2018 Making the Grade

2018 MAKE THE GRADE

news-star.com Shawnee News-Star

2018

Sunday, August 5, 2018 • 1G

plus > NOMINATIONS FOR

FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR

TIME TO VACCINATE FOR SCHOOL

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2018 MAKE THE GRADE

2G • Sunday, August 5, 2018

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Nominations for the Amazing Teachers Awards! ored Spons by From the 1st grade teacher with the heart of gold to that high school English teacher who infuses kids with a passion for reading. Teachers all across the districts educate and empower kids of all ages.

She gives so much of herself it’s hard to imagine she has anything left at the end of the day but there always is; she’s proven that repeatedly over the years. Brandy genuinely cares about the lives her students live and lead and it shows in how she talks to, treats, and cares for them. She can get more out of a student than even what the student thought was possible. Any kid would be truly lucky and blessed to have her for a teacher!

their comfort zones and natural abilities to see how far they can go, what goals they can reach, and achievements they themselves didn’t think were possible. She doesn’t always see the end results but takes comfort and satisfaction in knowing she gave each and every student that walked through her door the best of herself, the best resources available, and the best start in being the best person and student they could be.

Listed below are the nominations for our Amazing Teachers Awards, their name, school, grade or position, and why they were nominated. Top prize is $500 for a classroom Project. The 4 finalists will receive $250 each for their classroom project.

2. Mrs. Bond is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure her students are taken care of and where they need to be. She is a loving, caring, and kind person that would do absolutely anything for a child. She has completely changed the Shawnee High School Drama Dept. for the better and is really focusing on the little things to better the future of the school.

Sheri Dunlap

Marnie Tidwell

Debbie Markwell Flowers Meeker Elementary School, First Grade and Pre-K

Shawnee Middle School, 6th Grade Math

Amazing definitely describes Debbie Flowers of Meeker Elementary School. For 29 years, Debbie has invited first year students into her creative and friendly classroom. She has instilled a “can do” attitude in each child so that they have produced amazing results throughout the year.

As each year progresses, the children write stories that they read out loud to their guests at The Grandparents Tea. For 17 Years, Flowers has incorporated the positive aspects of Great Expectations into her teaching methodology. This approach has created life-time learners.

Parents and Grandparents have been overjoyed when learning that their child will be taught by Debbie Flowers. The good start that Debbie gives them will positively affect the rest of their education journey.

Others have recognized this talented teacher by placing her among the 12 Oklahoma Teachers of the Year finalists in 2009.

Marnie Tidwell is one fire cracker of a math teacher. She makes learning a difficult subject interesting, fun, and obtainable; especially for those young 6th grade students that don’t like math. She’s a dedicated Oklahoma career teacher that wants the best for her students and fights for them every chance she gets to ensure they get what they need and deserve in order to be a successful student and individual. She’s the kind of teacher I wish we could clone so that every student could receive the kind of experience in learning math that her students receive. She’s a team leader, is there for her co-workers as well as her students, and does everything she can to instill a sense of accomplishment in each of her students so they know what it feels like to succeed. Marnie is an Oklahoma horseman that brings the same focus, drive, and commitment she shows in the arena to her classroom teaching and students.

Heather Deshazer Shawnee Middle School, 8th Grade English and Liturature

Brandy Bond Shawnee High School, Drama, theatre, debate, 1. Brandy Bond, there’s not one specific word adequate enough to describe Brandy. She’s so many things to not only her students, but to her friends, co-workers, and family. She uses her natural skills and abilities to get her students to use their imaginations, to dream, to listen to that inner voice telling them they’re worth more and can be more than what they’re allowing themselves to be at that moment, to go ahead and jump out of that comfort zone and into something greater or more amazing then they ever thought possible! She’s has the patience of a saint, the dedication it takes to be a true professional in her craft, so talented it isn’t even funny, and can make you laugh with just a look.

Heather Deshazer is the epitome of what a dedicated, caring, and committed Oklahoma educator looks like.

She constantly strives to bring to her students every available resource out there that can help them be successful inside as well as outside of the classroom.

