Westside Elementary

February is Black History Month. In honor of so, we have highlighted some Famous Black Americans that have persisted and were determined to make a difference. ________________________________________________ Bessie Blount Griffin 1914-2009 Bessie didn't have an easy childhood but grew up bright, innovative, and resilient. In school, she was scolded for writing with her left hand. Instead of getting upset, she not only learned to write with her right hand but taught herself how to write with her feet as well as her teeth! She made the most out of a difficult situation--and it wouldn't be the last time. From an early age, Bessie wanted to help people, so in college she studied nursing and physical therapy. At the end of WWII, she volunteered with the Red Cross to work with injured soldiers. She was so good with the soldiers, they called her "WonderWoman"! She showed those who couldn't use their hands how to write with their feet or teeth, as she had when she was a child. She had many ideas for inventions to help her patients become self-sufficient. One idea was a feeding tube that allowed them control over their own eating: Users could bite down to release a piece of food to be delivered to an attached spoon! Bessie built her device with simple supplies (plastic, hot water, a hammer) and received a patent. She offered it to the US Veterans Administration, but they were not interested, so she donated it to the French government. She wanted people to know "that a black woman can invent something for the benefit of humankind." Bessie later worked as a forensic scientist, examining handwriting for law enforcement, and in 1977 she trained at the famous Scotland Yard in England, where officers fondly called her "Mom Bessie." She opened her own business, examining and preserving pre-Civil War slave documents, and worked toward opening a museum. In her long life, Bessie achieved many things, but helping others was always her goal. She worked into her eighties, determined to leave a legacy and preserve history to share with future generations. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

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

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

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.

Welcome to #FridayFunnies, where we share funny things that happen in the classroom! For today's edition we are traveling back to the land of short attention spans....Pre-K _______________________________________________________ Teacher (while talking about her puppy): He chews on EVERYTHING! Student: Is that what happened to your jeans? Teacher: No. I actually bought them like that. Student: why?_________________________________________________________________ This concludes today's edition of #FridayFunnies, join us next Friday for more laughs! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

February is Black History Month. In honor of so, we have highlighted some Famous Black Americans that have persisted and were determined to make a difference. ____________________________________________________ Nelson Mandela 1918-2013 As a member of the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid in South Africa. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. This led to twenty-six years of imprisonment. Under pressure by anti-apartheid groups worldwide, the government freed him in 1990. Nelson helped end apartheid and was elected president of South Africa in 1994. Widely regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice, he received more than 250 honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Thembu clan name, Madiba, and described as the "Father of the Nation". #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Karen Olari Teacher in the Elementary Setting Thank you for your dedication to Westside! ________________________________________________________ Karen Olari has been teaching for 12 years after being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. She began her teaching career in Broken Arrow in the middle school drama class. She transitioned to teaching in the education setting and is completing her fourth year at Westside. She is the proud mother of two young men, Riker (CHS 2017) and Drake (SHS 2020). She has called Claremore her home since she was 5 years old...she even attended Westside as a Kindergartener so many moons ago. Karen enjoys creating machine embroidery items having just taught herself this new skill in recent years. ___________________________________________________________ Students are exercising the Life Principal of Curiosity as they examine rock formations. _____________________________________________________________ Group Photo: Students are exercising the Life Principals of Compassion and Cooperation as they make Applesauce Scarecrows to share with teachers. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

February is Black History Month. In honor of so, we have highlighted some Famous Black Americans that have persisted and were determined to make a difference. Jackie Robinson 1919-1972 Jackie Robinson broke the barrier in Major League Baseball (MLB). Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. During his 10-year MLB career, Robinson won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1954, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949—the first black player honored. Robinson played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship. In 1997, MLB retired his uniform number 42 across all major league teams; he was the first professional athlete in any sport to be so honored. MLB also adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", for the first time on April 15, 2004, on which every player on every team wears No. 42. Robinson's character, his use of nonviolence, and his talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation that had then marked many other aspects of American life. He influenced the culture of and contributed significantly to the civil rights movement. Robinson also was the first black television analyst in MLB and the first black vice president of a major American corporation, "Chock full o'Nuts". In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based in Harlem, New York. After his death in 1972, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the field. His success in playing America's pastime showed that black people could excel if given an even playing field. He inspired people to fight for equality. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

February is Heart Awareness Month According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. February is the month dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease. This month is dedicated to increasing knowledge about prevention, educating ourselves on the dangers of, and to helping get on track to better heart health! Let’s talk about warning signs and symptoms, because early action is very important. Do you know the symptoms? Help you or your loved ones prevent death or serious injury by knowing these warning signs: *Chest pain or discomfort *Upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach *Shortness of breath *Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats Many sudden cardiac deaths occur outside a hospital. This suggests that many people with heart disease don't act on early warning signs. Remember the adage, “Knowledge is Power.” As knowing these, acting fast, and acting EARLY can reduce these unsettling statistics. Most recognize chest pain as a symptom of a heart attack, but knowing all major symptoms and knowing to call 911 when someone is experiencing a heart attack is what saves lives. #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

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

For all you "planners" out there... the CPS Academic Calendar for 2021-22 has been approved by the Board of Education. It goes without saying, but just in case, this is official unless we have any unforeseen situations come up in the future. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/page/academic-calendars

