Ashley Read '05, Head of Early Childhood

Dear ECC Families,

Our thought of the week has been centered around the importance of following directions the first time they are given. We talked with students about the two main jobs teachers have at school: to keep them safe and to help them learn. This is the foundation for all the rules and directions we give. We emphasized that our goal is for students to follow directions right away, the first time they are asked. We acknowledged that listening and acting quickly can sometimes be challenging, but just like any skill, the more we practice following directions, the better we all become at it.

A note from our Counselor, Mrs. Novo:

This week in guidance, our Early Childhood Center students identified and practiced how to show love and belonging to their friends using gentle hands, kind words, and helping actions. We practiced this through discussions, reading, and creating a “Loving Hands” mural. You can support this at home by: 

• Encouraging your child to use gentle hands with family members and friends. 
• Practicing kind words, such as compliments, sharing positive statements to your child, or having your child practice these words to others. 
• Providing your child with the opportunity to help out at home, like picking up toys, cleaning rooms, or other small tasks.
• Talking about how their actions can help others feel included.
• Asking your child how they made someone feel happy or included at school today.  

Book Fair

Pre-K and Kinder enjoyed visiting the Book Fair this week. A big shout-out and thank you to Mrs. DeWinter and all of our fabulous Oakridge Parents’ Club (OPC) volunteers for making this event a huge success. We sold close to $12,000 in books. Thanks to this wonderful success, Mrs. DeWinter will be able to refresh our library collection with new titles and resources for every grade level to enjoy. Thank you for supporting our readers!

February 4: 1st Wednesday  

We were honored to welcome Joanne Franks from Painted Reality Counseling, LLC. Joanne spoke to the group of parents on the topic, “From Tattles to Teamwork: Helping Young Siblings Connect.” Click here to review Joanne’s slide deck, filled with research and ideas to implement at home. 

February 11: Guest Author Visit

We are thrilled to announce that beloved children's author, Jerry Pallotta, will be visiting The Oakridge School on February 11.

Mr. Pallotta will present to students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. He is a favorite among our students, and his popular Who Would Win series is always in high circulation at the Oakridge Library! Jerry Pallotta has been writing children's books for over 30 years and has published over 90 titles.

Students may have any of Jerry Pallotta's books autographed. To ensure this, please send the books to the Oakridge Library by February 9. Please affix a note to each book with your child’s full name and teacher's name. This will help us ensure the autographed books are returned to the correct students. If you have any questions, please contact Patricia deWinter at pdewinter@theoakridgeschool.org.

College Colloquium—Now Virtual

College Colloquium, Oakridge College Advising’s signature event, has been rescheduled and will now take place virtually on Wednesday, February 25, at 7:00 PM. This program offers families and students a rare opportunity to hear directly from senior college admission leaders about today’s evolving admission landscape. Whether your student is just beginning the college journey or actively preparing applications, this evening will provide clarity, insight, and confidence. Registration details coming soon. We hope you’ll join us!

Warm regards,

Ashley Read, Oakridge Class of 2005
Head of Early Childhood