Catalayah Elementary

!! Mrs. Seidel's Running Challenge!! Did you know you can see the leaderboard posted outside the gym!! Is your name on it?? You still have plenty of time to join us. Remember, students may run a mile a day at home, but they must send their mileage to Mrs. Seidels email (jseidel@claremore.k12.ok.us) DAILY, and include how far the student ran, how much time it took, and how the student measured the distance. Mrs. Seidel knows these last two weeks have been hard to get any running/walking accomplished, but we still have 3 weeks and anybody can win. Right now for students, the most miles run are 3.5. Congratulations, Ethan Griffin! Staff members are being led by Mrs. Bero! #CPSZEBRA

BECOMING A ZEBRA - EARLY ENROLLMENT for Pre-K & New K is for students who did not attend PK here in Claremore Schools. Enrollment Sessions: March 8th - 12th by appointment only. Read more here - https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/article/195994

Catalayah is wearing RED to support Claremore Public Schools. WE ARE, PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

**Staff Spotlight** Music Teacher, Mr. J I graduated from South High School in Wichita, KS and then attended Claremore Jr. College/ NSU. I was in the US Navy for 8 years as a Second Class Petty Officer. I served as a Hospital Corpsman. I enjoy seeing students perform and hearing them sing and play instruments. I have been teaching for 24 years. 12 of those years have been at Claremore Public Schools and the last 9 years have been at Catalayah. During my free time I enjoy spending time with my wife Cindy. I have been playing the Saxophone since I was in the 5th grade. My picture hangs on the wall of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Weekly Reminders for Feb 22-26

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

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