IBM Donates 600 Kid-Smart Computer Centers to PACER for Young Children with Disabilities

   IBM is donating 600 Kid-Smart Young Explorer computer learning centers to preschool programs nationwide to help children with disabilities and their classmates build skills for future academic success.  Boise City Head Start received two of the donated computers.   The donation is being made to PACER Center, a national organization for parents and professionals working with children with disabilities, such as autism, vision loss or other learning disabilities and physical impairments.  PACER will work with groups including the National Head Start Association and federally-funded Parent Centers to deploy the computer learning centers and training, expecting to reach nearly 20,000 children in the next year.

   The Young Explorer, a computer housed in brightly-colored, kid-hardened Little Tikes furniture and equipped with award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language.  The computer centers can also help children learn important socialization skills such as how to work together and sharing.  Exploration and socialization skills are important to prepare children for future success in school, help level the playing field and ensure all children have access to educational tools. The Kid-Smart program also includes teacher and parent training material critical for education.   The Kid-Smart website  http://www.kidsmartearlylearning.org/provides information for teachers and parents on early childhood learning and technology.

Head Start Provides District a Service

   Boise City Schools and Head Start are working together to provide services to all 4-year-old children in the Boise City School district.  The classes will be held in the Head Start Center, classes will be half-day,  4 ½ hrs , Monday thru Friday.  This is different as in years past as we only had classes 4 days a week.  Children must be 4 years old by September 1st to be eligible for the 4-year-old program, this program is not based on income.  Head Start will continue offering the program to three year olds.  This is based on income. 

   Enrollment for the programs will be April 7th 7:30am-5:00pm and April 8th 8:00am-6:00pm, at the Head Start Center.  Please bring the child’s birth certificate and immunization record they are required by the public school and Head Start.   To apply for the Head Start program parents or guardians must provide verification of income such as W-2, 1040, current TANF card, three current consecutive paycheck stubs or an employer’s statement, and Social Security card.

   Children enrolled participate in developmental activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically.  All children will receive screenings in speech, hearing, vision, and dental.  The children who are eligible for Head Start will receive free medical and dental care.  Head Start works closely with the parents in scheduling health services and helping families to set goals and find resources to meet identified needs. 

   For more information, call Boise City Head Start at 544-2230.

Bryan Balenseifen Awarded the Neva Sizemore Memorial Scholarship

Bryan Balenseifen of the Keyes High School 2009 Graduating Class has been awarded the Neva Sizemore Memorial Scholarship.  This College Scholarship, created in honor of the late Neva Sizemore who was a long-time resident of Keyes, provides $10,000.00 annually for four years of undergraduate study toward a Bachelor’s degree at any accredited college or university in the United States.  The Scholarship Selection Committee would like to express appreciation to all of the graduating Seniors that took the time and effort to apply for this Scholarship.  Based upon the quality of the applications that were received, Cimarron County residents should be very proud of their 2009 Graduating Seniors.

Texhoma Season Ends With OT Loss in State Championship Game!

 Photos and story,  courtsey of Shawn Yorks, Guymon Daily Herald

Texhoma’s J.D. Pugh fights for the ball on Saturday afternoon against Preston during the Class A state championship game in Oklahoma City. Pugh scored 21 points to lead the Red Devils in the 75-71 overtime loss

By SHAWN YORKS

The Guymon Daily Herald

The Texhoma team that made it’s run for a state title had two players with Cimarron County connections, J.D. Pugh, who made the all-tournament team is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs Marvin Elliott, of Griggs. Derreck Nye, is the grandson of Ruby Labrier, of Boise City. Our thanks to Shawn Yorks, and The Guymon Daily Herald for their story and photos.-_Ed.

OKLAHOMA CITY - It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

The Texhoma boys basketball team played an overtime game for the second straight day at the Class A State Tournament. But unlike a victory the night before over Okarche in the state semifinals, the Red Devils lost their overtime bid, 75-71 to Preston, in the Class A state championship game at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena on Saturday.

