Family Introduction Newsletter

Welcome to the Oak Ridge Military Academy Family! Thank you for trusting us with your most valuable treasure, your child. For many families, it is challenging to send their child to a military academy. We would like to make this transition as easy and informative as we can. In this welcome newsletter you will find information regarding different aspects of ORMA.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions and/or concerns. The school phone number is 336-643-4131. The administrative office is open from 8 AM - 5 PM Monday-Friday.

Mail and Deliveries

Oak Ridge Military Academy

2317 Oak Ridge Rd.

Oak Ridge NC 27310

Attn Cadet Name

Note: Packages are screened by the TAC Office.

Points of Contact/roles: School number 336-643-4131

Commandant Sergeant Major Lewis ext 201 or 336-209-4573 commandant@oakridgemilitary.com Request cadet leave, how is my child doing, family emergency

TAC Officer on Duty 336-706-6995 (3 PM – 11 PM) arrival for pickup/drop-off, dorm living, reach my child by phone

Academic Dean Caroline McKaughan ext 314 academic.dean@oakridgemilitary.com report absences, class placement, overall academic performance

Nurse Frances Chelf ext 406 fchelf@oakridgemilitary.com Infirmary, meds, and health awareness

Registrar Michelle Blackburn registrar@oakridgemilitary.comrequest records/transcripts

Finance Shannon Bowles ext 414 finance@oakridgemilitary.com tuition balance, payments (Tuesday – Thursday)

Parent Liaison Angie Williams ext 400 awilliams@oakridgemilitary.com Go-to person for random questions

Teacher email addresses are located on the website under “CONTACT US” and in the FamilyPortal, for academic and behavioral performance specific to a class. You should have received paperwork on the family portal website. This allows you to download reminds to your phone, and check out grades.

To report an absence or upcoming appointment, please email attendance@oakridgemilitary.com. This email is sent to both the Academic Dean, Mrs. McKaughan and CSM Terrence Lewis.

Your child is considered a recruit and has no rank in the Corps of Cadets. The first 2 weeks are tough as the recruits acclimate to the military structure of the school. There is a period of culture shock that some recruits struggle to overcome. Don’t worry, they will be just fine, even if they say they hate it and want to come home. Recruit training is designed to be hard and to push them towards their first success which is gaining the rank of Cadet Private.

Chain of Command for the recruit

If your cadet is communicating with you something such as “We don’t have any more XYZ,” or, “I don’t know what I am supposed to do,” encourage him/her to use the chain of command. There are systems in place to ensure that cadets have their provisions met, and it serves the corps most efficiently when their needs can be addressed through the system in place. If they are uncertain who to go to, start with their designated Leader in the chain of command.

While in recruit training, your student has access to a member of leadership that is responsible for answering questions and integrating your child into the Corps of Cadets.

We do have items set aside that have been donated for personal hygiene (shampoo, deodorant, soap, moisturizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, etc.) and some socks and snacks. If your child is lacking one of these types of items, they should ask 1SG McCullough or the nurse, Frances.

Picking up and Dropping off your Cadet

When you arrive to pick up or drop off your cadet, call the TAC Officer on Duty 336-706-6995 to notify the TAC of your arrival. Cadets typically check in/out for weekends and breaks at the TAC Office, located on the back side of Cone Dorm.

When a cadet is leaving campus with a parent or family member outside of the typical schedule for leave, the parent should contact Sergeant Major Lewis to request their cadet’s leave. If the request is for overnight leave, please give CSM Lewis 2 day’s advance notice.

If a cadet is leaving campus with another cadet, permission from both families is required in advance.

NEW RECRUITS can only have healthy snacks and water in their room until they are promoted to Cadet. No junk food (sweets). They may receive care packages. Parents of New Recruits may call the TAC Office to speak to your child in the evening (not every day please), or call CSM Lewis or the TAC Office to ask how they are doing.

Recruit training is generally completed in about 2 weeks.

Search for and Join the group “ORMA Parents” on Facebook for updates, questions and answers relevant to the group. (be sure to answer each of the questions when requesting membership to the group)

Pictures of events are posted to Flickr. To access them, go to www.oakridgemilitary.com and click on Photo Gallery. Once in the Oak Ridge Military Academy Flickr album, you will be able to search by keyword or name. You can download pics for free: click on the photo, then go to the bottom right corner and click the Download icon (looks like an arrow pointing down at a line). Selecting size Large image works well.

Personal belongings permitted

New Recruits:

§ Non-perishable healthy nutritional items, such as water, dried fruit, crackers (no junk food)

§ Sleeping attire

§ Broom/ dustpan

§ Extra pillow/blanket

§ Fan

§ Stamps/ envelopes

§ No Electronics except ORMA – issued Chromebook

Cadets all of the above, plus:

§ Electronics – flip phone (non-internet type), small TV, gaming system, small speakers

§ Musical instruments – guitars, horns, keyboards (no drums or amps)

§ Iron/ ironing board (small)

§ Non-perishable food items (unlimited)

§ 1 set of civilian clothing, preferably khaki pants/ button-down or semi-dressy attire for women (for ORMA dances/socials)

Cadet Leadership all of the above, plus:

§ Area rug (Sr. NCO/ Officer)

§ Coffee maker (Keurig)

Not permitted:

§ Additional seating or furniture

§ Posters/wall hangings

§ Mini-fridge, microwave

Please contact CSM Lewis or the TAC Office if you have any questions.

CSM Lewis