Welcome New Teachers!
We were so excited to welcome new Wildcat Family Members at today’s New Teacher Orientation! During the morning, new staff members from the Elementary, Middle School, and High School met with district leaders to review policies and procedures and prepare for the upcoming school year. The group were treated to breakfast and lunch but the CPS Admin Team and gifted with a bag full of goodies by Lynn Ann Dietrich on behalf of the Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund that included gifts from several local merchants and information about the Carnegie Community. We are so excited to get our new staff members into their classrooms to welcome students on the first day of school-Thursday, August 8, 2024!
New Teachers for the 2024-2025 school year are Mrs. Tonia Lodes (1st Grade), Miss Emilee Skipworth (2nd Grade), Mrs. Dawn Tate (5th Grade), Ms. Darolyn Melton (ELEM Music), Mrs. Faith Davis (MS/HS Art), Mrs. Demi Estrada (MS/HS Band), Ms. Whitini Pruitt (HS ELA), Mrs. Bayleigh Collins (HS Math), and Mrs. Kalley Hurt (HS Biology). Information courtesy of Carnegie Schools.
HOW YOUR SUPPORT of the CARNEGIE WILDCAT EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND WORKED THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR
Laura Graham - Speech
Speech Bingo - "A Winner Everytime"
These BINGO games are a great way to keep students engaged and working on their sounds. Mrs. Graham has used these for other Speech targets with good success and it is a student favorite. These BINGO games target "L", "K" and phonological awareness. The difficulty can be broadened to meet older students needs.
Pictured left to right: Kai McVicker, Barrett McGlothlin
and Loren Phillips
Lacie Gorman - 3rd Grade
Mrs. Gorman's 3rd graders are enjoying Wonder Puzzles, Brain Flakes, Gears, Wooden Building Planks, MagBlocks (magnetized building pieces) and Kanoodle Brain game. The items purchased with the grant provide students with hands on learning. They are geared to develop critical thinking, problem solving skills and working together as a team. These items were used in the classroom during the math, reading and science segments of the day.
Keri Mace PReK - 5th Grade Elementary Library
Bountiful Book Blessing
The Carnegie Elementary School (CES) needed books and the Endowment Fund was glad to help! Ms. Mace said this grant will allow for the improvement of the print collection with 104 current reading materials as well as replace quality, high interest books that have been weeded out due to natural wear and tear. A well stocked and up-to -date library has been shown to have a substantial positive effect upon student performance and reading ability. For young readers, the availability of interesting, high quality reading materials is one of the greatest influences on reading proficiency.
6th-8th Science - Kori Turney
Making the geological past a little more "present" and allowing the abstract to become "visible" is the goal of Mrs. Turney's science classroom with the purchase of classroom models.
Students in Mrs. Turneys science classes show off their CWEEF grant items of fossilized specimens. These specimen allow students to experience the geological past through sight and touch. Top L to R: coprolite (Dino poop), fern impression, muscovite minerals Bottom L to R: Trilobites and Sea Organisms
Mandie Kuykendall - 3rd-5th Grade Gifted and Talented Classes
Mrs. Mandie Kuykendall’s 3rd-5th Grade Gifted and Talented Classes enjoyed working with the new LEGO STEM Kits purchased through funds provided by the Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund and the Carolyn Watson Rural Community Foundation Grant Fund. By combining the two grants, each student could have their own kit. Lego Education is a hands-on learning curriculum. Lego Education provides relevant and real-world application to learning Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math. Each year LEGO will add a new curriculum so this program can be used for several years
Malorie Kinder - 5th grade science class
Students in Malorie Kinder's 5th grade science class using the Science Weekly newspapers which include various lessons, hands-on experiments and activities. These provide the students with practical experience, enhancing their understanding and retention of scientific principles. Ms. Kinder and Ms Lynsey Peters, also a 5th grade teacher applied for this grant, so that all the students would have the same opportunities and curriculum. Ms. Kelbi McSperitt and Ms. Peggy Pettit also received funding for Science Weekly for their 4th grade classrooms.
Lane Butler, Ryder Bigbow and Trenton Fouts
Jake Kinder - Physical Science
A Hot Wheels track and cars were used to give students a "hands on" fun activity during the motion and speed sections of the physical science curriculum. They learned to calculate speed, acceleration, average speed, energy transfer and how to graph the results. By using the stop watch the students can collect data about each car. Once the data is collected they can use a speed time graph to plot the points. An electric circuit kit and Modular Motor were also purchased to be used during the Electricity & Combustion Engine sections of the curriculum. Working with a small circuit board and seeing how a combustion engine and how they function will be a bonus.
Jon Robinson - Guitar
Ty Davis
Abby Bowlin, seated, Shelby Robinson standing
The Endowment Fund grant was used to upgrade student guitars to enhance play and performance Carnegie is one of the few schools in the areas that is able to provide guitar as an elective. In the class, students learn about music and music theory while learning to play the guitar. The class has acoustic guitars and the grant was used to purchase four electric guitars and amplifiers. Electric guitars add a different dynamic to music. With the electric guitars students can connect them to the iPad, record them playing into software that can mix music and create recorded songs.
