The Scoop: Arbor Day, Art Walk, and Celebrating our Uniqueness

Posted Date: 4/26/24 (7:17 PM)

#OneOakHarbor - Building a Vision for Student Success
As you know, we have been engaging in a journey to student success through a community-wide Strategic Planning process that will guide our work for the next five years. We want to thank the thousands of students, staff, families and community members who have been a part of this journey so far!

Now is the time to vote on the new Oak Harbor Public Schools "Promise Statement" or tagline to go with our Strategic Plan and vision for the future of our schools. A promise statement is a simple, short, and inspiring statement that captures the commitment of the Oak Harbor Public Schools community. This statement will be visible in all of our future messaging and marketing materials. The draft statements in the survey were developed by our Core Community Strategic Planning Committee, which includes students, staff, families and community members.

Please place your vote here on your top choice by May 10, 2024

Thank you for being a part of this journey to develop a strategic plan to ensure all students in the Oak Harbor Public Schools are successful as #OneOakHarbor.

Reminder from Oak Harbor Public School Nurses
To take medication during school hours, a Medication at School form or Individual Health plan must be signed by a healthcare provider and a family member. Medications must be in a container and kept in the health room of your student's school with the exception of emergency medications. For more information about Medication at School, please go to the Oak Harbor Public Schools website or contact your school nurse.

City of Oak Harbor Teams with Oak Harbor Elementary for Arbor Day Festivities

The City of Oak Harbor partnered with Oak Harbor Public Schools and Oak Harbor Elementary today to celebrate Arbor Day! Students heard from the mayor, learned about tree maintenance, planted trees, completed art projects, received seeds for planting at home, and played themed games. Thank you to the city for being great partners with our schools for this fantastic event each year!

Share your #OneOakHarbor pride! Snap a photo or take a short video for social media with the hashtag #OneOakHarbor to show your support of our students, staff, and volunteers who are a large part of all aspects of the community-wide festivities this weekend!

Our 21st Annual Elementary Art Walk opened on Thursday, April 25. Families connected with art teachers, enjoyed refreshments, and received maps indicating where art is located on window displays and inside of some store locations on Pioneer Way. Check out the student art that decorates businesses in downtown Oak Harbor for yourself during this weekend's Holland Happening street fair!

Today is the last day to RSVP for Exceptional Academy's Autism Inclusion Month Pizza Party that will be held on April 30 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at 350 S. Oak Harbor Street! Families are invited to attend to embrace neurodiversity and celebrate inclusivity. Please RSVP to Susan Armstrong at sarmstrong@ohsd.net by the end of the day today, Friday, April 26, so we can order enough pizza!

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This month is Limb Difference Awareness Month, and thanks to Hillcrest fourth grader Michaela, students and staff are more informed about limb loss and limb differences!

Earlier this month Michaela took action and wrote a fantastic letter and met with Principal Seaman advocating for a school-wide awareness day. We're so proud of her for taking the initiative to educate and inspire others with her personal story as well as teaching about others who live and thrive with limb loss or limb difference.

Hillcrest sported a sea of orange on Thursday as Michaela bravely presented some Limb Difference Awareness facts to the entire school during morning announcements.

Michaela is a true champion for Limb Difference Awareness and we are all better informed as she challenges us to learn and grow!

Our schools have been participating in Autism awareness activities this month. Oak Harbor High School's library featured books highlighting Autism and neurodiversity. This week Olympic View Elementary celebrated Autism Awareness Month spirit week. Students heard stories at library time throughout the week that explored the experience of Autism and the power of friendship, as well as celebrating neurodiversity and the things that we love.

For Harvest of the Month this month, our Nutrition Services team provided BBQ cauliflower and microgreens with broccoli, radish, tatsoi, kohlrabi, sunflower, and pea from Grace Harbor Farm. Learn more about Harvest of the Month at www.ohsd.net/MoreThanAMeal