Superintendent’s Message
Hello Olympia School District families,
This time of year is always full of celebratory events as you will see in the many articles, photos and videos featured in this issue of Spotlight on Success. As you enjoy the sunshine and longer days of summer, I encourage you to take some time to open the links to videos or photo albums featuring graduation ceremonies, end-of-year school celebrations, award presentations, science fairs, artwork displays and reading nights, to name a few. I also want to extend a personal congratulations to the Class of 2023 and wish them the best as they begin the next phase of their lives. Your accomplishments during your time in OSD were extraordinary and we can’t wait to follow your achievements in the future.
As we bid farewell to our graduating seniors, our hard-working staff are busy preparing for the start of the 2023-24 school year. One of the initiatives already set in motion, which I have mentioned in previous communications, is a School Efficiency Review. The district has hired consultants to lead and facilitate this review process, as well as develop a comprehensive analysis of enrollment trends and a long-term enrollment forecast. You can read more about this initiative in an article in this newsletter, including plans to convene a committee this fall made up of representatives from throughout the school district to study school efficiency. Stay tuned for more information about the committee and other opportunities to provide input in this important review process.
One of the most exciting things about the arrival of summer break is knowing in a few short months we will welcome our incoming kindergartners, the Class of 2036! Whether you are a family of an incoming kindergartner, or a student new to our district in other grades, be sure to visit our Back to School resource page for all the necessary information, including school hours, supply lists, bus routes and more. For now, however, take time to relax and enjoy family and friends.
In closing, I want to say a special thank you to the staff, families and community members who helped support our students this year. To those of you who are returning to our schools this fall, we’ll see you in a few months. I wish you all a safe, restful, enjoyable summer break.
Sincerely,
Patrick Murphy
End-of-year Facebook photo albums from across the district
The last two months of the school year are always a whirlwind, and this year was no exception. We are so grateful to have been able to get out to so many schools for so many different events to capture photos and videos of all the end-of-year happenings and excitement.
Below you will find Facebook photo albums of many of the events we have covered over the past two months. We hope you enjoy some of the photos and videos we’ve captured when out and about visiting our buildings:
May ‘23 Photo Albums
June ‘23 Photo Albums
OSD Summer Meal Program
This summer free lunches will be available at two Olympia School District schools. Lunch will be available to anyone 18 years old and younger. Meals will be served in the school cafeteria and signage will be posted directing visitors to the cafeteria entrance.
Beginning Monday, June 26, through Friday, August 18, 2023, lunches will be available on-site at Garfield Elementary School and at Roosevelt Elementary School from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. No pre-order of lunch is necessary. Meals must be eaten on-site, and no grab-and-go meals will be prepared.
- Roosevelt Elementary School: 1417 San Francisco St. N.E., Olympia, WA, 98506
- Garfield Elementary School: 325 Plymouth St. N.W., Olympia, WA, 98502
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
View the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement on the OSD Child Nutrition Services webpage.
Lincoln Elementary School: Home of the Movers and Shakers
Each school year at Lincoln Elementary is accompanied by one of three schoolwide themes; ‘What Connects Us, ‘Sense of Place’ or ‘Movers and Shakers.’ These themes rotate through every three years and include an area of focus for the school throughout the year. This year the theme was ‘Movers and Shakers’ and the area of focus was Social Justice.
“Our classroom defined ‘Movers and Shakers’ as people who make change for the common good,” said Michael Stine, fourth/fifth grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary. “We were inspired by a group called Students Rebuild, who develop international fundraisers to raise money for a specific cause. This year their focus was called the ‘Welcoming Refugees Project.’ Our kids worked on welcoming postcards for refugees to submit to Students Rebuild and it really spurred interest in immigration and folks who were refugees. We spoke about how to be a welcoming community to people who are forced to leave, or choose to leave, their home country. Each student chose an immigrant or refugee they identified as a ‘Mover and Shaker’ to be the focus of their research.”
Research looked a bit different depending on the grade level. For the older students (fourth and fifth grade) they begin their ‘Movers and Shakers’ research at the start of the school year, as it is an area of focus throughout the year. The younger students (kindergarten and first grade) don’t begin leaning into theme work until after winter break, as there isn’t as much “research” to do at that level. The themes are a part of classroom lessons.
