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Start of the Year Information
Important Regulatory Information - Meds, Allergies, Absences, Independent Study
Communications at Oxford
PTA - Communications, Events, Volunteering, and more
Mission, Curriculum, and History @ Oxford
But first. . . who are the Otters?
Oxford is a small, diverse school located on University Avenue, right next to the BUSD offices. Approximately 270 students attend Oxford, from kindergarten through fifth grade. We have twelve classrooms, two classes at each grade level. The small size of the school, combined with the excellent staff, and the strong support of our families, makes Oxford a wonderful community.
Start of the Year Information​
When do we find out teacher assignments?
Classes will be posted on Tuesday, August 11th at 5 p.m. here which will be password protected (the password will be provided by the school). A paper copy will also be posted on the office windows on University Avenue.
Class assignments are determined very carefully by a team including the previous year’s teachers, literacy and math coaches, Special Education case managers, and counselors. Class placements are final.
Kinder students will be assigned to two randomized groups. After meeting the students and assessing where they are at, teachers make two balanced classes. The random groups will be announced at the Kinder Lemonade and final classes will be announced by email on Friday, August 14th at 5 p.m.
How do I sign my child up for the bus?
If you are eligible, and want to sign up your child to take the bus to school, please contact Transportation via email, transportation@berkeley.net or at 510-644-6182. For more information about bus eligibility, please click here.
Can I visit Oxford before school starts on August 12th?
Please come to the Kinder and New Student Lemonade on Monday, August 10th from 4 - 6 p.m. This is an Oxford tradition that allows Kinders and new families to connect with their Oxford community. The playground will be open to allow students to play. The principal, PTA, and kindergarten teachers will be present to meet the children, provide tours, and answer questions!
When does school start?
The first day will be Wednesday, August 12. The school day begins at 8 a.m. for all grades. Gates open and yard supervision begins at 7:50 am.
Where do we drop off / pick up?
K – 2nd students are dropped off at the Yellow Gate (Addison Street). There are places to park near school when dropping off students, including the corner of Bonar and Addison and along Browning Street. It is a residential area, so please allow yourself time and drive safely and respectfully. Do not park in the bus lane on Addison.
3rd – 5th grade students are dropped off at the Black Gate (Curtis Street). Parking on University and walking students down the block is the best option as meters do not start until 9 a.m. Older students can also be dropped off without parking. There is a crossing guard on Curtis Street to help students cross University and an Oxford employee at the gate. Do not make U turns on Curtis as it is unsafe.
Pick-up locations at the end of the day are the same, except for students riding the bus (bus pick up is on Addison Street).
If you have children in multiple grades, we recommend using the Yellow Gate (Addison Street).
What time does school end?
Kindergarten ends at 1:20 p.m. every day.
1st – 5th grades end at 2:10 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and at 1:20 p.m. on Wednesdays.
If students are not picked up within 10 minutes of dismissal, they will be waiting in the office for pick-up. If parents are going to be late, please call the main office 510-644-6300 to notify Kaitlin so that we can inform your child and avoid distress.
What does my child need to bring to school?
Students should bring a backpack to school every day throughout the school year. They do not need school supplies as common supplies are shared in the classroom (thank you, PTA!). All students should bring a labeled water bottle and either plan to eat school lunch or pack a lunch from home.
On sunny days, be sure to put sunscreen on at home as recess is early in the day. A hat is also recommended.
Parents of younger students should make a ziplock bag with a change of underwear and bottoms. Even potty trained students get lost in fun activities and have an occasional accident.
Be sure to label all of your child’s personal items. The Lost & Found fills up quickly and we periodically donate unclaimed/unlabeled items.
What should we leave at home?
All toys, money, and valuables should be left at home. Toys can be very distracting and interfere with student learning. They can also cause extreme heartbreak when lost or broken.
Per district policy: candy and soda are not permitted at school.
No student at Oxford requires a phone or a watch (even if they say they do!). Personal devices are incredibly distracting in a learning environment. Per district policy, smart watches and cell phones must be turned off and in the student’s backpack for the entirety of the school day. If your student is found using one of these devices, it will be confiscated and held for parent pickup. In an emergency, you can reach your child through the front office.
How does school breakfast and lunch work?
BUSD Nutrition Services serves all students a free breakfast every day.
School lunch is available free of charge to all students. Students are also welcome to bring their own lunch. If your child has food allergies or restrictions, fill out this form and return it to the main office.
BUSD has an up-to-date lunch calendar with all of the nutrition information and allergens listed here.
It is extremely important that all families, regardless of household income, fill out a lunch application because this is how our school receives vital Title 1 and LCAP funding. Go to ezmealapp.com and complete the form.
When is Back-to-School Night?
All BUSD elementary school Back-to-School Nights are on Thursday, August 27th. Additional details will be in the first school newsletter.
