Bartlesville Public School District’s Weekly Email Newsletter

Leaders Bruins Volume 6, Number 17...Friday, Dec. 2, 2011...www.bps-ok.org Education

The Bruin

View from above

Superintendent’s Chalkboard Holiday season will offer plenty of special treats from Bruins

With the calendar having turned to December, the holiday season is now upon us. And with this festive time of year come plenty of special performances and events offered by our students and staff members within the Bartlesville Public School District. Two holiday In 2010, approximately 110 adult students took the GED exam, which is a high school equivalency choir contest, through the Bartlesville Adult Learning Center. At the beginning of the current 2011-12 certs featuracademic year in August, the Will Rogers Complex became the new headquarters for the BALC. ing students the state among all of the 39 testing from the sites which offer it. BPSD’s four Earlier this fall, the Oklahoma secondary State Department of Education reschools are Dr. Gary W. Quinn leased the information, which is the scheduled most recent to date. The testing data on consecufor 2011 is expected to be made avail- tive nights – Monday, Dec. 5 and able during the fall of 2012. Tuesday, Dec. 6 – in the Fine The GED is a high school equiv- Arts Center auditorium on the alency test. It focuses on five different Bartlesville High School camsubject areas – writing, social studpus. Both performances, which ies, science, reading and math – and will feature plenty of holiday typically takes seven and a half hours classics and some sing-along During the calendar year of 2010, to complete. GED diplomas – which numbers with the audience, are are earned by those who pass the test students who took the GED exam at set to begin at 7 p.m. and are the Bartlesville Adult Learning Center – are often helpful to those adults who offered free of charge to all of boasted the highest average score in BALC - Continued to Page 7 CHALKBOARD - Continued to Page 8

BALC enjoys lofty perch with top average GED score among all adult learning centers in state

Free vision screenings to be offered at Mid-High School on Dec. 8 Prevent Blindness of Oklahoma is scheduled to offer free vision screenings at the Bartlesville Mid-High School next week. The screenings will be provided on Thursday, Dec. 8 to those Mid-High School students who sign up for them. Those parents and guardians who would like to sign their student up for the free service can call the

Mid-High School’s main number (918-333-4444) and talk to the student’s respective counselor. A non-profit agency originally established in 1965, Prevent Blindness of Oklahoma is now in its 45th year of providing free vision screenings to children in all 77 counties throughout the state. The volunteer organization is dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.

Photo Special to The Bruin

The Bartlesville High School varsity football team recently earned its third consecutive Class 6A academic state championship. Representatives of the Bruins collected the team’s latest trophy on Thursday evening at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. Pictured are (from left) juniors Jarrod Johnson and Tom Wiseman, sophomore Austin Hunt, BHS principal Teri Brant, senior Jack Wiseman and head coach John McKee.

Football team earns 3rd straight academic state title The Bartlesville High School varsity football team was recognized at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Thursday evening after earning its third straight academic state championship. Representatives from the team, which included head coach John McKee and principal Teri Brant as well as some players, were presented with a trophy by David Jackson, of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. The presentation took place before the kickoff of the Class 6A state championship game between Tulsa Union and Broken Arrow. The Bruins finished with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.347, besting all of the other 6A varsity squads throughout the state. Of the 62 players on the Bartlesville roster, 16 boasted perfect 4.0 GPAs while 14 were in the lofty area between 3.5 and 3.99. Twentyone other players featured GPAs between 3.0 and 3.49.

With their cumulative GPA of 3.347, the Bruins actually topped their mark of 3.291, which earned them their second straight academic state championship last year. “We’re excited about our latest academic state championship,” noted first-year Bruins head coach John McKee. “We do make a special point of emphasizing academics. However, this award has less to do with football than it does with our outstanding teachers and parents. They give our students every opportunity to be successful on the field and in the classroom.” After serving as the Bruins’ defensive coordinator, McKee took over as head coach during the summer following the retirement of Ron Smith, who spent five years at the team’s helm. Bartlesville finished 3-7 overall during the 2011 campaign, but will graduate just a CHAMPIONS - Continued to Page 8

