Dr. Amy Alsip, Head of Upper School

Upper School Families, 

Our second semester is in full swing. Unlike Elsa in Frozen who said “The cold never bothered me anyway!” The cold does sometimes create issues for us on campus. Please make sure your students are in proper dress code attire but also have the necessary winter gear for use outdoors. 

Due to the inclement weather approaching, all of our extra-curricular events for Friday and Saturday have been cancelled. Your students’ coaches will contact the teams individually for make-up game schedules and/or practices.

I am proud to announce that Oakridge was recognized as a Platinum Level AP Honor Roll School for 2025. This is given to less than 6% of schools across the country. Our students performed above and beyond our expectations, and big thanks to the incredible faculty in the Upper School who give their all to our students to help them achieve success. 

Please see the criteria below that allowed Oakridge to be given the prestigious Platinum recognition. 

• 84% of the Class of 2026 experienced at least 1 AP course before graduation
• 75% of the Class of 2026 earned college credit by earning an AP Exam score of 3 on at least one exam
• 46% of the Class of 2026 to take a total of 5 APs across their high school years, with at least 1 taken in 9th or 10th grade

I could not be prouder to be a part of the Upper School at Oakridge where we are making dreams come true and preparing our Owls for the next step in their education journey.

Our Oakridge community will be participating in College Tee Day on Friday, January 30th. The US will have a College Day that morning (with a pizza lunch provided) followed by Powderpuff football in the afternoon.

“The Northern Lights” Winter Formal will be Saturday, February 7th at Fort Works Art. Students who plan to bring a non-Oakridge guest need to pick up the forms from the US office and complete those prior to the dance. Tickets for Winfo are on sale as of today on the portal and are $25 per person online or $30 cash at the door. Light snacks and refreshments will be served and DJ Rob will be joining us again for entertainment.

Inside Today’s College Admissions: College Colloquium 2026

Oakridge parents, guardians, and students are invited to College Colloquium, College Advising’s signature annual event. Hear directly from senior admission leaders from USC, Trinity University, and The Ohio State University as they share insights on today’s college admissions landscape. Families will gain clarity, confidence, and perspective through a dynamic panel and interactive breakout sessions. With the rapidly changing higher education landscape, the College Colloquium program is an important opportunity to update our families on the admission process and to connect one-on-one with selective colleges and universities. Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 PM in the Flavin Fine Arts Performance Hall. This program is made possible through the generous support of Oakridge Parent Club.

Have a great weekend!

All my best,

 

Dr. Amy Alsip
Head of Upper School