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Turning her back on the deer issue

Ellen Lange of Roanoke Avenue was outside her home when a young buck followed the mailman onto her yard. The youngster walked right up to her and began noshing on the bushes next to the garage. “He actually licked my hand,” she said. After a leafy lunch, the deer sauntered off into the Hills and Dales area.

OHS Distinguished Alumni Awards announced

The Oakwood High School Alumni Board is pleased to announce the inaugural class of Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. This award was developed by the Alumni Board in order to acknowledge fellow OHS Alumni who have made significant accomplishments in their careers and communities.

These individuals were nominated by one or more of their peers, and nominations were accompanied by supporting materials such as curriculum vitae, newspaper and magazine articles, letters, and other publications. The nominees were then reviewed and awarded by the Alumni Board under the procedures developed in May 2007.

The following individuals will be honored in conjunction with Oakwood’s Centennial Celebration Closing Ceremonies.

Mr. Harry Ebeling, Class of 1950, is a retired partner and attorney at the law firm of Pickrel, Schaeffer, and Ebeling. He is a founding member of the Oakwood Schools Education Foundation, the Oakwood Historical Society and the Wright State University School of Theatre’s Stage Wright Friends.

Captain Carl L. Henn, Class of 1941, retired after a 27-year career
in the U.S. Navy as a captain and recipient of the Navy Commendation Medal. In addition to earning an MBA at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business and a MA in International Economic Relations at George Washington University, he forged careers in industrial ecology and environmental education and devoted over 25,000 hours to volunteer work.

Ms. Eleanor Pickrel Petersen, Class of 1937, was a community activist in Chicago, working to ensure a place for women and minorities in jobs, housing and philanthropy. Among her accomplishments were organizing the Kenwood Real Estate Committee, co-founding the Hyde Park Federal Savings and Loan, serving as Chairwoman of the Illinois Fair Employment Practice Commission, and founding Women in Foundations to ensure that women were properly represented in philanthropic efforts.

Mr. Frederick N. Young, Class of 1950, was a graduate of Harvard Law School, a prominent attorney and judge, and a partner in the law firm of Young and Alexander. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives and as Judge in the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals. His contributions to the Miami Valley include service as President of the Children’s Medical Center Board, President of the Wright State University Board of Trustees, President of Dayton Carillon Park and Chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party.

Everyone is invited is invited to the OHS Distinguished Alumni Award dinner and presentation being held at Moraine Country Club on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. You may purchase tickets for $50 each by calling Rande Chapman at the OHS Alumni office, (937) 298-8711.

A public presentation of the awards will take place during the City of Oakwood Centennial Closing Ceremonies on Sunday, Aug. 17. You may nominate an individual for future awards by downloading the form at www.oakwoodschools.org, or pick up the form at the Oakwood Board of Education building located at 20 Rubicon Road, Dayton, OH 45409.

If you have any questions, or would like a nomination form mailed to you, please contact Rande Rinn Chapman ’74, OHS Alumni Director, via email: oakwood.alumni@mindspring.com, or call (937) 298-8711

School Board
OGT results outperform
similar districts and state

By Dawn Beigel

Oakwood High School has had another year of exceptional results from the Ohio Graduation Test administered in March.

Data from the preliminary test results was presented at last night’s Oakwood Board of Education meeting by Kim Kappler, district curriculum director.

“We’re very happy with the results. We saw lower failure rates and higher passage rates, which is how we want it,” said Kappler. “And there was a higher passage rate of all five (subject) tests.” The highlights are as follows:

• In social studies, 79 percent of those tested scored in the advanced level of proficient, followed closely by 75 percent of them scoring advanced in math.

• In reading, 48 percent of them were advanced while 41 percent were accelerated, splitting the score in those two levels almost evenly.

• In writing, 66 percent scored in the accelerated level, which is only one percent more than that of similar school districts, yet the Oakwood students outperformed similar districts at the advanced level in writing.

• In science, most of the Oakwood students (55 percent of them) placed in the advanced level, again outperforming that of similar districts and in the state overall.

The data shows OHS outperformed similar districts and in the state overall with placement in the advanced level and accelerated level in reading and writing as well. Only one percent of Oakwood students tested below proficient, that being in math and science.

Superintendent Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo believes the students’ performance reflects a group-wide effort. “We’re very proud of our students and of the partnership among (them), the parents, faculty, staff and administrators…it’s a community effort,” she said.

Among legislation, the school board approved the following:

• A four-year lease agreement with Apple for 397 new comput
ers to be financed at zero percent interest rate.

• An agreement for FY2009 services with MDECA (Metropolitan Dayton Educational Cooperative Assoc.) for the district and the supplemental agreement for FY2009 services for Harman Elementary School.

• Donations of $1,000 from Howard Hobby and Kimberly Hobby, $150 from Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo and $200 from Kim Kappler towards the Women in Science Scholarship; a donation of $28,000 from the Oakwood Athletic Boosters to purchase new baseball and softball bleachers; and a donation of 50 binders and miscellaneous office supplies
from Richard Good.

• The resignation/retirements of Marilyn Thompson, LD tutor, teacher and substitute teacher since 1974; Kathy Butterworth, Smith Elementary School music teacher for 32 years; and Tom Griffith, art teacher for 37 years. All resignations/retirements are effective this June 30.

• The employment of Matthew Salyer as health/PE teacher at the junior/senior high school for next school year. Salyer is a graduate of Wright State University and has previously taught as an intervention specialist.

The Oakwood Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting July 14, 7:30 p.m. at the central office.

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June 17, 2008
Volume 17, No. 25