Bruin band students set to audition for All-State status this weekend Several have already earned All-District honors Twenty-nine Bartlesville Public School District students are scheduled to be on the Westmoore High School campus this weekend to take part in final auditions for the 2011-12 Oklahoma Music Educators Association All-State Band. All told, an estimated 1,000 band students from across the state will audition to be part of the prestigious group, and around 112 will make it. This weekend will see finals auditions not just for the all-state band, but the OMEA All-State orchestra, jazz band, girls’ choir and mixed choir as well. As a qualifier for All-State consideration, 32 members of the Bruin band program – from grades 10 through 12 – qualified for the 2011-12 Northeast Band Directors Association All-District High School Band last month. All-State band auditions are scheduled to begin on Saturday morning, and by that evening, the participating students should know whether or not they have made it. “Those students who go on to earn

All-State status,” says BPSD supervisor of instrumental music Alex Claussen, “are considered the best of the best from throughout Oklahoma.” All of the 2011-12 All-State groups will go on to perform at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center during the 2012 OMEA Winter Conference, which is scheduled to take place from Jan. 18-20. All-State auditions are always intense as students who earn the status often go on to collect scholarships and invitations to perform in traveling groups. Auditions for band students involve them learning new pieces of music and displaying their sight reading skills. Students often work on their all-state music during their personal time, away from the school music setting. Last year, 10 Bruins earned spots in the All-State band and another was selected as an alternate. “I am very excited,” says Claussen, who will travel with the Bruins’ All-State finalists to the auditions at Westmoore. “A lot of our kids have worked very hard. I’m looking forward to them showing BAND - Continued to Page 9

2011-12 NBDA All-District High School Band: BPSD Selections Bartlesville High School Wind Ensemble Piccolo: Kelsey Menze (1st Chair) Clarinet: Kelsie Hoelscher (2nd Chair) and Rachel Zhou (3rd Chair) French Horn: Dylan Adkins (1st Chair) Tuba: Jacob Coordsen (2nd Chair) Percussion 1: Megan Dobbs (1st Chair), Blake Holcombe (3rd Chair), John Tobola (4th Chair) and Katy Layman (6th Chair) Percussion 2: Melody Schmidt (1st Chair) Percussion 3: Cameron Villines (1st Chair)

Symphonic Band Flute: Rachel Wittenbach (3rd Chair) Trumpet: Dresan Alexander (7th Chair) and Josiah Purdum (9th Chair) French Horn: Hayden Powell (8th Chair)

Concert Band Clarinet: Alanna Grisham (3rd Chair) Contra Clarinet: Daniel Mercado (1st Chair)

Euphonium: Austin White (2nd Alternate) Tuba: Daren Milligan (1st Alternate)

Bartlesville Mid-High School Wind Ensemble Tenor Sax: Josh Phelps (2nd Chair) Trumpet: Matthew Hixon (6th Chair)

Symphonic Band Trombone: Collin Sanders (7th Chair) Percussion 1: Clement Wasicek (4th Chair)

Concert Band Flute: Brooke Wong (1st Alternate) Clarinet: Gabby Aranda (7th Chair) Alto Sax: Devin Laurence (3rd Chair) Trumpet: Scott Henthorne (7th Chair) French Horn: Hannah Divelbiss (1st Alternate) Tuba: Ben Pauls (2nd Chair) Percussion 1: Jordan Miller (4th Chair), Jonathan Rovenstine (5th Chair) and Genevieve Schrader (1st Alternate)

Finalists for 2011-12 OMEA All-State Band: BPSD Selections Seniors Piccolo: Kelsey Menze Flute: Kelsey Menze Clarinet: Alanna Grisham, Kelsie Hoelscher, Sam Inn and Rosabelle Zhou Contra Clarinet: Daniel Mercado Trumpet: Josiah Purdum Horn: Hayden Powell Percussion 1: Megan Dobbs Percussion 2: Megan Dobbs Percussion 3: Megan Dobbs

