Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-9, and it's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible educators who make a difference in our children’s lives every day. Whether it’s a kind note, a drawing from your child, or a simple “thank you,” every gesture means so much.

I feel truly thankful to work alongside such an amazing group of educators—caring, empathetic, and deeply committed to the success and well-being of every student. Our staff goes above and beyond, and this week is a chance to show them just how appreciated they are.

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, our calendar is filling up with exciting events and celebrations! One highlight is our Color Run on June 13, proudly sponsored by our amazing PTA. This fun-filled event helps raise funds to support valuable programs across our school and provides important resources for our teachers and students.

Fundraising information will be coming home soon, so keep an eye out for ways you and your child can participate!

The end of the year is always a busy and joyful time, and we would love to have our families be part of it. If you're interested in volunteering at any of our upcoming events, please be sure to complete a volunteer application by visiting:
 👉Volunteer Information

 As always, please reach out if you have any questions or need support, 

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

• Principal Appreciation Day | 1 May 
• Whidbey Island Culture Fest (Art Walk) | 1 May
• Lunch Hero Day| 2 May
• Early Release Monday | 5 May @ 2:20 pm
• PTA Meeting | 5 May @ 4:00 pm (room C-101)
• Teacher Appreciation Week | 5 - 9 May
• National School Nurse Day | 7 May
• SBA ELA Testing 3rd & 4th Grade| 13, 14, 15 May
• Kindergarten Music Concert | 15 May @ 6pm
• BOGO Book Fair | 15 & 16 May
• PTA Family Movie Night | 16 May
• Gr. 1 Field Trip | 20 May
• SBA MATH Testing 3rd & 4th Grade| 20, 21, 22 May
• Memorial Day | 26 May
• Gr. 4 Field Trip | 28 May
• Gr. Kinder Field Trip to OHHS | 29 May

We want to remind everyone about the importance of parking in the appropriate spaces when you visit our school. Recently, we have noticed that some vehicles have been parked in designated handicap spots, which are reserved for those with mobility needs with handicapped plates or placards.

Please remember that these spaces are not only for people with disabilities, but are legally required to ensure access for everyone who needs them. Using these spots without proper authorization creates unnecessary challenges for those who rely on them and could result in fines or penalties.

Let’s work together to keep our parking lot safe, accessible, and respectful for all. Always park in a designated spot. If you do not have the proper permit, please find an alternative parking space.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Over 75 years ago, Mental Health America founded Mental Health Month, and we are excited to officially launch our 2025 campaign! This year, we’re not just talking about mental health—we are going to turn awareness into action.

MHA has packed our website with everything you need to be part of the action! Take charge of your mental well-being and help make an impact on a larger scale with our new Action Guide. Entirely free and available online, you’ll find:

 New articles & tools—Info and DIY resources to improve your well-being now.

 Advocacy resources—Learn the basics, sign up for action alerts, and be heard

 Opportunities to act—Everything from our live online events to our Be Seen in Green fundraiser and store merch to show your support for mental health

 Social media assets—Spread the word far and wide.

 Posters & handouts—Make mental health visible in your community.

This is YOUR moment to protect your mental health. To help others. To create real change. Are you ready to take action?

Go to mhanational.org/may NOW and get everything you need.

Let’s make this the most powerful Mental Health Month yet! 

-The Mental Health America Team

As we head into May, the Pacific Northwest weather keeps us guessing! Please make sure your child comes to school with appropriate outerwear each day. This includes:

• A water-resistant jacket or raincoat

• Layers for chilly mornings and warmer afternoons

• A hat or hood for rainy walks to and from school

Outdoor recess happens rain or shine, so dressing for the weather helps students stay comfortable and ready to learn!

At Olympic View Elementary, Ms. VanGiesen's students were joined by Oak Harbor Fire Chief Travis Anderson and guest firefighters for Reading with a Leader! Reading with a Leader is a partnership program between Oak Harbor Kiwanis and Oak Harbor Public Schools. Kiwanis donated over 500 books to all second grade students, second grade teachers, and elementary school libraries. Then a community leader is chosen to read the book at a school which is also filmed for teachers and families to use for future read-along time.

Chief Anderson and crew not only read the Fly Guys Firefighters book, but also demonstrated equipment during the reading. The fire department customized the book which was given to the class with local photos and notes from firefighters. Thank you to Kiwanis and the City of Oak Harbor Fire Department for making reading special!

Dear Olympic View Families,

At Olympic View, we care deeply about not just what our students learn academically, but also how they grow emotionally. One of the most important skills we support is emotional regulation—helping children recognize their feelings and respond in safe, respectful ways. This is something we work on consistently at school, and we’re excited to share strategies that you can use at home to support your child as well.

Children experience all kinds of strong emotions—frustration, anger, sadness, disappointment—and those feelings are completely normal. What matters is how we respond. A helpful way to start the conversation at home is by asking your child, “What does it feel like in your body when you’re really upset?” They might say things like, “My face gets hot,” “I clench my fists,” or “My heart beats fast.” Helping your child notice these physical signs is the first step toward calming down before things get too overwhelming.

At school, we often use the volcano metaphor to describe what happens when emotions build up. Just like lava rising inside a volcano, big feelings can bubble up—and if we don’t let them out safely, they might explode. Talk with your child about what they can do before they “explode.” Ask, “What are some safe ways we can let out those big feelings?” This kind of open discussion goes a long way in building self-awareness.

Two tools we use often at school are The Zones of Regulation and Kelso’s Choices. The Zones help students identify how they’re feeling using four colors:

• Blue for sad, tired, or bored
  
  

• Green for calm and ready to learn
  
  

• Yellow for frustrated, silly, or nervous
  
  

• Red for angry or out of control
  
  

Talking about what “zone” your child is in can help them recognize their feelings and what strategies they might need to get back to the green zone.

Kelso the Frog helps our students solve small problems independently with strategies like walking away, sharing and taking turns, talking it out, ignoring, or waiting and cooling off. You might ask your child, “What Kelso choice could you use right now?” These tools give kids the language and confidence to manage everyday challenges.

You can also help your child explore the difference between safe and unsafe reactions. For example, if they lose a game, yelling or storming off is unsafe—but saying “I need a break” or asking to play again later is a safe and respectful choice. These moments provide valuable learning and can be practiced together as a family.

To support all of this, we’re teaching calm-down strategies that are easy to practice at home too. Deep breathing (in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, out for 4), the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique (noticing what you see, feel, hear, smell, and taste), and movement breaks like stretching or squeezing a stress ball are all great ways to regulate emotions.

One simple and powerful thing you can do at home is to create a family calm-down plan. Sit down with your child and talk about the feelings they experience, what their body feels like during those emotions, and which strategies or Kelso choices help them calm down. You can even include which Zones they tend to feel most often. End the conversation with an affirmation like, “I can feel big emotions and still make safe choices.” It’s a great reminder for all of us!

We’re so grateful for your partnership as we help students grow into kind, confident, and emotionally aware young people. If you’d like any resources—like a Zones of Regulation chart or Kelso’s Choices wheel—just let us know. We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Warmly,
Michael D Howard
Dean of Students
Olympic View Elementary

1-360-969-2652

What kids drink can have a big impact on their current and future health. We want them to choose drinks that support the best possible nutrition and hydration. However, with so many beverages available, it can be confusing and complicated to make healthy decisions. New recommendations from health experts cover concerns about sugar, caffeine and other ingredients. They were developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Heart Association. To simplify recommendations for families, beverages are separated into three categories:

• Beverages to drink: plain drinking water and plain pasteurized milk.

• Beverages to limit: 100% juice, plant-based milk alternatives and flavored milks.

• Beverages to avoid: sports drinks, sodas, fruit drinks, aguas frescas, sweetened waters, energy drinks, energy shots, coffee and tea.

This resource provides specific, age-based recommendations for kids ages 5 to 18.

Resource: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/good-growing/

Second grade had a wonderful visit from the reptile lady! They got to learn about and meet lizards, alligators, snakes, and tortoises. It was a wonderful learning experience!

Our character trait of the month is Creativity!
Creativity means using your imagination to make something new or solve a problem. We love seeing children's creativity in action! At OVE, we foster and encourage creative thinking through a variety of academic activities.

Here are some fun ways to spark creativity at home with your child:

1. Back Drawing Game
Take turns drawing a simple picture on your partner’s back using just your finger—like a boat, rainbow, or horse! Each person gets one minute to draw while the other guesses what it might be. Then switch roles!

2. Story Building
Start a story with a classic line like “Once upon a time…” and say a few sentences. Then, have your child add on to it with their own sentences. Go back and forth to create your very own adventure! This also works great as a writing activity (passing a piece of paper back and forth) and is also a great game in the car!

3. Art Trade
Each person starts with a blank piece of paper and draws for one minute. Then, trade papers and add to each other’s artwork. Keep trading every minute until your shared masterpieces are complete!

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. Bell -Has worked at OVE for 8 years. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite thing about OVE is the staff and the love and bonds they form with the students.

Ms. White - Has worked at OVE for 21 years. Her favorite color is aqua. Her favorite thing about OVE is the people!

Mrs. Boswell -Has worked at OVE for 1 year. Her favorite color is red or purple. Her favorite thing about OVE is the people she works with!

Mrs. Ebersole - Has worked at OVE for 3 years. Her favorite color is black. Her favorite thing about OVE is love, family, unity, team.

Nurse Joyce Davilla - Has worked at OVE for 2 years. Her favorite color is yellow. Her favorite thing about OVE is the staff and how they treat each other like family.

Nurse Becca Bates - Has worked at OVE for 1 year. Her favorite color is green. Her favorite thing about OVE is that she knows all the kids. This is her community.

• "No decisions have been made at this time. We are currently only gathering input on potential priorities for future planning."

During the 2023-2024 school year, the Oak Harbor Public Schools created a Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) to help shape the development of a Long-Term Facilities Master Plan. Now, it is the community's turn to weigh in on priorities for our school facilities! Please note, no decisions have been made at this time and we are currently only soliciting input on potential priorities for future planning. 

What’s important to you? New spaces? Updated technology? We want to know! It only takes a few minutes to share your thoughts by filling out our Community Facilities Priorities Survey. Your ideas will help create the best learning environments for our students now and for years to come!

Complete the Survey by May 13! 

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