As we welcome spring to the OES campus, we have so much to celebrate from an incredible winter season. Upper schoolers continue to demonstrate perseverance, creativity, and dedication across their academics, athletics, the arts, and a broad array of extracurricular activities, and they should be very proud of their achievements. 

Upper School English Teacher and Department Chair Josina Reaves and the theater department, and students transported us to a world of magic, joy, and intrigue with their breathtaking production of The Tempest, uniquely inspired by Xanadu and a disco roller rink. From the stunning performances to the vibrant, neon-infused costume design and technical execution, our students delivered a truly unforgettable show. Bravo to everyone involved for their dedication and artistry.

Our winter sports teams recently closed out a phenomenal season, showcasing their commitment and teamwork at every turn (ski pun intended). The Ski Team enjoyed a fantastic season, demonstrating skill and resilience on the slopes, with two athletes, Sky Z-A ‘26 and Theo S. ‘27, making the podium at the state competition in Ashland. Meanwhile, our basketball teams both won our league and played well in the state tournament, competing with heart and representing OES well. Congratulations to all our student-athletes, coaches, team-parents, snack shack volunteers, and supporters.

OES students continue to excel in academic competitions and extracurricular pursuits:

• Our Speech and Debate team achieved outstanding results at the district tournament we proudly hosted at OES and many members will be moving on to the state competition. 
• The Chess Team took first place at their major state tournament.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students will attend the State Business Leadership Conference next month. The 3-day conference will include training and intense competition. Students will have the opportunity to advance to the National Leadership Conference.
• The Aardvark Science Expo highlighted the ingenuity of our independent science researchers, and we are thrilled to announce that four of our students have been selected to attend the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This is an incredible honor and a testament to the dedication of our student researchers and our science department, including Aardvark Science Expo Director Joshua Caditz. 

As Michael Spencer mentioned in his letter earlier this week, as a school we are committed to gathering feedback from our families as we reflect on who we are as a school. A survey will be shared with all families following Spring Break, and we would like to gather as many perspectives as possible. There will be additional reminders to come.

Finally, we officially launched our highly anticipated Winterim program yesterday.  This unique experiential learning opportunity allows students to step beyond traditional classrooms and immerse themselves in hands-on learning experiences around the world, across the country, and right here in Portland. 

This week, our students will dig deep, delve into topics of interest, and step outside their comfort zones into the learning zone. Through these immersive experiences, they will connect with people, explore new ideas, and focus intently on one topic for an entire week, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen subject.

Thank you to all our faculty, staff, and families for supporting our students in all of these enriching experiences.