Arrowpoint Magazine, Vol. 41, Issue 3

INSIDE High School Configuration Site Teachers of the Year Child Nutrition Creative Writing Project

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

VOLUME 41, ISSUE 3 | WINTER 2015

contents

INSIDE

ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS VOLUME 41, ISSUE 3 | WINTER 2015 Publisher Communications Department Broken Arrow Public Schools Layout/Design/Photography Adam J. Foreman Graphic Artist/Publications Specialist Editing/Content Shelli Holland-Handy Chief Communications Officer Christina Dixon Communications & Community Relations Coordinator Amanda Summers Executive Director of Public Relations Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jarod Mendenhall Board of Education Cheryl Kelly, President Steve Allen, Vice President Jerry Denton, Clerk Steve Majors, Deputy Clerk Dr. Theresa Williamson, Member

From the Superintendent Page Three

Earning Our Stripes Page Four

The ARROWPOINT is published six times a year by the Communications Department of Broken Arrow Public Schools and is distributed to approximately 50,000 households in the Broken Arrow school district. The ARROWPOINT is printed at Printed Products, Inc., 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.

PHOTO BY WHITNEY NOLEN

GO BA: High School Configuration Page Five

Site Teachers of the Year Pages Six & Seven

Hungry for Education: Child Nutrition Pages Eight & Nine

Creative Writing Partnership Pages Ten & Eleven There will be no discrimination in the District because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information in its programs, services, activities and employment. The district also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. Broken Arrow Public Schools will take all necessary steps to ensure that each school and work place in the District is free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. The following people within the District have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the District’s non-discrimination policies, issues and concerns: • For all student issues related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (questions or complaints based on race, color, and national origin), the Assistant Superintendent, Student Services, Chuck Perry, should be contacted at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012; • For all student issues related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) (for questions or complaints based on disability),The Director of Special Education, Debbie Renz, should be contacted at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012; • For all student issues related to Title IX, of the Education Amendments of 1972 (for questions or complaints based on sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity), the Assistant Athletic Director, Melenda Knight, should be contacted at 918-259-4310 or at 1901 E. Albany, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. • For issues related to accessibility to facilities, services and activities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Chief Operating Officer, Michelle Bergwall, should be contacted at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012; • For all non-student and/or employment related issues (including questions or complaints based on age), or for any individual who has experienced some other form of discrimination, including discrimination not listed above, the Chief Human Resources Officer, Ed Fager, should be contacted 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 Office for Civil Rights. The contact information for the Kansas City Enforcement Office is: Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education One Petticoat Lane 1010 Walnut Street, Suite 320 Kansas City, MO 64106; Telephone: (816) 268-0550; TTY: (877) 521-2172; Facsimile: (816) 823-1404; Email: OCR.KansasCity@ed.gov.

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greetings

letter from the

SUPERINTENDENT In this issue, you’ll read about our 2015-16 Site Teachers of the Year. I’m very proud of these 27 individuals who were selected by their peers as outstanding members of their profession. These teachers will go on to compete for the District Teacher of the Year and that person will represent our district at the state competition next summer.

Broken Arrow Public Schools has been well-represented at the state competition, having two State Teachers of the Year and many finalists, something not many districts can claim. This past year, Amanda Bowser, BAPS 2015-16 District Teacher of the Year, was named as the very first runner up to the state title because the scores were so close. I’m very proud of the district’s rich history of having the finest teachers in the state and we can attribute much of our district’s success to our teachers.

While there are many factors that influence the quality of a child’s education, the number one predictor of student success is a quality teacher in the classroom. A quality teacher isn’t just someone who has earned a degree and passed a certification test, it is someone who truly loves kids and is committed to teaching.

With our school day lasting almost seven hours, children spend a majority of their day with teachers. Arguably, teachers are one of the most important role models in a child’s life. They not only are responsible for making sure students receive a top notch education, they are also expected to teach kids manners, make sure basic needs are met, and lend an ear when things aren’t going quite right. We ask them to do this not just for one child, but for a full classroom each and every day. And they do – out of dedication to a cause bigger than themselves and out of a love for their students.

