The Eagle Eye
Oak Hill United School Corporation - December 2022
Hardman's Happenings
Hello Oak Hill Families!
Happy December! Can you believe we are at the end of the first semester of the 2022-23 school year?!? The first semester will end on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Starting on Thursday, December 22, students will be on Christmas break through Wednesday, January 4th, 2023. I hope you all enjoy this time over the break and are able to spend time relaxing with friends and family. If you are traveling, I hope you have safe travels and if you are heading somewhere warm, I am jealous!
The 2023-24 OHUSC Academic Calendar was recently approved by the OHUSC School Board. Here is a link to that calendar which will soon be added to the OHUSC school website under the calendar tab.
The OHUSC School Board will have two new members that will join the board in January of 2023. Andy Horner of Converse and Justin Alberts of Swayzee will be the two new school board members that will be joining the board in January. They will be taking the positions of outgoing board members Steve Fagan and Mike McCorkle. A special thanks to Mr. Fagan and Mr. McCorkle for their time on the board and their dedication to the children of the Oak Hill Schools.
With the recent school delays due to fog, please make sure that you are getting the notifications from the school. If you did not receive an email, text, or phone call notification on the morning of those 2 hour delays, please check your Skyward Family Access account to make sure your notifications are set up so you receive those notifications in the future when school is delayed or canceled.
I can’t thank you enough for the support that you have provided the students and staff at the Oak Hill Schools this first semester. Your support is very much appreciated and essential in helping our children be successful and making our schools great. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable break and are able to spend some quality time together as a family reflecting on the many blessings you have in your life.
Yours in Education,
Sheri Hardman
OHUSC Superintendent
Oak Hill Food Services
Merry Christmas from the Oak Hill Lunch Ladies! We love serving your children each day!
As we draw close to the end of the semester and the start of a new year, it is a good time to check your child’s lunch balance to be sure they have sufficient funds to purchase the meals and snacks they want each day. And it’s also a good time to remind you of our charging policy, which is also posted on the Food Services page of the school website:
OHUSC Food Services Charging Policy
OHUSC wants to ensure that every student has access to meals daily. However, OHUSC is not allowed, per USDA regulations, to incur bad debt from unpaid meal charges and is not required by federal or state law to provide meals to any student (except those eligible for free meals) who does not have payment either on account or in hand. If families need to apply for meal assistance, they can do so at any time throughout the school year on Skyward.
Students are allowed to purchase whatever they choose until their account balance reaches $0.00. Once a $0.00 balance has been reached, students will only be allowed to purchase a complete meal at breakfast and/or lunch.
Students will not be allowed to purchase any a la carte foods (anything other than a complete meal), including extra servings of meal foods and milk.
When a ($5.00) negative balance is reached the student will still receive the meal and their parents/guardians will get an email notification and/or phone call from the Food Service Director.
The student’s account will continue to accrue charges for meals until a cash, check or online payment is made on the account.
No a la carte purchases will be allowed until there is a positive account balance.
Parents are ultimately responsible for purchases made by the student.
Please keep in mind unpaid lunch balances roll over to the next school year.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
If you have any questions about your child’s lunch account please contact Dana South, Food Service Director, at danaso@ohusc.k12.in.us.
Converse News
We want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our families for being so generous during our food drive! We added a fun twist with cereal boxes so we could have a cereal box domino challenge and our families ROSE TO THE OCCASION! We were able to display 305 cereal boxes for this and the students LOVED it! We were able to donate 5,351 food items to the Samaritan Room!! Here is the breakdown of items with cash donations.
(remember $1 = 2 items!!) 2,429 items and $1,461 in cash for our grand total of 5,351 items! You are just the best and we are THANKFUL for all of you!
We are working on LIGHTING UP CONVERSE with our kindness!! Every lightbulb on the tree represents an act of kindness! WAY TO GO KIDDOS!!
Converse Students and Staff Member of the Month
Converse would like to celebrate Silas Owen! Silas is in Mrs. Marsh's Kindergarten class. Silas is a fantastic student and a kind boy! He works hard and does his best on everything we do in class. He looks for ways to help all those around him and he is a fantastic friend! We are thankful to have Silas as a part of our Converse Family!