Juniors Flute: Rachel Wittenbach Trumpet: Dresan Alexander Horn: Dylan Adkins Euphonium: Austin White Tuba: Jacob Coordsen Percussion 1: Blake Holcombe, Katy Layman, Melody Schmidt, John Tobola and Cameron Villines Percussion 2: Katy Layman and Melody Schmidt Percussion 3: Melody Schmidt and Cameron Villines

Sophomores Clarinet: Gabby Aranda Alto Sax: Deven Laurence and Josh Phelps Tenor Sax: Josh Phelps Trumpet: Matt Hixon Trombone: Collin Sanders Tuba: Ben Pauls Percussion 1: Jordan Miller, Jonathan Rovenstine and Clement Wasicek Percussion 2: Genevieve Schrader

Everyone invited to take part in Third Annual Jingle Bell Rock 5K and Jingle Bells for Basal Cells Fun Run on Saturday The Third Annual Jingle Bell Rock 5K and Jingle Bells for Basal Cells Fun Run are scheduled to take place on Saturday in downtown Bartlesville. All proceeds raised from the events will benefit two non-profit organizations – On the Rock Ministries and the Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevoid Syndrome Life Support Network. Registration fees are $25 per person for the Jingle Bell Rock 5K and $15 for the Jingle Bells for Basal Cells Fun Run, which spans one mile. Registration can be done online at www.jinglebellrock.org; from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at On the Rock Ministries (122 S. Park in Bartlesville); or beginning at 9 a.m. on race day, near the intersection of 4th Street and Keeler Ave. The 5K is due to begin at 10

a.m. on Saturday, and the Fun Run will follow at 10:45 a.m. The 5K course is flat and fast, and is due to start and finish near the intersection of 4th and Keeler. Along the race route – which can be viewed online at www.jinglebellrock.org/race-route.html – will be several local church choirs spread-

ing Christmas cheer. Those who take part in the race are encouraged to show their holiday spirit and can participate in an accompanying holiday costume contest. Attached is a coupon which can be presented during registration for the one-mile Fun Run which offers $5 off of the registration fee.

Bartlesville Choral Society to perform ‘Messiah’ on Sunday The Bartlesville Choral Society is set to help usher in the holiday season with a performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday afternoon at the Bartlesville Community Center. The show is set to begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased at the Bartlesville Community Center (300 SE Adams Blvd.), by calling the BCC box office (918336-2787) or at the door prior to Sunday’s performance. Presented every other year by the Bartlesville Choral Society, the latest performance of “Messiah” will be directed by Susan Mueller, the former head of the fine arts department at Bartlesville High School. The show will offer a full orchestra as well as several guest soloists. The guest soloists will include soprano Sarah Tannehill, alto Kathryn Stewart, tenor Stefan Barner and bass Jonathan Stewart. Founded in 1976, the Bartlesville Choral Society is a 70-voice group which has become a cherished part of the area arts scene. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first-ever performance at the Bartlesville Community Center, which was provided by the Bartlesville Choral Society and the Bartlesville Symphony

Orchestra, with Lauren Green conducting, in December of 1981. The performance was actually a shortened version of “Messiah,” which was used to help test the stage acoustics in the new hall. Though some charter members of the Bartlesville Choral Society still perform with the group, Mueller is known for approaching each performance of “Messiah” with a new vision. The welcome changes help breathe new life into the show for performers and audience members alike. “‘Messiah’ is perfect to celebrate the start of the holidays,” says area arts patron Marilyn Blumer. “I wish the Bartlesville Choral Society would perform it every year.” Sponsoring Sunday’s performance will be the Bank of Oklahoma. The Bartlesville Choral Society receives financial support from the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and ConocoPhillips, in addition to other individual and corporate donors as well. A reception is scheduled to follow Sunday’s performance in the BCC’s community hall. With a decorated life spanning from 1685-1759, Handel is considered one of England’s greatest composMESSIAH - Continued to Page 9

