Oakwood High School Speech & Debate
makes mark at state

Going to Nationals in Las Vegas!
Siobhan Tellez, Joanna Draper, Rob Mitchell

The Oakwood High School Speech and Debate team recently competed in the State Tournament in Akron Ohio on February 28-March 1.  21 Oakwood students qualified for State by competing in the Greater Miami Valley District Tournament held in Centerville.  Only the top two students in each category qualified for competition at the State.

State Qualifiers

Policy Debate:
Julia Goff and Julia Sizek
Maggie Light-Scotece and Colin Ward
Jeff Nagel and Alex Keller and
Philip Sizek and Ben Hawkins

International Extemporaneous Speaking:
Siobhan Tellez

Oratorical Interpretation:
Abby Scharrer
Rob Mitchell

Original Oratory:
Emma Couch

Prose and Poetry:
Brianna McGhee
Mason Camme

Duo Interpretation:
Nora Murphy and Tyler Rife
Jake Basnett and Dillon Corrigan

Dramatic Interpretation:
Joanna Draper
Lindsay McWilliams
Lindsay Hanson (alternate)

Of those 20 students, three made the Quarterfinals:

Quarter Finals:
Joanna Draper finished 14th in state for Dramatic Interpretation  
Brianna McGhee finished 19th in Prose and Poetry
Nora Murphy and Tyler Rife finished 20th in Duo Interpretation.

Two students finished in the semi finals:
Rob Mitchell finished 8th in Oratorical Interpretation
Siobhan Tellez finished 9th in International Extemporaneous Speaking.

Two Students finished in the finals:
Julia Goff and Julia Sizek finished 8th in State in Policy Debate

The Student Speech and Debate team
would like to thank their coaches
for such a great year.  

Brianna Doyal, Head coach, Alex Kordik, Debate coach and Jassica Comgi, Extemporaneous speaking coach, have put in endless hours helping the students perfect their performances. Their enthusiasm and positive energy ensured that the students had a great time, win or lose.

The last Tournament of the year for the Oakwood Speech and debate Team is the National Finals held in Las Vegas in June. Oakwood will be represented by three of our students.  Siobhan Tellez, Joanna Draper, and Rob Mitchell will go on to Nationals after winning their places in the Western Ohio District competition held in February.

Speech and Debate students who competed at State:
Back Row:  Mason Cammel, Dillon Corrigan,
Brianna McGhee, Rob Mitchell; Front Row: Julia Goff,
Julia Sizek, Joanna Draper, Emma Couch, Tyler Rife,
Nora Murphy; Not Pictured: Maggie Light-Scotece,
Colin Ward, Jeff Nagel, Alex Keller, Philip Sizek,
Ben Hawkins, Siobhan Tellez, Abby Scharrer,
Jake Basnett, Lindsay McWilliams and
Lindsay Hanson. 

Harman team trophies at Destination ImagiNation

Finals for the Destination ImagiNation Tournament, a team-based creative problem solving competition for school age kids, were held on Saturday, March 15 at Sinclair Community College.  Pictured is the winning team, “ The Really Obnoxious Hyperactive League of Rodents That May Be Living in Your Backyard...,” from Harman Elementary School.  The team, coached by Sandy Mudry, won second place overall in the Chorific! Category and also the DaVinci Award for Outstanding Creativity.  Congratulations to team members (L to R): Colleen Morrow, Graham Garner, David Mudry, Adam Bloom, Sandy Mudry, the Coach, Addison Caruso, Cam Ricci, and Eli Eckerle.”

Oakwood Rotary 4-Way speech contest March 20

The Oakwood Rotary is sponsoring the 4-Way Speech contest at Oakwood High School on Thursday, March 20. Approximately 20 students will be presenting speeches applying the Rotary 4-Way Test to the concepts of leadership, service to others, and life experiences. The contest rules state that the speeches can run between four and six minutes in length, and must be presented from memory without the aid of a podium, notes, displays or props.

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world, the Rotary 4-Way Test asks the following questions: Of the things we think, say, or do: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships, and 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Twelve judges, including Rotary members, school administrators, and teachers will judge the contest. The Oakwood Rotary will award the following cash prizes to the top four winners of the competition: 1st Place: $150, 2nd Place: $100, 3rd Place: $75, and, 4th Place: $50.  The first place contestant will continue on to the Rotary District 4-Way Speech Contest at Wittenberg University in early April.

