The Olympia School District is accepting nominations through Wednesday, February 12, for one or more staff members to be honored as OSD Teacher of the Year.

The program recognizes the work of teachers who have made a positive difference in their profession. Any Washington public school teacher who has a current certificate, works directly with students for at least 50 percent of their time, has not already been recognized as a Regional or State Teacher of the Year, and plans to continue teaching through the 2021-22 school year, is eligible to be nominated.

Please complete the online nomination form and submit by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. A committee will review the applications and select the individual(s) to be recognized based on who best exemplifies the following Teacher of the Year criteria (please include examples of the following in your nomination):

• The teacher has the respect of their community;
• The teacher is knowledgeable in their field and guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence;
• The teacher collaborates with colleagues, students and families to create a school culture of respect and success;
• The teacher deliberately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large;
• The teacher demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning;
• The teacher expresses themselves in an engaging and effective way.

The individual(s) chosen will be eligible to be considered for the regional Teacher of the Year selection process. The winner at that level advances to the state Teacher of the Year selection process.

Complete the OSD Teacher of the Year online nomination form

Ballots for the February 11, 2020 Special Election have been sent to registered voters and must be mailed or dropped off in postage-free ballot drop boxes by Election Day to be counted.

Ballot drop boxes are open 24 hours a day during elections and will continue to accept ballots until 8 p.m. on Election Day. For a list of drop box locations in the Olympia School District, visit the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division website.

There is one Olympia School District measure on this Special Election ballot: Replacement of an expiring four-year Educational Programs and Operations Levy. For more information about the proposed four-year Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy, visit the Levy2020 webpage on the district website.

• You may register to vote online, by mail, via a voter registration drive or by any other means through February 3, 2020.
• You may register to vote or update your voter registration address in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day on February 11. In-person voter registration is done at the Thurston County Elections Division, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. S.W., Bldg. 1, Rm. 118 in Olympia. Replacement ballots are also available at the Auditor’s Office.

To register to vote you must be:

• A citizen of the United States.
• Residing at your current address for a minimum of 30 days before Election Day.
• A legal resident of Washington state.
• At least 18 years old by Election Day.

Note: Citizens may pre-register to vote at age 16 and will be automatically eligible to vote and sent a ballot during the first election after their 18th birthday.

For additional voter registration information, visit the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division webpage. For more information about ballot items, read the Thurston County Voters’ Pamphlet.

In mid-March, homes across the country will begin receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. The census only happens once every 10 years, so it is likely to generate interest in our local community and beyond. Below are some basic facts about the census. In the coming weeks, we will post more information on our district website, including links to handouts in other languages.

What Is the 2020 Census?

The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The law requires the U.S. Census Bureau to keep information confidential.

Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire. Once the invitation arrives, responses may be sent online, by phone or by mail.

Counting every person living in the United States is a massive undertaking, and efforts begin years in advance. Here’s a look at some of the key dates along the way:

2020

• January 21: The U.S. Census Bureau starts counting the population in remote Alaska. The count officially begins in the rural Alaskan village of Toksook Bay.
• March 12 – 20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail.
• March 30 – April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days. As part of this process, the Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets, and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
• April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census.
• April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.
• May – July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
• December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.

2021

• March 31: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.

How the 2020 Census Affects Children
The 2020 Census count impacts the federal funds that communities receive each year for programs and services that are critical for schools, students and younger children, such as:

• Special education, Head Start, after-school programs and classroom technology.
• Food assistance, including free and reduced-price school lunches.
• Maternal and child health programs.

Counting Everyone
Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau. A complete and accurate count is critical for you and your community, because the results of the 2020 Census will affect community funding, congressional representation and more.