Converse would like to celebrate Cato Marvin! Cato is a hard worker who doesn’t give up. He’s always eager to learn new things and apply them in class. He’s very kind to all the other children and respectful to adults. We are thankful to have Silas as a part of our Converse Family!
Converse would like to celebrate Lucy Brown! She is the sweetest and most hardworking girl! She is an example to her classmates in her growth mindset to always grow and do her best. She has a kind heart and looks for ways to help others. She notices when a classmate needs some help or guidance and steps in to help them in a way that doesn’t point out the need to others. She is one of the peer helpers for our friends from Mrs. Shaw’s class, she helps guide them without doing it for them, and is respectful and gentle in her help! She is gentle and caring with our class pet as well, Luna just loves her cuddles and love! Lucy is a bright spot in our classroom! She brings joy, enthusiasm, and laughter! We are thankful to have Lucy as a part of our Converse Family!
Converse would like to celebrate Mrs. Elaine Sweet! Mrs. Sweet is an excellent instructional assistant! She’s always willing to jump in and cover for any person and any class. She goes with the flow, keeps her cool even amidst busy days and ALWAYS has time to give hugs or listen to the kiddos. We appreciate her love for our kids and constant smile! Elaine is always smiling and genuinely cares about the needs of those around her! I am exhausted just watching her every day! She has a challenging job but is always in a good mood! We are thankful to have Mrs. Sweet as a part of our Converse Family!
Sweetser Snapshot
November seemed to really fly by! Even though it felt like a fast month, we had several wonderful things happening at Sweetser! The student body came together to celebrate and learn about Veterans Day. We also hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive, where classrooms competed against each other to see who could raise the most food to donate. In the month of November, we also celebrated our support staff with a yummy carry-in that we were able to enjoy more than one day! Before we left for Thanksgiving Break, Ms. Walker put on a Turkey Hunt around the school for staff! Last, but not least, the fourth grade choir participated in Christmas in Converse by singing Christmas carols! Check out the pictures and blurbs below to learn a little more about each event that took place! Can’t wait to share our December fun with you in the next letter! Have a wonderful break and happy holidays to all of our Oak Hill Families!!
Best,
Jennifer Switzer
#begoodforstudents
#begoodforpeople
#sweetatsweetser
Sweetser Veteran's Day Program
Sweetser Elementary celebrated Veterans Day by having a special program for our students. Karmyn Ford, a fourth grader, led the student body in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs. Switzer let a handful of students share about who their Veteran Hero is, how many years they served, and what branch their hero was in. Mrs. Henson helped prepare a few third graders and fourth graders to share poems with the student body. Sweetser also had a special guest speaker, Sierra Bakehorn, who serves in the National Guard. She talked about what the training is like, the different jobs that are available, and showed pictures of what it is like to serve. We were happy to have an Oak Hill graduate share what her post secondary experiences have been like since high school!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
A note from Mrs. Henson: We again added monetary donations along with non-perishable items for this year's food drive. Each dollar donated counted as two items. We had $453.28 and 1,588 actual items donated!!! What a great success! We are so very proud of our students and families for giving back to our community! Thank you so much!
Thanksgiving Staff Fun
Ms. Walker hosted a Turkey Hunt for the staff before we left for Thanksgiving Break! She hid five paper turkeys around the school, and the winners won a Cracker Barrel pie! Staff was searching by 7:25AM, and had all the turkeys found by the start of school!
Sweetser Students and Staff Member of the Month
Sweetser’s Third Grade Student of the Month is Rebecca Cates! Mrs. Boucher stated that Rebecca is a joy to have in class! She works hard on assignments and is helpful every day! She is kind to her classmates and goes above and beyond what is expected of her. She comes to school with a smile and a positive attitude every day! Mrs. Harrison notes that she cleans up and handles supplies properly in art. She is always respectful, ready to learn, and a model student! Mrs. Miller notes that Rebecca is a student that knows how to work and have fun at the same time! She is honest, trustworthy, and caring towards other students!
Congratulations to Hadlea Mendenhall for being selected as Sweetser’s Fourth Grade Student of the Month! Mrs. Brown notes that Hadlea comes to school every day with a smile and a positive attitude. She is a hard worker who never gives up! Hadlea is helpful and caring. She goes out of her way to ensure everyone is having a great day! Hadlea is a fantastic student! Mrs. Miller stated that Hadlea is very dependable! Mrs. Harrison said that she is a model student and respectful! Mrs. Albert notes that Hadlea is such a hard worker, who cares about others and is always willing to help out! Despite many challenges in life, she continues to strive to be the best she can be!
