This Friday we end what has been an extraordinary school year. It was a year that began with great excitement and then challenged all of us to face adversity and work together to overcome the pandemic facing us. I would like to commend our teachers, staff, and most especially, our students and parents for a remarkable job seamlessly transitioning to online learning. While on campus and online, we have maintained our focus on delivering a superb education to prepare students to meet the world boldly.
Over the last two weeks, we celebrated our 121 seniors who have gracefully faced unprecedented obstacles during what should have been a time for them to reminisce about their high school escapades and accomplishments. We sent senior celebration boxes to each student, hosted a senior car parade on campus, and a virtual senior awards ceremony to recognize these amazing students. We look forward to honoring them with an in-person commencement ceremony once it is safe to do so. We wish them all the best as they prepare to start a new chapter in their lives. Congratulations to our Class of 2020!
To all our students and families, thank you for a memorable year! Up until the pandemic, we gathered for so many great events: our annual fall festival, homecoming, epic student assemblies, winning athletic events, concerts, shows, the madrigal dinner, and so much more. Visit our photo gallery
HERE
for a look back on our 2019-2020 school year.
As this year winds down, we are diligently planning for the start of our 2020-2021 year, during which we will celebrate our ten-year anniversary. In early May we informed you of the task force working on our return plans for August.
This cross-functional group has expertise in all areas: academics, athletics, facilities and sanitation, IT, health and safety, and student life and support, among others. Their planning process is informed by data and guidelines from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health, emerging solutions from the secondary and post-secondary education sectors, relevant other sectors, and careful analysis of the Oxbridge community's unique needs.
We know how important it is for students to have the in-person, on-campus interactions with their teachers and friends, which makes the high school experience so special and memorable. With this in mind our intention is a return to campus on August 24.
However, just as our daily lives have changed dramatically, so will campus life be different for students, faculty, and staff when we return in the fall. With COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions changing frequently, our plan to reopen is evolving, and it will be several more weeks before we are prepared to communicate how we will reopen our campus. What will not change is what makes an Oxbridge education so unique and valuable: our expert, passionate faculty, our unique programs, opportunities for students to develop meaningful relationships, our culture of kindness, and our commitment to inspire students to be life-long learners.
It is our intention to be fully transparent with you and provide as much information as possible about what changes will need to be implemented on campus to satisfy our own high standards of health and safety as well as those mandated by federal, state, and local officials. We recognize the uncertainty many of you are feeling in many aspects of life - from health and safety to personal financial worries in today's unclear economy. We welcome you to share your thoughts and concerns with us. In the coming weeks, once we share our final plan to return to campus, we will host a virtual 'town hall' meeting to give us an opportunity to address any questions you may have. More information will be forthcoming about our return to campus and our town hall meeting.
Our founder Bill Koch reminded me of a good life lesson when he spoke to our graduating seniors during our annual Senior Awards Ceremony last week. He said: "We face a lot of troubles in life, but we all have to overcome them, and when you do that, it makes you stronger." I echo this sentiment and wholeheartedly believe that we will get through this together and come out stronger.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support through this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Ralph E. Maurer, Ph.D.
Head of School
Oxbridge Academy
