Volume 12 Issue 6 Nov 6 2014

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November 6, 2014
Volume 12 Issue 6
News from Owensboro Public Schools
CALENDAR SURVEY
We want your input!
The Owensboro Board of Education and OPS Calendar
Committee are seeking input for the 2015-16 School Year
Calendar from parents, staff, and students. We want your
opinions of when you prefer to have the first day of
school, fall, holiday, and spring breaks, and parentteacher conferences, etc. The survey will remain open
through Friday, November 21st. Please give us your thoughts. Click on the
following link to take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MJWJF3H
Thank you!
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Enrollment Process Has Begun for the
Owensboro Innovation Academy
The Owensboro Innovation Academy, a New Tech
Network School, will become a reality in Fall 2015 and the enrollment process has begun for
Owensboro Public Schools as well as for partner districts including Daviess, Hancock, and
McLean Counties. In October, guidance counselors in the partnering school districts began
presenting information about the new academy to middle school students and parents.
Response has been very positive. Online registration numbers have already reached 250
students.
Read more in the Superintendent’s blog at:
http://opssuperintendent.blogspot.com/2014/10/enrollment-process-has-begun-for.html
Or go to our website http://www.owensboro.kyschools.us/ under “Important Information” for
more information about the academy and for an online application.
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FIRST ROUND OF IGRANTS AWARDED TO FIVE SCHOOLS
The first round of Innovation Grants, totaling almost $40,000, was awarded by the
Owensboro Board of Education to five OPS schools with projects that reflect the district
mission of engaging students with innovative teaching and learning.
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Newton Parrish Elementary - $9,600 for an engineering and computer
coding program that incorporates technology and math skills along with
Lego kits used to incorporate new engineering standards that are part of
the Common Core Science Standards.
Sutton Elementary - $4,596 for Lego robots to start a First Lego League
team for design engineering projects to be used for the Student
Technology Leadership Program and their “Sharpen the Saw” activities.
Estes Elementary - $9,286 for a leadership development program modeled after the Emerge
Leadership Owensboro program intended to promote student engagement in the community
with the ultimate goal of developing more first generation college graduates.
Owensboro High School - $10,880 for an effort to digitize the mathematics classroom and
enhance the already existing one-to-one computer program for mathematics instruction.
Owensboro Middle School South Campus - $5,000 for the Grow Owensboro project which
will create a real world connection to science and ecosystems through the creation of
hydroponics and “grow walls” to extend the growing season year-round.
The grants were chosen from 14 total applicants by a district-level evaluation team. The
district team is currently working with a few of the initial applicants to refine their ideas and
project scope for future funding. The district will accept additional applications and award
the next round of iGrants in Spring 2015.
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HONORING OUR VETERANS AT OWENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
· Owensboro High School – Friday, November 7th – 2:00 p.m. in new
gym
· Estes Elementary School - Monday, November 10th – 9:30 a.m.
· Owensboro Middle School South Campus - Tuesday, November 11th - 10:00 a.m.
for 5th grade and 12:00 p.m. for 6th graders.
· Sutton Elementary School - Tuesday, November 11th - 11-12 during lunch shifts
· Cravens Elementary School - Friday, November 14th - 8:05-9:00 a.m.
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OUR MISSION
As a world-class learning organization since 1871, the Owensboro Public Schools
makes the world a better place by engaging ALL students
with innovative teaching and learning.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to enable students to succeed in life, college and the careers of tomorrow,
equipped to think critically and creatively, solve problems, communicate and
collaborative effectively, and participate fully in our democratic society.
FOLLOW OPS EVENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
· SUPERINTENDENT’S BLOG: http://opssuperintendent.blogspot.com
· FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OboroPublicSchools
· TWITTER: https://twitter.com/OboroSchools
· TEXTS: text OPSAlerts to 55000
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OHS UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, Nov. 6: Academic Team – JV Challenge Composition @ OHS; 5:00 p.m.
Chorus Concert, Auditorium; 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7: Football – Varsity Playoff vs. Breckenridge Co. (Home); 7:00 p.m.