Bartlesville Public School District Teacher of the Month: December Amy Hamilton has been named the Bartlesville Public School District’s Teacher of the Month for December by Arvest Bank and Oakley Chevrolet-BuickPontiac. Hamilton is in her 22nd year as a world history teacher at the Bartlesville Mid-High School, where she has spent her entire career. In recognition of Mid-High School her Teacher of the Month status, she was recently presented with a plaque as well as a check for $300 by Stephen Colaw, the Arvest Bank senior vice president and trust officer, and David Oakley, Jr., the owner of Oakley Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac. Hamilton’s love of history blossomed as a high school student in Manhattan, Kan. Her teachers helped that love to flourish, and she carried her passion for the subject with her as she moved on to Kansas State University. Hamilton knew that she wanted to continue studying history in college but wasn’t sure that she wanted to teach. At the behest of her parents, she searched for a major which would lead to her career calling and eventually settled upon history education. The choice has served her well. For Hamilton, her role as a world history teacher allows her to focus on a subject she loves and gives her the added bonus of working with students. “After my first year as a teacher, I realized that working with students amplified the enjoyment I received from my job,” notes Hamilton, who is a National Board Certified educator. “I think it has been a good fit. “Students were the unforeseen blessing of the job that provides fulfillment to my working days. Interaction with young people is always invigorating.” Several factors play into Hamilton’s effectiveness as an educator. She works to create personal links with her students, letting them know they can approach her when they have a question or concern. While Hamilton takes her work seriously, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. Hamilton is quite diligent in her preparation as an educator. Great amounts of preparation are put into every lesson so that the youngsters in her care will get the most out of them. “I want the students to know,” says Hamilton, “that I care about what is important to them and their success.” Hamilton cares about the success and growth of

A world history instructor at the Bartlesville Mid-High School, Amy Hamilton (pictured center), the Bartlesville Public School District’s Teacher of the Month for December, is congratulated by Stephen Colaw (right), the Arvest Bank senior vice president and trust officer, and David Oakley, Jr. (left), owner of Oakley Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac.

her fellow educators, also. Early in her career, she was able to team teach with seasoned educators. The experience helped her immensely, and now she welcomes the opportunity to share her insight with budding young teachers. Hamilton has invited several education students from nearby colleges and universities to observe her classroom so that they can learn exactly what goes on in them and begin forming the foundation of knowledge for their own teaching careers. Hamilton is always looking for opportunities to hone her teaching skills and is therefore a firm believer in the power of professional development. She is a member of the National Education Association as well as the National Council for Social Studies. She earned her National Board certification in 2008 and garnered a wealth of knowledge from the Professional Development Institute which she attended a few years ago. Hamilton is active in the community and is part of an avid wrestling family. Her sons – Tim and Michael – are both gifted athletes in the sport. Hamilton and her family have assisted the Bartlesville Wrestling Association in several different capacities. Though Hamilton began teaching at the MidHigh School in 1990, her passion for the career has not waned in the least. Her love of history carries on as does her enthusiasm for educating each and every student in her care.

Holiday choir concerts set for Monday, Tuesday evenings at FAC Two festive choir performances are scheduled for next week in the Fine Arts Center auditorium on the Bartlesville High School campus. The 2011 BHS and Central Middle School Holiday Choir Concert is slated for Monday, while the 2011 Bartlesville Mid-High School and Madison Middle School Holiday Choir Concert will follow on Tuesday. Both performances are set to begin at 7 p.m. and are offered free of charge. All of those who are interested are invited to attend. The shows will feature several classics which celebrate the holiday season. The BHS choir is led by Wes Singleton, who serves as the supervisor of vocal music for the Bartlesville Public School District, while Ariel Ortega guides the Central choir. Tamara Walker is the director of the Mid-High School choir while Erin Thrash leads the Madison choir. The entrance to the Fine Arts Center is located on the south side of the main BHS building.

Sadie Schaffner Signs Letter of Intent to Play Volleyball at ORU

Photo Special to The Bruin

Bartlesville High School senior Sadie Schaffner recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Oral Roberts University. Sadie is the daughter of Mark and Jena Schaffner. Several people were on hand for the signing event, which took place in the Fine Arts Center hospitality room on the BHS campus, including Bruins assistant athletic director Terry Rogers and BHS varsity volleyball head coach Tom Williams.

