Welcome to the Oakwood Register

Thank you for donations to a new OHS class

The following businesses have had a huge impact on allowing our Oakwood students to have purchasing power. We would like to kindly thank you for showing your support of student learning within the community. Your kindness and generosity is overwhelming.

Business Donations:
Arby’s / Lee’s Famous Recipes- Dayton
Ashley’s Bakery- Oakwood
Amber Rose- Dayton
Big Sky Bread Company- Kettering
Bob Evans- Kettering
Burger King-Kettering
BW3’s- Brown St.
Cassano’s Inc.
Central Perk- Oakwood
Chipotle- Kettering
Cold Stone Creamery- University Plaza
Dairy Queen- Shroyer Rd.
Danberry Dollar Saver- Dayton
DiSalvo’s Deli & Italian Store- Kettering
Flowerama- Shroyer Rd.
Friendly’s- Stroop Rd.
Graeter’s Ice Cream- Oakwood
Krogers- Stroop Rd.
McDonald’s- Wilmington Pike
Oakwood Florist- Oakwood
Outback Steakhouse- Cross Pointe Centre
Penn Station- Kettering
Poelking-Woodman Lanes- Kettering
Ritter’s Frozen Custard- Kettering
Sears Hardware- Cross Pointe Centre
Serenity at Miami-Jacobs College of Massage- Dayton
Sherwood Florists- Kettering
Skyline Chili- Kettering
Starbuck’s- Oakwood
Wal-Mart- Dorothy Ln. and S. Dixie.
What’s Poppin’- Town and Country

Community Donations:
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Bloom
Ms. Lisa Hamski
Mr. Mark Hughes
Ms. Emily Koterba
Mr. Jason McCauley
Mrs. Regina McCauley
Mrs. Dana Murphy
Mrs. Chuck Rodabaugh
Mrs. Lee Slicer
Mrs. Marsh Stevens

Student Claire Henderson makes a purchase from Teachers Aide Dana Murphy.

New OHS class checks out fine with students

By Lance Winkler

Well over two dozen business donations and just under a dozen community donations have made a success of a novel program for special education students at Oakwood High School. The program was started three weeks ago by teachers Regina McCauley and Lisa Hamski, along with teacher’s aides Carol McCarthy, Dana Murphy, Marsh Stevens and Sue Headrik. The class includes students ranging from seventh through tenth grade. Incorporated into their Career Math class taught at OHS, the program seeks to both motivate and reward students for class performance and at the same time teach them some much-needed economic skills – such as writing checks, balancing a checkbook, budgeting, etc…

“They earn funds through completing homework assignments, participation in class and quiz or test scores. Students earn up to $5 a week or $20 a month. They also earn interest on the account – one percent a month,” said Gina McCauley. What thy get to do with that money is spend it - on a large selection of products and services available and donated by the aforementioned businesses and individuals. Transactions are done via checks written against deposits made at the “bank” the staff has created for that purpose.

“The program is to be as real as possible to a real bank. They’re writing checks, making deposits, working with interest and balancing end-of-month statements. They need to know how to budget. We decided that they should be able to buy tangible products while learning to budget,” McCauley said. “Lisa and I wrote a letter to restaurants, stores and asked for products donated through the community.”

“People were very, very willing to donate. I don’t think we had anybody say no,” said Lisa Hamski. At last count, 31 local businesses and 10 individuals have donated items, tickets and services to the program. Among the items donated and displayed for students to purchase are gift certificates, makeup, tickets to movie theatres and OHS football tickets, games, Beanie Babies, games and picture frames. The class even received a cash register donated by The Little Exchange.

There are even rewards for extra effort. For example, students who got a 100 percent on a recent vocabulary test got a $5 bonus. Completing homework assignments and good behavior are also deserving of merit.
Friday is shopping day at the “H&M Store.”

Student Liz Hamilton pored over the various selections and picked up two items – a ticket to the Danberry Dollar Cinema and an “I Love Lucy” VHS. “I’m a movie freak, a movie expert. I’m a big music person. I want to be a musician and a photographer,” she said. Liz validated her music interests by having studied piano and keyboard for a year.

Another student, Brendan Loiacano, picked a plastic megaphone for his purchase. “I plan on using it at the game tonight – and today!” he said with glee. “It’s really cool and fun,” he said of the program.

2005 OHS yearbooks, DVD’s available

The Oakwood High School 2005 yearbooks are now available for pick-up at the high school office. Commencement DVD’s are also available. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lobster Sale ends Oct. 17

Harman School’s second annual “Crustaceans for Education” Lobster Sale is underway. This PTO fundraiser was a huge success last year, and is expected to be an even bigger hit this year as families become more familiar with this creative and delicious project. Up until Monday, Oct. 17, students from Harman School are pre-selling lobsters to neighbors and friends.These live Maine lobsters weigh at least 1 pound each and are available for $16 each.

Lobster Pick-Up Day is slated for Saturday, Oct. 22 from 2-6 p.m. when parents can come by Harman School and pick up their live or freshly steamed lobsters. Just like last year, the Lobster Pick-Up Day Bake Sale promises to be fabulous, so plan to pick up dessert when you come for your lobsters. If you would like to order lobsters, but a Harman student hasn’t come by your house, please feel free to stop by the Harman School front office or call Anne Rasmussen at 534-1981.

Jr. High meetings announced

The next Jr. High Parent/ Principal Meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 12 noon in Room 131. All parents are always welcome to this small group meeting to discuss school issues.

The next Oakwood Jr. /Sr. High PTO meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20. at 11:45 a.m. in Room 204. All parents are welcome to attend. For information call PTO Pres. Pam Denka at 298-3874.

Hurricane Katrina donation no small change

During a two-week period, Harman elementary students raised a combined total of $1,872.01 for Hurricane Katrina victims. Using the title “Make Change for a Change,” three teachers - fourth grade teacher Tammy Parker, second grade teacher Cheri
Schumacher and fifth grade teacher Tina Bennett organized the students first through sixth grade to bring in spare change for the relief effort. According to Tammy Parker, one fourth grade student brought in $173 in coins.

“We though that was a pretty big amount,” Parker said. “The kids were very generous and giving. Some kids brought their piggy banks filled to the brim.”

The entire amount was donated to the Hurricane Katrina Fund of the American Red Cross last week.

Team Managers still needed for DI teams

Team Managers are vital to Oakwood’s K-12 Destination Imagination program. Destination Imagination teams are given “challenges.” Students have to solve these challenges, without help or “interference” from any adults. Team Managers do not help students solve their challenge; instead, team managers arrange and facilitate meeting times for students and assist with the procurement of needed supplies (funding is provided by Oakwood City Schools for these supplies). Additionally, Team Managers facilitate “instant challenge” practice sessions. While the time commitment is extensive, so are the rewards! Call Renee Griffith at 297-5338 for more information about what the responsibilities are for a team manager.

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