“You just weave it in with your read alouds and as you get closer to theme night it becomes more intentional,” said Diane Fay, Lincoln kindergarten/first grade teacher. “We had a ‘Movers and Shakers’ book and the children shared their takeaways about their ‘Mover and Shaker.’ We produced a little book that the students were able to take home. The refugee piece we started working on right before our theme night. A lot of the things that I really wanted to stick we did just a few weeks before, so it’s front of mind.”
The culmination of all this hard work is the annual schoolwide theme night event. This is typically celebrated with the entire Lincoln community but as with many events the past few years, that has not been a possibility. This year, it was back!
The evening began in the Lincoln gymnasium with Principal Marcela Abadi welcoming the community to the event and giving some brief historical background into their theme night process. Students went on to discuss their schoolwide theme, classrooms performed together (singing ‘Power of Kindness’ by ma muse) and the Lincoln Band was there to perform a number of musical renditions for all in attendance. This was a standing room only event as the community came out in droves in support and celebration.
“It was a beautiful night, it was just great, this is what I love about Lincoln,” said Fay. “It gave our kids an opportunity to be courageous, which is one of the qualities that we learned about ‘Movers and Shakers,’ they’re courageous, they’re persistent and they’re committed. Students had to exercise all of those qualities to get to the point where they could present at theme night. So, it was just really cool, they got to embody the qualities they had been learning about.”
After the assembly wrapped up, students returned to their classrooms where they presented on the research they had done throughout the school year on the ‘Mover and Shaker’ they had selected. Families were then invited to visit the classrooms and hear the presentations and find out more about the individuals selected. After 30 minutes students could leave their research projects and tour other classrooms to see what they had put together. This was one of the most highly anticipated moments of the evening for both parents and students alike. Sam, a fourth grade student, had this to say, "I liked reading people's essays. I got to learn a lot more about the people they wrote about, along with that I got to learn about people I never even knew about!" Another fourth grade student, Mayra, added, “I enjoyed showing people my work because then we can expose more people to Latin American culture."
As the evening came to a close, students were eagerly running to classrooms that they had not yet visited, hoping to get one last peek of some of their fellow students' work. Abadi was in awe of the turnout; “There was such incredible attendance, very few families were unable to come. The excitement was amazing, people were so ready to see the learning, to celebrate and to be in community. People were hungry for it. I didn’t even get to go into classrooms as much as I typically would, because there were so many families exploring!”
Fay shared what she noticed from her students once the evening had wrapped up: “Pride. Pride, that they had stood in front of a group of people and shared their knowledge. They felt so proud of themselves. It was probably the first time they’ve ever done anything like that in their young lives. They sang in front of hundreds of people, it was a big deal.”
We couldn’t agree more. It sounds like ALL of the ‘Movers and Shakers’ over at Lincoln Elementary are a VERY big deal!
View our 'Movers and Shakers' photo album on Facebook
Class of 2023 graduation livestream recordings
Graduation season for the Class of 2023 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 livestream recordings linked below. You will also find robust photo albums from all of our high school graduations. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!
Class of 2023 Graduation Livestream Recordings
Class of 2023 Graduation Photo Albums
Back-to-school information
When you begin prepping for the next school year, check out our back-to-school resource page for all the necessary information, including school hours, supply lists and more!
CHS graduate builds literacy with lending libraries
There has been much to celebrate in the past few weeks for Capital High School 2023 graduate Alexandria (Alex) Weber. Last week Weber turned her tassel from right to left along with her 2023 CHS classmates, marking another achievement for this incredible student. Weber is not just a Cougar, she is also an Eagle. In addition to graduating from high school while attending Running Start and working, she continued a legacy as a recipient of the highest rank of Scouts BSA, Eagle Scout. Becoming an Eagle Scout takes years of hard work, service and determination. Weber is the definition of hard work — “a go-getter” as described by Jefferson Middle School Principal Jane Allaire.
Weber joined Scouts BSA in 2019 with the encouragement of her biggest mentor and role model, her grandmother Suzanne Thoreson. “She wanted me to find ways to connect with other people and she knew Scouts would also give me skills I would need in my future,” said Weber.
