Clothes shopping has been done. Backpacks, lunch boxes and shoes accounted for. PE clothes purchased and, in some cases, student ID photos taken.

On Thursday, Aug. 3 all the campuses of Oakdale Joint Unified School District will open their doors, gates and classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year.

This past week, the secondary campuses were all abuzz as students of Oakdale Junior High and Oakdale High School appeared for their respective Round-Up events. Incoming seventh graders at OJHS funneled in from the various elementary sites, having completed sixth grade, and learned the layout of their new campus, all coming together as Rams. The incoming freshmen at OHS, meanwhile, got an initial taste of what life will be like as a Mustang. New staff members around the district campuses followed suit, as they reported for orientations and trainings earlier this week.

Approximately 5,000 students will return to the campuses scattered throughout the city. With new Superintendent of Schools Larry Mendonca at the helm, the classified as well as administrative staff are prepared to return to a “normal” school year.

Community members at large, should be aware that the streets will once again be filled with school buses, cars and students on foot as early as 7 a.m. starting Thursday and again in the afternoon from 2 p.m. through 3:30 p.m.

The first OJUSD Board Meeting of the new 2023-24 school year will be hosted on Monday, Aug. 14 at the OJUSD Tech Center. Public Session is open to the community and begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.