November 2026
We had a great turnout for our first-ever Trunk or Treat at Oak Hill Elementary, with approximately 300 children joining us for the evening. It was wonderful to see so many staff members, local businesses, and families come together to make this event a success. From decorating trunks to handing out candy, everyone played a part in making it a special night for our kids. That's one of the things I appreciate most about Oak Hill. When it comes to supporting our students, our community always steps up.
We've had plenty to celebrate this fall, too. Our boys golf team made school history by winning its first conference championship. Both cross-country teams set school records, and the two teams advanced to Regionals. Two of our FFA members earned the American FFA Degree, an honor received by only about 1% of FFA members nationwide. Our Marching Oaks are also preparing for an exciting performance at Nationwide Arena.
We are extremely proud of these accomplishments, but I also want to recognize the hard work behind them. Our students put in countless hours of practice and preparation, and our coaches, advisors, staff, and families give so much of their time to help them succeed. Their dedication does not go unnoticed, and I want them to know how much it is appreciated.
Whether it's an athletic competition, a student organization, a school event, or something happening in one of our classrooms, there are always people working behind the scenes to make things happen. We are fortunate to have so many people who genuinely care about our students and want to see them succeed.
As we begin November, I'd also like to remind families that parent-teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, November 5, and there will be no classes on Friday, November 6. I encourage parents and guardians to take this opportunity to visit with their child's teachers, ask questions, and stay involved in their education. Working together makes a difference.
Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community for everything you do to make Oak Hill a great place to learn, work, and grow. I appreciate your continued support and look forward to all that we have ahead of us.
Jason Mantell
Superintendent
- November 3: Marching Oaks at Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena/ASVAB Test for Juniors
- November 5: Quiz Bowl Competition/Parent-Teacher Conferences/CCP Informational Meeting
- November 6: Staff In-Service, No Classes
- November 11: Veterans Day Breakfast and Assembly
- November 12: Community Band Concert
- November 13: Winter Sports Pictures
- November 14: Band at OSU Skull Session
- November 16: Blood Drive at MS/HS
- November 18: Board of Education Meeting
- November 23: Festival of Trees/Growing Oaks Giveaway
- November 24: Eisteddfod
- November 25-30: Thanksgiving Break (Classes resume Dec. 1)
On November 11, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served our country and to express our heartfelt gratitude for their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication.
Behind every veteran is a story of service, sacrifice, and love of country. We recognize not only those who have worn the uniform, but also the families who have stood beside them, making sacrifices of their own.
Here at Oak Hill, we are especially grateful for the veterans who are part of our school district, our families, and our community. Their service reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy each day should never be taken for granted.
Oak Hill Veterans Day Observances
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Breakfast for Veterans
Hosted by Oak Hill FFA
🕗 8:00–9:15 a.m.
📍 OHMS/HS Cafeteria
Veterans Day Assembly
🕘 9:15–10:00 a.m.
📍 OHMS/HS Gymnasium
Oak Hill Elementary Veterans Day Assembly
📍 OHE Gymnasium
After-school assembly
To all veterans, past and present, thank you. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten, your service will always be appreciated, and your legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
From all of us at Oak Hill Union Local School District, Happy Veterans Day!
We honor you. We thank you. We remember.
The 2026 Oak Hill High School Homecoming Court was selected by OHHS students and recognized during Homecoming festivities in October.
Congratulations to Brandi Smittle and Grant Walker (pictured left), who were crowned the 2026 Homecoming Queen and King on Friday, October 9, prior to the varsity football game.
Pictured below in the back row, from left, are King attendants Ty Wells, Grant Walker, and Josh Saylor.
Pictured below in the front row, from left, are Macy Houser (Freshman), Addison Brown (Sophomore), MaKayla Davdison (Junior), Brandi Smittle, Judy Wolford, Lexi Davis (Queen attendants), Presley Gallagher (Junior), Reagan Farrar (Sophomore), and Claire Lunsford (Freshman).
Oak Hill High School congratulates Brandi and Grant on this special honor and extends its appreciation to all members of the 2026 Homecoming Court for representing Oak Hill with pride!
Oak Hill High School will host a College Credit Plus (CCP) Information Night on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the OHHS Cafeteria.
