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April
14, 2008 The
talent and hard work of Enid High School's student musicians were
recognized last week when two groups received high ratings in competition. April
14, 2008 April
10, 2008 Short
on Time? See it at a Glance: Four-Year-Old
enrollment is scheduled for 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday, April 25. Enrollment
will be accepted at all ten elementary sites. In order to enroll in the program, students must be 4 years of age on or before Sept. 1, 2008. Parents can select from a combination of morning or afternoon classes, as room allows. The classes run from Monday through Thursday, with parent participation Fridays several times each month. Parents are responsible for transportation, and daily sign-in and sign-out by an adult is required. Classes are limited to 20 students and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must enroll at their home site. Transfers can be requested, and names will be placed on a waiting list, if needed. "We know that a great education starts with a great beginning," Amber Graham Fitzgerald, Director of School and Community Relations, said. "We are very excited to welcome a new class of 4-year-olds to the district." Kindergarten enrollment is scheduled for 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday, May 2. Full-day classes will be provided at all 10 elementary sites. Parents of kindergarteners must enroll their children at their home school. Transfers may be requested. Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2008 to enroll. Five-year-old students are required to enroll in kindergarten and are not eligible for the 4-year-old program. Parents enrolling their children as EPS students for the first time should bring the children's immunization record, birth certificate and social security number. Elementary students will pre-enroll in early May. Packets will be sent home with information that needs to be completed for the upcoming school year. The information should be returned to school by the date specified by the building principal. For more information, contact the Board of Education at 580.234.5270. April
2, 2008 EPS is currently accepting enrollment for the program. Classes are available for students of all ages and needs. Courses are offered for those who want a step up for next school year, as well as those who may need extra academic assistance. Enrollment is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis to area students. "It
is important to keep children's minds active year-round, not just
during the traditional school year," Amber Graham Fitzgerald,
Director of School & Community Relations, said. "This year
we have expanded programs even further to offer enrichment opportunities
for elementary and secondary students. Students can explore new
concepts and ideas and have fun while they learn." Students
will focus on reading, math, art, technology, cooperative learning,
and hands-on activities. The program will incorporate activities
involving the human body, health, exercise, nutrition and much more.
Classes include: Math 7, reading/language arts, science for sixth- and seventh-grade students and pre-algebra, language arts, science for eighth-grade students. Enriched
classes, including pre-algebra and Kenwood Historical Project, will
be offered from 8-9:45 a.m. (session 1) and 10-11:45 a.m. (session
II). Cost is $80 per session. Through the Kenwood Project, students
will explore early Enid and the people and places that made it what
it is today. Tuition for each session is $155. Classes, excluding driver's education, require two sessions. Each session is worth ½ unit of credit. Lincoln Academy will offer classes for students currently enrolled in the eighth- through 12th-grade. They will be offered June 2-27 from 8 a.m.-12 noon (session I) and 12:30-4:30 p.m. (session II). Lincoln Academy is located at 600 W. Elm. Classes include: Grammar/Composition 9, English Composition 10-12, world literature, American literature, English literature, U.S. history, world history and Oklahoma history. Tuition is $155 per session. Each session is worth ½ unit of credit. Lincoln
also will offer a reading exam preparation course, which lasts two
weeks and costs $155. It will be offered June 2-13. It is designed
to help students pass the reading exam to obtain a driver's license.
The reading exam will be administered free of charge at the end
of the course. No credit is given for the class. EPS again will offer the Summer Child Nutrition Program. Through this program, the district will provide breakfast and lunch free of charge to any person between the ages of 1 and 18. The
program will be offered weekdays from June 2-27. Breakfast will
be served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Sites include Coolidge Elementary, 1515 E. Ash; and Monroe Elementary,
400 W. Cottonwood. For more information, call 234-6324. Semester credit is not granted for junior high and elementary summer school classes; however, successful completion of these classes may be used by building administrators to reconsider promotion status and grade level. Scholarships
are available. For more information about summer school, please
contact Amber Fitzgerald at (580) 234-5270 or arfitzgerald@enidk12.org.
