Teaching & Learning

Board honors National Board Certified Teachers

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The Olympia School Board honored this year’s new and renewed National Board Certified Teachers during a special recognition at the start of the April 13 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

  • Megan Anderson, McKenny Elementary School, Early Childhood Generalist
  • Andrea Barranger, Lincoln Elementary School, Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Christy Cole, Roosevelt Elementary School, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Juliana Tracht, LP Brown Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Andrew Woodbridge, Olympia High School, Career And Technical Education/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood

RECERTIFIED NBCT

  • Ericka Boysen, Jefferson Middle School, Mathematics – Early Adolescence
  • Emily Carson, Olympia High School, Adolescence And Young Adulthood Earth and Space Science
  • Erin Gehrke, Hansen Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
  • Meredith McCann-Leo, Capital High School, French Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
  • Jennifer Mettler, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Science/Early Adolescence
  • Spence Olmsted, Roosevelt Elementary School, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
  • Anita Roedell, Centennial Elementary School, Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Aaron Schofield, Washington Middle School, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood

Panorama spring survey scheduled March 29-April 16

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OSD students, staff and families will be asked to participate in the Panorama Spring Survey between March 29 and April 16.

Links to the staff surveys are also available in the OSD staff portal. Here is a quick overview:

What:

The Panorama Spring Survey is a survey that our students, families and staff members will take to gauge our overall well-being. Some of the items we explore include:

  • Do our students feel a strong sense of belonging?
  • Do our families feel like they are heard?
  • Do our staff feel supported?

The data that we receive from the Panorama survey will inform decision-making.

Why:

  • Using Panorama makes the well-being of students, our families, and our staff the fundamental value in all decision-making and actions.
  • The Panorama climate survey (in Fall and in Spring) is the bare minimum of hearing from our students and our families to inform our decision-making.
  • The Panorama Climate Survey allows us to get a temperature check of where we are as a community. It allows us to see where we may need to dive deeper into our data to be intentional in our support. While we need to make sure we have multiple ways of hearing from and partnering with our students and families, the climate survey is one of the unique opportunities in which we can potentially hear from all of our students and families.

When:

Panorama Spring Survey: March 29 – April 16, 2023

Please check with your school when it will host the Panorama Spring Survey

How:

  • Students will take the Panorama survey in class (as designated by each school).
  • Staff and families will be emailed a Panorama survey link to complete. The information and link for families is posted on the school district website.
  • Surveys are provided in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Individual Professional Growth Grant applications for 2022-23 school year due by April 1

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Letter tiles spell out Application

The Teaching and Learning Department is pleased to announce the opening of Individual Professional Growth Grants (IPGG) for the period of June 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023 (only courses completed during this time frame will be considered).

Grant Applications Closes: April 1, 2023 by 5 p.m.
Documentation of Personal Payment Due: August 30, 2023 (final date for submission)

For IPGG applications to be considered applicants must:

  • Complete all questions within the IPGG grant application
  • Upload the Professional Development Verification Document
  • Answer Prompt 1 and Prompt 2
  • Provide receipts and verification of attendance or explanation

Examples of Professional Development the IPGG Grants can fund:

  • Conference Registration Fees
  • Workshop Registration Fees
  • Tuition for Coursework
  • Fees for National Board Certification

Supports for writing the IPGG grant application:
IPGG Rubric: Rubric for Prompts and examples of Distinguished, Proficient, and Basic answers.

The IPGG is only available to active members of the OEA bargaining unit.

For the complete IPGG grant information and to apply for the IPGG grant:

IPGG Application Packet

If you have further questions about the application process, please email Melissa Hayes at mhayes@osd.wednet.edu

Reminder: Ellison Education Grant applications due by April 1

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Tin cans filled with pencils, pens and paintbrushes

Applications are being accepted through April 1, 2023 for “Ellison Education Grants.”

