Dear Oyster-Adams Families,

What a momentous first week of school we’ve had at Oyster-Adams! Whether you’re returning to our community or joining us for the first time, we are so grateful to have kicked off the 2025–26 school year in such a united and inspiring way. Despite the challenges our city is facing, families united to ensure that joy won, and mobilized to facilitate the arrival of ALL our tigres on campus. Thank you to the dozens of families who have supported each other in solidarity!

Throughout the week, our campuses were buzzing with energy—from our PreK students experiencing their very first day of school, to our newly piloted grade-level Family Orientations. It has been a joy to welcome each and every student and family back into our bilingual community of learners and leaders. Each teacher has been dedicated to building human connections, guiding students through new systems and routines, and helping them navigate a huge new campus at Adams. Next week, new learning adventures begin!

Oyster students participating in a new tradition, Todos Juntos, our Oyster Community Meeting!

A special highlight of the week was the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the newly modernized Adams campus—a momentous occasion made even more special by the presence of Mayor Muriel Bowser, DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee, OSSE Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant, Deputy Mayor Paul Kihn, City Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, DGS Director Delano Hunter, and other distinguished guests. Their presence was a testament to the importance and excellence of bilingual education in DC, and we were proud to be in the spotlight.

For some of the coverage from the week, check out these links:

* [Mayor Bowser Celebrates First Day of School and Cuts Ribbon on Modernized Oyster-Adams Bilingual School | mayormb](https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-celebrates-first-day-school-and-cuts-ribbon-modernized-oyster-adams-bilingual)

* [Oyster-Adams unveils modernized campus ahead of new school year | wusa9.com](https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/oyster-adams-bilingual-school-celebrates-reopening-first-day-of-school-in-dc/65-75982538-4723-41d9-9eff-0fa2d01e4845)

• Full video of the ceremony
• Mayor Bowser's Facebook Clip

But the true stars of the morning were our incredible students. Our student choir led by Sr. Castro set the tone with a bilingual performance that reminded everyone why Oyster-Adams is such a special place. A heartfelt bravo to our student readers, Valentina (5th) and Chris (8th), who embodied the bilingual brilliance, confidence, and poise that make our school community shine. They represented their classmates with honor and made us all so proud.

We want to thank our families, staff, and students for making this first week a success. Your support, enthusiasm, and commitment to our shared mission create the strong, caring community that makes Oyster-Adams thrive.

Here’s to a year of learning, growing, and achieving—en dos idiomas.

With gratitude and excitement,
Carolina Brito,Principal
Oyster-Adams Bilingual School