At its Dec. 8 meeting the Oakwood Board of Education celebrated student achievements and heard a classroom demonstration of a student-run vocational enterprise.

Athletic director Tyler Rodis reported an unusually strong fall season, saying “we had a very successful season” in which every participating team finished above .500, the boys cross country team placed third in the state and the girls team won the state championship — the first team state title in school history. Rodis also noted individual placings, including Cameron (ninth overall), Evelyn (tenth) and Delaney (eleventh), and that tennis player Mila Gelbart finished in the state’s top eight as a singles competitor. He told the board that 133 students were named scholar athletes, described in remarks as “over 90%” of varsity athletes.

On academics and extracurriculars, the board heard that Oakwood’s quiz bowl team has qualified for nationals and will host a dual competition at Oakwood High School on Jan. 15 (open to the public). Speech and debate placements at New Albany were also noted.

Curriculum director Jenna Hill introduced Rachel Judge, an intervention specialist at the junior high, who described 'Jack Snacks,' a four‑year elective that teaches vocational and transition skills for students in a self-contained special‑needs unit. Judge said students make cookies and popcorn twice weekly, run short sales between class periods (items advertised and sold for $1), and earn funds that are reinvested in the program for adaptive cookware, new appliances and learning games. Judge said the activity helps students practice communication, money skills and workplace routines and highlighted student-designed T-shirts and a short promotional video shown to advisories.

Judge said the program aims to be student-led and self-sustaining while providing meaningful practice in daily living and work skills. A board member and other staff praised the student work and the program’s educational value.