Thank you to the Norman community for supporting the 2023 School Bond! Construction from the 2019 bond is wrapping up at Monroe and McKinley Elementaries, and all of our schools will have storm shelters when this is complete. These two sites will be the first to see 2023 construction begin, and other projects are set to begin construction soon, including the fine arts facility, Norman North stadium and Oklahoma Aviation Academy. Visit normanpublicschools.org/bond for more information. 

Students in Norman Public Schools will have the opportunity to earn an associate degree at a reduced cost. Through a partnership with Tulsa Community College, students can earn their degrees by the time they finish high school.

TCC’s well-established associate degree program is virtual and utilizes mostly open-source curriculum, meaning there will be little to no cost for books. A facilitator will assist students in the program, providing staff support throughout the process. The total cost of the program will be approximately $5,500, nearly half the average cost of an associate degree. NPS is working on partnerships to provide scholarship opportunities to students. 

Additionally, NPS will continue partnering with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City Community College to provide concurrent enrollment opportunities. The associate degree initiative is an additional avenue through which students can earn college credit. 

Our Career Pathways resource shows students and families how what is learned from elementary school through high school connects to the workforce. We partnered with the Chamber to highlight the businesses in Norman that are part of each of the six different career fields. Click here to learn more about this resource. 

More than 400 students and 100 businesses are participating in the Internship and Work Based Learning Program, which provides student opportunities for career exploration. Current businesses include Norman Regional Hospital, Boldview Media, Keystone Retaining Walls, Crossroads, Rose Rock School and many more. Two years ago, NPS piloted the program with three students, so it has seen tremendous growth since year one. 

At NPS, we are focused on ensuring that our middle school students have a unique and positive experience. In August, we began implementing our new middle school plan, focusing on the areas of Organization and Structure, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing, and Teaching and Learning, to align experiences across the four middle schools. More information can be found at normanpublicschools.org/middleschools. 

OAA started just two years ago, but is already thriving and continuing to expand. NPS is implementing two new programs for students, Tango Flight Pathway and Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. Through the Tango Flight Pathway, 11th and 12th grade students will build an FAA-certified airplane over two years. Civil Air Patrol‘s cadet program transforms youth into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders through a curriculum focusing on leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. As cadets participate in these four elements, they advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities. Many of the nation‘s astronauts, pilots, engineers, and scientists first explored their careers through Civil Air Patrol. 

Additionally, OAA students can complete concurrent enrollment through the University of Oklahoma's College of Aviation. OAA will be the only high school program in the state with this option, and it will be shared with other local districts. 

Construction will begin soon on the Oklahoma Aviation Academy on Max Westheimer Airport. Thank you to the University of Oklahoma for its support of the academy from the beginning.  

Learn more about OAA at normanpublicschools.org/aviationacademy. 

As of early October, NPS now has school resource officers in all of our schools. Thank you to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office for stepping in to provide SROs for the elementary schools, and to the City of Norman for its support and funding of the program. Click here for more information about the school resource officer program.

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2024 Celebration of Excellence, please contact Sarah Seymore at sseymore@normanps.org. This year’s event is scheduled for April 12 at Embassy Suites. 

Please contact Dr. Kristi Gray at kristig@normanps.org you are interested in hosting NPS students for internships.

Since 2019, the Norman Public School Foundation has invested more than $1.4 million into NPS, including $125,000 in classroom grants this fall. NPSF is funding the upcoming STEM Tank, a program for elementary and middle school students to engage in STEM. The foundation also provides scholarships for students on free/reduced lunch to attend summer enrichment programs. Consider getting involved with NPSF by donating or attending events, including the upcoming Gingerbread Jingle on December 2. Visit www.npsfok.org or contact Alesha Leemaster at aleshaleemaster@npsfok.org.