Claremore Public Schools

This week's Fridays With Frazier features another finalist for the District Teacher of the Year, Andrea Ratcliff. Mrs. Ratcliff is an Art Teacher at Westside Elementary and also oversees the yearbook. Although she started teaching in 2006, she joined CPS in 2017. Mrs. Ratcliff and her husband, Chris, have two children who attend school at Westside and WRJH. She holds certification as a Secondary Principal (5-12), Elementary Principal (PK-8), Art (PK-12), and Physical Education/Health/Safety (PK-12). She taught and/or coached students from ages 4 to 24 throughout her career. She had an article published in a national magazine covering PLCs' principles and how they apply to sports teams. When asked what was her why and she told us, "The students, always the students. They are my why. The students, their enthusiasm and their creative minds." She felt an immediate draw at Westside when she brought her daughter in for a school tour. Westside felt like a place of belonging, a place of potential, and a place to grow professionally. Always giving credit to her fellow peers and administrator, she is also thankful for coworkers who have made the move from Arkansas a warm, welcoming environment & a place to grow as a teacher. Favorite Quote - "Your life is your life don't let it be clubbed into dank submission. be on the watch. there are ways out. there is light somewhere. it may not be much light but it beats the darkness. be on the watch. the gods will offer you chances. know them. take them. you can't beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes. and the more often you learn to do it, the more light there will be. your life is your life. know it while you have it. you are marvelous the gods wait to delight in you." -- by Charles Bukowski Watch her in action in this video. https://youtu.be/Oy-_hznwOh0 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

MLK day is a perfect opportunity to discuss the principle of equality and how we should treat all people. Mrs. Ward's first graders had an object lesson about how things can look differently on the outside but be the same on the inside using eggs. She then asked them how MLK wanted everyone to be treated, and here are some of their answers? https://youtu.be/mgxDcu67Y7E #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. Sayre Whitaker, Westside Elementary teacher, wants you to know how CPSF has made a difference in her classroom and with her students. If you have ever received a grant from CPSF, comment on the CPS FB and tell us your story. Bonus points for a photo! https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/article/388886 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

A dynamic high school science curriculum is designed to spark interest in the fields of science and medicine, in addition to exposing students to exciting careers. Mr. McQueen's Biomed class at CHS, completed a blood-testing lab. This interactive, hands-on learning experience gives students the opportunity to become familiar with the fascinating field of hematology. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. Edinger’s class at Westside is hard at work in their math centers! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. Tracey Casey's Courteous Campers at Catalayah used Jamboard on their iPads to practice regrouping. Jamboard is like a digital dry erase board. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Do you have to have snow to build a snowman? Not at Roosa Elementary! The hallways are decorated in beautiful and creative snowmen! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Anyone recognize the students in this Mrs. Orender's 1994 3rd grade class at Claremont Elementary? If so, tag your friends. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The power of the mind is becoming increasingly more apparent. That's why we focus our #WellnessWednesday activity on mindset development, meditation, and mindfulness. Our mindset forms the foundation and plays a significant role in our overall success and happiness. That's why it's so vital for us to find ways to improve our mindset. Failing to do so puts you at a significant disadvantage, as this may allow your mindset to hold you back. We encourage you to start daily affirmations with your child! Daily affirmations are a great way to build confidence in kids! _____________________________________________ Tell your child: "You are special and you have something you can feel positive about every single day!" #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

All in a day's work in Mrs. Stolusky's Sweet Smiling Kindergarten class at Catalayah... 😊 practiced reading and writing our sight words 😊 practiced counting syllables in words and writing our ABC's 😊 practiced cutting and rearranging words to make a sentence 😊 played learning games on our iPads 😊 practiced counting by 10s and then counting on 😊 practiced writing our numbers to 70, annnndddd 🎉 had a lot of fun along the way 😴 whew...what a day!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Managing all those sites you've bookmarked. #TechTipTuesday Adding and removing bookmarks can be easy, but it’s the management of all the sites that help make life easier. This #TechTipTuesday will show users how to access the bookmark manager, create a folder for bookmarks, and organize bookmarks. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE https://youtu.be/n707cv8RXBE

