Ashley Read '05, Head of Early Childhood

 

August 23, 2024

Dear Parents,

This week marked the beginning of a remarkable journey for your precious little ones as they embark on their early childhood adventure. With wide-eyed wonder and eager hearts, they stepped into a world of learning, discovery, and growth. It can be scary and overwhelming to join a new school with new friends, new teachers, and new routines. Your children welcomed us with open arms and are adjusting to the new routines. Thank you for choosing us and trusting us with your most prized possessions.

We were so grateful for the wonderful turnout on Parent Information Night. Your support and partnership is imperative to ensure that your child has a successful year. Click here to review the Parent Information Night slides that contain important information such as uniforms, carpool and lunch.

During the first several weeks of school, our teachers focus heavily on routines and procedures. “What do I do in the mornings when I get to school? How do I walk in the hallway? Where is the restroom?” You can help us with some of these routines, too.

• Utilize the carpool line instead of walking your child in daily. This routine helps children practice independence and it keeps your child and our teachers safe. Reminder, do not get out of your car while in carpool line. We will get your child in and out of the car each morning and afternoon.

• If you do walk your child in, please park in a visitor parking spot and utilize the crosswalk. Additionally, in efforts to support independence, we ask that you give your hugs, kisses and goodbyes at the front door and you encourage your child to walk himself/herself into the classroom.

• Students may be dropped off in carpool as early as 7:30 a.m. Between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m., students will be in the Big Room. Teachers pick their students up from the Big Room at 7:50 a.m. Students are tardy at 8:00 a.m. 

• Continue to encourage your child to feed himself/herself during snacks and lunchtime. 

A note from Mrs. Desjardins Cox about After School Programming:
We are excited to announce that registration for our enrichment programs will open on Friday, August 30th. These programs will begin during the second week of September, offering a variety of engaging and educational after-school activities for students. Be sure to mark your calendars and secure a spot for your child as soon as registration becomes available!

A few reminders from previous Friday emails:

Extended Care: Owls’ Nest
We are excited to share that our After School Programming has been brought in house this year and is called, “Owls’ Nest.” Mrs. Marissa Desjardins Cox serves as our Auxiliary Program Coordinator and can be reached at mdesjardins@theoakridgeschool.org. 

Owls’ Nest information: 

• Owls’ Nest siblings: Families with children in different divisions receive no charge for sibling care during the wait period between dismissal times. If children are not picked up within 15 minutes after the eldest child’s dismissal, both children will be charged the daily rate for Extended Care.

  • There is no registration for Owls’ Nest Siblings. Instead, let Mrs. McGee and your child’s teacher know the days your child will attend.

• Owls’ Nest Bus Riders: ECC students who ride the bus will stay in ECC Owls’ Nest care (free of charge) until the bus arrives at the ECC. Once the bus arrives, an Owls’ Nest teacher will walk your child to the bus and ensure he/she is seated safely. You will then meet the bus at the designated pick up point.

• Owls’ Nest Extended Care: available until 5:45 p.m. daily; 15 minute grace period followed by $50 late fee plus $2/minute/sibling.

  • Registration can be found on the parent portal. Email Mrs. Desjardins Cox for more information.

• Owls’ Nest Extended Care is available on Last Friday Early Dismissal days.

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Family Handbook: 

Please note that the updated 2024-2025 Family Handbook is now available. The handbook provides information about topics such as dress code, code of conduct, our school's guidelines for responsible use of technology, as well as division specific content. A digital version of the handbook can be found on the Oakridge Parent Portal or a physical copy is available in each Division.

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.

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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. Earlier this week, Mr. Burgy shared, “We understand that there is a temporary issue regarding our school uniforms. We understand the importance of maintaining our school's dress code, but we also recognize the challenges this shortage may present. Therefore, while we work with Dennis Uniforms to resolve this issue, we are offering flexibility in the dress code for now. If your child is unable to obtain specific uniform items, we ask that you do your best to dress them in attire that closely aligns with The Oakridge School's dress code.” For the ECC this might look like:

• Solid white or light blue polos (NOT navy blue polos - those are reserved for our Seniors)

• Oakridge plaid skirts or dresses

• Solid navy blue knit dresses

• Solid navy blue shorts or pants