ARROWPOINT} TH E OF F I CI A L M A G A Z I N E O F B RO K EN A R R O W P U B LIC S C H O O LS
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SEE IN S I D E Welcome Back Rachel’s Challenge Schedule Pick-up Dates Superintendent’s Message
VOLUME 37, ISSUE ONE • BACK TO SCHOOL 2011
New Faces & Places
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ARROWPOINT
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS VOLUME 37, ISSUE 1 | BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 Publisher Communications Department Broken Arrow Public Schools Editing/Content/Photography Tara Thompson Public Information Officer Layout/Design/Photography Adam J. Foreman Graphic Artist/Publications Specialist Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jarod Mendenhall Board of Education Cheryl Kelly, President Shari Wilkins, Vice President Jerry Denton, Clerk Sharon Whelpley, Deputy Clerk Steve Allen, Member
The ARROWPOINT is published by the Communications Department of Broken Arrow Public Schools and is distributed to approximately 45,000 households in the Broken Arrow school district. The ARROWPOINT is printed at Alpha Graphics, and is the official communication tool for parents, students, staff and patrons of Broken Arrow Public 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 non-discrimination 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
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SUPERINTENDENT
After my first year as the Superintendent of Broken Arrow Public Schools, I am now, more than ever, convinced that Broken Arrow Public Schools is one of the best schools in the State of Oklahoma. Over the past twelve months, I have become familiar with the outstanding and innovative teachers in this district as well as the dedicated employees of all departments who do their best to support the education of more than 16,000 students. I have met bright, talented students, worked with engaged and supportive parents, and discovered that the citizens of Broken Arrow, even those without children in the school system, will go above and beyond in their support of the district. I feel truly blessed to be part of such an outstanding district and community. The 2010-2011 school year was successful for both our students and staff and was characterized by a series of positive changes. Throughout the course of the year, we began a comprehensive literacy initiative, we intensified our use of Professional Learning Communities, we increased our partnerships with NSU Broken Arrow, and we creatively dealt with the dilemma created by nine days of snow and ice. Land was purchased, state championships were claimed, the Pre-K enrollment process was changed, and construction continues to take place across the district. As you can see, much has changed during the 2010-2011 school year, but the transformation process is not yet complete. In the upcoming school year, we have more good things in store for the students, staff, and patrons of Broken Arrow. One of the changes our patrons will be able to take advantage of is a system called Versatrans. The district will now be able to quickly create efficient bus routes, and parents will be able to easily determine which bus their child will ride, the location of the nearest stop, and the time the bus will be at the stop. Another new piece of technology that was launched just this month is our new website. In addition to a completely new look, the navigation is designed to be user-friendly and the content is fresh and up-to-date. Patrons can utilize the interactive calendar to see the many events taking place across the district and teachers will be able to use the website to create their own sites. I am also excited to kick-off Rachel’s Challenge later this month. You can read more about this program in the next few pages, but I am thrilled to invite the entire community to join us in taking on Rachel’s Challenge. Our district has a history of excellence, and I will encourage our staff, parents, and students to continually raise the bar of achievement. Last year was successful, but I expect even bigger and better things during the 2011-2012 year. We will continue to seek out opportunities for improving our district and ensure that every day is a great day to be a tiger. Sincerely,
Dr. Jarod Mendenhall Superintendent of Schools ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE TWO
Need to Know...
Important information and more concerning you and your student
Parents Right To Know In accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, parents have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their children. Federal law allows parents to ask for certain information about their children’s classroom teachers, and requires schools to give parents this information in a timely manner if requested. Specifically, parents have the right to ask for the following information about their children’s classroom teachers: 1. Whether Oklahoma State Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches, 2. Whether Oklahoma State Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualifies under state regulations because of special circumstances, 3. The teacher’s college major: whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and, if so, the subject of the degrees, and 4. Whether any teachers’ aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications. To receive any of this information, please call Human Resources at (918) 2595700.
Directory Information The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act allows a district to designate certain student data as directory information. Broken Arrow Public Schools has designated “directory information” to include a student’s name, parents’ names, address and telephone listing, date of birth, class designation (i.e., first grade, tenth grade, etc.), extracurricular participation, achievement awards or honors, weight and height, if a member of an athletic team, photograph, as well as the school or school district the student attended before he/she enrolled in Broken Arrow schools. BAPS will continue to disclose student directory information for the purposes of printing student names in yearbooks, honor rolls, athletic programs and publications. Parents or eligible students should advise the school district in a letter to the Superintendent’s office of any or all of the items they refuse to permit the district to designate as directory information about that student. The designation will remain in effect until it is modified by the written direction of the student’s parent or the eligible student.
