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Quarterly Alumni Newsletter
Winter 2026
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Dear EBI Alumni & Families,
This edition of the Alumni Newsletter contains a new offering, an article in Spanish by one of our very own graduates. We hope this marks the beginning of alumni content that reflects the mission of the school that brought us all together. As you read on, you will discover that a theme related to service emerges.
Los estudiantes continúan contribuyendo a la comunidad que los formó.
Students continue giving back to the community that shaped them.
Our community shows up in many ways all across the Bay Area and in the world. Here you will learn how EBI alumni are contributing to life on campus and find further opportunities for community engagement.
– The EBI Alumni Committee
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The EBI campus was recently abuzz with alumni! Several groups volunteered in the classrooms during Thanksgiving Week and again at the Middle School Fair, where EBI’s Middle School and Accelerated Spanish Program were showcased.
Alumni have also joined the Alumni Committee (a sub-committee of EBI’s board, which meets monthly) to share ideas and plan actions.
Together, the following students have contributed well over 25 volunteer hours. Thank you, alumni!
Boden DeNeale ‘25, Calvin Busselle ‘25, Nicolas Adams ‘25, Lucia DeNeale ‘25, Isabella De Castro ‘25, Laura Caceres Spears ‘25, Remy Azzam ‘25, Ruby Whittier ‘24, Isabella Saballos ‘23, Evan De Castro ‘23, Claire Brown ‘23, Ainsley Mullane ‘25, Sebastian Whitfield ‘20
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Attention High School Condors
Looking for an impactful summer experience?
Check out our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program, uniquely designed for our HS alumni! You’ll continue using/learning Spanish language skills and enrich younger EBI students with your enthusiasm and wisdom, while you make a difference in a familiar place.
Apply today to:
- Develop leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Stay connected with Escuela Bilingüe Internacional
- Earn high school volunteer hours
Click here for more information and to access the application.
| | | DELE DIPLOMAS FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 | In November, the class of 2025 gathered and celebrated the receipt of their DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) certificate. The DELE is an official qualification certifying the degree of competence and mastery of Spanish granted by Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports of Spain. Students at EBI take the DELE exam in grade 8 to obtain a recognized external accreditation of their Spanish level, which they can add to their resumes. We are happy to share that 100% passed last year. | | | CONDOR CORNER: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? | | |
Alumni Spotlight: Sebastian — Giving Back to the Community That Shaped Him
For Sebastian Whitfield ‘20, Escuela Bilingüe Internacional has always been more than a place of learning—it’s a community to which he continues to return, even as his world has expanded beyond its classrooms. Now a sophomore at the University of Oregon, Sebastian reflects on how his years at EBI laid the foundation for his commitment to service, language, and connection.
Sebastian’s relationship with EBI didn’t end at graduation. Instead, it evolved.
“I’ve been coming back to EBI summer camp every year since I was a student, first as a volunteer and then working there.”
Starting as early as fourth grade, Sebastian volunteered at summer camp and later took on roles as a counselor and specialist teacher. Over the years, he’s led cooking and STEM activities—making pancakes, leading science projects, and creating hands-on learning experiences that engage young students in meaningful ways.
What keeps him coming back is the energy of the work and the joy of being involved across the school community.
“I like floating between classrooms because it keeps me active and involved with the kids.”
Volunteerism has remained a central part of Sebastian’s life. Alongside his continued involvement at EBI, he balances college coursework with on-campus jobs, including working in the university dining hall. He credits EBI with helping him develop responsibility, adaptability, and a strong work ethic—skills he uses every day.
Language also remains an important part of Sebastian’s connection to EBI. He believes that Spanish becomes most powerful when used beyond the classroom, especially in community settings like summer camp.
“Using Spanish in a different context—not just in class—is what really helped me improve.”
Sebastian continues to stay involved through alumni activities and encourages fellow graduates to reconnect—whether by volunteering, attending events, or simply staying in touch. His story is a reminder that the EBI community doesn’t end at eighth grade; it grows stronger when alumni return to support the next generation.
