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VOLUME 36, ISSUE ONE • BACK TO SCHOOL 2010
ARROWPOINT A publication of Broken Arrow Public Schools VOLUME 36, ISSUE 1 BACK TO SCHOOL 2010 Publisher Communications Department BA Public Schools Layout/Design/Photography Adam J. Foreman Webmaster/Publications Specialist Editing/Content Keith Isbell Executive Director of Communications Editing/Content Kay Long Chief Information Officer Superintendent of Schools Jarod Mendenhall Board of Education Sharon Whelpley, President Shari Wilkins, Vice President Cheryl Kelly, Clerk Terry Stover, Deputy Clerk Jerry Denton, Member The ARROWPOINT is published by the Communications Department of Broken Arrow Public Schools and is distributed to approximately 40,000 households in the Broken Arrow school district. The ARROWPOINT is printed at Western Printing Company, Inc., and is the official communication tool for parents, students, staff and patrons of BA Schools. Any information, content and photos contained herein are property of Broken Arrow Schools and are to be used by outside sources only with permission of the Communications Department. All contents are copyrighted. Notice of Non-Discrimination: Broken Arrow Public Schools (BAPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following people at BAPS have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: The Executive Director of Human Resources should be contacted for all non-student and/or employment related issues at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. The Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services should be contacted for all student issues except those related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. The Director of Special Education should be contacted for all student issues related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. Inquiries concerning nondiscrimination can also be made to the United States Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
Broken Arrow Public Schools Education Service Center 701 South Main Street Broken Arrow, OK 74012 (918) 259-5700 | F: (918) 258-0399 www.baschools.org
TA BLE OF
CONTENTS Letter from the Superintendent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Three Quick News and Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Three Meet Jarod Mendenhall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Four New Faces, New Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages Five and Six Important Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Seven Back To School Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Eight 2010-2011 School Year Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Eight
F R O M
T H E
C O V E R
Students at Country Lane Elementary School were eager to start summer vacation, but not before a fun-filled day full of events, games and lasting memories on the last day of school, including the parachute game. Students will report back to school on August 12. For a complete list of important dates to remember, see the back cover of ARROWPOINT Magazine or visit us online at www. baschools.org.
from the desk of...
the Superintendent
What an honor it is for me to lead a school district in a community that supports education like Broken Arrow does. It is a privilege to be a part of a school district that boasts a stellar and caring faculty and staff who work diligently in partnership with supportive parents to provide our students with a world-class education. Just as a superintendent’s vision guides a district, the trust he instills anchors it. Trust is the foundation of leadership and to build trust, a leader must be competent, easily connect with people and exemplify high character. It takes time, but trust leads to credibility. Following through, having the courage to address challenges and admitting when there are errors also strengthens relationships. Educating students is a community responsibility. Parents, teachers, administrators, counselors and patrons are all partners in the process. The superintendent provides an environment that allows students to reach their full potential. Each child learns differently and needs a stimulating culture to grow and develop. Using differentiated instructional techniques such as hands-on activities allows students to become active learners and decision makers. Exposing students to various learning styles allows them to understand how they learn best. I expect classrooms to be alive with activity, as teachers take advantage of strategies that empower students to learn. My beliefs are straightforward. I believe students matter; I believe teachers make a difference in the classroom; I believe ongoing professional development for staff leads to improved achievement; I believe active learning and engagement of students is a priority; I believe challenging curriculum promotes thinking skills; I believe school improvement is a continuous process; and perhaps most importantly, I believe all students can learn. As Broken Arrow’s superintendent, rest assured that I will be passionate in working with the Board of Education to create the vision and to chart the course toward ensuring our students and all in the district excel. I will strive to see that my actions will, as President John Quincy Adams once