Engagements__________________________________

Graeser – Lisenby

Pamela and Mark Graeser of Oakwood are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Andrea Lynn Graeser to Kyle Lenere Lisenby, both of Oak Park, Illinois.

The bride-elect is a 1998 graduate of Oakwood High School and a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor of science in microbiology. Pamela is employed as Project Manager of Donor Services at LifeSource Blood Center.

The groom is a 1998 graduate of Effingham High School  and a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor of science in microbiology. He is also has earned a doctorate of dental medicine from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 2006. Kyle is the son of Barbara and Gene Lisenby of Effingham, Illinois.

The couple are planning a spring wedding on April 22, 2007 in Key West, Florida.

Boo and Brew

Photo  by Ed Rodabaugh

Congratulations to the St. Paul ‘s Episcopal Church Youth Group for winning First Place in the Oakwood Scarecrow Contest with their rendition of Frank-N-Stein. More scarecrows – award winners and entries – will be featured in next week’s (Oct. 24) issue of The Oakwood Register.

First annual Family Fall Fest

Over 1,500 Oakwood family members attended the first annual Oakwood Family Fall Festival at Shafor Park on Sunday afternoon.

Oakwood students walk to school last week

By Lee Ann Fulford

During the week of October 2-6, Oakwood’s students made an effort to walk or bike to school every day during International Walk to School Week.  This annual campaign is held world wide to promote the benefits of regular walking for children and parents. When asked what she thinks about Walk to School Week, Sharon Liapis, a PE teacher at Smith, said that she is very pleased with the number of students who walk or bike to school not only during Walk to School Week but every day. Deb Osterfeld, who is enjoying her first year as a PE teacher at Smith, adds, “Walking to school is a great way to start every day - there are so many benefits.” And indeed there are - increasing physical activity, reducing traffic congestion and pollution, sharing time between parents and children and celebrating Oakwood’s safe walking routes. These are just a few of the benefits listed on the “Walk to School” flier that went home with the students.

“The most significant aspect of the Walk to School event is that as children experience the benefits, they begin to make walking or biking a habit – there is a change in behavior that contributes to lifelong health and wellness. Through exercise and friendship, the children also experience a readiness to learn and interact in a school setting.   Movement is one of the best ways to wake up the brain!” says Carol Enns, Harman’s PE teacher who is often seen walking or peddling her bike around Oakwood.  Mrs. Enns was encouraged by parents to extend the program at Harman from a week to a month – with the goal of promoting “Walk to School forLIFE”!
Many students do walk to school regularly, especially when the weather is nice.  The reasons cited most often by families who don’t walk have to do with safety and time.  

With the exception of Lange Kindergarten, most Oakwood students live within one mile of their schools.  Distance, which is a difficulty in many school districts, is not a problem in Oakwood.  

One grandmother who walked her grandson to school on Walk to School Day noted that mornings are tough and many families can’t spare the extra minutes it takes to walk to school.  To walk more frequently, the whole family would need to make some life changes, she explained. 

One mother whose family did make those changes noticed a big change at school and home too:  “Since my kids started walking to school, they are more focused and their grades are better.  And, the 20-min down time they get walking home from school does them a world of good, too - they are less cranky and frazzled when they get home.  We have found walking does our brains and bodies GOOD.”

Oakwood is a great walking community - for everyone, not just students!  The more we all walk, the better off we will all be. 

Smith and Harman students were treated to apples, water bottles, and stickers when they arrived at school on International Walk to School Day.

More photos...

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