The Scoop: State Recognitions and New Clean Buses

Posted Date: 05/31/24 (04:50 PM)

Calendar Reminder: Due to the two snow day closures in January, the new last day of school for Oak Harbor Public Schools is June 21, 2024. The last week of school schedule is as follows:

June 18 - Normal full day of School
June 19 - No School (Juneteenth Holiday)
June 20 - Normal full day of school
June 21 - Last Day of School (Short Day)

Senator Murray Announces New Clean School Buses for Oak Harbor Public Schools and Others
Oak Harbor School District has been selected to receive $75,000 in rebate funding to purchase three propane school buses. Our district is one of 16 school districts across Washington state that are federally funded to replace diesel-powered school buses with 111 low- and zero-emission models through the Clean School Bus Program.

students at flight school learning about planes

Oak Harbor Students Provided Free Discovery Flights
In partnership with Cascade Warbirds and Delaurentis Airport, the Oak Harbor High School Flight Club students participated in discovery flights or introductory flights in the front and back seat of the airplane. The students received free flight training from Former Navy Chief Michael Watkins, who is a certified commercial flight and ground instructor and well-known local pilot. The opportunity was open to students in the community and also had participation from Coupeville High School, North Whidbey Middle School and home schooling programs as well.

We are in the final countdown until the Class of 2024 graduation! The full #OneOakHarbor community is invited to cheer on our graduates during the Friday Night Lights car procession on June 7 in downtown Oak Harbor. Please line up along Pioneer Way and Bayshore Drive to cheer on our graduates and share your support!

Save a life and get swabbed this Saturday, June 1, from 1 to 5 PM at North Whidbey Middle School. The Exceptional Academy and North Whidbey Middle School leadership students have partnered to promote this important event. The life-saving donation has benefited our own teachers and community members!

Swabs are the first part of the donation process to join a donor registry for blood stem cells (PBSC) or bone marrow to treat life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. We hope you can find time on Saturday to help find potential donors!

Learn more about the process at www.bethematch.org

champions of diversity with school board

At this week's School Board meeting, graduating student board representative Josiah Villano was recognized for his contributions to the Oak Harbor Public Schools through guidance and advocacy for student voice. Additionally, Oak Harbor High School teacher Zac Sawhill was recognized for being selected as a 2024 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow and students named as Champions of Diversity through Skagit Valley College and Washington’s public universities were recognized for their achievement.

Congratulations to Oak Harbor High School Senior Vanessa Cisco for winning the Washington Association of School Administrators Award at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) annual Superintendent’s High School Art Show!
Vanessa’s piece is titled “Natsu no Owari” which means "End of Summer." It was inspired by the Japanese culture of writing postal cards during the holidays.

Thank you to OHHS art teacher Kit Christopherson for support our award-winning art students, and thank you to our #OneOakHarbor community for supporting arts in our schools through levy funding.

In recognition of her dedication to traffic safety, community sterwardship and leadership, Oak Harbor Intermediate School student Karijalena Johnstone was chosen to be inducted into the 2024 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame.

“Karijalena goes above and beyond the call of duty. She follows the procedures for watching for traffic, using her flag, and in the crossing of pedestrians in a timely manner,” said School Safety Patrol Advisor, Kris Bishop, in a media release with AAA. “Besides initiating training and recruiting new members, Karijalena will advocate for wearing rain gear for additional safety and visibility, even when her team members may grumble.”

Congrats, Karijalena, and thank you for helping keep our students and community safe on the roads.

Scientists and education specialists from the Port Townsend Marine Science Center shared two Salish Sea Science presentations with students in Mrs. Steimer's and Mrs. Walker's 4th-grade classrooms at Hillcrest Elementary School. Students learned about the Salish Sea ecosystem and examined dried specimens of sea stars and other sea creatures!

At Crescent Harbor Elementary, Mrs. Beach's 4th-grade class published their book! The student authors were excited to receive a copy of their published book! Great job, cubs!

Oak Harbor Public Schools is excited to host the 11th annual Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Monday through Friday, June 24 through August 16. SFSP is a federally funded, state-administered program designed to serve free meals to all children 18 years and under during the summer season. No sign-up or registration is required.

Visit www.ohsd.net/SummerMeals for more information, including locations and times