How do I find out about the after-school program, LEARNS?
We have one after-school program onsite at Oxford called LEARNS. While the Oxford staff does not run this program, we work closely with the LEARNS team to create a cohesive school experience. If you are interested in having your child attend the onsite after school program, registration is done online here. Upon registration you will be placed on a waitlist. Please note that spaces are limited, and signing up does not guarantee enrollment. Students are moved from the waitlist to enrollment upon processing the application and you will receive an email letting you know that your child is enrolled.
The first day of LEARNS is Wednesday, August 12. The end time for LEARNS is 5:30 p.m. If you have any questions, contact LaTasha Mitchell @ latashamitchell@berkeley.net
Important Policy Information
What do I do if my child is absent?
Please email oxfordattendance@berkeley.net on the morning of the absence. Please include:
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Student name
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Teacher name
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Date of absence
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Specific reason for absence
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Name of parent/guardian verifying the absence
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If you have a doctor’s note, attach it to the email
If you forget to do this, you will get an automated call from BUSD regarding your child’s absence. You have three days to clear the absence. We prefer emails for record keeping purposes. However, you may also call in absences by calling the front office (510) 644-6300.
Independent Study Contracts:
If a student is to be absent for five or more days, their caregivers may request an independent study. In order to be eligible, you must complete the independent study form at least one week prior to the absence. All forms must be submitted to Beth Cornwell, the teacher, and Oxford Attendance (oxfordattendance@berkeley.net). The teacher will then provide a homework packet with a log to be completed by the student. When the student returns to school the teacher signs off on the completion of the homework packet and returns the packet and signed log to Kaitlin for filing. Upon receiving the completed work, Kaitlin will update the student’s attendance record to “excused.”
What if my child arrives late and/or needs to leave early?
If your child arrives late to school, they must first check in at the office and get a tardy slip before going to class. To have the tardy listed as excused, we need a note regarding the reason for the late arrival. If your child needs to leave school early, please call the office to let us know. The Curtis Street gate is locked at 8 a.m. Late arrivals can enter through the Yellow Gate (Addison Street) or the 1222 University Avenue entrance. (Students can be buzzed in via those two entry points.) The University entrance is the best place to pick up early or drop off forgotten items.
Please note, if someone who is not listed on your child’s Campus Account is picking up or visiting a student, their caregiver must provide a written notification informing both the classroom teacher and the front office. Kaitlin will ID the adult before releasing the student.
My child has severe allergies? What should I do?
Contact the school office and your teacher letting them know. As soon as possible, provide both the office and the teacher with a medically guided action plan. You can find the forms below:
My child needs to take medicine at school. What should I do?
Oxford must have a signed copy of the Medical Authorization Form before we can administer medicine to students. You can find the form here.
Communication at Oxford
How do I get a message to my child in an emergency?
While we ask that afterschool plans and other routine communications be decided before the school day begins, we recognize that emergencies arise. If you have an emergency and need to get a message to your child, please call the front desk at 510-644-6300. The front office will deliver the message, and/or get your child to call you back from our phone line. DO NOT text your child during the day. Use of smart watches and phones are strictly prohibited during the school day.
How does communication work at Oxford?
We use a variety of platforms to communicate. Here is the list:
ParentSquare: This is a new communication platform that will be used by all BUSD schools. It is replacing the Remind app that we have used in previous years. It allows staff to send voice messages, texts, and email posts through one platform. You are automatically enrolled using the email address and phone number that you provided to the school. It is recommended that you download the app (iOS, Android). Note the digest feature that allows you to get any updates (minus emergency updates) all at once at whatever time you choose!
Newsletter: The PTA collects schoolwide news from the principal, teachers, and parents. This newsletter arrives by email every other Thursday. It is full of information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, interviews with teachers and staff, and general news about Oxford. In the past, only those who actively subscribed received the newsletter. To ensure everyone receives important school information, we have added all families to the mailing list. If you are still not receiving the newsletter, you can subscribe here.
Website: The Oxford Elementary website has information about the school, events, the school directory (for those who opted in), and other resources.
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Oxford Calendar: You can see the complete calendar here. Additionally, the Oxford Elementary school calendar works with Google Calendar and iCal. Subscribe to make sure you never miss important dates.
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Teacher Emails: Teachers send email updates with classroom news. No signup needed. If you would like to email your teacher or a staff member, the format is firstnamelastname@berkeley.net. As an example, you can email the principal at elizabethcornwell@berkeley.net.
Fliers: Fliers from teachers, the PTA, and the school about events are regularly sent home in your child's Thursday folders.
Classroom Coordinator Emails: Your classroom coordinators periodically email PTA news, volunteer opportunities, and classroom-specific requests and updates. No signup needed.
