Dear Oxford Families,
It is wonderful to see and feel the excitement and energy of our students and staff back on school campuses again. Thank you to everyone for a successful start to the 2023-24 school year! It is a true honor to work with this team of dedicated educators, support staff, school board members and, especially all of you, our parents and caregivers, as we work on behalf of our students, their learning and wellbeing.
In the year ahead, I look forward to continuing the important work of moving this district forward in its recovery plan as we continue to address mental health, social emotional learning, safety and security, community outreach, and staff wellness and retention. The district has already accomplished significant enhancements in these areas and the updated plan will move us to the next level.
I recognize partnerships with families are integral to the success of our students and the district as a whole. I remain committed to actively engaging with you, listening to your insights and concerns, and ensuring your voices are heard and valued. Thank you all who participated in the surveys we sent out this year – we have used your feedback as we developed our action plans for this year at both building and district levels. We are organizing further opportunities for us to connect face-to-face to share ideas and discuss the future of our district. Community Coffees with our Board of Education will be scheduled monthly so watch for communications about these. We will also connect with our broader community through Key Communicator groups. Look for more information in the coming month on these events.
I deeply appreciate and value the role you play in your children’s education. I urge you to stay involved each year of their school career to ensure the greatest success possible. One of the most vital aspects of their learning is being present in school. We are focusing on improving student attendance this year because student attendance is crucial to learning outcomes. We are committed to partnering with you to support your child in their needs to be present so they may become their best learner.
The Oxford community is a special place where families, staff, and community partners care deeply about one another. In September, we will be launching Parent University together with our staff and community partners to offer parent workshops on various topics of interest such as cyber safety, parenting strategies, education on bullying, helpful reading and math strategies and much more. If you have suggestions for topics to add, please let your principal or me know.
Along with raising the bar for student learning, our top priority remains ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and all who visit our campuses. I would like to personally thank you as it genuinely takes all of us working together to keep our schools safe. As you have already been notified we are adding another layer of security, Drift Net, to all of our buildings and campuses. This is going to provide surveillance for weapons and potentially dangerous events 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This was a Guidepost recommendation and we were fortunate to find technology that meets it.
I’m excited about the journey ahead and thank you for entrusting me to serve as your superintendent. This community continues to amaze me. It has enriched my life and I am grateful to be a part of it. I look forward to enjoying my first football game with many of you in Wildcat Stadium this evening. Go, Wildcats!
Sincerely,
Dr. Vickie Markavitch
Superintendent
Oxford Community Schools