Dear Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Community,

Happy New Year! There's so much to share with our community, both in where we're focusing the year, and celebrating victories. First off, as we begin 2026, we want to share our schoolwide Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) focus. After reviewing our student survey data, discussing PD needs with our faculty leaders, and reflecting on our global situation, as a school we have commited to building positive peer-to-peer interactions that help every student feel respected, valued, and connected.  Specifically, we are focusing on helping students develop the skills to:

• Show respect for one another and listen deeply, even when perspectives, backgrounds, or opinions differ.

• Demonstrate genuine care for each other’s well-being, recognizing that we all play a role in creating a supportive community. We want every student to believe that their voice is indispensable in the classroom.

• Engage in productive disagreement, learning how to express ideas, listen actively, and resolve conflict in healthy ways. Both character and academic excellence comes from flexibility and curiosity of thought.

• Strengthen a sense of belonging, so every student feels seen, included, and proud to be part of the Oyster-Adams community

We want to prepare students to make the right choices for themselves and one another, especially when their values are tested. Throughout the year, students will practice these skills through classroom lessons, restorative conversations, group work, and daily tasks with peers and adults. Each grade level has decided on a team strategy to build this peer to peer connection, depending on the cohort need. We look forward to sharing and highlight these moments in our newsletters this year!

Our first grade team has been dedicating time in class to practicing naming complex feelings in their lives, in the texts they read, and building partnership with SGT to support to navigate those emotions.

Celebrating our Faculty

We are also proud to celebrate an extraordinary honor within our OA family. Our beloved librarian, Laura Kleinmann, has been named the DC EdFund Standing Ovation Spotlight – Outstanding School Staff of the Year. This recognition could not be more deserved.

As shared in the official announcement: "Laura has dedicated 30 years to DC Public Schools, serving as a librarian at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, where she has built a library that reflects the power of language, culture, and story...Known for her expertise in bilingual children’s literature, Laura curates collections in English and Spanish that celebrate diversity, challenge bias, and elevate Spanish as a rich and powerful asset. As a librarian, educator, and champion of bilingual education, she is widely respected for creating an inclusive library space that fosters a lifelong love of reading in every student." For more info, real the full announcement and send her some love and kuddos for her well-deserved honor as she celebrates her last year before retirement here at OA!

Volunteer Potluck

We welcome the return of the Volunteers Potluck, our first since the pandemic! It was truly heartwarming to see dozens of present and future volunteers gather to learn about the many ways families can share their time and talents at OA—whether by coaching a sport, serving on the OCC Board, supporting school events, or simply sharing a meal with fellow Tigers.

The volunteer panel was especially powerful. Hearing parents speak about why they give their time to Oyster-Adams—and the joy, purpose, and community that volunteering brings into their lives—was profoundly moving and inspiring. A special and heartfelt thank you to the Benson family for helping to revive this wonderful tradition and kick it off with such warmth and energy.

If you have a special talent or desire to contribute that you’d like to share with our school community, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Elisha Bogues-Willis, our School Counselor and Family Coordinator (Elisha.Bogues-Willis@k12.dc.gov), who will be happy to connect you with the right parent group or opportunity.

Finally, don't forget to check out one of wonderful students (Annika) who's volunteering her time, treasures, and talents to supporting her 8th Grade class trip to Costa Rica! She's selling her Art on the 31st at the Line! For more details, check out the Family Enrichment section!

With gratitude and Tiger pride,
Carolina Brito, Directora