Ellison Education Grants were created to empower and support Washington State’s most effective, innovative and inspirational K- 12 public school teachers. Their goal is to support lifelong achievement and success of Washington State students. This is done by providing support to educators who design academic enrichment curriculum for students and or professional learning experiences for their current practice. The Ellison Foundation supports a classroom teacher’s expertise in understanding their own professional learning needs and the needs of their students. 

The Ellison Foundation wishes to award at least 12 grants in the Spring of 2023 for the 2023-24 school year. Grant amounts range between $1,000 and $10,000.

To learn more about the “Ellison Education Grants,” please visit the Ellison Education Grants webpage.

OSD student-developed equity surveys available; update on equity policy focus groups

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The Olympia School District’s Equity Policy Steering Committee (EPSC) is pleased to announce the launch of the OSD Student Developed Equity Surveys for OSD secondary students, educators and families.

In partnership with OSD Board Members, the Superintendent’s Office, the Teaching and Learning Department and supporting team members from across the district, student board representatives met over the last few months to develop and refine the survey questions. Survey questions are directed at topics and issues directly affecting students daily lives; some questions may be difficult to answer.

The survey data collected is anonymous and all questions are optional. Honest opinions and thorough participation in these surveys and the data collected will be used to help Olympia students and the EPSC inform the development of our district’s Equity Policy this spring to serve ALL interested parties districtwide.

Participate in the OSD Equity Policy Surveys by March 31, 2023:

Submit questions to the OSD Equity Team. For more information on this process, or should you have any additional questions, please email Equity@osd.wednet.edu.

In-Person Equity Policy Focus Groups Update:

March 4, 2023: Open-Registration Focus Group

  • Location: Garfield Elementary School
  • Room: Library
  • Time: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Registration

March 18, 2023: Open-Registration Focus Group

  • Location: Lincoln Elementary School
  • Room: Library
  • Time: 2-3:30 p.m.
  • Registration

Virtual Equity Policy Focus Groups Update:

Students, Parents/Families, and Community Members can now sign up for virtual equity policy focus groups to share your thoughts with the District to help inform the development of the District’s equity policy.

To be added as a participant to an upcoming virtual focus group, select an available date and time here or select the link below. The virtual focus groups are scheduled as follows:

  • Dates: 3/2, 3/8
  • Start Time: 6 pm – 7:30 p.m.
  • Format: Zoom
  • Maximum # of Participants per Focus Group: 20
  • Registration: Google Form

After you sign up, the Zoom meeting invitation will be sent to the email address you provided. Please try to join the meeting a few minutes early to ensure the Zoom application is up-to-date and so we can honor each other’s time.

Olympia Garden Club Educational Grant application due by March 24

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A person's hands are shown planting a green seedling in dirt

The Olympia Garden Club offers grants to Thurston County teachers who incorporate projects promoting gardening, horticulture or environmental science.

Grant applications are due by Friday, March 24, 2023. Applicants should describe how this grant would be used to enhance the horticultural or environmental science curriculum. Please list the cost of materials/supplies/services you want to purchase with grant funds. Student involvement in grant preparation is encouraged.

Apply for the Olympia Garden Club grant

Apply by April 1 for Ellison Education Grants

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

The Ellison Education Grants were created to empower and support Washington State’s most effective, innovative and inspirational K- 12 public school teachers. Their goal is to support lifelong achievement and success of Washington State students. This is done by providing support to educators who design academic enrichment curriculum for students and or professional learning experiences for their current practice. The Ellison Foundation supports a classroom teacher’s expertise in understanding their own professional learning needs and the needs of their students. The Ellison Foundation has awarded 83 grants and $381,000 in the last six years.

The Ellison Foundation wishes to award at least 12 grants in the Spring of 2023 for the 2023-24 school year. Grant amounts range between $1,000 and $10,000.

Applications are accepted from January 9 through April 1, 2023.

To learn more about the “Ellison Education Grants,” please visit the Ellison Education Grants webpage.

2022 OSD Holiday Concert Schedule

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Two middle school students dressed in white shirts and red bow ties (Washington Middle School colors) pose for a photo during a band concert

Friends, family and the public are invited to attend our Olympia School District 2022 holiday concerts. Please be aware that any concert dates/times (listed below) will be updated on the district website should there be any changes.