Mrs. Lori Helfrich is Sweetser’s Staff Member of the Month! Lori always has such a positive attitude, a smile on her face, and her laugh is contagious! She is a great team player amongst her colleagues and collaborates well when planning and training together. She is very flexible in her schedule and is always looking to do what is right for students. She challenges her students to achieve their best and knows how to grow them academically and personally. Lori is such a friendly person, has a great sense of humor, and we are glad to have her represent Sweetser as Staff Member of the Month!
Swayzee News
Hello Swayzee Parents, Guardians, and Community Members
As Swayzee Elementary approaches the end of the semester our staff and students continue to work hard. This is seen everyday in the teacher classrooms, during morning RTI, and by the number of students utilizing tutoring after school. The Swayzee Elementary students completed their middle of the year IREADY diagnostics between December 8th and December 14th. The staff is excited to see the growth of our students as we prepare for the upcoming ILEARN test in April. This growth has occurred through both the hard work from our staff and students. Keep up the great work Swayzee Elementary! We hope to see this growth continue into and through the spring semester. The students and teachers continue to work hard as we push into the holiday season. Below are a few of the activities and recognitions that have gone on or been recognized at Swayzee Elementary over the past month.
Swayzee Elementary Book Fair
Swayzee Elementary hosted a book fair from December 5th through December 9th and it was a resounding success! The excitement from the students and seeing how much they enjoyed the fair made all the hard work putting it together worth it! We were blown away by the excitement from the students and it was awesome to see how much the students enjoyed the book fair. Mrs. Drolinger put in many hours outside school to bring a “top notch” book fair to Swayzee. Her hard work could easily be seen when you entered the library. When asked if she wanted to say anything to the families and students at Swayzee Elementary, she stated, “Thank you so much for supporting this week’s book fair! I hope your sons and daughters had fun and were able to purchase books for their home libraries that they will enjoy for years to come!"
Swayzee Elementary had a very successful fundraiser. After a two year hiatus, the Club Choice cookie dough made its return. The students did an awesome job and made a little over $15,000 for student activities! The hard work from both parents and students is greatly appreciated. The fundraiser party for those students that sold 12 or more items will be on Monday, December 19th from 12:30pm - 2:15pm.
Tutoring and RTI at Swayzee Elementary continues to be a huge success. Many of Swayzee’s students are taking advantage of getting extra help in English and math. Both our staff members and students are working hard. We will continue tutoring after Christmas Break on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If any Swayzee student would like to take advantage of the tutoring sessions he or she should contact Kelly Roark or Shawn Means at 765-395-3341.
Swayzee Elementary collected 6072 food items/money for families in need in its annual pre-Thanksgiving food drive. The food drive was spearheaded by the Swayzee Elementary student council, sponsored by Mrs. Warnock. Great job Swayzee Elementary student council, Swayzee Elementary students, and Mrs. Warnock. This turned out amazing!
Swayzee Elementary had its gym floor recently refinished. The finished result turned out fantastic! Below is the finished product.
The Swayzee Elementary staff wishes the entire Oak Hill Community a wonderful and happy holiday season. Christmas Break starts with the dismissal bell on December 21st! The second semester begins on Wednesday, January 4th. The Swayzee staff hopes the students have a great break and are ready to continue their amazing success stories starting again at the beginning of the spring semester.
Swayzee Students and Staff Member of the Month
Cole and Cayden both have an amazing work ethic. They work hard at each task put in front of them and always strive to do their best. The work they turn in is always their best effort and it shows in the grades they get. Cole and Cayden also have great relationships with their peers. They are known to help others around them when things are difficult and they are always willing to do it without being asked. They are respected by their friends and it shows each day. Both boys are great leaders in class and it is appreciated by their peers and their teachers. Congratulations Cole and Cayden for being selected as the students of the month by your 5th grade teachers.
