OJH LINX 20181207

A Note from the Principal

When I first wrote an entry for the LINX 2 ½ years ago, I honestly didn't know where to begin. Though I was semi-familiar with this weekly connector from my time as a school psychologist, Mrs. Roeckner must have asked when the first edition would go out for about three weeks before one actually did. What would I write? Who would be reading? How would I strike the balance of writing something short enough to be readable and interesting enough to be worth parents' time? To borrow from Simon Sinek, I was stalled in part because I was starting with the wrong questions. Why do I write in the LINX? I can provide several answers to this question now: I want to engage parents in relevant and meaningful conversations about their OJH kids. I want you to know what's happening. I want to partner with you in facilitating your child's growth as a student and as a person.

Working in a helping profession, I remember an assurance I received early in my career: "If you can go home at the end of the day and feel like you've truly helped someone, you've had a great day. How many people can go home and say that?" Most days really are great in that respect, even if the person you help may not soon or not ever recognize help in the form provided. Weeks like this week, though, make us each pause and reflect on the sufficiency of our efforts. When our help falls short, we are left to ask a different set of 'whys' – a set that often doesn't have answers. Still, we strive against our perceived odds to make each next day a great one.

With this goal in mind, I'd like to explicitly state another 'why' to accompany those above: I want you to know just how much I care and our staff cares for your child. Each day, Oakwood's 2,050 students walk through the doors of schools filled with eager residents of the village it takes to raise a child. Care can manifest itself in countless forms during the 13-year journey from Kindergarten through graduation, but I hope that you will ALWAYS feel welcomed to reach out in support of your son or daughter. Formally, "Doing what is best for students is our guiding principle. To this end, the Oakwood School community commits the resources, support, expertise, and experiences needed for all students to achieve." Informally, it is our collective calling and life's work to partner with you in helping your child. There may be days when you are frustrated, upset, furious, or annoyed with something or someone (perhaps me) in Oakwood - but we hope you'll always know your child's best interest is at heart.

Cherish some valuable family time through this weekend, and I'm looking forward to some great days ahead.

Tim Badenhop
Principal
Oakwood Junior High

Other Items in This Week's LINX

• Sports Shorts with Mr. Stone
  
• OJH Athletics in the Week Ahead
  
• Order Your Oakwood Vineyard Vine T-Shirt by December 17th!
• Reminder - Annual Oakwood Boosters Holiday Spirit Wear Sale
  
• Reminder - Exams

• Reminder - The Schools of the South Suburban Coalition Present

• Reminder - From Our Nurse
• Reminder - Oakwood Schools Foundation - Alumni Plaza
• Reminder - There's still time to sign up for the trip to Washington, DC!
• Next Week at OJH
  
   

Sports Shorts with Mr. Stone

JH Wrestling
Kettering Middle School/Van Buren Middle

JH Girls Basketball
7th Grade Oakwood 26 Northridge 8
8th Grade Oakwood 64 Northridge 4

7th Grade Madison 36 Oakwood 13
8th Grade Madison 33 Northridge 28

JH Boys Basketball
7th Grade Oakwood 55 Northridge 5
8th Grade Oakwood 55 Northridge 19

7th Grade Oakwood 29 Madison 27
8th Grade Oakwood 41 Madison 22

OJH Athletics in the Week Ahead 

• Boys Basketball vs. Dixie - Tuesday (12/11) at 5pm (7th) and 6:15pm (8th) HOME
• Girls Basketball vs. Dixie - Tuesday (12/11) at 5pm (7th) and 6:15pm (8th) AWAY
• Boys Basketball vs. Preble Shawnee - Thursday (12/13) at 5pm (7th) and 6:15pm (8th) AWAY
• Girls Basketball vs. Preble Shawnee - Thursday (12/13) at 5pm (7th) and 6:15pm (8th) HOME
   

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

Order Your Oakwood Vineyard Vine T-Shirt by December 17th!

OJH Lumberjack Leaders are selling Oakwood-themed Vineyard Vines long-sleeved t-shirts to raise funds in support of the Resilience Scholarship Foundation. This foundation has been established in honor of Dan Weckstein to celebrate students who show resilience and to assist them in their post-secondary pursuits. Shirts are $40 each and are available in youth sizes S-XL and adult sizes XS-XXL.

If you would like to order one or more shirts, please complete an order form and return it with cash or check (payable to Oakwood City Schools)*. You can find forms in the school offices or here.  Forms can be submitted to Mrs. Fickert, Mrs. Savino, Mrs. Harper or the OJH or OHS school offices. Orders must be received by Dec 17, and shirt delivery is anticipated in early to mid-February.