December 1, 2022

Reeves Middle School Band & Orchestra Winter Concert

  • 7 pm – Olympia High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

December 5, 2022

Washington Middle School Orchestra Concert

  •  7 pm – Olympia High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

December 7, 2022

 Washington Middle School Choir Concert

  • 6 pm – Olympia High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Jefferson Middle School Winter Band Concert

  • 7 pm – JMS Gym

Reeves Middle School & Thurgood Marshall MS Choir Concert

  • 7:30 pm – Olympia High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Washington Middle School Band Concert

  • 7 pm – WMS

December 8, 2022

 McLane Elementary School K-2nd Grade Concert

  •  1:30 pm – McLES

December 9, 2022

 McLane Elementary School 3rd-5th Grade Concert

  •  1:30 pm – McLES

 Boston Harbor Elementary School Winter Concert

  •  1 pm – BHES (General Music and Orchestra)

 Pioneer Elementary School Band and Orchestra and Concert

  •  1:45 pm – PES

December 12, 2022

Thurgood Marshall Middle School Orchestra & Band Concert

  • Orchestra 6 pm – Capital High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)
  • Band 6:45 pm – Capital High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Olympia High School Non-Auditioned Band, Choir and Orchestra

  • 7:30 pm – Olympia High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

December 13, 2022

Capital High School Band, Choir and Orchestra Concert

  • 7 pm – CHS

Olympia High School Auditioned Groups Band, Choir and Orchestra

  • 7:30 pm – OHS

Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA) Orchestra Concert

  • 2 pm – ORLA

Madison Elementary School All School Winter Sing

  • 2 pm – MES

December 14, 2022

Jefferson Middle School Orchestra Concert

  • 7 pm – Capital High School Auditorium

December 15, 2022

 Centennial Elementary School 4th/5th Instrumental and Vocal Concert

  • 1:15 pm – CES

Capital High School Band, Choir and Orchestra

  • 7 pm – CHS

Olympia High School Auditioned Groups Band, Choir and Orchestra

  • 7:30 pm – OHS

December 16, 2022

 Capital High School Music Assembly Concert

  • 7 pm – CHS

Washington Middle School Music Department Assembly

  • TBD – WMS

Guaranteed Admissions program available for qualifying students

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Guaranteed Admissions Program log, orange and gray with the wording Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program

Olympia School District has partnered with the Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP) and two private universities which provide increased opportunities to attend college.

For the GAP program, juniors will receive information, and seniors who qualify will receive guaranteed admission letters for up to seven Washington state colleges and universities.

In order for colleges to send acceptance letters, students must give permission to release student information for the purpose of higher education through Skyward Family Access.

Participating colleges and universities include:

Guaranteed Admissions Program (Qualifying Juniors and Seniors)

  • Central Washington University (CWU)
  • Eastern Washington University (EWU)
  • The Evergreen State College (Evergreen)
  • Washington State University (WSU)
  • Western Washington University (WWU)

Private Institutions (Qualifying Seniors)

  • Pacific Lutheran University (PLU)
  • Saint Martin’s University (SMU)

For more information about each guaranteed admission opportunity, please visit the Guaranteed Admissions Program webpage on the district website.

Thurston County School Retirees’ Association mini-grant applications due by October 24

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wooden tiles spell out the word "Application"

Applications are being accepted for the Thurston County School Retirees’ Association elementary, middle school and high school mini-grants for the 2022-23 school year. Grants are provided for school employees to acquire materials or provide experiences for their students above and beyond what is paid for by district funds.

This year, members are eligible for awards of up to $300 and non-members are eligible for up to $250. Applications can be found and submitted online at www.wssra-units.org/thurstoncounty.

Questions? Contact Nancy Zabel  NancyZabel4@gmail.com (elementary) or Karen Keller kckrailfan@gmail.com (secondary).

Applications must be received by October 24, 2022.