said, “Inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.” Broken Arrow Public Schools is a regular winner of the “What Parents Want” award because BAPS is one of the best school districts in the nation at meeting the needs of families choosing schools. From a higher ACT average than state and national averages to Advanced Placement and college preparatory curricular offerings to a variety of top notch extracurricular opportunities including athletic, fine arts and academic teams or groups that regularly compete for district, conference and state championships, Broken Arrow Public Schools is where excellence is a tradition. Our Board and visionary leaders have made key decisions over the years that have led to this excellence. I look forward to being a part of helping make the 2010-2011 school year the best ever for you and your child. Sincerely, Jarod Mendenhall Superintendent of Schools
Quick News & Awards Broken Arrow Public Schools is where excellence is a tradition. Each edition of ARROWPOINT is proud to spotlight the excellence of our students and staff as well as reports news and information from the district. • Broken Arrow Public Schools has once again been selected as a winner of the national “What Parents Want” award. The award honors the nation’s top school districts that are best at meeting the needs of families when choosing schools. Only 16 percent of the nation’s 15,571 public school districts have been recognized with this honor in 2010. BAPS joins 14 other Oklahoma school districts in being chosen for the 19th annual award as selected by SchoolMatch, the nation’s largest school selection consulting firm. • Jake Huddleston of BAHS won the 6A Pole Vault State Championship and was named the 2010 Frontier Valley Conference Male Track Athlete of the Year. • BAHS golfer Brent Williamson was named the 2010 Frontier Valley Conference Male Athlete of the Year for golf. • BAHS girls’ golf coach Jim Burdette was named the 2010 Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year for the Girls’ Golf. • Mitchell Osburn of BAHS was named to the 2010 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Baseball Team. • BAHS baseball coach Shannon Dobson was named as the head coach of the Large School East team for the OCA All-State Baseball games. • The 2009 Broken Arrow School Bond campaign video produced by the BAPS Communications Department was honored with a “Silver Link” as the best audio-video internal and external program for 2009-2010 by the Tulsa Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. • The Ninth Annual Broken Arrow Public Schools Foundation Educational Grant Awards Benefit Golf Tournament presented by Saint Francis Hospital South is set for Friday, August 6, 2010, at Forest Ridge Golf Club. The shotgun start is at 1 p.m. Last year’s tournament was so successful that the Foundation was able to award nearly $25,000 in grants and other support to Broken Arrow teachers. “The response so far from sponsors and the community at large has been terrific for this event,” BAPS Foundation President Skip Mefford said. “We are extremely thankful that Saint Francis Hospital South will again be our presenting sponsor.” At press time, Gold Sponsors include Nabholz Construction, Flintco and The Robson Companies. Silver Sponsors include American Fidelity Assurance Co., Great Plains Coca-Cola, AVB Bank-BA, RCB Bank-BA, First National Bank & Trust of BA, Midwest Sporting Goods, Citizens Security Bank-BA, AEP-PSO and the law firm of Rosenstein, Fist, & Ringold. Hole-inOne Contest Sponsors are Kevin Grover GMC and Moody’s Jewelry. Registration brochures can be downloaded from the district website (www.baschools.org) through the “BAPS Foundation” link. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the BAPS Communications Department at 259-5726 or by email at kdisbell@baschools.org.
Meet The
Superintendent jarod mendenhall has big plans for district
he embarked on his administrative Growing up in an education Tiger coach, Ron Lancaster. “My wife’s parents have also given career at Bartlesville High School family with a father who was a teacher, coach and administrator me great insight on education issues as an assistant principal. After and a mother who worked for more and the importance of extracurricular one year, he returned to Union, than 20 years as a superintendent’s activities for students and the entire where he served two years as the secretary, Jarod Mendenhall believes community,” Mendenhall explained. assistant principal at Union High he has been preparing for his new job “Janna’s family and my family have School. In 2000, Mendenhall was as Superintendent of Broken Arrow been great sources of strength and named the building principal at support to us as we have begun this Union Intermediate High School, Public Schools his entire life. “Our dinnertime conversation new season of our lives in Broken a position he held for three years before becoming the Executive always centered on school and Arrow.” Mendenhall has been married for Director for Curriculum Design school activities,” Mendenhall and School Improvement recalls. “I always tagged at Broken Arrow Public along with my dad when “He is a talented young man, Schools. Mendenhall later he had nighttime school mature beyond his age, and a returned to Union