Month: March 2022

Learn about balanced calendar at March 15 webinar

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Graphic image of two hands holding a magnifying glass pointing to a month calendar

Staff, students, families and the community are invited to a one-hour Zoom webinar on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 to learn about balanced calendar and ask questions.

The webinar will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom (see Zoom details below).

Superintendent Patrick Murphy will be joined in the webinar by School Board Director Scott Clifthorne and Community Member Sandy Hallstrom. Both Clifthorne and Hallstrom also serve this year on a Citizen Advisory Committee focused on exploring the balanced calendar concept. More information about the committee’s work is posted on the Citizen Advisory Committee Balanced Calendar webpage.

After a brief introduction, Superintendent Murphy, Director Clifthorne and Hallstrom will address questions posed by participants during the Zoom webinar and/or emailed in advance. If you are unable to attend, feel free to email questions in advance to: communications@osd.wednet.edu.

The monthly community webinars, which started in October 2021, are recorded and posted on the district website. Listen to past webinar recordings.

March 15, 2022 Zoom details:

Please follow this link to join the webinar:
https://osd111.zoom.us/s/87542327401Opening in a new window

Or One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,87542327401# US (Tacoma)

Or Telephone:
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799

Webinar ID:
875 4232 7401

International numbers available: https://osd111.zoom.us/u/k00IoHHRw

Scenic photo of the week

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Rainbow over the Port of Tacoma photo
Rainbow Over the Port of Tacoma, Dawn Spiker, Resource Specialist Teacher, Hansen Elementary School

Last week we encouraged OSD employees 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 – the possibilities are endless) for consideration in this staff blog. We have already received several entries and will feature a new one every week. Your image could be something you captured on canvas, in a photograph, on a textile, in a pencil, charcoal or pastel drawing, with wire, etc.

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!

Employee Assistance Program provides support to employees and dependents

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White ceramic teacup sits on railing with mountains and lake in the distance

Personal issues, planning for life events or simply managing daily life can affect an employee’s work, health and family.

First Choice Health provides 24/7 support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. Services include support for anxiety and depression, couples/relationship/parenting, crisis support, alcohol/drug problems, grief and loss, domestic violence, and more.

Learn more by viewing the Employee Assistance Program flyer

OSD Community Resources Webpage

Additionally, community agencies are available to assist youth and families.

A compilation of resources and information, including a list of local and national crisis hotlines, support groups, counseling resources and more are posted on the district website.

Oly Bear preschool registration March 14-22 for OSD employees

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Oly Bear Preschool registration opens on Monday, March 14 and continues through March 22, 2022 for OSD employees and their families.

Details about the preschool, including the ages served, tuition and more can be found on the OlyBear webpage on the Olympia High School website. For more information, please contact Preschool Director Shelly Wilson at mlwilson@osd.wednet.edu or (360) 596-7021.

To register, download, fill out and return the Oly Bear registration form to Oly Bear preschool located at Olympia High School.

Congratulations to OSD Teacher of the Year Carolyn Gilman

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Superintendent Patrick Murphy, OHS English Teacher Carolyn Gilman, and OHS Principal Matt Grant are joined by the OSD School Board in a posed photo after the OSD Teacher of the Year recognition at the Feb. 24 board meeting.

Congratulations to Olympia High School English teacher Carolyn Gilman, who has been named this year’s Olympia School District Teacher of the Year.

Gilman’s colleagues rose to their feet and erupted in applause and cheers when Superintendent Patrick Murphy made the surprise announcement during an Olympia High staff meeting. Watch video of the surprise announcement

Gilman started teaching in Olympia School District in the 2002-03 school year at Washington Middle School. She moved the following year to Olympia High School where she has been teaching ever since. She is a National Board Certified Teacher.

The school board presented Gilman with an etched plaque at the February 24 board meeting. Principal Matt Grant joined Gilman at the meeting and shared about her many contributions to Olympia High School. Her family, and several of her students, also attended the board recognition.

