PUTNAM CITY
SCHOOLS
Elementary Handbook
2012 - 2013
www.putnamcityschools.org
Putnam City Schools Calendar
2012 - 2013
Friday, August 17 Classes begin.
Monday, September 3 Labor Day. (No classes)
Friday, September 28 Parent Conferences (No classes)
Wednesday, October 10 Site Professional Day (No classes)
Thursday & Friday, October 11 & 12 Fall Break (No school)
Thursday, October 18 End of 1st quarter (41 days taught)
Wednesday-Friday, November 21-23 Thanksgiving Break (No school)
Wednesday, December 19 End of 2nd quarter (41 days taught)
End of 1st semester (82 days taught)
Thursday, Dec. 20 Christmas Break Begins (No school)
Wednesday, January 2 Site Professional Day (No classes)
Thursday, January 3 Classes resume
Monday, January 21 Martin Luther King Day (No school)
Friday, February 15 Conference/Enrollment (No school) / Make-Up Snow Day
Monday, February 18 Make-Up Snow Day (No school)
Friday, March 8 End of 3rd quarter (45 days taught)
Monday, March 18-22 Spring Break (No school)
Thursday, May 23 Last day of classes, if no snow days needed
End of 4th quarter (49 days taught)
End of 2nd semester (94 days taught)
Monday, May 27 Memorial Day
Tuesday – Thursday, May 28-30 Snow Days (if needed)
Professional Day (Day after classes end) (No classes)
Approved by P.C. Board of Education on 01/23/2012
For information on all school events, visit the individual Web sites for each school found by clicking on “Schools” at www.putnamcityschools.org
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Bragging Points
Since 1914 Putnam City Schools has been known for excellence in education. Our students benefit from innovative programs taught by dedicated, passionate and experienced educators. Parents, local businesses and the community at large support the educational process at every turn. Many of our schools and educators have won national awards. Our awards and achievements for the 2011-2012 year include:
· Sixty-four district students were named Oklahoma Academic Scholars by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Putnam City, the state’s fifth-largest school district, has the third-highest number of Oklahoma Academic Scholars all-time.
· One district student was named an Academic All-Stater. In the 26 years in which the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has named Academic All-Staters, 111 Putnam City students have been so honored. That’s the second-highest total of any school system in the state. Selection of scholars for this honor has been described by University of Oklahoma President and Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Chairman and Founder David L. Boren as “Oklahoma’s most rigorous academic competition.”
· Two district students were named National Merit Finalists. In the last 25 years, 213 district students have been National Merit Finalists, one of the highest totals among state school districts.
· Students at Putnam City’s three high schools last year earned 1,779 hours of college credit and saved more than $452,000 in college costs by taking advanced placement (AP) courses and passing AP tests.
· Seventy-five students from Putnam City high schools earned the designation of AP Scholar from the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams. Just 18 percent of about 1.8 million high school students worldwide performed sufficiently high on AP exams to merit recognition as an AP Scholar.
· Composite ACT scores of district students continue to be higher than state scores.
One district student earned a perfect score of 36 on his ACT.
· Sixteen district students received the State Superintendent's Arts Awards of Excellence.
· For exemplary records of leadership, service and activities that improve the school and community, student councils at Putnam City High, Putnam City West and Putnam City North received 2012 Gold Council of Excellence Awards from the National Association of Student Councils (NASC).
· Five district teachers earned National Board Certification this year, one of the top distinctions for quality in teaching. The district has 69 teachers with National Board Certification.
· Putnam City’s Western Oaks Middle School and Rollingwood Elementary School were two of 13 schools in Oklahoma to be recognized as Academic Achievement Award Schools.
· The Putnam City Schools Foundation invested more than $100,000 in district activities during the 2011-2012 school year.