Her students know that she cares about them and only wants the best for them and from them. The saying, “Big things come in small packages” comes to mind when I think about Heather not only because of her height but more so because of her passion for teaching her students. She demands respect from her students by demonstrating what it looks like by how she speaks and treats them in and outside of her classroom. She doesn’t ask for more than what each individual student can give but instead, encourages them to go beyond

McLoud Elementary, Kindergarten Sheri does everything she can to ensure that all of her students are successful by the time they leave her class and are prepared for the 1st grade. She cares for each and every child that walks through her doors as well as their family. She works injured, sick, and like most teachers, many, many, many hours over a regular 40 hour work week, on weekends, and holidays to make sure she’s giving her students the best there is to offer them. Reliable, trustworthy, honest, integrity, loving, caring, giving, and loyal are just a few words that describe Sheri Dunlap. She’s a terrific teacher that should be recognized for all of the years she’s dedicated to teaching Oklahoma’s young children.

Jana Phelps Cross Timbers Elementary, 4th Grade You will never have to tell me how hard a teacher works, because I have the privilege of watching my wife put her heart and soul into a profession that she loves for the last 10 years. Her love for the kids that she teaches goes beyond the classroom. I love watching her get so wrapped up in tomorrow’s activities that it consumes her until her bed time. That is a passion that you cannot learn, you either have it or you don’t. I’m proud of my wife and the love that she puts into her classroom and children.

Melissa Mcelfresh Jefferson, 4th Grade Mrs.M spends many hours after school making sure her class has everything it needs. Even if it means coming up on the weekends and spend the day doing copys or making plans. She spends a lot of her own money to make sure the class has the materials it need for any experiments. When it comes to her kids she takes time out of her day to go to their ball games to cheer them on. She wants to makes sure to let her students know she is there for them at all times. Mrs M is a all a round teacher who works very hard for her kids.

AMAZING TEACHERS Continued on page 3

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2018 MAKE THE GRADE

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Sunday, August 5, 2018 • 3G

Becki Powell

Mrs. Winn

Caity Harrison

Meeker High School, 9-12 Grades

Will Rodgers, 4th Grade

Will Rogers, 2nd Grade

My son is often a struggling student. He sometimes fails to demonstrate organizational skills. At the beginning of the school year of his Freshman year he was placed in Mrs. Powell’s Physical Science class. She is known to be a strict teacher and initially he resisted her classroom learning styles. She expected him to perform at a higher level than he was. She expected him to keep track of papers and be responsible for his homework.

She expected him to take notes and study the notes outside of class. All of these things were overwhelming to him. Mrs. Powell cared about him and encouraged him to keep trying. She praised him he would participate in class discussions. This continued encouragement gave him the confidence to answer more questions in class and the desire to continue to improve.

Mrs. Powell pushed him out of his comfort zone and by the end of school year my C student had earned an A in Physical Science. She also encouraged me as a parent to be more involved in his study time at home.

She never let him down and with each accomplishment she built his knowledge in the subject and taught him organizational skills that will help him in other classes. Mrs. Powell’s classroom style is high expectations based and put the responsibility on the students.

She kept all her classroom assignments online which allowed me to check with him and ask specific questions about what he did that day or what was coming up. This extra effort on her part helped me as a parent stay on top of his learning. Thank you Mrs. Powell for seeing the possibility and bringing out the higher level learning capabilities in my child. We appreciate you.

1. She always helped with my work. She was always kind. Best teacher I ever had.

I was hired to work along side Caity as a first year, 2nd grade teacher in 2015. Throughout that first year, she was an incredible source of encouragement and an invaluable resource as I learned from her all about teaching and caring for my students. It’s one thing for a teacher to be able to engage and instruct her students (and Caity does that so well!) But it’s something entirely better when a teacher can also encourage, develop, and bolster other teachers.

Trina Waller Sequoyah Elementary, 3rd Grade 1. My grandson has has struggled with his work but Mrs. Waller has taken the time and patience to help this child understand and want to learn! And I have been in the classroom many times and I see this awesome teacher being a Teacher, an at school mom, a mentor , a counselor and so much attention is given to each child! She loves her kiddos and they love her! She is so deserving and always puts these kids first!!

2. Ms. Waller truly loves her kids. She takes on extra time after or before school for children that need that extra push. She never has a bad thing to say about anyone. She is my daughter’s favorite teacher. If she finds something that she thinks will help a student she will immediately contact the parent/parents for a meeting.

Love her.

Kelsey Clem Meeker Elementary, PreK Mrs. Clem teaches young children the way they should be taught. She loves each and every child as her own and believes behavior in education is as just as important as the Abc’s. I have never met a teacher as dedicated to children and their education as Mrs. Clem.

Lydia Hodges Sequoyah Elementary, 3rd Grade Mrs. Hodges loves sparking the curiosity of her students by letting the discover new fun activities (I.e. bringing a snake to class and teaching them the gentleness of the creature instead of being afraid). She is a strong supporter of the arts as well which helps the creativity and imagination of the children. Very amazing individual and putting others before herself.

