Ashley Read '05, Head of Early Childhood

 

August 9, 2024

Dear Parents,

On behalf of the entire Early Childhood Faculty and Staff, I warmly welcome you and your families. We are thrilled to have you as part of our early childhood community and look forward to seeing you at the Back-to-School Bash on August 17.

This year, our theme in the ECC is "Learn by doing. Grow by exploring." We believe that children learn best when they are actively engaged in hands-on, experiential activities. We believe that children must be given opportunities to take risks and fail forward. We believe that through play, children are given the freedom to stay curious and explore. Our daily schedules are designed to provide your child with opportunities to explore their interests, develop their skills, and build a strong foundation for future learning. Most importantly, our daily schedule is built to give students the chance to have fun and enjoy learning.

Although it is always nice to have a summer break, the teachers and I are excited to start the 2024 - 2025 school year on Wednesday, August 21. Don't forget to join us on Saturday, August 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m. for our Meet and Great and Back-to-School Bash. From 9:00 - 9:45 a.m., students will spend time visiting their classrooms and meeting their teachers and classmates. Parents, this is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with other Oakridge families. At 9:45 a.m., families and teachers will travel to the Quad on the main campus for the bash. 
 

Additionally, we hope to see as many of you as possible at the Parent Information Night (parents only, please) on Monday, August 19 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the ECC. You will have the opportunity to learn about carpool routines, curriculum goals, and other pertinent information to make sure the school year runs smoothly. 

It is with great pleasure to share that Stacy Johnson has re-joined our ECC Family. Stacy, mom to three incredible boys, will serve as the Preschool Aide to Mrs. Buckalew. Mrs. Johnson is not a new face around Oakridge. Previously, she served as a Preschool Aide for 3 years and was a substitute teacher for 7 years. A fun fact about Mrs. Johnson is that she choreographed and served as the Assistant Director during the halftime production at the Alamo Bowl and opening number to the Adolphus Children’s Christmas Parade. We are beyond honored to have Mrs. Johnson as part of our ECC teaching staff.

ECC FAQs:

What is the parent portal and how do I access it?

We are excited to announce that we have transitioned to a new, more streamlined parent portal system. The parent portal will gain you access to:

• All school calendar

• All messages sent from the school

• Magnus Health 

• Your Middle and Upper School student’s daily schedule

• Faculty, Staff and Student Directory

• Billing and statements

To ensure a smooth experience, please take note of the following important changes:

Returning families: Please remove any existing bookmarks to My Backpack and Magnus Health. My Backpack is no longer in use, and the way to access Magnus Health has changed.

All families: You can now access Magnus Health directly through our school website. Simply navigate to www.theoakridgeschool.org, click on the "My Oakridge" button in the top right-hand corner, sign in with your credentials, and then click on the orange Magnus Health button on the left side of the screen. There is no longer a need to log in to Magnus Health separately.

We believe this new system will provide a more convenient and user-friendly experience for our families. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at technology@theoakridgeschool.org.

When will we find out which class our child is in for this coming school year?

On Wednesday afternoon, August 14, an email will be sent to you from your child’s teacher. We know that you are very much looking forward to receiving this email! In the event that you do not receive an email, please contact the ECC on August 15. 

What school supplies do I need to purchase for my Preschool, Pre-K or Kindergarten child?

Other than a full-sized backpack, lunchbox and a sports water bottle, Oakridge provides all school supplies for Preschool - Kindergarten students. *Preschool students will also need to send a nap-mat. 

What are the daily school hours?

• Preschool and Pre-K: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Kindergarten: 8:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

• Students may arrive as early as 7:30 a.m.

• After-school care program details will be available soon. 

Do I need to send a sack lunch daily, or is there an option to order a hot lunch?

Students are welcome to bring lunches from home each day. Food4Life provides hot lunches daily to families that would like to go that route. You have the option to choose which days you would like for your child to receive a hot lunch.

Do ECC students wear uniforms?

All ECC students are required to wear Oakridge uniforms along with tennis shoes (no boots or light up shoes). You can purchase your uniforms from Dennis Uniform. If your child prefers “dri-fit” clothing, there is now a “poly-wicking” option at Dennis. You will also find gently used uniforms at the Uniform Resale held on August 17 during our Oakridge Back-to-School Bash. 
 

Save-the-Date:

• August 17 - Oakridge Back-to-School Bash and ECC Meet the Teacher - great fun for the whole family! 

• August 19 - ECC Parent Information Night, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the ECC - Parents only, please.

• August 21 - First day of school and Cheers and Tears - our welcome back social event for parents (more information to come).

Be sure to soak in the remaining days of summer - maybe in the air conditioning though. 

ECC Contact Information:
Ashley Read, Head of Early Childhood
817.451.4994  ext. 3527
aread@theoakridgeschool.org

Brittanie McGee, Administrative Assistant
817.451.4994 ext. 2715
bmcgee@theoakridgeschool.org

Warm regards,

Ashley Read, Oakridge Class of 2005
Head of Early Childhood