Enrollment can be placed by contacting Hayes at 234-5937; Emerson
at 237-3017 or EHS at 234-2404. March
24, 2008 Shawn
Hime will be the next superintendent of Enid Public Schools. February
6, 2008 Four representatives of the Oklahoma State Department of Education Lifelong Learning Section visited the school for two days in late January, conducting interviews, observing classes and reviewing materials. While the program has frequent visits from department officials, this was the first assessment of its kind since 1992. The panel commended Carver staff members for their work. "The program director (Clayton Nolen) is engaged in daily activities of the learning center and is also active in the community," they wrote. "The program's veteran full-time teacher (Linda Whipple) is well-trained in adult education theory and strategies, as indicated by class size, student retention and lesson planning. The new full-time teacher (Elyse Lovell) is a positive addition to the ALC staff. She has demonstrated a grasp of adult education theory, as well as a positive attitude and willingness to learn." The group also commended Carver's low teacher turn-over rate, as well as a DVD that is used to promote its services. Recommendations for areas of improvement included additional documentation in areas such as professional development pre-services and student referrals. Carver offers FREE classes to help participants prepare for the new GED test, as well as to improve their academic skills. Students receive academic assessments to ensure proper placement. Curriculum includes instruction by quality teachers and reinforcement through the school's computer lab software. Those interested in the program are encouraged to visit Carver, 815 S. 5th, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or call 237-1400. Adult
Education and Literacy is a federal program funded under the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998, Title II, and the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act. The purpose of the act is to : (1) assist adults to
become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for
employment and self-sufficiency; (2) assist adults who are parents
to obtain the educational skills necessary to become full partners
in the educational development of their children; and (3) assist
adults in the completion of secondary school education. February
1, 2008 Enid Public Schools' 16-year energy conservation effort has earned national recognition for saving the district more than $4.2 million dollars. The district will receive the Energy Lighthouse Award from Energy Education, Inc. during the School Board meeting Monday, February 4. Enid Public Schools has achieved $4,270,027 in cost savings in 16 years, four months since forming a strategic alliance with Energy Education, Inc., a national energy conservation company. "Reaching this savings mark is a significant milestone. Enid Public Schools has achieved success by consistently implementing the people-oriented approach to energy conservation and maintaining productive efforts at all levels of the organization. The superintendent and school board, along with other administration, faculty and staff members are to be commended for clearly fulfilling their commitment to being good stewards of the taxpayers' money and the environment," said Dr. William S. Spears, CEO and founder of Energy Education, Inc. "Strong support from Dr. Kem Keithly and the school board have created an atmosphere of cooperation that should continue to grow and ensure even greater success well into the future," Dr. Spears said. "I am extremely pleased to present Enid Public Schools with our Energy Lighthouse Award. The district joins a very committed group of school districts across the country working hard to achieve energy savings so the dollars saved can be redirected to educational needs," said Dr. Spears. A key benefit of the Energy Education, Inc. program is that all costs come out of the existing utility budget, with savings projected to more than pay for the program, as they have done for Enid Public Schools. Additional savings can be redirected to other parts of the district's budget. "We are proud of this accomplishment because it is good for the taxpayers of our district, and it is environmentally responsible," Dr. Garland K. Keithly, Superintendent, said. "With the rising cost of energy, it's encouraging to know that monitoring usage can save significant dollars. It allows us to invest more money in the classroom, rather than spending it on utilities." District Energy Educator/Manager Steve Peck tracks energy consumption - including electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and fuel oil - using energy-accounting software. He compares current energy use to a baseline period and calculates the amount of energy that would have been used had conservation and management practices not been implemented. By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, he can quickly identify and correct areas that need immediate attention. Energy Education, Inc.'s innovative energy conservation program is a win-win alliance that trains personnel to create substantial energy savings, and is funded solely by the savings the program generates. Clients can redirect additional saved energy dollars to educational resources. Energy Education, Inc. has worked with more than 870 educational organizations across the nation, positively impacting the educational environment of 12 million children and helping its clients save more than $1.4 billion in 21 years. January
15, 2008 "They
look different than the others in our fleet," Jim Gelsthorpe,
Director of Transportation, said. "Just as they do with cars,
manufacturers redesign their buses to offer customers a better,
more fuel-efficient vehicle." As
most districts do, EPS purchases needed buses through bond issues.