As you read about all the great things going on in our district in this issue of Arrowpoint, I encourage you to remember that behind every successful student are many great teachers. And while we can only name 27 Site Teachers of the Year, in my book, every teacher in our district deserves recognition for all the lives they have influenced.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jarod Mendenhall Superintendent of Schools

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h o n o r s

Earning Our

STRIPES

At Broken Arrow Public Schools, we strive to earn our stripes as we educate our students, and engage them both in and outside of the classroom. Here are a few highlights of the many great things being achieved each day in our district. Not only do we hope to inform BAPS patrons, but we also hope you will share the accomplishments of our students and staff with friends and family members who live outside the district.

• Hall of Fame Inductees –The Broken Arrow athletics department inducted its Class of 2015 Hall of Fame members at the first home football game. Inductees include Leann Buneta, Class of 1993; Kristie Holman-Vinson, Class of 2003; Andy Wilkins, Class of 2007; former educator and coach Tom Frohnapfel; and Broken Arrow sports journalists Wayne Bishop and Doug Quinn.

• Varsity Cheer – Broken Arrow’s varsity cheer squad won their fourth consecutive Large Coed Division Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) State Championship by a margin of 8 points. Off the mat, the squad earned the Academic Achievement Award by recording a cumulative 3.55 GPA. Coach Amy Howe was also named the Region 7 Coach of the Year.

• STEM Excellence Award – On behalf of the International STEM Education Association, Rhoades Elementary was recognized as a STEM Excellence Award recipient during the STEM Expo 2015. Rhoades was one of two schools in the nation to receive this award and was the only elementary school.

• Pride of Broken Arrow – In keeping with tradition, the Pride of Broken Arrow won its 10th title at the Bands of America Super Regional held in St. Louis, and its third title as Grand National Champions.

They also received a superior rating at the OSSAA marching competition and won their 14th consecutive state championship at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Marching Championship.

• The Jungle – From attending vocal music concerts to Friday night football games, Broken Arrow High School’s student section, The Jungle, is making itself well-known across the state. Their renewed team spirit and tenacity is evident as they receive the attention of many local news channels for being the best fans in the stands.

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• National Merit Semifinalists – Five BAHS students were honored as this year’s National Merit Semifinalists for their prestigious academic accomplishments. Rebecca Atherton, Kyle Barker, Jacob Chadwick, Christopher Oven and Michaela Stabler are among approximately 16,000 students nationwide who qualified for this honor.

• Cox Grants – In September, BAPS was honored as a top-funded district through Cox Communications’ employee-funded foundation, Cox Charities. Together three grants were awarded, totaling $20,000. In Cox Charities’ ten years of giving, Broken Arrow Public Schools teachers have received nearly $100,000 in classroom grants.

• United Way – As a longtime supporter of the Tulsa Area United Way, the employees of Broken Arrow Public Schools raised more than $125,000 this year, surpassing their goal of $120,000. In addition to monetary donations, district employees participated in various community service projects benefiting local organizations, such as Broken Arrow Neighbors, the Margaret Hudson Program and A New Leaf.

• Construction Award – BAPS’ construction division recently received the Associated

Builders and Contractors of Oklahoma’s 2015 Excellence in Construction award for the district’s indoor practice facility and track complex.

• Communications Awards –The BAPS communications department recently earned several honors from the National School Public Relations Association, a professional organization dedicated to building support and trust for education through responsible public relations. In addition, the team received two SilverLink awards from the Public Relations Society of America – Tulsa Chapter for their work on the annual report and 2015 bond campaign.

®

While we are proud of all we have done to earn our stripes, our success is the direct result of the support of our community. Your patronage is appreciated and crucial to the success of Broken Arrow Public Schools.

look ahead

studytimeline Phase 1 – Preparation (July – December 2015)

• District leadership discusses preliminary plans and develops framework • Board of Education approves third party contracts • Board commissions configuration and appoints Steering Committee • Working Group chairs identify committee members • Initial kickoff meeting for Steering Committee

Phase 2 – Planning (January – March 2016)

Growth Spurt District commissions high school configuration study to survey future of Broken Arrow students

steering committee

With a current enrollment of 18,858 students, Broken Arrow Public Schools continues to grow at a rate of approximately three percent per year. As such, the district must plan for the future and an important part of that planning is the configuration of the high school.

In order to ensure a successful outcome, the Broken Arrow Board of Education has commissioned a high school configuration study which will be conducted through Derek Beller Amanda Bowser Janet Brewster Tiffani Bruton Liz Burns AnnDee Callison Joe Cook Tiffany Freeman Donna Gradel Greg Graham Jeff Hewett Carolyn Holder Todd Pendergraft Johna Pulliam April Sailsbury Max Smith Tom Stout Shelly Swisher Jacob Taylor Kamara Washington

May 30, 2017. During that time, a steering committee will gather many types of data and evaluate potential configurations.

