Congrats 5th Grade Grads!
“You’re off to great places, today is your day, you’re off to great places so get on your way!”
We know you’ll do great things in your future, and you’ll always have a home and someone else who loves you, at your elementary school!
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Happy retirement to Debbie Bonham. Let's give her a virtual 👏ovation for her years of service in the comments.
🍎 What year did you start teaching for CPS and at what school? 1982 at Leeper Middle School
🍎 How many years were you a CPS employee? 40 years all at CPS
🍎 What you are most proud of in your time at CPS? I am most proud of the connections I have made while at CPS. I love watching the success my former students achieve as they move on to high school and college. The bonds I have formed with students and colleagues will be something I treasure forever.
🍎 What are the memories you will take with you? Sweet faces!! I have so many amazing memories it would be hard to narrow down to just a few. Notes I have saved from students and parents remind me that hopefully, I have touched their lives just as much as they have touched mine. Those are the memories I want to keep locked in my mind. I became a teacher hoping to make a difference in the world. So many faces, encouraging words, hugs, and unlocked potential will be memories I will always cherish!
🍎 What advice would you give a new teacher?
-Give yourself grace! You are learning and will make mistakes. You’ll become a better teacher because of it. Lean on colleagues for advice. It is okay to ask for help.
-Really KNOW your students. You are a huge and influential part of their development. Remember, on the hard days, with the hard students, that they are still somebody’s baby. Love the ones who seem unlovable. The rewards are amazing.
-Every student who walks through your door gets to start with a clean slate. -Past behaviors don’t have to predict future performance. Each day is a new beginning for your students and for you. Everyone deserves a do-over!
-Never stop learning! New things keep you energized and effective. You will be surprised how much you actually learn from your students.
-Build relationships within your building. That bond will strengthen you. -Surround yourself with positive people. Always be someone who is helping row the boat, and not the one complaining that the boat isn’t moving! -Take time for yourself! You will never be able to give your best to your students if you neglect yourself.
-Model the expectations you have for your students yourself. Set those expectations high. Most times you get what you ask for! -Never underestimate your value! Sometimes you are the only positive influence a child has. You truly are their soft place to land.
-Lastly, don’t ever give up! This job is REALLY hard at times. It is really heartbreaking at times. It is really frustrating at times. But…the reward of making a difference to a child every single day by far outshines the hard things.
🍎 What does it mean to be a Zebra to you? Being a Zebra means being a part of a hugely supportive family! From the top administration down to the youngest students, we belong together. It doesn't matter which school you come from, we are all proud Zebras!
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Our seniors are not the only ones graduating. CPS Pre-K are graduating to kindergarten! The future looks bright for our Zebras!
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
"Water" you doing to celebrate the last day of school?
L😎😎ks like our students are enjoying a variety of water fun as they prepare for summer break!
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
⚠ WARNING - be prepared to smile, laugh, and get all the feels.
What did you want to be when you were a kindergartner? Some of our Zebra Kindergarten Graduates share their future goals with us.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE ▶ https://youtu.be/hgH8B174gGo
Video credits - CPS Communications Intern, @Hailey Pickup.
On her last day as a CHS senior, Caroline Cowherd signed her letter of intent to join the dance team at the University of Central Oklahoma, surrounded by family, friends, and coaches. Although she will always be a Zebra, she will be a Broncho this fall. Caroline will also continue her academic career as a President's Leadership Scholar at UCO.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Did you hear the CHS staff challenged the seniors to a basketball game during Encore this week?
Watch it here to see who won ▶ https://youtu.be/NvqUXL7JcQA
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Senior Celebration 2022 - Check out our graduating seniors and their next steps.
Thank you to all those who submitted slides! ▶ https://youtu.be/uhl6iWy8cdY
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
We had a few more staff members and graduates to feature so we are continuing our COUNTDOWN...TO SUMMER - 1 Day
Kai and his mom Mrs. Jenny Shultz.
Kai Shultz began his Zebra career at WRJH in 7th grade. He was involved in wrestling and the AP/Pre-AP programs at CHS and concurrent classes at RSU. He will remember the teachers who helped him tremendously, “They went above and beyond and had a huge impact on me.”
Mrs. Jenny Shultz is a special education teacher at Claremont and has been on staff at CPS for 7 years. Her fondest memory is when Kai was awarded the Ironman award for wrestling this year. He is the only wrestler to ever weigh in and wrestle in every match from 7th to 12th grade at CPS. It was a monumental accomplishment.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Paiten Reavis broke the Claremore High School 400-meter dash record in the preliminary round of the OSSAA State Track Meet last week, covering the quarter-mile distance in 59.77 seconds.
