Claremore Public Schools

Claremore's rich history is what gives us roots and wings. Roosa Elementary is named after the famous 🚀 Astronaut Stuart Roosa 🚀 from Claremore, Oklahoma, and orbited the moon on Apollo 14 fifty years ago. Stuart Roosa took with him some tree seeds to be brought back to Earth and planted. These trees are now known as "Moon Trees." Yesterday, his daughter, Rosemary Roosa, stopped by Claremore and brought a Moon Tree and planted it at The Claremore Museum of History, where its roots will continue to grow. Afterward, she stopped by the school named after her father, Roosa Elementary, to take a tour to view the #ZEBRABOND2019 updates, the new STEM center, and view some of the artifacts on loan in the school's lobby. While she was there, she made a surprise announcement that Roosa would be receiving its own Moon Tree. A few Roosa students were there to welcome her, and Cooper Key, 4th grader at Roosa gave a tour of the school. Rosemary Roosa signed a copy of her book, To the Moon: An Autobiography of an Apollo Astronaut's Daughter, and donated it to the Roosa Library. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Happy retirement to Marlene Townsend, Kindergarten teacher at Claremont Elementary. Let's give her a virtual 👏ovation for her years of service in the comments. 🍎 My teaching career with CPS began in 1985 at Claremont Elementary. 🍎 My employment with CPS spans about 35 years, however, my full-time teaching is 34 years. 🍎 I’m proud to have the opportunity to teach in the area I love- kindergarten! I am proud to have been one of the first teachers to establish the all-day kindergarten program. 🍎 The memories are many: the colleagues & administrators that have been a privilege to work with & know; participating with the input & transition into the building of Claremont (having the same classroom there for 25 years until being part of the first faculty at Catalayah Elementary); being involved in the first literacy lab program for kindergarten; Claremont Teacher of the Year; involvement in CCTA, Professional Development & Negotiations Committees, supporting education at the State Capitol. Most memorable are having had my own children graduating CPS and now having grandchildren that are advancing through CPS. 🍎 Being a Zebra means that I am one of many working within the process and/or being the product of our elementary & secondary schools working in unison & being embraced by our community to be role models for individuals to reach their best potential. These individuals continue to provide support for education & the community in their lives. Zebra strong, Zebra proud. 🍎 My advice to new educators: You have to have PASSION for teaching & supporting your field. Every year will bring new experiences; be flexible, but be strong. Being a teacher, you will be expected to wear many hats: counselor, nurse, mediator, therapist, negotiator, mentor, advocator, etc. in making decisions, be sure that it is for the best interest of your students and education. Keep your PASSION active. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

4th grade science Rock and Jelly bean Dichotomous keys! A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish...or jelly bean flavors!! Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

"Congratulations to Michelle Rahn, recipient of the 2020-21 Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in Elementary Teaching. A passionate sixth-grade STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teacher at @Will Rogers Junior High in Claremore, Rahn is known for an infectious enthusiasm about the subjects she teaches and inspiring her students to think critically and creatively. She nurtures a team environment in her classroom, guiding students through collaborative processes that encourage deep thinking and cooperation. Rahn was honored at the 35th annual Academic Awards Celebration on May 22 at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa and later televised on OETA." (http://bit.ly/39ARGza) The public is encouraged to view the awards ceremony broadcast at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 29, or 10 a.m. Sunday, May 30, on OETA Public Television. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. Casey's 2nd grade class at Catalayah Elementary had so much fun playing this domino game at the end of their coin unit. They were learning how to match coin values while using various coins to make the amounts. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Work hard and serve the talent. Our Zebra Tennis team played in the State Tennis Tournament and brought back some state hardware: 🎾 4th place - Team 🎾 7th place - Preston Peck - #1 Singles 🎾 3rd place - Tanner Steidley - # 2 Singles 🎾 4th place - Parker Green & Beau Parsons - # 2 Doubles That hustle and heart set them apart as the Conference Champions the week before the State Tournament. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

10 months of school and 10 babies. May 4th was a big day for our Zebra family. Both Mrs. Warren and Mrs. Rice brought CPS their 9th & 10th lil' zebras into the world. Congratulations to Mrs. Warren on the arrival of Weston and Mrs. Rice on the arrival of Blair. Your Zebra family can't wait to meet you! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🎓 It’s May 21st, and we know what that means… 12 hour to GRADUATION! 🎓 GRADUATION DAY - What do you know about this staff member?

