The Duncan Banner

Local News

Related Photos

  • Derrick Miller

    Life lessons with a little help
November 5, 2009

Coming to a crossroads

Seventh-graders participate in Kaleidoscope

Derrick Miller

DUNCAN — Seventh-grade students are in a time when they’re learning who they are and are on the brink of making major life choices. It’s because of this crossroads that area seventh-graders take part in the Kaleidoscope program.

This was the 19th year for the program, which takes place two days each year. Kaleidoscope started Thursday and continues today.

On the first day, several smaller schools, including Velma-Alma, Comanche, Marlow, Central High, Grandview and Waurika took part. Today, more schools participated in Kaleidoscope, including Duncan, Bray-Doyle and Empire.

Each year, the program has about 800 students, who go through several of the sessions to learn how their actions can affect the rest of their lives. Each student selected up to four sessions. Some of the schools had to leave after the third sessions to make sure school buses were available for the end of the school day.

Several of the students said they learned quite a bit from the program. Casady Robertson and Ryan Enloe of Velma-Alma Public Schools, and Kayce Miller of Comanche Middle School, said there was a wide range of knowledge provided through Kaleidoscope.

Miller and Robertson said they went through a program that taught them about the hazards of drugs.

Robertson said she learned that some drugs have a high fatality rate. Miller said she learned quite about the negative effects of drugs.

“I learned what drugs are and what they can do to you,” Miller said.

Enloe said he went to sessions that taught him about abstinence. He said he was surprised to hear about the high teen pregnancy rate in Oklahoma.

“They said 50,000 kids in Oklahoma have teen births,” Enloe said. “The United States has more teens getting pregnant than any other country.”

Both Enloe and Robertson said another important lesson they learned was to be themselves, not to give into peer pressure.

Each of the students said they were taking away important lessons from Kaleidoscope.

“We learned not to do drugs and to stay healthy,” Robertson said. “Be who you are.”

Enloe said he learned the importance of abstinence.

“It teaches us to wait so we’ll have better careers,” he said.

Miller said the program also provided an opportunity to learn things parents may not know themselves.

“It teaches kids what they don’t know, stuff they can’t find out from their parents,” Miller said.

Text Only
Local News
  • Comforting memories Duncan’s ambassador honored

    When Tara Harper first saw the memorial bench for her grandfather, Al Hinshaw, she remarked about the sweet sentiment of the inscription. Shortly after that, Harper shed a few tears.

    February 3, 2012 2 Photos

  • Johnson’s bills aimed at District 50 constituents

    State Rep. Dennis Johnson is busy preparing for the upcoming state legislative session, where the eight bills he submitted will be considered.

    February 3, 2012

  • Recognized for excellence Duncan shaped Callahan, Wells lives

    Emily Wininger Callahan and Joseph T. Wells found success in their careers, success both acknowledged was shaped in Duncan Public Schools and the Duncan community.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Super Bowl Play 60 -- 02.JPG NFL Play 60 Kids Day gets them moving

    It was kids, kids and more kids Wednesday at the Indiana Convention Center, as 38 classrooms of fifth- and sixth-graders enjoyed a morning at the NFL Experience, courtesy of the NFL’s Play 60 Challenge.

    February 2, 2012 4 Photos

  • They all pitched in 4-H member gives gift of reading

    After experience great success from a Stephens County 4-H Teen Leader Project, Ashley Powers and her three siblings donated dozens of books for use by students at Woodrow Wilson Elementary Wednesday afternoon.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Marlow council OKs bid on electrical line over U.S. 81

    Two bids have been approved by the Marlow City Council that will help pave the way for construction of a electrical line to cross U.S. Highway 81 on the south side of the city.

    February 2, 2012

  • Barrington focus on budget, taxes

    As a new legislative tern prepares to kick off in Oklahoma, Sen. Don Barrington has his sights fixed on a number of issues and bills the State Senate will be handling before the summer recess.

    February 2, 2012

  • He earned it! City of Duncan employee retires after nearly 36 years

    After nearly 36 years as an employee of the City of Duncan, Mark Littig celebrated his last day Tuesday by sharing a potluck luncheon his colleagues arranged to honor the work and time Littig dedicated to the city.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • It was self defense

    The District 6 District Attorney’s Office has chosen to forego making charges against Bobby Joe Dyer in the death of Bryan Dean Miller.

    February 2, 2012

  • SecurityPix 1.jpg Super security goes into place for Super Bowl

    Law enforcement officials charged with Super Bowl security are taking extraordinary measures to prevent a terrorist attack, but they’re also working to keep the event from being a field day for common criminals.

    February 1, 2012 2 Photos