District History
Oak Hills High School, opened in 1959 at its present location, 3200 Ebenezer Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211 and adopted a Scottish theme to give unity to all school symbols and to embody the school spirit of the athletic teams, known as the Highlanders.
The official colors, red and black, were found to be the best combined in the Cunningham plaid, which was adopted as the official plaid of the school. The bagpiper and clusters of leaves began to be used as the motif for art work, school notebooks, and math pad covers.
The school newspaper was named “The Tartan” the yearbook became “The Caledonian.” The Oakettes, girls’ precision drill team, dressed in Cunningham plaid kilted skirts and tam o’shanters and danced the Highland Fling at intermission of athletic events. The school’s mascot was “Duncan,” a white “Scotty,” or West Highland Terrier.
The first Friday in April came to be observed at the school as “Tartan Day,” a time when all lads and lasses dressed in plaid. In keeping with the Scottish theme, this Alma Mater (see below), chosen by vote of the student body and adopted by the Student Council, was composed by Alice Kennelly Roberts (Mrs. Edward Roberts), Dean of Girls, and William C. Fenton, Dean of Boys, in the school year, 1963-64.
Alma Mater
The Oak leaves gently falling
upon Ohio Hills,
Bring mem’ries of our high school
and pride which it instills;
We see the tartan waving
The Cunningham we love
And then a host of Highlanders,
All other teams above.
Oak Hills, we’ll always love you,
Tho’ we are far away,
Oak Hills we’ll ne’er forget you,
You’re in our hearts to stay.
The Red and Black we cherish,
Enshrined on mem’ry’s throne,
Oak Hills our Alma Mater,
We stand for you alone.
We’ll see your halls in mem’ry
the classrooms and the fi eld.
Like Caledonian pictures,
to time and heart revealed.
There is no other high school
Which in our lives fulfi lls
The dreams which youth has cherished
as does our own Oak Hills.
