BAPS Ready for 2010-2011 School Year
By KELSY LORIN TAYLOR
Web Editor and Feature Writer
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall pauses in front of the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center to discuss a few of the unique features that the district has to offer. He began his position July 1 and has already been very impressed with the schools.
KELSY LORIN TAYLOR for GTR Newspapers
Teachers and administrators are looking forward to the 2010-2011 academic year and all of the educational opportunities that are in store for the students.
The Broken Arrow Public School District encompasses 115 square miles that reaches through both Tulsa and Wagner County making it the sixth largest in the state of Oklahoma.
There are currently 16,500 students enrolled in the district. The growth of the community continues to be reflected in this number every year. The encouragement of community involvement is very important in the district. Effective communication with students, teachers, administrators and patrons has built a foundation for the schools.
The mission of the district is to provide all members of the school community with an environment that assures intellectual, social, physical and character development appropriate for citizenship in an ever-changing world.
Broken Arrow Public Schools currently boasts 25 instructional sites throughout the community. These sites include Broken Arrow Senior High School, North Intermediate, South Intermediate, Broken Arrow Academy, Margaret Hudson, Centennial Middle, Ernest Childers Middle, Haskell Middle, Oliver Middle and Sequoyah Middle. Elementary Schools in the district are Arrow Springs, Arrowhead, Country Lane, Indian Springs, Leisure Park, Liberty, Lynn Wood, Oak Crest, Park Lane, Rhoades, Spring Creek, Vandever, Westwood, Wolf Creek and of course, the Fourth and Fifth Grade Center.
The district offers some of the most innovative facilities in the area to provide a top-quality learning environment for students of all grade levels. Construction of the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center was recently completed. The facility provides much needed room for school and community performances as well as administrative offices.
Students are encouraged to become involved in the organizations that have been formed through the years at Broken Arrow Public Schools. Some of these organizations include the Student Council, Future Farmers of America, National Forensic League, Business Professionals of America, Students for Christ, National Honor Society, Future Medical Professionals and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The organizations at Broken Arrow Public Schools serve as an extension of the curriculum and offer endless learning opportunities to students. Memberships are voluntary and do not impact classroom grades.
The Foreign Language Program has become an important component of the district. French, German, Spanish and Latin courses open the doors to learning about other cultures and demonstrate the importance of effective communication. Students learn that language is transformative and carry these lessons into all other courses.
The Broken Arrow Athletics Department has become a very important part of the student experience. Coaches focus not only on helping athletes become their best at a sport but also focus on leadership, communication, goal setting, organization, work ethic, self-discipline, perseverance, cooperation, loyalty, honesty, perspective and relationships.
The first day of school is August 12. For more information about Broken Arrow Public Schools, call (918) 670-7758.
Updated 08-13-2010
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