“This study is about much more than evaluating if and when to divide our current high school,” said Superintendent Dr. Jarod Mendenhall. “It is about developing a long-term plan for the next decade and beyond to accommodate our growing student population in the 9th through 12th grades.”

An important part of this process is to keep patrons informed, and to provide parents, students, staff, alumni and community members with an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Throughout the process, the steering committee and district staff will provide regular updates about the progress of the study as well as opportunities for stakeholder input.

At the conclusion of the study, the steering committee will present the board of education with a comprehensive road map which has milestones for managing student population growth at the high school level. This road map will allow the district to effectively plan financial and human resources needed for new buildings and programs.

“With a district mantra of 100% literacy, engagement and graduation, the ultimate goal is to provide every student

• Working Groups convene • Steering Committee and Working Groups plan research to be conducted • Timelines and benchmarks are established • Opportunities for stakeholder input are determined • Communications Working Group develops a stakeholder education plan

Phase 3 - Research (April - December 2016)

• Working Groups conduct research in their designated areas • Working Groups collaborate with each other on findings • Working groups provide periodic updates to Steering Committee • Stakeholders have opportunities to participate in surveys and focus groups • Updates provided to board of education and stakeholders

Phase 4 - Recommendation (January – May 2017)

• Steering Committee evaluates all the data gathered • Steering Committee determines best configuration option based on data • Steering committee collaborates with working groups to outline roadmap to recommended configuration • Final configuration plan presented to Board of Education • Stakeholders informed of plan with opportunities for success,” said Dr. Mendenhall. “I encourage our patrons to stay informed and participate in the process so that together, we can do what is best for the students of Broken Arrow.”

For additional information and periodic updates, visit baschools.org/goba.

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instruction

Site Teachers of th District winner to be announced next spring at Star Awards Gala

Prior to fall break, each of the district’s 27 schools announced their 2015-16 Site Teacher of the Year.

“Each of these 27 individuals were selected by their peers as outstanding teachers who continually display qualities of leadership and innovation,” said Superintendent Dr. Jarod Mendenhall. “I hope you will join me in congratulating these individuals on their accomplishment.”

The Teacher of the Year process continues as site representatives compete for the District Teacher of the Year. Each Site Teacher of the Year will submit a portfolio to the Teacher of the Year Professional Development Committee, a group composed of teachers, administrators and previous Teachers of the Year. This year’s district winner will be announced at the annual Star Awards Gala taking place in March 2016. From there, the district winner will represent Broken Arrow Public Schools in the State Teacher of the Year competition next summer.

“As a committee, we meet to thoroughly evaluate each portfolio, conduct interviews and select the best candidate for District Teacher of the Year,” said Jennifer Peterson, director of elementary instruction. “Although the process is quite rigorous, it allows us to not only honor outstanding educators in our district but also helps all of our educators strive to be the best they can be for the benefit of our students.”

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Cindy Ellett Arrow Springs ECC

Kim Black Aspen Creek ECC

Betsy Kaiser Creekwood ECC

Becky King Highland Park Elementary

Kelsee Dyess Leisure Park Elementary

Anne Cates Liberty Elementary

Elizabeth Benavides Centennial Middle School

Katherine Benight Childers Middle School

Susan Graham Oliver Middle School

Lindsey Has Park Lane EC

Shawn Wolt Lynn Wood Elem

Lisa Sike Oneta Ridge Middl

instruction

he Year announced

skins CC

Margie Martin Arrowhead Elementary

Ed Hodge Aspen Creek Elementary

Pam Willingham Country Lane Primary

Brian Knutson Country Lane Intermediate

Kelley Soerries Creekwood Elementary

ters mentary

Amber Parr Oak Crest Elementary

Beth Wingo Rhoades Elementary

Tonia Cantrell Spring Creek Elementary

Chris Nichols Vandever Elementary

Amanda Latta Wolf Creek Elementary

Talitha Jacobs Sequoyah Middle School

Kari Bergeron Freshman Academy

Mary Fowler Broken Arrow High School

Jack Castle Broken Arrow Academy

LaQuisha Jackson Margaret Hudson Program

es le School

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nutrition

Hungry For Educ New food truck, special programs create unique niche As the sun rises every morning, nearly 200 Broken Arrow child nutrition employees are arriving at 27 different school sites to begin the work day. They enter their kitchens and turn on the equipment. The group discusses how much food to prepare for the day while noting the special dietary needs of multiple students. Hairnets are put on, hands are washed, work aprons are tied and food is prepared – all while waiting for that first student to smile as he is handed his breakfast for the day.