2. By helping me learn more. She is the best teacher I have ever had. She acted like she cared about me. I was her favorite I did not want to leave her.

Justin Lee Shawnee High School, Vocal Teacher He believed in my abilities more than I did. He would constantly push me no matter how much I complained about how the “note was too high” or said “I can’t do this.” He helped me become more confident in myself and I wouldn’t be where I am today without his help. I owe him everything!

Troylene Kinnamon Meeker High School, I.E.P teacher

She really cares about making a long lasting connection with her tudents. She makes sure you are prepared for test and actually understand the material instead of just memorising the information. She is one of the only teachers at Shawnee high school that I feel actually prepared me for college.

Troylene , has impacted so many of her students with learning disabilities, she goes to bat for her kids.

She builds her students self- esteem and confidence ! she listens to her students and her students have so much respect for her ! She puts students in programs to get them out and working when funding is available but last couple of years it’s been hard to find these programs to help her students succeed! she never stops working to help her kids even on her days off and summer time! Mrs. Kinnamon and her students really could use the money for her classroom. I can’t say enough about this wonderful teacher who has made a big change and impact on my two sons ! Without her having the compassion for her students and never ever giving up on them is a very rare for our kids today! She always stays in contact with the parents! I have never seen a teacher fight so hard for her students and feel so bad when there isn’t enough funding to help her with her students! Please please ! Pick Troylene this is the one gift I can give her that could make an impact for her and her students! Thank you!

Rachel Schooler

Donna Hibler

Brenda Starkey Earlsburo, 8th -12th Grades She is patient, compassionate, great teacher. Reaches children have challenges. She is a master teacher.

Carolyn Shirley Shawnee High School, Chemistry Teacher

Grove Elementary School, Pre-K

Jefferson Elementry, Assistant

1. Encouraging, Loving, Great teacher. Loves her students with all her heart. Gives her all everyday.

Ms.Donna helps out at Jefferson by making all copies that the teachers need. She is an aide for a child at the school who has a visual impairment. She goes out of her way to help others. She drives a older Ford pickup. She gets to the school early to do bus duty and is usually the last to leave because she helps with after school. The only time I believe she took off was because as use she had the flu. My son is that visually impaired child. He loves school because of her.

2. Mrs. Schooler helped my daughter LOVE school right off the bat. She goes above and beyond to make learning fun, and her students know that they are loved and cared about in her class.

3. She is a happy person. Always open to communication. She is sweet, fun and very creative person.

Parents and kids love her.

DeAndra Bishop

4. She goes above and beyond what is expected of her. She loves each child like her own. She has for years spent her own money to provide extra supplies for her kiddos. She also is a good example for the other teachers to follow.

Bethel, 1st Grade

5. I see the huge sacrifice of time and resources Rachel puts into teaching her students. I also know the love she has for each of her students because I’m provileged to hear her stories nearly on a nightly basis.

No doubt she could use and would spend well the gift included with this competition; however, more than hoping she might win, I wanted to let you all know that her love for teaching and her students goes far beyond the classroom. I’m proud of her and the personal sacrifices she makes to teach and impact her students.

I know you will hear from many parents and students many inspiring stories. I just wanted you to hear from a husband of a teacher who knows that teaching is more than a career, it’s a calling. Thanks for your time.

Anetta Hackler

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DeAndra has been teaching 1st graders for 29 years.

She has taught six year old how to read with kind, patient, and generous spirit. She is tops!!

Shawnee Middle School, Math Anetta removed the desks etc. from the classroom and re-decorated it as an informal den, and the kids love the relaxed atmosphere and enjoy learning math.

Colleen Schelb Seminole High School, 8th-12th Grades She takes time out of her day to tutor her students and ones that go to college and come back for help. She is a Christian role model and helps anyone and everyone that asks for help. She does not know how to say no.

AMAZING TEACHERS Continued on page 4

2018 MAKE THE GRADE

4G • Sunday, August 5, 2018

AMAZING TEACHERS Continued

Kathy Carrington Horace Mann Elementary, Kindergarten I don’t even know where to begin about Mrs.Carrington. My child is a hot mess. When he is home we refer to him as our little “firecracker”. At the beginning of the year he was having many problems. There was a bad note everyday. Which isn’t uncommon for him.