JROTC – Veterans Day Program, North Gym; 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8: Academic Team – JV Challenge WA/Quick Recall, Media Center, 2nd & 3rd
Floors; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Band & JROTC – Veterans Day Parade, Downtown Owensboro; 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 (noon)
Boys’/Girls’ Cross Country – Kentucky State Meet @ Lexington; TBA
Other OHS Upcoming Events:
November 12 – Drama – “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister”, Auditorium; 6:00 p.m.
November 13-15 – Drama @ KTA Competition @ EKU (Richmond, KY)
November 15 – Boys’ Basketball – Varsity – Fern Creek (Scrimmage)
KHSAA Region 3 Cheer Competition, Old Gym, New Gym, Café; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
November 15 – JROTC – WKU vs. Army Football Game, Bowling Green, KY; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
OHS MARCHING BAND IN COMPETITION
This fall has been extremely successful with the OHS band placing first in class 4A at Apollo
High School in September followed by first in class 4A at Hopkinsville High School in
October. In the Hopkinsville Finals competition, the OHS band placed 3rd overall, placing
them among the elite bands in Western Kentucky. What makes this remarkable is that this is
the band’s first competitive season in three years.
On Oct. 27th the Owensboro High School Marching Band qualified for the KMEA State
Marching Band Championship by placing 7th in the 4A classification. This was the first
appearance in state competition for OHS since October of 2007. On November 1st, the band
placed 12th in Class 4A at the State Semi-finals in Berea, KY, competing with the best
marching bands in Kentucky.
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TWO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS VISIT OHS
College and career readiness efforts
were in high gear at OHS last week
as students were able to meet and
interact with two Kentucky
university presidents. On Tuesday,
Dr. Gary Ransdell (right) from
WKU paid a visit to recognize an
OHS senior, Gabe Fillman, as the
2,019th student accepted to the class
of 2019. On Wednesday, Dr. Geoffrey Mearns (left) the new president of Northern
Kentucky University, visited and met with a large group of seniors. See more with photos at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.397779980379449.1073742038.211876572303
125&type=1
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OHS BOYS SOCCER TEAM
REGIONAL RUNNER-UP!
OHS ACADEMIC TEAM NEWS
The OHS Academic Team had a successful meet at Edmonson County this week. They
competed against Edmonson County and Russellville. Results are below:
Varsity
Arts & Humanities – Cody Cravens 1st, Zak Bowlds 3rd; Language Arts – Sarah Hale 1st,
Maddy Decker 2nd; Social Studies – Michael Dowell 1st, Jackson Litsey and Christian
Purcell 2nd; Science – Joshua Mangaya and Georganna York 1st; Math – Crystal Lamar
1st; Varsity quick recall defeated Edmonson County and Russellville.
Junior Varsity
Arts & Humanities – Tucker Greer 2nd, Nate Humphrey 3rd; Social Studies – Gabriel
Lovelace 1st; Science – Sam Ward 2nd; Math - Ryan Schwartz 1st; JV quick recall defeated
Edmonson County and then Russellville by forfeit.
PREMIERE OF THE OHS CHORALE, ADVANCED CHOIR!
Brava! Women’s choir; Encore! Show choir; Newton Parrish Singers!; Cravens
Elementary Choir! Free concert at Owensboro High School
Thursday, November 6th, starts at 7 p.m.
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News from Owensboro Middle School
OMS JUNIOR THESPIAN TROUPE NEWS
The Owensboro Middle School Jr. Thespian Troupe attended the Kentucky
Thespian Festival (KTF) Oct. 16-18 in Lexington. Their show, Oddball, was
screened and received feedback for the possibility of performing at the Jr.
Thespian Festival in Nashville in March.
The following OMS 7th and 8th grade students received accomplished
ratings, which gives them a chance to take their performances to Nebraska at
the International Thespian Festival’s National Individual Event Showcase in June:
8th Grade: Conner Elliott and Collena Damin–Duet Acting (showcased at KTF)
7th Grade: Hadley Duvall and Keiara Hagan – Duet Acting
The following 6th grade students received accomplished ratings on their Individual Events:
Avery Elliott – Monologues, Mesa Hughes – Monologues
CROSS COUNTRY ACTION
The OMS Boys Cross Country team placed 7th out of 102 teams competing in the State
Championship. They competed really well and finished off a great season with this race.