Find the link to watch graduation live at https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/page/graduation-2021 Commencement begins at 7:30 PM. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Happy retirement to Lt. Commander Murry Estabrook, Naval Science Instructor (NJROTC). Let's give him a virtual 👏ovation for his years of service in the comments. 🍎 What school did you begin teaching at for CPS? Claremore High School 🍎 What year did you start teaching for CPS? 2003 🍎 How many years were you a CPS employee? 18 years 🍎 What you are most proud of in your time at CPS? I am most proud of the difference Chief Jasper and I have made in so many young lives. Our graduates have ranged from $275,000 Military Academy appointments to a student who ranked last in his class but graduated. He told us the only reason he didn't quit was Chief Jasper, and I took the extra time to counsel and motivate him to stay in school. Over the years, students who remained with NJROTC to their senior year have all graduated. 🍎 What are the memories you will take with you? My best memories are the sense of family and caring here, the great teachers and administrators who have become my friends, presenting Ernie Shaw of World War Two service his belated High School Diploma, community service with our cadets, graduation nights with our students, and of course our two week USS Oklahoma Memorial trip to Hawaii. 🍎 What does it mean to be a Zebra to you? Being a Zebra is Family. 🍎 What is one piece of advice you would give incoming teachers? I would advise young teachers to remember their high school days and the teachers who impacted their lives by being truly invested in their education; emulate them. Never give up on any student. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Happy retirement to Mary March’, Speech Pathologist at Roosa Elementary. Let's give her a virtual 👏ovation for her years of service in the comments. 🍎 What school you began teaching at for CPS: I began as Speech Language Pathologist assigned to Stuart A Roosa Elementary. I was then additionally assigned to CUE, and WRJH. I also served students for several years at Claremont as well. Roosa remained my primary assignment through all the years but I enjoyed the students and staff at every school I served. 🍎 What year did you start teaching for CPS? I began in January of 2002. 🍎 How many years were you a CPS employee? So, May, 2020 marked 18.5 years as full timer and then this year as a part time SLP = 19.5 years total. I retired May, 2020 but quickly came back part time, while still retired, to provide SLP services to Roosa’s virtual students for this school year. 🍎 What you are most proud of in your time at CPS? I am very proud of helping students and teachers in so many grade levels gain an understanding of the impact that speech and language delays have on so many areas of a student’s performance in the general curriculum. I am proud that the teachers I work with see me as a collaborative partner, not just that speech lady down the hall. 🍎 What are the memories you will take with you? Zillions of hugs and smiles as students proudly declared “I did it!” and “I get it!” I will treasure watching students develop self confidence and perseverance to tackle skills they had thought were “too hard”, field trips with classes, “Rise and Shine” to start my day, and new school supplies every fall. 🍎 What does it mean to be a Zebra to you? Being a Zebra means I have high expectations for every day to be a learning day. It means being a part of something bigger than my classroom. It means being committed to my profession, my students, my families, my fellow educators, and my community. It IS ALWAYS a great day to be a Zebra! 🍎 What is one piece of advice you would give incoming teachers? Teach like everything depends on what you do because our students are our future. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

“Once you have experienced excellence you will never again be content with mediocrity.” Thomas S. Monson Today we will feature the Class of 2021 Valedictorian with the highest GPA. Mariah Galutza will be attending the University of Tulsa majoring in Political Science. The students who have completed the same stringent requirement of the Salutatorians but finished with the 4 highest GPAs are the Class of 2021 Valedictorians. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🎓 It’s May, and we know what that means… COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION! Let’s have a little fun as we anticipate and reflect on the last 13 school years of the Class of 2021! Every morning in May, we will feature a graduation/senior photo of one of the staff who helped build a foundation for this graduating class at CPS. 🎓1 day - What do you know about this staff member?

