Back to School by The Norman Transcript

Back To School Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012

Norman has a district worthy of pride By Caitlin Schudalla Transcript Staff Writer

The Norman Public School district has a lot to be proud of. In recent months, the district has received top honors from the Oklahoma Technology Association and the State Board of Education for excellence in technology and academia. The district has also implemented programs to dramatically cut energy consumption at each school site, saving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Beginning with a facilities study in 2006, the district is currently in the process of making major renovations and improvements to all 22 school sites, funded by the $109 million Dec. 2009 bond issue. While all the district’s facilities will sport impressive improvements for the Fall 2012

semester, the district’s newest school site will be a crown jewel among them. Ronald Reagan Elementary, set to open with the rest of Norman’s school sites in August, is a 77,000 square foot facility which will house its estimated 400 students in a state-of-the-art facility which exemplifies the school setting of tomorrow. “We’ll have all the same technology as the rest of the district’s intelligent classrooms, but there will also be features like a touch screen wall in each of the pod’s common areas,” said Roger Brown, Assistant Superintendent for the Norman school district. The so-called “pods” are the smaller clusters of classrooms on the outer parts of the building, strategically isolated from the central area encompassing the commons, gymnasium,

library and main office. “From a safety standpoint, you can stand in three different parts of the main hallway and see the entire building, and each pod can be locked down in addition to each individual classroom in a lockdown situation,” Brown said. “The pod’s separation is also a great feature for minimizing noise - classes can have activities in the pod’s common space and not bother other grades by shutting their pod’s doors.” Weather safety is also addressed by the pod design, with each pod containing a safe room, ensuring faster response time and better shelter for the students. In addition to the “pod” layout, Reagan will be the only elementary school in the district with a stage in the commons/cafeteria space, grouping the main facilities together to better serve after-school

or community activities. “We wanted to set this school up to where all spaces the community might want to use is all centralized and convenient - people visiting the school will come in the main entrance and all the common spaces are right there,” Brown said. Lighting efficiency is well-executed, with all the school’s larger spaces containing major skylights. Many of Reagan’s features expertly reflect and address the needs of modern students and the Norman school district, built on the ever-changing experiences and lessons learned in previous facilities. “Construction changes and by the time we build the next school there will be professionals with new ideas about engineering and design. Each one we build is a little better than the last,” Brown said.

Norman Public Schools Blue Ribbon history • 1987-1988 McKinley Elementary School • 1988-1989 Norman High School • 1988-1989 West Mid-High School • 2000-2001 Roosevelt Elementary School • 2000-2001 Truman Elementary School

• 2005-2006 McKinley Elementary School • 2007-2008 Lakeview Elementary School • 2008-2009 Norman North High School • 2010-2011 Longfellow Middle School

Construction workers install defusing panels inside the new Reagan Elementary library. Reagan Elementary is under construction on Southeast 24th Avenue and State Highway 9. Julie Bragg/ The Transcript

Becoming a Blue Ribbon School • Schools are nominated in two categories: highperforming schools and dramatically improving schools • High-performing schools must perform in the top15 percent of state standards assessments • Dramatically improving schools must have narrowed gaps between regular students and subgroups such as English language learners, minorities or special education students • Schools must make adequate yearly progress — as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act — on standardized tests each year for the past two years • Once nominated, schools must be willing to go through an intensive application process with the national Blue Ribbon office • Only schools that have been in existence for five full years and that have not been named a Blue Ribbon School in the past five years are eligible

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012

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Sunday, Aug. 5. 2012

Norman Public Schools Calendar First Day of School: Aug. 22 Last Day of School: May 24 Holidays/No School July 4: Independence Day Sept. 3: Labor Day Break Oct. 11-12: Fall Break Nov. 21-23: Thanksgiving Break Dec. 21, 24: Winter Break Dec. 25: Christmas Day Dec. 26-31: Winter Break Jan. 1: New Years Day Jan. 21: M.L. King Jr. Day Feb. 18: Presidents’ Day March 18- 22: Spring Break May 27: Memorial Day Teacher Work Days/No School August 20 and May 28—If Snow Day is not needed Professional Days/No School Aug. 16, 17, 21 Oct.10 April 26

