OIEF fundraiser postponed to Fall for now, but need continues

||| FROM 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. For a rural, small High School that is remarkable. While you consider that ranking, 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. And the mission of the Orcas Island Education Foundation is to help support K-12 in being as remarkable as possible.

That’s a long preamble to this announcement: The Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF) will be postponing (yet again) our annual fundraiser. It looks like we are almost ready to have an in-person gathering – but it won’t be until late this Fall.

Fundraiser aside, 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 students/families needing a little extra assistance with remote learning. AOK (“Art for Orcas Kids”) is a program under OIEF, and because of the miraculous talents 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. As we step out of the year of COVID, elementary principal Lorena Stankevich came to OIEF asking for funding to continue integrated outdoor education. According to Lorena, “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.”

Alia Hynek, Special Education Teacher also has a perspective on outdoor education: “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 makes Orcas Island School District unique and is a huge boon for student morale.”

Integrated outdoor education is a compelling program and one that OIEF is pleased to support. 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 LONG-awaited “Food for Thought” event. Until then, if you would like to donate to OIEF – you can do that online at: oief.smalldognet.com/erp/donate/list Or you can mail a check to: OIEF | POB 782 | Eastsound | WA | 98245. ANY gift is deeply appreciated.