From providing a free summer feeding program to following strict U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines, Broken Arrow Public Schools’ child nutrition department has many facets to its program.

“The well-being of our students is our main priority, and we know that healthy food options mean healthy kids, and eventually, healthy adults,” said Christian Welborn, BAPS executive director of student services. “BAPS is committed to enhancing our students’ learning not only through the classroom but also in the cafeteria.”

Balancing Act With a goal of providing healthy meals to the district’s students and staff, the child nutrition department must meet the guidelines of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This act requires USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools, which must include foods rich in whole grains and protein, low fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables as the main ingredients.

“Each grade level has varying calorie and sodium levels that we abide by every day, and saturated fat must be less than 10 percent of those total calories,” said Luanne Goodacre, director of child nutrition. “Our office staff and site managers consistently work together to make sure guidelines are being followed. We also frequently attend state training sessions that assist us with proper implementation of current and new guidelines.”

To help meet this criteria, the district

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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LINE UP AT LUNCH TIME FOR THE Curbside Café FOOD TRUCK.

utilizes the Oklahoma Food Connection, which is a directory that lists Oklahoma farms by county, lists crops that can be purchased and provides information on farm-to-school policies in the state.

For example, BAPS purchases homegrown tomatoes from Broken Arrow’s Eden Veggie Farms and partners with an Oklahoma wheat farmer in Hydro, a city west of Oklahoma City in order to provide fresh, healthy, local options to students.

“We truly enjoy having these local professionals visit our elementary sites to talk to our students about their profession and about how important nutrition is,” Goodacre said. “It really gives them the opportunity to be interactive and to ask questions that might not come to mind during the lunch hour.”

In addition, BAPS’ nutrition education coordinator Leslie Ptomey works with school nurses to make sure students with

special dietary needs are served by the child nutrition program.

The Need To Feed As a participant in one of the largest food and nutrition assistance programs in the U.S., known as the National School Lunch Program, BAPS offers free and reduced rates on breakfast and lunch for students of families that meet certain income guidelines. Through an application process, students who wish to participate in this program must enroll each year through their school site or on the district’s website.

According to a USDA report, “almost 60 percent of American children age 5-18 participate in the program at least once per week. Almost half of all lunches served are provided free to students, with an additional 10 percent provided at

nutrition

sidebar

cation

for Child Nutrition department

reduced prices.”

Another aspect of the child nutrition program is its Summer Feeding Program, which serves children ages 1-18 with free meals during the summer months at several school sites across Broken Arrow.

Parents and caregivers can also eat at a low cost.

Multiple Choice(s) In an effort to provide healthy and eclectic meal options in an innovative way, BAPS recently introduced a food truck— dubbed BA’s Curbside Café – to more than 3,500 Broken Arrow High School (BAHS) students. The Curbside Café is among a number of other on-campus lunch options, including Subway, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, a coffee bar for grab-n-go snacks and more.

“With the hopes of setting a trend for

Oklahoma school districts, the plan for a BAPS food truck has been two years in the making as our staff looked for ways to provide more lunch choices for our high school students,” said Goodacre. “Because students have the option to participate in an off-campus lunch, we are hoping this truck helps engage students and keep them at the high school for lunch.”

The Curbside Café menu changes daily and features popular options such as street tacos, chicken and waffles, salads and more. All meals meet USDA guidelines and are prepared with a number of locallysourced ingredients. The truck is funded through BAPS Child Nutrition monies.

“Our kids are excited. The food truck craze is here to stay, and it is refreshing to know we are creating a trendy experience for our students at the high school campus while providing them with the nutrition they need to power through their day,” said BAPS Superintendent Dr. Jarod Mendenhall.

In addition to providing lunch options for high school students, the Curbside Café will provide BAPS with another avenue for its Summer Feeding Program, stopping at state-approved locations in Broken Arrow.

“In the past, we’ve offered free meals at various school sites throughout the summer months,” Goodacre said. “This year, we will also utilize our truck to meet students where they live, driving to various locations around Broken Arrow to serve children.”