The Board of Education schedules the sale of the bonds in a way
that (1) allows the district to plan for the future and (2) has
as minimal impact on taxpayers as possible. Currently no additional
bonds have been authorized by voters to continue the bus replacement
plan. The
EPS transportation fleet includes 35 regular route buses - ranging
from 21- to 66-passenger vehicles. The district travels more than
500,000 miles annually in town for regular school bus routes, and
another 500,000 miles annually for out-of-town activity trips. More
than 1,500 students are transported to and from school daily. January
3, 2008 Since
1949, Dr. Garland Keithly has been a part of the school environment
... first, as a student, then as a teacher and following as a school
administrator. January
3, 2008 Eleven
more Enid Public Schools teachers recently attained National Board •
Oklahoma ranked sixth nationwide in the number of new National Board
Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and ranks ninth in the total number of
teachers who achieved certification over time (1,995). • Fifty-eight percent of the state's NBCTs teach in Title I schools. October
3, 2007 Fourteen Enid High School graduates and current students have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) exams. The
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students
the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while
still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement,
or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. September
13, 2007 Two Enid High School graduates - both known for their success in entertainment and performance - will be inducted into the EPS Foundation Hall of Fame this fall. Jennifer Graham and Rich Taylor will be honored during the organization's annual banquet, slated for October 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the EHS Food Court. "We are so pleased to honor Ms. Graham and Mr. Taylor for their contributions to the arts and to entertainment," Nancy Campbell, executive director of EPSF, said. "It is amazing to think that they both got their starts on the stage at Enid High. It's a lesson to today's students that their dreams can come true." Taylor, a 1967 graduate of EHS, recently retired as the president of Walt Disney World Entertainment & Costuming. In the position, he was responsible and accountable for leading the Florida team that strategically planned, created, developed, and produced new live entertainment for the world's number one tourist destination - the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort. Graham, a 1981 EHS graduate, performs with the Hollywood Sound FX choir, which has been featured singing during the Academy Awards, as well as for 10 NBA Finals commercials. Graham's voice has also been featured on numerous movie soundtracks including Van Helsing, Polar Express, King Kong, Flight of the Phoenix, Spiderman 2 and 3, among many other Hollywood blockbusters. The Enid Public School Foundation is a non-profit organization, operated by a volunteer Board of Trustees, which supports Enid Public Schools. Proceeds from the Hall of Fame Banquet, as well as other fund-raisers, benefit the organization's Grants-To-Teachers program, which provides as much as $30,000 in materials and programs to schools annually. The foundation also provides $3,000 in scholarships annually for teachers to return to college to pursue advanced degrees. EPSF currently also is working to provide EPS classrooms with SMARTBoards, most recently assisting with the purchase of nine new systems over the summer months. Tickets for the EPSF banquet are $50 for the general public and $20 for students and EPS employees. For more information, please contact Amber Fitzgerald at 234-5270. June
26, 2007 The 2007 recipients of the award - William "Bill" Word and Bill Lang - exemplify the student-selected award and its criteria. The recipients were announced in late May. Word has served as assistant principal at EHS for 27 years. In addition to assisting with the home-bound program, managing truancies and handling discipline issues, Word also provides oversight to the school's special education program. Word's wife, Janie, nominated him for the award, which she said would be the "greatest honor of his life." She said when they are around town that former and current students greet him and ask if he is still at EHS. Many tell stories of how he impacted their lives when they were students. One former student even had his children shake Word's hand to "meet the man who helped shape (his) life." "Bill doesn't see a student's color or shape or ability," Janie Word wrote in her nomination. "He sees a student that needs a caring hug or recognition and praise, and he's never hesitant to hand out firm, but compassionate, discipline when warranted." Word said receiving the award was a great honor because its recipients are selected by students. Lang, a 1956 EHS graduate, served 21 years in the U.S. Army, earning the following awards: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Humanitarian Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and many others. His responsibilities included completing a tour of duty in Vietnam, working in public affairs, serving as a professor of military science and serving as the Editor of the Military Police Journal. During his service, he served as an assistant public affairs officer in Panama at the time when the Panama Canal was being turned over to the country. Lang also served as a public affairs officer for the task force that managed the recovery of bodies from the Jonestown Massacre in Guyana. In 1980, he was appointed the Provost Marshal of Walter Reed Army Medical Center before retiring the following year. Following his retirement, he worked for 17 year for Exxon in the security division. Within a matter of years, he provided security planning and development for the company in more than a third of the world, helping to prevent abductions and/or endangerment of Exxon employees and others in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. In time, he was reassigned to the Asia-Pacific region with similar duties. "After 21 years with the U.S. Army and 17 years with Exxon, Bill had served and worked in over 70 countries, an experience he would not trade for the world," Norman Lamb, who nominated Lang, wrote. Following
his second retirement, Lang was asked by the Department of Defense
in 2006 to serve as a consultant on a select team of oil infrastructure
security experts in Iraq. Among the team's many recommendations
was the development of a petroleum law, which was adopted by the
Iraqi legislature in March 2007. All media inquiries should be forwarded to Amber Graham Fitzgerald |
