12-13 - Bartlesville Public Schools

Happy Holidays!
Bartlesville Public School District’s Weekly Email Newsletter
The Bruin
Volume 8, Number 17...Friday, December 13, 2013...www.bps-ok.org
2014 Kurt
Schmoldt Award
nomination forms
now available
Construction work will soon begin to expand Bartlesville High School. BHS will be expanded
to accommodate grades 9-12 featuring a freshman academy. Construction at BHS is expected
to be completed in August 2015.
Construction work at BHS
set to begin in early 2014
It has been just over three months
since Bartlesville voters overwhelmingly
approved a $36.72 million Bartlesville
Public School District bond proposal on
September 10. Although shovels have
yet to hit the dirt, much hard work and
countless hours of preparation has been
taking place over the past few months.
The progress will soon be evident as
construction work will begin early next
year on the campus of Bartlesville High
School.
“Following the passage of the bond
issue in September, we have been working hard to ensure we get the projects un-
derway as soon as possible. Ensuring we
have a successful plan in place will allow
us to complete the projects efficiently and
in a timely manner. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars
and complete projects efficiently, and we
will most certainly do that,” said BPSD
Superintendent, Dr. Gary W. Quinn.
In early October, a construction committee recommended that the
Bartlesville Pubic School District Board
of Education name Nabholz as the
construction manager for the upcoming BPSD construction projects. The
CONSTRUCTION- Continued to page 6
Forms are now available for those who would like
to nominate an individual
for the 2014 Kurt Schmoldt
Teacher Appreciation Award.
The Kurt Schmoldt
Teacher Appreciation Award
is a cash award presented
annually to a full-time
Bartlesville Public School
District teacher, coach or
counselor who exemplifies
the dynamic qualities of an
outstanding educator and citizen. This award is not for the
“best teacher,” but for one
who exemplifies the finest in
the profession.
Nomination forms for
the 2014 Kurt Schmoldt
Award are available on
the BPSD homepage,
www.bps-ok.org. The forms
can be filled out and then
emailed to BPSD Community Relations Coordinator,
Chris Tanea, at TaneaCJ@
bps-ok.org. Forms can also
be printed off, filled out and
then returned to Tanea’s office, which is located at 1100
S. Jennings. To be considered, all
nomination forms must be
submitted to Tanea by the
end AWARD- Continued to page 7
Bartlesville Public School District Teacher of the Month: December
Warren Neff was named the Bartlesville Public a child. With that in mind, it also carries an aweSchool District Teacher of the Month for December some responsibility.”
by Arvest Bank and Oakley Chevrolet-Buick.
Neff not only seeks to make an impact when
Neff is a math teacher he has students in the classroom, but he also works
at Bartlesville Mid-High
hard to ensure he keeps up with the extracurricular
School where he teaches
activities his students are involved in. Whether it
Mid-High
algebra, pre-calculus,
is a basketball game or a high school drama, it is
geometry and math of
likely you will find Neff in attendance supporting
finance. In recognition of his Teacher of the Month
his students. Following the game or performance, he
status, Neff was presented with a plaque and a check for always likes to comment on the activity the next day
$300 by Stephen Colaw, Arvest Bank
Senior Vice-President and Trust Officer, and David Oakley Jr., owner of
Oakely Chevrolet-Buick.
Neff has been teaching for 11
years and has spent the last three
years in his current role at BMHS.
Neff’s path to teaching was a
rather untraditional one as he began his career working for Phillips
Petroleum. He spent 22 years as a
Research Geophysicist before he
switched careers and became a
teacher at BMHS. Neff always
had a passion for teaching which
he developed as a physics teaching
assistant in college. When the opportunity presented itself to move
to the teaching profession, Neff
decided to make the career move.
“During the last five years of
Mid-High math teacher, Warren Neff (pictured center), the Bartlesville Public
my tenure with Phillips Petroleum,
School District’s Teacher of the Month for December, is congratulated by Stephen
I was assigned to be part of the new
hire training program. Teaching the Colaw (right), Arvest Bank Senior Vice President and Trust Officer, and David
Oakley, Jr. (left), owner of Oakley Chevrolet-Buick.
new hires brought back the memories and desires of my earlier teaching experiences…with the encouragement of my wife
in school to show his appreciation for his student’s
and family, I decided to obtain my teaching certificagreat work.
tion,” said Neff.
“I attend as many activities that my students
As a teacher, he understands the responsibilparticipate in as I can. You will see me at sporting
ity he bears and the opportunity he has to make an
events as well as fine arts events. By doing this,
impact on the lives of students. He works each day
students and parents realize that I care about them
to ensure he is being a role model for his students
not just in the classroom, but outside as well,” exand teaching life lessons that will be carried over to plained Neff.
student’s lives after the completion of their formal
Warren Neff has a passion for teaching and
education in Bartlesville.
a passion for his students. His strong devotion to
Neff added, “Teaching is truly one of the few
his profession is an asset to Bartlesville Mid-High
professions that have the ability to change the life of School and the Bartlesville Public School District.