The time sent her past the previous record holder, Katelyn Alexander who set the record in 2016 with a time of 59.78 seconds.
Reavis is still undecided on her next step as it relates to athletics with a few offers on the table for collegiate softball and track to contemplate.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Join us for our last ZTV news of the 2021-2022 school year. Hosts Hailey Pickup and Chloe Copenhaver give us some final announcements. We learn more about Project CEEP Coffee Cart, see Assistant Principal Brooke Lee try to play the trumpet, and the ZTV crew play CHS Family Feud.
▶ https://youtu.be/h65cWtUezkg
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
We had a few more staff members and graduates to feature so we are continuing our COUNTDOWN...TO SUMMER - 2 Days
Coleton Martin attended Claremont in 5th grade then headed to WRJH and CHS. He was an athletic manager. He will remember everything from Mrs. Savage’s humanities class. He said, “It is probably my favorite class I’ve ever taken.”
Mrs. Crystal Martin works at WRJH as a Co-Teacher in one of our labs. She has been with CPS for 8 years. Her fondest memory is getting to watch Coleton do what he loves to do as a football manager, he devoted countless hours to filming games and practices and being Coach Eddy’s right hand man. She knows he will definitely miss his football family.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Mr. Brian Key was awarded the prestigious Honorary FFA Degree this week. One of the greatest honors of an FFA Advisor is to present an individual with the Honorary Degree. As stated in the official ceremony, "It's always a pleasure to receive honorary members into the FFA. The purpose of this ceremony is to recognize, from time to time, the efforts of others made on our behalf." It states that this prestigious award goes to those helping to advance agriculture education and the FFA and who have rendered outstanding service and may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the members.
When it came time to select this year's recipient, it didn't take long for the members to unanimously agree that the one person to receive this award was Coach/Principal Brian Key.
Coach Key stops by the ag building almost weekly to check up on the students, find out what activities or events we're headed to that week and always ask how the students are doing. He regularly brings projects from home that the students fix or repair for him as well... Coach Key is Mr. Boyer's evaluating principal and is always asking us what we need to be successful. He continuously states that he appreciates both Ms. Hankins and myself and our dedication to all Claremore FFA members. If you know Coach Key, then you know, he's nothing but a big teddy bear that wants all students to succeed at something.
So, Coach Key, the Claremore FFA members and advisors, would like to tell you they appreciate YOU!!
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
#ZebraTravelDiaries - SUMMER BREAK 2022 As you head out on vacations, staycations, day trips, camp, zoo, playdates, or any other summer fun, send us your pictures in your ZEBRA GEAR and tell us where you are and we'll share them with our community. You don't have to be going far, you just have to show your #CPSZEBRAPRIDE (sporting your ZEBRA logo) when you are there. Stay safe, have fun, and email photos to jbrace@claremore.k12.ok.us.
We had a few more staff members and graduates to feature so we are continuing our COUNTDOWN...TO SUMMER - 3 Days
Lane Johnson is involved in FFA and band. He will always remember his elementary years at CPS.
Ms. Tonya Johnson works at WRJH in the janitorial department. Although she has been on staff for 2 years she is a 1993 CHS graduate. Her favorite memory is watching Lane march in halftime shows at football games and in the annual Claremore Christmas parades.
#CPSZEBARPRIDE
In Mrs. Rippy's Kindergarten class learning is not boring! Students are learning math skills such as how to count, compare and understand addition. They have a hot cocoa learning center equipped with cups and cotton balls for marshmallows. Keep counting Little Zebras!
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Pre-K students have so much fun together as we wind down this school year! They have learned so many things this year - including the value of being a good friend and sharing with one another.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
ZTV debuted the 2022 CHS Disney Channel LipDub at graduation. You can check it out here if you were not in the stands on Sunday.
This annual event cumulates the end of school, provides a school-wide team project, instills #CPSZEBRAPRIDE, gives our ZTV students an assignment to tie in all their digital editing skills, and entertainment for our community. It develops our students the opportunity to build their soft skills too - time management, project management, interpersonal relationships, leadership, grit, and many others. It is definately one of those events our students will take about 5, 10, 20 years after it is over. We are truly "All In This Together." 🎶
▶ https://youtu.be/7YoJ4hOWg_A
We’re done…for the night.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
Pre-K students were challenged to make something new out of things we might just throw away. This was a part of an Earth Day project that was geared toward teaching students how to take care of our planet.
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE
