Dear Oyster-Adams Families:
 
I hope your slide back into the school year was smooth and filled with excitement. As we adjust our clocks back to the tight schedule of the school year-one filled with constant struggles to balance early bedtimes with homework, after-school commitments and dinners as a family-I'm grateful for the enthusiasm and positive energy that is spilling from our students, staff and families. I dare say, we're happy to be back!
 
Thank you to all of the parents who worked with their children to complete the community summer reading projects.  Keeping students reading over the summer is key to minimizing the loss of skills over the summer and having everyone read the same books over the summer brings consistency and context to the curriculum right from the start.  As a parent, I know it wasn't necessarily easy to have your child/ren read his or her books in both languages while camps and swimming pools called their attention.  And I admit, the reading pressure was on at our house throughout the summer and lasted well into...yesterday. 
 
As many of you know, it took herculean efforts to get the Adams campus ready by opening day.  Crews began demolishing the bathrooms on July 13 and worked around the clock and on weekends to finish on time.  We now have gorgeous ADA compliant bathrooms, the shaft for the elevator (that should be installed in the next few months), and a refurbished gym/auditorium. Unfortunately, while our gym is beautiful, the acoustic upgrades were not completed.  I expect this work to be finalized in the fall. 
 
Please show great appreciation to our custodial forewoman, Ms. Huntley, who weathered the brunt of the storm all summer with the construction and who worked the long hours with the contractors to get the job done. She and all of our custodians from both campuses had quite a dusty mess to clean this past week and they did it efficiently and with an incredibly positive attitude.
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

How do you sign up? 
All students are welcome (and encouraged!) to participate in school sports. You do not need to sign up your child for a sport in advance, simply have them come to the first practice for the sport they would like to play (schedule listed below).  
 
Mandatory Physical Forms.  Any student that participates in a school athletic program needs to have a current DCPS physical form on file that has been performed within one year of the beginning of the athletic season in which they will be competing. The physical form to be filled out was sent out in the school registration packet this summer and also can be found on line at http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/Learn-About-Schools/Enrollment/DCPS-Enrollment-Forms-Health-Certificate-3-2010.pdf.  Your child may come to the first weeks of practice while you are getting this paperwork completed, but they will not be allowed to compete in any games without completed medical forms.
 
Questions?  Please contact Sally Hunsberger at (202) 286-2693 (sallyhunsberger@juno.com) or Sandi Baer at (202)673-7311 (sandi.baer@dc.gov)


VOLLEYBALL: girls grades 6-8
First practice: Tue Aug 31, 3:30-4:45
Regular practice schedule: Monday-Friday (attendance at 3 practice/week required) 3:30-4:45PM
Location of Practices: Adams gym
End of Season: Early Nov
 
CROSS COUNTRY:  Girls and Boys grades 4-8
First practice: Tue Aug 31, 3:30-4:30
Regular practice schedule: Tue, Thurs (attendance at all practices required) 3:30-4:40PM
Location of Practices: Adams Field
End of Season: Early Nov
 
TENNIS:  Girls and Boys grades 4-8
First practice: Mon, Aug 30 3:30-4:30
Regular practice schedule: Mon, Wed, Friday (attendance at 2/week required) 3:30-4:40PM
Location of Practices: Adams Field
End of Season: Early Nov
 
DC SCORES:  Girls and Boys grades 6-8
First practice: To be determined
Regular practice schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri (attendance required at academic sessions and practices) 3:30-6:30PM
Location of Practices: Room 308 and Adams Field
End of Season: Mid Nov

August 27, 2010

Welcome back Oyster-Adams community!
 
Well, that went by fast! It seems that the summer break went by very fast. Now we are back to our daily routine and the kids are very excited about it, I'm sure!
 
The new board met over the summer in order to continue its momentum. It is hard at work trying to get things off the ground.
 
Welcome to all the new families that have joined the Oyster-Adams community. We want you to be involved in the classroom as well as in the community activities. I cannot emphasis to everyone how important it is to be involved in the activities that OCC and the school plan. Not only by attending them but particularly in helping to arrange them. Please do not wait for someone else to carry the burden. I know your schedule is full but we need help in order to make things happen. Otherwise, events will have to be cancelled if we can't find volunteers.
 
Upcoming events sponsored by the OCC (please pick one and dedicate at least 10 hours to the coordinator to help organize):
 
These are just some of the events that are sponsored by the OCC, more to come but please don't wait to help to see what else. Make it a point to help with everything. Our school will be in better shape for it.
 
If you need to be in touch with me: email - alvaradojay@gmail.com or home phone: 202-582-1142. Or Erin McKinney: email - erinhornemckinney@gmail.com telephone  202.679.6873.
 
Thanks,
Jackie Alvarado and Erin McKinney
OCC Co-Chairs

August 27, 2010

 
What is the SAB? 
A) The mini version of the SAAB.
B) A group of OA parents and teachers who are Serious, Athletic and Buff.
C)The School Advisory Board that replaces the LSRT.
 
Answer:  While there is plenty of evidence pointing to "B" the age old wisdom of always picking "C" is correct in this instance. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What does the SAB do?
A) Develop the Comprehensive School Plan, including the supporting budget;
B) Review data in order to be informed about school needs and trends,
C) Monitor and assess the implementation of the school plan
D) Use assessment results to develop specific strategies for school improvement.
E) All of the above

Answer:You got it! All of the above. 
 
Who are the current SAB Members?

Jackie Alvarado -- OCC Chair
Ann Marie Bairstow -- Parent
Katie Bunger-- Teacher/LSRT Co-Chair
Tatum Byfield - Parent/LSRT Co-Chair
Jeanette Frett--Parent
Ofir Hurtado -- Teacher
Laura Kleinmann -- Teacher
Claudia Martin -- Parent
John Mott--Parent
Leticia Naranjo -- Parent
Noemi Rodriguez-- Parent
Pam Ross -- Teacher/WTU Rep
Community Rep-TBD
Support Staff -- TBD