Teacher's legacyFAIRFAX - A retired Fairfax elementary teacher, Wanda McNeal, left the bulk of her estate to Fairfax children. She stipulated that the interest earned on the $85,000 principal be given as a scholarship to a Mariemont High School Senior from Fairfax.

Ms. McNeal taught at Fairfax Elementary for 32 years and retired in 1972. She died in July 2001.

Author reads

Children's book author Marsha Wilson Chall read excerpts of her latest book, Sugarbush Spring, to Hyde Park School kindergarten and first-grade students earlier this month.

The story is about a young girl, her grandfather and the family tradition of making maple syrup.

While in Cincinnati, Ms. Chall received the 2002 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Award for Children's Literature for her significant contribution to American literature. Both the Ohio Farm Bureau and Hamilton County Farm Bureau sponsored the author's visit.

Math program

St. Ursula Villa's fifth- and sixth-graders are participating in a new Accelerated Math Program. By completing problem sets in addition to their regular curriculum, students earn incentives such as a pizza parties and improve test-taking skills.

St. Ursula Villa in Mount Lookout is now the home of the "Food For Thought salt&pepper.poem," an artwork painted in black and white on a 116-foot stretch of sidewalk. The piece is a word poem bridge/horizontal mural painted by Houston artists John Runnels and Charlie Jean Sartwelle as part of Villa's Artist in Residence program.

Oscar Meyer prize

Kraft Foods' Oscar Mayer is offering a way for K-5 grade school students and their teachers to win cash for their schools' music programs. Teachers must enter the Oscar Mayer Talent Search School House Jam contest on behalf of their students. Entry forms and official rules are available at (800) 672-2754 or visit www.oscarmayer.com. Entry deadline is Feb. 14, 2003.

Teachers will create a 3-minute VHS videotape of a group of five or more students performing the Oscar Mayer jingles: "I Wish I Were an Oscar Mayer Wiener"; the Bologna Song "My Bologna has a First Name"; in Spanish, "Cuando quiero algo bueno y sabroso" or a combination of any or all of the three jingles.

One school from each state will win $10,000 toward its music program and a visit from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. An additional $15,000 grand prize and participation in a People magazine advertisement will be awarded to the top group.

Trip to Australia

Five sixth-grade students and eighth-grade teacher/chaperone Joanne Browarsky from St. Cecilia School in Oakley traveled to Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 15 for a three-week student exchange program.

The students, Kirby Birk, Riley Birk, Hannah Klotz, Heather Seurkamp and Rachel Strassell, were chosen based on essays they wrote, oral interviews and their academic performance.

While in Australia, the students attended Selby Primary School and lived with students. Ms. Browarsky stayed with a teacher.

The students visited places of interest with their host families. They returned home Dec. 6.

Summit trustees

Summit Country Day School recently announced six new members for its board of trustees. The six will serve three-year terms beginning with the 2002-03 school year. They are:

Sister Kim Dalgarn of Paddock Hills, a member of the Mission Advancement and National Vocation Teams of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Sister Joyce Hoben, SNDdeN, of Dayton an early 1960s director of The Summit Girls Lower School.

Gary Johns, of Glendale, president and CEO of SOS Metals, Inc.

Timothy Mathile, of East Walnut Hills, president and CEO of Franklin Blazing and Metal Treating.

Raymond Schilderink, of Indian Hill, 1964 Summit graduate, an entrepreneur, investor and cofounder of The Fax Medley Group, publisher of Business Digest.

Thomas Williams of Indian Hill, president of North American Properties and 1971 Summit graduate.

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