Tamika Dees, Head of Middle School

January 26, 2024

Greetings, Middle School Families,

As we are gearing up for the Spring semester in Middle School, we are super excited about all of the wonderful opportunities that have been afforded to our students. Our students in Mrs. Jewett’s art classes are hard at work creating one-of-a-kind shoe designs, with the hopes that their masterpiece will be selected to be showcased on a pair of Nikes. 

This transformative art project aimed to immerse middle school students in a vibrant exploration of contemporary artistic expression by customizing virtual Air Force 1 shoes using Procreate. Beyond the acquisition of digital art skills, the purpose of the project was to instill a profound appreciation for individuality, creativity, and the power of art as a conduit for personal and societal narratives. The anonymous designs were submitted to a panel of judges, with the chosen pieces gaining the spotlight at an exclusive gala auction, symbolizing the intersection of art, technology, and community engagement.

Finally, our future scientists and engineers had an opportunity to showcase their talent in the 2024 STEM Showcase. Students in Lower and Middle School submitted their Showcase ideas in the fall, and today we celebrated these students as they shared the completion of their projects.  We are grateful for all of the Oakridge students who have a passion for science and who participated in this year’s showcase. We were delighted to provide a platform for our students that allowed them the opportunity to share their curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

The 2024 - 2025 re-enrollment season is upon us. Last week, you should have received an email inviting you to re-enroll your child(ren) for the upcoming school year. Please be sure to complete the re-enrollment process as quickly as possible as we will be offering enrollment to potential new families in the coming weeks. Should you need any re-enrollment assistance, you can email our technology team at reenrollment@theoakridgeschool.org. 

Also, don’t forget if you have a child who loves the art of public speaking, we have the perfect opportunity for them as well. The DEIB Faculty/Staff Committee proudly presents the first annual Oratory Showcase. Students can express themselves through speech, poem, song, or prose on the themes of community, culture, and celebration. Applications are now being accepted and the deadline has been extended until February 2. Don't let your child miss their chance to take the stage and claim the spotlight! Your student can use these links to the application and watch an informational video.  

Parents can access 3.1 Progress Report grades via MyBackpack. These checkpoints give a glimpse of your child's progress in each course. Teachers may also leave notes and updates, which can be viewed by clicking the magnifying glass icon. 

Save the Date: Middle School will have Parent Conferences on Friday, February 16. This day is set aside for conferences only, there will be no classes. You will receive an email next week with information on how to sign up for a conference with your child’s teachers. 

With profound gratitude, 

Tamika

January Food4Life Menu 

February Food4Life Menu