Public activities to attend. I saw firsthand the impact that a very dedicated leader. I have Schools to serve as the school and school district found him to be an energetic, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, have on the students and dynamic, bright, articulate a position he held staff and members of and focused educator.” for six years before the communities where -Dr. Clarence Oliverbeing appointed the we resided; I knew early Superintendent of Broken on that a school career Arrow Public Schools in was what I wanted for 21 years to Janna Mendenhall, who is February 2010. myself.” Even as a Superintendent, One of those communities where also a career educator and currently Mendenhall grew up was Enid, serves as a special education teacher Mendenhall demonstrates how to be Oklahoma, where Mendenhall with Union Public Schools. Mr. and a lifelong learner. He is in the process excelled in sports in high school, Mrs. Mendenhall have two children, of completing his dissertation and will soon receive his Doctorate in earning a football scholarship to Jessica (16) and Allie (11). Jarod Mendenhall’s career in Educational Leadership from Oral Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. There he met his future education began in 1991 at Sapulpa Roberts University. Mendenhall, wife, Janna, who also happened to where he was a history teacher and whose bachelor and master degrees be the daughter of the Enid High coach. He continued with teaching are from NSU, said the opportunity School football coach at the time, a and coaching at Union Public to get to know former BA man BA fans now know well, former Schools for three years and in 1997, Superintendent, Dr. Clarence Oliver,
Jr., who also serves as an adviser to Mendenhall as he pursues his doctorate, has proven invaluable. “I consider it a great blessing that I have had the pleasure to be mentored by Dr. Oliver over the last few years. His leadership skills and integrity are unwavering. I am grateful that he has been my adviser, counselor and friend,” Mendenhall explained. “I can assure you that he is the ultimate role model for a consummate superintendent.” It is obvious that Dr. Oliver feels strongly about Mendenhall as well. “During my five decades of work in educational administration in public schools and in higher education, I have been privileged to be associated with scores of individuals who have devoted much of their lives to education. Some of those leaders are exceptional. But, only a few reach the level of excellence that I feel is possessed by Jarod Mendenhall,” Dr. Oliver said. “He is a talented young man, mature beyond his age, and a very dedicated leader. I have found him to be an energetic, dynamic, bright, articulate and focused educator. But of even greater importance, he is a person with the highest moral and ethical standards—a leader who is an excellent role model for young people and adults.”
CHANGING
STRIPES familiar, new faces come together for school year
Amy Fichtner
Derek Blackburn
“Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity; not a threat.”-Prince Phillip of England Parents and patrons of Broken Arrow Public Schools will notice many changes in many key leadership positions throughout the school district as the 2010-2011 school year gets under way under the leadership of new BAPS Superintendent of Schools, Jarod Mendenhall. Amy Fichtner is the district’s new Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. Fichtner, who is pursuing her doctorate, has served as principal at Centennial Middle School for the past six years. Prior to becoming principal at Centennial, Fichtner served as assistant principal at Centennial and Central, and was a classroom teacher at Oliver and Arrowhead. Joan West replaces Fichtner as principal at Centennial. West has been assistant principal at CMS for the past three years following three years as a classroom teacher at Centennial. There’s a new principal at Broken Arrow High School as well. Derek Blackburn, assistant principal at BAHS for the past seven years, replaces Rob Armstrong, who is now the district’s Executive Director of Secondary Education following six years of service as principal at BAHS. Haskell Middle School, Sequoyah Middle School, Rhoades Elementary, and Spring Creek Elementary will also have new principals in 2010-2011. Dr. Pam Bradley, who was an assistant principal at Broken Arrow High School during the 09-10 school year, takes over as the new principal at Haskell Middle School. Philip Tucker served as principal at Haskell for 13 years prior to his death in February of 2010. Dr. Bradley was an assistant principal in the Union School District before moving to BAPS for the 2009-2010 school year and has been an administrator and teacher in the Muskogee and Fort Gibson School Districts. Cindy Williamson is the new principal at Sequoyah Middle School, replacing Heidi McAnulty, who retired. In previous years, Williamson has been BAPS Director of Community Education, BAPS Director of Professional Development and has served as assistant principal at North Intermediate High School. At the elementary level, Sherri Kindley, Principal at Rhoades for the past six years, is moving to Spring Creek where she replaces Dorothy Pickney as Spring Creek principal following Pickney’s retirement.
