Dear #OneOakHarbor Community,
Before our schools quiet down for the summer, I want to take a moment to thank our entire #OneOakHarbor community.
One of the greatest joys in education is witnessing the full journey of our students, from welcoming our youngest learners on their first day to watching our graduates cross the stage. These are the bookends of their learning journey here in Oak Harbor, and everything in between is where the magic happens. That magic lives in classrooms, on playgrounds, on buses, and in the everyday moments between students, staff, and families. It’s often unseen, but always deeply felt.
Recently, I asked some of our Transition to Kindergarten students what advice they would give our 2026 graduates. For TTK students, this means “Adulting”. Among the talk of video games, superheroes, and surviving hot lava were a few simple but powerful words of wisdom.
“When you’re an adult, clowns are still scary, but you just don’t scream and cry as much.”
A good reminder that courage doesn’t mean fear disappears. It means we keep going anyway.
Another shared, “Sometimes you need to put people in timeout.”
Or, in other words, sometimes the wisest thing we can do is pause and reflect.
And my favorite:
“You can paint everything pink, but you should invite your friends to help.”
A reminder to be yourself and that life is better when we do it together.
Thank you for making our work as educators meaningful and impactful. Sharing your children with us is a gift we never take for granted. Together, we create the magic that happens between those bookends for our children, and that partnership is what makes Oak Harbor a truly special place.
Wishing you a wonderful and well-deserved summer.
With gratitude,
Michelle Kuss-Cybula
Superintendent
Oak Harbor Public Schools
