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Broken Arrow Public Schools elementary students will compete in a Junior Botball robotics competition at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the gym on the campus of Oliver Middle School, 3100 W. New Orleans, Broken Arrow.

Admission is $1 per person and concessions will be able for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Tiger Robotics program.

Through the Junior Botball robotics program, 4^th and 5^th grade students apply the engineering design process as they learn to write code in “C” language for their robot. Coding provides practice in computational thinking and logical reasoning skills.

In this competition, students will have five minutes to complete a robotics challenge. Students receive a pin for each completed challenge and will receive a certificate if they can complete seven challenges, including a mystery challenge.

For more information about the robotics program, please contact the district’s STEM Specialist Emily Lim at 918-449-5600.

As the holidays approach, Tiger Threads – The Official BA Spirit Store is offering seasonal savings on all things Broken Arrow for patrons, staff and students Dec. 9-21. Tiger Threads is conveniently located inside of Broken Arrow High School’s main entrance so stop by and take advantage of our seasonal savings!

• 20% off all apparel
• 10% off stocking stuffers
• $5 off caps, stocking hats, & bags

Tiger Threads store hours for the month of December will be:

Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday:  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Open late: Thursday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Open Saturday: Dec. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Discounts cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Gift cards are not discountable. Items cannot be held. Tiger Threads will be closed beginning Dec. 22 and will not reopen until Jan. 7. Any e-commerce orders placed during that time will not be processed/shipped until Jan. 7. Items purchased in December are refundable for exchange or store credit within 45 days of purchase, excluding gift cards. Please direct any questions or concerns to Tiger Threads at tigerthreads@baschools.org or 918-259-4856.

Because seasonal influenza (flu) activity most commonly peaks in the winter months, Broken Arrow Public Schools is encouraging staff, students and parents to take the following everyday preventive measures to stop the spread of germs:

• Get the annual flu vaccine. This is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. You may still get the flu vaccine in a shot or mist form at your physician’s office, health department or local pharmacy. It takes two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, protecting against the virus infection.
• Stay home from work or school when you are sick. This helps prevent others from catching your illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If a tissue is not readily available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve rather than your hands.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze, for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Disinfect surfaces or objects touched at home, work or school, particularly when someone is sick.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness cause by the influenza virus and can cause mild to severe illness. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, fatigue, headache, vomiting or diarrhea.

Students with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher are required to be picked up by a parent and must remain at home until he or she is fever free without medication for 24 hours, per school policy.

Broken Arrow Public Schools continues ongoing communication with local health officials, the Oklahoma Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The district follows instructions from these institutions should a flu outbreak occur this winter.

For more information about the flu and how to avoid it, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education recently released report cards for Broken Arrow school sites as part of its school grading system, which can be found at oklaschools.com.

In 2018, new accountability measures were enacted based on the guiding principle that all students can grow and all schools can improve. Under the new system, Oklahoma A-F Report Card calculation methods changed. The Oklahoma School Report Card is intended to provide a snapshot of school and student performance which can stimulate conversations about school successes and areas in need of improvement.

The school report card is comprised of four sections: academic achievement, academic growth, English Language Proficiency Assessment progress, and chronic absenteeism for elementary and middle school sites, including the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy. The high school sections include academic achievement, English Language Proficiency Assessment progress, chronic absenteeism, graduation and post-secondary opportunities.

The Freshman Academy, Country Lane Primary and the Early Childhood Centers are not required to test so they did not receive an overall grade.

If parents/guardians have questions, they should talk with their student’s principal. To learn more, please visit www.sde.ok.gov/oklahoma-report-card-resources.

Broken Arrow Public Schools held a topping-out ceremony Thursday, Nov. 21, at its new elementary school located near the Broken Arrow Events Park at E. 101st Street and the Creek Turnpike.

Construction crews raised the final steel beam to the highest point of the building to celebrate the completion of the school’s framing.

In accordance with construction industry traditions, the beam was adorned with a ceremonial flag signed by construction workers and district staff and a small evergreen tree.

The school, currently referred to as Elementary 16, will open for the 2020-21 school year and is being funded through the district bond package generously approved by voters in 2015.

Students who will attend the new school and their parents will work to determine a name for the building once the attendance boundaries have been determined in the coming months.