In his nomination letter, Grant wrote, “She has been a culture changer in our school who has helped many students find their voice and place in our school community.  I have been impressed with her engaging and creative instructional skills, her ability to find extensions outside the classroom, and her knack to inspire students to find their voice through speaking and writing.”

Congratulations Carolyn!

Education Support Professionals Week is March 7-11

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The Olympia School Board is joined by leaders from OSD education support bargaining units

The Olympia School District is recognizing Education Support Professionals Week March 7-11.

Superintendent Patrick Murphy read a proclamation during the February 24 Olympia School Board meeting recognizing March 7-11, 2022 as Education Support Professionals Week. Copies of the proclamation will be sent to leaders of the district’s Education Support employee bargaining units, many of whom were in attendance either in-person or on the Zoom meeting. They include:

OTPAA
Amy McGuire and Alicia Snyder

OPA
Mario Mejia

OEAPA
Brandi Sorem and Wendy Rae

OEA-AAA
Melvin Smith

Teamsters

  • William Knight (Technology)
  • Matthew Murdock (Maintenance)
  • Devin Guy (Maintenance)
  • Tim Walling (Grounds)
  • Mary Hiatt (Custodial)
  • Calvin Dawson (Custodial)
  • Humberto Briseno (Transportation)
  • Jason Cornelius (Transportation)
  • Colleen McDonald (Transportation)
  • Sandra Keyt (Child Nutrition Services)

More than 800 education support professionals work with and help children throughout our district. They are involved in nearly every aspect of education, including maintaining school buildings and school grounds; providing administrative support; preparing and serving meals; providing safe transportation; keeping school facilities clean; assisting in the classroom; providing a secure environment; providing information technology and media services; and offering other specialized services.

The resolution states in part that “education support professionals are instrumental in fulfilling the state’s responsibility to educate all students.” The one-page resolution, which will be posted in every school and support building from March 7-11, also states that by supporting the learning environment, “education support professionals are crucial partners with teachers, parents, administrators and school boards.”

Please remember to thank an education support professional working in our schools.

Read the full Olympia School District proclamation

Calling all OSD artists from novice to professional! Submit nature/scenic entries for blog

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Sunset over the Knox 111 Administrative. Building March 2 2022. Trees frame the night sky.
Sunset over the Knox 111 Administrative Center. Photo by OSD Communications and Community Relations.

As a fun addition to our weekly staff blog, we invite employees to send us photos of their artwork portraying nature (e.g. landscapes, sunrises or sunsets, an interesting cloud formation, a close-up of a flower – the possibilities are endless). Your image could be something you captured on canvas, in a photograph, on a textile, in a pencil, charcoal or pastel drawing, with wire, etc.

Guidelines:

  • Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
  • Send photographs of your art in jpeg or png format 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.

Now that you know the basics, don’t hesitate to start sending away! Email us at communications@osd.wednet.edu.

K-12 Ellison Education Grant applications due by March 26, 2022

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Laptop computer open with a blank screen on a table with a coffee cup, pencils in a wooden holder, and books on the table.

Applications are being accepted for the “Ellison Education Grants.” Grants are intended for K-12 public school teachers in Washington State.  The Ellison Foundation will award grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 in the spring of 2022 (for use during the 2022-23 school year). 

Applications must be submitted by March 26, 2022.

To learn more about the “Ellison Education Grants” please go to the following link:

 http://ellison-foundation.org/ellison-education

Accessibility guides available on the district website

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Cluster of wooden Scrabble-like tiles that spell out LEARN

The Olympia School District is committed to providing accessible content for our students and our community. To aid in this effort, the Communications department has created and gathered a wealth of resources on the creation of accessible documents for posting to the web.

These resources may be found on the district’s Website Accessibility Resources page, and they cover the most popular tools used within the district, including:

Please take advantage of these resources when producing documents intended for the web. If you use a unique software suite, or if you have accessibility questions in general, please reach out to the Communications Department.