May 2021

Orca News May 2021

May Newsletter

Welcome May!!

Dear ORLA families,


As we get closer to wrapping up this school year, we are looking forward to the future and all the possibilities for next year. We are hard at work trying to plan and are excited that things are coming together. Sadly, we said goodbye to Ms. Cheryl yesterday and will be looking for someone just as amazing to fill her shoes. She was definitely a bright spot in the front office! She will be missed dearly. 


This past month we welcomed more students on campus with our Enrichment Classes in hConnect! Our Montessori cohorts will be combining on May 3rd and students who are shifting from remote to onsite will join Montessori on May 10th! I enjoy seeing all the smiling faces on campus! As we look ahead to June our seniors are very thrilled that we are currently able to hold the ORLA graduation ceremony at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club on June 9th at 6:00 PM. 


Keeping you all in my thoughts,

Celeste Waltermeyer, Administrator


Meeting with Superintendent Murphy 

ORLA families are invited on May 19th at 6:00 pm to talk about the budget and what next year will look like with Superintendent Murphy. Please join the meeting using the Zoom link below. 

Join Zoom Meeting


Middle School Academy 

Hopefully you were able to attend our FAQ meeting regarding our proposed program restructuring and rebranding.  If you missed it you can view the meeting here. We’re so excited to potentially expand our middle school program by offering it to 6th - 8th grades. Our proposed Middle School Academy will contain all the components of the best that ORLA has to offer students, such as smaller, more personalized classes, hands on learning opportunities, and a teaching staff that work closely together to create units of learning that connect across subjects. As a part of this process, we are asking for parent feedback, so please take a moment to fill out our feedback form.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kristy Grinnell, Assistant Administrator at [email protected]


2021-2022 FAQ Family Meetings

We recently held meetings for hConnect and Montessori families about what next year could look like at ORLA. If you weren’t able to attend you can find those links below. Please reach out if you have any questions and/or concerns. We’d love to connect with you!

        2021-2022 h/iConnect/MAST FAQ 2021-2022 Montessori FAQ

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


May the 4th Be With You Day!

Join us on May 4th for “May the 4th Be With You Day”! Anything and Everything related to Star Wars! Wear Star Wars/ Mandalorian colors, clothes, etc.!!! Let’s celebrate on-site and online with your Star Wars gear!! 


ASB Game Nights

The ASB will be hosting two Game Nights!! On Friday, May 21st from 4:00 - 5:30 pm, 3rd-6th grade will be playing Among US. On Wednesday, May 26th from 4:00-5:30 pm, 6th - 12th grade will be playing a game still to be determined. Both Game Nights will be played via ZOOM. We hope to see you there!!! Questions? Please email me at [email protected]


3-5 Game Night Zoom Link 6-12 Game Night Zoom Link


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! Our ASB president will be making a movie of your talent videos. Please send your talent videos to Avery at [email protected] by May 4th. The Talent Show Movie will be held on Zoom, May 18th at 6:00 p.m. for us all to watch. So grab your popcorn and join us!!  If you have any questions contact Mrs. Havens at [email protected]


Youth Arts Scholarship

Learn woodworking, weaving, ceramics, blacksmithing, woodworking and more at Arbutus Folk School! Scholarships now available to students with financial need ages 19 and younger. Learn more about this and apply for a scholarship, visit https://arbutusfolkschool.org/youth-scholarship-program/.  Contact Ms. Mitchell if you want to talk more about this and other ideas for youth art opportunities in the community. [email protected]

Montessori K-6

Welcome Back 4 Days on May 3rd

We are so excited to combine cohorts and welcome all students back to the building four days a week, starting on Monday, May 3rd. Students who will be shifting from remote to on-site will start May 10th.  There are a couple of things for you to be aware of. Please take a moment to read through them and also familiarize yourself with the attached document. 