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act 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 (918) 259-4530.
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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, 701 S. Main, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Phone contact is available at (918) 259-5700. 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) 259-5700.
During the summer months, the Enrollment Center changed location from its previous site at 601 South Main to 210 North Main Street. Now housed in the historic Central On Main facility, the Enrollment Center also shares space with Community Education adult education class enrollment, B&A Connections Before and After School Care and JOM/Title VII Indian Education. The building also is the new home to the Broken Arrow Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation. Central on Main can be found in downtown Broken Arrow on the corner of Main and College Streets. The main doors to the facility are on the east side of the building facing Main Street. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, please call (918) 259-4301.
ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE THREE
STARTING A
chainREACTION National program turns tragedy to inspiration, comes to Broken Arrow this school year
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The 2011-2012 school year will begin with a program unlike any other seen in Broken Arrow Public Schools. The annual Back-to- School Kickoff will take place as usual, but this year’s event will feature a powerful speaker introducing a new program. Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America: Rachel’s Challenge. The mission of Rachel’s Challenge is “to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.” Rachel’s Challenge is not simply another program to target bullying, but rather it seeks to change the culture of a school and community by teaching and promoting kindness at all levels. Used by schools and businesses around the globe, Rachel’s Challenge has been implemented by schools in 48 states, and has a presence in six countries outside the U.S. Rachel’s father, Daryl Scott, will be the speaker who introduces Rachel’s Challenge at the BAPS Back-toSchool Kickoff. “I was fortunate to hear Daryl Scott speak at a convention in Denver earlier this year,” said BAPS Superintendent Dr. Jarod Mendenhall. “There were probably 2,500 people in the room, and you could have heard a pin drop during the presentation. Four members of my leadership team were sitting with me, and when the lights came on, we all said the same thing, ‘We have to bring this to Broken Arrow.’” Unlike other programs, Rachel’s Challenge does not give educators one more thing to do. The tenants of the program are easily incorporated into what teachers already do in the classroom. And, rather than relying on the teachers to pass it on, the program aims at reaching the students and empowering them to start a chain reaction of kindness. Following the presentation to the staff, Daryl Scott will remain in Broken Arrow for the evening to conduct a special meeting with the parents and community leaders. A few weeks into the school year, secondary students will experience the powerful
ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE FOUR
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I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction of the same. - Rachel Scott
presentation as told by Craig Scott, Rachel’s brother who survived the tragedy at Columbine. The next step in the chain reaction will involve the secondary students, who are willing to volunteer and receive training, presenting the program to elementary students. “We already have a great school and community, but I believe this program has the kind of transforming power to forever change everyone that lives, works, or goes to school here,” Mendenhall said. “Rachel’s Challenge has affected the way I think and respond to others, and anyone who hears the powerful words of this young lady cannot help but be changed for the better.”
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New faces, new places welcome BAPS staff, administration
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As with every school year, the 2011-2012 academic year sees several new faces pop up across the district, as several veteran BAPS employees explore new opportunities elsewhere in the district. Below is a rundown of many of the recent additions and changes found at both the site and district levels. Site Changes Arrow Springs – Barbara Jones, formerly the principal of Lynn Wood Elementary, is the new principal of Arrow Springs Elementary. Arrowhead – Leading the staff at Arrowhead are new Principal Courtney Elias and Assistant Principal Amy Oglesbee. Country Lane 3-5 – In addition to having the third graders at the site for a full year, another change at Country Lane 3-5 is the addition of Todd Greathouse as the new assistant principal. Greathouse replaces Dawn Hunt, who has taken a new position at Leisure Park Elementary. Country Lane K-2 – Assuming Todd Greathouse’s position at Country Lane K-2 is Terry Carner, formerly the principal of Westwood Elementary. Leisure Park – The retirement of longtime Principal Ron Rieff has brought two new leaders to Leisure Park: Janet Dotson is the new principal, and Dawn Hunt is serving as the assistant principal. Liberty – Joining the leadership team at Liberty Elementary is new Assistant Principal Teresa Bowker. Lynn Wood – Dana deFreese, formerly of Haskell Middle School, is the new principal at Lynn Wood Elementary. Oak Crest – New Assistant Principal Sheila Martin will join Principal Heather Adams at Oak Crest Elementary. Park Lane – Karla Dyess, formerly of Arrow Springs Elementary, is the new principal at Park Lane Elementary and will join Assistant Principal Jill Whitaker in leading the students and staff at that site. Westwood – Melissa Galloway, who has previously served as the assistant principal at Liberty Elementary, has assumed the principal position at Westwood Elementary. Centennial – Joining the Centennial leadership team is Patrick James, who along with Linda Ricks, will serve as an assistant principal under Principal Joan West. Haskell - Principal Dr. Pam Bradley has two new assistant principals at her site: Stacy Bingman and Mickey Replogle.
