Dear Oxbow Friends,

Following the remarkable leadership provided by Stephen Thomas for twenty years, it is my humble pleasure to bring another academic year to a successful close. Stephen has been a close friend and mentor for me throughout my tenure at Oxbow and I am indebted to him and the founders, the Mondavis and Ann Hatch, for bringing the vision for an arts-centric community into reality for motivated adolescents across the country. In honor of Stephen’s dedication to Oxbow, the “Stephen Thomas Scholarship Fund” was launched last year to support future students who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend. I am proud to announce that this scholarship fund is thriving today with record numbers of students receiving scholarship money. Please join me as we celebrate key highlights of the 2018-2019 year:

• We hosted two very strong semesters of students who were committed to making serious work, building a close-knit community, creating space for play, and engaging in introspective self-reflection;
• We welcomed stellar visiting artists for 10-day residencies—Rebecca Manson, James Sansing, Natan Daskal, Judith Belzer—who collaborated with Oxbow students to expand their artmaking in new and creative ways;
• We embarked on “Oxpedition” adventures into the sublime California landscape that included overnight camping at Salmon Creek Farm, the Headlands, the redwood coast, and the Pinnacles;
• We celebrated a beautiful Spring Benefit Dinner at Hudson Ranch, an online wine auction, BottleRock glamping experience, and Napa Makes event, all of which support financial aid for future Oxbow students;
• We engaged in a successful WASC accreditation review and site visit to set strategic goals to build the program around student centered learner outcomes for the next six years;
• We hired a new math teacher and a new English teacher, both of whom have been in the Oxbow family for years;
• We waved “bon voyage” to two faculty members to boldly travel aboard a tall ship on an international residency into the Arctic Circle with fellow scientists, artists, and educators;
• And finally, we just welcomed our first round of summer campers, an eager group who were seen making art within the first hours of arrival.

This has been a year of adventure!

As we turn towards the future, the Oxbow family will continue to make a lasting impact on young people. To demonstrate your support in a very tangible way, there’s still time to participate in Oxbow’s Annual Fund and/or the “Stephen Thomas Scholarship Fund” which you can learn more about here. Our fiscal year ends June 30. Every gift matters, no matter the size. I thank you in advance for your generosity and commitment to the school.

Warm regards,
Jennifer Jordan, Interim Head of School

On behalf of Oxbow's Board of Trustees, we are deeply grateful for your ongoing support of our Annual Scholarship Fund. Thank you for your generosity!

Oxbow's fiscal year closes June 30, 2019. If you haven't already done so, please consider a tax-deductible donation, since over half of our deserving students receive scholarship support. Please help future students attend and experience all Oxbow has to offer!

To make your annual gift, please hit the DONATE NOW button for credit card donations or mail a check made out to "The Oxbow School" to the attention of Development at The Oxbow School, 530 Third Street, Napa, CA 94559. Your check must be dated on or before June 30, 2019. Click here to see all the ways you can give! Now you can even give via Venmo @OxbowSchoolNapa.

No gift is too small -- every gift has a direct impact on students' experiences. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Julie de Polo in Oxbow's Development Office: jdepolo@oxbowschool.org.

Shop for Oxbow! Amazon will generously give .5% back to Oxbow on all orders processed through their AmazonSmile program. Click here for details.

Joining the Oxbow Summer Art Camp are Counselors Taran Wilkens-Plumley (OS25), Ellie LaCourt (OS26), Logan Larson (OS31), new Head Counselor Terra Brazier (OS32) and returning Counselor Charlotte O'Dair (OS26).

On the faculty side returning are Maya Shengold (OS26) is the Painting Instructor (former Counselor/Head Counselor), Larissa Gilbert (OS27) is returning as the New Media Instructor (former Counselor), Mikhaila Quezada-Freda (OS27) is the Sculpture Faculty (former Counselor and Teaching Assistant).

Visit the Summer Camp page on our website to meet all the Summer Staff.

We are currently looking for students and parents to SPREAD THE OXBOW WORD! Please make a post on Instagram or Facebook and tag The Oxbow School! Or write a review on Teenlife! YOU are our most valuable ambassadors and the messengers of the Oxbow experience.

If you are interested in being a local ambassador for Oxbow! PLEASE LET US KNOW! We are always looking for alumni and alumni parents to help us with events, present at schools and arts organizations, and to introduce us to new prospective students. We are happy to help in any way we can.

In case you'd like to spread the word, we are still accepting applications for the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. Students interested in applying for the upcoming 2019 - 2020 cycle should begin their application ASAP. Please visit our website for more information.

Holly McVeigh, Admissions Director

Curious to see what students do in the studios, in the garden, in class and on field trips? Check out the Oxbow blog, photos on Instagram, student videos on YouTube and events and news on Facebook. View OS23-OS40 Student Final Projects and papers on the Oxbow Final Project Gallery.