Sorority collecting school supplies at OHS

The University of Dayton’s Phi Alpha Delta will be collecting new and gently used school supplies for Fairview Elementary School. Please help us collect notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other school supplies. Donate to the bin located in the Oakwood High School entrance. Thank you!

McCarthy Scholarship accepting

The Matthew McCarthy Memorial Scholarship committee is accepting applications from graduating seniors of Oakwood, Fairmont and Archbishop Alter High Schools until April 1.  The scholarship, sponsored by the Kettering Kiwanis Foundation, is dedicated to a “hardworking student with potential.”

“Matthew McCarthy believed that average, hardworking students would someday run the world because of their drive and steadfast determination, and we created this scholarship to honor his memory,” said Mary Lou McCarthy, Committee President.

Matthew McCarthy devoted his life to education, particularly the lessons of the Holocaust—eliminating hatred, discrimination and racism while promoting tolerance and acceptance. In 1987, he won the highly prized Yavner Award as Social Studies Teacher of the Year in New York.  

Donations have been made worldwide to honor Matthew McCarthy’s lifelong commitment to education, culminating with this second annual $1,000 scholarship. 

Application forms are available in the Guidance Offices of Oakwood, Fairmont and Alter High Schools for those who plan to attend a U.S. university on a full-time basis.  Seniors should have better than a 2.5 grade point average.   To be considered, applicants must submit:

1.   A personal essay explaining future goals, personal attributes and creativity
2.   A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher
3.   A letter of recommendation from an employer, community leader or service club advisor
4.   A current transcript (unofficial is sufficient)
5.   A copy of the FAFSA, SAR or the applicant’s parents’ filed income tax return

A panel of judges consisting of a Kettering Kiwanis club officer and members of Matthew McCarthy’s family will select the recipient. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded at a Kettering Kiwanis meeting.

For more information, contact Mary Lou McCarthy at (727) 581-6189 or email mccartcomm@yahoo.com

Nominations accepted for Teacher of the Year

Nominations for the Ohio 2007-2008 TOTY™ (Teacher of the Year) are being accepted through April 30, 2008.  The announcement came from the TOTY Award™ sponsor, Teachers’ Insurance Plan™, a car insurance program exclusively for members of the educational community.

The award will include $1,000 to the winning teacher and a $500 grant to that teacher’s school.  The Ohio TOTY Award™ winner will also be eligible for the National TOTY Award™ that includes a special recognition and a $2,500 travel certificate.

Teachers, students and parents can nominate any of the state’s accredited teachers.

TOTY™ nomination forms are available online at www.teachers.com/toty.  To nominate an educator, or yourself, explain in 250 words or less why this teacher should be the Teacher of the Year.  Nominees will be judged on their ability to motivate students, their special talents, and their contribution to their school, students or educational community.

Winners will be announced at the start of the next school year.

Nominations for teacher award being accepted

For the third year running, Panera Bread will be teaming up with the Ohio PTA to celebrate Ohio teachers with the Panera Bread Rising Above Award. Panera Bread will  be accepting nominations from now through April 1. The annual campaign invites both public and private school students to nominate a teacher that “rises above” the call of duty and proves  to be a valuable resource in the classroom.

The campaign awards central Ohio educators in three grade levels: K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Students are asked to submit a 100-200 word, essay stating why their teacher deserves to be honored  with the Rising Above Award. Entry forms and contest rules are available at all 19 Panera Bread bakery-cafes located throughout the greater Columbus area, as well as online at www.paneraohio.com.

One grand-prize student winner per age category, per region, will be selected to receive a $100 savings bond and a $500 grant for his/her school. Winners in grades K-5 and 6-8 will also receive a Via-Panera catered breakfast for their classroom, and for grades 9-12 the student will receive a $25 gift card. Winning teachers will receive a $100 Panera Bread gift card and a  special plaque to display in the classroom.

Summer school signups now open

Oakwood Junior and Senior High School will offer summer school classes beginning Tuesday, June 10.  Summer school packets will be available to students beginning Tuesday, March 11 in the Senior High Office, the Senior High Guidance Office, the Junior High Office, and the Senior High Book Room.  

Priority sign-ups for current tenth and eleventh graders will be on Thursday, March 13th at 8:00 a.m., and open enrollment will begin on Monday, March 17 at 8 a.m.

A completed registration form with parent signature as well as full tuition and any fees for all classes must be paid in the form of cash or check at the time of registration.

Registration will take place in the Senior High Bookroom. For more information please call 297-5325.

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