Keep reading to see Sebastian’s interview with retired teacher Norma Santiago!
| | | CATCHING UP WITH OUR PRESCHOOL TEACHER NORMA | |
Sebastian Whitfield ‘20 interviewed recently-retired PK teacher Norma Santiago. He called her in Puerto Rico from his dorm in Oregon, and they had this conversation in Spanish. Thank you, Sebastian, for also providing an English translation!
Norma Santiago fue maestra de preescolar durante 19 años en Escuela Bilingüe Internacional; vio crecer a la escuela y vivió muchos cambios de personal. Al ser una de las primeras maestras en nuestra escuela, ella fue parte de lo que hizo a EBI una comunidad tan buena y conectada, y siempre será parte de nuestra comunidad.
¨El cerebro de una escuela son los maestros¨
Norma dice que lleva a EBI en su corazón, y que uno de los aspectos más importantes de la escuela a parte del bilingüismo, es la comunidad y la relación entre los padres de familia y los maestros. Ella cree que el ser humano es cada vez más complicado, y que hay trabajar por entender y enseñar a los niños.
Norma dice que ella siempre hacía el esfuerzo por aprenderse el nombre de todos sus alumnos y de los padres de sus alumnos. Esto ayudó a que los padres tengan mayor confianza en ella, creando así una comunidad.
¨Que los padres crean en mí es lo fundamental¨.
Según Norma, el éxito de EBI no es una tarea fácil. Es una escuela de calidad y de mucha exigencia, tanto para los profesores como para los alumnos. Cree que es importante que reunamos a los exalumnos, mantengamos a las familias como parte de la comunidad, y que estas familias sigan promoviendo la misión y visión de la escuela.
Desde que se ha jubilado, Norma vive en Guayama, Puerto Rico. Allí ha recibido a dos familias de EBI, y está trabajando con el alcalde de Guayama para crear un programa en el verano con el fin de recibir a adolescentes que quieran ayudar al pueblo, al medioambiente y ganar experiencia. Norma también tiene unos viajes pendientes. En abril viajará a varias ciudades europeas con un grupo de amigas que conoce desde la secundaria, y en mayo quiere viajar a EBI a ayudar a mantener algunas tradiciones que ella creó como el álbum de fin de año y el picnic que solía hacer.
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English Translation
Norma Santiago was a pre-school teacher at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional for 19 years; she experienced its growth and many personnel changes. Being one of the first teachers on EBI´s team, she was part of what made such a great connected community, and she will always be part of EBI’s community.
“A school’s brain is its teachers”
Norma says that she carries EBI in her heart, and that one of its most important aspects, besides bilingualism, is the community and the relationships formed between parents and teachers. She believes that humans are becoming more complex and that it is increasingly important to work harder to understand the needs of every child to teach them.
Norma always made the effort to learn the names of all of her students and their parents. This step was crucial in parents having confidence in her as their child’s teacher and helping create a community.
“The parents believing in me is fundamental”
For Norma, EBI is not an easy school to work for. It is a quality school with high expectations and standards for students and teachers. For Norma, it is important that former students reunite with each other, alumni families remain part of the community, and that these families promote and support EBI's mission and values.
Since retiring from EBI, Norma has moved back to Puerto Rico, her home. She lives in Guayama, where she has welcomed two former EBI families into her home. In Guayama, she is working with local leadership to create a summer program to bring teenage students to the area to learn about the community, help the environment, and gain experience. She also has a few travel plans. She plans to travel across Europe with a friend group from high school in April, and she hopes to return to EBI in May to help continue some of the traditions she created and maintained throughout her tenure, such as the end-of-year album and picnic.
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Alumni Webpage
Stay tuned for a significant update on the EBI Alumni page on our school website. In the near future, you will find information on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, past newsletters, and have the ability to update your contact information. Want to connect with us today? Send us an email at ebialumni@ebinternacional.org.
If you’re starting to reminisce about the good ol’ days, read below.
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EBIPA Pop Up Party
Evening of Argentinean Film, Food, and Politics
Join us for our first Pop Up Party—an adults-only evening of Argentinean food (empanadas and alfajores), film, and conversation on Argentinean politics, hosted by EBI parents Silvana Diaz and Alison Post.
Saturday, April 4
6-9 pm
RSVP here
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