He has had problems getting kicked out of classes. and it has been mentioned to me several times that he needed adhd meds. It didn’t take Mrs.Carrington long to figure him out. She figured out my child was super intelligent and started coming up with extra ways to keep him “entertained” but in the midst of this she has made him so much smarter! He now LOVES math! I’m saying my six year old sits in the car with us and plays math games addition and subtraction usually up to 20 multiplication by 0,1,2,5 and tens. KINDERGARTEN! He also likes to read. Mrs. Carrington told me his favorite books are Wayside Stories and he comes home talking about all the things in the books. What an amazing teacher! That she has gotten to know my son so well that she can tell me these things . My son then told me how he would like more of these books for Christmas. He is a handful and he tends to have meltdowns outside and inside of school. Mrs.Carrinton has taught him about behavior and he is now starting to understand that not everyone is going to be good at everything. He loves Mrs.Carrington. He goes on and on about the things she teaches, the stories she tell, and that he loves to kid around with her about many things. They tease about old man shoes. and which one is better baseball or basketball. These things may seem little but they are Huge in my house. Huge to my child.

And I cannot thank her enough for having a teacher with so much love for kids that she would take the time to get to know children and help them enjoy there day.

I know its their job. But so many today do not have the passion. But Mrs. Carrington has installed a love for learning in Elijah and for that I am forever grateful! and I am happy to report that Eli has not had a bad note sent home in months because he is finally learning at his full potential and being kept busy. She has come to his extra curricular activities too and encouraged good attitude and sportsmanship even when it well beyond her job. Mrs. Carrington teaches more than just book work. She teaches how to be a better person!

Thank you Mrs. Carrington!

Mallory Cheatwood Horace Mann, 5th Grade Mrs. Cheatwood goes above and beyond every day by making sure that her kids do their best. She encourages them to be the best they can and to never give up on their dreams.

Brandi Abbott

Mrs Christina Spurgin

Shawnee Middle School, Special Education Brandi cares deeply for her students. She makes sure every student has the supplies they need to be successful in all of their classes. She spends countless hours finding curriculum that will help each individual student. Brandi not only helps her students with academics and supplies, she makes sure students have basic needs met. She often buys clothes, winter coats, toiletries, and even food. Brandi believes every student deserves an education, and understands that basic needs need to be met for them to have a chance at this.

I believe Brandi is very deserving of this classroom assistance, as I know she will put each and every dollar into the future success of her students. Thank you for the consideration.

Meeker, 3rd grade

South Rock Creek, Reading Specialist

Whiterock, Prek/kinder She is the most wonderful teacher to work with she will sit on the kids level to help them learn better and goes the wxtra mile to make sure the kids have what they need

Sharon Spikes Macomb High School She has helped our students and parents raising money for supplies and helping low income families with food kit’s during off times. She is an amazing person all around.

Jessica Smith Shawnee Middle School, Special education Jessica is such a wonderful teacher and person. She goes above and beyond for her students and their families. She is always willing to help in any way she can and manages to have a beautiful smile on her face

Stephanie Kleckner Earlsboro, 2nd Grade Mrs. Kleckner goes above and beyond to make sure all of her students succeed. Not only does she push her students but also her former students. She recently had breast cancer and instead of milking it for all it’s worth, she made sure she was there everyday. She makes sure she sends everyone of her kids knowing that they are someone special and they can reach all of their dreams.

This is why I nominate Mrs. Stephanie Kleckner for an outstanding teacher in our great state.

Now is the Time to Vaccinate for School and Day Care

Child care facilities, schools and colleges are highly susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Children can easily transmit illnesses to one another due to poor hand washing, uncovered coughs, and close contact with many people.

“When children aren’t vaccinated, they are at increased risk for disease and can spread disease to others in their classrooms and communities,” said Brenda Potts, Regional Administrative Director.

“This includes babies too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems

due to cancer or other health conditions.”

The Pottawatomie County Health Department offers all required vaccines for school children and teens 18 years of age and younger by walk-in basis on Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 8:3011:00 am & 1-3:00. These clinic times are subject to nurse availability and it is best to call before coming to the health department.

Appointment times can be scheduled on Tuesdays.

Please call 405-273-2157 for nurse availability and for appointments.

Parents of children with private health insurance or SoonerCare health insurance are encouraged to take their children to their regular health care provider or clinic to receive these vaccines.

Children attending day care facilities in Oklahoma must also be up-todate for their age with childhood vaccines. The 2018-19 Guide to Immunization Requirements in Oklahoma for children in school or day care is available on the Oklahoma State Department of Health website at https:// go.usa.gov/xUBvX

Kindergarten Students Children entering kindergarten are due for boosters or second doses of four vaccines: • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) • Polio • DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines) • Varicella (Chicken Pox) The second dose of chickenpox vaccine is recommended, but not required by Oklahoma’s school law.

