010821

It’s great to be young and a Comet!
Oakwood High School January 8, 2021
Comet Courier
Volume VIII, Issue 11
Comet
Calendar
January 18
No School --
MLK Day
February 3
11:30 Dismissal
February 5
Midterm of
Third Quarter
Odle named next principal
February 15
No School --
Presidents Day
March 3
11:30 Dismissal
March 12
End of 3rd Quarter
March 24, 25
PT Conferences
March 26
No School
September 24
Homecoming 2021
Mr. John Odle has been named OHS
Principal beginning with the 2021-22
school year.
Odle is currently the Assistant Principal
and Athletic Director, a position that
he has filled for the last two years.
He will take the place of the retiring
Tim Lee. Odle will just be the fourth
principal at OHS in 42 years.
“I think John will be great in his new
role as principal,” said school secretary
Mrs. Marsh. “He is very knowledgeable
and easy to talk to. He is always willing
to listen and give his advice, which I appreciate.”
Odle started at OHS in 2016 as business
teacher. He has served as basketball
coach and softball coach in his tenure.
He earned his Masters in Educational
Administration from EIU in 2008 and
his B.S. in Education from SIU-Edwardsville.
Before OHS, Odle was a business
teacher at Carlinville Middle School. He
has also taught in the Morrisonville and
Hillsboro school districts.
Prior to his career in education, Odle
served 20 years in the Air Force serving
as Healthcare Administrator at various
locations.
During his time in the service, Odle
was involved in Desert Storm, Iraqi
Freedom, and Drug Interdiction operations.
He also was involved in support
operations for Hurricane Katrina and the
1993 St. Louis floods.
Between the Air Force and education,
Odle was a Subject Matter Expert
in Healthcare Administration at Scott Air
Force Base.
Odle’s first official day as principal
will be July 1, 2021.

2 Comet Courier 01-08-21
Bensyl named Comet of the Month
Esquinca honored for Courteous; Reed is top athlete
The OHS Student Recognition
Committee has
chosen Dylan Bensyl to
be the January Student of
the Month.
Bensyl is a senior who
is a member of the High
Honor Roll.
Earlier this fall, Bensyl
was chosen as Homecoming
King. He is also
a member of the baseball
team.
Bensyl is respectful
and well-liked by staff
and students.
Sophomore Cristian
Esquinca is the winner of
the Character Trair Award
for Courteous.
Secretary Amy Jameson has
been named the OHS January
Staff Member of the Month.
This is Jameson’s first year as
school secretary.
Jameson has been unusally
busy in her first semester on the
job because Mrs. Marsh was on
maternity leave.
“Amy has done an amazing
job stepping into her role as a
secretary here at OHS,” said
Marsh. “This has been a difficult
year for all of us, but luckily for
Amy, she doesn’t know any dif-
Dylan
Bensyl
Esquinca is a soft-spoken
student who is on the
High Honor Roll. He is
a member of the football
team.
Cristian
Esquinca
Senior Gage Reed has
been selected as the Athlete
of the Month.
Gage is the defending
Gage
Reed
state wrestling champion
at 113 pounds. We hope to
get to see Gage on the mat
again this year!
Jameson earns January staff member of the month
ferent.”
Jameson brings enthusiasm to
the job and a willingness to tackle
the challenges and issues that
arise throughout the day.
“She’s always positive,” said
Assistant Principal John Odle.
“If she doesn’t know something,
she will take the time and find the
answer.”
Jameson poses with the honorary
‘O’ after being named January
Staff Member of the Month.
Engage Educate Empower

