Dear #OneOakHarbor Families,

As we head into winter break, I want to share some encouraging news about the heart and hard work happening across our schools. Just as important, I want to recognize the partnership we share and the collective care you bring to our students every day. Our progress is not happening in isolation; it is happening because of the trust and support you extend to our schools.

This fall, 80 percent of our students shared that they have an adult at school who truly cares about them. That number speaks loudly. It reflects the deep relationships our staff build with students, and it also reflects the foundation you create at home. When students feel cared for and safe, they are more ready to learn, more willing to take academic risks, and more confident in themselves. That sense of security begins with you and continues in the classrooms where they spend their days.

We are seeing encouraging early progress in areas families consistently tell us matter most: safety, belonging, and inclusion. During classroom walk-throughs, we’ve seen more students engaging side-by-side in inclusive settings, trying new strategies, leaning into challenging tasks, and taking those healthy academic risks that deepen their skills. These moments tell us that students are beginning to feel supported enough and safe enough to stretch and grow.

We are also working to strengthen consistent standards across grade levels so that as students move from one year to the next, they experience smoother transitions and clearer expectations. Our staff has been collaborating during professional learning time to align instruction and ensure every student has access to meaningful, high-quality learning.

At the same time, we recognize that there is still important work when we return from break on January 5. As we continue to define what inclusion looks like for all children in Oak Harbor and deepen our alignment across classrooms and grade levels there will be learning moments and challenges along the way. We remain committed to moving forward thoughtfully, transparently, and in partnership with you.

At this moment I want to offer a gentle encouragement: take time to slow down together. Put technology aside when you can. Share meals, conversations, laughter. Read with your children or curl up with a good book yourself. Let this be a season of reconnection and regrounding.

Your partnership means more than you know. Thank you for supporting your children, for collaborating with our schools, and for being an essential part of what makes Oak Harbor such a caring and resilient community.

Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year,

Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula
Oak Harbor Public Schools Superintendent