Children who recently moved to Oklahoma may also need hepatitis A vaccination, which is required for students in all grades in Oklahoma.

Students need at least one dose of hepatitis A vaccine to start school.

A second dose is due six to 18 months later.

Grades 7- 12 Students in grades 7-12 are required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). This is necessary for adolescents and adults so they won’t contract whooping cough and in-

Christina has taught for several years at white rock schools. She will be at meeker this year. Christina puts her heart and soul into each child. She spends her own money to make sure they have what they need both in and out of the class. Christina has a huge heart and would probably give up her own lunch to make sure a child could eat. She spends countless hours at home and is constantly researching the best ways to teach her students and keep them interested as well as making learning fun! She is very attentive to each child’s need. We are excited for her new journey with meeker schools and I know she will not only be a great asset but an even greater blessing.

Luetta White

Tracy Swafford

Pottawatomie County Health Department:

Getting all of the recommended vaccines is one of the most important things a parent can do to protect their child’s health, especially when they are in school or a day care center where disease outbreaks can occur. Whether it’s a baby starting at a new day care facility, a toddler heading to preschool, a student going back to elementary, middle or high school – or even a college freshman – parents should check their child’s immunization records.

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fect babies and toddlers.

Parents and teens, both boys and girls, are strongly urged to ask their health care provider for HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, which prevents several types of cancer. The recommendation is to start the HPV vaccination series at 11-12 years of age because the immune response to the HPV vaccine is better in pre-teens and can mean better protection later as the child progresses to adulthood. New guidelines for completion of the HPV vaccine series is now two doses separated by 6 – 12 months if the first dose is given before the child’s 15th birthday.

The meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) is also important for adolescent and teen health. The MCV4 vaccine protects against the devastating effects of bacteria that cause meningitis or a life-threatening bloodstream infection. Meningococcal disease is relatively rare, but if contracted, can cause death in less than 48 hours and leave those who survive with life-long problems such as brain damage or limb amputation.

Mrs. White has been teaching for almost 50 years.

She was a first grade teacher at Dale School for around 35-39 years. She has made a lasting impression on her students during this time as they all keep in touch with her. She then went to Earlsboro to teach. She had an opportunity to come to South Rock Creek School where she and I both graduated. She has truly been a blessing to all the kids she has taught. She has dedicated her adult life to being the best of the best teachers. I feel she deserves this award.

Mrs. Beggs Sequoyah Elementary, 4th Grade She goes above and beyond for all her students. She has more patience than ANY teacher I have every seen.

She makes her students feel valuable. My son has a hard time sitting still and staying focused, but she always remained patient and understanding with him. In previous years my son has hated going to school to the point of tears. All of his teachers in the past would get frustrated with him and take it out on him. He would come home so upset, but for the first time thanks solely to Mrs. Beggs my son no longer hated going to school.

He finally had a teacher with the patience and understanding needed to get him interested in school. She has changed our lives and I am forever grateful.

Ann Taylor Park Road Elementary, 5th Grade My son had Mrs. Taylor last year for 5th grade home room, he’s always hated going to school and Mrs. Taylor made him actually enjoy going to school. When the school year was coming to an end my son said he didn’t want school to be over because he didn’t want to leave 5th grade and Mrs. Taylor.

MCV4 vaccination is recommended for all kids at 11-12 years of age with a booster of MCV4 at age 16. The meningococcal vaccine is required for first-time college students who will live in on-campus student housing.

College students are also required to have MMR and hepatitis B vaccines.

For more information about immunizations, call

the Pottawatomie County Health Department at 405-273-2157 or contact your health care provider. ### Leslie Vick, MS Health Educator Health Department Okfuskee, Hughes, Pottawatomie, Seminole 918-623-1800 (office) 918-623-8383 (cell) LeslieV@health.ok.gov

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2018 MAKE THE GRADE

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Celebrating 40 Years!

In 2018, the Eaton Hydraulics plant in Shawnee, Oklahoma celebrates our 40th anniversary. As we start another school year in the community, we are grateful for all the teachers who have provided us with our employees and who continue to shape our employees of the future.

1st motor from Shawnee, OK facility circa 1978

Explore career options at Eaton.com/careers

2018 MAKE THE GRADE

6G • Sunday, August 5, 2018

news-star.com Shawnee News-Star

Vyve Loves Shawnee Teachers!