Kane Kinion - Carnegie Agricultural Education Grows Student Opportunities
Chloe Ponce
Students are learning how to care for plants that eventually become food. Building on an aeroponic system implemented last year, this grant allowed for the purchase of two Lawnful 4 Hydroponic Bucket Kits for Plants and a 5 tier Stackable strawberry garden. Seeds and fertilizer were also purchased. The goal is for students to assist in the process of growing food for themselves by donating to the cafeteria for use on the salad bar. Carnegie agricultural education students have enjoyed learning more about the plant process this semester. Pictured is Chloe Ponce working in the planting stages now with hopes of having strawberry plants by the end of the semester.
Novels for Students Junior-Senior English
This grant was to fund the purchase of current novels for students to read on their own. More than 25 novels were purchased from a broad range of genres. Students ask for books and recommendations all the time and this will give them more from which to choose. Reading outside of the classroom improves all around learning, test scores and can instill a life long love of reading. These students have enjoyed reading books provided through the grant. Thank you for helping us make these available to our students and encourange reading. Facilitating reading helps to make a difference in their education.
Middle School Grant Recipients
Congratulations to Carnegie Elementary Teachers, Keri Mace, Mandie Kuykendall, Lacie Gorman, Lynsey Peters, Peggy Pettit, Kelbi McSperitt, Laura Graham, and Malorie Kinder on the receipt of a Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund Grant. Teachers across the district were presented with $4,672.00 this morning to make purchases that will positively impact learning. Also pictured are foundation board members Christi Harrison and Sharon Wilson.
Eleven Grants Awarded Across the District
Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Grants
2022-2023
Congratulations to Carnegie High School teachers, Jake Kinder and Kaila Kinder, two of eleven teachers who received grants from the Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund. Recipients Kane Kinion and Jon Robinson are not pictured,. Grant recipients across the district received a total of $4,672.00 to purchase new materials to enhance learning opportunities for our Wildcats! Thank you to foundation board members Christi Harrison and Sharon Wilson for presenting the awards!
Mrs. Turney Middle School Science Teacher
Congratulations, Mrs. Kori Turney, Carnegie Middle School Science Teacher, for receiving the Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund Fossil and Spectroscope Grant. Educational opportunities are improved each year through the generous contributions of those who donate to the Wildcat Endowment Fund. Pictured with Mrs. Turney are Middle School Principal, Mr. Shawn Gorman and Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund Representatives, Christi Harrison and Sharon Wilson.
The Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund was excited to be a part of the New Teacher Orientation recently held at the Carnegie High School Cafeteria. Nine new teachers were welcomed and presented with gift bags from Lynn Ann Dietrich and Christy Harrison representing the Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund. New teachers for the 2023-2024 school year are Mrs. Jannie Watson (HS Math), Mr. Nathon Wesley (Band), Mr. Ramon Granado (Kiowa), Mr. Byron Cole (HS History/Coach), Mr. Skylar Watson (HS Science/Coach), Mr. Allen Perry (MS Social Studies), Ms. Lynsey Peters (5th Grade), Miss Kyla Weaver (3rd Grade), and Mrs. Brooklyn Espinosa (1st Grade). Bags contained gift items that were donated by local businesses and a print out that answered questions about housing, utilities, medical services and much more. The Carnegie Education Endowment Fund would like to say a big THANK YOU to the following local businesses for their donations to the gift bags: Bank of Commerce, Carnegie Herald, Carnegie Lumber, Carnegie Telephone, Drove Thru, Farmers Bank, Farmers Coop, Liberty Dental, Liberty Drug and Liberty Theatre.
ABOUT US
The Carnegie Wildcat Education Endowment Fund is not an organization. It is a way to give. It is a way to give to our community’s children, dedicated teachers and to build a legacy.
The idea of a foundation to benefit Carnegie Public Schools came to fruition on March 21, 2016. The mission and purpose of this organization is to establish and promote the growth of an endowment fund for the benefit of Carnegie Public Schools. The income from the
endowment funds will be used for the benefit of the school, students, and teachers.
We work with the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma (CFOK.org) to get the most out of the money we raise. They are a great partner with investing expertise for our funds and providing matching funds for the money we invest.
As of May 29, 2019, CWEEF is now its own 501 (c) 3. We will still partner with the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma. This will allow all gifts to be tax-deductible and enable CWEEF to apply for grants/funding more directly.
Our great donors have enabled us to provide teacher grants for the last 3 years. Applications for these funds have increased each year as the teachers see what these funds can provide.
The Fund has an elected board of directors and holds annual meetings. Participation and input from interested parties are essential. The 2019 annual meeting was held Friday, April 26, during the Alumni Reunion. The following board members and officers were elected. During the meeting, the bylaws were amended to allow for an increase in board members. If you think you would be interested in serving please contact Lynn Ann Dietrich, President, for more details.
The current board of directors is:
Lynn Ann Dietrich, President;
Micheal Longhat, Vice- President;
Sharon Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer;
Christi Harrison and Derrek Belase, members.