CHS GEAR UP will award over 13K in college fee scholarships to CHS students enrolled in concurrent classes in the Fall of 2020 and/or Spring of 2021. This special assistance is a one time opportunity. Students already in concurrent classes have their tuition waived in a cooperative agreement with local colleges. This GEAR UP grant will result in CHS students who pass those classes receiving FREE college credit. Claremore High School has 30 students taking advantage of the concurrent agreement and will leave high school with college credit. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Did you get to celebrate National Popcorn Day??? Catalayah was poppin' to celebrate! The kids (and teachers) were so excited to smell the yummy popcorn cooking in the hall. What a nice treat we were able to share with our students today. 🍿 What's your favorite popcorn? #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

WRJH and CHS competed in their first robotics event of the year; it was a huge success! With 24 teams participating, the competition was tough, but our crews were formidable opponents. The experience allowed students to plan, implement, compare, and ultimately evaluate their robot and it's performance. All the students eagerly anticipate the upgrades to their robots. Winning is fun, but learning is forever. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Kindergarten students in Mrs. Crabb's class at Claremont talked about MLK Jr., equality, and kindness this past week. The students squeezed toothpaste on a plate then compared it to when we speak to another person. Mrs. Crabb talked with her students about how we can't get the toothpaste back in the tube, much like we can not take hurtful words back after being spoken. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Fifth grade was expanding their vocabulary and geography skills at Roosa Elementary! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

As the busyness of life begins to speed up, our #MondayMotivation reminds us to be present today. It's more important to be present and make progress versus seeking perfection. Wherever you are, be all there. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Today Mr. Frazier takes you into the classroom of one of our finalists for District Teacher of the Year. @Karin Howell teaches 2nd grade at @Claremont Elementary and is a Class of 2008 CHS Alum. She is currently an Academic Language Practitioner and is working to become a certified Dyslexia Therapist. When asked why she is a teacher, she said, "Teaching is her caffeine. I could be exhausted, but as soon as those precious faces walk through my door, I overflow with energy and an abundance of pouring out love. By being a teacher, I become a better human. It challenges me in the utmost stressful ways. But through those challenges, the silver lining is shown. I wouldn't rather do ANYTHING else." When she found out, my husband accepted a Tulsa job; she started looking for jobs in her hometown, Claremore. She came across a position at Claremont and saw Mrs. @Randa Fey was the principal. She immediately desired to work under her because of the massive impact on her life as a high school student. That was in 2012, and she continues to enjoy working with her and growing under her leadership. Her favorite quote is, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Watch her in action on this week's Fridays With Frazier. https://youtu.be/qhtzeN02Mhw #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. McCracken's 5th grade science class, at Catalayah, invited us to participate in their science experiment. They learned about force; all forces have strength and direction - which are equally important. Think of it like golf; you have to hit the ball in the right direction AND swing with the correct amount of strength for the ball to go in the hole. The egg balancing on top of the toilet paper roll and the pie plate demonstrates a balanced force. The cardboard roll is holding the egg up, while gravity is also forcing it down. When the students hit the pie plate, the forces become unbalanced, and the stronger force (gravity) makes the egg fall into the cup of water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vTK3Uht-kM What are some science experiments you remember from elementary school? #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Richard "Rick" Mosier, Vice President, has been a part of the Zebra family for 48 years. After graduating from CHS, Mr. Mosier went on to earn his BA in Agriculture from Oklahoma State University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa. Mr. Mosier began his service to his alma mater as a CPS Board of Education member for Ward 1 in August 2002 and has continued to be reelected each term. Serving in every position over the years, he is currently the sitting Vice President. President of Robson Properties since 2002. Mosier is actively involved in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and is the J.M. Davis Memorial Commission's Chair. He is married to Teresa and has two daughters, Meredith and Madison - both CHS graduates. Q Why did you choose to serve? A "Opportunity to serve the community and students at Claremore Schools." Q What does being a Zebra mean to you? A "I have been a Zebra for 48 years; it's part of who I am." Q What do you think is the biggest strength of our district? A "The strength of our district is its students! Without their energy and commitment, nothing else works." Q What is your role as a BOE member? A "My role is to provide guidance for the administration to make the best possible educational experience available to all of our students." Q What are you most proud of during your service as a BOE member? A "All of the outstanding accomplishments of our students, teachers, and administration." Q An interesting fact about you? A "Doug Mosier is my brother." #CPSZEBRAPRIDE