Woodridge event taps into local spirit
Woodridge Local Schools Superintendent
Jeffrey Graham went all out in wearing a suit for his
participation in the dunk tank at last year’s
Community Day. According to school officials, the suit
shrank several sizes after the event.
Photo courtesy of Woodridge
Local Schools District
By Mike D’Agruma
PENINSULA — When the opening of the Woodridge High School athletic complex had to be delayed until 2007, Chris Sieber, high school athletic director and assistant principal, was naturally upset.
Not so much upset because of any material reason, but more so because the community would have to wait to enjoy something they deserve. He said the one thing helping him stomach the delay is the support of the Woodridge community.
That sentiment of appreciation for community spirit will be on full display at the district’s Community Day, which will take place Sept. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Woodridge Middle School, 4451 Quick Road.
“I think every school should do something like it, I really do,” Sieber said. “The schools are such a focal point of the community. It’s a chance for us to give back.”
The day will kick off with a
pancake breakfast in the
middle school cafeteria for $3.50. There also will be
concessions available run by band parents with all proceeds
going to support the band program. Student musical performances
will serenade hungry festival-goers every half hour.
Linda Ocepek, principal of the
middle school, has been at the forefront in organizing
Community Day festivities.
“I’m an old-time
party planner, so this is second nature to me,”
Ocepek said. “I love this.”
Free activities that will take
place during the day include a car wash, face painting
and crafts for children provided by Woodridge High School
students; emergency-vehicle tours provided by the Cuyahoga
Falls Fire Department; and a number of demonstrations
that cover a variety of
topics such as martial arts and horseback riding. There
also will be about 30 informational tables set up by
community and student groups and a few local businesses,
Ocepek said. The Woodridge Education Association will
have a booth set up throughout the morning to take family
photos. Ocepek said there might be a small cost associated
with the photo, but it would be no more than 50 cents.
There also will be a number of
contests and carnival games that allow children to earn
tickets toward various prizes. Children can try their
hand at hula hoop, a water balloon toss and free-throw
shooting contests in addition to others.
For many children, however, the
highlight of the day will center on Jeff Kline,
of Fun Services. Kline has donated use of an inflatable
ride, carnival games and a dunk tank that will allow
students the chance to soak several administrators and
teachers — without the possibility of any repercussions,
of course.
“I’m a return guy
to the dunk tank,” Sieber said. “It’s
a lot of fun. ... It’s for such a good cause and
a good day. It allows the kids to see us in a different
light.”
In addition to Sieber, Superintendent
Jeffrey Graham, Woodridge High School Principal Mic
Becerra, Middle School Assistant Principal Tom Gabram
and teachers Shannon Modugno, Bob Macri and Norma Hammond
will brave the icy waters of the tank. Staff members
will head to the tank at 11 a.m. and rotate
every 15 minutes. Tosses cost 25
cents.
Ocepek said Graham is one of
the more popular members of the administration that
students seem to gravitate to when he takes his place
in the tank. Last year, he wore a full suit in the tank,
and his wife brought a roll of quarters and handed them
out. Both Ocepek and Sieber relate the memory with good-natured
humor and said that Graham’s suit shrank so badly
after his 15 minutes that he’s unable to wear
it anymore.
Ocepek said Graham hasn’t
revealed what he’ll wear this year but added there
has been discussion of finding some kind of novelty
shirt for him to don.
“He’s a good sport,”
Ocepek said. “If we found something funny for
him to wear, he’d wear it.”
Even though Ocepek only
has been a part of the Woodridge school system for three
years, she said Graham’s good sportsmanship and
the dedication of other staff, students and community
members is a demonstration of the Woodridge spirit.
“I’ve worked in other
places, but never in a community where people love it
so much,” Ocepek said. “It’s not just
a place you work — it’s home. Community
Day represents what we really are, and that’s
family.”
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