Matt Burgy, Head of School

August 8, 2025

Dear Oakridge Family,

I hope your summer has been filled with excitement and relaxation! For those of you new to Oakridge, this weekly communication is your “one-stop shop” for all things Oakridge. In addition to my letter, you will see a letter from each Division Head (Early Childhood, Lower, Middle and Upper Schools) and links to important information. As a school that is palpably connected to each other, I want to encourage you to read our Enews in its entirety.

Even with a slightly slower pace, the summer months at The Oakridge School have been incredibly vibrant! Our students and faculty have been busy with engaging summer camps and readiness classes. Behind the scenes, our entire faculty and staff have been immersed in a reading of "Hopes and Fears" by Rob Evans. This insightful book directly addresses the "rising tide of anxiety" many parents feel about their children's success and well-being. It helps us, as educators, to understand the underlying hopes, fears, and pressures that drive behavior, enabling us to approach interactions with greater empathy. Conversely, we encourage parents to read it too, as it can help you recognize how your own natural hopes and fears might inadvertently strain the school-home partnership. Ultimately, the book's goal is to strengthen the relationships between our faculty and staff and you, the parents. By understanding the anxieties and perspectives on both sides, we can become more effective partners in your child's unique journey, fostering a more cohesive and supportive environment for their ultimate success. It's truly about building a collaborative alliance that benefits your child most of all.

In addition to the bustling energy, the summer is also a great time for campus projects to be completed. When you come back to campus, you will see a number of upgrades, the largest being a large-scale renovation of the John Flavin Fine Arts Performance Hall. When you return, you will see a new stage, new curtains, and new rigging for our performances. What you won’t see are major upgrades in our light board and wireless microphones. Additionally, our Multimedia and Entrepreneurship Program, led by Melissa Triebwasser, received new film and video cameras to upgrade our offerings in that signature program. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our families and friends who commit to the Oakridge Fund, and our special Super Supper and Auction donations. On behalf of our team, thank you!

We look forward to seeing you all at our Back-To-School Bash on August 16! 

Warmly,

Matt Burgy

Head of School