Thinking about retiring or resigning from OSD?

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

At this time of year, the Human Resources department begins to receive numerous resignation/retirement notifications from employees. The district would like to assist in making the transition as easy as possible. A Notice of Separation form helps to ensure that your separation from the district is processed how you envision. Your last physical working day and/or your effective separation date (if different) can have an impact on the timing of your last paycheck, when your benefits will end (if applicable), and your retirement benefits (if applicable).

If you have decided to separate from service, please complete a Notice of Separation form and submit the completed form to the Human Resources Department for processing. Please note that the employee is still responsible for informing their building principal and/or supervisor.

For questions, please contact your HR contract specialist:

Cassie Lewis – calewis@osd.wednet.edu
OTPAA, OEAPA, and Teamster units (Food Services, Technology, Transportation, Custodians, Maintenance and Grounds)

Laura Emmillemmil@osd.wednet.edu
Elementary Paraeducators, Knox Paraeducators, Bus Monitors, Classified Administrators, and Non-Represented positions

Aja Daleadale@osd.wednet.edu
Secondary Paraeducators (including ORLA) and Coaches

Maureen Bakermbaker@osd.wednet.edu
OEA (Teachers & Itinerant Staff), Principals, and Certificated Administrators

School board to honor Employee Recognition Award winners at May 26 meeting

Row of spotlights on a ceiling

Congratulations to each of the 2022 Olympia School District Employee Recognition Award winners, who will be honored at the Thursday, May 26 school board meeting.

The school board will recognize the winners at the start of the board meeting on Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in person and on Zoom. View meeting details and Zoom links.

This annual awards program is designed to recognize employees from throughout the district in several categories. All employees districtwide were invited to send in nominations, and a screening committee reviewed the entries and selected the winners.

The Champion of Differences

“Celebrates Diversity” – Any staff member who, by their actions, celebrates the values and differences of individual groups.

  • Tagg Seyer, Speech Language Pathologist, Capital High School

The Innovator

“Changes Making a Difference” – Any staff member who demonstrates innovative strategies that significantly improve the district mission.”

  • Conor Schober, Community Relations Coordinator, Communications and Community Relations Department

The Unsung Hero

“Goes the Extra Mile” – Any staff member who continually gets results with little or no fanfare.

  • Nancy Swanson, Bilingual Family Engagement Specialist, Teaching & Learning/Family Welcome Center at Roosevelt Elementary School

The Coach

“Supports Others” – Any staff member who plays a unique role in enabling others to excel.

  • David Johnston, Graduation Specialist, Capital High School

The Dream Team:

“Above and Beyond” – Any group of staff members working together to help students succeed in or out of the classroom.

  • Sarah Wernke’s DLC, Hansen Elementary
  • Katie Savinski and Jennifer Cronquist, Instructional Coaches, Teaching & Learning

Nearly 150 people attend OSD Annual Ice Cream Social

Two attendees at ice cream social are seated at a table smiling with ice cream on the table in front of them. People can be seen at other tables behind them, although the background is muted.

Nearly 150 people, including OSD employees, families and friends attended the OSD Annual Ice Cream Social on May 23, 2022 in the Olympia High School Commons.

Guests enjoyed ice cream and toppings as they celebrated this year’s OSD retirees and school advocates, as well as the Olympia Education Association Teacher of the Year and Gary Brown Award winners.

The after-school event kicked off with a special surprise recognition: Superintendent Patrick Murphy welcomed Washington State Rep. Laurie Dolan to the podium and announced that starting this year, the school advocate awards will be presented in her honor as the “Laurie Dolan School Advocate of the Year Award.”

The event was captured on Facebook Live. View the video

Scenic photos of the week

Sunset with reeds in the foreground taken at Browns Pt WA
Sunset at Browns Point, WA, by Heidi Brown-Ordillas, LEAP paraeducator, Roosevelt Elementary School

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.

Cherry blossoms at the state Capital
“Spring Cherry Blossoms at the State Capitol,” by Lacie Williams, Administrative Assistant, Student Support

Join us for May 31 District Celebration webinar on Zoom

Photo taken of a classroom from the back of the room showing students in a class and a teacher at an interactive white board teaching

Staff are invited to join the community for a one-hour “District Celebration” webinar on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The webinar will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom (see Zoom details below).

OSD students, staff, family members and community partners will be recognized for their contributions to schools and the community. 

This District Celebration, which is planned to become an annual event, will be the last in a series of monthly webinars that are recorded and posted on the district website this year. Listen to past webinar recordings.

May 31, 2022 Zoom details:

Please follow this link to join the webinar: https://osd111.zoom.us/j/86109688541

Or One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,86109688541#  or +16699006833,,86109688541#

Or Telephone:

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

Webinar ID:

861 0968 8541

International numbers available: https://osd111.zoom.us/u/kpNEzp5sD

Governor directs flags lowered to half-staff May 24 through May 30

Flags fly at half staff in front of Avanti HS

Governor Inslee directed on Tuesday afternoon, May 24, 2022, that Washington State and United States flags at all state agencies, including schools and support buildings, be lowered to half-staff immediately “in honor and remembrance of the victims who tragically lost their lives on May 24, 2022 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.”

Flags should remain at half staff through Monday, May 30, which is Memorial Day. This federal holiday is in remembrance of those who lost their lives while serving in the country’s armed forces.

Flags return to full-staff at all OSD schools and support buildings on Tuesday, May 31.

Complete 2022-23 budget survey by June 3

Each spring as the district plans the next school year’s budget, students, staff, parents/guardians and community members are asked to share their priorities for how the district should spend its local and state resources.

This year, we ask that participants complete several short sections of an online budget survey to help us plan for the 2022-23 school year. The deadline to complete the survey is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022.

Please submit one survey per person.

Take the survey

Scenic photos of the week

Normal oxidization of copper piping in ORLA mechanical room
“Normal oxidization of copper piping in ORLA Mechanical Room,” by Matthew Murdock, Maintenance Electrician, Support Services Center

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.

Sunrise photo with trees in the foreground
“Sunrise in Snohomish, WA,” by Amanda Whitehouse, Second Grade Teacher, LP Brown Elementary

DRS announces Nearing Retirement Seminar-webinars

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

Is retirement around the corner? The Department of Retirement Systems’ Education & Outreach team offers Nearing Retirement Seminar-webinars.  The next one is Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Although the Nearing Retirement Seminars are open to all employees, they are designed for those who plan to retire within the next few years.  Basic retirement plan information will not be provided at these seminars, but it’s important to understand the basics of your plan prior to attending.  If you would like to brush up, we encourage you to select your retirement plan and watch the recorded webinar video:

PERS Plan 1
TRS Plan 1
Plan 2: PERS, SERS, TRS
Plan 3: PERS, SERS, TRS
Plan 3 withdrawals
DCP withdrawals

Select Nearing Retirement Seminars for more information and how to join.  Be advised that while you can pre-register, you don’t have to.  From the seminar page, just select ‘Join’ 10-15 minutes prior to start. 

If you are unable to attend a live event, scroll down the seminar page and you will find recorded seminar videos you can watch at a time that is more convenient.

If you are a member of SERS or TRS, in addition to attending a seminar I encourage you to review: When is the best time to retire?