Matt Burgy, Head of School

August 16, 2024

Dear Oakridge Family,

This week, our full faculty and staff returned to campus for what we call “Pre-Planning,”  We have spent the week preparing for the school year, becoming ingrained in new policies and procedures, implementing new safety measures, and inculcating 15 new Faculty and Staff members to the Oakridge Family. It has been a whirlwind of events, and we’re getting ready to have everyone back on campus soon! Our updated Family Handbook is also now available on the portal. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures. 

As we stand on the cusp of a new academic year, we find ourselves entrusted with a profound responsibility—guiding the next generation through a world that feels more uncertain and anxious than ever. Jonathan Haidt, in his thought-provoking work, The Anxious Generation, reminds us of the unique challenges our students face today. They are navigating a world where pressures, both external and internal, have multiplied, and where the very fabric of their mental and emotional well-being is often stretched thin. We are not just witnesses to this reality; we are participants in it. And this participation calls us to be more than just teachers and parents. It calls us to be guides, mentors, and, most importantly, beacons of resilience. We are the lighthouses in our children’s lives, serving as a steady guide of where home port must be. It calls us to be a united partnership centered on the values that we share. Those common values can be found in our mission, and it guides every decision we make at Oakridge- we inspire our students to seek their full potential in academics, the arts ,and athletics in a challenging and nurturing environment that cultivates social responsibility, personal integrity and mutual respect. This task can seem daunting, but it is also a profound opportunity. By fostering these values in our students, we can help them not only cope with the challenges of growing up in an ever-changing world, but also transform them. We can partner to make our learning environment that is not only just about academic success but about holistic growth.

I look forward to a new year of promising adventures, and our dedication and commitment to one another! Looking forward to seeing you all at the Back-To-School Bash!

Welcome Back!

Matt Burgy
Head of School