The Olympia School District started the 2020-21 school year with a 100% distance learning model with plans for a leveled approach to in-person learning.

On September 21, 2020, the district moved to Level 2 when it began in-person learning for small groups of no more than five students served by the district’s Developmental Learning Classroom (DLC) and Life Skills programs. More than 110 students in elementary, middle and high school are attending school in person at 10 OSD schools.

As public health conditions continue to evolve over the next several months, the Olympia School District dial will be a regular part of our guidance as we may have to move back and forth from level to level throughout the year. This information will be updated as new data and guidelines become available.

These levels will be determined by the impacts of a changing health situation (e.g. number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over 14 days in Thurston County), available resources, and direction from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Gov. Jay Inslee, and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS).

Helpful resources in the decision-making process include:

• The Washington State Department of Health Decision Tree for Provision of In-Person Learning among Public and Private K-12 Students during COVID-19. The Decision Tree is also embedded in the Olympia School District’s fall school reopening plan.
• The Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard, which identifies COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over 14 days. This dashboard is used as the basis for the state’s decision tree for determining provision of in-person learning.

Learn more specifics about the five learning levels on the district website

Read latest PHSS guidance from Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek (September 23, 2020)

Governor Inslee is deeply saddened by the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87. He directed on September 18 that Washington State and United States flags at all state agencies, including schools and support buildings, be lowered to half-staff immediately in her memory.

Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of internment, which is to be determined.

Earlier this month we announced some new webpages on our OSD website designed to help students and families get answers to questions about technology, as well as locate resources in the community for assistance with groceries/meals, Internet/phone, counseling, talking with children about COVID-19, and more.

Both the Technology Family Resource Center and the Community Resources for Youth and Families pages have had numerous updates since they were launched. Be sure to visit them to help answers commons questions from students and families. Also, if you have suggestions for information that you think families would find helpful on these or other pages on our website, please email us at communications@osd.wednet.edu.

Thurston County residents may register to vote online, by mail or in person for the November 3, 2020 General Election.

While there are no Olympia School District measures or candidates on the November election ballot, our district regularly shares election information with the community, including how to register to vote. Election ballots are scheduled to be mailed on October 8.

Following are voter registration deadlines for the upcoming General Election:

• October 26, 2020: Deadline to register to vote or update your current voter registration by any means other than in person.
  
• November 3, 2020: Register to vote or update your voter registration in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day November 3. In-person voter registration is done between now and October 13 at the Thurston County Elections Division, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. S.W., Bldg. 1, Room 118 in Olympia. Beginning on October 14, you may register to vote in person at the Thurston County Elections Division’s remote drive-thru location on the South Puget Sound Community College Mottman campus, 2011 Mottman Rd S.W., Olympia. For Voting Center hours of operation, please visit the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division website.

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. You may also call (360) 786-5408 or email elections@co.thurston.wa.us.

Registration is open for staff interested in participating in the OSD Teacher Webpage Training and/or OSD Social Media Workshop. Staff may use Tech PD for these virtual training opportunities.

OSD Teacher Webpage Training

This virtual training is for OSD teachers interested in creating, editing and curating content for a teacher website on their school webpage.

We have one new Zoom Teacher Webpage training scheduled on Wednesday, September 23 from 5-7 p.m. Details with the necessary Zoom information is in PDEnroller. Please sign up for this training in PDEnroller prior to its start so everything is properly set up for each user. Should you need additional information, contact Conor Schober at cschober@osd.wednet.edu.

• OSD Teacher Webpage Training: Wednesday, September 23 from 5-7 p.m

OSD Social Media Workshop

Is your school officially represented on social media? If not, let’s fix that!

A Social Media Workshop is scheduled online for Thursday, September 24 from 5-6 p.m.

In the ever-changing world of social media, it can be daunting when considering what social media platforms to choose to best reach your families. Don’t be dismayed, it’s really quite simple and unquestionably worth your time and effort.

Give us an hour of your time and come sit down as we delve into the following “Social Media Tips” when managing a school or district-related social media account:

• Why do we need to promote our school? We’re doing fine!
• Getting approval from your Administrator
• How to select the social media platform to best reach your audience
• Setting up your accounts (using district email)
• Checking student permissions (when publishing students names/photos)
• How to best promote your new social media account
• Frequency of posting: Creating a social media calendar
• Creating engagement: Like, Follow and Share
• How to produce consistent, easily digestible content
• Finding your “voice” and “tone”

Our hope is that by the time this workshop wraps up you will feel much more comfortable opening up a social media account that represents your school community. This includes accounts for a school, athletic team, club, program or classroom. You will be amazed at the number of families you reach that were not previously reached through your school website (or teacher page), robocalls, newsletters, email and flyers.

With a consistent posting schedule, your engagement will soar. You will have a brand new way to communicate with students, families and our community which prioritizes content pushed out through social media. There are so many great stories to tell throughout our district, don’t be afraid of using this unique outlet to bring yours to the forefront!

Details with the necessary Zoom information is in PDEnroller. Please sign up for this training in PDEnroller prior to its start so everything is properly set up for each user. Should you need additional information, contact Conor Schober at cschober@osd.wednet.edu.

• OSD Social Media Workshop: Thursday, September 24 from 5-6 p.m.