Dear Oyster-Adams Families,

Happy Pride Month! Our classrooms are celebrating the rich diversity of families, identities, and experiences within our community—whether through daily student-led announcements at Adams, or rich read-alouds at Oyster. We'll keep you updated on the celebrations!

As we reflect back on this week, I'm grateful for the extraordinary care that our teachers and families place into every minute of learning and community building, even when there are so few days left in the year. This week, I witnessed several joyous moments worth highlighting:

Step Up Day and the Momentous Transition to Middle School!

At Oyster, every student had an opportunity to visit classrooms in the next grade level, meet their teachers, and get excited about the different themes + traditions that each grade level celebrates. Every classroom was vibrant, joyful, and got students excited about what's to come. Transitions can be challenging, and our faculty works hard to normalize and frame them as new adventures.

At Adams, we had the privilege of hosting the first 5th to 6th Grade Spring Family Orientation, well ahead of August, when we typically do Open Houses. Our 6th Grade Team supported navigating all the new logistical and socioemotional changes ahead as students begin adolescence and increased independence. And the best part, they got to hear from a current parent and student on what to expect, how to navigate it, and what to prep over the summer. We heard family feedback on the need for early and frequent partnership, and we were happy to provide it!

Global Citizenship: Mini UN Trip + 8th Grade Trips

This week we also celebrated the global citizenship in our mission, as 5th Grade participated in a Mini-UN Conference Friday morning, The Embassay Adoption Program in DC sends 5th and 6th Graders from across the District to engage with their adoptive embassies, prepare policy positions, experience different cultures, and explore international relations in a hands-on environment. Our students did incredible work today. We were also excited to send our 8th Graders off to Costa Rica, NY, and various adventures around the DMV. We look forward to sharing photos and highlights once they return home in time for promotion!

The Final Community Meeting of the Year

We were truly excited to host the final session of our pilot program at Oyster--Community Meeting! Our four Arts + PE Specialists and our Student Growth Team (Ms. Bogues-Willis, Ms. Naves, Ms. Druelinger, Ms. Cardenas, Sr. Garces) use an hour every Friday to hold assemblies, play games, and teach students our OA values in action. They teach research-backed social lessons, play games, run mini-theatrical performances, host Book Talks, creative arts projects, service opportunities and so much more. I want to thank the Team for taking on this enormous work that has built pride and community in whole new ways!

Retirement Celebration

We proudly honor and thank five extraordinary women whose dedication has shaped the heart and history of our school community. Friday, our Faculty threw an OCC sponsored party to honor their incredible legacy. Librarian Laura Kleinmann, after 31 years of service, leaves a legacy of curiosity, literacy, and joy in learning. Reading Interventionist Ofir Hurtado, with more than 22 years of impact, has changed countless lives by helping students unlock the power of reading. Shirley Brando, who served 22 years in the cafeteria, brought warmth, care, and nourishment to every child she encountered. Teacher Partner Maria Fuentes dedicated 21 years to supporting classrooms with unwavering commitment and compassion. And Social Worker Carmelita Naves, with 7 years at OA and decades of service overall, uplifted and supported students and families with wisdom and empathy.

These remarkable women have defined our school’s story. We will build on their legacy as we invite another generation to carry forward their inspiring work.I am honored as a Principal to witness their wisdom and celebrate their next journey! If you would like to send one our beloved colleagues a note or gift before the summer, please feel free to do so! We'll be collecting them in the Main Office.

Next Week

In closing, thank you to everyone who came to this week's Tech Guidelines conversations on both campuses. We sought to model the civic dialogue we want for our children. Facilitating a space where we can learn to hear a range of opinions is an integral part of public education, and I'm grateful for our families' commitment to that effort. I'll be collecting some of the questions families posed during the meeting, and seeking to add an FAQ section to our guideline doc.

Looking forward to seeing folks at the first Alumni Event on Wednesday! Check out the post in the Enrichment section for more info.

Un abrazo fuerte,

Carolina Brito