Kay Long
Rob Armstrong
continued on next page... Michelle Bergwall
Dr. Janet Dunlop
...continued from previous page
Dr. Pam Bradley
Gayla Nida
Dawna Mosburg
Dawna Mosburg, former Professional Development Director for BAPS is the new principal at Rhoades. Mosburg previously served as a teacher in both Houston, TX, and Clinton, OK, and then served as an administrator for more than a decade with Clinton Public schools. In other key personnel changes, Mendenhall has announced that Michelle Bergwall will serve as BAPS Chief Operating Officer. Bergwall has been at Union Public Schools as Director of Construction Management since April 2004. During this time, she has led Union’s key building projects including several major remodels of schools and the construction of two new elementary schools. Kay Long is the district’s new Chief Information Officer. She worked as BAPS Education Liaison during the 09-10 school year. She is a former State Teacher of the Year from her days as a BAPS classroom teacher. Gayla Nida, Executive Director of Curriculum Development and School Improvement for the past six years, is now Executive Director of Elementary Education. In addition, Dr. Janet Dunlop, who was previously academic assistant principal at Union High School, is now the Executive Director of Curriculum for BAPS. Dwayne Thompson, who is currently Director of Finance and Operations for the Forney, Texas Independent School District, has been named as Broken Arrow Public Schools’ Chief Administrative Officer. It will be somewhat of a homecoming for Thompson, who once served as the BAPS Chief Financial Officer. In his new role with BAPS, Thompson will have oversight over Enrollment, Child Nutrition, Transportation, Internal Audits, and Bond Funds. Two middle school assistant principals are changing schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Dana deFreese, who has been at Oliver, is now assistant principal at Haskell Middle School while Linda Ricks, who has been assistant principal at Haskell, is now assistant principal at Centennial Middle School. Mendenhall said the organization and all aspects of BAPS should be and will be about doing what’s best for the students of BAPS. “It’s about our kids and they deserve nothing but the best,” Mendenhall said. “We are going to do things for the right reasons and the right reasons are for the kids; it’s not about us.”
Dwayne Thompson
Cindy Williamson
Joan West
Sherri Kindley
s d r a c t r o p e r e District, sit
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Child Nutrition Information New Online Payment System Available- Broken Arrow Public Schools Child Nutrition Department is excited to announce a new online payment system called MyNutrikids. Parents may set up their child’s account by going to www.mynutrikids.com. Parents must have their child’s student ID number in order to set up an account. Each transaction will result in an additional fee of $1.75. In addition to making lunch or breakfast purchases, the new system will allow parents to access their child’s meal balance, view their child’s purchase history and allow a parent to receive an email notification when the balance is low. The software will accept credit cards, bank check cards and Paypal accounts. The software holds the highest security certification, and information obtained is not sold to anyone. It should be noted that balances left over from the end of the 09-10 school year will automatically be transferred to the new system for the 2010-2011 school year. Please note that the online system is an option for parents; it is not required. Parents may continue to send lunch or breakfast money with their child to pay for meals. Free/Reduced Applications- The Broken Arrow Public Schools Child Nutrition Department has also announced that students who participated in the Federal Free and Reduced lunch program during the 2009-2010 school year will be carried on the program until Sept. 24, 2010. However, those students who wish to participate in the Federal Free and Reduced lunch program for the entire 2009-2010 school year must re-enroll in the program by Sept. 24. Registration forms are available at each school site and can take up to 10 days to process. In addition, new for the 2010-2011 school year, parents may obtain Free/Reduced applications online through the “nutrition” link on the district website at www. baschools.org. For more information, parents may contact the Child Nutrition Department at (918) 259-4565. Allergies- The BAPS Child Nutrition Department makes every effort to accommodate special dietary needs. In order to do so, BAPS Child Nutrition must have documentation for the special dietary need from a licensed physician. An assessment of the dietary needs must be made by the physician and an original copy of the assessment must be on file with the Child Nutrition Department. If your child has special dietary needs, please contact Luanne Goodacre, director of Child Nutrition, at 259-4565. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 requires that all buildings within the school system be inspected for asbestos and a document management plan be written. A copy of this plan is available at individual school sites. All school buildings that contain asbestos are periodically reinspected. Any action taken, whether inspections or repairs, will be published in the Arrowpoint. If you have any questions or concerns, contact David McNutt, Director of Maintenance Services, at 259-4530.