Bartlesville Regional United Way: Agency Feature
FCC helps woman leave abusive situation
Special to The Bruin
When clients are seeking help in leaving an unsafe situation, Family Crisis & Counseling Center has the tools they
need. Stella, whose name has been changed to protect her
identity, came to FCC for help.
The staff was able to provide her with a place to stay
through the safe shelter, which
receives United Way funding. She participated in FCC’s
certified domestic violence
educational/treatment services program and was able to find
a job. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, she returned
to the father of her child, the abuser. However, two months
later, she contacted her domestic violence sexual assault
victim advocate at FCC and said she had moved out again.
“The only reason I had the courage to leave him again
was because of the services and classes I had taken (at
FCC),” Stella told her advocate. “I knew I had to leave town
and I’ve moved out of the state.”
Family Crisis and Counseling Center, a United Way
agency, strives to eliminate violence in relationships through
providing shelter, counseling, education and advocacy. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 49
percent of women and 40 percent of men in the state have
experienced domestic violence at some point. Family Crisis
and Counseling Center is working to combat this problem in
Washington County and the surrounding areas.
“The agency’s greatest strength is our dedicated and
compassionate staff,” Executive Director Chedra Keller said.
“Our staff is extensively trained in their respective areas
expertise-be it in domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking
or substance abuse- and will go above and beyond when it
comes to meeting the various needs of our clients.”
Through the Crisis Intervention for Victims program,
which receives United Way funding, FCC staff provide legal
advocacy in seeking protective orders, safety planning, emotional support and assistance. Last year, the staff provided
561 assessments for crisis situations where the victim, like
Stella, asked for help. They also facilitated 271 Emergency
Orders of Protection in 2012.
The Safe Shelter program provides even more help for
those dealing with dangerous situations. A safe house with
staff on site at all times is available for those who need it.
The staff developed 75 safety plans last year for women who
asked for help, and admitted 32 women and 38 children to
the safe house.
Family Crisis and Counseling Center also has a program, Men and Women Choosing to Change, that deals with
the other side of domestic violence situations. In this United
Way funded program, men and women who are sentenced
by the court to enter the program are assessed and provided
with treatment to learn to change their behavior. The adults
learn about the types of abuse, the circle of violence and the
effects it has on the victims. Participants learn what triggers
them to act violently and gain skills to avoid it. Last year, 74
individuals entered this program.
One of these individuals sentenced to the batterer’s
program was one of the best students the facilitator of the
program had ever had.
“After he entered the program, he became very instrumental in helping his classmates to accept and acknowledge
their power and control issues,” she said.
Family Crisis and Counseling and United Way are also
involved in preventing these problems from occurring in
the first place. The United Way funded Washington/Nowata
County Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention is an education-orientated prevention program that aims
to decrease incidents of dating violence, bullying and drug
and alcohol abuse by providing educational classes in local
schools and public settings.
Substance abuse is a problem in Washington and
Nowata County schools. According to the 2011 Adolescent
America Drug & Alcohol Survey given in Washington
County schools, 44 percent of 12th graders reported have
used alcohol at a party. Another 42 percent of 12th graders reported having access to alcohol at a party. The survey
also found that 22 percent of eighth graders reported using
marijuana in the past 30 days and 47 percent reported they
could easily get it.
The Washington/Nowata County Substance Abuse and
Domestic Violence Prevention program uses two evidencebased curricula; Too Good for Drugs and Safe Dates. Both
programs provide 10 weeks of educational learning focused
on empowering children and teens to make healthy drug
and violence free choices. Last year, the staff provided direct
prevention classes to 926 students using research-based curriculum.
The Bartlesville Regional United Way’s Annual Campaign is underway. To find out how to contribute to Family Crisis & Counseling Center or other member agencies,
contact the BRUW office at 918-336-1044, 415 S.E.
Silas Street, Bartlesville, OK 74003 or visit www.
bartlesvilleuw.org.
BHS students participate in annual Oklahoma
Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony
Photo Special to The Bruin/Seven students
from Bartlesville High School traveled to the
State Capitol in Oklahoma City on December 4
to participate in the annual Oklahoma Capitol
Tree Lighting Ceremony. Students made
Christmas tree ornaments and decorated a
Christmas tree on the fourth floor of the State
Capitol. Governor, Mary Fallin, and State
Superintendent of Education, Janet Barresi,
spoke with students and took pictures. Students
then participated in the lighting of the official
30-foot Christmas tree on the south steps of the
State Capitol. Students also had the opportunity
to meet with Senator John Ford. Ford answered
questions and gave the students a tour of the
Senate Legislative Chamber. Pictured from left to right, Jeffery Blackfox, teacher Scott Hazelwood, Derrick Kellum, Triston Eytcheson, Alice King,
Kayla Williams, Lane Jones and Senator Ford, seated is Chelsea Steeler.