District Word of the Month: Patience Every month during the academic year, the Bartlesville Public School District designates a word or words which students and staff members are encouraged to incorporate into their respective lifestyles as habit. The word of the month for December is “patience,” which means “the quality of being patient; capacity of calm endurance.” The Bartlesville Public School District releases a new habit word monthly from August through May.

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didn’t earn a high school diploma but are are seeking career advancement, or perhaps to go on to college or other institutions of higher education. The Bartlesville Adult Learning Center, which operates under the umbrella of the Bartlesville Public School District, tested approximately 110 adult students in 2010 and their average score on the GED was a 514.86. The average score turned in by the Sooner State’s 39 adult learning centers was a 484.11. All told, only five adult learning centers in the state posted average GED scores of 500 or better and the second-best tally was turned in by the Norman Adult Learning Center with a 513.46. “I’m very proud of our teaching and support staff members who help to make the Bartlesville Adult Learning Center so successful,” says Trudy Green, the director of federal programs for the Bartlesville Public School District. “It takes all of them to make this kind of thing happen. “We have a wide array of programs that meet not just the academic needs, but the social and emotional needs of those we serve. And, we have excellent people to help implement those programs.” The GED data released by the OSDE noted not just the overall cumulative scores of the state’s adult learning centers, but how their respective students scored in the individual subject areas as well. The Bartlesville Adult Learning Center turned in the top average scores in the state in the subjects of math (495.09) and writing (474.03), and placed third in reading (524.70). Rounding out the BALC’s 2010 scores were the third-best showing in Oklahoma in social studies (524.70) and the fifth-best tally in science (523.36). “This is a very good showing,” notes Green. “To be that consistent in the five different subject areas of the GED is an exceptional accomplishment.” This year marks the 54th of adult education in Bartlesville. The BALC offers year-round classes during the day and evening hours. The flexibility allows students to pursue their GED while working and/or raising a family. Those who would like to learn more about the BALC and the programs offered can call (918) 337-6231. For the last two years in which the information has been collected by GED examiners throughout Oklahoma – 2008 and 2009 – the BALC has boasted the highest pass percentage of its students who took the GED among all of the adult learning centers in the state. The BALC’s pass percentage was 89 percent in ’08 and

87 percent in ’09. The Bartlesville Adult Learning Center offers free GED classes for adults who are pursuing their diplomas. The classes are held at the Will Rogers Complex as well as at the Bartlesville chapter of the Salvation Army and the Workforce Oklahoma/One-Stop Career Center in Bartlesville. The GED classes, which prepare those who attend them for the test, are held throughout a given week at different times of day to accommodate a wide range of schedules. Classes at the Will Rogers Complex are offered during the day – Monday through Thursday – from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. The Salvation Army offers classes on Monday evenings from 6-9 p.m. while the Workforce Oklahoma/One-Stop Career Center, which is located on the Tri County Technology Center campus, features classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon. For those who take their classes at the Will Rogers Complex, childcare is available during morning and evening hours through the Even Start program. Taking preparatory classes for the GED is recommended. Students are tested whenever they initially begin their GED preparatory classes and later as they are wrapping them up in order to measure progress and allow them some insight as to how they will do on the test. Though the GED preparatory classes are free, there is a charge for the test itself, depending on how many classes the student has taken. The more classes a student takes, the lower the test fee is. Among the prominent people who hold GED diplomas are Bill Cosby, Danica Patrick and Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas. Located at 4620 E. Frank Phillips Blvd., the Will Rogers Complex has been the new headquarters for the Bartlesville Adult Learning Center since the beginning of the Bartlesville Public School District’s 201112 academic year in August. Prior to that, the BALC’s primary location had been at the district’s McKinley building. The Will Rogers Complex is home to other BPSD programs such as Operation Eagle, Child Nutrition and Homeless Services. Though admittedly not a big fan of change in general, BALC chief GED examiner Joan Judd has quickly embraced her new surroundings at the Will Rogers Complex. “We love our new building,” says Judd. “It looks great, and we all have lovely rooms.”

