Three Edmond students ace ACT

Members of one Oklahoma family have used their artistic skills to help keep the state beautiful by winning the Trash Poster Contest seven times.

The three Buchanan children have all entered the competition, with 10-year-old Austin winning first place in the elementary school division for the 2018 calendar.

“We can help the environment,” Austin said. “I really like dogs, so I decided to draw a picture of them.”

Austin attends Russell Babb Elementary School in Harrah.

His entry depicts 10 dogs looking over a fence with the words ‘Litter is “Ruff” on Oklahoma.’ Austin said he received inspiration from his own dogs and his imagination.

More than 8,000 students participated in this year’s contest, which is sponsored by the state Transportation Department. Austin spent three days working on the winning design for his category.

“I like art because it’s not really a photograph, but it is something that you can draw and something out of your imagination,” he said. He has won more than 45 art awards.

Thomas Buchanan, 13, has won the contest several times and has been featured in the Transportation Department calendar multiple times.

“I think that no matter who you are, you can make a difference,” Thomas said.

He said some people do

Edmond Public Schools students, one from each of the three high schools, earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT college entrance exam.

Edmond Santa Fe’s Brian Carlton, Edmond Memorial’s Alex Chao and Edmond North’s Keegan Myers earned the perfect composite score, an achievement that puts them in the top one-tenth of one percent of all students who take the exam every year, according to a news release. All three students are juniors.

“To score a perfect 36 on the ACT is particularly remarkable because as juniors the students still have a full year of high school material they have yet to study,” said Debbie Bendick, Edmond’s associate superintendent of secondary education. “Honors such as valedictorian and honor society membership are wonderful accolades, but a perfect ACT score is one of the most powerful accomplishments a student can post . ... It will open college admission and scholarship doors to our nation’s most prestigious universities.”

Myers received word of his perfect score while on a trip to Boston. His mother texted thegood news. “I was pretty excited ... I’m glad that I never have to take it (the test) again,” said Myers, who participates in track and crosscountry, and will serve as student council president his senior year.

Chao said he was “surprised” by his perfect score because it was his first time taking the test. “I did a lot of practice tests,” he said. A two-time all-state violinist and member of the Memorial High School chess club, Chao still is considering where he will go to college and what he will study.

Carlton is considering studying computer engineering in college and would like to stay in Oklahoma for his bachelor’s degree. A twotime all-state cellist, he also is considering how he can continue with his music studies. His mother, Tia Carlton, says she is grateful for the way administrators, teachers and staff have invested in her son. “Whether encouraging his love of science, reading, or especially his love of playing cello, Edmond Public Schools has undoubtedly helped shaped the person Brian has become,” the mother said.

The ACT is a curriculum-based test scored on a scale of 0-36. It is designed to measure the skills needed for success in first year college coursework. The four individual areas that comprise the test are math, English, reading and science reasoning. not realize they are littering, such as when trash flies out of a truck, but he said reminders are always important.

“He got a little flyer in his backpack, and I asked him if he wanted to do it,” said his mother, Jaretta Buchanan.

“From then on, he has always wanted to enter and the other kids watching kept asking when they could do it.”

Thomas has won more than 77 art awards from such organizations as the Western Oklahoma Art Show and the Oklahoma Bar Association.

“I try to think of a good theme that will work good with a poster. Puns are also important,” Thomas said.

“I try to think of actual problems that Oklahoma has.”

The two brothers will draw anything that their imaginations come up with, their mother said.

The Depot Gallery, 200 S Jones Ave., will hold a second two-day “Wonderful Watercolor” workshop, taught by artist Connie Seabourn.

Seabourn led a workshop in March that had more people sign up than could be accommodated, Depot spokeswoman Nancy McClellan said. A second workshop will be May 17-18. Tuition is $120.

The workshop is for beginners, as well as more advanced artists. Seabourn is an experienced teacher, having studied art at Oklahoma City University and Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma) before receiving her bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the University of Oklahoma.

Members of Ida Freeman Elementary School’s debut Odyssey of the Mind team will travel this month to the world competition.

“First year, we honestly did not think that we would get this far,” said Sarah Johnston, director of the program and library media specialist at Ida Freeman.

Odyssey of the Mind challenges traditional thinking with spontaneous competitions, Johnston said. There is also an acted portion of the competition.

“How can we help teach the skills to solve problems, but not necessarily solve it for them,” Johnston said. “They can come with any variation to their answer.”

The program was introduced to Johnston and another teacher by their principal, who had done the program when he was in school.

Johnston said the team has had a learning curve this year. The six-member team and two coaches will travel to Michigan for the threeday world competition.