3 Comet Courier 01-08-21
Return to school requirements updated
In late December, the requirements
for return to school were altered
and were recently put in use
by the Oakwood School District.
These are the requirements for an
exposed child to return to school.
Once requirements are completed
for the child, all siblings may return
to school.
If you have a household member
at home sick, you should keep ALL
kids home from school, until those
that are symptomatic complete both
of the following:
1st COLUMN
* Student must be fever free for
24 hours without fever free-reducing
medication AND have improvement
of symptoms.
Reed signs with
Missouri Valley
Senior Gage Reed signs his intent to wrestle for
Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO. Also
pictured are, standing, Coaches Kylee Bott, Bryce
Ivey, and Michael Glosser. Seated are Gage’s parents
Matt and Kristal Wolfe.
* No diarrhea or vomiting for 24
hours.
2nd COLUMN
* Option 1: Documentation of a
Negative COVID test
OR
* Option 2: Documentation of
return to school note from a healthcare
provider stating the differential
diagnosis AND that there is no clinical
suspicion for COVID-19. (If
your doctor recommends a COVID
test and you refuse, you will automatically
default to Option 3.
OR
* Option 3: Complete 10 calendar
days of isolation from the date
of first symptom onset (may return
after the isolation period accompa-
nied with a note from the parent/
guardian.
Possible symptoms of COVID:
-- Fever 100.4 or higher
-- New onset of moderate to severe
headache
-- Shortness of breath
-- New cough
-- Sore throat
-- Vomiting/nausea
-- Diarrhea
-- Abdominal pain from unknown
cause
-- New congestion/runny nose
-- Fatigue from unkown cause
-- Muscle or body aches
If you have any questions, you
can call the school and speak to
Nurse Brown, 354-2358.
Counseling Corner
Seniors: Completing the FAFSA or signing the
Non-Participation form is required for graduation.
If you plan to continue your education, the FAF-
SA can help you qualify for grants, student/parent
loans and scholarships. If you need help or wish to
sign the Non-Participation form, see Mrs. Lee.
Upcoming Events:
Jan. 4-DACC scholarship application period begins.
Seniors (and dual enrollment students) can
fill out a application for numerous DACC scholarship
opportunities. Find it out www.dacc.edu.
Jan. 14,15-Financial Aid Presentation in Senior
Social Studies classes.
Scholarships due in January. Keep checking the
website for more information:
National FFA Scholarship Program
Smith College
Verm. Co. Assoc. of Educational Office Professionals
Follow us on Twitter at @OakHS76

2nd Semester District Calendar 20-21
Oakwood School District
Spring 20-21 Semester Calendar
*Pending IDPH & ISBE Guidance Changes
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat
January
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
February
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28
March
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
April
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
May
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
1
Weekend, Holiday, or Teacher Institute -- No School
Purple Cohort Day: A-L In Person
White Cohort Day: M-Z In Person
Remote Learning Day For All Students
3 Remote Learning Day For All Students/11:30 Dismissal
12/11/2020

January
2021
Oakwood High School Project Success
If OHS goes remote Project Success will be
offering virtual programming! You must be
enrolled to receive help. Email
ohscoordinator@vcprojectsuccess.org to
schedule virtual tutoring sessions. Follow us
on Instagram & Facebook:
- @oakwoodprojectsuccess
- Project Success Oakwood High School
Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
Purple Day White Day Purple Day White Day
Snack
Homework
EA Game Club
Snack
Homework
Cooking Club
Snack
Homework
EA Game Club
Snack
Homework
STEM Club
After School
Calendar
4 5 7 8
Snack
Homework
EA Game Club
Snack
Homework
Art Club
Snack
Homework
Art Club
11 12 14 15
Snack
Homework
Cooking Club
Snack
Homework
Literature Club
Snack
Homework
Literature Club
18 19 21 22
Snack
Homework
EA Game Club
Snack
Homework
Cooking Club
Snack
Homework
Cooking Club
25 26 28 29
Snack
Homework
STEM Club
1:55p – 2:05p
Sign-in/Snack
Snack
Homework
Art Club
2:05p – 3:00p
Homework Help
Snack
Homework
Art Club
3:00p – 3:50p
Enrichment Activities
Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
Wednesday Remote Programming
7am-8am & 1:50pm-3:50pm
Calendar activities are subject to change!