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1 month ago | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, we want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the amazing dads out there who are on the front lines of the sometimes difficult, but rewarding and joyful role of child rearing. For the second year, TulsaKids invited readers to nominate an amazing dad to be highlighted in our June issue. Reading the nominations brought us smiles, tears and admiration for all the loving tributes to dads in the Tulsa community.
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1 month ago | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
When I met 6-year-old Peyton Brock at her house, she was scrunched up next to her mom, Kendra. But it didn’t take long for her to tell me about her kindergarten graduation coming up the next day and a birthday trip to the Oklahoma Aquarium. Peyton is a cheerful kid who loves playing with her family, but she also has had to face a difficult reality at a young age – her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis. While Kendra’s surgery was successful, she still faces several months of radiation and chemotherapy.
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2 months ago | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
Jocelyn Doeksen is a senior at the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences. Jocelyn’s art was chosen as this year’s ZooRun tote bag image. She has already seen many successes – and rejections – as a young artist, but views it all as part of her creative process. TK: Tell us about the ZooRun tote bag art competition? How did it feel to win that? Jocelyn: I found out about the zoo tote bag competition on a random weekday.
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2 months ago | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
Last year, we invited readers to nominate an amazing mom to be featured in TulsaKids and on our cover. We loved reading the nominations last year, so we put out a call again this year – and you delivered! Over 100 of you took the time to write about an amazing mom in your life.
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2 months ago | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
Dr. Eunice Tarver and the Student Success Team at Tulsa Community College invited Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings to speak at a Lunch & Learn on “The Power of Student-Centered Teaching Strategies.” I have been out of the classroom for many years now, but I enjoy keeping up with current educational trends and issues, so I went to hear her presentation.
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Mar 26, 2025 | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
Telling a story in verse came naturally to Kwame Alexander. He says he has always written love poems, but after his daughter was born, he started writing poems for her. Young adults may be drawn to his book Crush: Love Poems, while children may love his picture books or his bestselling series, The Door of No Return. In fact, children through adults can find a Kwame Alexander book to love. He has written more than 40 books for children and adults.
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Mar 21, 2025 | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
Ameasles outbreak in Texas is making its way into other states and there may be cases in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is tracking cases or potential cases in the state. They also offer information on how to prevent measles and what to do if you suspect you or a family member who is not immune should do if exposed to measles. A measles vaccine can prevent measles. Ninety-five percent of people need to be vaccinated for measles to achieve herd immunity.
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Feb 26, 2025 | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
Warning: This column refers to death by suicide. Twelve-year-old Mason Gibson’s dad started skateboarding with him when Mason was 2 years old. They also shared a love of art and music. Today, Mason finds solace in skateboarding. Two years ago, his dad died by suicide. Mason took his grief and began to plan a safe space for others to share their difficulties and to raise awareness about suicide and mental health through the love of skateboarding.
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Feb 25, 2025 | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
The federal Department of Education (DOE), which DOGE will probably eliminate soon, warned states that they would lose federal funding if they don’t remove DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies and programs – in two weeks! Colleges and universities began scrambling to scrape DEI from existence, responding to the Department of Education’s letter, which states, “the department will vigorously enforce the law.” Scrub everything until lit glows white. It must be taken seriously.
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Feb 12, 2025 | 
tulsakids.com | Betty Casey
On stormy days that forced us to stay inside, my siblings and kids from the neighborhood would play board games. My favorite was CLUE, the classic whodunit that satisfied my childish powers of deduction. More than that, I could imagine a real mansion and fully-formed characters wielding full-size murder weapons. The perfect game for a dark and stormy day and an imaginative child.