“I have learned that you have to come up with ideas yourself. One person cannot come up with the entire thing,” said Callie Chesnut, a fifthgrader. “Most of the teams we went up against were private schools.”

Many of the private schools have a class period for Odyssey of the Mind. Johnston said she has to hold her 90-minute program after school.

“It is pretty hectic, because we have a normal school day that I have to prepare lessons for and we obviously teach. But then we go directly into Odyssey of the Mind, and you have to have that mindset shift,” Johnston said.

Students from Ida Freeman and other Edmond schools competed in the regional and state competitions. Central Middle School and Sequoyah Middle School are also sending teams to the world event.

“It has been very stressful; two of us have

“I am amazed every day on what they come up with,” Jaretta said. “I just have to keep encouraging them.”

The brothers and their mother sell some of their artwork at events.

Sophie Buchanan, who is 5, entered the contest this year. She did not win, but she and her mother are hoping she will follow in the footsteps of her brothers with wins in upcoming years.

Thirteen student posters were chosen for the 2018 Oklahoma Trash Poster Calendar, with one selected as the 2017 promotional poster of the year.

The winners were honored April 12. The Transportation Department spends more than $4 million a year in the fight against litter.

The 2018 calendars will be distributed to state agencies, businesses and schools across the state.

Seabourne works in acrylic, watercolor, pastel and prints, but is perhaps best known for her delicate watercolors. “Most of my work is ethereal, dreamy and narrative” says Seabourn, who became a fulltime artist in 1980. Her watercolors were featured in The Depot Gallery in “Haunting the Mind: Beings that Fly,” in January and February 2016 and also appeared in Small Works VI in late 2016. She has exhibited extensively, won numerous awards and has works in notable collections.

The workshop will begin at 9:30 each morning and continue until about 4 p.m. at The Depot. Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch so they can work through lunch, if they wish. For more information, call 307-9320. shed a lot of tears,” Callie said. She said tears were brought on by the skit failing and the backdrop falling during a performance.

The team will compete in an eight-minute skit and a spontaneous competition for five to 10 minutes. “There is no adult help,” Johnston said.

One of the projects is to cover objects with paper while using the least amount and showing teamwork. “The students will walk into a problem, and they have no idea on what is going on. Then they have to solve the problem on their own,” Johnston said.

Each member is graded on teamwork and other criteria. The team can gain points if members find creative ways to save materials.

The group has raised more than $3,000 for the trip but needs $8,000. To donate to the fund, call the school at 340-2965.

The look and feel of instruction in Edmond schools is being revamped as the move continues toward digital learning. The district, through bond funding, is in a five-year process to convert much of its learning from textbooks to digital devices.

During their meeting this week, members of the school board approved the purchase of 5,400 Chromebooks and cases from Office Depot for $1.4 million, for students in grades eight, nine and 10.

How they will be used was discussed by Associate Superintendent Ruthie Riggs. She is helping to lead a committee of educators who will assist in teacher training. To illustrate her point, she showed a video clip from the 1986 movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” where actor Ben Stein portrays an economics teacher. Stein is seen covering dull material in a monotone voice, speaking to bored-looking students.

Riggs admitted the film scenes were funny, but it highlighted the need for students to be engaged. That’s where digital learning becomes important, Riggs said. “This is much more than moving textbooks to a device,” she said.

Using “authentic learning,” some real life or simulated situations are given to students. Math students might be given the “popcorn,” scenario, to study how movie theaters buy popcorn and why it is sold for nearly $8 for a small bag. The goal, Riggs said, will be to move away from lectures and make learning more interactive.

Her presentation led to praise from the board.

“The sky is the limit,” board member Meredith Exline said.

“I hope no teacher is overwhelmed by this,” board President Cynthia Benson said.

Board member Lee Ann Kuhlman said the panel should focus on vocational training this summer with teachers not familiar with the process or devices.

Riggs conceded the transition wouldn’t be overnight but said eventually teachers will welcome the change. “The enthusiasm from the kids excites the teachers,” she said.

“Elementary schools are doing the same thing,” Superintendent Brett Towne said. “We will be replicating this for all curriculum.”

Riggs was one of dozens of educators and support staff thanked by the board on their retirements next month. They were introduced by chief human resource officer Randy Decker, who said they had contributed 1,100 years of service to the school district and more than 1,425 to education overall.

Concerning the purchase of the Chromebooks, there was discussion on how parents would pay for damage to the devices. Director of Technology Rich Anderson said parents would be offered a chance to buy a $30 policy that would cover replacement costs. If not, they might have to pay $181 to replace one, he said.