Olympia Parks and Recreation will facilitate the USDA FREE lunch program this summer at both Garfield and Madison elementary schools. Lunches are free for children 18 and under.

Children 6- to 12-years-old can also participate in the free Summer Kids in Parks Program (SKIPP) after lunch.

For more information on both of these summer programs for children, click on the flier image with this article, which is posted on the district website and was sent to all families this week in our latest issue of Community Connections.

The Olympia School District Board of Directors has approved the 2016-17 school year calendar. This calendar includes holidays, breaks, half days, and other district events. School-specific events and activities are available on elementary, middle school, and high school websites.

June 6 was a night of celebrations during the Olympia School Board meeting. A standing-room only crowd watched as the board:

Welcomed Olympia High School student Rachel Hodes, the new student representative to the Olympia School Board. Olympia High School Assistant Principal Mick Hart introduced Hodes, who was joined by family members for the special occasion. Board President Mark Campeau administered the oath of office, and Hodes shared a few words about herself, including how she is looking forward to being a student voice on the board. She then joined other board of directors at the table for her first meeting as student representative.

Celebrated three schools named recipients this year of the statewide Washington Achievement Award. Nancy Faaren, assistant superintendent of K12 teaching and learning, called forward school principals from Boston Harbor Elementary, and Jefferson and Reeves middle schools, as she shared about the awards. Boston Harbor Elementary has been recognized for Overall Excellence and English Language Arts Growth. Reeves Middle School has been recognized for High Progress, while Jefferson Middle School has been recognized for Overall Excellence, High Progress and English Language Arts Growth. The purpose of the Washington Achievement Award is to recognize schools that excel on many different levels and to shine light on the best practices that are making success possible. Board President Campeau presented each principal with an etched acrylic plaque, provided to all honored schools statewide as part of the Washington Achievement Award program. School principals also received a Washington Achievement Award banner to proudly hang in their schools and took a moment during the recognition to have a photo taken with the banner and fellow school colleagues, the board of directors, and Superintendent Dick Cvitanich. 

Honored the 2016 Olympia School District Employee Recognition Award winners. This annual awards program is designed to recognize employees from throughout the district in several categories. All employees districtwide were invited to send in nominations, and a committee reviewed the entries and selected the winners. Master of Ceremonies Scott Niemann, executive director of K12 teaching and learning, called forward each of the

winners, as well as the person who nominated the individual to share about the award recipient. Each award winner then received an etched wooden plaque and stand made by students in Brian Morris’s Tech Arts Enterprises class in the Washington Middle School CTE program. Eighth grader Maddie Waite also received a special shout-out for designing the plaque. Congratulations to all of the winners! We have included a few photos here; however, more than 50 photos are posted on the district Facebook page. Be sure to like us on Facebook at the same time if you aren’t following us already! A complete list of all winners was published as a posting in last week’s Here’s the Scoop staff blog. Click here to see the honorees.

In other business the board:

• Held a first reading of the English Language Arts middle school curriculum. A second reading will be held at a special board meeting scheduled on Monday, June 13. The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. at Knox Administrative Center, 1113 Legion Way S.E., Olympia.
• Heard the 2016-17 Superintendent’s Budget Proposal, presented by Jennifer Priddy, assistant superintendent of finance and operations.
• Approved the 2016-17 school year calendar.

Numerous nonprofit organizations have fliers posted on our district website sharing information about summer activities, including camps and sports opportunities.

Be sure to visit the district website to see the full list of events and activities, which range from Hands on Children’s Museum summer camps and YMCA summer sports, to a Middle School Robotics Summer Camp and Seed to Table camp for youth. Refer families to the website to learn more about summer offerings, as well as offerings throughout the 2016-17 school year.

Graduation season is upon us! The following are a list of this year’s graduation dates, times and locations, as well as information about which ceremonies are open to all district employees to attend. Congratulations to the many staff around the district who have worked over the years with students in the Class of 2016!

Thursday, June 9
Avanti High School, 6 p.m., Knox Administrative Center: The auditorium has limited space, so if district staff are interested in attending, they need to contact the Avanti HS office at 360-596-7900 to inquire about tickets.

Friday, June 10
Transition Program, 7 p.m., Knox Administrative Center: This graduation is open to all district staff (no ticket needed for staff members with their OSD ID badge). Teachers and other staff who have worked with Transition Program students throughout their time in the district are encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, June 15
Olympia Regional Learning Academy, 6 p.m., Indian Summer Country Club: Due to limited space at this venue, the ORLA graduation is not open to all district employees.

Thursday, June 16
Olympia High School, 7 p.m., St. Martin’s University Marcus Pavilion: District employees interested in attending this graduation are welcome, on a space available basis, and need to R.S.V.P. to Wendy Rae at wrae@osd.wednet.edu if interested in attending. Employees who attend need to wear their OSD ID badge and tell the usher they are to sit in the faculty/staff section.

Friday, June 17
Capital High School, 7 p.m. St. Martin’s University Marcus Pavilion: This graduation is open to all OSD staff (no ticket needed for staff members with their OSD ID badge). All OSD Staff with their badge will be seated in a special section next to the Capital HS staff.