|
Congratulations to senior Michael Mount and junior Micah Stock who qualified to the National Speech and Debate Tournament to be held in Dallas, Texas on June 18-24. Michael qualified in Domestic Extemporaneous speaking and Micah in Dramatic Interpretation. Michael is coaced by Brianna Doyal and Micah is coached by Candy Pees.
 The Dayton LaSertoma Club held their forty sixth annual banquet at the Presidential Banquet Center on Feb. 15, and recognized twenty six senior students from public and private high schools for service to their school and community. Each high school was asked to recommend one student to receive this honor. The students have served as mentors, coaches, and tutors for younger students; served at homeless shelters, nursing homes and hospitals; and worked on summer project in and out of the country.
Among the honorees was Oakwood High School senior Channing Kordik.
“She is really just a terrific young lady,” said LaSertoma member Pam Stephens. “She is one of the top students in our organization.”
In addition to being vice president of the OHS Ecology Club last year and president this year, Kordik has been involved with both the House of Bread in Dayton and Salud Clinic in Tipp City, Ohio, the Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Oakwood, been involved in Oakwood Giving, served on the Teen Board, coached third grade soccer, been involved in babysitting, pet care, house sitting, catering parties and gardening, among other activities.
Among the other local recipients of the LaSertoma service award was Erin Parrott of Stivers High School, Gail Cengia of Alter, Christy Adkins of Belmont, Elizabeth Markus of Carroll, Christina Hauvrock of Centerville, Ann Feigherty of Chaminade-Julliene and Amber Mitchell of Fairmont.
Thanks to all Smith families who helped make this year’s “Jump Rope for Heart” our best one yet! Students and staff enjoyed jumping all week in physical education classes with friends and siblings January 23-27. This program is co-sponsored by The American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Physical education teachers, Mrs. Schivley and Mrs. Liapis taught their students to eat right, get plenty of exercise and to never smoke to keep their bodies healthy. Students also learned the warning signs for heart attack and stroke and some new jump tricks along the way too. Smith families donated a record $10,657.54 to the American Heart Association!! WOW.
Oakwood Giving will be sponsoring the 5th annual Oakwoodstock, a concert featuring 10 local bands, on Sunday, March 5, 2-5 p.m. in the high school’s west gym. The admission cost is $4 with all proceeds benefiting the Miami Valley’s AIDS Resource Center. T-shirts commemorating the event will also be on sale.
By Jim Uphoff, Ed. D.
On Christmas Day, the large article took up almost a third of a full page as it addressed the headline question, “Youth sports running out of bounds?” The subhead read, “Kids say they aren’t having fun anymore.” The issue of how much pressure to put on children and how early to begin such intense pressure to succeed physically is one that is being studied more and more these days. And the problem is one that impacts both boys and girls. In addition, our own Oakwood is not ignored by this growing problem.
The issue covers all types of team sports from baseball and football to soccer and volleyball. It even includes sports which are more individualistic such as golf, wrestling, swimming, and tennis. When is putting pressure on young children to succeed too much or too soon? Perhaps one answer comes when we see a growing trend for youth in high school deciding to opt out of what has been their favorite sport. Or was it their parent’s favorite sport?
The increasing numbers of youth who have shocked friends, family and coaches by opting out and refusing to participate anymore is a clue. The arguments which result from such choices have split families, broken friendships, and created alienated youth estranged from formerly caring adults and peers. Does the fact that there are personal trainers charging $50 per hour to teach basketball to five-year-olds play a role? Does that fact that parents see nothing wrong with two-hour soccer practices or various music lessons taking place seven days per week have an impact?
These are the kinds of ‘clues’ that indicate that some of us may have lost our sense of perspective. The bottom line is that our entire society MUST carefully examine what we are doing to our children. We MUST seek balanced opportunities for success and learning for our children. Every community needs to step back and ask itself serious questions.
Among my many questions about the “test-mania” that has gripped our politicians is that all of this demand for more and more schoolwork and time may eliminate the equally strong need for children to play. Athletics and music are two very good opportunities for our children’s full development. But if they are turned into a type of “mania” as well, then the children are much more likely to be the losers rather than winners.
Both the Jr. and Sr. High Parent-Principal Meetings are scheduled for March 7. The Jr. High Meeting will be at 7 p.m. in Room 131 and the Sr. High Meeting will be 11:45 a.m. in the Guidance Office. All parents are always welcome to attend these small group forums with the Principals.
The next Oakwood Jr./Sr. High PTO Meeting is scheduled for March 9 at 11:45 a.m. in Room 211. For information call PTO President Pam Denka at 298-3874. All parents are welcome to attend.
The 2005-2006 Oakwood Jr./ Sr. High School directories are still available in the Junior High office and also in the bookroom. They are $5 for PTO members and $10 for non-members.
top of page |
