Olympia School District

Superintendent’s Message

 

Hello Olympia School District families and community,

 

It’s hard to believe this week is Thanksgiving. I hope the short week and extended weekend is time for all of us to rest and break bread with family and friends and take stock of all those things for which we are grateful. 

One thing, for which I am always thankful is the bountiful support to our school district by our families and community. Thousands of volunteers annually give tens of thousands of hours of their time and dedication to serve our students. It is the not-so-secret ingredient in Olympia School District’s recipe of success. So thanks to all for your continuing, consistent support.

Looking ahead, I also want to share information about our upcoming Technology, Safety and Facility Improvement Replacement Levy, which will be on the February 2026 ballot. This measure is a renewal of the district’s current levy, not an additional tax. If approved, it would continue funding for student devices, classroom technology, network upgrades, school safety upgrades and facility improvements throughout the district. All levy details, including FAQs and project descriptions, are available on our website.

May this season bring you and your families rest and inspiration. I look forward to the new year with optimism and enthusiasm as we keep building on all that we’ve accomplished together. 

Warm regards,

Patrick Murphy

 

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OHS Robotics Adapts Toys to Bring Joy to All Kids

Students from Olympia High School’s (OHS) Robotics Team, known as OlyRobots, recently hosted their annual Adaptathon in partnership with North Thurston and Timberline High Schools and Sensory Tool House. In this event, they modify toys to make them more accessible for children with disabilities. Families send in toys that can be hard to use, such as those with tiny buttons or tricky switches. Using skills like soldering, which involves melting metal to connect wires and electronic components, and wiring, students adapt the toys so every child can play with ease.

“The Adaptathon event is an opportunity to use our electrical engineering skills to help kids,” said Alina Li, a junior and team president. “It’s also incredibly fun and a great way to spend time with teammates and other robotics teams while serving our community.”

 

Tradition Meets Innovation

The Adaptathon has become a long-standing tradition for the OlyRobots, one that the team hopes to continue for years to come. “It’s a tradition we’d like to uphold to honor both our history as a robotics team and our community,” said Alina. “It’s also a great way to gain hands-on experience while giving back.”

Each year, students face unique challenges, like adding larger external buttons to toys originally designed for small, hard-to-press switches. “We’ll wire a large button to the toy and solder it in place so it’s easier for kids with motor disabilities to use,” explained Alina.

Lauren Howard, Vice President of Sensory Tool House, said watching the students work is equally inspiring. “These students aren’t afraid to try. They initiate work independently and seek guidance as needed. You don’t see them sitting, waiting for specific instructions. The confidence to analyze a situation, in this case a toy, make a plan, and act on it is so awesome to watch in these young adults.”

 

Learning Through Hands-On Problem Solving

Before the event, the team holds workshops to teach new members how to solder and handle circuitry safely. “We look back through photos from past Adaptathons to remember what kinds of toys we worked on and the funny memories we made,” said Alina.

One memorable project involved adapting a robotic cat toy. “We had to cut through the soft fabric to get to the electronics, and underneath it looked like a cat skeleton,” Alina recalled with a laugh. “It was super weird seeing it move around without its outer ‘skin,’ but it was one of the most challenging and fun toys we worked on.”

 

Building Skills and Community

Olympia High School Robotics and Computer Science teacher Mr. Woodbridge said the event captures what Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is all about. “One of the primary missions of OlyRobots is to share STEM with our community,” he explained. “This event gives students a chance to help others while solving real-world problems.”

He added that the work students do has a real impact. “Professionally adapted toys are often prohibitively expensive for families. By doing it for free, our students are creating more opportunities for all kids to have fun.”

Howard emphasized the significance of these adaptations for the broader community. “Supporting this event is such a highlight for us every year. We know the positive impact these adaptations have on community members who receive them. Whether it is creating more accessible classrooms, supporting therapeutic interventions, making household items easier to utilize, or increasing access to play in the home, each soldered switch adaptation increases access for our community members.”

Along the way, students develop skills that go beyond the classroom—like teamwork, creativity and perseverance. “There’s a lot of problem solving,” said Woodbridge. “Every toy has different electronics and every family has specific needs. Students have to plan carefully and think critically.”

The event was a big success. “We had 20 OHS students and one each from Timberline and North Thurston High Schools,” said Woodbridge. “Over the two days, we were able to adapt 56 toys that are going back to families and providers. A bunch of them are for Olympia School District providers, like our occupational therapists and teachers for the blind.”

