Dear Oxbow Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of our Spring 2021 semester. Despite our valiant efforts and tremendous support from local politicians and the Napa public health officer, we were not able to override the California state guidelines or receive an exemption in our favor to reopen. Given the recent surges across the state, and Napa county in particular, we understand that the safety of the community comes first and that we must do our part as stewards in the community to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

We want to express our gratitude to the Oxbow faculty and staff who worked tirelessly to develop a thoughtful reopening plan that best suits our unique campus and community. We remain optimistic and look forward to implementing it for our Summer Art Institute, a new initiative that will provide students with the same innovative semester experience during the summer months.

The Oxbow team remains devoted to our shared belief in the mission of the school. We have proudly delivered an arts-focused program for twenty-two years, positively transforming the lives of over 1500 students. While this has been an incredibly challenging year for The Oxbow School, our legacy as a preeminent thought leader in arts education remains strong and we are committed to welcoming future students and friends of the school to our campus. We are now accepting applications for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters and registration is open for our Summer Art Institute.

We will get through this turbulent chapter together. We are so grateful for your generous support, kindness, and understanding. We look forward to a healthy, safe, and celebratory year in 2021 and truly wish you the best during this difficult time.

Warm regards,

Jennifer Jordan, Head of School

Beth Karpfinger, Oxbow Board Chairperson

THE OXBOW SCHOOL

Residential Intern/Dorm Parent - Job Description

POSITION: Residential Intern

HOURS: 40+ hours/week

STIPEND: $5,000 + housing and meals per semester

The Oxbow School is a one-semester fine arts program for high school juniors from public and independent schools nation-wide. The School offers forty-eight students a unique educational experience focused on the in-depth study and practice of the visual arts. The sixteen-week program encourages motivated students to pursue a serious interest in art while meeting and furthering their high school diploma requirements. The goal is not to produce career artists, but to empower students to see with clarity and become active participants in the world. Through work in the studio/classroom, trips to museums and galleries, and projects with Visiting Artists, Oxbow provides students with direct exposure to the richness and diversity of contemporary art and culture. The Oxbow School is founded on the belief that engagement with the arts fosters and supports flexible thinking skills, and that creative thinking is particularly valuable for students in today's increasingly complex global community.

The Oxbow School is located at the oxbow of the Napa River in historic Napa, California. The Oxbow pedagogical approach includes team-teaching and interdisciplinary approaches that lead to more effective learning. Oxbow students are encouraged to explore the interconnections that form our web of knowledge by working with real materials in authentic settings.

The Oxbow Residential Intern is a one-semester position in Spring 2021 for a recent college graduate interested in working with adolescents in a residential environment. The main responsibilities lie in general student supervision and the residential life experience on campus. The intern will collaborate closely with the Dean of Students to identify professional goals for the semester. The dorm parent will live in the dorms to assist in organizing community activities and being an additional adult presence on campus for student life issues that may arise. The person who best fits this role is someone who is mature, has strong interpersonal skills, is genuinely invested in the welfare of adolescents, and possesses an infectious enthusiasm for The Oxbow School program.

Responsibilities include:

• Work closely with Dean of Students and Dorm Head on a daily basis
• Drive students to and from campus for appointments and miscellaneous outings
• Lead physical exercise sessions 4x/week
• Lead and participate in community building activities throughout the semester
• Participate in field trips and co-programming activities
• Rotate through weekly studio and dorm duties with faculty
• Assist faculty with daily dorm life issues
• Provide social-emotional support for students
• Lead and meet weekly with advisory cohort (write advisee review letters at the end of semester)

Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to: Jennifer Jordan, Head of School, at jjordan@oxbowschool.org. No phone calls please.

The Oxbow School is an equal opportunity employer.

THE OXBOW SCHOOL

POSITION: Dining Services Intern/Dorm Head

HOURS: 40+ hours/week

STIPEND: $5,000 + housing and meals per semester

The Oxbow School is a one-semester fine arts program for high school juniors from public and independent schools nation-wide. The School offers forty-eight students a unique educational experience focused on the in-depth study and practice of the visual arts. The sixteen-week program encourages motivated students to pursue a serious interest in art while meeting and furthering their high school diploma requirements. The goal is not to produce career artists, but to empower students to see with clarity and become active participants in the world. Through work in the studio/classroom, trips to museums and galleries, and projects with Visiting Artists, Oxbow provides students with direct exposure to the richness and diversity of contemporary art and culture. The Oxbow School is founded on the belief that engagement with the arts fosters and supports flexible thinking skills, and that creative thinking is particularly valuable for students in today's increasingly complex global community.

The Oxbow School is located at the oxbow of the Napa River in historic Napa, California. The Oxbow pedagogical approach includes team-teaching and interdisciplinary approaches that lead to more effective learning. Oxbow students are encouraged to explore the interconnections that form our web of knowledge by working with real materials in authentic settings.

