Hello Diamond Oaks Families,
 
This is Scott Colliflower, Diamond Oaks Dean of Instruction, posting your weekly update.
 
First, Great Oaks would like to announce the launching of its newly designed website at greatoaks.com.  The new website is easier to navigate and offers more timely updates and contact information.  
 
Second, as the seasons progress, days will get colder.  We are seeing more coats and hoodies being worn over program attire.  Unless program approved, long-sleaved clothing needs to be worn underneath program uniforms.   Additionally, if your student’s program allows for hoodies or long-sleaves, they must be Great Oaks spirit wear or plain.  For your reference, the Program Uniform Description is attached to this post.  If out of uniform, your student will be asked to change and/or receive consequences.
 
Third, this year Diamond Oaks seniors will be required to wear a graduation gown to senior ceremony.  Even if your student will not be participating in their homeschool graduation, he or she will still need to order a gown.  Jostens will be accepting cap and gown orders online only for Finneytown students on 9/26.  Graduate Services will be on campus 10/9, to meet with seniors from Harrison, NCH, Oak Hills, St. Bernard, Taylor, Mason, and Norwood.  

Fourth, Student of the Month luncheons have begun.  On October 2nd, one junior and one senior student that have shown excellent performance in lab will be honored from Exercise Science, Surgical Technology, and Health Technology.  Honorees and their families will receive an invite letter from Diamond Oaks with details.  We look forward to recognizing these students’ efforts.     

Fifth, parent-teacher conferences will be held on October 23, 2025, between the hours of 3:30 and 7:30 PM.  Conferences can be in-person or Zoom.  To schedule your appointment please go to https://pickatime.com/diamond.    For more information contact Ms. Hopkins at 513-612-7036 or hopkinsa@greatoaks.com.  The Conference Night Flyer, which contains instructions is attached to this post.
 
Finally, this week’s lab focus is on Surgical Technology.    Ms. Bottkol, the Surgical Technology instructor, explained: the Surg Tech Juniors are completing their first lab skills checkoff assessment this week.  Students have learned all the Sterile Processing Equipment, and furniture, all the Operating Room Equipment and furniture, as well as all the sterile materials and supplies that they will be using in upcoming labs.  So far over half of the class has taken the assessment and all those students have earned A’s.  I am super proud of my juniors and how much and how quickly they are picking up all this information and mastering lab skills.  I expect great things from them all!  For the Junior class I would like to spotlight Ange Sanogo and Sharol Jimenez Lorenzo.  They have been putting in lots of extra practice and it is paying off for them both. Good work guys.  The Surg Tech Seniors are completing their Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certifications.  They have also begun OSHA-10 Training for Healthcare Professionals to prepare them for Work-Based-Learning opportunities and Placement in January.  For the Senior Class I would like to spotlight Eva Diakhate, she has been working diligently to prepare for her one-on-one CPR Lab Skills Checkoff.  Additionally, I want to personally thank my two Senior Student Aids who assist me with the Junior Surg Tech Class.  Both Jaylea Phelps and Shariah Miller, are exceptional aids who are using their knowledge and mastery of skills that they have learned to help teach the next generation of Surgical Technology/Sterile Processing Students.
 
Thank you and have a great evening.
 
Thanks,

Scott Colliflower
Dean of Instruction
Diamond Oaks Career Campus
6375 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati, OH
Desk: 513-612-7014  
Web: www.greatoaks.com 
Email: colliflowers@greatoaks.com