For the OlyRobots, the Adaptathon is more than just a service project—it’s a celebration of innovation, compassion, and community spirit.

 

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OSD Thanksgiving and Winter Break Schedule

All Olympia School District schools and the Knox 111 Administrative Center offices will be closed to the public throughout Thanksgiving and Winter Break.

Thanksgiving Break is from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, through Friday, November 28, 2025. School resumes on Monday, December 1, 2025. Schools and administrative offices also reopen on December 1.

Winter Break is Monday, December 22, 2025, through Friday, January 2, 2026. School resumes on Monday, January 5, 2026. Schools and administrative offices also reopen on January 5. Visit the 2025-26 school year calendar to view the full schedule.

During either of these breaks, any deliveries to the Knox 111 Administrative Center should be made at the lower level of the Knox building (111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia) on these business days:

• Wednesday, November 26

• Monday, December 22

• Tuesday, December 23

• Friday, December 26

• Monday, December 29

• Tuesday, December 30

• Friday, January 2

 

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Growing Healthy Habits: Garfield Elementary’s Youth Farmers Market

This fall, Garfield Elementary School’s gym transformed into a bustling farmers market just for kids. The Youth Farmers Market, hosted in partnership with Washington State University (WSU) SNAP-Ed, gives third through fifth grade students the opportunity to shop for locally grown fruits and vegetables, practice budgeting and discover how fun healthy eating can be.

 

A Partnership Rooted in Learning

Garfield Elementary’s partnership with WSU SNAP-Ed has flourished for more than a decade through classroom nutrition lessons, the school garden and taste tests featuring school-grown produce.

Principal Brendon Chertok said the event connects learning with real-world experiences. “The Garfield Farmers Market brings together important initiatives at our school,” he shared. “Through our partnership with SNAP-Ed, students learn about agriculture, gardening and healthy eating. The market also connects them with local farmers, The Evergreen State College, and WSU Extension, giving students a chance to explore new interests and future opportunities.”

“One of our goals is for children to be exposed to local produce,” added Amanda Leoni, SNAP-Ed Program Coordinator. “All of the produce comes directly from Thurston County farmers through the Southwest Washington Food Hub.”

The Youth Farmers Market began as part of a WSU research project studying how hands-on experiences with local produce could influence kids’ eating habits. The results were encouraging: 42% of students said they tried to eat more vegetables after the market, and more than half said they tried something new that day.

 

How It Works

In October, the Garfield gym came alive with the sights and smells of fresh produce during the Youth Farmers Market. The event featured more than 15 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including apples, squash, kale, peppers and kiwi berries. Each student receives $14 in market tokens, similar to those used at the Olympia Farmers Market, and decides how to spend them.

“Hosting the farmers market checks so many boxes when it comes to education,” said Leoni. “It encourages kids to try new foods, it helps them understand budgeting and it shows them what local farmers are growing right here in Olympia.”

Students were surprised to learn that local farmers can grow grapes and were thrilled to try them. “The grapes were my favorite because they were tiny and sweet,” said Roque, a 4th grader. The kiwi berries from Burnt Ridge Nursery were another big hit. “Many kids had never seen or tasted kiwi berries before,” Leoni said. “They loved them!”

 

College Students Join the Fun

Students from The Evergreen State College also play a significant role. Evergreen agriculture students volunteer as “farmers,” helping Garfield students select and learn about the produce. “The Evergreen students brought incredible enthusiasm,” said Leoni. “The younger kids felt comfortable talking to them and were excited to learn about the fruits and vegetables.”

Jett, a third grader, said, “I tried a new type of apple that I had never had before and it was amazing.”

 

Lessons That Last

Beyond the fun of shopping, the market connects directly to classroom lessons in nutrition, math, sustainability and local agriculture. SNAP-Ed educators visit classrooms before and after the market to teach about healthy eating and how food is grown.

The impact goes well beyond the classroom. After last year’s market, 94% of students said they wanted to go to another farmers market soon, and many shared what they learned with their families. “Parents told us their kids were asking if the meals they were eating contained ‘their vegetables’ from the farmers market,” said Leoni. “That sense of ownership and pride helped them get excited about eating healthy foods at home.”

 

A Growing Community Impact

The event has quickly become a favorite among students, parents and volunteers. Many families have since visited the Olympia Farmers Market together, and students have started requesting produce they discovered at school.