The separation from meeting in person with her Troop 1922 was not easy during COVID-19, and she found herself struggling to stay engaged. With true Scout embodiment Weber persevered, and once restrictions eased she again showed her strong qualities of dedication. “I remember sitting at summer camp and thinking to myself I was going to prove to anyone who doubted a girl could be an Eagle Scout wrong, and I did!” Weber earned 27 merit badges, 14 of which are Eagle requirements. She also earned the Senior Patrol Leader pocket knife and Bronze Palm, meaning she completed more merit badges than required for Eagle.
One requirement to become an Eagle Scout is to complete a project that benefits the community. When deciding on her project, she said she wanted to give access and foster something she loved, leading by example. She decided to create a free lending library book house at four different OSD schools.
“I chose this project because the Olympia School District has done so much for me as a student,” she said. “I attended McLane Elementary School, and I was really excited to be able to give back to them. I wanted my project to be centered around kids, but also something that helped the community. I loved reading in elementary school, and what better way to encourage reading than (with) fun little free lending library book houses!”
With the help of her troop and Timberland Regional Library, Weber constructed, and collected more than 100 books to stock the lending libraries. Next she partnered with the OSD Support Service Center (SSC), which assisted with locating utilities, digging holes and installing posts for the libraries at Jefferson Middle School, and McLane, Hansen and LP Brown elementary schools. "We always appreciate the opportunity to partner with students on projects that will positively impact our community," said SSC Executive Director Frank Wilson.
Weber shared a detailed timeline to the district office and each proposed school while seeking permission to complete the project. “I am incredibly proud of Alexandria and her accomplishment,” said Jefferson Principal Jane Allaire. “She impressed me with her professional and mature email and phone communication. She managed the project independently, and I was delighted to have the addition in our Jefferson Middle School community.”
The project goal of giving access to books can already be seen. “It has been so amazing to see the joy on our student's faces as they are selecting new books to read during drop off and pick up at the school,” said LP Brown Principal Sean Shaughnessy. “Students take pride in adding books to the library that they have already read, as well as picking new books to enjoy. It will be so great to have this resource available to our community as we roll into the summer months!”
Hansen Elementary was thrilled when Weber approached them with the request to add the library. Principal Billy Harris shared, "I have been wanting a lending library since I arrived at Hansen four years ago! I am so grateful to Alexandria's efforts in being able to make it happen for our kiddos and their families. Students are already making wonderful swaps for new books. We are so grateful to have this resource."
The skills her grandmother said she would gain by joining Scouts BSA is evident in Weber's strong, determined character. Weber became the first female Senior Patrol Leader in her troop and now finds herself on staff to teach other Scouts like herself to be great leaders.
The future is bright for this Eagle. After graduation Weber plans to attend Washington State University to pursue a degree in elementary education. “I'm passionate about helping kids on their journey in education,” she said. “My dream after finishing my bachelor's is to come back to the Olympia School District and teach at McLane Elementary School, giving back to the school (that) got me hooked on learning!”
Be sure to visit McLane, Hansen, LP Brown or Jefferson this summer to take advantage of Weber’s literacy gift she has left with the community. Standing tall outside of the four schools, look for a red wooden house with a window to peak inside for new titles. Each lending library has a plaque inscribed with her name, troop number and year. Take a book, give a book and share in the joy of literacy thanks to Eagle Scout and CHS graduate Alex Weber.
Generations rock Ingersoll at the 2023 Band Bash
The 2nd Annual OSD Band Bash held last week at Ingersoll Stadium was an epic celebration of ‘Band’ in our community. The event featured more than 700 OSD student musicians in grades 5-12 and their amazing OSD directors.
To start the concert fifth grade students played five well-loved familiar songs. Spectators and upperclassmen joined in for the final number, “Power Rock” by Michael Sweeney, clapping along to the beat of "We Will Rock You.” The middle school group conductor roared to the front of the group dressed as a Tyrannosaurus Rex and led the performance of the Jurassic Park theme song. Finally the extraordinary high school combined band showcased their skill and experience playing the whimsical and wild “Backlash,” by Katahj Copley.
If that wasn’t enough of a colossal display of talent, the invitation to perform was extended for the finale to former band members, parents, grandparents, older siblings, aunts and uncles. Together the group played “Louie Louie,” the musical phenomenon made famous by the Kingsmen in 1963.