good Sequoyah – Sequoyah Middle School welcomes new Assistant Principal Larry Lewis onto the leadership team at that site. North Intermediate – North Intermediate is beginning the year with all new leadership. Kenny Kinzer is the new principal at the site, and assisting him in leading NIHS students and staff are new Assistant Principals Chris Hunt and Tony Sappington, and Assistant Principal Kristi Kargl. South Intermediate - Joining the leadership team at SIHS is new Assistant Principal Tammy Strickland. BA Academy – Assuming the leadership of the Alternative Academy is new Principal Jack Pugh. High School – Principal Derek Blackburn and his staff welcome new Assistant Principal Jennifer Hudgins to the High School leadership team. District Changes Executive Director of Secondary Education – Randy Craven joins the district leadership team as the new executive director of secondary education. Chief Human Resources Officer – Bringing a wealth of knowledge from the corporate sector, Ed Fager has assumed the role of Chief Human Resources Officer. Budget Director – Natalie Eneff joins the Finance department as the new director of budget Director of Academic Support Services – Jean Brassfield has transitioned from her role as Park Lane Elementary Principal into her new role as the director of academic support. Director of Instructional Services – After serving several years as the Alternative Academy principal, Debbie Renz begins the 2011-2012 school year as the director of instructional services. Director of Construction – With a significant amount of construction taking place across the district, the staff of the Operations Division is excited to welcome Bob Tolomeo as the new director of construction. Director of Facilities – Former Haskell Middle School Assistant Principal Grant Moore is now the new director of facilities.
ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE FIVE
ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE SIX
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New school year brings exciting changes, familiar programs
With the first day of school fast approaching, Broken Arrow Public Schools is excited to welcome students and parents back into the fold with exciting new changes, upcoming events and familiar programs.
Child Nutrition Information As a participant in the National School Lunch Program, BAPS offers free and reduced rates on breakfast and lunch for students of families that meet certain income guidelines. Students who wish to participate in the program must re-enroll for the 2011-2012 school year by filling out an application, which is available at each school site. Applications are due by Oct. 6, and may take up to 10 days to process. In addition, parents may obtain Free/ Reduced applications online at www.baschools. org. Online payments for school meals will continue this year with MyNutriKids.com. Parents may visit the website to set up a child’s account, as long as they have their child’s student ID number. Each transaction results in a $1.75 fee. On the site, parents may see their child’s balance, view purchase history and sign up for email notifications if balances become low. Although a great option for parents, the online system is not required as parents may still send money with students for lunch and breakfast purchases. The BAPS Child Nutrition Department makes every effort to accommodate special dietary needs. In order to do so, BAPS Child
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REMEMBER Online Meal Payments www.MyNutriKids.com B&A Connections Enrollment (918) 259-4301 New BAPS Website www.baschools.org Bond Election- October 11, 2011
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. Questions regarding free and reduced applications, online meal payments and special dietary needs can be directed to the Child Nutrition Department at (918) 259-4565.
B&A Connections Enrollment B&A Connections, the Before and After care program for Broken Arrow Schools, is still accepting enrollments for the 2011-2012 school year. The B&A Connections’ planned curriculum reflects the developmental interests of children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Additionally, this program maintains the highest standards of nutrition, cleanliness and safety. Children who participate in B&A Connections in the academic year are provided breakfast during the Before School Program and a snack during the After School Program. Children who participate in B&A Connections Summer Care Program are provided both a snack in the morning and a snack in the afternoon. Key elements of the program include social and emotional development, physical development, intellectual development and a warm and caring staff. To enroll, come to the B&A Connections office at 210 North Main Street at Central On Main, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $40 per family, and must be accompanied by immunization records. For more information, contact Jessica Swalley at (918) 259-4301.
