Comet CourierOakwood High School February 28, 2014

Volume I, Issue 6

It’s great to be young and a Comet!

CometCalendar

March 4DACC Registration

March 4VVC Scholastic Bowl Meet

March 4FFA Banquet

March 6WYSE Sectional

March 8Weightlifting Competition

March 10Freshmen Orientation

March 14Spring Dance

March 14Blood Drive

March 143rd Quarter Ends

The seniors who met or exceeded the PSAE requirements last year were given T-shirts in January and had a donut breakfast in February. In March, they will be heading to Obie’s before playing laser tag in April. The seniors are, in back, Lane Bennett, Derek Leverenz, Tristan Cox, Skyler Slade, Jeremy Watson, Austin Chil-dress, Andrew Curley, Joey Frahm, and Chris Marana. In the middle are Cole Burris and Brian Rice. In the front row are, Katie Rutledge, Lexie Carson, Matte Wangler, MaKenzie Gayler, Madison Denhart, Amelia Burke, Jasmin Ashikyan, Abby John-son, and Hailey Bennett.

Graduation set for May 25The Board of Education

has set the graduation date for the class of 2014 on Sunday, May 25.

The graduation will be-gin at 1 p.m. at Oakwood Grade School. The OJHS graduation will follow at

3 p.m.The final day of school

for the students has not been officially determined yet.

If seniors or parents have questions about caps and gowns or anything

else related to graduation, they are free to call the OHS office, 354-2358.

Students and parents are reminded that the final day of the third quarter has been pushed to March 14.

A job well done!

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Guidance Corner

Freshmen Orientation set for March 10

OHS readies for blood drive

Homecoming 2014 -- Friday, October 3

The Class of 2018 will be the guests of Oakwood High School on March 10 for the annual freshmen orientation.

The 8th graders and their parents will be invited to the school to take tours, talk with teachers, learn about class options and gath-er information about their freshmen year.

All students who are en-rolling next year are en-couraged to attend.

The Oakwood High School student council will be partnering with Community Blood Services of Illinois on Friday, March 14, 2014 for the annual blood drive.

The blood drive will be located in the OHS Gymnasium and will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The student council has set a goal of 40 donors this year and would love to surpass that.

Please remember that you must be at least 16 years old to donate and must bring a valid form of identification that lists a valid ad-dress.

If you would like to sign up or have any ques-tions, please feel free to contact Caitlyn Barrow at barrowc@oak-wood.k12.il.us or (217) 354-2358.

WYSE on to SectionalThe Oakwood High School WYSE team will

compete in the Sectional competition on March 6 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

OHS won the DACC Regional in Division 300 (schools of less than 300 enrollment) earlier in February to get the chance to compete at the next level. The team took first in the division ahead of Chrisman and Schlarman.

Team membes are seniors Lane Bennett, Den-ver Boyer, Tristan Cox, James Cornett, and Matte Wangler. The juniors are Carli Burris, Mariah Carnahan, Delaney Durst, Preslie Fletcher, Abby Foster, Kyle Girton, Austin Green, Steve McDon-ald, and Liam White.

Good luck Comets!

* Seniors planning to attend DACC in the fall will be registering on Tues., March 4 on campus. We will leave the high school at 8:30 a.m. and return at 2:30 p.m. Students will meet with an advisor to schedule classes and complete their required orientation. Lunch will be provided. Make sure you have signed up with Mrs. Lee to participate.

* Sophomores or juniors requesting College Express classes at DACC next year should turn in their applica-tions by March 14. If they are approved by the high school administration, they will be submitted to DACC for final approval.

* Students taking AP exams this year should bring their money to the guidance office by Fri., March 14. The cost is $89 per test and is non-refundable.

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Engage Encourage Educate Empower

With the approach of March, that means the begin-ning of spring sport practices -- track and field, softball, and baseball.

Here is the important information for those sports.

Spring practices beginning soon

Is that sculpture?

BASEBALLVarsity coach -- Mr. SermakAssistant --Mr. McFarland

Practice InformationMondayMarch 33 p.m.OHS Gym

SOFTBALLVarsity coach -- Mr. JohnsonAssistant --Ms. McNamara

Practice InformationMondayMarch 33 p.m.OGS Gym

GIRLS’ TRACKVarsity coach -- Mrs. AndersonAssistant --Mr. Wittmann

Practice InformationMondayMarch 33 p.m.OHS East Lobby

BOYS’ TRACKVarsity coach -- Mr. BlackAssistant --Mr. Wittmann

Practice InformationMondayMarch 33 p.m.OHS East Lobby

The students in FCS Orientation classes have been learning about eti-quette. They can practice these skills at home or in a restaurant.

We learned why manners are important and how to use them. They should be able to set a formal table and be able to use all the utensils at the right time and in the correct manner. Here is part of the test on labeling a table setting.

The Family and Consumer Science Parenting class is learning about family planning, pregnancy and labor and delivery. As part of the unit, the girls have worn an empathy belly during one day of classes. They are experiencing what is might feel like to be pregnant. They have reported feeling a lack of energy, the need to use the restroom more often and lots of questions and comments from their fellow students.

FCS classes update

Can you name all the different parts of a proper table setting?