Grading Periods Aug. 22 – Oct. 26: First Quarter, 44 days Oct. 29 – Jan. 11: Second Quarter, 44 Days Jan. 14 – March 15: Third Quarter, 43 Days March 25 — May 24: Fourth Quarter, 44 Days Parent/Teacher Conference/No School Nov. 8: Evening; Nov. 9: No School March 14: Evening; March 15: No School New Teacher Induction Aug. 9-10, 13-14 * Snow Make-up Days Jan. 21, Feb. 18, April 26 May 28-31 Additional days will be added to the end

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012

Norman Elementary Schools First day of school, Wed., Aug. 22 Adams Elementary 817 Denison Drive Cindy Taylor 405-366-5972 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Cleveland Elementary 500 N. Sherry Ave. Ty Bell 405-366-5875 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Eisenhower Elementary 1415 Fairlawn Drive Susan Powell 405-366-5879 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m.

Jackson Elementary 520 S. Wylie Road Craig Stevens 405-366-5884 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Jefferson Elementary 250 N. Cockrel Ave. Kathy Taber 405-366-5889 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Kennedy Elementary 621 Sunrise St. Montie Koehn 405-366-5894 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Lakeview Elementary 3310 108th Ave. N.E. Paula Palermo 405-366-5899 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment during school year Lincoln Elementary 915 Classen Blvd. Olivia Dean

405-366-5904 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Madison Elementary 500 E. James Drive Pam Charlson 405-366-5910 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. McKinley Elementary 728 S. Flood Ave. Carol Emerson 405-366-5914 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Monroe Elementary 1601 S. McGee Drive Lori Connery 405-366-5927 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m.

Reagan Elementary 1601 24th Ave. S.E. Carol Burton 405-364-1339 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 13-14, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Roosevelt Elementary 4250 W. Tecumseh Road Beth Spears 405-447-6581 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Truman Elementary 600 Parkside Road Robye Jackson 405-366-5980 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Truman Primary 601 Meadow Ridge Road Kristie Eselin 405-366-5950 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m.

Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Washington Elementary 600 48th Ave. S.E. Linda Parsons 405-366-5984 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m. Wilson Elementary 800 N. Peters Ave. Cherrie Birden 405-366-5932 Hours: 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 6-7, 8 a.m.6 p.m.

Norman Middle Schools

Alcott Middle School 1919 W. Boyd St. Dana Morris 405-366-5845 Hours: 8:35 a.m.-3:40 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 7: 8th

grade, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 7th grade, 1-4 p.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8: 6th grade, 8:3011:30 a.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. New student testing/enrollment Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m. New students need proof of residency and shot records Irving Middle School 125 Vicksburg Ave. Linda Baxter 405-366-5941 Hours: 8:35 a.m.-3:40 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 7: 8th grade, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 7th grade, 1-4 p.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8: 6th grade, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. New student testing/enrollment Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m. New students need proof of residency and shot records.

Sunday, Aug. 5. 2012

Top five back-to-school organizing tips

(ARA) - The start of a new school year is like a fresh box of crayons - full of possibilities. Ginny Bean, mother of three and publisher of Ginny’s catalog, suggests families take advantage of this clean slate by establishing some new organizing routines. Think ahead. Mornings are chaotic in most households with schoolaged children. Consider handling as many daytime preparations as possible the night before. Lay out clothes. Pack lunches. Set out the breakfast dishes and cereal. Pack backpacks. Bean suggests making systems kid-friendly, so young helpers can feel involved, and save mom some time in the process. “Carve out a spot on a lower shelf of the pantry for lunch boxes and lunch-making supplies. Then make children responsible for putting away their empty lunch boxes at the end of the school day, or even packing their own lunch.” Tackle school paperwork. Make a habit of