All students in grades 7–11 who are interested in participating in the CCP program during the 2027–2028 school year are required to attend the meeting with a parent or guardian.
The meeting will provide important information about the CCP program, including courses offered at Oak Hill High School and opportunities to take courses on a college campus.
Current CCP students are not required to attend.
For additional information or questions, please contact Mrs. Spees.
Congratulations to Oak Hill High School's Chelcie Fowble (right) on being named the 2026–2027 BPA Region 2 Historian!
We would also like to recognize Wyatt Blakeman (lower left), Clayton Lester (lower center), and Brandi Smittle (lower right) for their selection to the BPA Region 2 Executive Council.
These students are representing Oak Hill High School in leadership roles within Business Professionals of America (BPA). Their involvement reflects their dedication, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact.
Congratulations to all four students on this outstanding accomplishment! We are proud to have you representing Oak Hill!
Our Oak Hill FFA members made the most of their experience at the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana!
Throughout the convention, students toured the Apache Sprayer Plant, attended the Opening Session, and heard from keynote speaker Scott McKain!
This incredible experience gave our students the opportunity to explore the agricultural industry, strengthen their leadership skills, and connect with fellow FFA members from across the nation.
🌟 A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO OF OUR OWN! 🌟
During the American FFA Degree Ceremony, Caleb Chambers and Walker Fowble received the American FFA Degree — the highest and most prestigious honor the National FFA Organization can bestow upon its members!
🏅 Only approximately 1% of FFA members earn this distinguished honor!
The American FFA Degree recognizes years of dedication, hard work, and outstanding achievement through Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), competitive events, and active involvement in FFA activities.
This is truly an elite accomplishment and a testament to the commitment these two young men have shown throughout their FFA careers.
Oak Hill could not be prouder of Caleb and Walker! Your hard work and dedication have earned you a place among the very best in the nation!
Congratulations, Caleb and Walker, on this incredible achievement!
Oak Hill Middle/High School will host its second annual Oak Hill Eisteddfod on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. in the OHHS Gymnasium.
An Eisteddfod is a Welsh festival celebrating poetry, music, and the arts. The tradition brings people together to share their talents through friendly, ranked competitions and honors the rich culture and language of Wales.
All Oak Hill students in grades 6–12 are invited to participate. We are looking for singers, instrumentalists, bands, poetry readers, and student artwork.
Students interested in participating should see Mr. Werntz to sign up or for more information.
Get ready for an evening filled with holiday magic! Oak Hill Elementary School will host its Annual Festival of Trees on Monday, November 23, transforming the school into a festive wonderland filled with beautifully decorated trees, holiday activities, and plenty of Christmas cheer!
The festivities will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., offering a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Guests can look forward to dinner, personalized ornaments, pictures with Santa, face painting, letters to Santa, and much more!
The excitement will continue at 6:45 p.m. with the annual auction, featuring a wonderful selection of decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, baskets, and handmade crafts.
Bring your family and friends and join us for a fun-filled evening as we kick off the holiday season and celebrate the Christmas spirit at Oak Hill Elementary!
Mark your calendars for November 23! We look forward to seeing you there!
Oak Hill High School Band to Perform at Nationwide Arena
The Oak Hill High School Band is preparing for an exciting opportunity to perform at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, before the Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Colorado Avalanche!
The band will present a special pregame performance from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., with the hockey game beginning at 7:00 p.m. This exciting experience will give our talented student musicians the opportunity to showcase their musical abilities in a professional sports venue.
Family members, friends, and community supporters are encouraged to attend and cheer on the Oak Hill High School Band! Specially priced tickets are available, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the band program.
Tickets are $47 for upper bowl seating and $77 for lower bowl seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.bluejackets.com/oakhillband. For additional infoation, contact Alec Rivers at 614-246-3852 or arivers@bluejackets.com.
Congratulations to our Oak Hill High School Band on this exciting opportunity! We look forward to seeing our Oaks represented at Nationwide Arena!
Congratulations to Oak Hill High School senior Charissa Krannitz on setting a new OHHS volleyball record!
Charissa recorded an impressive 9 service aces in a single game during the Lady Oaks' victory over South Gallia on Thursday, October 8.
What an outstanding accomplishment! Congratulations, Charissa, on making your mark in Oak Hill volleyball history! Go Lady Oaks!