Tayt Bowlin is our 6th grade Student of the Month. Tayt works hard in all that he does whether it is an assignment, a project, or a game. He is diligent in his work and is determined to do his best. Tayt is a student who leads by example. He is respectful to everyone he meets and is always willing to help those around him. It is a pleasure to work with Tayt in class. Congratulations, Tayt for being selected as student of the month by your 6th grade teachers. Keep up the great work!
Mrs. Hevner is an instructional aide at Swayzee Elementary. Mrs. Hevner is a tireless worker and makes fantastic relationships with our students. Mrs. Hevner also is one of our tutors at Swayzee and jumps in whenever and wherever needed. She collaborates well with staff and helps provide emotional support for our students in order to help provide them the tools necessary to obtain their best education possible. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed and it’s rewarding to see her working with Swayzee students. Mr. Means truly appreciates the dedication Mrs. Hevner gives Swayzee Elementary. It is a privilege to recognize Mrs. Hevner as the Swayzee Elementary employee of the month for December. Keep up the great work Mrs. Hevner!
News from Oak Hill Junior High
How long have you been with OH, and what roles do you play?
This is my 8th year as a Social Studies teacher here in the junior high. I am also a junior high football coach and an 8th-grade basketball coach.
What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
I love my subject and fellow teachers, but I am here because I love our students and want to help them grow into great adults who make a great impact in their communities.
What are some of your hobbies?
Hanging out with my family, watching and coaching sports, reading, and playing our college football dynasty with my two sons.
What is your favorite food?
Steak with twice-baked potatoes.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
I do not have a favorite spot. As long as my family is there I enjoy wherever we go.
I am fortunate to be and be blessed by so many great people to work with.
Thank you Mr. Johnson! Our students are fortunate to have you as their teacher, and coach!
JH Angel Tree 2022
OHJH Students of the Month
One of Hadley's teachers shared, "Hadleigh is kind, thoughtful, respectful, and a leader in and out of the classroom. She always gives 100%, and she does an excellent job being a leader in group situations."
Hadley's favorite class is PE, and she enjoys basketball, volleyball, softball, and JH News Crew. She is the daughter of Justin and Heather Bricker and has two siblings: Grayston and Dawson.
Kyle Brower - 8th Grade Student of the Month
Kyle's teacher commented, "Kyle is always prepared, contributes to class discussion, and has a good sense of humor. Although he was new this year he has already become a leader in the classroom. He is very helpful to students and very respectful to others! Kyle is always happy and has a great personality!"
Kyle's favorite class is Science, and he enjoys FCA, Cross Country, and Track. He is the son of Brady and Meredith Brower, and has two siblings: Nathan and Matti.
Updates from Oak Hill High School
As we draw near the end of Semester I, we want to thank students, staff, parents/guardians, and community stakeholders for your contributions to a successful beginning of the school year. The many celebrations below are not possible without the collaboration of the entire school community. As we wrap up the current semester and prepare for the second half of the school year, we look forward to the continued support of our students as we work together to prepare them for future success.
The Oak Hill Music Department will be performing their annual winter concerts in the month of December. The bands will perform on Thursday, December 8. Junior High will begin at 6:00pm and the High School will follow at 7:00pm. The choirs will perform on Wednesday, December 14. Junior High will begin at 6:30pm and the HS will begin at 7:30pm. We hope you all are able to join what are always great performances!!
Congratulations to the following Oak Hill Juniors: Sophia Czado, Jonathan Ratliff, Emma Smock, and Ruth Tripp. These four students were recently recognized by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) as Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2024. These students were nominated based on their exceptional academic achievements throughout their high school careers. We are excited for the futures of these four outstanding students!!
Congratulations to the OHHS Robotics team in their recent tournament at Norwell. The HS team ended up as skills champion and tournament champions after taking down the #1 team earning a place at the State competition in March. The freshman team worked hard and actually competed up to the semifinals against the HS team. Good luck as you represent OHHS in the state finals!!
Junior Brady Crossman was recently recognized as the December Student of the Month at the Marion Regional Career Center. Brady takes part in the Aviation program at MRCC. He is always punctual to class, puts in extra time in his simulation lab, and is helpful to fellow classmates. Brady is also excelling with his academics at OHHS as he earned honor roll status for the first nine weeks of school. We are proud of Brady for not only setting a positive example at school but in other academic settings as well!!
