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May 2021 Newsletter

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May 2021 Newsletter

 
 
 
 
 

From the Blog: The Silver Lining

(Originally published on our website April 1, 2021.)

 

Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a few principals expound on what's happening in their buildings. The schedule for our students is about to change again, and that brings new challenges. Depending on how the vaccine and COVID proceed, this is hopefully the last of its kind for the year. The principals shared their excitement about having all their students back in school at the same time, and I know the teachers share this excitement as well.

 

The story from that meeting upon which I want to focus is not schedule-related though. It surrounds how one person was a little late to the meeting because she had to call the police to one of her students' houses. That student messaged his teacher from home that he did not feel safe. Read more...

 

Summer Wall of Fame

We are pleased to announce that the Wall of Fame Celebration honoring Putnam City High School Class of 1980 graduate Dr. Greg Walton will be held in person at the OKC Farmers Public Market Thursday, June 24th! We will have appropriate COVID-related protocols in place, so please don't let that stop you from enjoying the fun. We are so excited to host an in-person event! Though the event is in the summer, we still intend to recognize our site-level Teachers of the Year, as well as the amazing staff in our district.

 

This year, the Foundation will honor people and companies who helped us serve students and staff during the pandemic. We will name the Volunteer of the Year, Corporate Partner of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year in addition to inducting Dr. Walton into the Wall of Fame. Tickets are on sale now, so get yours to this fun event today!

 

Mission Focus: Kirkpatrick Awards $25,000 Grant to CAST

We were incredibly humbled to receive a generous grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation for our CAST program. CAST (Communities and Schools Together) will now expand to serve every school site in Putnam City beginning Fall 2021. We are hiring three part-time positions to serve the three feeder patterns. These CAST liaisons will support each school with the resources they need and be the connection point for the schools and the community. The job posting is available on our website, but please email or call Jennifer if you are interested in learning more about the position. We need someone intrinsically motivated and highly organized with excellent written and verbal skills. They must love our work and believe passionately in the mission of CAST. 

 

We would NOT make this dramatic leap forward without the support of the Kirkpatrick Foundation. Their belief in us and support for our students knows no limits.

 

The Annual Golden Apple Awards

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The Golden Apple recognizes outstanding work on behalf of Putnam City and can be offered to staff, volunteers, administrators, or teachers. It is the highest award one can get, and the Foundation is honored to be a part of the process. It's like winning an Oscar for being an outstanding person in education! Once again our committee had a difficult time choosing among the amazing people who work for our kids, but this year's winners are:

 

Terry Kimberling, Lead Custodian, Harvest Hills Elementary

Courtney Krodel, Help Desk, Information Technology

Alex Martinez, Teaching Assistant, Central Elementary

Marie Page, DECA Teacher, Putnam City North High School

Stephanie Russell, Title One Teaching Assistant & Volunteer

Evangeline "Vangie" Smith, Substitute Teacher & Volunteer, Western Oaks Elementary

These individuals were honored at a school board meeting in April, and you can learn more about them here. Congratulations to this year's winners, and thank you to Foundation board member John Milner (PC North, Class of 2003) and the entire selection committee for putting in the effort to recognize our best.

 

2021 Scholarship Recipients Selected

$1,000 Dorothy Nixon Scholarship

Kimberly Berkenbile

Senior, Putnam City West High School

 

$500 Clay Culver Scholarship

Dillon Eckley

Freshman, Putnam City North High School

 

$500 Roger Barrios Scholarship

Madison Fonzi

Senior, Putnam City North High School

 

$2,000 Nancy Talley Scholarship

Naomi Reyes Castillo

Senior, Putnam City West High School

 

$500 Ralph Downs Scholarship

Hope Shinn

Fifth Grade Teacher, Rollingwood Elementary

 

$1,000 Roberta Jo Lowe Scholarship

Cara Wagner

Special Education Teacher, Ralph Downs Elementary ​​​​

 

Teacher of the Year

Putnam City named Lauren Querbach its district teacher of the year this past March in a unique presentation. Typically, we co-host a reception with the Putnam City Association of Classroom Teachers, but had to alter that plan due to the pandemic. In its place, a group of administrators including Superintendent Dr. Fred Rhodes surprised Lauren at her school in front of her students. Her principal at Wiley Post Elementary, Sheryl Rexach, walked her around the building so that all the students could share in the enthusiasm.

 

While we missed having the reception, it was great to see Ms. Querbach's students react and feel the love for her from the other students and staff. Congratulations and good luck Lauren, as you compete for Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year!

 

Dr. Kareem Graham is an immunologist and Principal Scientist/Laboratory Head at Principia Biopharma. During his high school career he was a standout scholar and talented center on the basketball team. We caught up with this former Pirate recently and asked him to share a little about his high school experience and life since graduation. Read more...​​​​​​​

 

RECENT MAJOR DONORS

 

Ally Financial Inc., in honor of Artie Brylev

Hefner Middle School PTO

Independent Insurance Agents of Greater OKC

Kirkpatrick Foundation

Mike Mitchell (PCN, Class of 1988)

Moore Family Charita​​​​​​​ble Fund

Walmart

 

 
 

May 14, 2021

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Putnam City Schools Foundation
5401 NW 40th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73122

405-495-5200, extension 1205

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