sorting through children’s backpacks with them the same day they come home. Allot time after school, when you arrive home from work, or after dinner, depending on your family’s schedule. Use a tiered letter sorter or filing system with designated slots for each child’s papers, and an “A.S.A.P.” space for teachers’ notes, permission slips and anything else that requires immediate attention. For schoolwork and artwork you want to keep, try a two-step approach. First, purge unwanted items as soon as they come in the door. Collect the possible keepers in a storage bin or wheeled cart with color-coded drawers that allow for easy separation by child or project type. Go through stored items at regular intervals, perhaps once a month or once a quarter. Keep in mind, the more you accumulate, the easier it will be to pare down, as the best pieces will stand out from the crowd. Designate a homework spot. Decide on the

best spot in your home to set up homework central. Take into consideration how involved you need to be with homework and your child’s style. Does he focus better with people around or in a private setting? Is he better suited to sit at a desk or curled up in a favorite chair with a laptop cart? Once you have a place picked out, gather together handy homework tools and supplies into a nearby bin, drawer or cabinet. Stock up on age-appropriate supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, paper, crayons, markers, a ruler, dictionary, calculator and a pencil sharpener. Create a communication hub. Include the family calendar, a chalk or bulletin board for posting messages and reminders, a binder for key documents, colored markers, pens and pencils. If you’re a visual person, consider color coding your calendar by assigning each family member a different color. Remember not to forget. Use wall hooks and baskets or bins near the front door to corral the items you need to remember each day: backpacks, books, lunches, gym shoes, sports equipment and musical instruments. To request a copy of Ginny’s catalog, visit Ginnys.com or call 800-4879024.

6 Longfellow Middle School 215 N. Ponca Ave. Peter Liesenfeld 405-366-5948 Hours: 8:35 a.m.-3:40 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 7: 8th grade, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 7th grade, 1-4 p.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8: 6th grade, 8:3011:30 a.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. New student testing/enrollment Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m. New students need proof of residency and shot records. Whittier Middle School 2000 W. Brooks St. Gayla Mears 405-366-5956 Hours: 8:35 a.m.-3:40 p.m. Enrollment Aug. 7: 8th grade, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 7th grade, 1-4 p.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 Aug. 8: 6th grade, 8:3011:30 a.m.; open enrollment, 4-6 p.m. New student testing/enrollment Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m. New students need proof of residency and shot records

Norman Hgh Schools

Norman High School 911 W. Main St. Scott Beck 405-366-5812 Enrollment/registration Hours: 9 a.m.-4:05 p.m. New students: Aug. 6, 8:3011:30 a.m., all seniors; 12:453:45 p.m. all juniors; Aug. 7, 8:30-11:30 a.m. sophomores A-B, E-G, L-M, R-U; 12:453:45 p.m. sophomores C-D, H-K, N-Q, V-Z; Aug. 8 8:3011:30 a.m., freshmen A-B, E-G, L-M, R-U; 12:45-3:45 p.m. freshmen C-D, H-K, NQ, V-Z.

Pre-enrolled students: Aug. 9, 8:30-11:30 a.m., seniors AB, E-G, L-M, R-U; 12:45-3:45 p.m., seniors C-D, H-K, NQ, V-Z; Aug. 10, 8:30-11:30 a.m., juniors A-B, E-G, L-M, R-U; 12:45-3:45 p.m., juniors C-D, H-K, N-Q, V-Z; Aug. 13, 8:30-11:30 a.m., sophomores A-B, E-G, L-M, R-U; 12:45-3:45 p.m., sophomores C-D, H-K, N-Q, V-Z; Aug. 14, 8:30-11:30 a.m., freshmen A-B, E-G, L-M, RU; 12:45-3:45 p.m., freshmen C-D, H-K, N-Q, V-Z.

Norman North High School 1809 Stubbeman Ave. Bryan Young 405-366-5954 Hours: 9 a.m.-4:05 p.m. Enrollment/registration New students: Aug. 6, 8:3011:30 a.m. all grades A-D; 12:45-3:45 p.m. all grades EK; Aug. 7, 8:30-11:30 a.m. LM all grades; 12:45-3:45 p.m. N-Q all grades; Aug. 8, 8:30-11:30 a.m., R-S all grades; 12:45-3:45 p.m. T-Z all grades. Pre-enrolled students: Aug.

