Education
Edmond student experiences trip of a lifetime
OKLAHOMA CITY — Some people wait a lifetime to travel internationally. Recently, Edmond’s Zach Stanley, a senior at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, was one of only eight students from the United States selected to attend New York University’s first Candidate Weekend in Abu Dhabi, the capitol and second largest city in the United Arab Emirates.
Officials at NYU designed the weekend to give potential students an idea of what it would be like living and studying in Abu Dhabi.
“I had no idea what to expect, as I’ve never ventured out of the country before,” Stanley said. “As I stepped off the plane with some of my fellow candidates after 15 long hours, I was greeted by a group of ambassadors from NYU Abu Dhabi and my journey began.”
The next two days were filled with unforgettable cultural experiences, as well as opportunities to get to know one another. A total of 38 candidates from more than 13 countries were invited to participate in the program. Stanley received round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, meals and a travel allowance while staying in Abu Dhabi.
Notable events for Stanley included a tour of the downtown NYU campus and local community, dinner at the Emirates Palace Hotel — built with an estimated $14 billion — followed by a performance of the New York Philharmonic and a one-on-one conversation with NYU President John Sexton. Abu Dhabi is considered more Westernized than most others because of its rapid development and urbanization.
Stanley gives credit for his trip to OSSM. He said he would never have had the opportunity without the school’s connections. Gary Salwierak, OSSM’s longtime college counselor, was invited to New York last year to attend an exclusive preview presented by NYU unveiling its new honors college program in Abu Dhabi.
Salwierak said in a letter he received, NYU identified OSSM because of its rigorous academic program and focus on student service, intellectual growth and leadership development, coupled with the school’s high national rankings. He was asked to nominate students for consideration, and NYU made the selections. And for Stanley, it paid off.
As Stanley settled back into his daily school routine at OSSM, he reflects on his remarkable experiences. “Truly, the memories from this trip, meeting people from different cultures in another country, will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he said. “I am so blessed.”
- Education
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Summit puts finishing touches on new construction
Summit Middle School students settled into their new surroundings the first day of school in the fall, and this week finishing touches are being added to the Fine Arts classrooms of the new wing.
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Schools set makeup dates for snow days
Edmond Public Schools will make up the two additional snow days taken this week by eliminating a teacher in-service day scheduled for Feb. 15, and tacking on one extra day to the end of the school year.
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School nutrition pilot program to expand
The scorecard is in and Edmond Public Schools Child Nutrition pilot program earned high marks.
- 2-6 School calendars
- 2-6 School menus
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Edmond joins ‘Race to the Top’
The Edmond Public School District is joining other districts across the state in pursuing a Race to the Top federal discretionary grant.
The U.S. Department of Education’s voluntary grant competition between the states is designed to foster education, innovation and reform that will lead to dramatic gains in student achievement. Nationally there is $4.5 billion available for this program, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality 2009 State Teacher Policy Yearbook. -
UCO Educators’ Leadership Academy set to begin
The University of Central Oklahoma-based Educators’ Leadership Academy is accepting applications for it’s 2010-11 academies designed for education professionals in Oklahoma.
ELA customizes each academy for the specialized needs of education professionals, and currently offers a Combination Academy for K-12, CareerTech and Higher Education Administrators, a Professors Academy, a Principals Academy, a Teachers Academy and a Higher Education Department Chair Academy. -
1-30 Calendar: Edmond schools
Memorial High School
Sunday
5-8 p.m.: Baseball Banquet, commons/cafe
Monday
8-9 a.m.: National FCCLA Week, Rooms 225 & 227
9:30-10 a.m.: Freshman Winter Sports Assembly, gym
9:40-10:10 a.m.: Key Club meeting, Room 283 -
1-30 Education: in brief
OSSM recognizes students of the month
Several students from Edmond made the Oklahoma School of Science and Math’s Students of the Month list in recent months.
Junior Grant Schleifer was recognized in October.
Matthew Stewart and Jing Zhang were recognized in November. -
North basketball clinic to benefit BALTO Week
Seventeen years ago, the Edmond North High School Student Council Leadership Class wanted to begin a charity week.
Swine Week at Edmond Memorial High School was already established, and some would argue that North copied their tradition, but the students began BALTO week, a week all their own.
“The name ‘BALTO Week’ is an acronym quite fitting to our school,” said North student Callie Heerwagen. - More Education Headlines
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