The concert was a spectacular hour-long performance shared by generations that left the crowd singing and humming as they left the stadium.
OSD Summer School Information
Olympia School District Summer School is back!
High School Summer Program
Registration for high school students begins on June 12, 2023. Classes begin on Wednesday, July 5:
- Classes are in session July 5 - August 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Grades 9 – 12, including select courses for incoming 9th graders
- All courses utilize computer-based instruction and students will work remotely but will be provided opportunities for in-person support and assessments
- Tests must be completed in person at Olympia Regional Learning Academy
- Students should plan to work approximately three hours per day
- The deadline to register is Friday, June 30, 2023
Elementary School Summer Program
This program is FREE OF CHARGE and open to current OSD students. Classes begin on July 5 and run through July 27. The class schedule runs Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Grades 1-4, current OSD students who are reading below grade level or need additional support.
- Registration is limited due to staffing and facilities.
- Elementary summer school will be held at Roosevelt Elementary School (eastside) and Garfield Elementary School (westside).
- Lunch will be provided at no cost.
- Transportation is not provided.
Links to Register:
For all Summer School related information, including courses, visit our Summer School webpage.
Avanti student shares cultural pride, encourages others to do the same
Avanti High School sophomore Nico Archer carries on tradition and family mottoes with a goal to encourage others to follow their dreams.
Archer's ancestral name is Sealth-eetsa, named after Chief Sealth (Seattle), descending from his second oldest daughter, Jenny Sealth. Archer is a Puyallup Tribal Member and Nisqually-Skokomish-Suquamish-Duwamish descendent. This amazing Avanti student is the first in the Olympia School District and surrounding areas to earn high school world language competency-based credits in tribal Lushootseed Language (Archer completed Lushootseed 1 and Lushootseed 2). Archer often uses the saying “hard work pays off,” and this talented student is the definition of that proverb.
Archer is an accomplished weaving apprentice, learning from generational teaching. Archer’s mother and father are master artists in fiber weaving, wool spinning and woodworking and teach at the Evergreen State College Longhouse & Education Center. Archer shares the same love for educating, carrying on the legacy by teaching weaving and sharing lessons with the next generation and interested students of all ages. Archer participates with the Salish Weaving Association Youth Council. This opportunity provides Archer opportunities to explore the career path of education and volunteer work. “After high school I’m interested in possibly becoming a teacher like my Mom,” said Archer.
Archer's talent, compassion and honor can also be seen at school encouraging others to chase their dreams. “We only fail if we fail to try,” said Archer. This stellar student also recently starred as Olivia in the Avanti production of Shakespeare's “The First Night.”
Archer’s voice does not stop at the stage. This year an opportunity presented itself to take part in an OSD Equity Policy Focus Group contributing thoughts of awareness, and inclusion for peers who have not always felt like they belonged. Archer's voice has strength but is humble with shared compassion for ancestral values. “We come from a long line of honorable ancestors who fought for our survival and rights as indigenous people so that we can learn our tribal language-culture-history in school, fish-hunt-gather-hold ceremonies in our usual and accustomed places, harvest materials for weaving. Now, it is our turn to make sure our voices are heard and our rights are exercised for generations to come,” explained Archer.
Archer encourages others to take opportunities to participate and learn. Recently Archer took part in the Native Youth Leadership Academy (NAYLA), a culturally-based leadership development training series sponsored and facilitated by the Western Washington Native Educators Consortium. “We came together to share pride in our culture. It was meaningful,” said Archer.
We are excited to follow Archer's journey to create positive change in our community, while encouraging others to learn of their culture and heritage. If you are interested in learning more about the American Indian/Alaska Native program, contact Sandra Gordon, OSD Native Education & Tribal Relations Program Manager, at [email protected].
OSD Ice Cream Social honors retirees and school advocates
The annual Ice Cream Social, held last month at Capital High School, was a sweet mix of ice cream and awards. The spring tradition honors the current year retirees, as well as school advocates of the year and Olympia Education Association honorees. More than 200 employees, students, friends and families filled the Capital High School commons to celebrate colleagues and volunteers.
