School programs highlight student talent
It’s the time of year that schools get very busy right before the hush of Christmas break.
Many students are practicing for winter programs through their school bands, orchestras, choirs, drama groups and elementary classes.
I’ll never forget my fourth-grade program, “The North Pole Goes Rock-n-Roll.” I was a poodle-skirt-wearing elf, and I had one line, which I can’t remember. Although I didn’t go on to star on Broadway, I thought I was a star at the time, and my family did too.
Students work very hard on these programs, and they’re some of the best and cheapest entertainment around.
The Norman School District has a fine arts Web site that lists all of the activities going on at district schools. Visit http://www.norman.k12.ok.us/fpa/CPA.htm to find out more.
Jennifer Griswold, staff writer
Tie one on
Some of you may have added a new name to your holiday gift-giving list — Oklahoma State’s next president V. Burns Hargis.
You may even be tempted to buy him an orange tie or two since he’ll be wearing them 24/7 now.
As a former regent, Hargis has more than a few orange ties, I’m sure. But can you ever really have too many? He joked this week that he might call up former president David Schmidly, now at the University of New Mexico, and see if he still had any to spare. I’m betting Schmidly didn’t make it out of the state with any orange ties.
Today, Hargis was a guest at the OSU Regents meeting in Oklahoma City. I complimented him on his tie, which featured tiny elephants on an orange background — a perfect portrayal of his devotion to both OSU and the Republican Party.
This time Hargis quipped that he’ll have to shop for some non-partisan ties — a neutral shade of orange, you might say.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Plant one here
There’s a neat story in this week’s Home & Garden section about the yearly poinsettia sale at Oklahoma State University’s campus in Oklahoma City. It included the statement that poinsettias aren’t toxic to humans, as is commonly thought.
I wondered if it was safe for pets too. I’d like to get some plants this year but have three dogs and a cat, all known to sample a leafy lunch.
According to Dr. Sandra Morgan, an associate professor at OSU’s veterinary school, the pretty holiday plants have gotten a bad rap over the years.
“Like any plant, if a dog or cat eats too much of it, it will get ill,” she said. She warned that mistletoe is far more toxic to animals than poinsettias.
That’s good news for my pets — and my holiday decor. Not such good news for my husband, who won’t be getting any kisses under the mistletoe.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
From the “duh” files
This just in — Highly-educated University of Texas at Austin researchers have discovered that “College Students Drink More on Game Days!”
Their study found that students drank more on football game days than on Halloween or New Year’s Eve, other holidays with a reputation for inebriation.
Male students drank more for all games. Female students tended to chug-a-lug most during away games.
Said one study author: “Most events associated with heavy drinking occur only one a year, such as Spring Break, or once in a lifetime, such as a 21st birthday, but the weekly football schedule presents students with more regular opportunities to drink.”
The study is published in November’s issue of Addictive Behaviors.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Statehood Day and schools
There’s a video on the Oklahoma City Public Schools Web site of students singing ”I’ve Been Everywhere in Oklahoma” for the state’s 100th birthday.
The Nichols Hills Elementary School students keep up well with the fast-paced tune of Johnny Cash’s drawn-out ditty.
But they’re certainly not the only ones with a centennial tribute in the works.
Tell me, what’s your child’s class planning? And, will it mean you have to use a vacation day to stay home while your child is off for a holiday? I’d like to know how working families work around that situation.
Write to me at wkleinman@oklahoman.com.
Wendy K. Kleinman
Education Reporter
I (HEART) My Teacher
In case you missed it, last Friday marked the start of the holiday gift-buying season. It started early this year, experts said, so that retailers could reel consumers in before the economy slid even further.
These same experts say that people will buy fewer gifts this year. For some people, that might mean Great Aunt Mae doesn’t get a fruitcake this year — not that she wanted one anyway.
But there are a few people that are must-gets in my world. The hair stylist — she has scissor-wielding control of my self-esteem, and my daughters’ teachers, because I really appreciate the job they do.
Usually the teacher gifts are small gestures — a nice candle or a box of chocolates. But what do teachers really want?
Here’s what a story by the Associated Press suggests:
Avoid the No. 1 Teacher mugs and other gimmicky trinkets. The teacher already has many.
Most teachers love hand-made items, even a card handcrafted by your child.
You can’t go wrong with gift certificates, but keep the amount modest. Some districts have rules restricting the monetary amount of gifts.