“Kids often realize they love something like delicata squash or red bell peppers — foods they might never have tried otherwise,” Leoni shared. “When they help choose what goes on the table, they’re much more likely to eat it.”

While the Youth Farmers Market has brought joy and learning to the Garfield community, the program faces an unexpected change. SNAP-Ed, which has supported this work for more than a decade, has been defunded and will officially sunset on November 30. Despite this, Leoni and the WSU Extension Agriculture team remain hopeful that similar partnerships will continue to grow. For more information about the Youth Farmers Market and to learn how you can support future farm-to-school efforts, please visit the WSU Extension website. 

 

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Welcoming Our Newly Elected School Board Directors

Following the November 2025 election, the Olympia School District is pleased to welcome two newly elected members to the OSD Board of Directors. Renee Fullerton has been elected to represent District 3 and Gilbert Lamont has been elected to represent District 5. Both will begin their terms after taking the official oath of office in December.

Fullerton shared that her decision to run stemmed from becoming increasingly invested in understanding her children’s schools and the broader issues affecting students, families, staff and school buildings. “Olympia School District is a strong and creative community,” she said. “Now that the election is over, I am humbled by the trust placed in me to help our students thrive. I want all of our children to find joy at school, develop skills for their future, and a hopeful vision of where they are going. I look forward to listening and learning in service of our children over the next four years.”

We also extend our sincere appreciation to outgoing Board President Scott Clifthorne, Director for District 5, and Darcy Huffman, Director for District 3. Huffman concludes one term of service (four years) and Clifthorne concludes two terms of service (eight years). Their leadership and commitment have had a meaningful and lasting impact on students, staff and families throughout the district.

Lamont expressed deep gratitude as he prepares to join the board. “I am deeply grateful for the trust our community has placed in me. I look forward to learning from and working alongside our families, school staff, and students as we continue striving for the best possible outcomes for all students in the Olympia School District.”

We would also like to take a moment to thank our community for engaging in the democratic process. Every vote helps shape the future of our schools and strengthens the voice of our students, families and staff.

Fullerton and Lamont will be officially sworn in during the December 11, 2025, school board meeting, after which they will begin their work on behalf of the district. We look forward to welcoming them to the board and supporting their contributions in the years ahead.

 

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When the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) team needed new mounts for their underwater time-lapse cameras, they turned to the creative problem solvers at Jefferson Middle School. 

Last school year, WDFW biologist Bethany Stevick contacted JMS Woodshop and Material Technology teacher John Chernoff through one of his students, Levi Grant, whose family and Stevick’s family are close friends. “I pitched my idea and he thought it would be a great fit for his Maker Space students,” Stevick shared.

The students stepped up and began taking notes on what the biologists needed the mounts to do. They created their prototypes using Fusion 360 and TinkerCAD and printed a test version to see how it performed. From there, the students refined and improved the design until they created a final version that met the research team’s needs.

“When we were first presented with the opportunity, we brainstormed ideas and started drafting designs. Our first version lacked the correct measurements and felt fragile, not strong enough to support the camera underwater when attached to the tripod. We went back to our design, took new measurements and increased the thickness so it would hold the camera properly,” explained eighth grader Thomas Taylor.

“It was fun working with WDFW and it felt important since we were working directly with a state agency and the scientists who use the devices. I helped with creating the 3D design ideas, revisions and printing,” said eighth-grade student Sacha Napolitano.

The final printed mounts included name labels and bright color coding, which helped divers identify which camera matched each mount both on the boat and underwater, solving a visibility issue that the previous design had. This fall, WDFW shared that the new mounts were a resounding success. Divers said the mounts were easier to install and a better fit for the cameras, and they appreciated the color coding and labels for efficiency while working in the field.

For the Jefferson students, the project was more than a design challenge. Their work is now being used to monitor geoduck behavior in Puget Sound and to support research that helps WDFW better understand geoduck populations and habits. “The students truly led this project from start to finish. They took ownership of the design process, collaborated to solve real-world engineering challenges and created a product that a state agency in active research is now using,” said teacher John Chernoff.

“It felt great to know we had accomplished what we set out to achieve,” the students said. “Like any engineering project, you start by solving a problem. Through trial and error, you often solve one problem only to create another, but you keep working through it until the final result has as few problems as possible or none at all,” the students explained.  

