chris Tanea,
Bartlesville Public School District Community Relations
Coordinator, unless otherwise noted