Matt Burgy, Head of School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 19, 2024

Dear Oakridge Family,

I had the privilege of traveling with our Choir to New York City this past week, where they had the opportunity to sing in Carnegie Hall. For many of our students and me, it was our first trip to The Big Apple, and what an experience it was! From walking through Central Park to traversing the High Line through Chelsea, we were able to experience the culture of NYC. I was awestruck, however, not by the sights and sounds of Times Square but by the maturity our kids showed and the commitment of our chaperones. Frankly, they were awesome! In watching the many people across the city, I witnessed our students in a way that was outside their natural habitat of Oakridge. They did not disappoint, consistently upholding our values in every interaction. I saw grace, kindness, joy, respect, and intellectual curiosity on display in a way that made me exceptionally proud to lead this wonderful school. Their performance at Carnegie displayed beauty, with angelic sounds reverberating throughout the Hall. In performing with five other schools, our students shone above. To say it was a performance that brought tears to my eyes would be a gross understatement. 

It is easy for us sometimes to forget the fortune we have at Oakridge. Our students are not perfect by any means, nor is the school. But we are indeed a great school, and our students are exceptional. Our faculty, as represented by those who were on our trip, care deeply for our students. To give context, those chaperones not only walked over 60 miles in 4 days across the busy streets of New York City, but they stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, ensuring that our students could soak in as much of the experience as possible. This past trip was just a reminder of how exceedingly fortunate we are to have the strong, challenging, and nurturing community we share.

Warmly,

Matt Burgy
Head of School