April Newsletter
Welcome April!!
It’s that time of the year again, spring is in the air!. I love seeing the signs of life on the trees and shrubs at ORLA and the sunny days have added energy and enthusiasm around the building. It’s my goals to bring the energy and the enthusiasm of spring into our work and building at ORLA. Our ORLA community - students, teachers, support staff, and parents are an amazing group of people - thank you for your dedication and hard work throughout this past year.
It may seem like summer is just around the corner, but now more than ever, we need our students and families to stay committed to attendance and best efforts toward learning new skills and content. Stay engaged! Keep up those habits and routines that provide the best opportunities for learning at school and beyond. Thank you for staying committed to your child's education and attendance. We want to see those happy, smiling student faces everyday!
Celeste, Administrator
Allergy season is upon us!
With students on campus, we are being extra diligent with our health protocols. If your student typically suffers from moderate to severe seasonal allergies, it would be beneficial to obtain a doctor’s note with your student’s symptoms to send to the school nurse. Student’s coming to the nurse’s office for allergy-like symptoms will be treated on a case-by-case basis. Please read our Sick Day Procedures to know when to keep your student home.
Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program
Due to COVID-19, children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals will get extra food benefits. These food benefits are called P-EBT. P-EBT benefits help Washington families buy food when schools are closed or have reduced in-person attendance.
Follow the link below for all the details to receive assistance. Please take a moment to check your eligibility and apply today! Learn more at k12.wa.us/PEBT
https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/pandemic-ebt-p-ebt
Orchestra Students
Tuning Time or Extra Help for all Orchestra Students is now every Tuesday from 11:30 am-12:00 pm. Contact Karen Berets at [email protected] for more information.
Butterflies for You
The Flock of Butterflies is growing. They are so beautiful! You can still participate. Stop by ORLA to pick some up - return them by the end of April. You can pick them up by the front entrance of ORLA. Drop them off there, in our butterfly box. We are putting them up in the window that faces Boulevard and we’ve extended our timeframe because some students wanted time to create over spring break. For many, butterflies are a symbol of hope, transformation, and persistence. Flying together they are stronger. If you want to skip the trip, you can find the butterflies attached to the newsletter here. Print and scan it back to Lea Mitchell.
Attendance Matters
All students need to be on time and in class every day. If your student is absent please call the 24
hour attendance line at 360-596-7773. Please make sure that students continue to take their daily
attendance via the OSD Portal. If you have any questions regarding attendance please contact the ORLA office at 360-596-7730.
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 Celeste Waltermeyer at
[email protected] or Peggy Olsen at [email protected]
Transcripts
It’s that time of the year, ORLA graduates will be off to college and beyond. To request an official transcript, please complete the Google Form here. More information can be found on the ORLA Counseling page at https://orla.osd.wednet.edu/our_school/counseling
Check Out CRC Library Materials Online!
First, check-out this Google slideshow for details: CRC Checkout Process. On the Student Portal, select Destiny Library Catalog under Research. Find a book you want and Select Hold, then Log in with your Student Google email and Hold. The maximum holds per student are 10. After placing your materials On Hold, you'll receive an email when your requests are ready to pick up. The process may take me a couple of days. I am new to the Library stacks and locating some books is challenging! Thank you for your patience.
Please consider locating and returning all CRC items not being used. Every item checked out before January 31, now appears as overdue in Destiny, I guess that was the final date pre-pandemic... Drop off at ORLA M-F 9am - 2pm at the office. Please wear a mask. Renewals can be done online or by emailing Patricia Coon at [email protected]. Thanks again.
ORLA is having a Talent Show!!
This will be an all inclusive Talent Show with students AND staff. Tell a funny joke, showcase your fashion, do a Science experiment. The possibilities are endless! Send your videos and/or photos to Cristy Havens at [email protected] by May 4th. A live showing will be held on Zoom, May 18th at 6:00 p.m. Fore more information, check out the flier here. Check out the ASB video about the Talent Show.
