7325 Byron Street NE
Olympia, WA 98506

We moved to Boston Harbor years before having children and we couldn't wait to get to be a part of the school culture and life. We now have a 3rd and 1st grader. They both have had an amazing experience since the first day of kindergarten. We started K with our oldest before COVID and went into virtual school half way through our first year. The teachers and staff pivoted pretty quickly and were able to keep up relationships with both the students and the staff. Our second year began in virtual mode and half way through transferred to hybrid. We had the opportunity to work with both of the first grade and kindergarten teachers through this model. They were both fantastic. In our third year, we began the year fully in person and in full COVID protocols. The teachers and staff were so caring and patient with the students as we all re-learned what it was like to be back in a regular social setting again. I had the opportunity to volunteer on my lunch breaks in each of my children's classrooms when parents were allowed back into the school as COVID regulations began to be relaxed. The school is so welcoming of parent volunteers and the Principal and office staff are SO on top of all the kids and the parents in the best way. Now in our fourth year at BHES, our kids are in 1st and 3rd and are enjoying their new classrooms. The district has included as of last year dedicated specialist teachers for our school. As such a small school, in the past we shared our PE, Music, and Art teachers with other elementary schools, and the kids have loved getting more access to these subjects in addition to library time every week. We began attending virtual PTA meetings last year and saw what a great relationship and respect the PTA and the staff have for each other. We were so impressed with what they have been able to do for the school that we chose to join the board this year. This is a safe, comfortable, engaging little school. Our only misgivings are the counter to the size in that there are not foreign language, gifted and talented, or sports options. We are willing to seek those out in other ways because we are so happy with the school overall.

Absolutely fantastic educational experience with Reeves! The staff and teachers have taken a really interest and supportive role for my daughter, who is a person managing ND and ADHD. The open house night really demonstrated the involvement teachers take with the students. They are supportive of our children’s 6th grade transition from elementary into this new, class changing, home work (light!!) environment. They really get whole person/human development! Principals have done an excellent job communicating as well.

Lots of clubs, great school spirit, great education...they're really focusing on the mental health of the students (especially after COVID). As a parent I'm impressed.

My daughter has been attending ORLA for her sophomore year. She feels the environment is fun, engaged, positive and honoring of various learning styles and needs. While we wish it were more ethnically and culturally diverse, we do appreciate the neurodiversity, gender diversity (not just girl/boy), and socioeconomic diversity. This is an interesting blend of alternative school, home school and traditional public school. I love the mission, really addresses a need in the community where kids might otherwise “fall through the cracks”. The class offerings are a good mix of core classes and fun electives like yearbook/media production, pottery, and theater. We have seen our daughter thriving academically and the monthly progress accountability checks seem to help. She is a self-motivated learner and I do wonder how kids who are not self-starters are able to keep up with assignments as it does seem like there may be some wasted instructional time while the class “goofs off” (social time?) and there ends up being a lot of homework time needed at home as a result. But that might not be the case for all kids - mine tends to get caught up in having fun with friends. To be honest, this is tipping the scales for my kiddo in a direction she needed after missing out socially during the pandemic and following years. Overall we are quite happy with our experience here and wish we could have enrolled her earlier and lived closer so we could be more involved in the school community.