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.

A Department of Retirement Systems’ Education & Outreach Representative will provide a live webinar covering the Washington State Deferred Compensation Program (DCP):

DCP Essentials – Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 at 3 pm  

DCP is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings program. Content includes:

• Flexible contributions
• Federal income tax benefits
• Investment approaches
• Manage account
• And more!

To attend the webinar, select the date link about 5-10 minutes prior to the start so you can test your connection and sound.  For login or audio assistance, call (360) 664-7930 prior to the start of, or anytime during the webinar. We also recommend reviewing how to join a DRS Webinar for tips on accessing the webinar.

If you are unable to attend, we invite you to watch an on-demand webinar video recording at a time that is more convenient:

• DCP Essentials
• DCP Withdrawals
• Investment Basics
• DCP Flyer

Earlier this month, Washington Middle School Media Arts teacher Marc Coyner and his wife passed away as a result of a car accident while they were out of the country.

The school is collecting cards/notes of remembrance from staff and/or students. The school will collect the cards and notes through Friday, February 18, 2022 and then forward them to the Coyner family.

If you wish to send a card or note, please send to Washington Middle School in the district courier.

Our hearts go out to the Coyners’ family and friends, including everyone at Washington Middle School.

Every January school districts across the state and nation honor their board of directors during School Board Recognition Month.

The Olympia School District will recognize its school board with a special program near the start of the meeting on Thursday, January 13. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Knox Administrative Building or on Zoom.

During the program, Superintendent Patrick Murphy will read a proclamation by Gov. Jay Inslee designating January as School Board Recognition Month in Washington State. This marks the 27th year of the annual observance initiated by the National School Boards Association in 1995.

The proclamation reads in part that school directors “are directly accountable to the residents in their districts and regions, serving as a vital link between members of the community and their schools.”

The one-page proclamation also states that directors “play a crucial role in promoting student learning and achievement by creating a vision, establishing policies and budgets, and setting clear standards of accountability for all involved.”

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 25, 2022. 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

Every year in December, the Olympia School Board elects officers for the coming year during its annual reorganization.

At its December 9 meeting, the board elected Maria Flores as this year’s board president and Justin McKaughan as vice president.

The oath of office was also given to newly elected board member Darcy Huffman, as well as Director Scott Clifthorne. Huffman was elected to the District 3 position, and Clifthorne was re-elected to the District 5 board seat, in the November General Election.

Board members are also appointed annually to serve as liaisons with various community groups and state agencies. The board made the following appointments for the 2021-22 school year:

• Justin McKaughan, board representative to the Olympia School District Education Foundation.
• Hilary Seidel, board representative to the Thurston Regional Planning Council.
• Scott Clifthorne, board representative to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
• Darcy Huffman, legislative representative to the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA).

The following is an announcement from Human Resources:

We are excited to announce the first session of the OSD Educators of Color Network for the 2021-22 school year.

The first session will be via Zoom on Monday, December 6 at 4 p.m.

If you wish to attend and/or want to receive clock hours, please register via pdEnroller, event ID #138202 – https://www.pdenroller.org/olympia/catalog/138202

This year, on select dates, there will be a guest speaker from the PSESD Educators of Color Leadership Community (ECLC).

We hope to see you there.

Employees are invited to a ribbon cutting on November 12 celebrating the completion of the solar panel installation at Olympia High School as part of a partnership between the school district and Puget Sound Energy (PSE).

The ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 4 p.m. in the Olympia High School Commons. Guests are asked to enter the Commons at the back of the school off Carlyon Avenue S.E.

The project features more than 500 rooftop solar panels and is part of PSE’s Community Solar Program, which adds solar energy to the local power grid from one large location.

PSE representatives, Superintendent Patrick Murphy, Olympia School Board members and other local dignitaries are expected to attend. No school board business will be conducted at this event.

Note: Please enter OHS through the Commons located behind the school off Carlyon Avenue S.E.