Leo’s Fun Run at Oakwood Schools
Leo’s Fun Run at Oakwood Schools
Oakwood, Ohio · September 19, 2025
On Friday, September 19, 2025, Leo and his classmates from Lange Elementary joined students and staff from across Oakwood Schools for the district Fun Run at Mack Hummon Field, the stadium shared by Oakwood Junior and Senior High. The Lange students arrived by bus for their 9–10 a.m. time slot, stepping out into a beautiful, sunny morning that felt like a celebration from the very first minute.
As the buses pulled up, the junior and senior high school band and cheerleaders were waiting to greet them, filling the street with music, school colors, and cheers. Student groups like Hope Squad and Little Buddies joined in to line the route, turning the entrance to the track into a tunnel of encouragement. The kids took to the field for one joyful lap—to move together, laugh with friends, and soak up the moment.
After their lap, the students gathered on the infield to rest, talk, and take it all in. The bleachers were packed with teachers, staff, parents, friends, and family, everyone cheering and waving from the stands. An energetic MC kept the fun going with music that ranged from ’60s classics to today’s hits, including a few favorite line dances. Kids danced in the grass, sang along, and swayed with the music. Performers in costume—hidden in plain sight among the crowd—were later revealed and celebrated, adding an extra layer of surprise and delight.
For Leo and his classmates, it was an incredibly fun hour: fresh air, a little bit of running, a lot of dancing, and the rare feeling of being cheered on by the entire district. It was the perfect way to wrap up Oakwood’s “Start with Hello” Week, a time focused on connection, kindness, and inclusion—a shared experience that united every corner of the school community. Watching elementary students welcomed so warmly by older students and staff showed exactly what that looks like in real life: community-building in motion, one lap, one song, one burst of laughter at a time.