Child Find Notice This notice is to inform you that Broken Arrow Public Schools is maintaining an ongoing Child Find search to locate, identify and evaluate any child age 3-21 with an established or suspected disability. Child Find efforts include all individuals age 3-21 not enrolled in school, as well as those who attend public and private schools, Head Start, state institutions, and other child care or treatment facilities. Children not of school age must reside in the boundaries of Broken Arrow Public Schools to be included in the child find efforts. Broken Arrow Public Schools has established and maintains a comprehensive screening and multidisciplinary referral, evaluation, and eligibility process for the identification of children with suspected disabilities. Child Find activities contain a mandate for public awareness of contact, location and established screening procedures. Information regarding evaluation procedures is available at no cost to parent/guardian upon request by contacting Broken Arrow Public Schools Special Services, Education Service Center North, 601 S. Main, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Phone contact is available at 918259-4540. As mandated by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Broken Arrow Public Schools is required to fully inform parents that information is maintained on all children who are referred and evaluated under the provisions of Child Find. This information may include but is not limited to parent concerns, developmental, adaptive behavior, socio-cultural, health/medical, vision, hearing, motor, perceptual/processing, behavior, psychological, vocational and information gained through observations in the classroom or other environments. It is the responsibility of the Broken Arrow Public Schools to inform parents/guardians of their rights under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The FERPA rights can be accessed on the Broken Arrow Public Schools web site at www.baschools.org under the Special Education tab. Should you have any questions please contact Phyllis Stout at (918) 259-4540.
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BROKEN ARROW, OK PERMIT NO. 140
BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS 701 South Main Street Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
Broken Arrow Public Schools Patron Broken Arrow, OK 74011 Broken Arrow, OK 74012 Broken Arrow, OK 74014
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Year calendar August 9-11- Professional Days August 10- Elementary Meet Your Teacher Day August 12- First Day of School September 3- Professional Day (No School) September 6- Labor Day (No School) October 19-20- Parent-Teacher Conferences (Students dismissed Oct. 20) October 21-22- Fall Break (No School) November 12- Professional Day (No School) November 24-26- Thanksgiving Break (No School) December 17- First Semester Ends December 20-31- Winter Break (No School) January 3- Second Semester Begins January 17- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School) February 21- Presidents’ Day (No School) March 10-11- Parent Teacher Conferences (Students dismissed March 11) March 14-18- Spring Break (No School) May 25- Tentative Last Day of School May 30- Memorial Day *Five snow days have been included in this calendar
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• A ug . 2- N ort h & S o u t h 10t h G S ch e du le P rade ic k- u p, 8 a .m .-No o n • A ug . 3- N ort h & S o u t h 9t h G r a S ch e du le P de ic k- u p, 8 a .m .-2 p.m . • A ug . 3- 6 t h G rade S ch e du le P ic no on to 6 k- u p, p.m • A ug . 3- 6 ., a ll M idd le S ch o o ls t h G rade P a re n t O r ie 6 p.m ., a ll n t at io nM idd le S c h o o ls
t h G rade l 7t h & 8 ia n n e t n . Ce n- 6 p.m l 7t h & • Aug . 4 - u p, No o k oo ic h P c S le u le M idd S ch e d 2 r e h t O All 10 a .m .• A ug . 4 - ch e du le P ic k- u p, eS 8t h G rad P ic k- u p, S ch e du le h ig p.m . H r - S e n io • A ug . 4 -5 . p.m e t Yo u r 9 a .m .-3 t a r y Me n e m le E • A ug . 10 , 4 p.m .- 6 p.m . t u de n t ay D r e Pa re n t/S h y m e Te ac d a - BA A c M a in• A ug . 10 n t ra l On e C @ n io O r ie n t at 8:30 p.m . ...m p 0 6:3 • Aug. 12- First Day of School! • Aug. 19- Marga ret Hudson Program Parent/Student Orientation @ Centra l On Main- 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 26- Open House for All Middle Schools- 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. • Sept. 2- Open House for North & South Interme diate- 7 p.m. • Sept. 9- Open House for Broken Arrow High School- 6:30 p.m. • Sept. 9- Open House for Marga ret Hudson Program- 6:30 p.m. (Note: Each elementa ry school will determine its own date and configuration for its Open House.)