9, 8:30-11:30 a.m., A-B all grades; 12:45-3:45 p.m. C-D all grades; Aug. 10, 8:3011:30 a.m., E-G all grades; 12:45-3:45 p.m. H-K all grades; Aug. 13, 8:30-11:30 a.m., L-M all grades; 12:453:45 p.m. N-Q all grades; Aug 14, 8:30-11:30 a.m., R-S all grades; 12:45-3:45 p.m. TZ all grades.

Private Schools All Saints Catholic School 4001 36th Avenue, N.W. Leslie Schmitt

405-447-4600 Hours: 8:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. First day of school, Thursday, Aug. 16 Community Christian School 3200 Broce Drive Barbara Ohsfeldt 405-329-2500 Hours: Elementary: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m Secondary: 8:30-3:15 Registration Tuesday, Aug. 7 First day of school Thursday, Aug. 23

Sunday, Aug. 5. 2012

Creative and healthier after-school snack ideas (ARA) When school starts, kids’ schedules fill up fast, and that means they need the right fuel to keep their growing bodies and minds satisfied. After a long day of learning, kids require a snack that will get them through homework, afterschool sports and other activities until dinner is served. Before you reach for the default bag of chips, consider these healthier alternatives that are just as easy and convenient. Creative, healthier after-school snack ideas that your kids will gobble up: 1. Refresh with frozen apple sauce Apple sauce has been a snacking staple for years, but now you can add a little excitement to those prepackaged apple packs. Simply buy Tree Top apple sauce cups, made with 100 percent USA apples, and place them in the freezer for a tasty treat similar to sorbet, and a healthier alternative to most ice cream and frozen snacks. Kids can grab them on their own when they get home from school so mom and dad don’t have to lift a finger. Stock up on Tree Top apple juice boxes, too,

for a complementary, easy grab-and-go drink option. 2. Delight in dip It’s no secret kids love to dip, so make after-school snacking more interesting by providing dip along with fresh fruit, veggies and crackers. Instead of salad dressing, change things up by mixing a single serve apple sauce cup with two tablespoons of peanut butter for a healthier dip alternative. Watch as your little ones wolf down their carrots, celery, apples, pretzels and more. Parents love that this dip option has many nutritional benefits - the apple sauce in it is a good source of vitamin C and peanut butter is packed with protein. 3. Wrap it up Keeping whole wheat tortillas on hand is a smart move for any parent because they are extremely versatile. When kids come home from school hungry, it’s easy to take a tortilla and fill it with their favorite nutritious fillings. For example, spread with classic peanut butter and jelly, add some banana and honey, or fill with turkey and mozzarella for a satisfying snack that keeps kids

focused through all their homework. 4. Happily hydrated Making sure your kids are hydrated is an important part of keeping them healthy and feeling great each day. When kids are busy at school and with afterschool activities, they can become dehydrated quickly. Instead of sugary sodas, choose a more nutritious alternative like Tree Top reduced sugar 100 percent fruit juices. These tasty and refreshing drinks are made with hydrating coconut water and no artificial sweeteners and have 25 percent less sugar than regular 100 percent juices. 5. A smooth finish to the school day Smoothies are a fun way for kids to get a ton of nutrients in one single drink. It’s easy for parents to stock up on frozen fruit at the local grocery store. Then, when kids get home, they can choose what flavors they want and you can blend the fruit with low-fat milk, yogurt and ice for a cool and delicious drink. You might even sneak in a few veggies by adding a splash of vegetable juice, or a couple pre-steamed vegetables like car-

rots, kale or squash. The fruit flavors are so robust, your kids won’t even notice the veggies.

Healthy afterschool snacks don’t have to be boring or bland. Try these ideas and you can feel good

about what your kids eat - they may love them so much they’ll be requesting them every day.