Month: August 2016

What’s new with the 2016 school improvement bond projects?

/ susangifford
IMG_0356 (1)

A new grass field is installed at McKenny Elementary this summer!

Interested in knowing more about the progress this summer and plans ahead for voter-approved school improvement bond projects?

The Communications and Community Relations department has launched a new Web page on the district website to keep employees, students, families and the community up-to-date on construction projects.

The site features articles, photos and videos of projects included in the 2016 school improvements bond measure approved by voters in February 2016.

Visit the new Web page to read  more information and view additional photos and videos.

Friday is the deadline to submit 2015-16 time slips

/ susangifford

Reminder: If you worked in the 2015-16 school year and have not submitted your time slips, these must be submitted/received in the Payroll department by this Friday, September 2.

This will allow the Payroll department enough processing time to charge these work hours to the 2015-16 school year before the year is closed. If you have any questions, please contact the Payroll department at payroll@osd.wednet.edu or (360) 596-6190.

Safety Tip of the Week

/ susangifford

Housekeeping and Safety

This week, Wendy Couture, the district’s safety and risk reduction manager, shares tips about housekeeping and safety in the workplace.

Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get jobs done safely and properly. Poor housekeeping frequently contributes to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries. If the sight of paper, debris, clutter and spills is accepted as normal, then other more serious health and safety hazards may be taken for granted.

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and orderly; maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards; and removing of waste materials (e.g., paper, cardboard). It also requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole workplace, aisle marking, the adequacy of storage facilities and maintenance. Good housekeeping is a basic part of accident prevention.

Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation: it is not a hit-and-miss cleanup done occasionally.

Poor Housekeeping Can Cause:

  • Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms
  • Being hit by falling objects
  • Slipping on wet surfaces
  • Striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material

Benefits of Proper Housekeeping:

  • Fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas
  • Decreased fire hazards
  • Prevent injuries
  • More effective use of space
  • Less janitorial work
  • Improved morale

Good Housekeeping is the first principle of safety.

Open Enrollment continues this month

/ susangifford

A reminder that Open Enrollment continues through September 30, 2016. This enrollment period is for benefits effective November 1, 2016.

For helpful documents, links and bargaining group specific benefit information, please visit the OSD Benefits page.

During open enrollment, the Payroll department is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employees may schedule a one-on-one appointment with Amy McGuire, Payroll/Benefits Technician at (360) 596-6190.  The Payroll office also has a sign-up sheet for walk-ins, who are assisted by Amy McGuire in the order that they arrive.

Back-to-school information on website

/ susangifford

DSC_0061.JPGExactly two weeks from today, students will return to our school campuses. If parents ask for information regarding anything related to the start of school, including new student registration, school supply lists, lunch menus and prices, transportation and more, please direct them to the Home page of our school district website or any of the school Web pages.

A compilation of back-to-school resources is included in the news listings to make it easier for students and parents to get the school year off to a great start!

Here is a direct link to the Web page of resources.

Nominate OSD alumni to feature!

/ susangifford

DSC_0007Do you know of an Olympia School District graduate who is doing great things in the local, national or worldwide community? We are interested in producing videos and articles this year featuring some of the amazing successes of our district graduates since they crossed the graduation stage.

If you have a graduate name to share, please contact the district Communications department at communications@osd.wednet.edu or (360) 596-6103. Please include:

  • The graduate’s name and alma mater, including graduating year if known.
  • A brief description of where the graduate lives and works and why he/she would be a good choice to feature in our communications.
  • Contact information, such as email and/or phone number, to reach the graduate.
  • Your name and contact information.

We look forward to featuring the successes of those who used to walk the halls in our Olympia schools!

Open Enrollment continues through September 30

/ susangifford

A reminder that Open Enrollment continues through September 30, 2016. This enrollment period is for benefits effective November 1, 2016.

For helpful documents, links and bargaining group specific benefit information, please visit the OSD Benefits page.

During open enrollment, the Payroll department is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employees may schedule a one-on-one appointment with Amy McGuire, Payroll/Benefits Technician at (360) 596-6190.  The Payroll office also has a sign-up sheet for walk-ins, who are assisted by Amy McGuire in the order that they arrive.

Safety Tip of the Week

/ susangifford

Proper Lifting Techniques

This week, Wendy Couture, the district’s safety and risk reduction manager, shares tips about proper lifting techniques.

As educators prepare classrooms and are looking forward to the start of the new school year, we need to remember to put our Safety First! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than one million workers experience back injuries each year. Low back pain is one of the most common reasons that people miss work, second only to the common cold. A BLS survey shows that 75 percent of back injuries occurred while performing lifting tasks, which underscores the importance of reducing back injuries caused by lifting. Here are some proper lifting techniques:

  1. Get as close to the object as possible.
  2. Use a wide stance with one foot forward and to the side of the object for good balance.
  3. Keep your back straight and use your legs and hips to lower yourself down to the object.
  4. Slide the object as close to you as possible.
  5. Put the hand (same side of your body as the forward foot) on the side of the object furthest from you.
  6. Use this basic lifting technique for small objects when you can straddle the load and use a wide stance.
  7. Put the other hand on the side of the object closest to you. Your hands should be on opposite corners.
  8. Grasp the object firmly with both hands.
  9. Prepare for the lift, tighten your core muscles, look forward and upward, keep a straight and strong back.
  10. Lift slowly and follow your head and shoulders. Hold the load close to your body. Lift by extending your legs with your back straight, and breathe out as you lift.

Payroll reminder: 2015-16 time slips due by September 2

/ susangifford

Reminder: If you worked in the 2015/16 school year and have not submitted your time slips, these must be submitted/received in the Payroll department by September 2.

This will allow the Payroll department enough processing time to charge these work hours to the 2015/16 school year before the year is closed. If you have any questions, please contact the Payroll department at payroll@osd.wednet.edu or (360) 596-6190.