We are the future!

“Our future economy depends on the depth and strength of the education we provide today." -Dr. William Skilling, Superintendent, APRIL 2009

A world-class education from Oxford assures graduates will emerge as selfless, global leaders, ready for competition on the world stage. The district is pleased to welcome new students and families to Oxford Community Schools, where the globe is our campus!

Can you imagine?

• Your five-year-old playing the violin or guitar?

• Middle school students inventing and designing toys?

• Having a multi-lingual child in 8th grade?

• A school and community that continues to invest in education, in these financial times?

What if?

• Your child could study abroad without ever leaving home?

• There were affordable ways for your child to participate in athletics and fine arts?

• Students could start earning high school credits as early as 6th grade?

• There were a place for ALL students to thrive and realize their full potential?

We envision a better world…

One of Michigan’s most innovative school districts is in a small town in northern Oakland County. Oxford Community Schools is ahead of the curve in terms of preparing students to compete globally. With a vision that pushes them to break conventional wisdom and embrace change, the past three years has seen Oxford Community Schools increase enrollment, add student programs and staff, and build on global initiatives. While others are looking to cut programs, Oxford is experiencing unprecedented growth and development.

And we are creating it!

How does Oxford continue to grow and add opportunities for its students? By thinking differently and modifying its core curriculum with international realism. Here are some of the ways Oxford re-imagines education and how it is becoming a model global school district:

• The Fifth Core™ world language program assures students are fluent in Spanish or Chinese by 8th grade. It is imperative students not only learn a world language, but have the skills to acquire additional fluency in other world languages on demand. An understanding of world cultures prepares students to work and socialize effectively in other countries.

• Oxford brings the “global workplace setting” into each classroom in the form of international collaboration, dialogue or exchange and/or workplace simulations. A global, project-based learning experience is a graduation requirement for all children.

• The Music Maestros program is designed to increase musicianship, linguistic skills, creativity, right-brained skills, and academic performance. The kindergarten Suzuki Stringers class is a successful by-product of this program.

• All of the schools in Oxford are going through the International Baccalaureate accreditation process at the same time. Once accreditation is achieved, the International Baccalaureate World School programmes will help students develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

• Students are preparing for jobs of the future with a mandatory pre-engineering program in 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Ahead of the curve…

A world of constant, instant information exchange demands that schools find ways to keep students actively engaged in relevant learning. Oxford is a model for the kind of unconventional, creative thinking it takes to immerse students in the most innovative 21st century learning. Some of the unique programs under development include:

• The Virtual Online Academy will provide students with the flexibility to take classes year-round, 24/7. Oxford is creating true interactive environments and will offer the first virtual student foreign exchange program in the world!

• The residential student foreign exchange program will offer students an enriching American experience while exposing Oxford classmates to different cultures.

• Credit recovery and drop-in tutoring classes at the high school will help those students who are behind earn the credits they need to graduate.

• Crossing Bridges, an alternative high school program, reinforces the foundational skills required for graduation and develops vocational skills via Universal Design for Learning. Oxford offers the Crossing Bridges Alternative Education as a Schools of Choice option.

With a network of friends…

• Technology is a vital component to the global perspective, and Oxford is building alliances with the most prominent firms worldwide to acquire the leading-edge tools required for today’s interactive classrooms.

• The district is a member of Automation Alley, Michigan's largest technology business association, driving growth and innovation to eight counties. Membership in Automation Alley provides Oxford with a network of experts and mentors that can help the district in its quest for the global fluency of all students.

• Oxford students can take part in accelerated learning and earn college credits through an established partnership with Oakland Community College.

“What I know by observation is that no one is near Oxford in terms of a global focus that prepares kids for a global economy and a global world. They are really leading the pack.” Michael Flanagan, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michigan Department of Education, OCTOBER 2009