New Website Launched Just in time for the new school year, the BAPS website has undergone new changes and recently launched with new content and easier navigation. Log on to www.baschools.org and see the latest news, up-to-date events, a comprehensive calendar, daily announcements and video. The site will continue to evolve and keep parents and students informed on important school activities and information. The new site
will be a work in progress for a few months as new content is added and retooled. The goal is to keep the site fresh and exciting in an effort to entice users to return often. More features will be added and unveiled as the project progresses.
Parent Connect ParentCONNECTxp™ is a website managed by Broken Arrow Public Schools that allows parents to view their children’s grades, attendance, assignments and other information. Upon visiting their child’s school, parents will receive a login and password to access ParentCONNECTxp via the district website. The program was launched last school year with much success after one-on-one training for parents. For additional information, contact Kim Vento at (918) 259-5700.
2011 Bond Issue When patrons of Broken Arrow Public Schools passed a $295 million Bond Issue in 2009, it opened up new doors for education and the future of children. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jarod Mendenhall and his administrative team have spent a year evaluating the projects included in the 2009 bond issue and believe they can transform a good bond into a great bond issue without raising school taxes or asking for additional money. Since the 2009 bond issue was passed, a significant amount of new data has been released. In addition to the 2010 Census data, a demographic study was commissioned by BAPS to gather statistics that look specifically at the growth the district will experience over the next 10 years. Using that data, the 2009 bond will be “restructured.” Mendenhall is asking patrons of Broken Arrow to consider changing 18% of the 2009 bond issue. The primary goal of the 2009 bond issue was to remove the portable buildings, and that will not change. The proposed changes will allow the needs of both current and future classes of students to be better met--without raising taxes or asking for additional money. More information about the Bond Issue, which will be set for Oct. 11, will be readily available in the near future at www.baschools. org and in print materials. ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE SEVEN
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BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS 701 South Main Street Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 WWW.BASCHOOLS.ORG
Broken Arrow Public Schools Patron Broken Arrow, OK 74011 Broken Arrow, OK 74012 Broken Arrow, OK 74014
2011-2012 ACADEMIC CALENDAR July 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Independence Day** Aug. 22-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professional Days Aug. 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elementary Meet Your Teacher Aug. 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Day Of School Sept. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Labor Day** Sept. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Middle School Open Houses Sept. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intermediate High School Open Houses Sept. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . .Senior High School and MHP Open Houses Oct. 20-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall Break Oct. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End of First Nine Weeks Nov. 23-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thanksgiving Break** Dec. 21-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter Break Jan. 2-3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professional Days* Jan. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Semester Ends Jan. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Jan. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Semester Begins Feb. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Presidents' Day March 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End of Third Nine Weeks March 19-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring Break May 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Class of 2012 Graduation May 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tentative Last Day of School May 28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Memorial Day** *Denotes students dismissed from classes **Denotes both district offices and school sites closed
CONTINGENCY CALENDAR
The above calendar includes five built-in days for inclement weather or emergencies. If NO built-in days are used...
The school year will end on May 23.
If 6 days of school are missed...
School will be in session on Presidents' Day.
If 7 days of school are missed...
School will be in session on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
If 8 days of school are missed...
The last day of school will be June 1.
ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE EIGHT
DON’T FORGET DATES TO REMEMBER • August 6, 2011, 9 a.m. to Noon @ Tulsa Tech BAPD Back To School Bash • August 16, 2011, Noon to 6 p.m. 6th Grade Schedule Pick-Up • August 17, 2011, Noon to 6 p.m. 7th & 8th Grade Schedule Pick-Up • August 17, 2011, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 10th Grade Schedule Pick-Up • August 17-18, 2011, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 11th & 12th Grade Schedule Pick-Up • August 18, 2011, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 9th Grade Schedule Pick-Up • August 23, 2011, 6 p.m. BA Academy Schedule Pick-Up • August 23, 2011, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Elementary Meet Your Teacher • Sept. 8, 2011- Middle School Open House • Sept. 13, 2011- Intermediate Open House • Sept. 15, 2011- Sr. High/MHP Open House • Oct. 11, 2011- Bond Election