Dr. Amy Alsip, Head of Upper School

Upper School Families, 

It has been a bit emotional over the last week for our US students in the wake of the loss of our beloved Coach King. He touched so many lives, and I am so thankful for the outpouring of love and support I have observed over the past week. It reminds me of Bruno from Encanto when he said "You're exactly what this family needs." Our Oakridge family has rallied together and I feel so blessed to be a part of this school community. If your child is still struggling, please feel free to reach out to us and we can get you connected to our counselor. We are here to support your family in any way! 

Parent Conferences: Parent Conference Day will be a little different this year. Conferences will be held in the classrooms this year. No classes are scheduled that day, so teachers are available to visit with you. Use this link to schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher through your Oakridge Parent Portal. If no slots are available to meet with a teacher, we are happy to schedule alternative times. The deadline to register for conference times is no later than 3pm on Thursday, October 30th.

Attendance: If your student participates in an extracurricular activity (drum line, sports, fine arts, choir, orchestra, etc) he or she MUST be present in 2 of the 4 academic blocks in order to practice, perform or compete in their activity. This is in our family handbook, and we will be following this policy more closely this school year. 

Office Hours: Students may attend office hours from 8:00-8:30 each day. Teachers are on campus and available. Some teachers prefer an appointment system due to other duties, but if your child is failing a course we highly recommend they start attending office hours. After this week’s grading report, any student failing a course will be required to attend office hours and an academic lunch until the grade is passing. 

Campus Policy: Parents, we ask you to please support us in our security policies. All students and families must have a car tag on their rearview mirror. Deliveries from outside vendors are not allowed, but parents may deliver to the Admissions office or the Upper School office and text their child to pick up delivery as soon as possible. Parents may check into the main office and then proceed to any appointments scheduled on campus. We are a closed campus. This means students may not leave for study hall and return nor may they leave for lunch and return. If they leave campus it must be with prior parental notification. Appointments should be accompanied by a note to return to school as this ensures the absence is excused.

Semester Exam information: Dec. 15 - Normal full school day (A)

• Semester Exams (½ day early dismissal Tue-Fri for US students)
• Dec. 16- 3rd and 6th
• Dec. 17-5th and 1st
• Dec. 18- 7th and 4th 
• Dec. 19- 8th and 2nd 
• Make up exams will take place in January.

Please click here to see the Senior Final Exam Exemption Contract. There are deadlines, attendance and grade expectations, along with conduct expectations.

Due to SPC in November and the large number of students participating in athletic events the Upper School will not have classes on Friday, November 7.
 

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming NCAA College Athletic Placement Workshop on Monday, October 27, 2025. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with “Meet the Coaches”, followed by the main presentation at 6:30 p.m. in the Flavin Fine Arts Performance Hall.

This event will offer valuable insight into the world of collegiate athletics and the recruitment process. You’ll hear directly from a panel of Oakridge alumni who are current collegiate athletes as well as the Director of Compliance from TCU, who will share their perspectives on NCAA eligibility, academic expectations, and the realities of balancing athletics and academics at the college level.

The presentation will also highlight the college admissions process for student-athletes, NCAA academic requirements, and the distinctions between athletic divisions. Whether your student is just beginning to consider college athletics or already engaged in recruitment conversations, this workshop will provide practical information and guidance to help you make informed decisions about the path ahead.

We believe every Oakridge student-athlete has the potential to excel both on and off the field, and we are committed to supporting you throughout this exciting journey.
Please RSVP online. We look forward to seeing you on October 27!

All my best,

Dr. Amy Alsip
Head of Upper School