Oak Harbor schools pack year-end events, early playground opening, honors

Oak Harbor Public Schools is ending the year with a packed calendar and one important schedule change for families to keep in mind: the final day of school is now June 17, 2026, and it will be a half day. Because of the weather-related closure on December 17, June 16 has been moved to a full day, giving students and staff one more complete class day before summer break.

The district’s late-spring lineup has filled the last stretch of the school year with events that pull families across campus and into downtown Oak Harbor. The schedule included the OHHS Showcase, Car Show and Empty Bowls on May 29, followed by the Oak Harbor Education Foundation Family Fun Run on May 30. June brought Crescent Harbor Elementary’s closing ceremony on June 3, an Oak Harbor Intermediate School mystery event the same day, and Friday Night Lights in downtown Oak Harbor on June 5.

One of the clearest signs of change is already visible at Crescent Harbor Elementary, where the new playground opened early before the school itself opens in the fall. Students have already been using the equipment, and district leaders say the space has become an immediate hit. The June 3 closing ceremony gave the community a chance to see the new playground and mark the transition as the old school year winds down and the new campus prepares to open.

The district also used the year-end update to spotlight student and staff accomplishments. Oak Harbor High School junior Mckenzie Burdick won the Juror’s Choice Award in the 2026 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction art show for her color pencil piece, “Mother.” Her work was one of 15 top selections out of 725 high schools statewide, a strong showing for Oak Harbor in a competition that drew entries from across Washington.

Staff recognition also took center stage. Oak Harbor Public Schools honored Peter Woodard, a Title/LAP teacher, and Jana Jansen, who teaches yearbook, graphic design and photography. The district also recognized 2026 retirees at Oak Harbor High School, including Deb Lal, in a celebration that featured stories, poems and songs from current and former employees.

The district’s budget pages make clear why those recognitions matter. Even after a community levy passed, Oak Harbor Public Schools says it still faces reduced revenue in other areas and must cut costs for the 2025-2026 school year. That pressure frames the district’s push to keep families engaged, celebrate visible wins and manage a busy end to the year while new facilities, staffing changes and summer planning move ahead.