Senior Blakely Lake recently competed in the Grant County Distinguished Young Women competition. Blakely finished runner-up in the following categories: Interview, Self-Expression, Essay, and Academic. Blakely earned a $1000 scholarship as a result of her efforts. Congratulations Blakely for this outstanding achievement!!
OHHS students will have final exams on December 16-21. The final exam schedule was emailed to parents/guardians earlier this month. If you would like another copy of this, please contact the OHHS main office. If at all possible, we ask that you please refrain from scheduling any appointments during this time. In the event of a two-hour delay, students will still take exams. If school is canceled due to inclement weather, we will reschedule accordingly.
On behalf of the faculty and staff, we want to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season and we look forward to welcoming back students on January 4!!
Important Upcoming Dates
December 8: HS Band Winter Concert. 7:00pm.
December 12: OHUSC Board of Trustees Meeting. 6:30pm.
December 14: HS Choir Winter Concert. 7:30pm.
December 21: End of Semester I
January 4: Beginning of Semester II
January 6: Q2 Report Cards Available.
January 9: OHUSC Board of Trustees Meeting. 6:30pm.
January 10: PSAT 9. 9:00am.
January 12: Ag Advisory Board Meeting. 5:30pm.
January 16: No School. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
OHHS Students and Staff Member of the Month
Freshman - Lexi Nuber
Lexi Nuber is a Freshman at Oak Hill High School. Lexi has had a fantastic start to her Freshman year of high school. She earned all A’s for the first nine weeks of the semester while also taking part in various extracurricular activities. Lexi takes part in soccer, cheer, symphony and pep band, and FCA. Through this, Lexi has earned the respect of students and staff for her positive work ethic, helpful attitude, and the way she leads a well-rounded life. We are thankful to have Lexi Nuber as a student at OHHS and look forward to the great things she will do during her high school career.
Sophomore - Lexi Toy
Lexi Toy is a Sophomore at Oak Hill High School. Lexi carries herself in a positive manner at all times and is a pleasure to have in the building. She excels academically as she earned honor roll status for the first nine weeks of school. This is due to her work ethic, responsibility, and time management skills. Lexi is also active in various extracurricular activities throughout the school year. Lexi Toy is a responsible and respectful student and we are thankful for her efforts each and every day to make OHHS a great place to be.
Junior - Ajay Papai
Ajay Papai is a Junior at OHHS. Ajay consistently engages himself with classroom activities and sets a great example of a true student leader. He actively participates in class and doesn’t hesitate to offer insight into classroom discussions. Ajay never hesitates to lend a helping hand and encourages fellow classmates to do the same. Ajay displays these positive traits not only in the classroom setting but in FFA and other extracurricular activities as well. We are proud of Ajay Papai for the way he carries himself and the work he puts into his future success.
Senior - Dale Kinder
Dale Kinder is a Senior at Oak Hill High School. Dale is an active participant in the school’s baseball team and the OHHS FFA chapter. Dale has experienced success in the classroom and in his extracurricular activities but is a humble young man by nature. Dale is polite, respectful of others, and goes out of his way to encourage others. Dale’s efforts have set himself up for future success as he has recently been accepted into Indiana University Kokomo. We are blessed to have students at Oak Hill High School like Dale Kinder who set a positive example for others to follow.
Staff Member - John Lenfestey
Mr. John Lenfestey facilitates the PASS program at Oak Hill High School. John is a pleasure to have on staff and carries himself in a professional manner at all times. He is instrumental in helping students earn the credits they need to graduate with their cohort class on time. This is one of many ways that John contributes to the school community. John is also the lead pastor at Maple Run Friends Church. People who know Mr. Lenfestey will describe him as a servant leader. In a variety of ways, John has a tremendous impact on many people who are associated with OHUSC.
Oak Hill Athletics
Unified Robotics Competes at Taylor University
Olympic Champion Holds Clinic at Oak Hill
Community Bulletin Board
JOIN US AT OHUSC!
Custodians (Full-time and Part-time)
Substitute Cafeteria Workers
Substitute Teachers
Bus Drivers
Substitute Bus Drivers
Substitute Bus Aides
UPCOMING EVENTS
OHUSC School Board Meeting: January 9
NO SCHOOL: January 16 (MLK Day)