I want to take a moment to reflect with deep gratitude and pride on the journey we’ve shared. Even in the face of ongoing budget challenges, our staff has continued to rise to the occasion with unwavering dedication to our students. Their dedication to honoring our Student Vision Experience and the foundations of our strategic plan has never wavered. It is this unwavering resolve that continues to shape a learning environment where every student feels a sense of belonging, purpose, and opportunity.

Oak Harbor High School students were recently recognized by the Oak Harbor City Council for an extraordinary year of student achievement in the arts and Career & Technical Education. From visual art to video production and graphic design, students have demonstrated outstanding talent, creativity, and dedication with honors spanning regional, state, and national competitions. We are proud of our students for their achievements!

The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) announced the Oak Harbor Public Schools’ Communications Department is a recipient of a prestigious 2025 Golden Medallion Award. Oak Harbor Public Schools was one of only thirteen honorees nationwide to be selected for the association's top honor for outstanding school communications programs.

The Oak Harbor School Board of Directors appointed Oak Harbor High School sophomore Gwen Miller as its newest student representative at their Monday, May 12, School Board Meeting. Miller will fill the junior student representative position next school year, following the graduation of current high school senior and senior student board representative Maggie Litvachuk.

Oak Harbor Intermediate School principal Raenette (“Rae”) Wood has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Annalee Braley Membership Award by the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP). Rae is the fourth individual to receive this honor,

After months of gathering input from students, staff, and families, the Oak Harbor School District Board of Directors voted unanimously to name the new Hand-in-Hand/HomeConnection/Oak Harbor Virtual Academy building Forest Vista Learning Center. "Forest Vista Learning Center reflects the heart of who we are and where we are," said Board President Lynn Goebel. "The board deeply appreciates the thoughtfulness and care the community brought to this process."

Oak Harbor Public Schools is excited to host the 12th annual Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Monday through Friday, June 23 through August 15. SFSP is a federally funded, state-administered program designed to serve free meals to all children 18 years and under during the summer season.

In celebration of Arbor Day on April 25, Oak Harbor Public Schools and the City of Oak Harbor Parks and Recreation worked together to plant trees at every elementary school across the district. The event is part of a five-year, $1.5 million grant supporting environmental education and outdoor activities in the community. This community-wide initiative demonstrated the shared commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability and hands-on learning opportunities for students.

Oak Harbor High School students participated in the SkillsUSA Washington State Leadership & Skills Conference, competing against top high school students from across the state. After advancing through regional competitions, these students traveled to Tacoma to demonstrate their skills in categories including Video Game Design, Broadcasting, Welding Sculpture, and Technical Drafting. 4 Oak Harbor High School students and teams placed in the top three statewide in their respective categories.

On March 20-21, twenty-six members of the Oak Harbor High School Drama Club attended the WA State Thespian Festival at the Seattle Convention Center. Over two exciting days, students participated in workshops led by theatre professionals, watched performances from other schools, and showcased their own talents—earning several prestigious awards.

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.

On Friday, March 7, students from across Northwest Washington met at the Northwest Educational Service District 189 headquarters in Anacortes for a student-led leadership conference, focused on empowering current and future student board representatives. This was the first conference of its kind in Washington and could serve as a blueprint for other regions.

Oak Harbor Public Schools is proud to recognize Oak Harbor Intermediate School Counselor Chandra Mays for being named a School Counselor of the Year Finalist for the Washington School Counselors Association (WSCA). This honor highlights her outstanding efforts to make a difference in the lives of students in Oak Harbor Public Schools.

On Saturday, January 18th, a record-breaking 18 Oak Harbor High School (OHHS) drama students competed in 32 events of the International Thespian Excellence Awards ("Thespys"). The record-breaking results were recently shared with students and staff.

Oak Harbor High School CTE Students Excel at Regional SkillsUSA Competitions

Oak Harbor High School science teacher Zac Sawhill recently returned from a trip to the edge of the earth, Antarctica, as part of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship through Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.

AESD Accreditation is a rigorous process that takes about a year to complete. It provides and external review and validation of the School Improvement Plan and serves as a statement of accountability to the public. The accreditation establishes that OHHS "has demonstrated an exceptional ongoing commitment to data-driven, student achievement-focused, research-based, and collaboratively developed school improvement planning and strategies."

The Wildcat NJROTC Battalion presented for their Annual Military Inspection on Tuesday, December 17. It included an inspection of the Battalion as a whole, as well as a presentation and review of the several teams, events, and things that Wildcat NJROTC does. Several awards were also presented to cadets for their achievements.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula and Assistant Superintendent Dwight Lundstrom immersed themselves in the student experience by shadowing two students. Spending the entire day walking in their shoes gave these district leaders a powerful lens through which to see the incredible ways that the student vision of Oak Harbor Public Schools is lived out in our classrooms, hallways, and learning spaces.

The Oak Harbor Public Schools is proud to announce Olympic View, Hillcrest and Oak Harbor Elementaries recently earned state recognition for closing opportunity gaps and student growth in academic achievement as part of the Washington State Recognition Program.

The Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) and the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) recently awarded Hillcrest Elementary with the 2024 Culture Kickoff Award, recognizing their efforts to foster positive school culture and community.

Crescent Harbor Elementary families recently participated in the Prime Time program, offered annually in partnership with Sno-Isle Libraries and Humanities WA. The Prime Time Library program is a free, six-week program that supports elementary-age readers and builds connections among families in our schools. Local schools are chosen for the partnership each year.

Oak Harbor Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula and the Communications Department took home the top awards at the Annual Washington School Public Relations Conference (WSPRA) in Spokane on October 28.

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.

Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Society announced two Washington educators are among the 35 educators nationwide selected to be a part of the 2024 Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship (GTF). Oak Harbor High School teacher Zac Sawhill and Sky Valley Education Center teacher Sabrina Shaw of the Monroe School District were selected for their commitment to preserving the environment and shaping the next generation of planetary stewards.

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.

The Oak Harbor Public Schools' Communications Department is proud to announce it is the recipient of a 2024 Golden Achievement Award and a Publications & Digital Media Excellence Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). A record number of entries from across the nation were submitted for the awards program this year and Oak Harbor Public Schools is honored to receive this national recognition.

The Oak Harbor Public Schools is pleased to announce the reopening of Veterans Memorial Stadium (formally known as Old Memorial Stadium) after months of renovation work to rentals. The fields are located off E Whidbey Ave behind the district’s transportation department and will provide more centrally located public playing fields to the community. Additionally, the stadium includes lights to allow for additional playing time for youth sports.

Oak Harbor Public Schools received the prestigious State Auditor’s Stewardship Award, which was presented by State Auditor Pat McCarthy during the regular school board meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024. The award honors public entities for outstanding stewardship and responsible management of public funds.

Oak Harbor Public Schools congratulates the school board members elected to serve another term and newly-elected member Josh MacLean.