Superintendent Patrick Murphy opened the event with a special welcome to attendees. He gave special thanks to OEA President Jodi Boe, the Child Nutrition Services team for providing ice cream and toppings, and Washington Middle School teacher Brian Morris and students enrolled in the Tech Arts Enterprises Marketing and Manufacturing class for designing and hand-crafting custom wooden pens for the retirees.
Olympia School Board President Darcy Huffman and Director Talauna Reed recognized district retirees, thanking them for their years of service on behalf of the entire district. Next, each of the 19 schools presented their “Laurie Dolan School Advocate of the Year” award. Principals honored each volunteer with a speech about the many contributions they have made to benefit the students and assist staff. Lastly, Boe presented Nikki Winkley, a teacher at Avanti High School, with the OEA Educator of the Year award. Boe also announced that Kelly Boyer, a teacher at Olympia High School, received the OEA Gary Brown Award.
We would like to thank all those who attended and wish our retirees the best in their many new adventures.
OSD Ice Cream Social photo album on Facebook
Congratulations WASA Region 113 award winner Eowyn Latham Grubbs
Congratulations to Eowyn Latham Grubbs, an Olympia School District parent and “tireless advocate for students,” for being recognized with a Community Leadership Award at this year’s Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Region 113 awards dinner.
More than 100 people attended the May 24, 2023 event to recognize outstanding educational administrators and others who have made “extraordinary contributions” to K-12 education. The Olympia School Board also honored Eowyn during the June 22, 2023 board meeting.
Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy shared the following during the WASA awards recognition:
“Eowyn has been a tireless advocate for students, especially students with special needs. We thank her for testifying at the Legislature this year in support of special education funding. Last year, she helped to launch a districtwide parent group for families, students and staff supporting OSD students with disabilities from birth through post-high school. Eowyn also received the ‘Laurie Dolan School Advocate of the Year’ award from Roosevelt Elementary (last year) for keeping equity at the forefront of her work, including coordinating a sensory path at the school. On behalf of all of our students and families, thank you, Eowyn, for your unwavering support.”
Photo courtesy of WASA Region 113
My Dream, My Journey - Mi Suen, Mi camino
Several students from Capital and Olympia high schools, and Jefferson and Washington middle schools, were recently invited to attend the Migrant-Inclusive Youth Conference at South Puget Sound Community College.
The “My Dream, My Journey” conference offered an opportunity for migrant youth to uplift their unique identities, learning styles and cultural wealth through hands-on sessions. Some sessions explored post-secondary pathways and provided tools and ideas for students to apply during their High School and Beyond Plan development.
“The Aztec Cultural workshop provided a powerful connection to the students’ ethnic heritage through an ancestral dance,” said Nancy Swanson, OSD Bilingual Family Engagement Specialist. The Indigenous dance, also known as “Danza Mexica,'' includes moves that honor ancestors, the cosmos, deities and more. The instruments used during the presentation included drums, flutes, maracas and shell ankle rattles called chachayotes. The dancers wore elaborate regalia featuring feathers, beadwork and impressive headdresses. “All students were captivated and mesmerized by the moves, the sounds and the smell (copal burning) surrounding them. The message the leading dancer offered students was that of hope for a brighter future through education,” explained Swanson.
The other sessions offered included: High School and Beyond Plan; Community College Transfer and University Track; Nuestra Presencia en el Noroeste: Brief History of our Latino community presence in the Northern Borderlands; and Latino Rising in the Barber Entrepreneur Industry.
Students also had an opportunity to attend a keynote speech given by Octaviano Merecias Cuevas, an award-winning trainer for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. “I very much enjoyed learning about what I could achieve during two years of community college before transferring to a university,” said Jefferson Middle School student Laila Nemelka Lopez Molina. “It was by far the top favorite class. The professor talked about scholarships you could get going into high school. I really learned a lot.”
The cultural connection was immersive extending to the food that was offered during breakfast and lunch. “The whole experience really made me feel proud of where I come from and reminded me to encourage others to do the same, said Lopez Molina. “I would recommend every migrant student to become involved. The experience gets you excited about what you can accomplish and your future goals with college and school.”
The goal of the program is to bring together students from across the state encouraging cultural connection and sharing excitement and motivation for their goals and future. Students and families are already looking forward to next year. If you are interested in learning more about this and other upcoming events contact the OSD Multilingual Learners Program.
