August 2019

Welcome Back

August 13, 2019

Dear Montessori Families,

After what I hope has been a fantastic summer it is again time to think about school supply shopping and back to school routines for the kiddos!  There is a lot of back to school information packed into the newsletter. Please feel free to contact the office with questions. The office opened on August 12th and our office hours are 9-2:30. If you are calling the office during business hours please leave a message so we can get back to you.

As a reminder, tomorrow, August 20th at 6PM we will be hosting a meeting about the basics of ALE.  There will be some time set aside for questions. If you are unable to attend tomorrow we will have another meeting in September.


Sincerely,

Celeste Waltermeyer

ORLA Administrator

Returning?

If your student(s) will not be returning to ORLA please contact the office ASAP.  You may also email Krista Johnson at [email protected] 

Kindergarten and Preschool Information

Kindergarten and Preschool students start school on Monday, September 9th.  During the first 3 days of school, the teachers meet with families and students. During these meetings, you and your student will be able to drop-off school supplies, ask questions, see the classroom and get to know your teachers. Please use Skyward Family Access to sign up for a time.  You can call the front office at 596-7730 to get help with login information and/or to schedule a meeting time. This system will open up the last week of August, please do not try to schedule your conference now. 


Meeting Dates and Times

Wednesday, September 4th from 9:00-12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00PM

Thursday, September 5th from 1:00-3: 30 PM and 4:00-7: 00 PM

Friday, September 6th from 9:00-12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00PM

Classroom Teacher Assignments 

There have been many questions about the grades Ms. Claire will teach this year, she will be teaching grades 4-6.  Students in Ms. Claire’s class will remain in her classroom.  

We are all excited that we were able to rehire Delinda Terry for Upper Elementary. Ms. Delinda will start her Montessori training this school year.

Ms. Tiffany and Ms. Isabella will be teaching a different schedule this year.  Ms. Isabella will teach Monday and Tuesday and Ms.Tiffany will be teaching Thursday and Friday.  They will be alternating Wednesday’s. The decision to move to this schedule was to add consistency throughout the day for students.

Classroom assignments will post to Skyward no later than August 27th.  

School Hours 


Regular Hours

Early Release Wednesday 

Half Day Dismissal

Grades K to 5 

9:00am–3:22pm 

9:00-2:32pm 

12:05pm 

AM Preschool 

9:00am-12:00pm 

  N/A

12:05pm


Important Dates and Information

August 27th 

Classroom assignments available in Skyward and/or check for an email


September 3rd 

School Supply Drop-off and Popsicle Social 4:30-6: 00 PM.  Stop by ORLA to drop off your school supplies, meet your child's teacher, and have a yummy treat! Prek/Kinder teachers will meet students in the Commons.  The school supply list can be found at http://orla.osd.wednet.edu/orla_montessori/montessori_curriculum


September 4th 

First day of school (grades 1st-6th)


September 4th -6th

Kindergarten and Preschool back to school conferences. During these meetings, you and your student will be able to drop-off school supplies, ask questions, and complete an activity. Please call the front office at 596-7730 to schedule a meeting time.  

Meeting Dates and Times

September 5th from 9:00-12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00PM

September 6th from 1:00-3: 30 PM and 4:00-7: 00 PM

September 7th from 9:00-12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00PM


September 9th

First day of school for Kindergarteners and Preschoolers


September 11th


District Early Release.  K-6 Students release at 2:32 pm.


September 13th

Back to School Potluck @ Lions Park 3:30pm  sponsored by the PTA


September 17th

Back to School Breakfast ORLA Commons sponsored by the PTA


September 26th

Curriculum Night 6:00-7: 00 PM


October 9th

Picture Day 


October 11th

NO SCHOOL Teacher In-Service





ORLA Options Bus

Olympia in-district resident students have the option of riding the bus to and from the schools listed below.  Busing is available for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. All Kindergarten students must have a bus form on file before they are allowed to ride the bus.  

Please Note: While at the neighborhood school your students must be supervised by a parent/guardian (not an older sibling) while waiting for the bus. The pick-up and drop-off times are listed below.  Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the pick-up/drop-off time to ensure that your student is not unsupervised.

AM Route Pick-Up Times    

PM Route Drop-Off Times

Garfield 8:04 AM(RT 65)

Bus leaves ORLA at 3:22

Roosevelt 8:16 AM (RT 65)

Garfield 3:45 PM (RT 65)

Madison 8:20 AM (Rt 15)

Roosevelt 3:32 PM (RT 10)

Lincoln 8:30 AM(RT 65)

Madison 3:32 PM (RT 65)


No PM bus to Lincoln

Early Release Wednesday’s

Bus Leaves ORLA at 2:32

Route 65 Arrives:

Madison @ 2:42  

Garfield @ 2:55

Route 10 Arrives: 

Roosevelt @ 2:42


ORLA Drop off and Pick up  

Morning Drop-off

  • To keep students safe, please use the drop-off lane in the morning for drop-offs and not the parking lot. Do NOT park in the drop-off/pick-up lane.
  • If you are walking your student into the building, use the parking lot and the
  • designated crosswalk to walk your child(ren) to and from the parking lot.  
  • As a reminder, students should be dropped off no earlier than 8:30 for breakfast. There is no supervision in the commons until 8:30.  If you are early you may come inside and sit with your child until breakfast starts. If you need care before 8:30 please contact the YMCA regarding YCare.

Parent Pick-Up

Students will be in the gym and ready to release at 3:22. We are releasing

students to the car pick-up line as soon as their class arrives at the gym.

If you are driving through the pick-up line, please add to your Orange Card

your student’s full name and teacher. Orange Cards will be available at

Back to School Night and during Kindergarten/preschool conferences.

  • The gym is in use until 3:20 most days.  Please wait outside the gym doors, in the Commons and/or in the hallway until the class using the gym has lined up to be released before entering the gym.  

  • Parents, please wait until your students' class has entered and are seated before you check out your student. The teachers are asking students to shake their hand before they leave so they visually know who is leaving. Please do not take your student from the line as they walk into the gym. 

  • At 3:30 the gym will close down and students who are not picked up will be walked to the office to wait for pick-up. If you need care later than 3:30 please contact the YMCA regarding YCare.