Orcas Education Foundation Late Summer Report

School is right around the corner, and the Orcas Island Education Foundation is excited about the 2013-14 year. For the first time in five years, donations to OIEF will not be used to pay for basic educational needs. The school district is financially more stable thanks to increased enrollment in the OASIS program, higher state allocation, and careful oversight by administration and the school board.

Therefore, because OIEF will not have to pay for programs like the library, bus runs, or staffing, it has chosen to focus on experiences that will enhance students’ school experience. “We have a fantastic school district,” says OIEF President Janet Brownell.  “Now OIEF would like to add the kind of enrichment opportunities that the district would love to provide, but can’t.”

The first round of OIEF funding will go to three different areas:

• First, it will help pay for a two-day, on-island, “Academy” for staff.  The focus of this in-service is to develop computer skills, which in turn will better serve ELL and Special Ed students;
• Second, OIEF will help pay for the 6th grade trip to the Olympic Park Institute (OPI).  Each year, the sixth grade spends a week at OPI learning about nature in nature.  The value of this experience is immeasurable;
• Third, OIEF will pay for the expansion of the “Farm to Classroom” program into Middle School. While the two programs are often confused, “Farm to Classroom” is not the same as “Farm to Cafeteria.”  “Farm to Cafeteria” provides nutritious local products to the cafeteria, as well as maintains the school garden.  “Farm to Classroom” works with students in the indoor and “outdoor” (the garden) classroom.  This is where a lot of the students first study farming, sustainability, cooking, and nutrition through project-based learning.  OIEF has been funding the “Farm to Classroom” program for several years.  It is thrilled to be expanding the curriculum to 7th and 8th graders as one of their “Exploratory” choices.

OIEF will look to fund other enrichment opportunities in the arts, math/sciences and elsewhere as the school year develops.  “OIEF is grateful for donors,” says Janet Brownell.  “It is their contributions that make these programs available, and enhance the school experience for our public school students.”  If you’d like to donate to OIEF, you can do it online at oief.org – or by mail to OIEF:  PO Box 728, Eastsound, WA  98245