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those who are interested in attending. The 2011 BHS and Central Middle School Holiday Choir Concert is set for Dec. 5 and the 2011 Bartlesville Mid-High School and Madison Middle School Holiday Choir Concert will follow on Dec. 6. The BHS choir is led by Wes Singleton, the BPSD’s supervisor of vocal music, while Ariel Ortega will direct the Central Choir. Tamara Walker guides the Mid-High School choir while Erin Thrash oversees the Madison choir. Throughout the week of Dec. 5-9, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School will feature its 2011 Penguin Patch Shop. The event is a fundraiser for the school’s parent-teacher organization and will be open for business each day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Wilson library. The 2011 Penguin Patch Shop will offer Wilson students an opportunity to purchase holiday gifts for their family members – and wrap them – during their normal library hours. Available at deeply discounted prices will be items such as necklaces, flashlights, key chains, mugs and frames. The event, which is in its first year at the school, is being coordinated by Wilson librarian Kim Takahashi as well as PTO president Tammie Watt. Volunteers from the PTO will assist with the Penguin Patch Shop each day also. Also on the horizon are the 2011-12 All-City Band Holiday Concert, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the Fine Arts Center auditorium, and the third annual Bartlesville Tuba Christmas, set for Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. at the Frank Phillips Mansion. Both events are offered free of charge and everyone is invited to attend. Alex Claussen, the BPSD’s supervisor of instrumental music, will lead both performances. The All-City Band Holiday concert will showcase the skills of an estimated 350 BPSD students from CHAMPIONS - Continued from Page 2

dozen seniors and is expected to return around 10 starters. This year’s squad was heavy with sophomores. “I feel good about what we did,” says McKee, “and the direction that we are headed.” The varsity football team’s academic state championship is the first of the current 2011-12 school year for Bartlesville. During the 2010-11 school year, a trio of Bruin teams – in football, volleyball and wrestling – captured 6A academic state titles. Bartlesville’s varsity baseball team captured an academic crown in 2008. The varsity football team is due to show off its latest academic state championship trophy during an upcoming meeting of the Bartlesville Board of Education.

grades seven through 12 in a concert band setting. They will perform a wide array of holiday classics. The Bartlesville Tuba Christmas event is set to take place on the front lawn of the Frank Phillips Mansion, which is located at 1107 SE Cherokee Ave. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets as they enjoy the show. The format of the Bartlesville concert, which follows that of similar events held throughout the world, calls for the participating musicians to meet a mere 90 minutes before show time. Having not rehearsed together before, they prepare some holiday classics under the guidance of a guest conductor and then deliver them to the audience in a performance which is expected to last around 45 minutes. What is unique about the Bartlesville Tuba Christmas, as well as Tuba Christmas events throughout the world, is that it will showcase instruments – namely tubas and euphoniums – which are rarely featured. The Fine Arts Center auditorium is expected to feature a wide array of Christmas décor on Dec. 13 for the 2011-12 All-City Orchestra Holiday Concert. Free and open to the public, the show will offer a number of holiday classics performed by an estimated 365 BPSD students from grades six through 12. The BHS and Central orchestras are led by Rhonda Carr while her husband Greg Carr guides the Mid-High School and Madison orchestras. Last year’s concert lasted approximately 75 minutes and featured an appearance by Santa Claus, who distributed candy to those in the audience. Now that the holiday season has arrived, I hope everyone enjoys a safe and festive time. There’s plenty going on within the BPSD throughout the season, and I hope you’re able to take in several of our special performances and events. Bruin representatives will be featured in the “Spotlight” portion of the meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, Dec. 19 – beginning at 5:30 p.m. – at the Education Service Center. In football, team grade-point averages are calculated as an average of those of all of the individual players who spend time on a squad’s roster during a given campaign. Thus, for the 2011 season, the Bruins’ cumulative GPA included the individual GPAs of each the 62 players who were with the team throughout the year as well as those of a handful of freshmen who joined it late. “I’m really proud of the kids and their efforts,” says McKee. “We have some really good kids, and they have their priorities straight.”

