As we prepare to gather around the Thanksgiving table with friends and family this week, many of us will ponder the abundance in our lives and feel gratitude for all the blessings we enjoy. At Bartlesville Public Schools it is no different, we are indeed grateful for the incredible support we receive from the community in so many ways.

For example, students are using new computers, our athletes are practicing on new playing fields, elementary students are playing on new playground equipment, students are riding to school in new busses, studying in state-of-the-art science classrooms and labs at the high school and showcasing their talents while performing in the premiere Fine Arts Center for public schools in the state of Oklahoma.

While these completed projects are being fully utilized, we are only halfway through with the completion of our bond projects. Construction on the high school Fieldhouse is underway and the media center and connecting link will bid next month. The final major construction project will include a renovation of our existing high school. These additions to our district would not have been possible without the commitment of our community members and their unending support for our schools.

Beyond the bond issue, community members show their support of BPS in numerous ways. Many parents and family members volunteer in our classrooms and at school events to assist with the learning process. Parents organize our booster clubs, school support groups, book fairs and provide teacher appreciation gifts. Our football stands, auditorium seats and gymnasium bleachers are full during school events as parents, friends, and family members support student performances. Numerous local businesses sponsor school events that enhance the educational opportunities for our students.

So often, when members of our community learn of a need they rise to the occasion to assist us in our endeavors to educate Bartlesville students. One example is the Charles Doornbos family who made a financial donation that enabled us to renovate our high school track. Another example is the generosity many community members have shown by supporting our Bruin Bronze Bear project. By purchasing smaller bronze replicas they will enable BPS to place a large bronze Bruin sculpture in the shared foyer of the Fieldhouse and Fine Arts Center.

The Bartlesville Public School Foundation, the largest public school foundation in Oklahoma, financially assists teachers with grants that enable them to add expanded learning opportunities to the classroom. Annually, the Foundation awards approximately $90,000 in teaching grants that directly impact our students.

The support of our community enables the Bartlesville Public Schools staff to focus on what is most important: our students. Through the tireless efforts of our teachers and support staff, the students of Bartlesville Public Schools accomplish their goals. Our teachers are committed to excellence and continue to challenge their students to be the very best they can.

On behalf of our school district I want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the support of our community members. The Bartlesville community has truly changed the lives and educational experience of Bartlesville's students and will leave a lasting impact on future generations of students. Together, we are “Striving for Excellence!”