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Future Wildcat B-Ballers

The 5th and 6th grade boys A team earned second place in the Boise City Tournament.   The team consists of Coach Charles Hough, Colby White, Kadyn Hicks, Austin Smith, Hunter Worm, Branden James and Braxton Crews.Fourth Grade girls, Alejandra Valdez, Allison Segovia, Erin Dunn, Coda Hunt, Kayla Myers, Laura Rosas, Mesa Compton, Coaches Elezar Grimaldo, Baldo RosasFourth Grade Boys, Paulo Gutierrez, Isiah Pacheco, Oscar Diaz, Brian Clements, Britton Milbern, Roberto Robles, Tyler Giner, Coaches, David Rosas, Daisy Hernandez

Keyes Court of Honor

Photos by Joyce Balensiefien

Spelling Bee

Back row l to r:  Keely Smith (Felt), David Bergen (Keyes), Jesus Rubalcava (Plainview), Ethan Davis (Keyes), Dakotah Hicks (BC), Kayla Myers (BC), Haley Waters (Felt)  front row l to r: 1st place junior division-Morgan Hefley (Felt), 2nd place junior division-Tristian Williams (Keyes), 1st place senior division-Akash Patel (BC), 2nd place senior division-Kymber Murdock (Felt)

 Students from around the county traveled to Cimarron County Courthouse Tuesday (Feb. 17) to compete in the county spelling bee.  Mrs. Gerry Snap acted as pronouncer for the event.  Words for the bee were divided into sections by language of origin providing students with the opportunity to learn where words originated and spelling rules and tips for that particular language. The junior bee competition came down to Tristian Williams and Morgan Hefley.  Morgan correctly spelled the word keelhaul and then harpoon to take home 1st place. The senior bee competition was fierce when it got down to the top two spellers, Akash Patel and Kymber Murdock.  Many words were spelled but Akash correctly spelled sassafras and punctillio to come out on top. Akash and Morgan will both be invited to the regional spelling bee and banquet sponsored by Amarillo Globe News in March. Many thanks to First State Bank of Boise City and Boise City News for their continuous support of this event.  The winner and runner up in each division was awarded a cash prize from these businesses.

Wildcats Clinch District Over Keyes

Rodeo Auction Raises over $10,000

Vicki Ayres-McCune accepted the Top Hand Sponsor Award on behalf of Guymon Convention and Tourism from OPSU Rodeo Coach Craig Latham

-OPSU Campus Communications By Laura Hays

Guymon, Okla. – Over 200 people flocked to the Pickle Creek Event Center Saturday night and helped the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo team raise over $10,000. Prior to the auction action, Kim Peterson and staff of Hunny’s Barbecue laid out a buffet that featured smoked meat favorites including spare ribs and all of the trimmings. Rodeo Coach Craig Latham announced the 2008 Top Hand Sponsor, individuals or businesses that have been instrumental during the past year for supporting OPSU rodeo. Honors this year went to Guymon Convention and Tourism and Vicki Ayres-McCune accepted the award on their behalf. The group supports many OPSU rodeo activities such as the weekly jackpots and the rodeo schools.

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Yarbrough Elementary Teachers Receive Competitive Bonuses

   State Superintendent Sandy Garrett said qualified teachers in 74 Oklahoma schools will be receiving bonus checks this semester. The bonuses are made possible through the Oklahoma Academic Achievement Award (AAA) program that rewards teachers based on their school’s Academic Performance Index (API) scores.
   API scores are calculated on a scale ranging from 0 to 1500 for each public school. For elementary schools, the score is derived from results on state achievement tests and attendance rates from the previous school year.
The AAA program rewards teachers working in schools with perfect API scores; the Top 4 Highest API scores in five different groups based on school size; and the Top 4 Most-Improved API scores in the same five groups. The bonuses range from $500 to $3,000.
   Because Yarbrough Elementary School was 1 of the 34 elementary schools statewide to receive a perfect API score of 1500, teachers at the elementary site from the 07-08 school year will be rewarded with a $3000 bonus this semester.
Yarbrough School District Superintendent, Jim Wiggin, said that he is very proud of the elementary school for earning this distinction. Wiggin continued, “I know that the teachers, students and parents have worked hard to make this possible. We have a great school system, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
   Teachers from Yarbrough Elementary School receiving the award are Derenda Aranda, Sheila Buhr, Leslie Heiderich, TeNille Mulbery, Kim Neal, Veronica Nevarez, Nancy Roberts, Scott Smith, Misty Viner, Dianne Williams, and Jan Wright.
A complete list of the 2009 Academic Achievement Award winning schools is posted on the Oklahoma State Department of Education Web Site.

