Month: March 2022

Scenic photo of the week

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Close-up of yellow flower with rain drops on the petals
Photo by Rebecca Witt, Team Support Paraprofessional, Student Support

OSD employees are encouraged to send us a photo of their artwork portraying nature (e.g., landscapes, sunrises or sunsets, an interesting cloud formation, a close-up of a flower) for consideration in this staff blog. Your image can be something you captured on canvas, in a photograph, on a textile, in a pencil, charcoal or pastel drawing, with wire — the possibilities are endless!

Guidelines:

  • Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
  • Attach a photo of your original art in jpeg or png format to an email and send to communications@osd.wednet.edu. The higher the resolution, the better.
  • Photos must be in-focus and cropped so the art is visible.
  • Include your name, title, work location, and if applicable, where the image was taken (you can name the city, for example, or provide even more specific details (e.g. sunset taken from Long Beach, WA). This information will be included with each image published.

Depending on the number of images submitted, we will print one or more in each issue of the staff blog.

Note: While the staff blog is emailed to OSD employees, if anyone shares the link it could mean your image is visible to others outside our district. If you are concerned about copyright of your image, we would suggest you not submit for posting.

We look forward to seeing more images in our email inbox!

Spring Break schedule

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Pink flowers on a bush

All Olympia School District schools will be closed for Spring Break from Monday, April 4 through Friday, April 8, 2022. Classes resume on Monday, April 11. The district Knox 111 Administrative Center will also be closed to the public during Spring Break. Normal hours of operation will resume on Monday, April 11.

Flags lowered to half-staff for two remembrances

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Flags lowered to half staff in front of Avanti High School building

Gov. Jay Inslee directed earlier this week that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities, including schools and support buildings, be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of two individuals:

  • Flags are flying at half-staff today, Friday, March 25, 2022 in memory of Pierce County Deputy Sheriff Dominique Calata, who died in the line of duty on March 16. Flags will remain at half-staff until close of business or sunset today.
  • Flags were lowered to half staff on Wednesday, March 23 in honor and remembrance of former Secretary of State Madeleine Korbel Albright. Flags will return to full staff on Monday morning, March 28, 2022.

All flag lowerings are also posted at the top of the district Home page under Announcements.

Explore the Kami Library

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Image shows Trending Resources in the Kami LIbrary, including Frayer Model, Gratitude Journal, digital Notebook, Ludo, Venn Diagram 2 Circles, Checkers, Chutes & Ladders, and Notice and Wonder Notes

Kami has just released the Kami Library, a collection of ready-to-go and editable templates. In the library you can find graphic organizers, activities, SEL check-ins and more. The Kami library can be accessed by clicking the Kami extension in Chrome or by visiting https://www.kamiapp.com/library. Templates from the library can be opened and edited using Kami or downloaded for printing. Kami is a PDF annotation tool that runs as an extension in Chrome and is fully integrated in Schoology. More information on Kami and how to use it with students can be found in the Kami module of the OSD Tech Tool PD Series.

Equity policy development

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Superintendent Patrick Murphy and Board President
Superintendent Patrick Murphy and Olympia School Board President Maria Flores review district data during an “equity data dive” at the March 3, 2022 board work session.

The Olympia School District is committed to creating an equitable school district that serves ALL students well. As part of that commitment, the district is developing and implementing an Equity Policy that will include procedures and accountability measures. The policy will be collaboratively designed with the community to ensure a more inclusive school and work culture that promotes equity and addresses systemic and institutional barriers that have historically marginalized students, staff and families.

Learn more on the Equity Policy Development webpage

Scenic photo of the week

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Photo showing moon rising over OIlympia, with city lights reflecting on the water
“Moonrise over Olympia,” by Ruth Middlebrook, Director of Student Support, Secondary

OSD employees are encouraged to send us a photo of their artwork portraying nature (e.g., landscapes, sunrises or sunsets, an interesting cloud formation, a close-up of a flower) for consideration in this staff blog. Your image can be something you captured on canvas, in a photograph, on a textile, in a pencil, charcoal or pastel drawing, with wire — the possibilities are endless!

Guidelines:

  • Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
  • Attach a photo of your original art in jpeg or png format to an email and send to communications@osd.wednet.edu. The higher the resolution, the better.
  • Photos must be in-focus and cropped so the art is visible.
  • Include your name, title, work location, and if applicable, where the image was taken (you can name the city, for example, or provide even more specific details (e.g. sunset taken from Long Beach, WA). This information will be included with each image published.

Depending on the number of images submitted, we will print one or more in each issue of the staff blog.

Note: While the staff blog is emailed to OSD employees, if anyone shares the link it could mean your image is visible to others outside our district. If you are concerned about copyright of your image, we would suggest you not submit for posting.

We look forward to seeing more images in our email inbox!