1. May is a new month...time to redo your Wellness Screening in Skyward.
2. Students will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will continue to be an asynchronous learning day.
3. Don’t forget your student’s water bottle (the water fountains are currently not in use due to COVID), snack, and lunch (unless they are receiving hot lunch)
4. If your student will need bus transportation, please complete a Transportation Form and email it to Lacie Williams. This document is fillable if you download it first and save it. (see bus route information below)
5. If your student will be absent, please email Lacie Williams or contact 24/7 attendance line at 360-596-7773
6. Please be mindful of students at drop off and pick up and drive slow through the parking lot and drive through. Please remember your patience, we’ve got double the students on-site now.
7. Try to pull up into the drive as students are dropped off/picked up, this way we won’t have a long line waiting to get into the drive. Parents are also welcome to drop off and/or pick up by parking and walking your student to the front of the building.
8. Doors open at 8:15 am and staff will be out front checking temperatures at your car. If your student will be late, please walk them into the building. They MUST have their temperature taken before you leave them on campus.
9. School ends at 1:52 pm. Please pick up your student no later than 2:00 pm. If there is a change to your student’s transportation plan, please call the office by 1:30 so we can send a note to your child’s teacher.
10. Bus route departure/arrival times are as follows:

AM

PM

Thurgood Marshall Middle School - 7:35


Garfield - 7:44  (has yCare)

Garfield - 2:33  (has yCare)

Roosevelt - 7:56  (has yCare)

Roosevelt - 2:23  (has yCare)

Madison - 8:02

Madison - 2:15

Lincoln - 8:10

Lincoln - 2:07

ORLA - 8:25

ORLA - 1:55


If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the front office at 360-596-7730 or email Lacie Williams at [email protected]


hConnect/iConnect/MAST K-12

Spring MAP Testing 

Students, grade 2-10, who are part-time enrolled, have the opportunity to take the MAP assessment. More information about the MAP assessment is below and detailed information can be found here. Students who are full-time hConnect, MAST, and iConnect are required to test.

The Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) is an assessment in Math and ELA for students in grades K-12. This assessment is computer-adaptive, meaning the questions become progressively more or less difficult based on student performance to establish an achievement level. MAP scores provide valuable data for our school, teachers, and families. With that in mind, the data is important but is only one piece of data used to assess student learning.  


The link for testing will be sent out the Wednesday prior to the test. Generally, the MAP assessment takes 30-45 minutes for students to complete but with test directions, it takes a little longer. Please complete the form for each student taking the assessment. If you have questions please reach out to Brig Lohman or Celeste Waltermeyer 


Testing Dates for hConnect, iConnect (6-12) and MAST

April 30 Math Grades 2-6, 10:00-11:30 am

May 7 ELA Grades 2-6 and 6-12, 10:00-11:30 am

May 14  K-5 Makeup and Math Grades 6-12, 10:00-11:30 am

May 21st Grades 6-12 Makeup, 10:00-11:30 am

Testing Dates for iConnect (K-5)

May 10th ELA (Reading), 9:30-11:00 am

May 11th ELA (Reading) Make-up, 9:30-11:00 am

May 13th Math, 9:30-11:00 am

May 14th Math Make-up, 9:30-11:00 am


Upcoming Dates

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

6 hConnect/iConnect/MAST Supply Pick-up 2:30 - 4:00 pm

7 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

19 ORLA Family meeting with Superintendent Murphy via Zoom at 6:00 pm

21 3rd - 6th Grade Game Night via Zoom - 4:00 - 5:30 pm

24 CRC materials due to ORLA 

24 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm

26 6th - 12th Grade Game Night via Zoom - 4:00 - 5:30 pm

28 No School - Snow Make-up Day (if necessary)

31 No School - Memorial Day


June

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

14 OSD Board Meeting Knox 111 at 6:30 pm

22 Last Day of School - Half Day

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 and Contact

Duties

Celeste Waltermeyer, Administrator [email protected]

Kristy Grinnell, Asst Administrator [email protected]

Krista Johnson, Program Manager [email protected]

Peggy Olsen, Counselor [email protected]

Lacie Williams, Secretary [email protected]


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]