Chip in with other parents and get a larger gift for the teacher.
I’m not sure what I’ll buy this year (no mugs!) but I usually try to find items that make the teacher feel a bit pampered, nice hand lotion for example.
The hair stylist is another story. She’ll probably get another bottle of wine. For drinking after the hair cut — if I like it.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Treat for Mom Too
I grew up on a farm so trick-or-treating was tricky. We’d drive to some neighbors’ houses and then into “town” to visit a select more friends. The upside to this was that we knew all the candy was safe. But we never experienced the tradition of walking around a neighborhood.
I live in the suburbs now, in a neighborhood I really like. Last night, my daughter and I met up with some other families on our block to trick or treat. This group had lived in the neighborhood a long time, so they knew which houses had the best decorations or really splurged on the treats. My daughter loved traveling in a pack with lots of other kids, and I liked talking to the other parents about such important things as what to do if you are blocks from home but your child needs to use the “facilities.” The answer to that depends on the type of costume said child is wearing.
So while farm life can seem idyllic — and at times it was — I think there’s a lot to be said for reaching out to neighbors that live across the street — not over the next hay field.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Happy Columbus Day
A group of first- and fifth-graders shared their thoughts on Christopher Columbus in Monday’s newspaper.
Some knew who Columbus was and what he did, while others had the idea right if not the facts. Columbus did not sail for forty days and forty nights – just a little confusion with Noah. And he didn’t sail on a pirate ship – maybe a little mix-up there with “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp.
So, why do we really have a holiday Monday?
Columbus was an explorer, born in Genoa, Italy, who made four trips to the New World. While he was not the first person to find the land, he is often considered the founder of the Americas because his voyages and reports back to the king and queen of Spain piqued European interest in the land.
He died thinking he had found the Indies. This was his original goal — to find a shorter route there for trade purposes by sailing west instead of sailing east. This is why he gave modern-day American Indians the name “Indians.”
His ships were the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, but the latter sank on a return trip. About 90 men sailed with Columbus for 10 weeks across the Atlantic Ocean on the famous voyage of 1492. The crew landed in the Bahamas, and on future trips landed in what are now Haiti and Cuba.
In 1937, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared Oct. 12, the day in 1492 when Columbus reached the Americas, Columbus Day. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson changed the date of Columbus Day to the second Monday of October.
Wendy K. Kleinman
Staff Writer
Tax-free spree?
By all accounts, Oklahoma’s first back-to-school sales tax was a big success — for shoppers at least. (The state lost $6.4 million.)
For one weekend last month, no tax was charged on most clothing for children and adults. The event aimed to give a break to families preparing for the start of school.
Now one state lawmaker, Sen. Don Barrington, wants to expand the sales tax holiday to include school supplies. Items would include paper, notebooks, crayons and calculators. Barrington says he’ll introduce legislation to this effect next session.
While the proposal is likely to be met with enthusiasm, it also could lead to lots of questions. Would computers be included since they are pretty much essential to education today? What about text books? The average college student pays $900 a year on assigned texts, according to the General Accounting Office.
What do you think? I don’t think saving 8-cents on a box of pencils is that great a deal, but getting hundreds off the price of a laptop would get my attention. E-mail me at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Something to do during the long weekend
My wedding photos are in! …All 800-something of them, not counting the black-and-white duplicates.
I’m not at all complaining though. The photos are beautiful, and I have the long Labor Day weekend to look through them again more slowly and decide which ones to order prints of.
I got married Aug. 5, in Fort Worth. The ceremony was wonderful – how could it have been anything else? – and our reception at The Fort Worth Club afterward was both elegant and fun.
Twelve stories high in the middle of downtown, the Club is ornately decorated by rich woods and high chandeliers. The band kept everyone on the dance floor.
My husband and I have scanned through the photos, and there are some of us with guests we don’t even remember dancing with or talking to because it was such a whirlwind day, so I’m glad someone else caught all those memories for us.
Even better than just capturing a memory, the pictures capture just how happy we were that day, and how special it was to have so many family and friends – more than 200 of them from 17 states – there to share in our celebration.
Whatever you do during this holiday weekend, be sure to take pictures to remember your celebration by later. Plus, submit them to MyNewsOK.com to share with other readers.
Staff Writer Wendy K. Kleinman (I’m still not used to the new last name yet!)
