Greetings Orca Families,

February is largely known for being the month of love. Stores are full of sweets and trinkets to share with others—or, in some cases, to treat yourself. As I think of love, I think of the need that all people have to feel loved.

Over my career in education, my first goal has been, and always will be, for all members of our school community to feel safe, welcome, and loved. The idea of agape, or the love of humankind, drives our work.

As we enter February, a month where a day is dedicated to celebrating love, I urge you to think about love and the impact being loved can have on those around you. It is easy to share love with others—kind words, smiles, or a friendly wave can all change the trajectory of another person’s day.

Mark your calendars! Parent-teacher conferences will take place on Thursday, February 13, and Friday, February 14. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher, discuss progress, and set goals for the remainder of the school year.

Scheduling opens on Thursday, January 30, through the Skyward Family Access portal. Be sure to log in early to secure a time that works best for your family. If you need assistance accessing Skyward or scheduling, please contact the school office—we are happy to help.

Parent-teacher conferences are more than a routine meeting. They are a chance to:

• Celebrate your child’s accomplishments.

• Gain insights into their academic and social development.

• Share important information about your child that might help their teacher.

• Strengthen the connection between home and school to support learning.

When we work together as a team, we create a supportive environment that empowers students to thrive. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and dedication to your child’s success.

Please reach out with any questions or if we can help you in any way.

Warm regards,
Sara Lucero

General Office Contact Information

Office contact number: 360-279-5150

Office contact email: oveinfo@ohsd.net

Attendance: 360-279-5159

Attendance email: oveattendance@ohsd.net

• Parent Teacher Conference Scheduler | Opens 30 Jan @ 8am
• Early Release Monday | 3 Feb. @ 2:20 pm
• National School Counseling Week | 3 - 7 Feb.
• PTA Meeting | 3 Feb. @ 5:15 pm (room C-101)
• Early Release Monday | 10 Feb. @ 2:20 pm
• Spirit Wear Pre-Order | 10 Feb.
• Parent Teacher Conference Scheduler Closes | 11 Feb. @ 4 pm
• Parent Teacher Conferences | 13 & 14 Feb. (No School)
• Book Fair | 13 & 14 Feb.
• Presidents Day | 17 Feb. (No School)
• Early Release Monday | 24 Feb. @ 2:20 pm
• Public Schools Week | 24 Feb. - 28 Feb.

• Student Arrival Time:

  We would like to remind everyone that the school day officially begins at 8:30 AM. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, please refrain from dropping students off before this time. it is especially important that students are not left waiting outside without proper supervision, as there will be no staff available prior to 8:30 AM.

  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our students safe and comfortable.

Ms. Dorothy knitted Mrs. Lofgren's class hats again! They had extras so they shared with Mrs. Tate's class.

As the temperatures have now dropped below freezing, we want to remind everyone to ensure students are dressed appropriately for the weather each day. Please make sure your child wears warm clothing, including coats, hats, gloves, and scarves, to stay comfortable and safe during outdoor activities.

Living in Washington means that even on colder days, we will still be going outside for recess. It's important for students to be properly dressed to enjoy their time outdoors and stay warm.

We appreciate your help in making sure students are prepared for the cold weather and able to fully participate in their day at school.

Our young learners are diving into the world of banking! Ms. Thacker's class started working on making their own wallets after exploring what money is and what it can do. We even had a fun lesson on using ATMs and what happens with that money once it’s withdrawn! While the class isn't jumping for joy over learning about checks just yet, they’ll soon be tackling checkbooks and registers. There’s so much more to come, and the kids are really engaged in understanding their financial future.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At Olympic View Elementary, our goal is to nurture not just academic success but also the social and emotional growth of our students. A key part of this growth is learning to manage impulses—those sudden urges to act without thinking.

This month, we’re introducing the S.T.A.R. Power Tool, a simple yet effective strategy to help students notice and control their impulses. You can use this tool at home to support your child in making thoughtful and responsible choices every day.

What is S.T.A.R.?

S.T.A.R. stands for:

• STOP: Pause and take a breath.

• THINK: Is this action responsible?

• ACT: Choose a thoughtful behavior.

• REVIEW: Reflect on the choice—did it help?

By using S.T.A.R., students learn to pause before acting, giving them the power to make responsible decisions that benefit themselves and others.

What are impulses?

An impulse is a natural urge to do something immediately—like grabbing a cookie the moment you see it! While impulses aren’t bad, if they control us, we might act in ways that disrupt learning, relationships, or personal goals.

It’s okay to have impulses! The key is learning to notice them and take control.

How to Practice S.T.A.R. at Home

1. STOP
   

   • Teach your child to pause when they feel an impulse and take a deep breath (in through the nose, out through the mouth).

   • Talk about why stopping can be helpful, especially during moments of frustration or excitement.

2. THINK
   

   • Help your child evaluate their impulse. Ask questions like, “Is this a responsible choice?”

   • Use real-life examples: What should they do if they want a toy another child is using? How can they respond when they’re upset about not being first in line?

3. ACT
   

   • Guide your child to act responsibly by modeling respectful and thoughtful behavior.

   • Discuss examples of responsible actions and what behaviors to avoid (e.g., yelling, hitting, refusing to follow directions).

4. REVIEW
   

   • After your child makes a choice, encourage them to reflect: “Did my action help me? Did it help others?”

   • Reflection reinforces learning and prepares them for future challenges.

Making S.T.A.R. Part of Everyday Life

By practicing the S.T.A.R. Power Tool regularly, your child can build confidence in solving problems calmly and making thoughtful decisions. Simple phrases like, “Be a STAR!” or “Thank you for being a STAR!” can motivate and reinforce positive behavior.

Together, let’s empower our children to become thoughtful, responsible leaders who shine brightly both at school and at home. Thank you for your continued partnership in this mission!

Warm regards,
Michael D. Howard
Dean of Students, Olympic View Elementary
📞 1-360-969-2652

Some Olympic View students had the special treat of a visit from Dogs on Call, a Whidbey-based nonprofit that provides therapy dog visits to those in need of a little extra canine love. Falkor, a Golden Retriever, and Jack, a Corgi, soaked up all the attention and pets from our students. Jack even had a patch on his collar that read, "Please pet me!"

We’re so grateful to the amazing volunteers who took the time to bring their wonderful dogs to our school. Thank you for brightening our day!

Learning to self-regulate emotions is an important goal for elementary students. It helps them recognize what they need to feel better when they’re sad—like a hug or talking to a trusted adult—or calm down when they’re angry by taking deep breaths or counting to ten. At Olympic View Elementary, we use the Zones of Regulation curriculum to teach students how to label their emotions in a child-friendly way using colors. Green is the ideal learning zone, where students feel calm, in control, and ready to learn. Blue represents feeling tired or sick, Yellow describes excitement or frustration, and Red reflects the most intense emotions, where students may feel out of control.

In class, students are practicing strategies like getting a drink of water, taking a breaks, or talking things out to help regulate their emotions and return to the Green Zone. At home, you can support this learning by noticing when your child is struggling and encouraging them to think about the zone they are in. Collaborating with your child to self-regulate can help them feel supported identify strategies at home. Together, we can help students build skills to support their learning success.

Stacey Mahoney
School Counselor, OVE

Email: pta4ove@gmail.com

Website: https://pta4ove.givebacks.com/

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We are thrilled to feature the exceptional staff at OVE. Each month, we will showcase a selected group, including their photos and brief bios.

Mrs. Roussell -Has worked at OVE for 10 years. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite thing about OVE is the students and their families.

Mrs. Haight - Has worked at OVE for 10 years. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite thing about OVE is that everyone here cares about each other and works really hard.

Ms. Thacker -Has worked at OVE for 11 years. Her favorite colors are jewel tones. Her favorite thing about OVE is that we are playful and intelligent like our neighborhood orcas.

Mrs. Brodt - Has worked at OVE for 6 years. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite thing about OVE is the students.

Cameron Cornell is one of our amazing Special Education teachers.

Mr. Cornell - Has worked at OVE for 16 years. His favorite color depends on how he is feeling. His favorite thing about OVE is almost all of the people who were here when he started have moved on, but the spirit of optimism has stayed the same. It's a good place.

Email: oveinfo@ohsd.net
Website: www.ohsd.net/oves
Location: 380 Northeast Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: 360.279.5150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Olympicviewelementaryschool