OSD Night at the Rainiers for the Win!
Olympia School District returned to “T-Town” last month for Night at the Rainiers for the first time since 2019. A record number of 300 OSD guests were in attendance at the historic Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Superintendent Patrick Murphy threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Washington Middle School choir, directed by Stacy Brown, performed a stunning rendition of the National Anthem. This year we were excited to have Olympia High School’s very own Pepper Bear and his pal Salty join the always entertaining Rhubarb (featuring Epic Sax Gorilla) in entertaining the crowd.
With the sun setting the evening ended perfectly with the Rainiers pulling off a 7-6 walkoff victory in extra innings against the Sacramento River Cats. It was a fun night of friends, food and baseball. Thanks to all who joined us and a BIG thanks to the Tacoma Rainiers, Washington Middle School choir, Pepper Bear and Salty for another memorable game!
OSD 'Night at the Rainiers' photo album
District launches school facility efficiency review process
The school district recently hired two outside consultants — one to lead and facilitate a districtwide school facility efficiency review process, and another to develop a comprehensive analysis of enrollment trends and a long-term enrollment forecast.
Shannon Bingham, of Western Demographics, Inc. in Boulder, CO, will lead and facilitate a school facility efficiency review process. At the June 22 Olympia School Board meeting, Bingham shared about his experience assisting school districts with this type of work and provided a snapshot of the work ahead in this community. He recently met with district leaders and toured the school district to get a firsthand look at OSD facilities.
As mentioned in previous district communications, plans are to convene a committee this fall made up of representatives from every school in the district to study school efficiency. More information will be shared in the coming months about participation in that group.
The enrollment study, which will be completed by FLO Analytics in Seattle, will examine enrollment trends across all buildings by grade level. The study will be broken out by regions and neighborhoods, along with building capacities, bus routes and school program offerings. This information will be essential to help inform the districtwide school facility efficiency review conducted by Western Demographics.
Two OHS graduates earn prestigious National Merit Scholarships
In May, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that two Olympia High School students earned prestigious National Merit $2,500 scholarships. Audrey Shen and Jonathan Holcombe, who graduated this week, are among 2,500 students from around the country to earn the Merit Scholar designation.
Their process began in October 2021 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT, which served as the initial screen of program entrants. Last fall, the highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors, were named Semifinalists.
The final 2,500 Merit Scholars were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Winners in each state are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation's graduating high school seniors.
These two Olympia High scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who evaluated information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools.
Join us in congratulating these remarkable students as they set out on their future. Shen plans to attend the University of Washington this fall. Holcombe plans to attend Harvey Mudd College in California. Both have interest in studying computer science. Way to go Bears!
If you or your student would like to learn more about the National Merit Program, contact your high school college and career office.
School and district summer office hours
Happy summer break OSD families!
Elementary, middle and high school front offices throughout the school district will remain open through Friday, June 23, 2023. Middle and high school offices reopen on August 21, while elementary school offices reopen on August 28.
The Knox 111 Administrative Center located at 111 Bethel St. N.E. in Olympia is open to the public:
- Through June 30, 2023: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
- July 3 - July 27, 2023: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday (closed to the public on Fridays except by appointment only). The building is also closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2023
- Starting July 31, 2023: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Please note that all doors leading into the Knox 111 Administrative Center will continue to be locked during regular summer business hours.
Community members who have an appointment with or are seeking information from administrative office staff are directed to ring a doorbell located on the north side of the building’s front doors off 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia. The front desk receptionist will answer the doorbell except on days when the building is closed to the public.
Members of the public who need to meet with the Technology Department on the building’s lower level should knock on the door located near the parking lot next to the Knox building off Tullis Street. The door is at the top of an accessibility ramp with blue railings.
Register to vote for August 1 Primary Election
Thurston County residents interested in voting in the August 1, 2023 Primary Election may register to vote online by July 24 and in person through Election Day.
- July 24, 2023: The last day to register to vote or update your current registration by any means (other than in person). The information must be received by an election official by this day
- August 1, 2023: You may register to vote or update your current registration in person only up to 8 p.m. on Election Day at any county Auditor's Office, voting center or any other designated location
Register to Vote
It's easy and secure to register online, by mail with a paper form, or at a county elections office. Check your registration at VoteWA.gov.