A good classroom starts with a great teacher. And great teachers are worth recognizing. So to help outstanding teachers stand out, we created

VYVE TEACHER of the MONTH Our program honors teachers across our local communities who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of their students every day.

To learn more and see past winners in the Shawnee area, visit VyveBroadband.com/Teacher

Š2018 Vyve Broadband

2018 MAKE THE GRADE

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Sunday, August 5, 2018 • 1H

Find your Place

At Oklahoma Baptist University, students are encouraged to discover who they will become and to develop their God-given talents for an exciting, successful future.

500 West University, Shawnee, OK 74804 800.654.3285 | admissions@okbu.edu | okbu.edu

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music preparatory

Best Regional College by U.S. News & World Report

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D E PA RT M E N T

Choirs Group Classes Private Lessons Instrumental Ensembles

Auditions for the 17th Season of OBU / SCO

The OBU Preparatory Department offers high-quality musical instruction for students of all ages.

Now accepting enrollment for Fall 2018!

Jim Hansford, conductor

August 27 MONDAY

TO ENROLL Visit okbu.edu / music-prep Select Enrollment from the side menu.

FOR INFORMATION prep@okbu.edu 405.585.4300 okbu.edu/music-prep

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For information contact: Dr. Jim Hansford 405.255.2984 or 273.2273 jim.hansford@okbu.edu

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2018 MAKE THE GRADE

2H • Sunday, August 5, 2018

news-star.com Shawnee News-Star

Safely walking and riding a bicycle to school

By Leilana McKindra

Walking and riding a bike are two of the easiest, most reliable ways to get anywhere, including school. That means when Oklahoma students head back to the classroom soon everyone should keep some important safety precautions in mind.

New-school-year jitters are normal for students and parents

By Leilana McKindra

While a new school year is bound to create lots of anticipation for Oklahoma students and their parents, it also is likely everyone is a little nervous, too.

The good news is it is normal for both parents and students to experience some anxiety.

“It doesn’t matter if your children are returning to the same school, setting foot in a new one or moving to a new grade level, a few jitters are natural,” said Laura Hubbs-Tait, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension parenting specialist. “Starting a new school year can be exciting as well as stressful for students and their parents.”

There are lots of positive ways to deal with any potential new-school-year jitters.

For starters, establishing the right attitude goes a long way. More specifically, parents who try to project the right attitude help set the tone for the upcoming year.

“There’s a good chance parents are just as anxious as their children about the start of a

new school year, but if children pick up on that nervousness it can add to their hesitation and reluctance,” Hubbs-Tait said.

For reassurance, parents can reach out to friends, other family members or even a professional counselor to talk through any concerns.

“The goal for parents is to be in the right frame of mind to support their children and give them the best possible start to a new school year,” HubbsTait said. “Some ways parents can show a good attitude include offering general encouragement, speaking positively about classes and teachers and encouraging children to get involved with extracurricular activities.”

Establishing routines such as starting the day with a healthy breakfast and setting aside a regular time for homework also can help counter children’s anxiety.

“School-aged children should be well used to bedtime routines such as bathing, brushing teeth and reading a story. It is also important for parents to become accustomed to talking with children about assignments, grades and what’s happening in the classroom,”

Hubbs-Tait said. “If these routines haven’t been established yet or they’ve been interrupted by summer activities, the start of the school year is an opportune time to create or resume these positive habits.”

Finally, it is important that families regularly take the time to share the day’s events and activities with each other.

“This gives children a chance to talk about what they’re learning, their friends and classmates, any problems they’re facing and how they’re feeling about school,” Hubbs-Tait said. “For example, if it fits in your family’s schedule, dinner is a great time talk. Best of all, research shows that families who eat meals together have children who are both mentally and physically healthier.”

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT: Leilana McKindra Communications Specialist Agricultural Communications Services 158 Agriculture North Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone: 405-744-6792 Fax: 405-744-5739 Email: leilana.mckindra@ okstate.edu

“Walking and riding a bicycle are great ways to get to and from school.

But, children can be at an increased risk of injury because they’re smaller, tend to have trouble judging distances and speeds of cars, and don’t have a lot of experience with traffic laws,” said Gina Peek, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension housing and consumer specialist.

As a basic rule, walkers and bikers should obey all traffic signs, signals and laws, as well as any adult school crossing guards.

Younger children who do not know the rules of the road should be accompanied by an adult.

“Parents and children should work together as a family to map out the safest route to and from school,” Peek said. “Once a route is identified, parents should stress how important it is for children to stick to the plan and avoid taking shortcuts or accepting rides from people they don’t know or who weren’t sent by their parents.”

