Timber aims to create an environment where staff and students work together to foster an overall sense of community. Everyone is encouraged to participate, be kind, include everyone, and grow together and as individuals.
Welcome to Timber 2022 - 2023
This year, Timber is focusing on building relationships throughout our schools. We are strongest when we grow together.
Timber dates can be found on each school calendar .
Timber 2021 - 2022
Timber 7: Working on Projects
From making bird feeders to creating cards to shuffling away scuff marks on the floors and planning bigger long-term projects, Harman students and staff spread JOY during Timber this week!
Timber 1: What brings joy?
Our 2020 - 2021 Timber program began with an introduction to the theme of joy.
Students and staff had a great time reconnecting, getting to know their team members and sharing about what brings them JOY!
Timber Tuesday, Sept. 21
On Tuesday, Sept. 21 students at Harman and Smith participated in a Timber Reconnect day. Timber groups met for a short session to continue to build community through games and activities to get to know each other better.
Timber 2020 - 2021
Welcome to Timber
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles
Timber Session 1: Connection with Your Timber Family
Smith and Harman had the first Timber Day lesson of the year Sept. 25! Thanks to technology, Option 1 and Option 2 students were able to connect with one another.
Staff and students participated in different activities to make connections with others. The students were beaming with joy during the lessons and are excited for a great year ahead with this program!
Timber Session 3: Connection with Family
Timber session three's theme was connecting to our family. Groups read a story about a family who was in a blackout. Having no power or devices left them to "plugging into the family." A family activity was sent home which included a bingo board of family activities from baking a favorite treat to making a silly video. The fun will be had by all. After completing bingo boards, there will be a drawing for a gift basket to one lucky winner!
Timber 7 Connection With School
Timber Challenge 2020: Online Edition
In Week Two of The Timber Challenge: Online Edition, Harman students grades 1-6 earned points for demonstrating acts of "Service and Care" for their families. The Timber Challenge is a game that was designed to put concepts discussed in this year's Timber sessions into practice, and to keep the Timber spirit alive as we move into a distance learning model. Many students submitted photos for bonus points of some of their adventures so far. Some of the tasks represented include: cleaning up trash outside their homes, organizing a family game night, helping a caregiver complete a long overdue household task, or taking more responsibility in the kitchen.
February 2020: service and care for your community
Oakwood students participated in their Service and Care for Community activity Friday, Feb. 28. Our students joined students from across the country in a global movement of kindness with the Blankets of Hope program.
To learn more about the Blankets of Hope program and how Oakwood students participated, visit our Blankets of Hope page.
January 2020: Service and Care for Your School
Oakwood elementary students took part in their fifth Timber activity of the year Friday, Jan. 31. The focus was on service and care for school.
Students listened to the book Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller and then generated ways they could provide service and care across the school.
As a final activity, students made cards to show appreciation and caring for various staff members. Up next, service and care for the community.
November 2019: Service and Care for your Family
Fun run 2019
More than six bins of new socks are on their to children in need in the Miami Valley thanks to Oakwood elementary students and Shoes 4 the Shoeless. Students donated the socks as part of their annual Fun Run Oct. 18.
The Fun Run is part of the character education collaboration between students and staff at Harman School and Smith Elementary. This year, the program, called Timber, focuses on service and caring. The morning of Oct. 18, elementary students ran from their schools to Mack Hummon Stadium where they donated socks and then heard more about the mission of Shoes 4 the Shoeless from the group’s founder and executive director Kris Horlacher.
“We really tried to relay the message about why we were asking for the donation of socks and I believe the kids understood. Socks are such a basic necessity so when Kris [Horlacher] talked about how many kids don't even have one pair of their own, it was impactful. The kids received the message beautifully, their attention was awesome,” Smith teacher and run organizer Lisa Henry said.
Horlacher says her organization will distribute more than 100,000 pairs of socks to local children this year.
Timber activities will continue monthly throughout the rest of the school year, focusing on service and caring. Some students will also have the opportunity to participate in additional Shoes 4 the Shoeless events.
2019-2020: Service and Care
The theme for the 2019-2020 school year will be Service and Care! Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree provided a foundation as school counselors and principals made their way through their buildings, reading the book and discussing the concepts for the school year's Timber kickoff event.
Timber Song
Timber Session May 2019
Timber Session February 2019
Timber Session January 2019
Timber Session November 2018
Timber Session September 2018
Timber Session August 2018
The Oakwood Elementary Character Education Team at the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administration (OAESA) conference.
New Name ... Same Great Program

Ongoing Topics
2017-2018 Topics
2016-2017 Topics
2015-2016 Topics
Character Education Q & A:
- What is Character Education?
- Who developed the character education program?
- What resources are used to develop the character education program?
- Who coordinates the lessons?
- How are the groups formed?
What is Character Education?
Who developed the character education program?
What resources are used to develop the character education program?
Who coordinates the lessons?
How are the groups formed?
Character Education Resources
Websites:
Character Lab
Angela Duckworth & Grit
Carol Dweck & Mindset
Videos:
Carol Dweck's TED Talk