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their stuff on Saturday. “In my opinion, the auditions on Saturday are the most difficult that a high school band student will ever go through. It’s a very challenging day. These kids have worked for months to get to this day. Their auditions will be for two to five minutes, and that is it.” All told, 35 Bruin band students auditioned for All-District status. The auditions were held on Nov. 5 on the Pryor High School campus. The students signed up for the auditions in September. En route to trying to earn All-State status, the youngsters had to prepare two pieces of music, be familiar with all 12 major scales and a chromatic scale, and be prepared to sight read and perform piece of music after taking just 30 seconds to study it. Among the school districts which featured students seeking All-District status at Pryor were Broken Arrow, Tulsa Union, Sand Springs, Tulsa Public Schools, Grove, Miami, Glenpool and the host Tigers. All-District actually features three bands for which the students can qualify. The most prestigious is the Wind Ensemble while the second-leading group is the Symphonic Band. The final group is the Concert Band. With 32 qualifying, the BPSD boasted the second highest number of students who earned All-District status, trailing just Broken Arrow. The Bruins will host an annual NBDA clinic in early January – in the Fine Arts Center auditorium on the Bartlesville High School campus – which will feature a special performance by the All-District band. “It makes it really special that the kids would work so hard during the marching band season and then work on their own for these auditions,” says Claussen. “The fact that we had 32 out of 35 students earn a spot on the roster lets us know that they were working very hard throughout the fall.” One of the highlights of the fall for the BPSD band program was the 2011 Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Marching Band Championship, which saw the Bruin Brigade Marching Band earn a spot in the finals of the Broken Arrow-hosted event for the third straight year. An estimated 22 marching bands from throughout the state in Class 6A took part in the competition, which signals an end to the marching season, and the Bruin Brigade placed 12th in the finals. MESSIAH - Continued from Page 4

ers. Born in the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach, he was famous for his operas and concertos, including his masterpiece “Messiah.”

The 2011 OBA Marching Band Championship took place on Oct. 29 at Broken Arrow High School’s Memorial Stadium. Preliminary competition began in the morning. Later that day, a dozen bands were selected to march “under the lights” in the finals of the competition, and the Bruin Brigade was one of them. Each of the bands in OBA Championship performed a show in the preliminary round with the hopes of showcasing it again in the finals. The Bruin Brigade’s performance was entitled “Rise.” It lasted around eight-and-a-half minutes and was performed along with the Bruin Color Guard. Seven judges scored each of the preliminary performances. Four focused on the music while the other three concentrated on the visual aspects of the show. Another official served as a penalty judge. “Memorial Stadium was packed out that night,” notes Claussen. “It was probably the best finals crowd I have ever seen at Broken Arrow. And, the competition was about as fierce as I’ve ever seen.” The Bruin Brigade’s preliminary performance took place around 2 p.m. After it was announced as one of the 12 finalists, the 130 students from BHS and the Bartlesville Mid-High School who comprise the group cheered their accomplishment. Shortly thereafter, they were back on the Memorial Stadium field showcasing “Rise” in the finals. The performance can be viewed – in its entirety – on the BPSD website at http://www. bps-ok.org/_districtvid/brigade/brigade1.html “I was very proud of them,” says Claussen. “They really put it out there. The kids had worked so hard all season. It was so gratifying to see them do so well during their last performance. “When they came off the field after the finals, they were huffing and puffing. They were out of breath. But, they were elated. They didn’t have to wait for me to tell them how good the performance was.” The Bruin Brigade featured 23 seniors this year. The group is very special to Claussen, as they were freshman when he was initially hired into his current role four years ago. “I’m very proud of our seniors,” says Claussen. “They have always been very accepting of what we are trying to do and are very easy to work with. “They have helped us to create a tradition of excellence.”

The Bartlesville Choral Society’s final concert of the season is scheduled to be “Let’s Go to the Movies,” a lighthearted performance of cinema music slated for

April 1 at the Bartlesville Community Center. Those who would like to learn more about the show, which is set to begin at 2 p.m., can call (918) 333-6719.