This partnership between Jefferson Middle School and WDFW shows the power of hands-on learning. The students’ creativity and problem-solving have made a meaningful contribution to environmental research in the South Sound. This success will continue to benefit both science and student learning for years to come.

 

  

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Avanti Artwork currently displayed at Knox Administrative Center: Taylor Polzin (Figure Drawing), Penny Butler (Hand Drawing) and Jak Kammeyer (Linocut and Letter Press Print)

 

A Tale of Envy and Imagination

We are excited to share our first Student Voice article of the 2025–26 school year. Avanti’s Haunted School challenged students to explore the Seven Deadly Sins and sophomore Opal Braden brought envy to life with a story that chills and enthralls.

Her piece invites readers into a palace of marble and mirrors where power is a weapon, betrayal hides behind smiles and the crown itself devours. Meet Azul Roseworth, a prince caught between family secrets, ambition and the dark cost of desire. Opal’s writing transforms a student’s imagination into a world of whispered threats, velvet shadows and haunting beauty.

Step inside and beware what envy can awaken.

 

A tale of velvet shadows, whispered envy and a throne that devours. 

In a kingdom wrapped in gold and stitched with sorrow, 
there stood a palace of marble and mirrors, 
where chandeliers wept crystal tears 
and the walls listened more than the people dared. 

King Albrecht Roseworth ruled with hands of iron and a voice that cracked stone. 
His shoulders bore the weight of war, 
his eyes—steel-gray—saw kindness as weakness, 
mercy as rot. 
He wore his crown not as a symbol, but as a blade. 
Crimson robes embroidered with dragons and thorns trailed behind him, 
boots echoing like war drums across polished floors. 
His hands never trembled. 
Not even when they held his son. 

Queen Lysandra was a rose in bloom, 
petals soft, thorns sharper still. 
Her skin glowed like peach blossoms in spring, 
her hair a cascade of black curls that whispered secrets to the wind. 
She wore crimson gowns that kissed the marble, 
a crown that shimmered like temptation. 
Her hazel eyes, fox-like and unblinking, missed nothing. 
Her smile was polite, practiced, and hollow. 
She loved her son. 
She loathed her king. 
And in the quiet of her chambers, beneath silk and silence, 
she whispered to a vial of arsenic, 
soon. 

The king grew ill. 
His breath thinned. 
His skin paled. 
No healer, no spell, no prayer could save him. 

The kingdom mourned. 
The queen did not. 
“The prince is too young,” she told the nobles, 
“Let me rule until he blooms.” 

And so she did. 

Eight winters passed. 
Azul Roseworth grew beneath her shadow. 

At ten, he was porcelain and poetry. 
Hazel eyes wide with empathy, 
long brown waves tied with silk, 
velvet tunics and ink-stained fingers. 
A boy of books and blades, 
too quiet for court, too kind for power. 

At eighteen, he was mourning wrapped in elegance. 
A black blouse tucked into sleek trousers, 
frilled sleeves like wilted petals, 
a petticoat brushing his knees, 
a smile that never reached his eyes. 
Beautiful. 
Dangerous. 
His father’s favorite. 
His mother’s heir. 

And envy bloomed. 

Whispers slithered through the palace like serpents in lace. 
His father’s sisters, veiled in secrets. 
Edward, the butler with quiet hands and loyal eyes. 
Noblewomen with lips red as blood and words dipped in venom. 
“She stole what is yours.” 
“She will never give it back.” 
“Take it.” 

On the eve of his eighteenth year, beneath chandeliers and crystal laughter, 
Azul stood beside the queen at a banquet of trusted masks. 
She raised her glass. 
He raised his hand. 
And in the chaos of clinking wine and hollow toasts, 
he slipped poison into her cup. 

She drank. 
She choked. 
She fell. 

Azul knelt beside her, tears painted on his cheeks like a prince from a play. 
Just as Edward had taught him. 

The queen gasped her final breath in her son’s arms. 
The kingdom wept. 

A day later, she was pronounced dead. 
Azul Roseworth took the throne. 

But the crown did not rest. 
It burrowed. 

The venom did not fade. 
It festered. 

Not in his blood, 
but in his marrow. 
In the curve of his spine, 
in the tremble of his hands, 
in the dreams that came screaming. 

Regret slithered through him like a viper, 
coiling around his ribs, 
sinking teeth into his heart.
It whispered in his sleep, 
gnawed at his bones, 
wore his face when he looked in the mirror. 

And the sin of envy 
did not make him king. 

It made him hollow.