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Pre-kindergarten is an exciting time for children, and the district’s early childhood department is making the transition easier for parents by providing an informational meeting focusing on what to expect as the new school year approaches. The annual “All Things Pre-K” meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at Kirkland Theater (808 E College Street).

The event will focus on enrollment details, curriculum and daily schedules. The Pre-K principals will also be available to answer questions.

The district is proud to have four Early Childhood Centers (Creekwood, Aspen Creek, Park Lane and Arrow Springs) and multiple Pre-K classrooms at various elementary schools that give students a place to embark upon new adventures in a classroom environment. All children who turn four years old by Sept. 1 are eligible for enrollment as a 2020-21 Pre-K student. Enrollment begins March 2 and will not take place at this meeting.

For more information, please contact 918-259-5724.

Broken Arrow Public Schools is excitedly hosting its teacher job fair from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, in the Central on Main Ballroom, located at 210 N. Main St.

“This job fair is a great way to expedite the introduction process between our school sites and those interested in learning more about what it means to be part of the Broken Arrow family,” Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Administrative Services Lori Kerns said. "With the new elementary school scheduled to open for the 2020-2021 school year, we have crucial teaching positions that need to be filled.”

The district offers fully paid health insurance and retirement, tuition reimbursement, mentorship programs for first year teachers, a generous leave policy, professional development and stipend opportunities, and a community atmosphere.

District representatives will be present to answer any questions, and online applications will be available on site. Applications can also be completed online before the job fair by visiting www.baschools.org/careers. For more information, please call the human resources department at 918-259-5704.

Broken Arrow Public Schools is teaming up with the district’s PTA Council to host a Parent Awareness Night about the dangers of teen vaping from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 3 at Central on Main (210 N. Main St.) This event is open to the public.

Speakers from Light of Hope, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Acute Care Solutions at St. Francis Hospital Trauma Emergency Center will speak on the impact that vaping has on student health and addiction. Parents will learn about why vaping is being considered the “new gateway drug.”

There will be a 30-minute Q&A immediately following the presentation.

For more information, please contact Broken Arrow Public Schools Executive Director of Student Services Mr. Derek Blackburn at 918-259-7725.

Broken Arrow High School’s Tiger Theatre students are dancing their way onto the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center stage to present “Footloose: The Musical.”

The show runs at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27-29 and will conclude with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, March 1.

“Footloose: The Musical” celebrates the spirit and optimism of young people fighting for change backed by a soundtrack of ‘80s pop anthems. When city boy Ren moves to a small town where dancing is outlawed, he finds himself an outsider and a target of the local preacher who pushed for the ban – especially after attracting the attention of the reverend’s rebellious daughter. Ren challenges the community to reverse the rule and heal from the tragedy that kept their hearts from dancing.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the BAPAC Box Office at 918-259-5778.

With the help of Move For Hunger, Broken Arrow Accent Moving and Storage, and Bama Companies, Broken Arrow Public Schools is holding its seventh annual districtwide food drive March 2-6 to benefit Broken Arrow Neighbors, a nonprofit that provides basic needs and emergency assistance.

Broken Arrow Neighbors is asking certain sites to collect specific items in order to complete summer food baskets that will be distributed to families in need.

• Early Childhood Centers: Pudding, Jell-O, Muffin Mixes (flavored or corn)
• Elementary Sites: Breakfast Bars, Granola Bars, Pop Tarts, Fruit Chews/Rollups, Raisins, Juice Boxes
• Middle Schools: Manwich, Mac and Cheese, SpaghettiOs, Raviolis, Stew, Spaghetti Sauce
• Freshman Academy/BAHS/Options Academy: Peanut Butter, Jelly

According to a report by Feeding America, 17 percent of Oklahoma’s population is considered food insecure, leaving 242,990 children unsure where they will get their next meal. Locally, this means that one out of four Broken Arrow children are at risk of being hungry.

Last year, the food drive resulted in more than 9,000 pounds of food.

Nationwide, the BA event is the largest school-related drive for Move For Hunger, and the district’s assistance throughout the school year makes it the top contributor of food donations to Broken Arrow Neighbors.

The districtwide drive began with an idea generated by Candy Lievsay, teacher at Sequoyah Middle School. In January 2012, her classroom read an article about Move For Hunger, a nonprofit organization that teams up with relocation companies across the nation to pick up non-perishable food items from people who are moving and deliver the items to local food banks. In the fall of 2012, Sequoyah held a food drive that collected more than 3,500 pounds of food, and Move For Hunger along with Accent Moving and Storage supplied the muscle to get the food delivered to Broken Arrow Neighbors.

In March of 2013, the district held its first districtwide food drive and has since collected more than 80,000 pounds of food. 

To learn more about Broken Arrow Neighbors, please visit www.baneighbors.org. 

All three of Broken Arrow High School’s National Merit semifinalists were recently honored as finalists for their prestigious academic accomplishments.

Michael Musa, Emily Newby and Emily Painter are among approximately 15,000 students from across the nation who qualified and are some of the highest scoring students in the state of Oklahoma.

Established in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is a long-standing academic competition for recognition and scholarships. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of nearly 1.5 million entrants each year.

From there, 34,000 students are commended and 16,000 semifinalists are chosen. Every year in February, 15,000 finalists are chosen based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments.

“Attaining the honor of being named a National Merit Finalist is the culmination of many months and years of hard work on the part of these students and a title which they will be able to carry proudly throughout their lives,” Burns said. “Our school is proud of their accomplishments and will hold their example up to current and future students to show what may be possible when students are willing to work hard and challenge themselves to be their very best."

From March to mid-June, approximately 8,000 students will be selected to receive a scholarship award, which includes National Merit Scholarships as well as corporate- and college-sponsored scholarships.

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Competition, please visit www.nationalmerit.org.