It's time for the doors at Bartlesville Public Schools to open to students, and many new faces will greet them. Over 45 new teachers and administrators have joined the district family and they, along with the returning staff, will work diligently to carry out this year's district theme, Focusing on Student Achievement.

This theme captures our district mission, which is “to provide the challenge and support to develop each student to his or her maximum potential.” Each student in our district has different needs, and our job as educators are to identify those needs and meet them to the best of our abilities. Our district has improved student achievement this past year as evidenced by improved test scores in most areas.

We have many programs that help us achieve the goal of student achievement. We have a Special Services program that meets state and federal mandates for students with disabilities. These programs provide appropriate services for students to meet the goals established by their Individual Education Plan.

For students who excel in academics, the district has various gifted and talented programs, enrichment classes and honors and advanced placement classes.

Other programs offered for Bartlesville Public Schools students include Vision Quest/CORE alternative education programs, Reading Recovery, and Evening High School . The district also assists students by offering before- and after-school age care. In addition, adults are served in the district's growing adult education literacy and English as a Second Language programs.

Bartlesville Public Schools also focuses on the students' achievements outside the classroom. Many different extracurricular activities are available such as athletics, band, orchestra, choir, drama and art. There are also several clubs and organizations that can help students discover new possibilities. Student Council; Future Business Leaders of America; Families, Careers, and Community Leaders of America; National Honor Society; Spanish National Honor Society; and the German Club are just some of the clubs that allow students opportunities to expand their knowledge with their peers in an entertaining environment.

Bartlesville Public Schools also works to improve students' lives through character education programs such as TRIBES.

TRIBES, a program funded by the Bartlesville Rotary Club, allows teachers to bring attention to a different character trait each month. These traits include citizenship, respect, responsibility, gratitude, joyfulness, compassion, honesty, fairness, trust and self-control. A strong part of character education within the schools is the guidance of students in developing appropriate peer relationships through anger management, prevention of bullying behaviors and effective conflict resolution. Teachers strive to establish and maintain mutually respectful learning environments characterized by attentive listening, expression of appreciation, valuing diversity of culture, effective problem solving and celebrating the achievements of all.

This character education carries over into all seven elementary schools and even into secondary schools. This program is designed to improve school climate, provide a positive environment for learning, increase student skills in conflict resolution and improve skills in cooperative activities.

Clearly, Bartlesville Public Schools is where it is today because of the dedication of our employees, the commitment and support of our community members, the leadership of our Board of Education, and the willingness of our students to embrace new challenges. The high expectations our patrons have for student achievement over the years has developed your school district into an outstanding learning environment focused on student success.

School personnel, parents, the community and patrons must work together to raise all students' achievement to their potential. Our mission is simply too great to fail. O ur community's mission has to be on focusing on individual achievement for each student. Together, we can change the future by “Focusing on Student Achievement.”