OKLAHOMA A+ SCHOOLS®' NETWORK CELEBRATES GROWTH WITH ADDITION OF EIGHT NEW SCHOOLS
Oklahoma A+ Schools® recognized the eight schools joining their network at the Oklahoma State Capitol, second floor Rotunda, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. The festivities began at 3:45 p.m. with the OK A+ Linwood Elementary School student performing group, followed by the program from 4-5:30 p.m., and a reception immediately followed.
The eight schools joining the Oklahoma A+ Schools® network for the 2009-2010 academic year are Madill Early Childhood Center in Madill, Oklahoma City Educare in Oklahoma City, Peace Academy in Tulsa, Sacred Heart Catholic School in El Reno, Santa Fe South Elementary in Oklahoma City, and Silo Elementary, Junior and High Schools in Durant.
This annual event celebrates the OK A+ network's efforts to nurture creativity, innovation and critical thinking in every learner.
"The OK A+ celebration is the beginning of a long-term relationship between schools and the OK A+ network," said Jean Hendrickson, Oklahoma A+ Schools® executive director.
"We congratulate these forward-thinking schools and welcome them to our growing network."
The new schools will begin their initial OK A+ professional development training at a summer institute, which will include arts-integrated teaching methods surrounded by an understanding and application of the A+ Essentials' framework.
Hendrickson says the OK A+ network provides continued, purposeful professional development, research and support to its schools, while encouraging them to customize learning for each student at no financial burden for these schools.
State legislators, OK A+ students, faculty and staff joined the celebration, with speakers including State Superintendent Sandy Garret, Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, and Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Suzanne Tate. Distinguished guests include OETA Executive Director John McCarroll, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration Kyle Dahlem, University of Central Oklahoma Vice President of Development Anne Holzberlein, City Arts Center Administrative Director Sherry Fair and Assistant State Superintendent Oklahoma State Department of Education Ramona Paul.
Entertainment was provided by OK A+ Linwood Elementary School Honor Choir, which is directed by Jack Mitchell. Linwood Elementary is an Oklahoma City Public School serving PK-5 grades and has been an OK A+ school since 2002.
In 2002, Oklahoma A+ Schools® started its initiative by planting seeds of creativity in 14 Oklahoma schools. Since then, the network has grown to include 60 schools covering birth-12th grades in public, private and charter schools across rural, suburban and urban communities.
Oklahoma A+ Schools® is a statewide network of schools that advances a quality, whole school experience to nurture the creativity in every learner and provides the state's only research-based school reform model with creativity in its mission. Oklahoma A+ Schools® is headquartered at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK. For more information, visit www.aplusok.org or call (405) 974-3779.
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CUSTOMIZED QUOTES FROM EACH NEW OKLAHOMA A+ SCHOOL PRINCIPAL 2009-10:
Madill Early Childhood Center (Madill, grades PK-1): “Through the help of OK A+, we will add the arts to our curriculum and develop well rounded students who appreciate the arts, as well as gain insight to professional development that will create enthusiasm and excitement among our faculty,” said Madill ECC Principal Lynda McDaniel.
“As principal, I hope to include dance, drama and an appreciation for the diverse culture that exists in my school.”
Oklahoma City Educare (Oklahoma City, Birth-3 years): “With the help of the OK A+ network, Oklahoma City Educare will have the training and support needed to effectively integrate the arts into everyday curriculum and family home environments through our comprehensive model for at-risk children and families in Oklahoma City,” said Oklahoma City Educare Director Paula Gates.
“We hope to become a community facility that recognizes each child and family's individual expression through the arts in order to enhance learning and relationships.”
Peace Academy (Tulsa, grades PK-12): “With the help of OK A+ Schools, we plan to develop classrooms better meeting the needs of all students through differentiated instruction and consideration of multiple intelligences,” said Peace Academy Principal Zaheer Arastu.
“We see our acceptance into the OK A+ network as a catalyst for our school's continuous improvement process.”
Sacred Heart Catholic School (El Reno, grades PK-5): “We look forward to making learning more meaningful by using the arts and providing our students with more experiential learning opportunities. I truly believe our school will flourish with the collaborative support of Oklahoma A+ Schools®,” said Sacred Heart Catholic School Principal Shannon Stratton.
"We teach our students to find and use their God-given talents, and hope to expand these talents using the A+ Essentials™ in the future.”
Santa Fe South Elementary (Oklahoma City, grades PK-5): “Having seen the proof that OK A+ works in other schools in our district and schools around the state, I knew OK A+ would be a great ingredient in our recipe for success,” said Santa Fe South Elementary Principal Michelle Wartley.
“We look forward to developing an environment that breeds creativity and student inquiry. We will be able to utilize OK A+ in assisting with differentiated instruction for individual student needs.”
Silo Elementary (Durant, grades PK-6): “Learning that we were accepted as an OK A+ school was very important to us because we know now that we will have the professional assistance we need to do the best job possible for our kids,” said Silo Elementary Principal Don Oller.
“We look forward to working with Oklahoma A+ Schools® to continue to live up to our vision statement, Simply Excellent.”
Silo Junior High and High School (Durant, grades 7-9; 10-12): “With the help of Oklahoma A+ Schools®, our school has an opportunity to become more collaborative in our approach to arts in education and truly blossom as an educational oasis within southern Oklahoma,” said Silo Junior High and High School Principal Michael Palmer.
"We are very excited and gratified by our selection [as a new OK A+ School]; however, we realize that it only marks the beginning of our journey toward true excellence.”
OK A+ Schools (new and returning) please click here to view your summer professional development details.