Quality Personnel
The Putnam City School District is staffed in all areas with the highest quality personnel. Among the nearly 1,400 certified staff members, more than one-third hold advanced degrees beyond the Bachelors level. Besides Master's and Doctorate Degrees, many employees possess certification in specialized areas such as reading, counseling, and special education. Currently, 69 teachers have achieved National Board Certification. The Putnam City School District encourages the staff to further their education and expand their knowledge base whether through professional development programs offered by the district or through college and university courses. This results in more well-rounded teachers who are not only knowledgeable but also very aware of and familiar with changes and innovations within the field of education.
Outstanding Facilities
A strong history of supporting school bond elections allows the Putnam City Schools to have high quality and well-cared-for facilities. Clean and pleasant surroundings enhance the overall educational environment offered to all students. Putnam City is the fifth largest school district in the state with 2 PreK centers, 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 academy.
Community Involvement
Putnam City Public Schools are proud of the high level of community involvement. The feeling of “community,” the feeling of “belonging,” and the feeling of “pride” are prevalent and very evident in each of the schools and within the school district as a whole. School patrons are proud of “their” schools and the high level of educational experience and opportunity afforded their children. Examples of community involvement include:
· Parent Teacher Association
· Volunteer Program (Each year parents, grandparents, and other community members give thousands of hours of invaluable volunteer assistance.)
· Medical Research Foundation Cancer Drive
· Community food drives
· Partners in Education
· Open House
· Parent Meetings
· Parent Teacher Conferences
· School Parent Advisory Committees
· Jump Rope for Heart for American Heart Association
· Putnam City Schools Foundation
· Oklahoma City Community Foundation
· Oklahoma City Clean & Beautiful Foundation
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Enrollment
For the convenience of parents, the District Enrollment Office (DEO) is open year-round. The office is located at 5604 NW 41st Street. The entrance is on the north side of the building and the parking lot is located across the street to the north. Signs near the street indicate the parking areas. All enrollments take place at the DEO rather than at the individual schools. Regular enrollment office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 491-7631, and the fax number is 491-7534. All students who are new to the district, as well as students who have moved within the district (and the move requires a change of schools), must begin the enrollment process at the DEO. To enroll a student in Putnam City Schools, you must be the student’s legal guardian or an adult who has assumed care and custody of the student and you must reside within the Putnam City district boundaries. Please bring the following items to enroll a student:
1. Two Proofs of Residence
a. A copy of a current utility bill (gas, electric or water). Telephone bills, cut-off notices, and cable bills will not be accepted. If all bills are paid by the landlord, then a current statement from the landlord could be used to verify that all bills are paid and that the residents live at the stated address.
b. A copy of one of the following: lease (with the signature of the person claiming residency), home warranty deed, ad valorem statement, mortgage statement, or homestead exemption form.
Custodial parent/guardians who cannot provide the necessary information to verify their address because they are residing with a friend or relative on a temporary or permanent basis are required to complete a Residency Verification form. The form requires that both the Putnam City resident and the custodial parent of the student be present when the form is signed. The Putnam City resident and the custodial parent must both provide valid identification.
2. Immunization Records - An official immunization record must be presented at the time of enrollment. All series must be complete or in the process of completion.
3. The Name, Address, Phone, and Fax Number of the Previous School Attended must be provided unless the previous school was in the Putnam City district.
4. Birth certificates are required for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade enrollment. Students must be 4, 5, or 6 years of age on or before September 1.
Immunizations
Kindergarten – 5th Grade Requirements / /Pre-School Requirements
/ /Childcare Requirements
5 DTP/DTaP4 IPV/OPV
2 MMR
3 Hep B
2 Hep A
1 Varicella / / 4 DTaP
3 IPV/OPV
1 MMR
3 Hep B
2 Hep A
1 Varicella / 4 DTaP
1-4 PCV
3 Polio
1 MMR
1-4 Hib****
3 Hep B
2 Hep A
1 Varicella
* The number of doses of PCV and/or Hib may range from 1 to 4 depending on the age of the child when the first dose is
received.
