OJH LINX 20181026
A Note from the Principal
This week's LINX brings our 3rd staff spotlight of the 2018-2019 school year, and it's focus is on the math department at OJH. This week, I'd like to introduce Leslie Liebig and John Loomis.
This is Mrs. Liebig's first year with Oakwood, and it's also her first year teaching at the junior high level. This year, her classes include Math 7 and Math 8. Her first teaching experience was actually teaching English in France, following which she taught math for two years in Monticello, IN before spending seven years as a math teacher and department chair at Springfield-Clark CTC. Mrs. Liebig earned dual BS degrees in Math and Math Education at the University of Georgia. When asked about the biggest difference between teaching JH and HS students, Mrs. Liebig responded that junior high students are still developing some of the in-classroom habits that will lead to their later success – following routines independently, consistently doing their best work, writing their names on their work, etc.
Leslie and her husband, Carl – a physicist at Wright-Patt – have been married for 12 years. They have 20-month old twins, and Mrs. Liebig was glad to be able to spend their first year at home with them. The Liebigs also have a Siberian husky named Einstein and two goats. Aside from teaching math, Mrs. Liebig enjoys spending time with her family and quilting.
Across and slightly down the hall from Mrs. Liebig, John Loomis is in his 32nd year at Oakwood Junior High. Mr. Loomis is teaching Math 7, Math 7 Honors, and Math 8 Honors this year, and he did have two brief prior stops to his time in Oakwood (Riverview School for Boys and Springfield North HS) in addition to 9 years of teaching Contemporary Mathematics 114 at UD (beginning in 2008). Mr. Loomis has coached and advised many clubs and teams during his time in Oakwood, and he is presently facilitating the Coding Club while also overseeing Game Club. He particularly enjoys obscure strategy games, and he'd likely welcome recommendations if you think you may know one he may not. When asked about what he'd most like students to learn during junior high, John emphasized that we want students to treat one another with respect and be kind to each other.
Mr. Loomis is a new resident of Oakwood as of late this summer, and "I'm LOVING it. I should have done it a long time ago." He most enjoys spending time with his 6th grade daughter, and he has a self-described menagerie of pets that includes a turtle, a fish, guinea pigs, and a cat. Being a man with a distinctive voice, Mr. Loomis's other hobbies include announcing OJH football games and taking vocal lessons. He also enjoys traveling the country by train and would particularly recommend that everyone take Amtrak's San Francisco to Denver route through the Rockies at least once.
I always learn something new when I interview for the staff spotlight, and I hope you enjoy learning about our staff as much as I do. Thank you for sharing, Mrs. Liebig and Mr. Loomis!
Tim Badenhop
Other Items in This Week's LINX
Sports Shorts with Mr. Stone
All students must be green in final forms prior to the 1st day of tryouts in order to participate in tryouts.
1st Day of Tryouts
8th Grade Girls Basketball October 26 - 8:30am - PIT 7th Grade Boys Basketball November 2 - 6pm - SMITH GYM 8th Grade Boys Basketball November 2 - 7:30pm - SMITH GYM Junior High Wrestling November 12 - 330pm - WRESTLING ROOM Junior High Cheer November 2 - 5-630pm - OHS Senior Hallway
Looking ahead:
For a full calendar of OJH activities, go to the OJH Webpage and view the Special Events.
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