Tamika Dees, Head of Middle School

Greetings Middle School Families,

The month of May in Middle School has been filled with so much fun and excitement. Our students have enjoyed performing on stage, experimenting with robots, and end-of-year celebrations.

The 8th graders savored their final days of middle school with an awards ceremony and lunch at J. Gilligan’s. The students enjoyed their time reminiscing and laughing about precious memories shared over the last past three years. That afternoon our scholars had a blast plunging down a huge waterslide while cooling off with a Daesy’s snowcone. 

The Fifth and Sixth Grade Musical Theatre cast performed their final show of the year, “Finding Nemo”. This show was filled with magnificent singing, superb acting, and a tremendous display of how much these middle school scholars have grown as thespians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 5th and 6th grade science students have been exploring the topics of artificial intelligence and robotics the last few weeks.  Lower house middle school scholars are using the Edison Microbrick V3 Robots, in conjunction with block coding platforms, in order to write programs for their machines.  These amazing robots are Lego compatible, and can easily be converted to tackle different jobs, such as functioning as a bulldozer, crane, ink printer, etc.  

The codes are directly downloaded from the iPad screen to the robot, making it a very simple process.  The robots follow the students’ coded command sequences to complete assigned tasks.  One of these tasks includes bot battles in SUMO mode in which the robots try to knock pieces off each other, and try to push one another out of the “Circle of Champions”.  Another task was to have a pair of robots sing a duet together from music the students downloaded from their strings booklets.  Some robots were also coded to display LED light shows. 

Finally, the students designed and built obstacle courses for their robots to navigate with the help of written code.  The 5th graders used EdBlocks, a simpler block coding program, while the 6th graders tackled EdScratch, which is a more complicated digital language platform.  The experience has been both challenging and fun for all!

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

 

• Owls’ Nest will be available Tuesday-Thursday from early dismissal until 5:45 PM
• Students staying for Owls’ Nest will need to bring a lunch
• Tuesday-Thursday there will be two bus departures: 12:15 PM and 3:50 PM
• Friday is a half day for all students, and there will not be Owls’ Nest that afternoon

Please use this link to register for Exam Week Owls Nest:

Exam Week Owls’ Nest Registration Form

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

Tamika Dees
Head of Middle School