February is Black History Month. In honor of so we have highlighted some Famous Black Americans that have persisted and were determined to make a difference. _____________________________________________________________ Raven Wilkinson 1935-2018 Raven's love for dance began at age five, when her mother took her to a performance by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Fifteen years later, she made history by becoming their first full-time African American dancer. It was not an easy journey. The life of a ballerina is never easy, but Raven also faced prejudice and discrimination because of her race. The Ballet Russe toured through the segregated South, and it was risky to have an integrated cast. Friends warned her that they would never take her because she was black. Her talent was undeniable, though, and in 1955, Raven was accepted on a trial basis. She was fair-skinned, so she was encouraged to wear white makeup. She kept her race a secret but refused to lie when she was asked outright. Even though she had a successful two years with the Ballet Russe, racism put limitations on her career. Exhausted and heartbroken, she left dance for awhile. In 1967, she was invited to join the Dutch National Ballet and moved to Holland for six years. As she was nearing the age of forty, she believed her dancing career to be over, so she retired and moved back to the United States. Almost immediately she received a call from the ballet master at the New York City Opera and was asked to dance with them at Lincoln Center. Raven danced until she was fifty and continued acting in the opera until 2011. Every step of the way was a challenge, but Raven persisted. Her strength and grace led the way for dancers such as Misty Copeland to take on the role of principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre and defy long-standing beauty and body standards for ballerinas. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Due to the icy conditions, CPS will continue Distance Learning, Thursday, February 11th & Friday, February 12th. Additionally, the child nutrition team will not distribute meals this week. Check in to your Google Classrooms and follow the instructions. Your teachers are working from home and are available to assist you. There will be no after school activities, including athletic practices or games. We will post updates on the CPS communication platforms. If you have not downloaded our CPS App on your phone, we suggest doing that to receive the most updated information. It's available through the Apple Store & Google Play for free. Be safe, stay warm, make a memory, and remember it's A Great Day to be a Zebra. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Cindy McCaughan Teacher in an Elementary Setting Thank you for your dedication to Westside! __________________________________________________________ My name is Cindy McCaughan and I have been an Elementary Education Teacher for 7 years. I was an Early Intervention paraprofessional for many years while working on my Bachelor of Arts in Education. My husband Ron and I have a son and daughter-in-law, Caleb and Taylor and their new son Axel. We also have a daughter Gabriella. I am an avid reader and LOVE to travel. One of my favorite places to travel and relax is Homer, Alaska.

February 10th marks the 100th Day of School! Stay tuned to our Facebook page where you will see Photos and Videos from the day! #100daysbrighter #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing.... Mrs. Rachel Hammack Teacher in the Elementary Setting Thank you for your dedication to Westside. _________________________________________________________ Rachel Hammack has taught 2nd/3rd grade elementary for 2 years. Prior to that she was a paraprofessional for 9 years. She has a degree in Fashion Merchandising and currently in school at NSU to receive her special education degree. She lives in Claremore with her husband Alex and they have four children, Austin, Tyler, Nathan, and Carrie. She has two daughter-in-laws, Kyler and Shelby and a son-in-law, Jack. Rachel has one grandson, Cohen, who is 4 month old. She graduated from Claremore High School, attended the University of Oklahoma and loves to watch any OU sport, babysit her grandson, and spend time with her family. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

February is Black History Month. In honor of so we have highlighted some Famous Black Americans that have persisted and were determined to make a difference. ______________________________________________________ Garrett Morgan 1877-1963 Garrett was always interested in how things worked. He had no schooling past grade school, but he didn't let that hold him back. By the age of fourteen, he had worked as a handyman, and by eighteen, he had taught himself enough to get jobs at sewing machine companies around Cleveland. In 1901, Garrett sold his first invention (a part for a sewing machine), and a few years later, he was able to open up his own shop! He soon became a successful businessman and inventor. In 1914, Garrett filed a patent for his next invention. After witnessing a fire, he noticed that the firefighters combated the blazes with no protection over their eyes or face. He thought that a mask could shield the men and keep them from inhaling smoke. He devised a safety hood that covered the face, using a hose to access fresh air from below. Many people were reluctant to buy inventions made by a black man, so he often hired white actors to conduct demonstrations so customers would give his creations a chance. Eventually, his business grew, and fire departments in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York were using his hood! Garrett wasn't just an inventor and businessman, though--he was also a hero. After a tunnel explosion in 1916, Garrett, using his safety hood, rushed in to pull out workers. He saved two lives! In 1923, he filed a patent for his next invention. At the time, automobiles were on the rise and were sharing the road with horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and pedestrians. Traffic signals went from STOP to GO with no notice, and it was dangerous. After Garrett witnessed a terrible crash, he had an idea for a warning signal. This was a precursor to the red, yellow, and green signals used today! Garrett paid attention to the world around him and looked for opportunities everywhere. He proved that inventing wasn't just about coming up with new ideas but could also be about improving upon existing ideas, helping people, and making the world a safer place. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Cindy McCaughan Special Education Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! __________________________________________________________ My name is Cindy McCaughan and I have been a Special Education Teacher for 7 years. I was an Early Intervention paraprofessional for many years while working on my Bachelor of Arts in Special Education. My husband Ron and I have a son and daughter-in-law, Caleb and Taylor and their new son Axel. We also have a daughter Gabriella. I am an avid reader and LOVE to travel. One of my favorite places to travel and relax is Homer, Alaska. _____________________________________________________________ #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

I have decided to stick with LOVE... hate is too great a burden to bear. -Martin Luther King, Jr. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE