Oakdale Elementary School Tuscaloosa, Ala. January 2013 Growing Minds are in Bloom

The Oakdale Eagle Newly-Elected Student Council Begins Work

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Academic Honors… pg. 2 Mrs. Gilliland Retires… pg. 3

Winning Essay: My Great Grandmother . . . . pg. 6

Students Celebrate Veterans Day. . . . pg. 7 Dress Code Fashion Show . . . . pg. 8

By D’Kia Dent Staff Reporter

As being a part of Oakdale’s Elementary School Student Council I, D’kia Dent, and Que’Dasia Herod and others, will try our best to keep the school running smoothly. We will try to have special events and activities like Nerd Day and Math Day, and Reading Day. Also, we need to work on Education Day for kids. Education to the Student Council is very unique. “Unique” means differently, but to Student Council Government it means special. Special is a BIG, BIG, BIG word, so just think about it a little. For all of the kids out there, just think about the differences you can make around your school and neighborhood. Today, Que’Dasia Herod is our new class President. Gabreona

Jones is our Vice President and D’kia Dent is our Secretary. Katelyn Jennings is our Treasurer. We are very special people to Oakdale Elementary and we will have a great year.

2012-2013 STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS

Que’Dasia Herod, President Gabreona Jones, Vice President

D’Kia Dent, Secretary Katelyn Jennings, Treasurer

Joshua Patton, Parliamentarian

Obama Wins at Oakdale President Barack Obama was the overwhelming choice of Oakdale students, who along with electing the student council, held a mock presidential election Nov. 6. Obama was

chosen over his opponent Mitt Romney. See ELECTION DAY PHOTOS on page 7.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GUESTS

In what’s become a tradition here at Oakdale, local firefighters and representatives from Tuscaloosa City Schools participated in our Annual Holiday Luncheon in December. Above, Willie Allen from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Margaret Burrell from Hunt Valley Refining, both adopt-a-school partners, joined School Superintendent Dr. Paul McKendrick and Chris Jenks, instructional technology coordinator for the city schools.

As a local service project, members of the Oakdale Student Council made Christmas plantings just before the winter break.

2 The Oakdale Eagle

Here are just of few of the Oakdale students honored for their hard work during the first nine weeks of the school year.

Honors Assembly Recognizes Students For Top Performance

ACADEMIC HONORS

By Jailah Brown, Joe’on Leatherwood and Sean Smith Staff Reporters

On Oakdale’s first nine weeks honors assembly there were many students who got awards. Thirty-nine students made principal’s list, 67 students made honor roll, and 44 students made perfect attendance. One hundred thirty-four students made citizenship. Other students made math award, writing award, reading award, and physical award. It was very exciting. Hopefully more students will win awards.

By Shermya Smith Staff Reporter

Our librarian, Mrs. Kent hosts a book club every nine weeks. You have to have five points or more to be invited. The second nine weeks the Oakdale Book Club Cafe read books about mysteries. “The book club is fun,” Fourth grader Toneva Tucker said. “And we get to play games.” At the book club café, students talk about the books they read. They are served treats such as yogurt and fruit. Ms. Kent makes a special dip for the fruit. Prizes are awarded at the end of the book club. Student Jasmine Childers, a fifth grader says she enjoys the book club’s variety from regular class time. Fifth-grader D’Kia Dent says the book club is great and that she loves to read and go to the book club.

Book Club Café Tackles Mysteries

Avery Hood and Aniyah Cabbil, 2nd graders in Ms. Green’s class, receive medals from Mrs. Traci Nalls-Square, who represented McAbee Construction at the honors assembly.

5th graders Tamara Green and Jasmine Childers, join 4th graders LaSontee Lawson, Toneva Tucker and Jamese Taylor in figuring out a word puzzle mystery during the Mystery Book Club Café.

The Oakdale Eagle 3

Teac her U pdates

Mrs. Gilliland retires after a quarter century in the classroom

Mrs. Evera Cammon took this photo with some of her first graders. As a nominee, Mrs. Cammon was among 43 teachers from the Tuscaloosa City Schools honored at the city’s first Apple Awards December 17. Also honored with an Apple Award was Miss Latrina Spencer, who teaches third grade. Miss Spencer was nominated for Teacher of the Year.

Teachers pick Mrs. Cammon for JSU Award By D’Mia Dent Staff Reporter

My first grade teacher Mrs. Cammon has been selected to represent Oakdale Elementary School for The Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame. She was selected by the faculty at Oakdale. “I was very excited to learn that I was nominated for the Teacher Hall of Fame. I love teaching and I am dedicated to my students and the teaching profession,” said Mrs. Cammon. The thing she likes most about teaching first grade is witnessing a child learning something new and seeing his or her face light up. “It’s such a wonderful thing to see,” said Mrs. Cammon. Mrs. Cammon has been teaching for 14 years and says it would be a wonderful accomplishment if she were selected for the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame.

By Miracle Colvin Staff Reporter

Mrs. Cathy Gilliland will be retiring on December 31. She has worked as a teacher for 25 years. She taught 22 of those years in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system. Mrs. Gilli-land has taught at Oakdale for eight years as a second grade teacher and as a fourth grade teacher. “The feeling I have now about retiring is bitter

sweet,” Mrs. Gilliland said. “I

am going to miss the kids the most. It has been great teaching at Oakdale.” Mrs. Gilliland has many plans for the future. She plans to vol-unteer a lot. She also plans to visit family members and travel. One of the first places she hopes to visit again is New York. While there she will visit with her sister and aunt. She also plans to visit Russia in the near future. The faculty and students at Oakdale Elementary wish Mrs. Gilliland a long and wonderful retirement.

“I am going to miss the kids the most. It has been great teaching at Oakdale.” -Mrs. Cathy Gilliland (Retired) Fourth grade teacher

Cathy Gilliland

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IMAGES FROM THE S

BOOK CHARACTER PARADE—- (top left) three Fgrade) and sister Christina Hutt (5th grade) alonAaliyah Golston (1st grade) (top center) Oakdale’s own Michael Jackson ak(bottom left) three Junie B Jones aka Jamya Smgrade) and Mrs. Leatherwood, our afterschool c

The Oakdale Eagle 5

ECOND NINE WEEKS

A GINGERBREAD CHALLENGE—- University of Alabama students from the Society of Professional Journalists held a Gingerbread Challenge Dec. 4 Oakdale students made Christmas trees out of gingerbread. Above, UA student Caroline Collins works with Zamarria Tillman, Kaleb Howard, Makalo Harris, KeEric Young, and Jailah Brown. Below, William Hall from the University of Alabama helped Austin Merriweather, Trey Long. and Kevin Davis with their gingerbread cookies. In the bottom right photo, Briana Harris and Jessica Ruffin assist Tywaun Smith, Dorian Pugh, Joshua Patton, and Sean Smith

ancy Nancys aka Aaingsley Rice (2nd ng with La Sontee Lawson (4th grade) and

a 4th grader Kevin Davis mith (4th grade) Adaiah Coleman (5th coordinator.

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CREATIVE CORNER

My great grandmother’s name is Earlene Ross. All of my life she has been my best friend. She is optimistic, funny, intelligent, and wonderful. She always brightens my day and that makes her so very special to me. My great grandmother and I have an incredibly special relation-ship. We spend a lot of time together. I visit her every day after school. I always try to visit her when I can. We watch TV together while she listens to me and stories about my day at school. She is extraordinarily supportive. One of my favorite things is that my great grandmother lets me watch her when she cooks. She is the best cook in my family and I’m so lucky that she shares her reci-pes with me. She has taught me

AWARD—WINNING WRITING

MEET MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Jamese Taylor ’s great grandmother, Earlene Ross, has taught her how to cook flapjacks, fried chicken and fish.

how to cook her special flapjacks, fried chicken, and fish. I like visiting her be-cause I learn something new every time I visit her. My great grandmother has also taught me a lot of other skills. She gives me healthy foods to eat. She

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Alabama Gerontological Society (AGS), a non-profit membership organization devoted to improving the well-being of older adults throughout Alabama, conducted an essay contest for 4th-6th graders. Students were asked to write about their favorite older person. The winners will be featured in the 2013 AGS calendar. Jamese Taylor, a 4th grader in Mr. Tortorice’s class was one of only 13 students from around the state selected for this honor. Below is her winning essay.

Jaylon Craig gets a helping of food at Burke Dining Hall (left). Mar’Jaylon Hawkins’ mother, Chandra Kirkman, is a driver for CrimsonRide, which transported S.O.A.R. students to the University of Alabama campus.

By Sean Smith Staff Reporter On November 26, 2012, the S.O.A.R students went to the Burke Dining Hall on the University of Alabama campus. We traveled there on a UA charter bus. SGA sponsored the trip for us because they wanted a community event. Ms. Leatherwood said “the trip was awesome.” Oakdale Eagle student reporter Zykail Chaney said that “the trip was very fun because I ate all kinds of treats and desserts.” Another reporter Zammaria Tillman said that “the trip was very exciting. While we were eating, we got to see Big Al and take pictures with him.”

S.O.A.R. Students Visit University of Alabama Dining Hall

takes care of me when I am sick. I can’t imagine a world without my magnificent great grandmother.

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By Zamarria Tillman Staff Reporter

Do you know that Mrs. Little says Veterans Day is a time for appreciation for those who have fought for the United States? Oakdale Elementary School expressed its appreciation of veterans recently by holding a special ceremony Friday, No-vember 9 in the Oakdale Multipurpose Room. Councilman Bobby Howard was our guest speaker. Coun-

cilman Howard is grandfather of Kaleb Howard and Hillary Howard. Miss Cook sang the song “Hero” by Mariah Carey. For those who are still fighting for our country, Mrs. Crocker thinks that Veterans Day is very nice. She said that celebration Oakdale Elementary held for it in early November made her feel patriotic. The ceremony commemorating the special day was fun, many Oakdale Elementary students said. They said that they enjoyed hearing former service personnel and

others describe people who served in the Navy. All in all, the Veterans Day celebration taught students about the sacrifices that many people from all over the nation, including Tuscaloosa natives, have made to protect the na-tion and its basic freedoms.

Remembering Our Veterans

Former Military Personnel, Tuscaloosa City Councilman Speak to Oakdale Students During Nov. 9 Veterans Day Program

(above left) Dr. Smith, Oakdale’s Counselor, along with 5th graders Tresure Woods, Laterrius Cook, and Alexis McKinnon (above right) Fifth grade teacher, Ms. Brandis Cook and 5th grade student, Xavier Chavers, share their musical talent at the Veterans Day celebration.

Councilman Bobby Howard

Photos by Zamarria Tillman

Scenes from Election Day 2012 Oakdale Elementary School students cast their votes for student council on Nov. 6,

Kimora Haygood (left) placed her completed ballot in the box in the library. For Pre-K student Gavin Nalls (right) ,this was his first election.

THE OAKDALE EAGLE

Staff

Gabreona Jones, 5th grade Joshua Patton, 3rd grade Jahniya Craig, 3rd grade Jailah Brown, 3rd grade Dijah Brooks, 3rd grade Sean Smith, 3rd grade Jamya Farley, 3rd grade Kaleb Howard, 3rd grade Daniia Wills, 3rd grade Joe’on Leatherwood, 3rd grade Shiya Lewis, 3rd grade Khadira Gipson, 3rd grade Janiyah Jackson, 3rd grade Dorian Pugh, 3rd grade Joshua Patton, 3rd grade Jamara McKinnon, 3rd grade Tywaun Smith, 3rd grade Javon Hughes, 5th grade Zamarria Tillman, 3rd grade Kevin Davis, 4th grade Quedasia Herrod, 5th grade Denaijah Williams, 3rd grade Ke’Eric Young, 3rd grade Anthony Fryer, 4th grade Mar’Jaylon Hawkins, 4th grade Ebony Fryer, 4th grade Amyl Gray, 4th grade Anton Leatherwood, 4th grade Rylan Lewis, 4th grade Jamya Smith, 4th grade LaSontee Lawson, 4th grade Caleb Nails, 4th grade Toneva Tucker, 4th grade Jordan Ivory-Washington, 5th grade Eric Williams, 4th grade K’Unta White, 4th grade Kendall Williams, 4th grade Jaylon Craig, 5th grade Jasmine Childers, 5th grade Austin Merriweather, 5th grade Travon Terry, 5th grade D’Kia Dent, 5th grade Courtney Mosely, 5th grade D’Mia Dent, 5th grade Zykail Chaney, 5th grade Joe Crutchfield, 5th grade Makalo Harris, 5th grade Bryena Reedy, 5th grade Tatiana Smith, 5th grade Shermya Smith, 5th grade

Special thanks to Dr. Lucinda Coulter and the students of Stillman College as well Dr. George Daniels, the University of Alabama Society of Professional Journalists and the UA Department of Journalism for their assistance on this edition.

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Growing Minds are in Bloom Miss Latrina Spencer and Mrs. Melissa Kent

Oakdale Eagle Advisers

By Kaleb Howard and Daniia Wills Staff Reporters

Oakdale pre-K through fifth-grade students recently modeled clothes for a fashion show. For the show, Dorian Pugh, Kevin Davis, Joe Crutchfield, Amyl Gray and Ke’Eric Young dressed like educational people. For their attire, they wore belts, had their shoes tied, and the boys had to tuck their shirts in. They also had to have their pants pulled up. Oakdale has a lot of celebrations, but some students said that the dress code

Fashion Show Provides Tips For Looking Your Best While at School

fashion was the best. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Ms. Mammie Daniels, a parent-involvement coordinator, said she liked the show. “I felt really excited,” Ms. Daniels said. “I was happy to see the girls and boys look good. And I was happy to see shoe strings tied and everyone wearing belts.” Ke`Eric Young, one of the models, wore an angry bird shirt and blue jeans for the show. He said that he got into the fashion show by tucking his shirt in, tying his shoes and wearing a belt.

Kindergarteners Zyron Davis-Giles and Pherron Dancy show off their style .

Oakdale Donations Help Local Food Bank

By Daniia Wills Staff Reporter Oakdale Elementary School participated in the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Drive that was held from Oct. 8 through Nov. 16. The cans of food collected for the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive will go to the West Alabama Food Bank. This rivalry started in 1994 as a way to help people in the community. It was a good canned food drive. Many students were excited to be joining in to help a good cause. “This makes me feel helpful and supportive in my community,”said third grader DeRamus Harris.