Dear Oakridge Family,

The Oakridge School has been my home away from home for 27 years, a consistent bright spot and source of joy in my life. Although I had not yet found my way to 5900 W. Pioneer Parkway during the savings and loan crisis in the late 1980's, I have heard about how our school weathered that storm. I do recall, firsthand, navigating other adversities: 9/11 in 2001, the Great Recession in 2008, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe we learn a great deal about ourselves during tough times.

What has this challenge taught us? In good times and bad, Oakridge is devoted to its people and its mission. Regardless of the situation, Oakridge is dedicated to kindness and community. In spite of the circumstances, Oakridge is committed to positivity and hope. Congratulations to all of you for fostering this culture.

Congratulations are also in order for the Class of 2020. This stellar group of 76 seniors has made Oakridge history by earning more than $12 million in merit-based scholarship offers. Forty-four graduates plan to attend colleges and universities outside of the Lone Star State (25 states, Scotland, and the Netherlands), and 32 will matriculate to 13 Texas schools. Additionally, eight alumni will participate in collegiate athletics. The faculty and I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2020 at their traditional graduation ceremony July 25.

I have received many calls, texts, and emails the last couple of months. The questions vary, but the most frequently asked is, "Will the kids return to school this fall?" Allow me to address that question and a few others.

Unless there is a government mandate prohibiting The Oakridge School from opening in August, we plan to return to campus for the 2020-2021 school year. We are fortunate to have small class sizes, many large buildings, and a sprawling campus, all of which enable us to explore multiple scenarios.
Tuition for 2020-2021, which covers 95 percent of the cost of operations, has not changed. If you are experiencing financial hardship and wish to discuss payment options or financial aid, please contact our CFO, Kathy Gamill. I have communicated previously that we are committed to working with you. Our desire is to keep the Oakridge Family intact.
We do not know at this time if students and faculty will wear masks next year or not. Time will tell. The school has ordered extra sanitizing stations, no-contact thermometers, and cleaning supplies. We plan to meet or exceed all recommended guidelines for safety and cleaning.
Over the summer, beginning the second week of June, I will communicate with the Oakridge community regularly. We know you are eager to learn concrete details regarding the calendar, policies and procedures, food service, athletics, etc. My communication will be frequent and thorough.
The administrative team and faculty will work through the summer to design multiple scenarios. We will be prepared for whatever comes our way in August.

As we draw the curtain on the 2019-2020 school year, I am admittedly a little weary. I know many of you are, too. Crisis management is fatiguing. But I am also motivated by and thankful for our wonderful community. I had a front row seat to watch the last 10 weeks unfold, and I observed time and time again how the Oakridge Family united, persevered, and cared for one another during this difficult stretch.

The challenges we faced between March and May were relentless and formidable, yet your families and our team partnered to nurture, motivate, and teach Oakridge children. We trust you have witnessed this the past few months, and we would appreciate your feedback. Soon, we will send parents and guardians an email with a link to a distance learning survey. I hope you will take 10-15 minutes to complete it so our team can know where we excelled and where we fell short.

Thank you for entrusting your children to us. It is a privilege to help you raise and educate the next generation of leaders.

Best wishes for a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous summer.

Jon Kellam