Outstanding performances at the State Cross Country meet were turned in by: Mitchell
Douglas, Gavin Miller, Michael Ashley, T J Synder, Kobe Fitzgerald, Tim Payne,
Easton Reynolds, Clayton Rhoads, Jonathan Coleman, Anthony Trogden Brown,
Tarion Talbott, , Daniel Jones Hearne, Jesse Hibbs, Addison Kilgore, DeAndre
Basham, Brett Synder, Zion Riley
Coaches O’Brien, Tuttle, Keeley, and Rhoads thank all the athletes for a great season.
The OMS Girls Cross Country did a great job at the Kentucky State Championship
Outstanding performances were turned in by; Alondra Villalpando, Anna Kimmell, Rui
Tuttle, Jaden Burks. These girls competed against 500 athletes across the state. Coaches
O’Brien, Tuttle, Keeley, and Rhoads thank all the athletes for a great season.
PEPSI FUNDRAISER
The South Campus is having a Pepsi fundraiser starting on November 10th and going
to November 17th.
1ST NINE WEEKS HONORS
Congratulations to OMS North and South Campuses for having 324 students in the first 9
weeks having perfect attendance, 429 students earning A/B honor roll, and 257 students
having straight A’s. Way to go OMS students, keep up the great work!
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
In the past, OMS has been able to
help many families have a merrier
Christmas because of your
generous donations. This year’s
canned food drive starts on
December 8th and goes until
December 12th. Please mark your
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calendars and let’s see if we can beat last year’s record! If you would like to contribute to this
fund to make Christmas merrier for some of our children or if you and your family are in
need of assistance please contact the school office (270-686-1130), or our Youth Service
Centers at the North or South Campus.
OMS BASKETBALL SEASON BEGINS
Our four basketball teams (7th grade girls & boys and 8th grade girls & boys)
are working hard preparing for the 2014-15 season. Upcoming games
include:
Thursday, Nov. 6 – 5:30–Boys Basketball vs. Grayson Co. (Home)
5:30-Girls Basketball vs. St. Romuald (Away)
Tuesday, Nov. 11 - 4:30-Girls Basketball vs. Catholic (Home)
6:00-Boys Basketball vs. Catholic (Away)
Thursday, Nov. 13 - 4:30 Basketball vs. Daviess Co. –Boys (Home); Girls (Away)
Monday, Nov. 17 - 5:3 –Boys Basketball vs. Muhlenberg Co. (Home)
Tuesday, Nov. 18 – 5:30-Boys Basketball vs. Breckenridge Co. (Home)
Thursday, Nov. 20 - 4:30-Basketball vs. College View – Boys (Away); Girls (Home)
Monday, Nov. 24 – 5:30- Basketball vs. Castle South – Boys (Away): Girls (Home)
News from Cravens Elementary School
CRAVENS LEADERS
During Red Ribbon Week Cravens students
pledged to be drug free and bully free. Students
promoted being drug free and bully free all week
with various activities. One of the students’
favorite days was Crazy Hair Day!
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES
Parents, if you need to call the school with a
transportation change, please do so by 2:30 PM.
CRAVENS CHORUS
Be sure to join Cravens Chorus on Thursday, November 6th, at
OHS at 7 p.m. It’s sure to be a great treat to hear our students
perform!
PICTURE RETAKES AT CRAVENS
Cravens picture retakes will be on Friday, November 7th. If your child
needs his/her picture retaken please let the teacher
know.
CRAVENS NIGHT AT ZAXBY’S!
Come on out on Tuesday, November 11th, and help support Cravens
from 5-8 p.m. Show your Cravens spirit at Zaxby’s!
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VETERANS DAY PROGRAM
Cravens will honor veterans during a special assembly on Friday,
November 14th, at 8:05 a.m. The program will last about an hour.
Students and staff will invite veterans that they know. Any veteran is
invited to attend so that we may honor them for their service to our
country. Sheriff Keith Cain will be our special guest speaker. Sheriff Cain is a veteran of the
USMC including a tour of duty in Vietnam and has served with the Sheriff’s Department
since 1974. We are very excited to welcome him to Cravens!
THANKSGIVING DINNER AT CRAVENS
Thursday, November 20th, will be Cravens’ school-wide Thanksgiving
Dinner. This is always a big event for our students and their families. Watch
your child’s folder for information about the Thanksgiving dinner and return
your reservation as soon as possible. With so many people to plan for a
reservation is required. The cost per adult and child not in school is $3 each.
