The Scoop: Summer Send-Off!

Posted Date: 6/21/24 (4:44 PM)

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula shared an end of the year message with the community that reflects on this year and looks to the future with our newly adopted Strategic Plan: https://tinyurl.com/h4ffuxd2

We will be officially launching our new strategic plan in the fall and will be providing more information about what it means for our work moving forward on our website, social media and communications.

We want to thank the thousands of members of our community who provided their perspectives and input through surveys, listening and learning sessions or committee work to ensure our Strategic Plan is grounded in community priorities, research-based best practices and expertise of our educators and administrators!

Graduation Recap Photos & Videos

The Oak Harbor High School Class of 2024 Graduation Recap video is here! Thank you to our videographer and OHHS alumni, Willie Shaw, for capturing all of these moments of excitement and pride from our students, families, and staff! You can also request short individual clips of graduates for free on his website: https://www.willieshawfilms.com/graduation

Graduation photos from before, during and after the ceremony at Oak Harbor High School are posted on John Photos website: https://www.johnsphotos.net/Events/OHHS-Graduation-2024

Rewatch the Livestream of OHHS' ceremony, produced by Oak Harbor High School's Wildcat Media: https://www.youtube.com/live/6GeP1AeZWO8.

Watch the ceremony of HomeConnection and Oak Harbor Virtual Academy graduates at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeRng5nkLpU

The Class of 2024 graduated with approximately $7 Million in Scholarships! $296,540 came from our local community! Thank you to our #OneOakHarbor community for your ongoing support of our students!

Congratulations to our Oak Harbor Public Schools' Transportation Team! They've been recognized by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for the outstanding results of Washington State Patrol safety inspection of our school buses for two years in a row.

"These results demonstrate your understanding that student safety is paramount, and the care you take in safely transporting students to and from school and extracurricular activities is evident," said the recognition from Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste.

We are so proud of our transportation team for prioritizing student safety! Learn more about how you can contribute to school bus safety at https://www.ohsd.net/bussafety

North Whidbey Middle School Teacher Selected as a Fulbright Scholar for Norway

Students and teachers of Norway will learn a little more about America in the coming year from North Whidbey Middle School teacher Donald Jenkins. Jenkins was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship, administered by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

As part of the Roving Scholar in American Studies program, Jenkins will interact with Norwegian teachers and provide opportunities for Norwegian students to practice their English and experience an American educator's approach to teaching.

Read the full story at https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/34144273

Regency Residents Share Advice for OHPS Graduates
Ahead of the recent graduation ceremonies, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula paid a special visit with the retirement community that live at Regency in Oak Harbor to gather advice for the Class of 2024.

Read some of the pieces of wisdom from the residents: https://tinyurl.com/en79sxf3

We want to thank the staff and residents at Regency on Whidbey for taking the time to meet with us and share some of the wisest and funniest advice for our graduates!

Oak Harbor Public Schools' Families in Transition Program serves over 340 students who are considered homeless within the McKinney-Vento Act.

Student Support Specialists for the program, Nadine Cushway and Paula Kestenbaum help provide this support for students within Oak Harbor Public Schools. They provide basic toiletries, clothing, food, and school supplies. They also connect students and families to community resources for help in housing, substance abuse, shelters, food banks, and more.

"We know that the needs of these students do not end over the summer," said Nadine. "So we decided to give students and families a little relief by creating Summer Survival Buckets."

Nadine and Paula spent many hours coordinating, collecting, and purchasing items, and assembling the materials.
Several local businesses and organizations stepped up to help, including I Support The Girls, Home Depot, The Blue Box Drive-in, Papa Murphy's Pizza, Nerf Arena of Oak Harbor, and The Roller Barn.

Read the full story at https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/34082958

Free Summer Meals for Children

Oak Harbor Public Schools is hosting its 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. Children do not need to be Oak Harbor Public Schools students to participate. No sign-up or registration is required.

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

Oak Harbor Intermediate School students, teachers, and staff celebrated 6th graders transitioning to North Whidbey Middle School next year with a parade. Congratulations, future Cougars!

2024 Oak Harbor High School graduates paraded through Broad View Elementary in their caps and gowns. These same grads attended Broad View as elementary students.

Olympic View Elementary celebrated a record-shattering color run fundraiser! Students got to tape Principal Lucero to a wall (and she stuck!), tie-dye her, and watch teachers and staff during an inflatable costume run.

Oak Harbor kids have talent! Singing, dancing, cheer, karate, gymnastics, magic and more! Oak Harbor Elementary and Broad View Elementary students shined in performances in front of their school and families during talent shows this week.

Thank you, again, to all of our amazing retirees for your years of service to Oak Harbor students and families! Crescent Harbor Elementary's Principal's Secretary, Mrs. Lien was sent off in style!

Have a great summer, Oak Harbor families and staff! If you are like us and already planning for the upcoming school year, be sure to bookmark our Calendars page at www.ohsd.net/calendars as well as our Back to School Guide at www.ohsd.net/BacktoSchool, which will be updated and shared over the summer on our social media accounts. Follow us at @OakHarborPS and don't miss a thing over the summer!