Dear OA Families,

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, our community continues to shine with joy, connection, and a deep commitment to student growth and belonging. Here are a few highlights we are excited to share:

Across our campuses, students participated in one of four different vibrant Field Day celebrations at Oyster and Walter Pierce Park—each one filled with laughter, teamwork, and plenty of water games to help us welcome the summer season. From relay races to foam zones, these events reminded us of the power of community and the importance of creating joyful, memorable experiences for all students. Thank you to the fleets of parent and staff family volunteers (including Sr. Hernandez's son!) who supporting keeping kids cool in the heat, setting up obstacles, and hosing kids down with water when necessary.

We proudly hosted our first-ever Oyster-Adams Alumni Social, made possible by the partnership between OCC and a passionate group of OA families. Thank you to Sweta, Alice, and Monique for bringing this idea, and expanding it to encompass as many students as possible! Seeing more than 140 former students return to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate their OA roots was both inspiring and affirming. Mr. Earl Williams (our first African-American graduate in 1955) was our guest and speaker of honor too! This event marks the beginning of what we hope will become a cherished tradition of lifelong community. Congrats to the Class of 2025, Class of 2022, and Class of 2020 for having the strongest representation there!

We recently honored two important milestones for our 5th Grade students: The Middle School Step-Up Ceremony, recognized our students’ growth and readiness for the next chapter of adolescence. The student speeches about their favorite memories were outstanding, and filled with hope for what's to come. The Argentine dance performance capped off the ceremony with an impressive surprise choreographed by the extraordinary Jenny Delgado.This week the 5th Grade also finalized their elementary experiences through their capstone presentations at the Spanish and Costa Rican Embassies, where students showcased their learning, voice, and global perspective. Both events reflect our mission of preparing students to be engaged global citizens and thoughtful changemakers, ready to make a meaningful difference in the world!

And finally, we are thrilled to welcome back our 8th Grade Class from their incredible capstone trips across the DMV, New York City, and Costa Rica. These experiences offered adventure, cultural enrichment, and lasting memories that mark the culmination of their OA journey. In the DMV, we invested in outdoor adventures, ropes courses, day trips to cultural landmarks, and even an inflatable sumo warrior obstacle courses. In NYC, students got to see Times' Square, climb dizzying skyscraper heights, enjoy a classic doubledecker tour, and so much more. Finally, in Costa Rica, our students visited tropical rainforests, waterfalls, engaged in cooking classes, and deepened their language skills with vetted host families. This week they all return to graduate on Monday! Wish them luck as they cross the stage at Jackson-Reed.

I want to take a minute to extend our deepest gratitude to the dozens of faculty chaperones that make these complex trips safe and possible. Our faculty spend weeks preparing students with logistics and the psychological skills to be ready for flights and extended stays. Thank you for sacrificing time with your families to support our students experiencing the world!

A special, deep thanks also goes to the incredible Stacia Cardille, whose unwavering dedication and leadership have raised an extraordinary $100,000 over the past two years. These funds supported overnight trips to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, as well as culturally rich and adventurous local alternatives. Most importantly, this generosity helped us close the equity gap, ensuring that all students—regardless of financial circumstances—could participate in both domestic and international travel experiences. These funds also supported important milestones such as graduation costs. We are equally thankful to King & Spalding LLC's partnership for their generous matching contribution, which amplified this impact and made these opportunities possible for so many OA students.

Coming Next!

We'll see each other at 8th Grade Promotion and the Talent Show this week! And don't forget that this week, we have two days with no school:

• Tuesday, DC Election Day! Come out and vote!
• Friday, we celebrate Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. We look forward to celebrating that with students on the final day of school!

As always, thank you for being such an engaged, supportive, and inspiring community. Together, we continue to create meaningful experiences that uplift every student.

Un abrazo fuerte,

Carolina Brito