Tamika Dees, Head of Middle School

February 7, 2025

 

Greetings, Middle School Families, 

The focus this quarter in Middle School has been on the importance of volunteering and community service. It is a known fact that there are tremendous benefits for adolescents and young adults who engage in service projects, and we encourage our scholars to participate in these meaningful events throughout the year. Additionally, community service enhances positive self-esteem, self-confidence, and respect for others. Research shows that students who participate in community service develop good communication, time management, and decision-making skills.

In Mrs. Roe’s sixth grade math classes, students created math games to teach kindergarten students how to count to 50, skip count, and the names of numbers. The students worked in groups of 3 and researched different types of games for children ages 3-5. Once their games were completed with a set of directions, the students traveled to the Early Childhood Center (ECC) and enjoyed playing their custom-designed games with our kindergarten friends. During this design thinking process, students learned the value of teamwork and collaboration.      

Our fifth grade students also had an opportunity to participate in several service projects as well. One group of students partnered with our preschoolers at the ECC to decorate brown paper bags that will be used to pack meals for the homeless. These students taught our youngest Owls all about the importance of giving back to our community, and that even small acts of kindness can help to change our world. Seeing our fifth graders exhibit patience and kindness while interacting with our preschool students was truly amazing. Both grade levels benefitted from this beautiful interaction!

In addition to traveling to the ECC, other students participated in their own community service projects like decorating placemats for Meals on Wheels, and decorating cards that will be donated to Cook Children’s Hospital. We are so excited to continue developing well-rounded scholars who are destined to make a difference in our community and ultimately our world!
 

Valentine’s Day: 

Friday, February 14, students in Middle School can wear their Oakridge spirit shirt/sweatshirt or they can wear red, pink, and/or white with blue jeans (blue denim only, no other colors), uniform pants, shorts, or skirt. Students will also enjoy a dessert party during lunch provided by our wonderful Parents’ Club. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

MS Parent Teacher Conference Day is Friday, February 28. There will be no classes on this day. Use this link to make an appointment with your child’s teachers through your Oakridge Parent Portal. 

With profound gratitude,

Tamika R. Dees
Head of Middle School

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