Qualifications for Registering to Vote
To register to vote in the state of Washington, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- A legal resident of Washington state for at least 30 days prior to election day
- At least 18 years old
- If you are 16 or 17, you can sign up as a Future Voter and be automatically registered to vote when you qualify
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order
- Not currently serving a sentence of total confinement in prison under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections for a Washington felony conviction
- Not currently incarcerated for a federal or out-of-state felony conviction
Olympia School Board Candidates
There are three Olympia School Board seats up for election in the November 7, 2023 General Election. More than two people have filed for each of the three OSD board seats and will appear on the August 1, 2023 Primary Election ballot (the top two vote-getters for each position on the ballot in this Primary Election will advance to the November General Election). Candidates for each seat are listed below in the order they will appear on the Thurston County Elections ballot:
- District 1: The three candidates currently vying for the District 1 position are Maria Flores, Andrew Flojo and Talauna Reed. The seat is currently held by Director Maria Flores
- District 2: The four candidates currently vying for the District 2 position are Frank Durocher, Matthew Kaphan, Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo and Graham Hatch. The seat is currently held by Director Talauna Reed, who was appointed to the position in October 2022. Reed recently moved to District 1
- District 4: The three candidates vying for the District 4 position are Leslie Van Leishout, Teresa Staal-Cowley and Hilary Seidel. The seat is currently held by Director Hilary Seidel
Voters’ pamphlets will be mailed on July 5, and election ballots will be mailed on July 12.
City of Olympia Community Discrimination Survey ends July 16
Olympia School District students, families, employees and community members are invited to take an online community survey sponsored by the City of Olympia’s new Social Justice and Equity Commission.
The Commission asked the City in October 2022 to conduct a Community Discrimination Survey to create data to better understand what discrimination looks like in Olympia and help identify what interventions would be most helpful.
The anonymous online survey is open through July 16 and is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog. Take the Survey
A press release issued by the City of Olympia states that the Commission and City staff are working with Truclusion, a third-party research consultant, to complete “a human-centered, inclusive assessment of discrimination in Olympia.”
The release goes on to state, “The Social Justice and Equity Commission will use Truclusion’s report to guide their future efforts to reduce discrimination and human rights violations, connect community members to resources, provide assistance in navigating systems, educate the Olympia community, and engage when incidents of discrimination occur.”
The digital survey is available to those who live, work and visit Olympia. It is estimated to take between three and 12 minutes to complete.
In fall 2023, the consultant will deliver to the Commission a report that summarizes feedback pulled from survey results, interviews and community group outreach. The Commission will use this in its quest to eliminate racism and fulfill human rights for a just and equitable Olympia for all people.
Photo courtesy of City of Olympia
Take the survey
Upcoming Events
June/July/August
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June 29: OSD Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
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July 4: Independence Day
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July 6: OSD Board Work Session at 6 p.m.
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July 13: OSD Board Meeting (in-person and online via Zoom) at 6:30 p.m.
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August 3: OSD Board Work Session at 6 p.m.
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August 10: OSD Board Meeting (in-person and online via Zoom) at 6:30 p.m.
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August 24: OSD Board Meeting (in-person and online via Zoom) at 6:30 p.m.
OSD Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Olympia School District will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment. Auxiliary aids and services will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.
The Olympia School District offers many Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs/courses in the following areas: Skilled and Technical Sciences/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics); Agriculture/Natural Resources; Business Marketing; Family and Consumer Sciences; and Health Sciences. For more information about CTE course offerings and admissions criteria, contact Pat Cusack, Director of College and Career Readiness, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506, (360) 596-6102. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in CTE programs.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, reports of alleged sexual harassment, concerns about compliance, and/or grievance procedures:
Elia Alailima, Title IX Officer
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-8545
[email protected]
Autumn Lara, Executive Director of Elementary Education
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-8534
[email protected]
Ken Turcotte, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator (Students)
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-7530
[email protected]
Starla Hoff, ADA Coordinator (Staff)
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-6185
[email protected]
Scott Niemann, Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-6185
[email protected]
Paula Perryman, Director of College and Career Readiness
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360)-596-6102
[email protected]
All six individuals may also be contacted at 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA, 98506.