Tamika Dees, Head of Middle School

Greetings Middle School Families,

This past Saturday, a group of Oakridge students and their families traveled to San Marcos, TX to compete in the PSIA State Academic Contest. Each of these students earned the opportunity to compete at the state level by placing first or second at the district meet in February. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and willingness to challenge themselves among the best academic competitors in the state.

We would like to extend a special congratulations to four of our students who earned medals at the state meet: Max Francis – 1st place, Calculator Applications; Olivia Galipp – 5th place, On-site Drawing; Leighton Meitl – 4th place, Art Memory; and Tj Olorunyomi – 6th place, Mathematics

We also want to recognize all of the Oakridge students who qualified for and represented Oakridge at the state competition: Advik Arvind, Christian Blacketer, Misha Farda, Amaar Jiwani, Madison Johnson, Dara Olusanya, Atharv Saxena, Liam Scheibel, Mantaaj Sandhu, Andrew Van Buren, Rachel Van Buren, and Noah Yakub. 

Congratulations to all of these students for representing Oakridge so well. We are proud of your accomplishments and grateful for the support of the families who helped make this opportunity possible.

The eighth grade Advanced Writing students delivered their final presentations this week. Students have spent the semester learning about a topic of their choosing: topics were as diverse as pop music to sports psychology to electric cars. Throughout the semester, we worked through the research process from initial topic selection and database usage to MLA citation format and creating annotated bibliographies. The semester culminated in students delivering 5-7 minute TED Talk-style presentations to an audience of families and parents. We are so proud of our students for showcasing their expertise and their public speaking skills! 

Progress Reports

Progress Report 4.2 is now available on the MyOakridge portal.

Spring Exam Schedule

Date	Time	Period
Tuesday, May 19	8:30 - 10:00	A1
Tuesday, May 19	10:30 - 12:00	A2
Wednesday, May 20	8:30 - 10:00	B6
Wednesday, May 20	10:30 - 12:00	B7
Thursday, May 21	8:30 - 10:00	A4
Thursday, May 21	10:30 - 12:00	A5
Friday, May 22	8:30 - 10:00	B9
Friday, May 22	10:30 - 12:00	B10

 

Drumline Try-outs

Auditions for the 2026-2027 Drumline are May 12th and 14th. Tuesday, May 12th is an informational meeting and clinic with current Drumline members where you will go over audition material. Thursday, May 14th is the audition. Both sessions start at 2:45 for current 8th graders and last until 3:45 . For current Upper School students both days start at 3:20 and last until 4:30. Any interested 8th, 9th, or 10th graders should plan to attend both days (it is okay to miss your afternoon athletics).  Come be a part of the loudest spirit group on campus and have a lot of fun at the same time! Drumline counts as a Fall Athletic credit. No music background is required (but it is helpful). 

Please see Mr. Stewart if you have any questions.
 

iPad and Charger Collection

As we wrap up the school year, it is almost time to collect all school-issued devices. To ensure a smooth transition and help you avoid unnecessary costs, please note the following return details for all Middle School students:

• Collection Dates: Devices will be collected in class after your student’s last exam during the week of May 18th.
• What to Return: The school-issued iPad and the original Apple USB-C charger set. (Families may keep the iPad cases.)
• Missed Collection: If your child is absent, please return the device to the Technology Help Desk or the Front Office no later than Friday, May 30th.

Replacement Fees

To maintain our program, we require the return of genuine Apple equipment. Please be aware of the following fees for missing or damaged items:

Item	Replacement Fee
iPad (Full Device)	$438
Apple 240W USB-C Charge Cable (2m)	$30
Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter	$20

 

Note: We will inspect all devices upon return. If a device is damaged or a non-Apple charger is provided, the respective fee(s) above will be applied to your account.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us get these items back on time. Please reach out to Katy Hoffer, khoffer@theoakridgeschool.org, 817.563. 9725, with any questions. 

Summer at the Ridge 2026

Registration for Summer at The Ridge 2026 is now open! Get ready for a summer packed with exciting camps, creative projects, outdoor fun, and unforgettable adventures. Register now to secure your spot!

Oakridge Summer Reading Program

The Oakridge Summer Reading Initiative this year will be implemented through an incentive program called "Bespoke Summer Book Bags." This program is designed as a personalized concierge service available to readers in all school divisions.

• Program Details:  Book Bag Distribution: Check out personalized book bags to students and families in May.
• Golden Ticket Raffle: Each participating student will find a Golden Ticket inside their bag. To activate the ticket for raffles, the student must submit a "One Sentence Review" or a drawing depicting an event from one of their books.

• July Library Events: The library will be open for one week in July, hosting  book art, storytime, special guests, a pop-up library cafe, and games. Students can exchange their books at this time.
• August Raffle: This will be the first week of school. 

“According to Common Sense Media, children aged 8-12 spend an average of 4-6 hours per day on screens, while teenagers spend up to 9 hours. In contrast, the time spent reading books has steadily declined, with many children dedicating less than 30 minutes a day to reading.”

Litchfield, Joanna. "The Impact of Screen Time on Children’s Reading Habits." MamaBear Books Blog, 19 Mar. 2025. 

The Bespoke program is designed to reconnect students with the joy of immersive reading—the ultimate antidote to digital fatigue.

 Email pdewinter@theoakridgeschool.org to schedule a time to choose books or use this link to order a book bag: 

Summer Book Bags: Order Here

Finally, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity as we celebrated our middle school faculty during Teacher Appreciation Week. We are grateful for every treat, lunch, and token of appreciation and most of all for the families that make Oakridge a special place for all.

 

Tamika Dees
Head of Middle School