The Scoop: Family Events and Learning Together

The #OneOakHarbor spirit came to life when Oak Harbor High School (OHHS) student Natalie Perera used her skills from the Career & Technical Education (CTE) robotics program to make a meaningful impact in a fellow student’s life.

After learning that Crescent Harbor Elementary student Elliott Lane required a vision assistance device to access their learning, Perea, a 10th grader, took on the challenge. She designed and built a custom device to support the student's needs, demonstrating the power of innovation and collaboration.

"I find a lot of value in learning how to design, create, and manufacture parts," said Natalie. "It’s even more rewarding when I can use those skills to give back to the community."

"I was happy because I finally had a device that would help me see and learn," said Elliott. He also shared that he plans to provide feedback to further refine and improve its functionality. This project not only empowered Elliott to advocate for his own learning needs but also gave Natalie valuable real-world experience working with a client and implementing feedback.

Get ready for the 2025-2026 school year!

Oak Harbor Public Schools' Locksmith Tony Silveira received a special recognition for an incredible 40 years of service! His expertise and dedication have kept our schools safe and secure for generations of students and staff. To mark this milestone, our talented Career & Technical Education Engineering students designed and created a custom plaque in his honor—blending craftsmanship and appreciation into a lasting tribute. Thank you, Tony!

Don’t miss out on this free, conference-style event! Oak Harbor Public Schools and the District Parent Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Anxious Generation, will be hosting an in-person digital safety forum on March 26 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Oak Harbor High School. This event is open to all families, regardless of whether they have a student enrolled in Oak Harbor Public Schools.

The forum will cover a variety of topics and include a keynote from Katherine Martinko, author of Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance. There will be breakout sessions for families to ask questions and get more information to help keep kids safe online. Childcare (ages 4-12) and dinner will be provided! Childcare check-in and dinner will begin at 4:45 PM with the keynote beginning at 5:30 PM.

Families are invited to join us for a one-hour “Parents’ Night Out” presentation at 6 p.m. on April 21 at North Whidbey Middle School. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign engages parents and caregivers of children under age 21 in the prevention of underage drinking and substance use. 

Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a parent or trusted caregiver. In fact, over 80 percent of young people ages 10–18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision about whether to drink alcohol. This event will help you learn tips and strategies for talking with your child about these issues.

The session is coordinated by our Student Assistance Professionals from North Whidbey Middle School, Oak Harbor Intermediate School, and Oak Harbor High School.

Please contact Sandie Belli at sbelli@ohsd.net to RSVP or for more information.

On Friday, March 7, the End-of-Term Art Show was held in the OHHS C-Wing. It was filled with beautiful art, displaying 2D, 3D, and digital work from students. A huge thank you to everyone that showed support for our young artists!

Exceptional Academy students toured Oak Harbor City Hall this week, learned about city government, and met with Mayor Ronnie Wright and City Administrator Sabrina Combs.

The Bellingham Symphony Orchestra String Quartet featuring Dawn Posey, Yuko Watanabe,

Morgan Schwab & Samantha Sinai visited schools this week to present Trailblazers On Tour! The program included pieces from trailblazing women composers Gabriela Lena Frank, Cécile Chaminade, Chen Yi, Jessie Montgomery, and Fanny Mendelssohn. Students learned facts about each trailblazer and were able to ask questions to the performers.

Broad View Elementary hosted its Annual Family Game night this week. A big shout out to the Oak Harbor High School NJROTC, BVE Helping Hands Club, and Broad View Staff and their families for all of their help to make the event possible!

The spirit of St. Patrick’s Day was still alive and well at Hillcrest this week! Kindergarteners eagerly checked their homemade traps to see if they had managed to catch a mischievous leprechaun! The excitement and creativity of our students made for a magical day.

Ms. Thacker's 2nd graders at Olympic View Elementary took their math lesson outdoors and had a blast soaking up the sun while learning. It’s amazing how fresh air and sunshine make learning even more fun!

4th-grade students took a field trip to the high school to see OHHS bands and choirs perform as part of the annual Experience Music Project! Elementary students were able to sing alongside the high schoolers and learned all about different instrument families and vocal ranges.

Congratulations to the Oak Harbor High School Winter Guard who made their winter competition debut Saturday at Ferndale High School! They came home with a 3rd place win and head to state championships!

Their show “Axe Me If I Care” starts off sentimental and then kicks it up a notch with upbeat music, fun choreography and snarky but sparkling personality. Their mixture of dance and theatrics along with their equipment work earned them the highest scores they received in the three years that they’ve been competing.

They are heading to Wenatchee High School on March 29 - be sure to congratulate them for their recent win and wish them good luck! Go Wildcats!