Catalayah Elementary

❤ Wear RED for ED on Tuesday, February 23rd to show your support for public education. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #PUBLICSCHOOLPROUD

Weekly Reminders for Feb 22-26

Random Acts of Kindness Week- Saturday Today is the last day of Kindness Week but that doesn't mean the Kindness has to stop. Keep it up Catalayah!! Today we are going to celebrate our neighbors. What can you do that is nice and kind for your neighbors?? Surprise them!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE We would love to hear about your kindness to your neighbors!!

Community Announcement Mercy Chef’s Community food distribution, until supplies last: Feb. 20th from 1-3p at Real Life Church on Blue Starr. Light of Hope & Mercy Chefs are blessed to partner together and “help people see the HOPE!” Please share with your family and friends.

This is the last video from Mrs. Newman's class. They did such a great job reciting the Kindness Pledge. I'm so glad they shared it with us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZKCQ6_bsZk #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Random Acts of Kindness Week- Friday Today lets focus on our friends. Friends are special! Take a few minutes today to send them a note, draw them a picture or even a quick text. Maybe you could even facetime with them. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Betsy Douthitt, the Kindergarten teacher, is the Catalayah Elementary School site Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Douthitt cherishes every day with her students - a new journey, a new day to make a difference in theory lives. She is fueled by those "aha" moments, from writing their name to tying their shoes for the first time. "Students come to me from various backgrounds and vastly different skill levels each year. Regardless of their abilities, I meet each student at their level and work with them to make sure they get what they need academically, socially, and emotionally to be successful in the future. I help to develop and instill in my students a love of learning, which will follow them throughout their lives." Mrs. Douthitt centers her instruction around an educational partnership with students, parents, and administration to include academics and social/emotional development. "They know every day --- I will communicate with them and their parents clear expectations, greet them at the door with a smile, be patient, follow an organized routine and be flexible. My kindergarteners can count on me!!" #CPSZEBRAPRIDE https://bit.ly/2OLVaJH

Here are some more videos of Mrs. Newman's class saying the Kindness Pledge!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltts0Gk_jUk #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Every morning at school Mrs. Newmans Kindergarten class says the Kindness Pledge. Here are some of her students saying the Pledge for us. Stay tuned..... more are on the way!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx6bTyN3joI #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Now that its warming up outside its the perfect time to get back in on this running challenge. Medals will be awarded for top student and a pizza party for the top class. Make sure you record your mile. s. Challenge ends March 10th #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

**Staff Spotlight** Pre- K Teacher, Mrs. Cole I graduated from Owasso High School. Then I received my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and my Master's from The University of Oklahoma- Boomer Sooner!! The best part about teaching the littles is seeing the excitement on their faces when they com to school each day. They love school, they love to learn and they have the best stories! I have been teaching for 22 years, 14 at Claremore and the last 10 have been at Catalayah. If I could be any book character I would probably want to be Pete the Cat, because there is always a positive message with his stories and the kids love when I read those stories to them. I have been married to my husband Casey for 13 years, and together for 20. I have 3 kids, Hunter, Gunnar and Caitlin who is married and made me a grandma to my first grand children- Casen and Kyler. My husband Casey works in Aviation for L-3 Harris. In my free time I love hiking, cycling, college football and anything outdoors with family, especially with my two grandsons. One thing I want to do that I have never done before is hike Half Dome all the way! It's a 10-12 hour hike in Yosemite. I was nominated by my peers to represent our school as the 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Random Acts of Kindness Week- Wednesday Today would be a great day to Thank your mail carrier or trash man!! Be sure and share you acts of kindness with us. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Random Acts of Kindness Week- Tuesday Do something nice for someone in your family today!! Be sure and share with us your Acts of Kindness! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Random Acts of Kindness Week-MONDAY Show those teachers and staff some love today!!! Click on the link and you can send staff members a nice note. If there is someone you can't find let me know and I will get you their email address. https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/o/catalayah/staff #CPSZEBRAPRIDE Has anyone at your house participated in the Random Acts of Kindness yet?? If so, share with us what they have done!! We would love to hear about it.

Catalayah kids have been doing some really cool stuff. Check out the link below to watch the video!!!! Has anyone tried the snow volcano yet?? Do you have more pictures to share??? Send them to me! You can send them through fb messenger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwYkQLMRqqw #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

**Staff Spotlight** Speech Teacher, Mrs. Wolters I grew up in Ohio and moved to Tulsa when I was eleven. I graduated from Catoosa High School. I attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID and got my associate degree in Elementary Education. I transferred to OSU and got my bachelor degree in Communication Disorders and went to TU for my masters degree. I have worked for Foyil/ Chelsea and Sequoyah Schools. Now I work for STAR Speech Therapy and they have a contract with Claremore Schools. I love Catalayah, it is my favorite!! I love watching kiddos improve their communication skills because it increases their confidence and changes their lives for the better. My favorite quote is "It's okay not to know. It's not okay not to try." and Everything is hard... before it gets easy." I married my high school sweetheart in 1992 while we were in college. My husband, Michael, is an IT Systems Manager at Spectrum Paint. We have 3 children who are all college age. Evan is 23, Lauren is 21 and Madison is 19. They all attend BYU in Provo, UT. Madison is getting ready to serve a mission in Denver, CO in February, speaking Spanish. We love to travel, watch movies, play games and do home projects together. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

We've got another winter weather challenge for our Zebra families. Let's make some Ice Marbles. Put a few drops of food coloring or Kool-aid powder into a balloon then fill with water. Place outside and let it freeze. Depending on how big the balloons are and how cold it is, this will take about 24 hours. Hold them up to the light to see if they are frozen all the way through. Join Finley, Alayna & Brecken from Westside and submit your photos in the comments of the CPS FB page. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

**Random Acts of Kindness Week** A random act of kindness is an unexpected act of kindness done by one person for another without any way to have predicted it. It is one of those “wow, life is sweet and there really is goodness in the world” things that happen and are done for no particular reason. I can't think of a better week to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week. Its going to be a tough week with all the snow, coldness, missing our school friends. Let's be sure and take the time each day to show Kindness to others. How will you and your family participate this week? Be sure and share your kindness acts here! We would love to hear how everyone is showing kindness to friends, family, teachers, mail carriers and even complete strangers. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

**Staff Spotlight** Paraprofessional, Mrs. Silversmith I graduated from Claremore High School, then attended Tulsa Metropolitan College of Legal Studies. What I love about working with kids- I love to make the students feel safe and happy in a learning environment. I have been working at the school for 4 years. 3 years subbing and 1 year as a para. I have been married to my husband Frank for 24 years. We have 4 kids from the ages of 22 to 10. My summers are full of watching my family play soccer, beach volleyball and basketball. I also enjoy spending time gardening. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

All Claremore Public Schools offices and campuses will be closed for Presidents Day on Monday, February 15, 2021. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE