OIEF postpones fundraiser, supports outdoor education
Published 1:30 am Saturday, May 15, 2021
Submitted by the Orcas Island Education Foundation.
You may have recently read that Orcas Island High School ranks #9 in WA state according to U.S. News & World Report (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/washington/districts/orcas-island-school-district/orcas-island-high-school-21080). For a rural, small high school that is remarkable. You must take into account the totality of education it took to get students to high school. The way we look at it: this accomplishment is one bestowed on the whole of K-12.
The Orcas Island Education Foundation will be postponing its annual fundraiser. It looks like we are almost ready to have an in-person gathering — but it won’t be until late this fall. OIEF has continued to support our public schools during COVID. Early in the lockdown, OIEF gave over $20,000 to the public schools so meals could be delivered to ANY child on the island in need of breakfast/lunch. This school year we donated $85,000 to help fund the outdoor education at Camp Orkila and $10,000 to Orkila in its effort to create a classroom for those needing a little extra assistance. AOK (“Art for Orcas Kids”) is a program under OIEF, and because of Brook Meinhardt, students continued with art through take-home art kits. OIEF is also pleased to announce a new grant to the elementary school for 2021-22. Elementary principal Lorena Stankevich came to OIEF asking for funding to continue integrated outdoor education.
According to Stankevich, “For our elementary staff, we have learned the importance of integrating our beautiful surroundings into what is happening in the classroom. While outside, students participate in science activities, team building activities, discussions, and art. Back in the classroom, they write about their experience, study and complete research projects; incorporating what they were doing in nature.”
Special education teacher Alia Hynek said, “It has been incredibly important for students in this last year. Many students with whom I worked looked forward to their time amongst the trees, connecting with each other and the Earth. It was one of the bright spots during the week when the pressure of current events seemed a little further away. Students could relish the joy of being outside. It is one of the things that make Orcas Island School District unique and is a huge boon for student morale.”
So, while OIEF postpones its fundraiser, the needs in our schools continue. We will be there to help with those needs as long as we have support from donors like you. We hope to see you in November for our “Food for Thought” event. Until then, if you’d like to donate, visit https://oief.smalldognet.com/erp/donate/list or mail a check to OIEF, P.O. Box 782, Eastsound, WA 98245.
