Matt Burgy, Head of School
August 11, 2023
Dear Oakridge Family,
I hope your summer has been filled with excitement and relaxation! For those new to Oakridge, this weekly communication is your “one-stop shop” for all things Oakridge. In addition to my letter, you will see a letter from each Division Head (ECC, Lower, Middle, and Upper) and links to important information. Even if you don’t have a child in a particular division, I would encourage you to read the letter in its entirety.
While the pace has been slower, the summer months are a vibrant time at the Oakridge School. Summer camps and readiness classes have kept our students and faculty busy. In addition to the bustling energy, the summer is also a great time for campus projects to be completed. When you return to campus, you will see several renovated spaces, such as a new Engineering Your World space on the second floor of the library, an updated SAC space with a new gym floor, cafeteria tables, and updated painting throughout. If you’ve been on campus lately, you’ve probably seen the small slab being poured for a new Guard Booth at our main entrance. We are grateful to the OPC for generously giving to this enhancement of our campus security! Soon, you will see that project come to fruition, where our security team will closely monitor campus traffic and limit access to campus from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with a closed gate. You will receive a car tag that will signify that you are an Oakridge Family that must be displayed on your mirror to bypass our Guard Booth during those hours. Finally, thank you for the generous assistance from OPC, along with a grant from Wingstop, for the new Gaga Pit that will be installed in the coming weeks at the playground for all students to enjoy.
In addition to our many enhancements to the campus, we also have a couple of changes to our staff. I am excited that April Benjamin has transitioned into our Admission office, now serving as our Assistant Director of Admission for Community, Inclusion, and Belonging. Additionally, Michelle Emmert, will join our Admission and Development team as our new Advancement Associate. Please join me in congratulating both April and Michelle on their new roles!
Our Strategic Plan calls on us to attend to the social emotional well-being of our entire community. With this in mind, I’m excited to announce two new additions to serve our community. Brent Pfaff is joining us as our new Learning Support Coordinator. We are very fortunate to have Brent, who has spent a career serving in Arlington ISD, most recently at Arlington High School as Assistant Principal. I’m also excited to introduce our new counselor, Jennifer Novoselsky. Jennifer has extensive counseling experience in both the school environment and private practice, working with a wide range of students. Brent and Jennifer are amazing additions to our team, and I’m excited to have them become a part of the Oakridge Family.
We look forward to seeing you all at our Back-To-School Bash on August 19!
Warmly,
Matt Burgy
Head of School
