The official dedication of the new Oxford High School will take place this Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. The dedication for the new Oxford Middle School will take place the following week on Wednesday, Sept. 29, also at 6 p.m. All members of the Oxford Schools community are invited to attend and tour these outstanding new buildings for themselves.
School officials and administrators will participate in the dedications along with TMP Architecture and Skanska USA Building, Inc. The marching band and high school choir will provide entertainment at the high school dedication, while the Thunder Drummers will perform at the middle school ceremony.
The new comprehensive high school, located at 745 N. Oxford Rd., will provide student interests, aptitudes and support high levels of achievement for many years to come. With a total of 365,350 square feet, the new building contains 34 new classrooms (of which 13 are state-of-the-art science rooms), a new gymnasium, new art and music rooms, new technology, a remodeled cafeteria and kitchen, and room for future growth. A vastly enlarged parking are features two separate entrances and exits off N. Oxford Rd. A separate drop off circle and buses-only drive further alleviate congestion at the site.
Construction on the natatorium and performing arts center is moving along as planned, and will be ready for student use second semester.
The new middle school is fresh and bright with new lighting, new lockers, new carpeting and splashes of color everywhere. Classrooms are painted and have new cabinets and furniture. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade classrooms are located in separate areas of the building, reducing distances for students to travel between classes and providing for a middle school teamed-instruction approach.
In the commons area, new flooring was installed and the field house courts were relined and refinished to meet middle school requirements. The media center has a new attached computer lab, new circulation desk and new, lower shelves to improve supervision, checkout time and general media center use.
One area, the large group instruction room, is still under construction as was expected. This space will allow for several classes to meet together and is set to be finished in October.