Image Credit to Oxbow

One of the beautiful scenic views at the Oxbow campus.

Unlike most of his peers, visual junior Calil Arguedas-Russell is actually excited to go back to school. However his first day won’t include jaguar pride and welcome back messages from Dr. Atherley. This is because Arguedas-Russell won’t be attending Dreyfoos in the fall. Instead, he will go to the Oxbow School in Napa Valley, California to live out an eduation-driven and arts-inspired dream.

“[This program is] quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.” Arguedas-Russell said. Due to the prestige and tradition of the school students who are accepted into Oxbow are only allowed to attend one semester out of all their years of high school.

“All the academic courses are intertwined with the artistic ones. We use our art in the classroom,” Arguedas-Russell said. “For example in history class we’d study an event that happened in history and then after we learn about it we would represent an aspect of it visually.” In addition to the interactive classes, the students who enroll board on campus for the entire semester.

“The campus is amazing. It’s a multi-million dollar facility right on such a beautiful location.” Arguedas-Russell said. According to the Oxbow School’s website the campus is comprised of 15 buildings sitting on three acres of land right on a bend of the Napa River. The broad curvature of the water is actually called an oxbow – and is what gave the school its name.

“It will be a big change but I look forward to something new,” Arguedas-Russell said about moving across the country. “I welcome the challenge and the adventure.”

“I guess it’s going to be weird not having him right down the street, but I’m happy that he’s going and he’s going to have a fun experience,” communications junior and neighbor Gabbie Hanks said.