Elkhart High School Homecoming “09″

Tiawna Cayton and Jordan Mitchell were crowned the 2009 Elkhart Basketball Homecoming Queen and King during the Elkhart High School Homecoming festivities on Friday, February 6.  Tiawna is a senior at Elkhart High School and the daughter of Tangee and Curtis Cayton of Keyes, OK. She is the granddaughter of Jere and Verlene Hughes of Boise City, OK and the late Sam and and Minnie Cayton of Keyes, OK.  Jordan is also a senior at Elkhart High School and the son of Brian & Rosa Mitchell of Elkhart, KS.  He is the grandson of Kenny & Linda Mitchell of Elkhart, Kan. and Jane Murray of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Their attendant was Shaybree Danielle Hanes, daughter of Shan and Michelle Hanes of Elkhart, KS, granddaughter of Darus and Bette Hanes, of Keyes, OK and Wesley and Sandi Rader of Hardtner, KS. She is the great granddaughter of Houston and Vivian Hanes of Keyes, OK and Joe Rader of Hardtner, Kan. 

The Guymon’s Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot

The Guymon Elks Lodge recently held the district hoop shoot in Guymon.  Local winners include Megan Trantham – 2nd place in the 12-13 year old girls division and Dalton Hunt  - 3rd place in the 12-13 year old boys division.

Felt Grad is Honored

From the left, 2008 Felt graduate, Jesus Soto, Superintendent Barbalee Blair, and Art Teacher Jackie Myers. Soto was honored Friday night for his placing in a national Artistic Achievment Contest. Soto, placed in the top 50 among 20,000 entries. He entered a pencil sketch of the original front doors of the Felt School. He received a check for $50 and a framed copy of the art. The school will also hang a copy. Stamps and postcards of the art are for sale.

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Plainview’s Wolf Cubs

Felt High School Homecoming

Freshman candidates: Claudia Aguilar, Ivan Anchondo, Katlyn Boyer, Freddie Duarte, Syngen Rankins,

Sophomores: Edwin Aguilar, Ty Baker, Mayra Olivas, Tanner Warner,

Seniors: Katrina Miller, Candy Thrash, Kristy Whisenhunt.

2009 BCHS Homecoming Basketball Queen and King

The 2009 BCHS Homecoming Basketball Queen and King are seniors Lauren Torres and Jeremy Richardson.  Both will be recognized at the 2009 Basketball Senior Parents-Night Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:00 pm.  This will be the last home game for the Wildcats.  Tip-off will be at 5:00 pm with the JV Boys against the Texhoma Red-Devils followed by the Varsity Girls then Boys.  The Senior / District Pep Rally will be on Tuesday, February 10 at 12:15 in the High School Gym.

Faulkner chosen as All-State…

Drew Faulkner recently auditioned and was selected for the OCDA All State Choir. About 2000 students who are members of school choirs in grades 7 through 9 in Oklahoma auditioned for the group. The audition process includes rehearsal of three audition pieces. Students were each allowed to hear the “cuts” from those pieces in the listening room two times up to 90 minutes before the scheduled audition time. Any time they had remaining before their audition time could be spent working on practicing the “cuts” on their own. After being notified of selection for the choir, the students prepared the final concert songs for an audition that was to occur upon arrival at the festival.The 2009 All-OCDA honor choir was held in Oklahoma City January 15-17. The students rehearsed Thursday through Saturday morning and performed a concert Saturday at 2:00. In addition to participating in the OCDA All State Choir this year, Drew received a medal for being a three year All-State Choir member. 

Memorial Fund Honors BCHS Grad

The Boise City High School Class of 1991 is continuing the Judd Miller Memorial Fund to honor their classmate who died in late 2004. The fund is aimed to support the Cimarron County Livestock Show, primarily with the intention of providing the Junior and/or Senior Beef Showmanship buckles annually. Judd Miller attended Boise City schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. He was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He participated in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, and served his class as Student Council Representative. He also was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where he was involved in the youth group. Miller was a devoted husband and father. At his sudden death, he left behind his wife, Deha; three daughters, Sarah, Maggie and Dallie; extended family; and many friends.  The Class of 1991 has chosen to support the livestock show with the fund to honor the memory of their lifelong friend who participated in the event during his school years, and also to express to his family the value of that friendship. His friends also hope the buckles will be a tangible reminder of the memory of Miller for the recipients: a man who appreciated animals, loved life and lived it to the fullest.  Those interested in contributing to the fund can give their donations to the Judd Miller Memorial Fund at the First State Bank in Boise City; or memorial donations can be sent to the fund in care of Wes Woolman, HCR 2 Box 79, Boise City, OK  73933.