News from Estes Elementary School
ESTES FUNDRAISER MONEY DUE
Estes Paragon fundraiser orders and money need to be turned in by Thursday,
November 6th. Thanks to everyone for your help in making this fundraiser a
success!
ESTES PARENT COUNCIL MEETING
The Estes Parent Council will meet on Thursday, November 6th, at 3:15 p.m. Everyone is
invited to attend.
THE NED SHOW COMING TO ESTES
The NED Show is coming to Estes Elementary on Friday, November 7th, at 9:40 a.m. This
is one program that you won’t want to miss. The NED Show focuses on never giving up,
encouraging others, and doing your best.
PICTURE RETAKES AT ESTES
Lifetouch will be at Estes on Tuesday, November 11th, for those that did not
have their picture taken earlier this year or those that need to have theirs redone.
FAMILY READING NIGHT
Estes Elementary School is excited to host Kentucky author Leigh Anne
Florence on Thursday, November 13th. Mrs. Florence has written the
children’s series Woody, The Kentucky Weiner Dog and will be here all
day to discuss her writing with the students. She will also be with us that
evening from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. for the annual Family Reading Night.
Everyone is welcome to attend. After the show, the Woody books will
be available for purchase and the author will be available for autographs.
ESTES GRADE LEVEL NEWS:
· Kindergarten: The kindergarten classes are reading and studying
about animal habitats, the changes in the weather and the changing
seasons. The students are learning to read by using reading strategies
such as Chunky Monkey, Eagle Eye and Stretchy Snake. In math,
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·
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students are learning about measurement. Take some time tonight to ask your child
what they learned in school.
1st grade: The 1st grade students are showing that they know what the
second habit, Begin with the end in mind, means by earning GRIT
tickets as they work for their chance to win a new bike. The focus in
math is addition and subtraction within 10 and 20 used in solving real
world story problems with change unknown by drawing pictures,
writing math equations and statements. Phonics study is on digraphs at the beginning
and the end of a word, and continuing to review previous topics. Their schema about
Thanksgiving will grow as they listen to and read nonfiction text. If
you have internet at home, there are websites your child could be
using. Headsprout is a great website for phonics; RAZ Kids is for
reading; and Dreambox is a math website that will advance with
your child’s knowledge. If you have any questions about these sites,
please ask your child’s teacher.
3rd grade: The 3rd grade Bulldogs have started their study of
multiplication. The students are very motivated and excited to learn
the variety of strategies. They recently began their literary focus on
fantasy and making inferences. In science, they are learning about
habitats and how animals and insects behave within their groups.
News from Newton Parrish Elementary School
PARRISH NOVEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH: CREATIVITY
Front Row: Kyndall Miller, Kenzy Basham, Kamari Green, Lettie Ogle, Dylan
McCollam, Chloe Ewing, Kiley Burden, Tillie Renfrow, Peyton Tatum, and Isaiah
Nugent
Back Row: Jayden Archie, Savannah Collins, Cameron Fulkerson, Kaydence Coomes,
Kamy Cox, Saleia Taylor, Jack Velasquez, Peyton Penrod, and Israel Jonas
VETERANS DAY PROGRAM AT NEWTON PARRISH
On Friday, November 14, Newton Parrish will host a Veterans Day program to honor all of
those men and women within our school community who have served in our military. The
program will be in the school cafeteria and will begin at 9:30 a.m. If you know of a relative
of a Newton Parrish student who is a veteran, please invite him/her to this special program.
NEWTON PARRISH FALL FESTIVAL
There’s always a good time to be had at the Newton Parrish fall festival. Come
out and enjoy all the games and activities with your family on Friday, November
7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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NEWTON PARRISH FAMILY NIGHT
On Monday, November 17, from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. come out and
celebrate the season of gratitude at our very first Leader in Me Family
Night. We will have a bounty of fun activities:
- Measure to make your own mini pumpkin pie
- Read and write to design your own Thanksgiving Placemat.
- Enjoy an introduction to our Leader in Me Program (presented by some of our Newton
Parrish students)
- Listen to a professional storyteller, Pam Holcomb tell us some tales.
THANKSGIVING LUNCH
Newton Parrish will host Thanksgiving lunch for our students and their
families. Students in kindergarten, 2nd grade, or 3rd grade will eat with
their families on Wednesday, November 19. Students in 1st and 4th
grades will have lunch with their families on Thursday, November 20.
PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY AT PARRISH
Thursday, November 11, is the make-up day for student who have not had their school
picture taken or who would like to re-take their original picture. Make sure you have either a
picture order form or you return the original picture packet.
NPES CHOIR PERFORMANCE
On Thursday, November 6, the Newton Parrish choir students will be
teaming up with the OHS choir to perform two songs. Their performance
will be at OHS at 7 p.m.
News from Sutton Elementary School
VETERANS DAY LUNCH
Sutton would like to “Salute Our Military Veterans” for Veterans Day
on Tuesday, November 11th, by inviting our veterans to have lunch
with us. Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m until 1:05 p.m., and all
veterans will eat for free. Veterans are welcome to come dressed in
their uniform.
WE ARE THANKFUL!
Our Sutton family is very thankful for our students and their families.
We would like to invite parents to our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon
to be held Wed., and Thurs., November 19th and 20th. Lunch for 2nd4th grade students will be on Wednesday, November 19th, from 10:3012:30. Kindergarten and 1st grade Thanksgiving Lunch will be on
Thursday, November 20th, from 10:30-12:30. Hope to see you there!
HEAR YE, HEAR YE!
Come one, come all to the Scholastic Book Fair at Sutton,
November 17th-21st. Visit Sir Readalot’s Castle to experience an
exciting celebration of reading with hundreds of fun, engaging,
affordable books for students to discover. Book Fair hours: 7:30
9
a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will also be open before and after the 3rd and 4th
grade music program on Tuesday evening.
LET US ENTERTAIN YOU!
Please join Sutton students for an evening of song and dance on Tuesday, November 18th, at
6:45 p.m. as 3rd and 4th grade students take to the stage for an evening of special
performances. Fourth grade students will also demonstrate their instrumental skills with a
special recorder concert. Representatives from both grades will speak about our Super
Specials that include the following groups: Sutton Dance Team, Sutton Elementary Chorus,
Sutton Drama Team, Mega Bytes, Kids That Care, and Reading Buddies. So be sure to join
us—you won’t want to miss it!
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Sorry - news from Foust and Hager was unavailable for this issue.
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STEP-IN REPORTERS:
Cravens Elementary – Jeanine Woods; Estes Elementary – Kristy Lovett;
Foust Elementary – Steve Bridgmon, Newton Parrish Elementary – Jill Pendergraft;
Sutton Elementary – Rachel Mesplay; Owensboro Middle School – Karen Crisp;
Owensboro High School – Jeff Hauke; Hager Preschool – Jill Head;
District News - Julie Ellis & Janet Suwanski, Editor – Janet Suwanski
Step-In E-newsletter feedback/additional information
Step-In (Schools That Embrace Parent INvolvement) is an e-newsletter sent out
approximately every two weeks for OPS parents, family members, employees, and
anyone who is interested in learning more about our schools. Read about the
exciting events, accomplishments and activities of our students and staff. Keep upto-date on news throughout our school district. Give us feedback, ideas and
suggestions. We're here to serve the students of Owensboro Public Schools - Every Student, Every
Day! To provide feedback or get additional information, email
[email protected] or call 270-686-1000.
Have you joined our mailing list? It’s free! To ensure that you continue to receive STEP-In, please
subscribe by logging on to the OPS home page at www.owensboro.kyschools.us and select
“Subscribe to STEP-IN” under Quick Links and complete the subscription form. As a subscriber, you
will receive this e-newsletter, “news flash” special bulletins about school closings, etc. To be
removed from our mailing list or unsubscribe, please follow the same procedure above and click on
“unsubscribe.”
**For detailed information regarding school events visit
http://www.owensboro.kyschools.us/calendarix/calendar.php or contact the school.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Owensboro Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, genetic information, disability,
age, religion, or marital status in providing educational opportunities, activities, or employment practices in accordance with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (revised 1992), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and provide, upon request by qualified
disabled individuals, reasonable accommodations including auxiliary aids and service necessary to afford individuals with a disability an
equal opportunity to participate. For more information contact Dr. Nicholas Brake, Superintendent, at the Owensboro Board of
Education, 450 Griffith Avenue, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 or phone (270) 686-1000.
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