1 Welcome to the New Oyster-Adams PK-8 Bilingual School! Get ready…it starts August 2007!!!

2 Quick Facts Oyster and Adams elementary schools will be consolidated to become one bilingual elementary and middle school (PK-8). Adams is an under-enrolled elementary school located on 19 th Street, NW between Columbia Road and Florida Avenue in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Classes under the new middle school model will begin in August 2007 at Oyster and Adams.

3 Quick Facts Each school building will house approximately half of the total student population. The new PK-8 school will be based on Oyster’s current dual immersion bilingual teaching model. All current Oyster students will automatically be part of the new middle school.

4 Quick Facts The new elementary and middle school will focus on math and science. Oyster faculty have already begun developing the curriculum. The school will also offer extra-curricular activities and sports consistent with top middle schools in the area. We envision the Middle School program to have the usual complement of academic enrichment (art, music, dance, sports, math/science, journalism clubs, etc.)

5 Quick facts DCPS has established a Transition Team to plan and implement the transition during the next 10 months The Oyster community has formed a Task Force to advocate for Oyster needs and to help with the transition to a new PK-8 school.

6 DCPS Oyster-Adams Transition Team Created by DCPS to oversee and guide the transition to a bilingual elementary and middle school by the beginning of the school year. The A-O Transition Team includes principals, parents and teachers from Adams and Oyster and is presided over by Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Hilda Ortiz. The Transition Team has been charged with developing a dual language academic curriculum for middle school, overseeing modifications of the school buildings, and making recommendations to the Superintendent regarding policy issues such as admissions, boundaries, etc.

7 Oyster Advocacy Task Force Created by teachers and parents to support the work and leadership of the principal. Advocates for a planned, coherent and smooth transition to a bilingual middle school that is faithful to the existing dual immersion model. Monitors DCPS Board and Superintendent decisions that can have an impact on the new middle school. Engages parents and teachers in working committees to help with the transition and the opening of the new middle school. Coordinates with other school bodies such as the OCC and LSRT and the teacher’s union representative. Keeps the Oyster community updated and informed about the transition. Meets the last Friday of every month – (Pizza and child-care provided for a minimum donation!). Is currently seeking more volunteers to carry out a variety of working committee tasks (media, advocacy, extracurricular activities, facilities, fundraising, etc)

8 Next Steps Get involved and stay informed especially if you have a child in 4 th, 5 th and 6 th grades. Contact Rick Jenney, an Oyster parent, and add your name to the Task Force’s e-list and receive updates and notices of meetings: (202) or him at Attend the next general meeting of the Oyster Task Force this coming Friday, September 8 th, 2006 starting at 6:15 P.M. in Oyster’s cafeteria. Contact any of the individuals listed on the attached sheet if you want to join a committee. Make a $40 donation above and beyond your current contribution to Oyster and help to pay for one hour (or more) of a part time staff person working on the transition.

9 Contact info for Oyster Parents and Teachers Advocacy Task Force Working Committees ACCAcademic Curriculum Committee Role: Focus on academic issues, bi-lingual structure Contact: TBD -- for now, Rick Jenney (202) (H); (202) (W) ADVAdvocacy Committee Role: Identify opportunities, mobilize people for meetings, etc., advocate for Oyster Middle School Contact: Mary Jo Kelly (202) (H); (202) (W); Julie Meyer (202) (H); (202) (W) BCBBilingual Coalition-Building Committee Role: Build a coalition of DC schools with bilingual programs and other stakeholders Contact: Amy Wind (202) (H); (202) (W) BLDBuildings & Grounds Committee Role: Address design, layout, buildings and grounds issues at Adams Contact: Bill Bass (202) (H) ENRExtracurricular Enrichment Committee Role: Improve after-school; Make middle school more than just classroom Contact: Margaret Ernst (202) (H); (202) (C); (202) (W) EXCExternal Communication & Community Relations Committee Role: Keep ANC, other Oyster community constituencies apprised and involved; Work with press and media, as required Contact: Alex Alleyne (202) FNDFundraising Committee Role: Prepare planning grant to get to Middle School Contact: Susan Bass (202) (H); (202) (W) INCInternal Communication Committee Role: Send s and otherwise communicate to Oyster Community Contact: Rick Jenney (202) (H); (202) (W)