Catalayah Elementary

Mrs. Casey's class used Jamboard on their IPads today to practice regrouping. It’s like a digital dry erase board.😊👍🏻 What is your kids favorite thing to do on their ipad??? #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

National Popcorn Day was this week!!! Did you get to celebrate National Popcorn Day??? We celebrated at Catalayah!!!! 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. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

**Staff Spotlight** Librarian, Mrs. James I graduated from Charles Page High School in Sand Springs. Then went on to The University of Tulsa and graduated with my bachelors degree in English, with Elementary Education as my area of specialization. I received my masters degree in reading, and my Certification in Library Media and Information Technology from Northeastern University in 2003. I completed my National Board Certification in 2006. I knew early on that I wanted to work with children in some capacity. I decided in my 2nd year of college that teaching would be the most rewarding. Providing love and support to children, and giving them the tools to live happy and productive lives makes me feel proud. I have been teaching for 24 years. I began teaching in Claremore and have never left! I taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, all at Claremont. I became the librarian at Claremont for the last 2 years I was there. I have been at Catalayah since it opened, as the librarian. In my free time I like to spend time with my family and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. I have been married for 34 years to my high school sweetheart, Tony. He has worked for Baker Hughes for 30 years in finance and as Compliance Manager. We have 3 grown children, one granddaughter, and one grandson on the way! If I could be any book character I would want to be Ms. Frizzle, because she is the embodiment of what a successful teacher possesses. She makes learning meaningful and fun! My favorite quote is "Character is how you treat those that can do nothing for you," by Nelson Mandela One thing I want to do that I've never done is write a children's book!

Claremore Public School Celebrates School Board Recognition Month The Claremore Public School (CPS) District joins school districts throughout Oklahoma to celebrate School Board Recognition Month, Superintendent Bryan Frazier announced. "Our school board members are volunteers who shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices for our District, all without pay. Their goal focuses on the future success of the children in our District," Superintendent Frazier said. "Celebrating School Board Recognition Month is one way to say thanks for all they do." Rea more here: https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/o/cps/article/382373

**Staff Spotlight** Virtual Teacher, Ms. Toops I graduated high school from Liberty Mounds and went to college at Oklahoma State University! Go Pokes!! I love being in a profession that is about helping, learning and seeing students grow into the best they can be. I have been teaching for 15 years. The last 6 years has been at Catalayah Elementary! I enjoy working in my yard, decorating, reading, traveling and having fun with my family. I have 2 daughters, ages 38 and 30. I have been single for 24 years!! :) Favorite quote- Bloom where you are planted! Also, I would love to go skydiving.

I had so much fun with Mrs. McCrackens 5th grade Science class. They invited me to come participate in their Science experiment. In this lesson we 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 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 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

@Claremore Public School Foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year will look a little different this year due to Covid-19 BUT it will still be fun and competitive with all the #CPSZEBRAPRIDE bragging rights! Please go to their website to register for this virtual competition! https://claremorepublicschoolsfoundation.org/events/

Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!! We would like to say a special THANK YOU to our School Resource Officers. We appreciate all you do for Catalayah and Claremore Public Schools!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

It’s been a great week back at school!! Don’t forget- tomorrow is Distance Learning!!

*Staff Spotlight* 4th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Williams I graduated High School from Oologah High School and then went on to college at RSU, OSU and NSU. I have been teaching for 18 years, the last 5 years have been at Catalayah. My favorite thing about teaching is I love the spontaneous moments in the classroom when a personal connection is made between students and the material that's being learned. In my free time I enjoy gardening, reading, cooking and riding my motorcycle. I have been married to Nathan for 6 years. Nathan also works for Claremore Public Schools in the Tech Department. We have 3 children. A book character I would like to be is Laura Ingalls because she was so spunky and adventurous. My favorite quote is: "Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you will be criticized anyway."- Eleanor Roosevelt One thing I would like to do that I've never done before is to ride my motorcycle on a tour of lighthouses along the east coast. Have your kids ever had Mrs. Williams?? Tell us their favorite memories about Mrs. Williams. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

A picture is worth a thousand words. We hear it all the time. It can be especially helpful when communicating in our digital world to show a picture of something rather than typing it out. Or, maybe there is a certain point to be made by saving a portion of what is on the computer screen. Using the Windows Snip & Sketch application will help accomplish that. This #TechTipTuesday will demonstrate the many ways Microsoft’s Snip & Sketch can be used to capture images of what is on a computer screen and shared, posted, or saved for later reference. https://youtu.be/PZ_F60PbNPw

Good afternoon, these past few weeks have been an excellent respite for our Zebra families, but we are now ready to embrace the educational opportunities 2021 will bring. Tomorrow, Jan. 4th, classes will resume at their regularly scheduled time at all our sites. We will continue to implement our COVID protocols: wear a mask, watch our social distancing, and frequently wash hands . Please come prepared with the mask that was provided at the beginning of the year or a personal one. As we continue to mitigate the COVID-19 virus, we ask you, please stay home and contact your principal immediately if you have any of the following within the last week: 1. have been in direct contact with a COVID case, 2. had a positive test within the 10 days 3. are waiting on the results of a COVID test, or 4. are showing any symptoms. We look forward to the lightbulb moments, personal growth, and all our Zebras filling up the halls with the laughter, chatter, and smiles they bring with them.

The announcement you've all been waiting for... the winners of the U-G-L-Y Sweater competition. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's district-wide event. Congratulations to the site staff winner, Mrs. Tietz from WRJH, and the winner of the principal's competition, Mrs. Hinds from Westside Elementary. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Our 5th graders have been working on Lighting up the world with Kindness!! What an awesome thing to work on!! What are some ways you and your family will light up the world with kindness??? Ask your kids now and share their ideas in the comments! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

It's time to VOTE on the SCHOOL SITE STAFF with the U-G-L-Y (est) Christmas Sweater! You can only vote 1 time in the comments on the CPS FB page. The winner will be selected at 9AM on Dec. 24th. The winners of both the Principal & Staff competitions will be announced on Christmas Day. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

It's time to VOTE on the Principal (or Asst.) with the U-G-L-Y (est) Christmas Sweater! You can only vote 1 time in the comments on the CPS FB page. The winner will be selected at 9AM on Dec. 23rd. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Fridays with Frazier moves from COVID and computers to the magic that happens in the classroom. This week we feature Mrs. Laurie Titsworth’s Pre-K class at Westside Elementary School, where they incorporated the magic of the season to teach letters, sounds, reinforce colors, introduce graphing, all tied together with a bow and a book. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaremorePublicSchools/videos/392954968432754 Youtube: https://youtu.be/fWRViAkZaZ0 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Today marks the first day of a long holiday break. May you and your loved ones make the most of this time together during this Christmas season. Many of us are looking forward to sending 2020 on its way and ringing in a new year filled with hope in 2021. We will see you again when that school bell rings on January 4th. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

What a sweet surprise we had this morning!!! Our PTO brought goodies for our teachers. Delicious coffee from Green Eyes and other sweet treats. We appreciate our PTO for all they do for our students and teachers!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

I found these cute projects hanging outside our first grade classes. They told us what they wished would fall from the sky like snow. Money, hamburgers, Lamborghinis, and marshmallows. I also saw some kids were wanting cats, turtles, tables, candy and toys. What would you want to fall from the sky like snow??? #CPSZEBRAPRIDE