Both walkers and bikers also should pay close attention to their surroundings and keep distractions, such as cell phones or other electronic devices, to a minimum.

“Watch for parked, oncoming or moving vehicles when crossing

driveways and intersections,” Peek said.

“Be especially careful at intersections and crosswalks. Before crossing, check the traffic and only proceed when there is no oncoming traffic.”

Walkers should use sidewalks when they are available. Otherwise, they should keep to the shoulder of the road, facing traffic.

Meanwhile, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety’s Driver’s Manual, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as a person driving a car and are subject to all the same vehicle laws.

This means bike riders obey the law, just like car drivers.

For safety purposes, bicyclists should wear properly fitted bike helmets and brightly colored clothing to make them more visible to motorists.

Bicycle riders also should watch for road

hazards such as potholes, storm grates and pools of water which could cause them to lose control of their bikes.

“Empty parking lots or other low-traffic areas are good places to practice important bike-handling skills like stopping and signaling, which can increase your child’s confidence in being able to ride to and from school safely,” Peek said.

For more information on walking and biking safety, contact the nearest county Extension office.

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT: Leilana McKindra Communications Specialist Agricultural Communications Services 158 Agriculture North Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone: 405-744-6792 Fax: 405-744-5739 Email: leilana.mckindra@ okstate.edu

A B S E N T E E S H AW N E E T R I B A L H E A LT H SY S T E M

FREE DENTAL AND VISION SCREENINGS AND FREE SPORTS PHYSICALS 4-6 P.M. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 • LITTLE AXE HEALTH CENTER 15951 Little Axe Drive • Norman, OK 73026 • 405.447.0300 It’s that time of year again. At LAHC, we’re helping out with free dental and vision screenings, and free sports physicals for all kids under the age of 18. This event is open to ALL RESIDENTS of the Little Axe, Shawnee and surrounding communities. Enjoy refreshments and goody bags for attendees (supplies are limited). So get here early, get the kids ready to go and let us take care of you!

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2018 MAKE THE GRADE

news-star.com Shawnee News-Star

Sunday, August 5, 2018 • 3H

regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; phone

405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154.

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Planning ahead can help families manage back-to-school costs and stress

By Leilana McKindra

As the back-to-school season ramps up, doing some advanced planning will help parents and students get down to the business of heading back into the classroom without busting the budget or losing a grip on that one last nerve.

“Planning ahead will add an important element of organization to your shopping. It’ll help control your spending and your mood,” said Cindy Clampet, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension assistant state specialist, family resource management.

Begin by creating a family budget for school-related purchases.

Factor in costs such as instrument rental, school pictures, sports participation and transportation to school each day.

Also, add in possible expenses for graduating seniors and the college application process.

Once the budget is established, family members should research their options based on the amount of funds available, then come to an agreement on all purchases.

“These days it’s easy to go online to find the

items and products you want in a price range that works for you,” Clampet said. “Setting the budget in advance helps resolve disagreements before parents and students get to the store, where parents may feel pressured to give into demands from their student while in public.”

If changes or additions are made to the agreed-upon list of purchases after shopping begins, still try to stay within budget.

“Try not to shop if you’re feeling rushed or stressed,” Clampet said.

“You also don’t want to wait too late or take someone who is already upset or in a bad mood because you could end up overspending or falling short of what you wanted to accomplish during your shopping excursion.”

Paying attention to sales, bargains and deals will help families stay within their back-toschool budget. So will taking advantage of the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s annual statewide Sales Tax holiday, which allows shoppers to purchase certain clothing and shoes free of state, city, county and local municipality sales tax.

This year, the sales tax holiday is set for Aug. 3-5.

Even with keeping a

sharp eye out for bargains and sticking closely to a budget, some families may struggle to cover back-to-school costs. In these cases, check with the nearest county Extension office for a possible list of community organizations offering supplies for free or at a reduced price.

Finally, families may consider planning now for next school year by building anticipated expenses into the overall household budget.

“Tally all of this year’s expenses, divide that amount by 12 and begin reserving that much money each month to put toward next year’s costs,” Clampet said.

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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT: Leilana McKindra Communications Specialist Agricultural Communications Services 158 Agriculture North Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone: 405-744-6792 Fax: 405-744-5739 Email: leilana.mckindra@ okstate.edu Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and

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2018 MAKE THE GRADE

4H • Sunday, August 5, 2018

news-star.com Shawnee News-Star

Tips to motivate your child to

LEARN

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

T

alking to a child about why it’s important to get good grades in school can be met with nods of agreement or rolled eyes.

It doesn’t matter if kids know you want them to succeed, they have to have the motivation to do it for themselves.

“Motivation is one of the biggest challenges in education. Many factors combine to encourage us to work hard, pursue goals or aim for success, or to do the opposite,” said Joan M. Rooney, vice president for instructor management at The Princeton Review and Tutor. com.

External factors like income level, subjects being taught, the ability of the teacher and other social influences play a role but don’t make a big

difference.

“The one factor that is most influential in helping us to succeed is confidence,” said Rooney, a former classroom teacher and parent of an adult son.

She’s not referring to an unrealistic sense of selfworth but rather a belief that if students work hard and do their best, they are capable of succeeding. A student needs to have the knowledge that he will not succeed at everything, but if he doesn’t try, how will he know what he is capable of, she said.

“I would advise parents to do whatever they can to foster in their children this perspective: that what is important is that I work hard and that I try,” Rooney said. “Foster this attitude toward their studies, school and life in general. In current terms, this is what is known as promoting a growth

mindset and sense of self-efficacy.”

Fail until you succeed “We need to help our kids understand that failure is a stepping stone on a journey and not an end result. Everybody fails, and not just once.

What is great about failure (although it does not seem so at the time) is that we learn from it and we try again,” Rooney said.

Sharing past stories of failures in and out of school and failure stories of famous people helps children understand that failure can be a helpful part of life, Rooney said.

Avoid bad attitudes

What is not helpful for kids is if a parent says, “I was never good at math, either” or “I am terrible at foreign languages.” These types of statements create

“a fixed mindset, which sets us up for failure rather than success,” Rooney said.

Make it relevant

“Relevance is a critical part of successful learning. We achieve deeper learning when what we are learning has some meaning for us,” Rooney said.

Stay abreast of what your child is studying in class and find ways to incorporate what you can into everyday activities.

• In the car: How many

miles to school? What is that in terms of kilometers? Are we getting good gas mileage?

• The grocery store provides lots of opportunities to discuss science, nutrition and math. Which of these soups has less salt, and why doesn’t it say “salt”? How much will this cost if it is 15 percent off?

Should we buy the liter bottles or the ounces?

• Home-improvement projects offer opportunities to calculate perimeter and area for new rugs or paint; discuss chemicals in

lawn or garden products.

• Vocabulary words can be a challenge for the whole family to use during dinner.

• Events in the news are sources of discussion on topics like voting rights or crime and punishment.

“Activities such as these help kids see that there is in fact a real-world connection to what they are learning, and they also make learning fun and often inspire a desire to learn more,” Rooney said.

Strategies parents can use to motivate students Students may need some time to adjust at the beginning of a new school year. Summer vacations typically lack the structure of the school year, and it might be unfair to expect kids to seamlessly slip back into their more regimented lives as students.

While some early school year sluggishness might be normal, that should wear off pretty quickly. If not, and students appear to be struggling to get motivated for their schoolwork, parents can try various strategies that should help reignite youngsters’ passions for learning.

• Make your home more school-friendly. Summer is a relaxing time of year when parents have a tendency to relax rules around the house.

But come the school year, parents must make sure their homes are as conducive to studying as possible. Resist the urge to turn the television on each night so students are not distracted from their studies. Keep the home quiet so students are motivated to focus on their studies.

• Encourage participation in extra-

curricular activities. Various studies have examined the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance. A 2002 study published in the journal Sociology of Education found that participation in extracurricular activities is associated with improved grade point average, increased college attendance and reduced absenteeism. The link between participation in extracurricular activities and improved academic performance is still in need of study, but such participation may help children acclimate to the structure of the school year more quickly than they might if they do not participate in such activities.

• Encourage curious youngsters. Kids are curious, and fostering that curiosity can be a great way for parents to get their kids excited about learning.

Whether it’s during the school year and part of their curriculum or on summer break, encourage kids to engage in subjects that interest them. As kids learn more about the topics and subjects that

schoolwork at the dawn of a new school year can sometimes be difficult. But parents can employ various strategies that can help their children readjust to life in the classroom and motivate them to perform to the best of their abilities.

BS187100

interest them, they may develop a passion for learning that they can then take with them to the classroom.

• Express an interest in the subjects children are studying. Another way to motivate students at the dawn of a new school year is to express an interest in the subjects they’re studying. Ask questions about their studies and encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions. Engaging students about the subjects they’re studying can motivate them to explore those subjects more deeply than they otherwise might.

Motivating kids to be excited about their

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