Students and staff at Scarlet Oaks Career Development Campus on East Kemper Road in Sharonville conducted Operation Care Day last week, stuffing care packages with toiletries, paperback books, games, cards and snacks they had collected.

        They mailed the packages, which also include "Thinking of you' cards, this week to Scarlet Oaks alumni serving the armed forces.

        They were able to locate 18 graduates of Scarlet Oaks of the classes of 1997, '99, 2000 and '01 serving in the Air Force, Army, Marines and the Navy. Most were stationed in the United States, but one is in Japan and one in Kuwait.

        “The response was great,” said Deb Moy, hotel operation instructor and one of the Operation Care organizers. She said contributions are still coming in.

        Fifth-graders at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Reading will share their Christmas spirit with kindergarten and preschool students at Corryville Catholic Elementary School Thursday when the fifth-graders perform Rumpelstiltskin and Three Billy Goats Gruff.

        Susan Locaputo, fifth-grade teacher at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and her sister, Linda Westerkamp, kindergarten teacher at Corryville Catholic, decided to bring diversity to the classroom.

        Students at Sacred Heart made puppets, based on famous fairy tale characters for the students at Corryville.

        The students wrote their versions on the fairy tales and built props.

        The fifth-graders will prepare lunch for the kindergartners and give them the puppets as a Christmas gift.

        For those who come out of the holiday season with stress and depression, the Life Renewal Counseling Center is offering services.

        The counseling services will be provided through Jan. 31.

        The center is a faith-based counseling service at 640 Northland Blvd., Forest Park. For information, call 742-9396.

        Six students from Oyler Elementary School, Lower Price Hill, are winners in Marmil Family Essay contest on the topic: “What can I do to strengthen my family and community.”

        First-place winner is Shanice Jones; second, Catherine Donnita Carter; third, Sara Fike; fourth, Terria Mitchell. Honorable mention went to Martika Jones and Sophia Robinson.

        “These young people really worked hard on the essays and they are good writers,” said Janet Cummings, a retired schoolteacher who served as one of 12 judges of the contest. “They deserve recognition. It will be a positive reinforcement in their lives.”

        The students will read their essays at 9:30 a.m. today at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 1520 Queen City Ave., Fairmount.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are committing random acts of kindness, let him know at (513) 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at (513) 768-8340.

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