“Once you have experienced excellence you will never again be content with mediocrity.” Thomas S. Monson Today we will feature the Class of 2021 Valedictorian with the 2nd highest GPA. Katy Grubbs will attend University of Tulsa and major in Business Management. The students who have completed the same stringent requirement of the Salutatorians but finished with the 4 highest GPAs are the Class of 2021 Valedictorians. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Happy retirement to Cindy Nichol teacher at Catalayah. Let's give her a virtual 👏ovation for her years of service in the comments. 🍎 I began teaching for CPS in August of 1980 at Leeper Middle School. 🍎 I have been employed by CPS for my entire teaching career, 40 years. I also completed my internship at Claremont Elementary in the spring semester of 1980. 🍎 I am most proud of being a member of the group that introduced the co-teaching model for special education students in CPS. This model has provided the opportunity for many SPED students to participate in regular education classes along with their peers. 🍎 Of course, I will take with me the many wonderful memories of my students and colleagues. I will be forever grateful for the numerous regular education teachers who welcomed me, and my students, into their classrooms and gave me the opportunity to co-teach with them. It's been an amazing and very fulfilling journey! 🍎 I have been a proud Claremore Zebra for 40 years now. It's who I am and always will be! 🍎 The most important advice I would give is to form a relationship with each of your students and show them that you truly care about them. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🎓 It’s May, and we know what that means… COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION! Let’s have a little fun as we anticipate and reflect on the last 13 school years of the Class of 2021! Every morning in May, we will feature a graduation/senior photo of one of the teachers who helped build a foundation for this graduating class at CPS. 🎓2 days - What do you know about this teacher?

“For me, winning isn’t something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.” —Emmitt Smith Girls State Track Meet - Claremore brings home 2 - 3rd place medals! 🥉 Girls 4x400 relay, 3rd place - Paiten Reavis, Ainsley Hendrickson, Kate Bustamante, & Rachel Yewell 🥉 Long Jump, 3rd - Paiten Reavis #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Happy retirement to Jeannie Seidel, PE teacher at Catalayah. Let's give her a virtual 👏ovation for her years of service in the comments. 🍎 What school you began teaching at for CPS. I began teaching at Central Upper Elementary (CUE). I taught 6th grade Language Arts and history for 8 years,3rd grade at Claremont for 6 years, and I am closing out my teaching career at Catalayah after 10 years of teaching Physical and Health Education classes. 🍎 What year did you start teaching for CPS? I began teaching in 1997 🍎 How many years were you a CPS employee? 24 🍎 What you are most proud of in your time at CPS? I would have to say I am most proud of the running club and Physical Education program I started at Catalayah. I was able to share my passion for running and physical activity, and it helped me make connections with so many students. I have been rewarded with the pleasure of watching many students continue their running interests. 🍎 What are the memories you will take with you? I will always remember reading King Arthur in 6th grade and doing a Medieval unit. Another highlight was studying Greek mythology which included dressing in character and presenting Greek mythological figures while enjoying Greek foods. I especially cherish the running I did with so many of our students and staff members.. Watching the students receive their medals at Rise and Shine is a high point along with running outside races with lots of kids and staff. It was so fun to see everybody finish their races and have such a sense of accomplishment. Fortunately, I have lots of pictures captured of these events. Lastly, I will always remember the friendships I made. Those friendships have provided so much support, and I have been lucky to work with many talented and caring teachers and parents, and a great principal. 🍎 What does it mean to be a Zebra to you? I am a Zebra fan. I may not have been born in Claremore, but I have lived here 31 years, and I take great pride in our schools. Being a Zebra means showing up for events and supporting each other, whether it be a PTO fundraiser or a ball game that a student asks you to come to watch. I wear my Claremore Zebra spirit with pride. 🍎 What is one piece of advice you would give incoming teachers? 2 pieces of advice: 1: Be a team player and support your teammates. 2: Recognize every student has a story to share. Learn their story, listen to them, and be sure they feel acknowledged, even when you have 400 students. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle Today we will feature the Class of 2021 Valedictorians with the 3rd highest GPA. Alyson Harvey will be attending Harvard majoring Neuroscience and/or Biochemistry. The students who have completed the same stringent requirement of the Salutatorians but finished with 4 highest GPAs are the Class of 2021 Valedictorians. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🎓 It’s May, and we know what that means… COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION! Let’s have a little fun as we anticipate and reflect on the last 13 school years of the Class of 2021! Every morning in May, we will feature a graduation/senior photo of one of the teachers who helped build a foundation for this graduating class at CPS. 🎓3 days - What do you know about this teacher?