What an incredible season for the Oak Hill Cross Country program! From conference championships and shattered school records to making history at the District Meet, our Oaks have given us so much to celebrate!
The 2026 season officially came to a close at the Pickerington North Regional Meet on Saturday, October 31, but what a season it was!
🏆 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS & SCHOOL RECORDS
The Varsity Girls set a new school record for the fastest team time at the Unioto Night Race on October 10, then broke their own record just one week later at the SOC Meet!
The Varsity Boys captured the SOC Division II Championship while setting a new school record for the fastest boys team time in school history!
The Junior High Girls brought home the SOC Championship!
Addy Brown earned SOC Runner of the Year honors!
🏆 MAKING HISTORY AT DISTRICTS
The Oaks continued their outstanding season at the District Meet, earning TWO Regional Qualifying Teams, a District Runner-Up Trophy, THREE All-District Runners, and SEVEN Individual Regional Qualifiers!
VARSITY BOYS
🥈 Division III District Runner-Up — First in school history!
🏆 Team Regional Qualifier
⭐ All-District: Easton Ehman and Mason Malone
🏃 Regional Qualifiers: Easton Ehman, Mason Malone, Jacob Lyons, Graham Michael, and Clayton Lester
VARSITY GIRLS
🏆 Division IV Team Regional Qualifier — Only the second in school history!
🔥 Another NEW school record for the fastest girls team time!
⭐ All-District: Addy Brown — 5th Place
🏃 Regional Qualifiers: Addy Brown and Gracyn Allen
🌟 A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR ADDY BROWN!
Throughout her high school cross country career, Addy has built an impressive list of accomplishments:
🏆 Over 10 First-Place Finishes
🏆 2-Time SOC Runner of the Year
🏆 District Runner of the Year
🏆 4-Time Regional Qualifier
What an outstanding career and a tremendous example of dedication, hard work, and determination!
Although the season has come to an end, the accomplishments of these student-athletes will be remembered for years to come. School records were broken, championships were won, and new milestones were reached!
Congratulations to every runner and coach who contributed to this remarkable season. Your hard work, commitment, and determination have made the entire Oak Hill community proud!
Varsity Boys Cross Country Team
Varsity Girls Cross Country Team
Junior High Girls Cross Country Team
Oak Hill Middle School will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, November 16, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Middle School Gymnasium.
Community members are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and help save lives by donating blood. Every donation makes a difference and helps ensure blood is available for patients in need.
To schedule an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Give blood. Help save lives!
Substitute Educators Day is recognized on Friday, November 20, 2026, as part of American Education Week.
Substitute teachers play an important role in keeping learning on track when regular classroom teachers are away. They step into classrooms, adapt quickly, support students, and help ensure each school day continues as smoothly as possible.
This special day, established by the National Education Association, also brings attention to the importance of respect, training, fair compensation, and support for substitute educators.
We are grateful for all of the substitute teachers who serve the students and staff of Oak Hill Union Local School District. Thank you for being willing to step in when needed and for helping keep our classrooms running every day!
As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to take a moment to reflect on the many blessings that make Oak Hill such a special place to learn, work, and call home.
We are thankful for our students, who bring joy, energy, and purpose to our schools each day; our dedicated teachers and staff, who give so much of themselves to help our students grow and succeed; and our families and community members, whose continued encouragement and support make a lasting difference.
At Oak Hill, we know that what makes our district truly special isn't just what happens inside our classrooms, but the people who make up our school family. We are grateful for the kindness, friendships, traditions, and sense of community that bring us together.
As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, we hope everyone enjoys a holiday filled with love, laughter, wonderful memories, and time spent with those who matter most.
From all of us at Oak Hill Union Local School District, we wish our students, staff, families, and entire community a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Break Reminder: Schools will be closed November 25–30, 2026. Classes will resume on Tuesday, December 1.
Oak Hill High School students are making their voices heard through Oaks Notes, our student newspaper!
Oaks Notes provides students with an opportunity to share school news, highlight student achievements, celebrate special events, and keep their classmates informed about what’s happening throughout Oak Hill High School.
More than just a newspaper, Oaks Notes encourages creativity, communication, teamwork, and school pride. We are proud of the students who contribute their time and talents to keeping the Oak Hill community informed and connected!