Additionally, the child nutrition division accommodates staff members with its Staff Café option. Located on the Broken Arrow Academy campus, employees can enjoy a variety of healthy, affordable food options, including salads, sandwiches, a la carte snacks and an assortment of items that change daily.

“Our passion is creating healthy and delicious meals that bring the Broken Arrow family together,” Goodacre said.

“When we see students giggling while they are in the lunchroom or staff members joining together at the Staff Café for an impromptu lunch meeting, we know we’ve done our job well.”

Luanne GOODACRE

Director of Child Nutrition Her love for child nutrition started when she was a substitute teacher for Wagoner Public Schools. One day while she was substituting for a kindergarten class, the students’ assignment was to describe what they had eaten for dinner the prior evening. A little boy told Goodacre that he and his sister had shared a can of cold spinach.

“That really touched me.

The importance of school nutrition programs had never crossed my mind until that moment. School food is sometimes the only food a student might get all day.”

Goodacre finished her degree in child nutrition and started working in a BAPS cafeteria 20 years ago. Since then, she has become the director of child nutrition and worked to implement innovative programs that align with USDA standards.

“Mrs. Goodacre is truly an asset to the district,” said Christian Welborn. “She cares about our students and their health, and that is evident through her accomplishments within the child nutrition division.”

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outreach

Get Cre High school, elementary

JUNIOR AUDREY FILES ASSISTS CREEKWOOD SECOND GRADE STUDENT ETHAN BARRETTO WITH A CHILDREN’S BOOK.

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Twenty four imaginative second graders sit in Lisa Gutierrez’s class brainstorming the elements that make a great story – the characters, the setting and the plot – while patiently awaiting a visit from Broken Arrow High School’s creative writing class.

In keeping with the district’s guiding principle, “Literacy, Engagement and Graduation,” Amanda McCown’s high school students are collaborating with these Creekwood Elementary second graders to create children’s books that will be published at the end of the semester.

“This process, which is guided by the inspiration of second graders and the expertise of Broken Arrow’s secondary students, is allowing the elementary students to become writers at an early age while giving the high schoolers an opportunity to engage in the entire writing process, from start to finish,” BAPS English Language Arts Instructional Specialist Suzanne Holt said.

At the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, BAPS introduced its equation for student success. Known as “Literacy, Engagement and Graduation,” this mantra assists educators and administrators, helping guide every student toward graduation.

“Instilling a love of writing is important at a young age because it is so crucial to intellectual development and selfexpression,” McCown said. “This project gives both Mrs. Gutierrez and me an easy way to sneak in many English language arts skills disguised as fun and engaging activities.”

With each second grader paired with a high school mentor, the sessions have been anything but ordinary. The second graders created the story ideas, which have ranged from a dragon that makes cookies to a mermaid princess living in an enchanted forest. From there, the high school students selected their peer partner solely based on their favorite concept. The teams will also partner with BAHS art students on illustrations for each book.

“My students are completely in awe of their high school partners,” Gutierrez said.

“They look forward to these visits, and it

outreach

eative

students partner to create children’s books

“I’m enjoying this project because working with children challenges my imagination.”

– Summer Parnell Broken Arrow High School junior has become evident in their daily writing, as well. They are trying harder than before, and I think it’s a result of having a peer high school mentor. They really look up to them.”

Prior to this semester-long project, Gutierrez’s class completed Ronald Dahl’s “The BFG,” which stands for Big Friendly Giant.

“On the day before they met, one of Mrs. Gutierrez’s students had expressed some concern about meeting students who were so much bigger than they are,” McCown said. “It didn’t take long before

my students became the second graders’ own personal BFGs.” BAHS senior Ally Martinez’s favorite part of this project is seeing her peer partner’s face light up when she asks her a question.

“She is so eager to show me her ideas,” Martinez said. “I am learning that one small gesture can have such a large impact. It warms my heart.”

BAHS senior Jacob Osborne is enjoying the challenge of simplifying his approach to match the students at Creekwood.

“I am finding that complex inspiration and imagination starts at a very early age and grows into organization and concentration later.”

McCown agrees.

“This is giving my students a chance to positively influence kids who are in a place where the high school peers have already been in life,” she said. “It’s refreshing for them to get back to the ease of elementary school in the midst of issues at home, working full time jobs, balancing friendships and managing school work. It really allows their creativity to flow.”

At the end of the semester, the two groups will join together for a book release celebration.

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