Schoology workshops for paraeducators

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Cluster of wooden Scrabble-like tiles that spell out LEARN

The following was submitted by the Teaching & Learning Team and Human Resources Department

Background

Olympia School District believes in supporting a Whole Child education as outlined in the vision of our six Student Outcomes within our District Improvement Plan. Similarly, we believe Whole Educator supports are important so that our classified, certificated and administrative educators are supported, engaged, healthy, safe and empowered to exercise learning courage.

Within the area of empowering paraeducators to exercise learning courage, we are working on increasing workshop offerings specific to the role of paraeducators. This is in support of the General Paraeducator Certificate.

Upcoming OSD workshop

  • Schoology for Paraeducators   
    • March 29, 4-5 p.m. via Zoom 
    • One hour synchronous Zoom workshop to learn how you, as a paraeducator, can use Schoology to support student learning. During this hour we will navigate through the Schoology platform, navigate within Schoology courses and explore resources in Schoology groups.
    • This course is facilitated by Sue Williams (Teaching & Learning Team) and Jamie Sproul (Technology Department)

Upcoming regional workshops

  • Framework for Equity in Computer Science Video Lunch and Learn
    • March 18, April 22, May 6, 12–1 p.m. via Zoom 
    • Join us to watch and reflect on four of the core components of the Framework for Equity in Computer Science from the Kapor Center. Participants will view a video panel discussion of each of the components. We will meet four Fridays beginning in March for our lunch discussion. We will meet weekly from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on these dates.
    • This course is facilitated by Shannon Thissen & Cherly Lydon (OSPI)

  • WIDA eWorkshop: The WIDA Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
    • Self-Paced
    • This eWorkshop is designed to strengthen instructional practices that focus on language for learning using the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. There are six modules in this eWorkshop. Educators can use the six modules as shared professional development by going through the modules on the same weekly schedule and then meeting to discuss the topics of each module. There are discussion questions to support this approach. These modules provide self-paced learning and educators are free to engage at the pace that best fits their own needs and context.
    • This course is overseen by Virginia Morales (OSPI).

Fundamental Course of Study training for paraeducators hired in 2021-22 school year

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Person typing on a laptop computer

This is an update on the Fundamental Course of Study (FCS) training for paraeducators hired in the 2021-22 school year. This training is part of the Paraeducator Certificate Program. You are required to take the first 14 hours of training (out of 28) during your first year as a paraeducator.

The required 14 hours are now available asynchronously. You can register on pdEnroller using the links provided below. 

Introduction to Cultural Identity & Diversity (4 hours)
Methods of Educational & Instructional Support (4 hours)
Data Collection & Use (1 hour)
Safe, Positive Learning Environment (3 hours)
Communication Basics (2 hours)

All 14 hours are due no later than July 31, 2022. You MUST click on the attendance link at the end of each course and submit your information for tracking purposes. Once completed, you should receive a clock hour form(s) from the ESD 113. A copy of your clock hour forms should be sent via email to April Pigue at apigue@osd.wednet.edu for tracking purposes. PLEASE KEEP THE ORIGINAL CLOCK HOUR FORMS FOR YOUR RECORDS.

Synchronous training (via Zoom) for units 01, 02, 04 and 11 was offered earlier in the year with the ESD 113. If you missed some of the units, you can use the links provided to complete the remaining training.  Please note that FCS10 was always asynchronous. If you have already completed all 14 hours, please disregard. 

For Questions About:

pdEnroller/Registration Help: Dianna Avery – davery@esd113.org
Tracking/Remaining Units: April Pigue – apigue@osd.wednet.edu
General FCS Inquiries (Secondary Paras): Aja Dale – adale@osd.wednet.edu
General FCS Inquires (Elementary Paras): Laura Emmil – lemmil@osd.wednet.edu

Additional Resources:

OSD Paraeducator Certificate Program FAQ
PESB Paraeducator Board Certificate Overview
OSPI Paraeducator Certification

Olympia School Board honors new and renewed National Board Certified Teachers

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Olympia School Board members pose with three of this year's new or recertified National Board Certified Teachers. NBCT honorees shown include Jason Finney, Erica Kinsel and Corrine Taiji.

The Olympia School Board honored this year’s new and renewed National Board Certified Teachers during a special recognition at the start of the March 10 regular board meeting.

Created by teachers, for teachers, the National Board Standards represent a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from Pre-K through 12th grade.

The certification process requires that teachers demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning in alignment with Five Core Propositions. They must exhibit a deep understanding of their students, content knowledge, use of data and assessments and teaching practice. They must also show that they participate in learning communities and provide evidence of ongoing reflection and continuous learning.

Congratulations to:

NEW NBCT

  • Jason Finney, Garfield Elementary School, Generalist/Middle Childhood

RECERTIFIED NBCT

  • Erica Kinsel, Olympia High School, World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
  • Hallie Meaney, Olympia High School, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young
  • Chelsea Peterson, Olympia High School, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Corrine Taiji, McLane Elementary School, School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Danelle Wright, Washington Middle School/Mathematics/Early Adolescence