Orca News

Orla logo

 

Orca News: June

ORLA Orcas Demonstrate Ownership, Respect, Leadership, & Awareness

 

Welcome June!

 

Wow, I can’t believe that the school year is almost over! I am sure that everyone is excited for the summer to be here. I am definitely looking forward to spending time in the sunshine and kayaking.

For those of you who were not able to attend the last Family Meeting the Building Leadership Team and administration moved forward with the proposed changes for ORLA.

 

Next year changes include:

  • Montessori becomes K-5; Classes will become K-2 and 3-5
  • Transition 6th grade Montessori to hConnect in the Middle School Academy.
  • MAST will transition into the Middle School Academy
  • hConnect Middle School will expand grades 6-8 and have 2 pathways
  • Full-time, flexible program
  • Part-time, Homeschool flexible program

 

If you have any questions please reach out to myself or anyone in the front office.

 

Lastly, I want to thank you for your partnership and continued support throughout my years at ORLA. It has truly been an honor to be part of an amazing community of wonderful students, involved families, and a talented and caring staff. The ORLA team will continue to move all programs forward in positive ways that are good for kids and with your support ORLA will continue to grow and flourish. As we end another school year, let's finish this year strong.

 

I wish you all the best!

 

Celeste, Administrator

 


 

Welcome Gisella!

 Please help us welcome Gisella Santiago-Gronkato the front office team! Gisella comes to us from upstairs in Montessori where she was a paraeducator in the 4th-6th grade class. Gisella lives in Olympia with her husband, two sons, and two doggies. When she’s not working, Gisella enjoys chasing unicorns when trail running, working out at the local gym, antique shopping, trying new recipes, reading, and camping with her family. We are SO excited for Gisella to join the front office team!!

 

 

Last Day of School Reverse Parade

Come and celebrate the end of the 2020-2021 school year by attending our reverse parade on Tuesday, June 22nd. Decorate your car and wave out the window to your teachers as we send you all off in style! We would like to invite remote students from Montessori/MAST/hConnect/iConnect to attend the drive through celebration starting at 12:00 pm until about 1:15 pm. We hope to see you there!

 

ORLA Graduation

ORLA Graduation will be held again at Indian Summer Country Club on June 9th at 6:00 pm. Congratulations to our 2021 ORLA graduates! We wish you all a bright and successful future!!

 

High School Diploma Homeschool Transcript

Vast Allen *Eros Faulk
Atalanta Bella Rogol *Grace Fuller
Archer Hansen Donovan Gano
*Cade Kisebach Jasmine Glass
Talon Kurtenbach *Isabel McClatchey
Stella Lindeman Sparhawk Jared Rasmusson
Trevor Long
Sean Mark
*Amore Mitchell
Cedar Olsen
Paul Pestinger
* students graduating with their AA degree from South Puget Sound Community College.

 

ORLA Talent Show Video

The ORLA Talent Show was a huge success! If you missed it or would like to rewatch it you can watch it here.


A special thank you to Avery for all his hard work putting this show together on video. Thank you to everyone who sent in their videos, it was fun to watch you all.

 

What if my student needs mental health support?

 Our wonderful counselor Peggy Olsen is available for phone and Zoom meetings. She also is a great resource to contact for community resources. Peggy can be reached at [email protected].

 

My family could use financial assistance. Can the school help?

 The school admin team does have access to additional funds to help families through the Olympia Education Foundations Principal Checkbook. These funds can be used to assist families with rent, utilities, food, and other needed items. Additionally, the admin team has $50 food vouchers for Ralph’s or Bayview Thriftway. If you are in need of assistance please contact Peggy Olsen at [email protected].

 

ORLA Garden Projects Volunteers Requested

ORLA received a grant from the Olympia Garden Club to build a shed to store tools and equipment. We are looking for someone who would be interested in helping with assembly. This will be a small metal shed that is described as "Easy Set Up!" Your help would also be greatly appreciated in making a simple repair to our school worm bin/composting system. Please contact Ms Hankins at [email protected] if you are interested in either of these projects. Thank you so much!

 

hConnect/iConnect/MAST K-12 Transcripts

Current seniors, please request transcripts in Naviance. You can log into Naviance via the OSD portal using your school email. All final transcripts will be posted in Naviance and sent to schools using that system.

