Tamika Dees, Head of Middle School

September 15, 2023

Greetings, Middle School Families, 

We are super excited for the change in the seasons and the much cooler temperatures. However, what I love the most about this time is playing four square in the quad, swinging on the tire swings at the playground, and simply watching kids being kids. According to the American Journal of Play, playing is vitally important in adolescents' mental and physical well-being and development. 

In addition to this time of play and exploration, our Lower House, 5th and 6th grade students, have also had an opportunity to experience a cadre of activities in the fine arts. Students have participated in a systematic rotation to include choir, strings, art, and drama. 

In drama, students have been studying improvisation through various card games. Through these games, students have learned about story structure and performance etiquette. During choir, students add to their knowledge of how to solfege the music, create good vowels, and sing in two parts. Finally, students in art are learning about positive and negative spaces and installation art.

Parents can access mid-point grades throughout the school year (approximately every three weeks) 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. 

We are excited to introduce our school counselor, Jennifer Novoselsky. You may see her at morning carpool on Fridays. Follow the link to learn more and complete a brief survey to help Mrs. Novoselsky plan for our families' needs.

Lastly, we are looking forward to expanding our learning beyond the classroom. Please be on the lookout for more information on class trips and off-campus experiential learning opportunities in the coming weeks. 

Warm Regards,
Tamika Dees

Resource Links

• 2023 Oakridge Homecoming Packet 
• 2023-2024 Oakridge Student Handbook