BOE approved
the recommendation a few months ago, and Nabholz will
oversee the construction projects and ensure projects are
done correctly and efficiently. The use of a construction
manager has been common among large-scale projects in
the district including 2007 and 2012 bond projects.
Additionally, over the past several months, design
committees made up of BPSD teachers and administrators
have been meeting to create a design, specifically at the high
school, which will be most efficient and work the best for a
9-12 high school.
With the planning process in full swing and construction soon to begin, securing funding was a must to complete
projects quickly. The funding is currently in place which
will allow work to begin work in short order.
CONSTRUCTION- Continued from page 1
Much of the work at the high school can be done
during the school year, however, the summer will be an
especially busy time at BHS. Work will continue at BHS
throughout the 2014-2015 school year and is expected to be
completed in August 2015. To start the 2015-2016 school
year, freshman and sophomores will move from the current
Bartlesville Mid-High School facility to BHS, creating a
9-12 high school featuring a freshman academy.
“It is an exciting time for the Bartlesville Public School
District. I look forward to the work beginning at Bartlesville
High School. Improving our facilities is extremely important. The expansion of the high school is something that will
greatly benefit our students,” said Quinn.
For more information on the upcoming bond projects,
please visit www.bruinbond.com.
AWARD- Continued from page 1 of the day (5 p.m.)
on Wednesday, January 8.
Nominees for the 2014 Kurt Schmoldt Award
should communicate effectively and demonstrate
creative and imaginative teaching on a day-to-day
basis. Nominees should inspire the value of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities to
assure academic success for students.
A panel of judges will consider the following criteria in choosing a recipient for the Kurt
Schmoldt Teacher Appreciation Award: the nominee’s instructional expertise, interpersonal effectiveness, total school involvement, professional
development and community service activities.
The winner of the 2014 Kurt Schmolt Award
will be announced during Bartlesville Public School
District’s annual Teacher of the Year Ceremony.
The TOY Ceremony is scheduled to take place on
Tuesday, February 18 at the Fine Arts Center on the
campus of Bartlesville High School.
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/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 (December 13 - December 19)
Friday, December 13
-Christmas pictures and Santa Shop @ Kane
-2nd grade popcorn @ Wayside
-Pre-k ornament party @ Wayside
-Lunch and Learn @ JP (11:45 a.m.)
-Wayside Christmas Assembly (2:50 p.m.)
-Speech tournament @ Bixby
-All-City Band Concert @ FAC (7 p.m.)
-JV and varsity boys and girls basketball @ Conestoga Energy Classic Festival
-Varsity wrestling @ Bristow tournament
-Junior high wrestling @ Cleveland tournament
-Freshman boys and girls basketball @ Sand Springs tournament
-8th grade boys and girls basketball @ Sand Springs Tournament
Saturday, December 14
-ACT @ BHS (7:45 a.m.)
-Speech tournament @ Bixby
-JP Santa Shop @ JP (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
-JV and varsity boys and girls basketball @ Conestoga Energy Classic Festival
-Varsity wrestling @ Bristow tournament
-Junior high wrestling @ Cleveland tournament
-Freshman boys and girls basketball @ Sand Springs tournament
-8th grade boys and girls basketball @ Sand Springs tournament
Sunday, December 15
-Tuba Christmas @ Frank Phillips Home (3:30 p.m.)
Monday, December 16
-Central 7th grade Gallery Walk
-Central Choir party @ Youth Canteen (6 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
-BMHS/BHS Winter Vocal Concert @ FAC (7 p.m.)
-Freshman girls and boys basketball vs. Sapulpa (6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.)
-8th grade girls and boys basketball @ Bixby (6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.)
Tuesday, December 17
-Central Student Council meeting (7:45 a.m.)
-2nd grade Christmas program @ Kane (9:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.)
-BMHS PSG Teacher Luncheon
-Central Geography Bee practice (3 p.m.)
-Central Battle of the Book informational meeting (3:10 p.m.)
-MMS Musical Drama performance @ MMS auditorium
Wednesday, December 18
-Final exams @ BHS
Thursday, December 19
-Final exams @ BHS
-Winter parties @ Wayside
-5th grade musical @ Hoover (10 a.m. and 7 p.m.)
-Class parties @ JP
-Central Geography Bee Practice (3 p.m.)
-Central Science Olympiad meeting (3 p.m.)
Editing, writing, design and photography by Chris Tanea, Bartlesville Public School
District Community Relations Coordinator, unless otherwise noted