Celebration of Life planned June 25 for Dave Forrester

Field of colorful flowers against blue skyA Celebration of Life is planned on Monday, June 25 for Dave Forrester, an Olympia High School counselor who passed away on June 5, 2018. A brief reception will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the Olympia High School Commons, followed by a program at 6:45 p.m. in the school’s Performing Arts Center. The school is located at 1302 North St., Olympia.
If you would like to help with providing snacks/desserts and/or event set-up (at 5:30 p.m.), please contact Wendy Rae, administrative assistant to the OHS Principal, at wrae@osd.wednet.edu.
Contributions to The Rio and Maya Forrester Educational Fund may be made at any Key Bank location or in a collection box at the Celebration of Life on June 25.

All employees asked to complete technology self-inventory

Man typing on laptop computerThe OSD Technology department is asking that all staff complete a Technology Self-Inventory.

This year Technology is testing out a new self-inventory process for staff who are assigned technology equipment.  Please follow this link: https://selfinventory-dot-osd-schoolsites.appspot.com/, log in with your district Google account, and complete the inventory process.  It should only take a couple of minutes.

Please note, this does not include classroom technology such as Document Cameras, Projectors and Audio Systems.  It also does not include Desktop Labs and COWs.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Help Desk at x6172 or helpdesk@osd.wednet.edu.

NASA summer camp open to grades 9-12

Infinity and Beyond flier for 2018 Summer Camp at OHS, shows photos of rockets and person in space suit and information about three summer campsDo you know students who love science, want to learn about NASA and could benefit from a FREE opportunity to earn .5 lab science credit this summer? Refer them to the “To Infinity and Beyond” 2018 Summer Camp!

This is an amazing opportunity for students to earn a .5 High School Lab Science Credit* through Summer School. The camp is open to all students entering grades 9-12.

Olympia High School teachers have received a grant to work in collaboration with the Northwest Earth and Space Science Pipeline to host three NASA Summer Camps at Olympia High School during the month of July. Each NASA Camp is a four-day experience that provides students the opportunity to start exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers through experiments, hands-on activities and interactive exploration of science and technology.

The camps are FREE to attend, provide a light lunch, and can offer transportation assistance if necessary. The grant is targeted to reach students that are underrepresented in STEM fields, but applications are open to all students.

Camp Dates:

  • Camp 1: July 16-19 (Rockets and Exploration of the Solar System)
  • Camp 2: July 26 (Environmental Sciences and Remote Sensing)
  • Camp 3: July 30-Aug 3 (Robotics and Surface Exploration)

Camp Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Olympia High School, 1302 North St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501

More info is available at the Olympia High counseling center office or on a NASA camp page on the Olympia High website.  Registrations can be turned in online or at the counseling center office.

* The class will be labeled on transcripts “Principles of Technology” and will be a .17 science credit per week (.51 if student attends all 3 weeks) lab science credit. The camps and credits are FREE of charge.

Important before leaving for summer: Preserve security of tests and quizzes in Schoology

Two people work on desktop computer screens

The following is a message from the OSD Technology Department:

To preserve the security of your tests and quizzes in Schoology, it is critical that you change the visibility or publication of these material types at the end of the year/testing window in both current and archived courses. Students are able to view their archived courses and thus could potentially view and share your test questions with students in subsequent class period or years.

To hide contents of tests and quizzes from students after the end of the school year, you have two options:

  1. In each test for each class, change the visibility setting to NO.
  2. Unpublish all tests and quizzes in each of your courses.

View step-by-step procedures for both options

See screencast for changing the visibility settting

See screencast for unpublishing Schoology tests and quizzes in each of your courses

Olympia School Board approves Pride Month resolution

DSC_0033The Olympia School Board unanimously agreed on June 11 to declare June 2018 as Pride Month.

In the two-page resolution, the school board declares its support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) students, families and staff.

The resolution also contains historical milestones in LGBTQ+ history, mentions current statistical information, and concludes by encouraging support for LGBTQ+ in our schools.

View the two-page resolution in full

Protecting student data on social media

Social media icons on a cell phone held in a hand

Protecting student data on social media

As the end of the year approaches there are a million exciting events taking place in buildings throughout our district — many of which involve students saying their goodbyes to teachers as they move on to a new grade level, or new building. As is generally the case in our social media driven world, many of these interactions get posted to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It’s second nature! What we want district staff to be aware of is how to properly post this information on social media.

It is extremely important that student photos, names or identifying information are not posted on a personal social media account. This information is only to be posted using school or district social media. For instance, if the school which you work has a social media account, you would want to pass the information along to the owner of the account so they can post it on a verified school account. You could also email it to the Communications Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) to be posted on district social media.

When you post this information on your own personal social media accounts, you are accepting responsibility and liability should there be any issue with student information being disseminated improperly or violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This is extremely important as our students’ privacy is tantamount.

So, the next time you want to share photos or details about some of the amazing things happening in your classroom, make sure they go through the right channels. If you have any questions about whether or not your school has a social media account, who may administer it, or why this policy is in place, call our Communications Department at (360) 596-6103. They can get you any of the information you are looking for.

The district would also love to push your news out via its social media and get as many eyes on it as possible, so please email your news to communications@osd.wednet.edu.

Thank you for your understanding, we really appreciate your support as we do what is necessary to lift our students up while supporting their privacy.

Safety Tip of the Week: Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness

Sunglasses resting on sand with setting sun

This week as we look forward to the summer, Safety and Risk Reduction Manager Wendy Couture shares information to make sure we are familiar with the hazards of heat-related illness. It is important to be aware of the potential hazards that summer brings. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has provided these tips to help us stay safe!

Stay Cool

Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air-conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.

  • Keep in mind: Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, such as morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.

Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak or faint.

Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.

  • Tip: Look for sunscreens that say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels.

Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:

  • Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
  • To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
  • When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.

Stay Hydrated

Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

  • Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
  • Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.

Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

  • If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.

Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.

Stay Informed

Check for Updates: Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.

Know the Signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.

Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.

Monitor Those at High Risk: Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:

  • Infants and young children
  • People 65 years of age or older
  • People who are overweight
  • People who overexert during work or exercise
  • People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation

Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.