WhatsApp: There are a number of opt in WhatsApp groups run by the PTA. Each grade has their own group that is used for grade-specific messages and casual communication. There are also a variety of PTA subgroups. Sign up here.
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What happens if there is a schoolwide emergency?
Oxford has a school safety plan that is updated annually by a team of staff and parents. In connection with Berkeley emergency services, we practice and refine the plan multiple times during the year to address the unique needs that each situation may require. As a parent, you can do your part by doing the following:
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Update Infinite Campus annually with phone numbers and emergency contacts - you received an email with a prompt to do this over the summer.
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In the event of an emergency, all updates are sent through ParentSquare that sends texts and emails to all families.
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Be Patient
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Information will come out as it is available. Please do not repeatedly call the school as we want to keep the phone lines open and the staff engaged in following the safety plan.
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Pickup
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If school pickup is required, only one location will be available. All pickups would take place at the Yellow Gate off of Addison. This allows our team to be organized and track who picked up whom. As you might imagine in an earthquake, multiple caregivers could come to school without being able to communicate. This is another reason to update Infinite Campus annually as we can only allow emergency contacts to pick up a child, even if we know that the adult is a trusted adult.
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PTA - Events, Volunteers, and More!
What does the PTA do? And what does the PTA stand for anyway?
PTA stands for Parent Teacher Association. It is Oxford’s primary organization for community building, event planning, and fundraising. Funds raised by the PTA are essential to maintaining Oxford's excellence. They support school supplies, field trips, school beautification, community events, as well as supporting art, music, dance, PE, the garden, and more!
There are many ways to be involved, both big and small. You can volunteer at an event (or plan the whole thing!), serve as a classroom coordinator, attend meetings, or join the executive team. Everyone is welcome! Joining the PTA is a wonderful way to make an impact at Oxford and to stay informed about what’s happening at the school. Feel free to contact the PTA at pta@oxfordelementary.org with questions, and please consider joining!
What if I want to volunteer at the school and/or the classroom?
Please do! Teachers will coordinate with families for volunteers within the classroom. Please speak to them directly if interested. If you would like to be a classroom coordinator, you will have an opportunity at Back to School Night to sign up. Additionally, all parents are welcome to volunteer during lunch and at recess. We can especially use help with our kinders at lunch who are still working on peeling oranges, opening milks, etc. For more information on volunteer roles, during school and for events, please read the PTA newsletter and other school communications, and see our website!
What special events can we expect this year?
The PTA designed a comprehensive calendar that you can check out PTA Events at a Glance.
Mission, Curriculum, and History @ Oxford
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What is Oxford’s Mission?
Oxford Elementary is a caring, creative, and connected community - the home of the Otters!
Oxford’s staff is committed to making sure that all of our students achieve and flourish. We believe that all children can and will learn if given the encouragement and instruction to do so. Since we are a small school, we can focus on the needs of every individual child in terms of academic, social, emotional, and physical needs. We take very seriously the task of meeting all students where they are, teaching them to think critically, and engaging their minds and hearts in an effort to make them love to learn.
At Oxford Elementary, we support the BUSD mission by creating a welcoming and academically rich environment for our learners and families. Our small community has a focus on each and every child, ensuring that all students are meeting grade level standards and beyond. In addition, we work with each individual child to see themselves as an essential part of our community and a capable scholar. Oxford strives to be a place of discovery. Supported by a diverse array of curricular studies, enrichments and specials, students explore their interests and begin to see the numerous ways that they are making positive contributions to the world.
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What is the history of Oxford?
The original Oxford first opened its doors at the 1130 Oxford Street campus in 1910 and served children from kindergarten through 6th grade. According to a 1918 “History of the Berkeley Schools,” just eight years after opening, Oxford was already known for its "skillful management and good corps of teachers" that "made the school a credit to the department." The school’s first principal, Mrs. Partridge, described the school body as friendly and familial. She noted that the school was dedicated to "making the children independent intellectually, vigorous physically, and strong morally,” and that "since we are a happy set of people, teachers and children together, we feel that in a measure we are attaining our ideals."
Over the next 110 years, Oxford continued offering an environment of dedicated teachers and a happy student body at the same 1130 Oxford Street campus. In August 2020, however, the school relocated to its current location at 1222 University after a geological survey raised concerns of the safety of the school in the event of an earthquake. The new campus, which was previously home to Berkeley High's “West Campus" and later REALM Charter School, was beautifully updated for today’s Oxford students to start its next chapter.
What curriculum does Oxford use?
Oxford uses a variety of curriculum decided by a districtwide committee, including a new (as of 2025-26) literacy curriculum. A new math curriculum is being piloted at Oxford this year. See below for information about what materials we use in our curriculums.
Do you have any other questions that you think should be added to this handbook? Please email elizabethcornwell@berkeley.net!