CherryBerry to host fundraisers for Central, Madison next week

Featuring 14 flavors of frozen yogurt and more than 50 toppings, CherryBerry is scheduled to play host to a pair of special fundraising events for Central Middle School and Madison Middle School next week. The fundraising event for the Central is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5 while the one for Madison is slated for two days later on Wednesday, Dec. 7. On the night of both events, CherryBerry will donate 10 percent of its sales from 5-9 p.m. to the parent support groups of the respective schools. The parent support groups help raise money to meet the needs of their respective schools. Offering comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi internet access and flat screen TVs, CherryBerry is located at 1902 SE Washington Blvd. in Bartlesville. A self-serve establishment, CherryBerry locations can be found in 20 states across the country including 22 in Oklahoma. The CherryBerry corporate headquarters is located in Broken Arrow.

Stellar Sites

The Bartlesville Public School District offers a wide array of useful tools for students as well as parents. For some extra educational insight, give these web sites a look:

PowerSchool http://www.bps-ok.org Click on the PowerSchool link toward the top of the home page. · Parents and legal guardians can check with office personnel at their student’s school to find out how to access PowerSchool. · Information on students - such as grades and attendance records available via PowerSchool. Study Island http://www.studyisland.com Use the “Member Login.” · Student login information must be obtained from teachers. Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BartlesvilleHighSchool#!/ BartlesvillePublicSchools or http://www.facebook.com/ BartlesvilleHighSchool · Everyone can keep up with what’s going throughout the BPSD or at Bartlesville High School by becoming fans of these pages, which are updated regularly with news and events.

Bartlesville Public School District Activities (December 2-8, 2011) Friday, December 2 Santa shop and pictures (TBA) (Kane) Speech tournament (TBA) (BHS) National Honor Society meeting in Room 108 (7:55 a.m.) (BHS) Musical drama in Fine Arts Center auditorium (8:30 and 10 a.m.) (Madison) Stock Market reward lunch at Arby’s with Mr. Rovenstine (noon) (Central) Parent support group meeting (noon) (Madison) National Honor Society meeting in Room 108 (12:15 p.m.) (BHS) Basketball: Junior varsity boys and girls host Owasso (4 p.m.) Wrestling: Varsity at Bixby in district duals (6 p.m.) Basketball: Varsity boys and girls host Owasso (6:30 p.m.) Saturday, December 3 2011-12 OMEA All-State band auditions (second round) (TBA) 2011-12 OMEA All-State orchestra auditions (TBA) Speech tournament (TBA) (BHS) Wrestling: Junior varsity at Sand Springs (TBA) Wrestling: Varsity at Kansas-Oklahoma tournament in Caney, Kan. (TBA) SAT testing (8 a.m.) (BHS) Speech tournament awards assembly in Fine Arts Center auditorium (4 p.m.) (BHS) Sunday, December 4 (No events scheduled)

Editing, writing, design and photography by David Austin, Bartlesville Public School District’s community relations coordinator, unless otherwise noted

Monday, December 5 Basketball: Boys and girls 8th grade White at Sand Springs tournament (TBA) Basketball: Freshman boys and girls at Sand Springs tournament (TBA) 2011 BHS and Central Holiday Choir Concert at Fine Arts Center (7 p.m.) Tuesday, December 6 Bruins for Christ in library (7:25 a.m.) (Madison) Basketball: Junior varsity boys and girls at Broken Arrow (4 p.m.) Swimming: Varsity boys and girls host Tulsa Washington and Fort Gibson (5:30 p.m.) Wrestling: Junior high hosts Coweta (6 p.m.) Wrestling: Varsity hosts Coweta (6 p.m.) Basketball: Varsity boys and girls at Broken Arrow (6:30 p.m.) 2011 Mid-High and Madison Holiday Choir Concert at Fine Arts Center (7 p.m.) Wednesday, December 7 Central Parent Support Group meeting in library (noon)

“Leaders In Education”

Thursday, December 8 Basketball: Boys and girls 8th grade White at Sand Springs tournament (TBA) Basketball: Freshman boys and girls at Sand Springs tournament (TBA) Student council officers and representatives meeting in room 320 (7:45 a.m.) (Central) BHS Parent Support Group meeting in hospitality room (noon) Wrestling: Junior high at Sand Springs (6 p.m.) Wrestling: Varsity at Sand Springs (6 p.m.)