Members of Mrs. Lear-nard’s art class sculpt a hu-man form using newspapers and tape.

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Straight from the OHS Handbook

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The word “attendance” at OHS is interpreted to in-clude being present in assigned classes and being on time to assigned classes. We are convinced that regu-lar attendance is of prime importance to the student for a good educational background. We urge you to devel-op the habit of regular and punctual attendance. It will help you now in your school work and later because college admission offices and future employers use at-tendance records to determine an applicant’s depend-ability and good citizenship.

Attendance is the responsibility of the student and his or her parents. The Illinois School Code, which was enacted into law by the General Assembly of the State, specifically states that any person having custody or control of a child who is enrolled in public school shall cause him to attend that school while it is in session during the regular school term.

When excessive absences occur, a letter will be sent to the parents and the school nurse shall be so informed. The school nurse may contact and consult with the par-ents. Eight or more unconfirmed absences, for an entire day or from any one or more classes, during a grading period will result in a failing grade because of failure to participate.

OHSweightlifting meet

Spring conferences on March 19 and 20

OHS will hold parent-teacher conferences on Wed., March 19, and Thur., March 20.

We hope you will take advantage of the opportu-nity and schedule appoint-ments with one or all of your child’s teachers.

Hopefully, the confer-ence will allow teachers and parents to meet and discuss the progress of the student. At this time, you will be able to voice any concern you might have.

Sophomore Kira Conklin takes a dog’s pulse in Agriculture class.

To schedule a confer-ence, go to our website and click on the Parent-Teacher Conference link located at the bottom left-hand corner.

If you do not have com-puter access, please call the office by March 19. If a teacher wishes to sched-ule a conference with you, you will be notified.

Parents can begin sign-ing up for the conferences on the website on March 3.

The OHS Athletic Department is hosting a weight-lifting meet on March 8 in the gym for students in grades 9-12.

Males will compete in 10 weight classes and the female participants will compete based on their grade level. The entry fee is $15 per athlete at the door and $2 for spectators. Any athlete that pre-registers and entry fee is received by noon on March 3 will get a T-shirt.

Individual and team awards will be presented after the event. The top three athletes in each weight class will receive awards. Winners will be determined by adding the lift totals of bench press, power clean, and dead lift. A most valuable male and female lifter (tri-lift totals divided by body weight) will also be awarded.

The team awards will go to the three teams with the best combined boys and girls score. The competition begins at 8:45 a.m. with weigh-ins taking place from 7 to 8 a.m., with a mandatory rules meeting at 8:15 a.m.

Concessions will be sold at the event. Proceeds will go to renovations of the high school weight room.

Questions concerning this event can be directed to Jeremy Dirksmeyer. Coach Dirksmeyer can be reached at 217-354-2358 or dirksmeyerj@oakwood.k12.il.us

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Select members of the OHS Band and Choir have been working extra hard this winter!

Next Saturday, March 8, these students will be going to Villa Grove High School to compete in the IHSA Solo and Ensemble competition. Each of them have been preparing a vocal or instrumental solo outside of class, will perform for a judge, and recieve a medal and rating on their performance. We are very proud of their dedication, and are very excited for them to represent the OHS Music Department.

Best of luck to Beckah Cyphers, Tristan Howie, Shelby Burress, Morgan Jackson, Jazmin Smith, Kayla Simonich, Skyler Beld, and Cheyenne Summers!

Music Dept. prepares for Solo and Ensemble

Scholastic Bowl Schedule

March 4 VVC Meet @ ArmstrongMarch 6 Verm. Co. Meet @ BismarckMarch 10 Regional @ Farmer CityMarch 15 Sectional @ Warrensburg

The Oakwood FFA Chapter will be hosting its annual ban-quet on Tuesday, March 4. FFA members, family, alumni, and community supporters are in-vited to attend.

The evening will recognize those who have helped grow and strengthen the FFA chapter, in addition to awarding student achievement throughout the year. The banquet begins at 6 p.m in the OHS Gymnasium.

Dinner is provided potluck style with FFA members pro-viding side dishes and desserts.

Nine FFA record books moved on to Section 18On Thursday, February 13, Oak-

wood FFA Chapter sent nine Su-pervised Agriculture Experience record books to Section 18 Profi-ciency Awards.

FFA members are encouraged to keep a SAE, which is a “practical, agricultural activity which supports skill and competency development, career success, and application of specific agricultural and academic skills a student has learned through classroom instruction in agricultur-al education.” In other words, these are hands-on projects which mem-bers take full charge of.

No matter what your interest, there is an SAE area for you!

Members keep a record book,

FFA Banquetwhich details all activities and trans-actions the members completed for the project area. Of the nine record books Oakwood members sent, sev-en were section winners and will be moving onto District IV Proficien-cy Awards, which will be held on March 12 at Sullivan High School.

Winning members and their areas include: Emily Wise, Agricultural Communications; Cheyenne Kent, Agricultural Services; Nicholas Hunt, Beef Production Placement; Kira Conklin, Equine Production Placement; Reis Taylor, Food Ser-vice; Clayton Walker, Poultry Pro-duction; and Jade Hixson, Specialty Animal Production.

Good luck at District!

Chorus members Skyler Beld, Aaron Moody, and Darian Hoskins sing at the recent music department winter concert.