OJH LINX 20180504

A Note from the Principal

As I begin to tap away at the first LINX of May, I find myself having been gradually ambushed by the reflections that accompany the end of the school year. Parents began to ask me this week if I am looking forward to summer. How is a principal to answer that question? Yes, because I will see my family more? No, because I love my job? Both? My on-the-spot response was that there is still so much to accomplish this month! As your child can substantiate, the post-testing time period allows one more stretch of uninterrupted instruction for 2017-2018 - and our teachers take full advantage. Outside of the walls, athletics seasons are winding down with some long-overdue playable weather. We also have two more concerts and three recognition events in the next three weeks. May is likely the busiest month of the school year - perhaps you are feeling that from the parental perspective, too.

Amidst the busyness, the last two weeks have also included each teacher's final review conference. During these conferences, I get to reflect on the year with each teacher individually, to affirm a few areas of strength, to suggest an area or two for focused growth next year, and to enjoy the rarest of rare experiences in a school - uninterrupted conversation. There are as many different pathways for these conversations as there are teachers, and I think you will agree that the staff at OJH (and throughout Oakwood) have many different teaching styles. Some are very outgoing in the classroom, while others are more reserved. Some incorporate technology daily, and others use it rarely. Some assign homework nightly, while others almost never do. Many emphasize group work, but others require more individualized efforts. Some focus on structure, self-management, and accountability, while others are more free-flowing and flexible with their expectations. As we all experience even into adulthood, these and other personality-rooted differences offer both refreshing variety and frustrating unpredictability as we navigate our world.

What vary much less, though, are the overall philosophies of our teachers. While I can absolutely promise you that your son or daughter will continue decrying how one teacher's expectations differ from another's, I also believe that we have GREAT teachers at OJH - teachers who have dozens of varying ideas of how to do what is best for your child. To a person, though, our teachers do want what is best for your child - truly. Our differences in how we approach this sometimes create conflicting viewpoints, but they also help to ensure that we have a style to match each child's unique needs.

As we head into Teacher Appreciation Week, I hope you or your child will take a moment to share a few thoughts with a favorite teacher or two. I was fortunate enough to be able to share my own thoughts over the last two weeks, and there is SO MUCH to appreciate!

Tim Badenhop
Principal
Oakwood Junior High

Other Items in This Week's LINX

• Sports Shorts with Mr. Stone
  
• OJH Athletics in the Week Ahead
  
• Lacrosse Junior High Night
  
• PTO Food Truck Rally
• Exam Schedule
• Next Week at OJH
  
   

Sports Shorts with Mr. Stone

Track

Girls - 3rd place at the Dale Van Tine Classic

Girls Lax

Miami Valley School 9  Oakwood 8

Little Miami 5  Oakwood 4

Boys Lax

Oakwood 4  Fenwick 4

Oakwood 9  Bellbrook 5

Softball

Brookville 12  Oakwood 0

Bellbrook 10  Oakwood 9

Baseball

Cin. Princeton 14  Oakwood 13

Bellbrook 32  Oakwood 4

OJH Athletics in the Week Ahead 

• Softball vs. Waynesville - Saturday (5/5) at 11:00am HOME
• Baseball vs. Dayton Christian - Saturday (5/5) at 1:00pm AWAY
  
• Baseball vs. Carroll - Monday (5/7) at 5:00pm AWAY
  
• Girls Lacrosse vs. Tippecanoe - Monday (5/7) at 6:00pm HOME
• Baseball vs. Bellbrook - Tuesday (5/8) at 5:00pm  HOME
  
• Softball vs. Bellbrook - Tuesday (5/8) at 5:00pm HOME
• Girls Lacrosse - Miami Valley - Wednesday (5/9) at 5:30pm AWAY
  
   

You can find more information at the OJH/OHS Athletics Page.

Lacrosse Junior High Night
 

The OHS boys' and girls' lacrosse teams are hosting a Junior High Night with the Lumberjacks for OJHS teams Saturday, May 5.

OJHS lacrosse players will get free admission if they wear their Oakwood lacrosse jersey. Players will also be introduced at halftime of the corresponding game, letting players and coaches run out to midfield to be recognized.

5 p.m. Girls' Varsity Lacrosse vs. Madeira
7 p.m. Boys' Varsity Lacrosse vs. Summit CDS

Come out and recognize the future of Oakwood lacrosse!

PTO Food Truck Rally

OJH/OHS PTO Food Truck Rally is Friday, May 11 from 11:40-3:00 behind the Jr. High School. The block on Schantz Avenue will be closed to traffic between Spirea and Dellwood. Confirmed vendors to date: Kona Ice, McNasty's, Pa's Pork and Lillia's Outside Cafe.

OJH students may be dismissed a bit early from Take 5 Challenge and Spring Fling to partake in the food truck rally. Students should bring money if they would like to purchase food.

Exam Schedule

All junior high students will take semester exams in their academic classes.

Tuesday, May 29th

First Period Subjects                                    8:00 a.m.     -     10:00 a.m.

Monitored Study in Cafeteria (voluntary)      9:00 a.m.     -      1:00 p.m.

Fourth Period Subjects                               10:10 a.m.     -    12:10 p.m.

Monitored Study in Cafeteria (voluntary)      1:15 p.m.     -      3:15 p.m.

Wednesday, May 30th

Second Period Subjects                               8:00 a.m.      -    10:00 a.m.

Monitored Study in Cafeteria (voluntary)      9:00 a.m.      -      1:00 p.m.

Third Period Subjects                                 10:10 a.m.      -     12:10 p.m.

 Fifth Period Subjects                                    1:15 p.m.     -       3:15 p.m.

Thursday, May 31st

Sixth Period Subjects                                    8:00 a.m.     -     10:00 a.m.

Monitored Study in Cafeteria (voluntary)       9:00 a.m.     -      1:00 p.m.

Seventh Period Subjects                            11:00 a.m.      -       1:00 p.m.

The LMC is open all three days from 8:00 to 3:30 for quiet study time.

EXAM GUIDELINES
 

1.     Exams must be taken at the time scheduled unless approved by the teacher and     

        principal.  Except in cases of illness, no extensions should be granted beyond the

        last scheduled exam.

2.     No bells will ring during exams but students are expected to be prompt.

3.     Students are not to loiter in the hall during exams.

4.     The cafeteria will NOT serve lunch during the 3 examination days. 

5.     Monitored quiet study is available all three days in the cafeteria as well as the media

        center.  Students should not arrive so much in advance of the scheduled test time

        that they disturb students involved in testing.  Early arrivals should report to the

        cafeteria or media center.

6.     Students are not permitted to visit the elementary schools during the exam schedule.

Next Week at OJH - Special Events

• Tuesday, May 8 - Cherry Pie Concert - 7:00 p.m. - Auditorium 
  

• Wednesday, May 9 - Success Breakfast (by invitation) - 7:15 a.m. - Cafeteria

Looking ahead: Friday, May 11

• 1/2 District PD Day (dismissal at 11:43 a.m. for students) 
  
• Food Truck Rally - 11:40 am - 3:00 pm - behind Jr. High on Schantz Ave.

For a full calendar of OJH activities, go to the OJH Webpage and view the Special Events.

 

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