School Days. August feels a little like Sundays, doesn’t it? It’s the last chance to make the most of the season of vacations and rest, but it’s also time to shift our focus to tomorrow. And very soon for many of us our tomorrows will include buses, books, backbacks, bells and busy days. Our contributors and staff have enjoyed creating this backto-school issue for you, and it caused us to reflect on some of our own favorite memories of this time of year: When I was a middle school and later a high school teacher, August was a torrent of “To-Do” lists that filled me with anxiety and dread. I would never be ready enough or have everything complete and perfect enough. The moment the students walked through my door, however, all the future planning gave way to present delight. My overwhelmedness was washed away by focusing on what was really important: the joy of learning. Let the awesome begin. -- Ali Barnes, Contributing Writer & Photographer I love the start of a new school year because it means school supplies! As a child, I loved checking things off the list as I picked them out, opening the packages, smelling the pink erasers, and writing my name on everything. As a mother, I still find it very exciting to get new school supplies, even if it is someone else’s name I’m writing on them. --Rebecca Eckert, Contributing Writer
august 2014 publisher
Lifestyle Publications | Tulsa@LifestylePubs.com
advertising sales Kathy Slemp | KSlemp@LifestylePubs.com
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Kendra Mathewson | KMathewson@lifestylepubs.com
contributing writers Ali Barnes, Rebecca Eckert, Denise Mason, Kendra Gensemer Mathewson, Natalie Nirk, Denise Snodell
contributing photographers Ali Barnes, Chris Barnes, Jennifer LaFortune, Kendra Gensemer Mathewson, University of Tulsa Published monthly, subscriptions are also available for $22 for 1 year, $39 for 2 years by visiting TulsaLifestylePubs.com
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Back-to-school preparation delighted me since childhood, and it certainly is exciting now with three school-age children. Fresh hair cuts, updates to wardrobes and new shoes are great fun to ponder while excitement builds to see familiar faces and meet new teachers. Adjusting back to school routines and dealing with first-day nerves is another matter entirely! -- Natalie Nirk, Contributing Writer
chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt
I loved the first day of school during my five years as a homeschool mom, especially the year we studied ancient history: We wore togas, wrote Roman numerals on homemade wax tablets and sat on the pillow-covered floor for a feast. The kids loved it so much, they wore the togas all week. -- Kendra Mathewson, Editorial Coordinator & Writer
advertising director | Mike Baugher
“Children learn what they live,” a poet beautifully reminds us. As you say goodbye to summer and hello to all that is around your corner, we hope you’ll enjoy the transition and remember that while you are making memories and living it out, learning is taking place. And please continue to share your stories with us so we can share them with our community!
chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore national editor | Lisa Cooke Harrison director of marketing | Brad Broockerd production director | Christina Sandberg regional art director | Sara Minor ad coordinator | Cyndi Vreeland, Samantha Engel national copy editor | Kendra Mathewson executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O’Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide
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The Lifestyle Publications Contributors and Staff
on the cover The Ringing of the Bell -
TU’s cupola and bell are a beautiful symbol of academia. Photography The University of Tulsa.
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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Tulsa Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Tulsa’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Tulsa Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.