Advisory
Advisory at ORLA for hConnect/iConnect/MAST. Mondays at 10:50 am. Please join us for some social time! Just a quick 20 minute check-in to see teachers and friends!
K-5 link https://osd111.zoom.us/j/85955469091
6-8 link https://osd111.zoom.us/j/87855648174
9-12 link https://osd111.zoom.us/j/83157994314
Enrichment Classes for K-6
We are pleased to announce that we had a great response to our new adventure of onsite enrichment classes. Since, we had so many responses we are going to offer two sessions for these classes. The first session is full, and we have limited spaces in the 2nd session. If you are still interested and have not signed up yet please contact the office to be added to the list. (please note, this session does not count towards your learning plan hours). The sessions will run as follows:
K-2 Sunshine and Stories class (4 weeks sessions)
Session 1- April 19 - May 10 (Full)
Mondays from 12:30-1:30
Session 2 - May 17 - June 14 (3 spaces left)
Mondays from 12:30-1:30
3-5 Calligraphy and Card Creations class (3 weeks sessions)
Session 1- April 30- May 14 (Full)
Fridays from 11:30-12:30
Session 2 - May 21- June 11 (6 spaces left)
Fridays from 11:30-12:30
We have placed students in sessions based on the time the response to join was received. We will send an email with specific information to the families who have signed up already with guidelines, procedures and process. These sessions are only enrichment sessions and do not count towards your learning plan hours and will not have progress attached to them. If more students sign up than space allotted we will create a waitlist in order of request received and contact you if space becomes available.
Safety Note--
All students need to wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. Families need to complete the wellness check for each student. Need assistance completing the wellness check, contact the front office at 360-596-7730. On the day of each class teachers and staff will meet students out front to take their temperature. ORLA is still not open for siblings and parents to be onsite.
6-12 Grade Game Night
The ASB will be hosting Game Night Wednesday, April 28th from 4:00-5:30 pm. We will be playing Among Us via ZOOM. New to Among Us? No worries. Our ASB students will walk you through it. We hope to see you there!!! Questions? Please email me at [email protected]
Zoom link 4:00-5:30 pm
School Hours
School starts at 8:30 am (doors open at 8:15). Drop-off will begin at 8:15 am, students should remain
in their car until their temperature is taken. If your student will be tardy, please walk them into the front office to check-in, they will need to have their temperature taken before being left at school. School ends at 1:52 pm. Please pick your student up no later than 2:00 pm. Please make sure that the front office has a current Transportation form on file. If there is a change in your student’s transportation plan, please call the office by 1:30 so we can send a note to your child’s teacher.
Breakfast, Snack, and Lunch
Breakfast and lunch are free to all students for the remainder of the school year. Please remember to pack a snack for your student. Your student will also need to pack a water bottle for the day. All water fountains are closed due to COVID restrictions. All students will have a snack/recess break in the morning. Hybrid students may also choose to bring their own lunch. On days that your student is not at school breakfast/lunch can be picked-up outside between 11:30 am-1:00 pm.
April
5-9 Spring Break
12 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm
19-23 Public School Volunteer Week
26 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm
28 6th - 12th Grade Game Night Via Zoom - 4:00 - 5:30 pm
May
3-7 Teacher Appreciation Week
3 Montessori Supply Pick-up 11:00 am - 1:00 pm and 4:00-6:00 pm
4 Montessori Supply Pick-up 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
5 hConnect/iConnect/MAST Supply Pick-up 2:30 - 4:00 pm
6 hConnect/iConnect/MAST Supply Pick-up 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
10 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm
18 ORLA Talent Show via Zoom at 6:00 pm
24 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm
26 6th - 12th Grade Game Night via Zoom - 4:00 - 5:30 pm
31 No School - Memorial Day
More information about ORLA PTA can be found at http://www.orlapta.org
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
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]