* In the event that the 100 shirt minimum order is not reached,
cash and checks will be returned.

Annual Oakwood Boosters Holiday Spirit Wear Sale

The Annual Oakwood Boosters Holiday Spirit Wear Sale will be Monday, December 10 and Tuesday, December 11 from 10am-7pm. The sale will take place in the auditorium lobby. New items will be available, as well as items that were sold during the fall season. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. All proceeds from the sale benefit the Oakwood Athletic Boosters.

Exams

Friendly reminder:  Semester exams are on December 18th, 19th, and 20th. Please plan accordingly when making travel plans for the Holiday Break.  It is very important that all of our students are here to take their semester exams.
 
           

Monday, December 17th
1st period      9:45-11:45
2nd period     1:15-3:15

Tuesday, December 18th
3rd period      8:00-10:00
4th period     10:10-12:10
5th period     1:15-3:15

Wednesday, December 19th
6th period    9:45-11:45
7th period    1:15-3:15
 

 
All junior high students will take semester exams in their academic classes.  This is a new experience for the seventh graders, so they may need lots of help in budgeting their time and organizing their materials for proper studying.
 
All students should gather their class notes, homework, previous tests, and any other pertinent information to help with the review process and begin studying at least two weeks prior to exams.  Do not wait until the last minute!
 
A presentation during the December 5th Take 5 time will cover strategies, tips, and exam procedures to help the students be successful with this testing procedure. This information will also be emailed to students after the presentation. The exam schedule can be found on the OJH website under the Oakwood Junior High tab on the tool bar.

The Schools of the South Suburban Coalition Present

TRENDS IN TEENAGE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Join Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer and Chief Deputy Rob Streck for this informational community meeting.

December 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Oakwood High School Auditorium

For more information and other events, check out the BOLD page on our website.

Oakwood Schools Foundation - Alumni Plaza
 

The Oakwood Schools Foundation (OSF) has exciting news about an important project to share with you. Thanks to a $50,000 matching grant and the generosity of OHS alumni, the OSF will construct an Alumni Plaza at the entrance of Oakwood Junior High this summer. This heavily traveled area will become a functional space for community gatherings, performances, outdoor classroom space, and much more. For our OJH students, the Alumni Plaza will significantly enhance a space for before and after school connections, lunchtime conversations, and even class discussions on nice days. What a great addition to our building!

The OSF is accepting additional donations to recognize individual classes, students, or families. While donations of any amount are accepted and appreciated, classes who raise $1,000 will be recognized on the plaza, and an individual donation of $500 or more will receive an engraved brick on the Alumni Plaza. This is a one-time opportunity to be a part of this project, and donations must be received by December 31, 2018 to be recognized with an engraved brick. Consider making a donation to honor your child's class (and/or your class if you are an alumnus).  Be a part of the past, present and future of Oakwood Schools by helping to build our Alumni Plaza!  **Deadline for donation is 12/31/18**.

To make a donation, please visit: www.oakwoodschools.org/ community/osf/donate-now

Thank you for your generosity!

There's still time to sign up for the trip to Washington, DC!

Attention all 8th grade parents! There's still time to sign up for the trip to Washington, DC!

Don't miss your chance to embark on a travel adventure that you'll never forget. Whether seeing incredible sights, eating at great restaurants, or hanging out at your hotel – you'll have lots of time to spend with your friends and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Paying for the trip is easy and WorldStrides offers helpful tools to help pay for the trip. Check these out:

• Through FLAG financial assistance, over $2 million in assistance is given out each year to qualifying families

• Thousands of students pay for their trip through the easy-to-use Gift of Education Fundraising program

• Plus, there are easy and affordable payment plans so your trip payments can be spread out into small amounts and paid monthly prior to travel

Plus, this trip can even give you a jump-start on your education! You can earn FREE high school credit through the WorldStrides' Discovery for Credit program, offering you a competitive advantage on your college application, distinguishing you as a savvy traveler and online learner, and starting you on the right path to a successful completion of higher education.

WorldStrides has over 50 years' experience in delivering unmatched travel programs to students all across the country, so you know you're in good hands. From the minute you arrive in your destination to the moment you return back home, there's a WorldStrides staff member there to help at a moment's notice.

Don't wait - sign up today at worldstrides.com/signup using Trip ID 158923. If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Simpson at simpson.jennifer@oakwoodschools.org to find out more about the trip.

Next Week at OJH - Special Events

Looking ahead:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, December 17, 18, and 19 - Exams - Click for more exam information

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