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September 16, 2024

August 5, 2024

I’d like to start tonight by addressing the recent events regarding threats on social media toward schools in our District and beyond. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is the District’s highest priority. Recently, there have been various threats circulating on social media and these threats have become an unfortunate trend nationwide, causing anxiety and disruptions. Nevertheless, we will continue to investigate each one as a serious threat. Our Administrators and Campus Police Department, work closely with local law enforcement to monitor these situations.  All involved, respond swiftly and appropriately. We ask parents and students to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity, and avoid sharing or forwarding unverified information. Our efforts to maintain a safe learning environment are ongoing. We appreciate your cooperation and support.

Next, we are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which began yesterday and runs through October 15th. This month provides a wonderful opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic Americans in our community, and across the country. We were excited to see several Putnam City groups participate in the Oklahoma City Hispanic Heritage Parade, alongside our dedicated Putnam City Foundation and the Student Life Department. We look forward to all of the wonderful celebrations and recognitions happening throughout our schools this month.

And finally, we want to remind everyone that the Putnam City Foundation Wall of Fame event is happening this Thursday, September 19th, from 6:00-9:30 pm at the Oklahoma Contemporary Museum. This year’s honoree is none other than Denise Duong, a proud PC High graduate, whose artistic achievements have made a significant impact on the community. The evening will include multiple opportunities to support our Foundation, including a silent auction and various sponsorship opportunities. The funds raised through this event will go directly toward enhancing the educational experience for our students through the Foundation’s initiatives. If you are interested in attending or getting involved with the PC Foundation, tickets as well as volunteer opportunities, can be found on the Foundation’s website.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools, students, and community.

-Dr. Fred Rhodes

September 20 - Teacher Collaboration Day - No School

October 17-21 - No School

October 18- High School and District Offices Closed

Superintendent Dr. Rhodes ventures every week to visit our schools, see the action, talk to students and teachers, and participate in fun activities that he finds along the way. Last Friday, we road along on his trip to visit the Lake Park Lions, Western Oaks Elementary and Middle School Warriors, Central Cubs, and the PC Aviation Academy. Kids will truly say the best things, including one today asking Dr. Rhodes, "Are you the President?"

It takes a village, and of course, that includes the Grandparents! The Grands were spotted at DD Kirkland and Ralph Downs last week eating sweet treats, drinking coffee, and playing with the littles to start their day off right. These sweet relationships truly demonstrate how it takes everyone to make every beat count for a child to learn and grow.

The Hilldale Tigers got a lesson on where their clothing comes from as State Representative Ellyn Hefner read a book to a third grade class. They had a lot of great questions for Rep. Hefner, some on-topic, some off-topic, but all questions are good questions!

Arbor Grove Elementary students launched water bottle rockets, learning about physics, engineering, and the wonders of science through hands-on fun! From the ground to the sky, this experiment is giving our young scientists a "boost" in STEM, hoping to spark curiosity about the world around them.

Thanks to a previous bond, our budding artists now have a space to let their creativity shine! The new art room at Windsor Hills is a game changer for their imagination and learning! This is proof that when a community invests in education, creativity flourishes for our students across the District!

Putnam City West and Putnam City High JROTC programs executed their annual Game Ball Handoff ahead of the highly anticipated football game between the sister high schools. The cadets started at their respective schools and walked to meet face-to-face at the Bethany Fire Station, where the friendly competition kicked off early. Students from both sides were the epitome of strength and resilience as they endured the brutal push-up challenge. At the end of it all, Putnam City High walked back with the win while Putnam City West walked back with the game ball

A rare plant species, the Zizotes Milkweed, is growing at Putnam City North! The Outdoor Classroom at PCN is a vibrant place for all types of plants, insects, and now the rare milkweed. A Conservation Biologist from the OKC Zoo came out and surveyed the plants this week and found about 20 more milkweed plants growing. There are 29 recordings of this rare milkweed in Oklahoma, 5 in Oklahoma County, and 2 of those are at PCN! We can't wait for all the monarch butterflies to find the milkweed plants next!

The annual Battle Of The Expressway football game was full of excitement as Putnam City North and Putnam City High went head-to-head on the turf! It was a game full of thrilling plays, amazing stand tunes, and school spirit. PCH won the victory with a 21-7 win. Until next year's game, the Pirates will be able to boast with the most while the Panthers have to prepare to fight, once again, to be The Battle Of The Expressway champions!

Putnam City Schools Families,

As a school district, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our top priority. Recently, we have seen an increase in social media threats of violence toward public schools across the country, and we want to take a moment to address this important issue with our community.

Please know that any threat made, whether online or in person, is taken seriously and thoroughly investigated by our school district and local law enforcement. The safety of our schools depends on swift, yet thorough, decisive action, and we work in partnership with local authorities to ensure that every potential threat is handled appropriately. Further, while safety is our top priority, communication is our second. As soon as information becomes available and is verified for accuracy and credibility, we will communicate with you.

We are fortunate in Putnam City Schools to have a dedicated and fully functioning Campus Police Department. These officers, security personnel, and dispatchers play a critical role in maintaining a safe environment for everyone on all of our campuses. In addition to their daily presence, our secondary schools are equipped with weapons detection systems that serve as an added layer of protection in addition to the regular safety operations of our schools. All of these systems are in place to help ensure a secure learning environment for our students and staff 

Additionally, we want to remind our families of the importance of the “See Something, Say Something” approach. We encourage all students, staff, and families to report any suspicious behavior, threats, or concerns to school administrators immediately. This proactive approach will help prevent incidents before they occur.

Lastly, in today’s digital world, social media can be both a helpful tool and a source of harm. We ask that you take a moment to speak with your student(s) about responsible social media usage, especially the serious implications of making threats or sharing inappropriate and unverified content. Not only do these actions disrupt the school environment and cause anxiety amongst our community, but they can also carry serious legal consequences. 

By working together, we can maintain a safe and secure learning environment for all of our students and staff on all of our campuses. Thank you for your partnership in this effort, and your ongoing support of our District and our District’s safety.

Go Boldly, 

-Putnam City Schools Administration

PLEASE NOTE:

• All high school students qualify for free meals for the 2024-2025 school year, but need to complete the application online (LINK TO APPLICATION)

• Elementary and Middle School students automatically qualify and do NOT need to complete the online applicaiton

Before heading to an event make sure to check the safety guidelines.

Putnam City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, or disability. Translations are completed by Google Translate.