Month: June 2022

Class of 2022 graduation livestream recordings

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Two Capital HS graduates reach across the aisle to bump fists during the graduation ceremony

Graduation season for the Class of 2022 has officially wrapped up and all of our senior classes have walked across their respective stages. If you were unable to attend one of our five graduation ceremonies this year, or didn’t catch the livestream, you can find all of our graduation recordings on our ‘Class of 2022 Graduation Livestream’ Facebook Playlist, or follow the links below for whichever individual graduation video you’re interested in watching:

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

Scenic photos of the week

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Green bee on an orange flower
“Metallic Buzz,” by Rachel McKaughan, Secondary Science Teacher, ORLA. The photo is a green bee (Agapostemon – translates to ‘stamen loving’) taken at Seattle’s Bradner Gardens Park in June 2022.

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. Photos submitted during the 2021-22 school year will continue to be published over the summer.

Snail on a post
“Snail on a Post,” by Mai Skillman, Head Custodian, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

OSDEF seeks new members to serve on volunteer Board of Trustees

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OSDEF Logo with image of stick figures of an adult and children and the name of the Foundation beneath

The Education Foundation is looking for new members to serve on its Board of Trustees. The Foundation has posted the following on its website:

This is an exciting time to join, with many efforts under way intended to further strengthen our organization, programs and fundraising.

We are committed to including all voices from our community to better inform, improve and enrich the programs and services we offer, including our:

  • Principal’s Emergency Fund, which supports students who have urgent basic needs.
  • Teaching & Learning Grants, which enhance student learning, address opportunity gaps, and meet needs that the District and individual schools cannot.
  • Mental Health Initiative, which provides resources intended to improve student mental health.

We have identified our highest priorities for new members as:

  • Individuals who have the time, energy and passion to dive right in and would welcome the opportunity to eventually take on a Board leadership role.
  • People with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences that reflect our mission to empower every student.
  • People who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, and/or are multilingual.
  • Individuals with a professional background in mental health, marketing and nonprofits.
  • Those who are LGBTQIAA+.
  • People who are living in or have experienced poverty.
  • High school students who are or will be enrolled in the Olympia School District for the 2022-2023 school year.

Responsibilities

You can learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees here. The average time commitment per month for a Trustee is four hours.

Application Process

Help us get to know you by completing our Volunteer Form. (If you need it in an alternative format, contact info@osdef.org or 360.596.6110.) We will consider applications on a rolling basis and interview final candidates this summer.

Other Opportunities

We plan to offer opportunities to serve on issue-specific advisory committees and will announce those details in the coming months. We are always looking for people who would like to help with our fund-raising events (Aug. 26 golf tournament and Oct. 7 breakfast event) or in the office. Use the same Volunteer Form and tell us you’d like to help with these activities.

Questions?

Need more information before applying? Don’t hesitate to contact Executive Director Katy Johansson at info@osdef.org.

Listen to District Celebration webinar recording

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Photo showing Lincoln Elementary teacher at the front of the classroom with a room of students seated on the floor listening.

OSD students, staff, family members and community partners were recognized for their contributions to schools and the community this year during a one-hour District Celebration webinar on May 31, 2022.

Olympia School Board President Maria Flores joined Superintendent Patrick Murphy for the one-hour Zoom celebration. Flores and Murphy shared about each of the honorees and then presented each one with a unique certificate recognizing their efforts.

The District Celebration, which is planned to become an annual event, was the last in a series of monthly community webinars that addressed various topics.

Scenic photos of the week

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Sunrise over Mt. Rainier
“Sunrise” taken at Tumwater Hill by Mindy Smolinski, Paraeducator, Capital High 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.

wooden train tracks painted with rainbow colors that run along the water on a foggy day
“A Rainbow in the Fog” taken at Budd Inlet in West Bay, Olympia, by Nadine Owen, Restorative Room Supervisor, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

Paraeducators: Note change in due date for asynchronous FCS training

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Laptop computer on a desk with stack of books and pencils

There has been a change to the due date for the asynchronous FCS training through the ESD 113.  The current system that provides the training will be going through an update beginning in July and the old system will no longer be available. 

The new due date for the asynchronous FCS training will now be June 30, 2022.

As a reminder, please send a copy of your completed clock hour forms to April Pigue for tracking/attendance purposes no later than July 31, 2022.  Please keep the original form for your records. In order to be eligible for the stipend, you must have completed 14 hours of FCS during the 2021-22 school year.

Registration links to the courses can be found on the OSD Paraeducator Certificate Program FAQ found here.  

Reasonable Assurance Letters in Skyward Employee Access

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Below is a copy of an email sent today, June 14, 2022, to OSD classified employees that meet specific criteria outlined below:

Human Resources will be issuing reasonable assurance letters to classified employees that meet the following criteria:

  • Your work calendar has less than 260 workdays per year and
  • You have a continuing position for the 2022-2023 school year

Letters will be issued via Skyward today, June 14, 2022. Classified employees will need to check their OSD email for notification on when their letter is available for review and signature. Once available, employees need to log in to Employee Access on Skyward. There will be a pop-up with a link to the letter and instructions for each step.  Letters need to be reviewed and signed no later than June 30, 2022.

You may find step-by-step instructions on how to access and sign your RA Letter by clicking here.

If you plan to resign or retire prior to the 2022-23 school year, please complete the Notice of Separation form and send it to the Human Resources department.

Please note: The employee is still responsible for notifying the administrator.

For questions, please contact:

Laura Emmil
Classified Contracts Coordinator (Elementary Paras, Bus Monitors & Knox Paras)
Email: lemmil@osd.wednet.edu

Aja Dale
Classified Contracts Coordinator (Secondary Paras)
Email: adale@osd.wednet.edu

Cassie Lewis
Labor Relations/Classified Contracts Coordinator (OEAPA & OTPAA, Transportation, Maintenance, Grounds & Food Service)
Email: calewis@osd.wednet.edu

Most of Skyward unavailable July 1 and 19, 2022 for year-end maintenance

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Abstract art of interconnected blue laser lights crossing

The Student Information Systems and Child Nutrition Services departments will be conducting year-end processes on two dates in July.

Skyward will be unavailable on Friday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 19 for the following systems: Student Management, Family Access, Student Access and Educator Access. The system will be locked at 7 p.m. the night before each of these days. 

Note: Financial Management and Human Resources will remain unlocked and unaffected during these two dates.

Students encouraged to apply to be a student representative on the school board

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The Olympia School Board is recruiting four Student Board Representatives for the 2022-23 school year.

The board is expanding student voice starting in the 2022-23 school year. Instead of having two student representatives on the board, there will be four – one junior or senior from Avanti, Capital, and Olympia high schools, and one eleventh or twelfth grader from Olympia Regional Learning Academy.

Students will serve from the time they take their oath on June 23, 2022 until June 30, 2023.

If you know a student who will be a junior or senior in fall 2022 and is interested in being a student board representative, please encourage them to fill out and submit the online application. The deadline to submit this application is 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Emmie San Nicolas at esannicolas@osd.wednet.edu, or call (360) 596-6114.

For more information about the eligibility and requirements for serving as a student representative, please visit the Student Representatives webpage.

Below is the Student Representative 2022-23 Selection Timeline:

  •  June 2 – 12: Applications accepted
  •  June 12: Application deadline: 11 p.m.
  •  June 13: Application screening
  •  June 16: Student interviews; reference check
  •  June 17: Final selection; Students notified
  •  June 23: Swearing in New Student Board Representatives @ 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting
  •  TBD: New Student Board Representative onboarding