** Children may be complete with 3 or 4 doses of Hib depending on the brands of vaccine used. .
*** If the 4th dose of DTP/DTaP is administered on or after the child’s 4th birthday, then the 5th dose of DTP/DTaP is not
required
**** If the 3rd dose of Polio is administered on or after the child's 4th birthday, then the 4th dose of Polio is not required.
***** Previously unimmunized students 11 through 15 years of age may receive a 2 dose series of Merck® Adult Hepatitis B
vaccine to comply with this requirement.
All other children (younger or older) must receive 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.
· The table above lists the vaccines that are required for children to attend childcare, preschool, kindergarten through twelfth grade in Oklahoma. Additional vaccines may be recommended, but are not required. For example, a 2nd dose of varicella vaccine is recommended before entering kindergarten, but not required by Oklahoma law.
· Children attending licensed childcare facilities must be up-to-date for their age for the vaccines listed in the “Childcare” column.
· Hib and PCV vaccines are not required for students in pre-school, pre-kindergarten, or kindergarten programs operated by schools.
· All measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), varicella, and hepatitis A vaccine doses must be administered on or after the child's first birthday (or within 4 days before the birthday).
· For doses administered 4 days or less, before the minimum intervals or ages, are counted as valid doses.
· For doses given on or after Jan. 1, 2003, the 5th dose of DTaP must be given on or after the 4th birthday (or within 4 days before the 4th birthday). This rule does not apply to doses given before 2003.
· If a parent reports that their child had chickenpox disease, the child is not required to receive one dose of all the required vaccines, but they must complete multi-dose series of vaccines on schedule. These children are “in the process” of receiving immunizations.
If you have any questions call the Immunization Service at 405-271-4073 or 1-800-234-6196 or visit our website at http://imm.health.ok.gov.
The Risks of Energy Drinks
What are energy drinks?
Energy drinks are beverages like Red Bull, Venom, Adrenaline Rush, 180, ISO Sprint, and Monster. These drinks contain large amounts of sugar, caffeine and other legal stimulants like ephedrine, guarana, and ginseng. Energy drinks may contain anywhere from 80—500 mg of caffeine. Compared to Pepsi or Coca Cola, that’s a big punch.
Most energy drinks contain herbal supplements such as guarana, yerba mate leaves, ginseng, gingko biloba, and milk thistle. Please note that the Food and Drug Administration does not control these additives, and the potential for drug or nutrient interactions may be increased with the unique combinations of ingredients in these drinks. Are there dangers to drinking energy drinks?
Individual responses to caffeine vary and these drinks should be ingested with caution because of how powerful they are.
· Dehydration – Energy drinks may dehydrate your body if you drink
them while exercising. The risk of dehydration is increased with the
combination of fluid loss from sweating during exercise and caffeine
intake. You wouldn't use Mountain Dew as a sports drink.
· Inability to Sleep – caffeine is a stimulant that interferes with sleep.
· Emotional changes such as irritability, emotional outburst and being
―all charged up are possible effects of energy drinks.
· Physical reactions – Energy drinks can cause jitteriness, nausea, and
anxiety.
· Caffeine can also make your heart beat faster and trigger abnormal
heart rhythms, which is especially dangerous if you have any type of heart
disease.
· Large amounts of sugar and caffeine can cause an unhealthy
jolt-and-crash cycle. The caffeine comes from many sources, which makes
it hard to tell how much caffeine is actually in the drinks.
· Some energy drinks have B vitamins, which when taken in large doses can cause rapid heartbeat, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.
· Although the various sugars used to sweeten energy drinks can briefly increase energy, consuming large amounts of sugar is likely to cause weight gain.
· It is important to remember that herbal supplements often claim to provide health benefits with a lack of evidence.
If you are consuming energy drinks because you're frequently tired or run-down, consider a better — and healthier — way to boost your energy. Get adequate sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. These strategies not only will increase your energy in the short run, but also will help you maintain your overall physical and mental fitness in the long run.