The Oxbow Dining Services Intern is a one-semester position in Spring 2021 for a recent college graduate interested in working with adolescents in a residential environment and learning culinary skills from professional chefs. The main responsibilities lie in general student supervision, the residential life experience on campus, and assisting with food preparation and service. The dining services intern will collaborate closely with the Dean of Students and Head Chef to identify professional goals for the semester. The dorm head will live in the dorms to assist in organizing community activities and being an additional adult presence on campus for student life issues that may arise. The person who best fits this role is someone who is mature, has strong interpersonal skills, is genuinely invested in the welfare of adolescents, and possesses an infectious enthusiasm for The Oxbow School program.

Responsibilities include:

• Work closely with Dean of Students, Dorm Head, and Head Chef on a daily basis
• Drive students to and from campus for appointments and miscellaneous outings
• Help with food preparation and service on a daily basis
• Lead and participate in community building activities throughout the semester
• Participate in field trips and co-programming activities
• Rotate through weekly studio and dorm duties with faculty
• Assist faculty with daily dorm life issues
• Provide social-emotional support for students
• Lead and meet weekly with advisory cohort (write advisee review letters at the end of semester)

Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to: Jennifer Jordan, Head of School, at jjordan@oxbowschool.org. No phone calls please.

The Oxbow School is an equal opportunity employer.

THE OXBOW SCHOOL

POSITION: Head Chef

HOURS: 40 hours/week

PAY: $24-$28/hour depending on experience (Spring semester approximate dates: early January 2021-mid-May)

The Oxbow School is a one-semester fine arts program for high school juniors from public and independent schools nation-wide. The School offers forty-eight students a unique educational experience focused on the in-depth study and practice of the visual arts. The sixteen-week program encourages motivated students to pursue a serious interest in art while meeting and furthering their high school diploma requirements. The goal is not to produce career artists, but to empower students to see with clarity and become active participants in the world. Through work in the studio/classroom, trips to museums and galleries, and projects with Visiting Artists, Oxbow provides students with direct exposure to the richness and diversity of contemporary art and culture. The Oxbow School is founded on the belief that engagement with the arts fosters and supports flexible thinking skills, and that creative thinking is particularly valuable for students in today's increasingly complex global community.

The Oxbow School is located at the oxbow of the Napa River in historic Napa, California. The Oxbow pedagogical approach includes team-teaching and interdisciplinary approaches that lead to more effective learning. Oxbow students are encouraged to explore the interconnections that form our web of knowledge, by working with real materials in authentic settings.

The kitchen of the Oxbow School will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day, for an average number of 60 resident students and faculty. In keeping with the Oxbow philosophy of community, student work teams will participate in the daily activities of the kitchen. The experience will provide students with an increased awareness and appreciation of simply prepared, sustainably produced, food. When school is not in session there might be other programs that involve providing meals and special event cooking. The job is a full time position with benefits for the spring semester season (with the option to extend based on state guidance for opening).

Responsibilities include collaborating with the Sous Chef to:

• Prepare and serve 3 meals a day/7 days a week for an average of 60 people during regular semester and other cooking responsibilities during the remainder of the year
• Create schedule; plan menu; order food and supplies
• Participate in the development of sustainable resources, especially organic ingredients
• Be actively involved in the creation of “community” at Oxbow
• Assist in teaching students with basic kitchen skills, food preparation, and kitchen upkeep
• Plan and prepare for occasional special event meals
• Supervise the kitchen
• Monitor use of supplies and maintenance of equipment
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and order

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualities: organized, team-player, flexible, open-minded, agile, enjoys working with adolescents, optimistic, hard-working, creative thinker, and community-minded. Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to: Jennifer Jordan, Head of School, at jjordan@oxbowschool.org. No phone calls please.

The Oxbow School is an equal opportunity employer.

THE OXBOW SCHOOL

POSITION: Sous Chef

HOURS: 40 hours/week

PAY: $20-$24/hour depending on experience (Spring semester approximate dates: early January 2021-mid-May)

The Oxbow School is a one-semester fine arts program for high school juniors from public and independent schools nation-wide. The School offers forty-eight students a unique educational experience focused on the in-depth study and practice of the visual arts. The sixteen-week program encourages motivated students to pursue a serious interest in art while meeting and furthering their high school diploma requirements. The goal is not to produce career artists, but to empower students to see with clarity and become active participants in the world. Through work in the studio/classroom, trips to museums and galleries, and projects with Visiting Artists, Oxbow provides students with direct exposure to the richness and diversity of contemporary art and culture. The Oxbow School is founded on the belief that engagement with the arts fosters and supports flexible thinking skills, and that creative thinking is particularly valuable for students in today's increasingly complex global community.

