Each month, Principal Susie Prather spotlights learning happening at our school. This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on Positive Impacts.

Dear OHA Students and Families,

At OHA, we strive to empower our students to discover their strengths and interests, encouraging them to make a positive impact on the world—even at the young ages of 8, 9, and 10. Our strategic plan calls for all students to take action for the greater good. As Zephyrs, we are dedicated to making a difference in our school community, the Mahtomedi area, and beyond.

Building Community at School

At OHA, we take purposeful steps to celebrate one another and create a supportive, positive environment. Our daily morning news show features "Good Morning" shout-outs, segments celebrating learning achievements, and sports updates highlighting extracurricular activities.

Our Positive Peers, a group of fourth-grade leaders, meet before school to brainstorm ways to make a positive impact. This year, they’ve hosted welcome breakfasts for new students and teachers and created thank-you goodie bags for bus drivers. Upcoming projects will benefit homeless shelters, Children's Hospital, the Humane Society, and Project Linus.

Students also have the opportunity to volunteer in various ways, including helping at Wildwood with Card Sharks, preparing cotton candy bags for the Spring Fling, assembling popcorn for movie night, and serving as tour guides. These hands-on activities inspire students to give back and build a stronger sense of community.

Extending Kindness Beyond School

Our positive efforts reach into the wider Mahtomedi community and even the world. In November, we celebrated gratitude as our Zephyr Value. During our all-school Zephyr Time Veterans Day event, we invited local veterans to honor their service. Students also wrote heartfelt letters to veterans at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis.

During Nature Trail Day, our 5th graders are working to eradicate Buckthorn in our school forest.

This winter, our Zephyr Service Project focused on collecting toys and puzzles for families in need. Our student council led this effort, organizing donations and promoting the cause. Together, we collected over 100 items. 

In February, our focus turns to kindness. Students create placemats and lunch bags for Meals on Wheels, share friendship pins and kindness messages through local businesses like Wild Bean and Wildwood Tavern, and make artwork for seniors at St. Andrew’s Village. They also participate in the Hennepin Healthcare Hearts program, crafting heartfelt creations for families with babies in the NICU.

Additionally, our annual school-wide food drive combines creativity with compassion as students build sculptures out of donated items before sending them to local food shelves.

Empowering Student-Led Projects

These service initiatives often inspire students to take their own actions. It’s incredible to see how our Zephyrs embrace the idea that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect.

Here’s what some of our students have to say about their experiences:

• " I feel proud when I help my community. I am happy when I help other people." Teddy- Grade 3

• " When I help my community I feel included and a part of the community. That makes me feel happy and warm inside." Lilly- Grade 4

As a personal tradition, my friends and I cook dinner for guests at the Ronald McDonald House each year. It’s a meaningful way to connect and make a difference. I encourage you to think about how you and your family can come together to bring positive change to your community. As Denzel Washington reminds us, “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”

Thank you for being part of this journey to create a better world, one act of kindness at a time.

If you want to celebrate a teacher or staff member please fill out this Zephyr Celebration Form. It makes a staff member's day for going the extra mile. We will deliver the kind wishes to them and we will celebrate how they make a difference in the lives of a child.