OSEF fall grant awards announced

The foundation is pleased to announce its fall grant awards. Initiatives ranging from $700 to $5,000 will support Harman, Smith, and Oakwood Junior and Senior High Schools. Funded projects include:

Chinese Dual Enrollment Course

Funds will be used to initiate the offering of a Mandarin Chinese language course as a dual enrollment class partnered with Wright State University. A WSU faculty member will teach the course to Oakwood junior and senior high students on Oakwood’s campus.

Pedal Power: Energizing Students Through Energy Education

This is a collaboration between Oakwood senior high and 6th grade science students and the Ohio Energy Project to build an “Energy Bike”. The bike will be used (1) as a tool to build awareness of STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine) careers and (2) will be used throughout the school district and community to highlight engineering design processes.

Electrostatically Engaged

Funds will be used to purchase an electrostatic dust print lifter - a technologically advanced crime scene investigation tool - for the high school forensics science course.

Reading and Writing Phonics Intervention Solutions

Funds will be used to supplement the current Grades 1-3 Harman elementary spelling program with the Winsor Learning/Sonday System Program - a research-based, easy to implement, sequential and systematic phonics instruction package.

Differentiating with Non-fiction Books

Funds will be used by 3rd grade Smith teachers to purchase non fiction books at different reading levels. This will allow better integration of Science, Social Studies, and Math concepts into the Guided Reading program.

Fluency: Guided Reading Supplement

Funds for 2nd grade Harman teachers to purchase Reader’s Theatre materials including fairy tales, tall tales and contemporary tales. Reader’s Theater is a fluency building program where students perform “theater” piece in front of peers.

If you are interested in more information, please contact the foundation office at 297-5332.

OHS 7th in state by U.S. News & World Report

The Dec. 5, 2008 issue of the national magazine U.S. News and World Report gave out rankings of U.S. high schools both nationally and by state. Oakwood High School received a Silver ranking and was rated seventh in the state.

Oakwood High School did not rate in the top 100 in the nation according to the report.  

The results for the top 10 high schools in Ohio Ranked by Award Gold, then Silver are as follows:

1.  Walnut Hills Cincinnati 81.6  Gold
2.  Wyoming Wyoming 74.1  Gold
3.  Ottawa Hills Toledo 62.8  Gold
4.  Chagrin Falls Chagrin Falls 61.4  Gold
5.  Indian Hill Cincinnati 60.3  Silver
6.  Solon Solon 53.5  Silver
7.  Oakwood Dayton 49.1  Silver
8.  Bexley Bexley 48.5  Silver
9.  Olentangy Liberty Powell 47.4  Silver
10. Dublin Jerome Dublin 47.0  Silver

Source:  U.S. News and World Report – 5 December 2008
(Associated web site at www.usnews.com)

Seeking 2009 Distinguished Alumni nominations

After a successful inaugural ceremony, the Oakwood High School Alumni Board is again seeking nominations for the Oakwood High School Distinguished Alumni Award.  The deadline for submission of nomination forms and letters of support is Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.  

Nomination forms are available on the Alumni webpage at www.oakwood.k12.oh.us.  You may email your nominations to alumni@oakwood.k12.oh.us. Your nomination forms or letters of support may also be mailed to or dropped off at 20 Rubicon Road, Dayton,. OH  45409

The 2009 OHS Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony will be held on May 15, 2009.

If you have any questions on criteria, forms, supporting materials or other award-related inquiries, please contact OHS Alumni Director Rande Rinn Chapman ’74 at 937-298-8711 or e-mail her at alumni@oakwood.k12.oh.us.

Hosts sought for neighborhood meetings

The Oakwood Board of Education is committed to staying in touch with our citizens. As part of that goal, the school district holds two neighborhood meetings per month. The main purpose of the meeting is to engage in conversation about our schools with our community members. Neighborhood meetings are a unique chance for residents to meet in a comfortable setting with Dr. Mary Jo Scalzo, Superintendent of the Oakwood Schools, and board members. Dr. Scalzo usually asks one question for community input, but the focus of the rest of the meeting is an open discussion about our schools. We are looking for Oakwood citizens to host neighborhood meetings in their homes. There is minimal work involved.

Your task is to invite your friends and neighbors to attend the meeting and put out a plate of cookies. We do the rest! The available meeting dates and times follow. If you are interested in one of these dates, please contact Sandy Maresh at the Oakwood Board of Education Office (937) 297-5332.

Neighborhood Meeting dates for the new year:

1/8 at 7 p.m.
1/27 at 7 p.m.
2/3 at 7 p.m.
2/27 at 9:30 a.m.
3/24 at 7 p.m.
4/21 at 7 p.m.
4/27 at 7 p.m.
5/4 at 7 p.m.

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