The Oxbow School is located at the oxbow of the Napa River in historic Napa, California. The Oxbow pedagogical approach includes team-teaching and interdisciplinary approaches that lead to more effective learning. Oxbow students are encouraged to explore the interconnections that form our web of knowledge, by working with real materials in authentic settings.

The kitchen of the Oxbow School will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day, for an average number of 60 resident students and faculty. In keeping with the Oxbow philosophy of community, student work teams will participate in the daily activities of the kitchen. The experience will provide students with an increased awareness and appreciation of simply prepared, sustainably produced, food. When school is not in session there might be other programs that involve providing meals and special event cooking. The job is a full time position with benefits for the spring semester season (with the option to extend based on state guidance for opening).

Responsibilities include collaborating with the Head Chef to:

• Prepare and serve 3 meals a day/7 days a week for an average of 60 people during regular semester and other cooking responsibilities during the remainder of the year
• Plan menu; order food and supplies
• Participate in the development of sustainable resources, especially organic ingredients
• Be actively involved in the creation of “community” at Oxbow
• Assist in teaching students with basic kitchen skills, food preparation, and kitchen upkeep
• Plan and prepare for occasional special event meals
• Supervise the kitchen when the Head Chef is unavailable
• Monitor use of supplies and maintenance of equipment
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and order

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualities: organized, team-player, flexible, open-minded, agile, enjoys working with adolescents, optimistic, hard-working, creative thinker, and community-minded. Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to: Jennifer Jordan, Head of School, at jjordan@oxbowschool.org. No phone calls please.

The Oxbow School is an equal opportunity employer.

Please join us is thanking our incredible family of supporters and dedicated stewards for equitable arts education.

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Dear Oxbow community members,

We are very excited to welcome our next student community onto our campus in the spring! The Oxbow community has always been marked by resilience, and we look forward to responsibly reopening with you and your children and our team during this pandemic.

As we continue to monitor the conditions of COVID-19 in our community and across the country, please keep in mind that our reopening plan may shift accordingly, especially as we get closer to reopening for in-person instruction for our spring 2021 semester cohort. The health and safety of our students and staff continue to be our utmost priority and at the forefront for establishing thorough safety precautions that will enable all of us to have a successful semester. Despite these efforts to implement strict protocols to keep us healthy, please be aware that the virus could still make its way onto our campus. To prevent this from happening, we must have support from all community members prior to arrival and throughout the semester. There are obvious risks associated with running a school during a pandemic. It is important that all staff and parents work together as a team to ensure the safety of the entire Oxbow community, as well as the local Napa community. While The Oxbow School is in very close proximity to state of the art hospitals and medical services, it is our goal to maintain a “prevention mindset” so that local members of the community can still easily access much-needed medical attention if necessary. We appreciate your support and look forward to partnering with you during these unprecedented times!

Please find the Oxbow Spring 2021 Reopening Plan below and reach out to us at any time with questions.

Warm regards,

Jennifer Jordan

Head of School

As a community of artists, The Oxbow School stands in support of black communities across the country. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Sandra Bland, Tyisha Miller, Nina Pop, and Ahmaud Arbery are tragic victims of white supremacy and brutality and their deaths and those that precede them serve as an urgent call to action for organizations like ours.

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In an effort to continue the work of improving The Oxbow School and honoring the social justice movements we believe so strongly in we are sharing resources here for our community.

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On behalf of The Oxbow School community, we are writing to announce that the Oxbow campus will be closed for the fall 2020 semester. In keeping with guidelines set forth by the CDC and Governor Newsom’s safety requirements necessary for California schools to reopen, we feel this decision is in the best interest of the health and well-being of the entire community.

While no one knows what the future holds, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our greater community--students and families, faculty and staff, and the essential workers with whom we interact. Until there is adequate testing and contact tracing available across Napa county, welcoming a new cohort of students from across the country is unsafe and inconsiderate to our local community.

As a residential community, it is paramount that we have heightened sanitation and distancing measures in place before we resume in-person instruction with future students. The Oxbow Safety Committee plans to utilize the next few months to thoroughly research emergent best practices, develop disinfection protocols, and install protective equipment throughout campus that will enable us to maintain a 6-foot physical distance while still taking advantage of our beautiful studio spaces and shared housing. We are optimistic that the next several months will provide ample time to optimally secure the campus with creative solutions, allowing spring students to feel comfortable while building a meaningful community through a shared passion for art.

We intend to stay true to our mission by providing a world class arts education, for it is our belief that the world needs art more now than ever before. Please stay tuned for Oxbow Online offerings and Workshop opportunities coming soon.

We look forward to providing an array of online offerings and hosting a vibrant Spring student cohort on campus in early 2021!

Be well,

Jennifer Jordan, Head of School

Beth Karpfinger, Board Chairperson

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