The Scoop: Homecoming Week & Celebrating Inclusion

If you stop by the district office, you'll run into our new friend, Frank! He is collecting candy donations for our upcoming Spook Harbor Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Oak Harbor High School. You can also submit candy donations at several participating schools, including Olympic View Elementary, Broad View Elementary, and North Whidbey Middle School!

You're invited! Oak Harbor Public Schools, in partnership with Construction Services Group, NAC Architects, Bayley Construction and Tiger Construction, will be hosting two groundbreaking ceremonies to kick off construction to replace Crescent Harbor Elementary and Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center/HomeConnection Schools. 

Please note the event will be outside on an active construction site, attendees are advised to dress accordingly. Parking will be limited for both ceremonies. 

The Oak Harbor Police Department's School Resource Officer vehicle is set to hit the streets with a fresh new look, thanks to the creative talents of Oak Harbor High School student Emelyn Payne. The design was part of a partnership with the Oak Harbor Police Department, Oak Harbor Public Schools and the Oak Harbor High School Career Technical Education (CTE) graphic design program. 

A special thanks to Student Emelyn Payne, Teacher Jana Jansen, Oak Harbor Police Chief Tony Slowik, School Resource Officer Tyler Adamson, Jeff Humphreys of Humphrey Signs, and Oak Harbor Public Schools Communications Officer Sarah Foy for making the project possible!

Check out the new design at tonight's Homecoming Tailgate and Game!

Students and staff at North Whidbey Middle School (NWMS) were visited by Dogs on Call and this week.

Dogs on Call are a licensed therapy dog organization on Whidbey Island that provides services to hospitals, nursing homes and schools. The dogs are well-trained and are handled by their owners.

Mental Health Counselor Joycelin Vester escorted the team around the school to provide moments of interaction in several classrooms and common areas during their stay.

Studies show that benefits of therapy dogs may include a reduction in stress and anxiety, improved communication and trust, and encouragement of physical activity. The dogs will be visiting NWMS once a month for an hour to support students and staff. 

Exceptional Academy hosted Embrace Inclusion on Friday, which was attended by students, staff, families, and community members. They walked from the high school to the district office with motivational and inspiring signs that were created by students.

Thank you to the families, staff, Oak Harbor Educational Foundation (OHEF), Island Thrift, Whidbey Community Foundation, and community for attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating our new playground communication boards on Tuesday! The new boards will allow students at each elementary school and Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center to communicate better with each other and staff.

Students and staff at Oak Harbor High School are celebrating Homecoming Spirit Week! Show your support for your Wildcats at the tailgate and game tonight! Tailgate starts at 4 p.m. and the game kicks off at 7 p.m. GO CATS!

Last Friday 35 students from Oak Harbor High School attended a poetry festival in LaConner hosted by the Skagit River Poetry Foundation. Teachers Mark Strohschein and Linnell Gribble chaperoned the day of student-only poetry workshops. Schools from around Skagit Country, Whatcom Country, and OHHS participated.

"Some of the finest U.S. poets today - including Ellen Bass, Samar Abulhassan, CMarie Furhman, Carol Moldaw, and Chen Chen - hosted readings and inspiring poetry writing workshops," said Strohschein.

At the event, sisters Allie and Katie Sheppard from OHHS performed their poetry at an open mic during lunchtime

On Wednesday, Oak Harbor Elementary School participated in Walk to School Day. Even our own City of Oak Harbor officials got in on the fun!

For Fire Prevention Week Navy Region Northwest Fire and Emergency Services visited Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center students to demonstrate fire trucks and introduce students to Sparky.