 

Will your student be returning for the 2021-22 school year

Please make sure to complete the returning survey for next year by June 10th. Here is the link: https://forms.gle/P7DfUsRCaY5qKJMJ9

 

Graduation Practice

Graduates please join us at the ORLA campus at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, June 2nd. We will go over graduation expectations and what the ceremony will look like. Please plan on attending, and make sure you wear your mask.

 

New Student enrollment is Open

If you have a Kindergarten aged student (5 before August 31st 2021) at home interested in attending hConnect please log into Skyward and complete the New Student enrollment. Let Krista know if you have any questions. If ORLA doesn’t come up as an option to choose for school please choose “do not know” and we will route the application to ORLA.

 

Does your family reside outside of the Olympia School district

Please complete the online form in Skyward for the 2021-22 school year. If your family resides in one of the following districts please complete the online application via the website provided:

 

Progress reminder

Please complete the progress response as soon as you receive the progress report from your students advisor. Progress for May was emailed today May 27th. If you did not receive a progress report please email Krista Johnson.

 

Montessori K-6

Snacks Please remember to send your student a snack daily, in addition to their lunch. All students take a snack break in the morning. Please also send your student with a water bottle. The water fountains are currently not in use due to COVID protocols.

 

Will your student be returning for the 2021-22 school year

Please make sure to complete the returning survey for next year by June 10th. Here is the link: https://forms.gle/FXG5SdAjEWyvhuxLA

 

Montessori Half Day Friday, June 11th

Montessori will have a half day of school on Friday, June 11th due to District-wide elementary grading. Students will be released at 11:35 am. Please make sure that you call the office with any changes in transportation prior to the release of school that morning.

 

Progress reminder

Please complete the progress response as soon as you receive the progress report from your student's teacher. Progress for May was emailed yesterday May 26th. If you did not receive a progress report please email your teacher and/or Krista Johnson.

 

Upcoming Dates

May 28 No School 31 No School Memorial Day
June 2 Graduation practice ORLA 3:30-4:30 pm 3 hConnect/iConnect/MAST Supply Pick-up 2:30 - 4:00 pm 4 hConnect/iConnect/MAST Supply Pick-up 11:00 am - 1:00 pm 9 ORLA Graduation at Indian Summer Country Club at 6:00 pm 11 Half Day Elementary School Grading - students released at 11:35 am 14 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm 22 Last Day of School - Half Day - students released at 11:35 am 22 Drive through reverse parade 12-1 pm 28 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm

 

PTA

More information about ORLA PTA can be found at http://www.orlapta.org

From The District Office

 

Spotlight on Success

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the District by visiting their website at osd.wednet.edu

 


 

Who to contact with questions

 

Staff Name & Contact Duties
Celeste Waltermeyer, Administrator
  • Building and program questions and concerns
  • Financial assistance for families
  • Montessori and hConnect
  • Staff concerns
Kristy Grinnell, Asst. Administrator
  • Graduation
  • iConnect
  • Intervention
  • High school schedules/Running Start
  • Building and program concerns and questions
Laura Herman, Dean of Students and Teacher Consultant
  • hConnect New Family Questions
  • Middle School Academy
  • Intervention
  • Informational questions related to hConnect
Krista Johnson, Program Manager
  • hConnect New Family Questions
  • Middle School Academy
  • Registration
  • ALE questions
  • Monthly progress questions
  • Records requests
  • Informational questions related to programs
  • Withdrawing of students
Peggy Olsen, Counselor
  • Student mental health support
  • Family resource needs
  • 504 referrals and accommodations

Lacie Williams, Secretary

Gisella Santiago-Gronka, Secretary

  • Withdrawing of students
  • Informational questions related to programs
  • Attendance
  • Records requests

 


 

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:

 

Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506

 

Michael Hart, Title IX Officer

(360) 596-8545, [email protected]

 

Autumn Lara, Executive Director of Elementary Education

(360) 596-8534, [email protected]

 

Ken Turcotte, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator (Students)

(360) 596-7530,  [email protected]

 

Starla Hoff, ADA Coordinator (Staff)

(360) 596-6185, [email protected]

 

Scott Niemann, Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator

(360) 596-6185, [email protected]

 

Pat Cusack, Director of College and Career Readiness

(360)-596-6102, [email protected]