Olympia School District

 

Superintendent’s Message

 

Hello Olympia School District families and community,

 

The 2025–26 school year is off to a strong start, thanks to the hard work of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the support of families and community members.

 

Already this fall, we’ve had the chance to celebrate meaningful traditions and milestones. I was honored to ride along with students on Bus Route 31 for the first day of school and to join our community for the 43rd annual Spaghetti Bowl, where Capital and Olympia High Schools once again came together for spirited rivalry games of volleyball and football.

 

I also had the privilege of attending a recognition ceremony at Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA), where the school was honored as a Tree Campus K–12. This recognition, made possible through collaboration with the City of Olympia Urban Foresters and the dedication of ORLA staff and students, celebrates the school’s extensive environmental education efforts—including the planting of the Artemis Moon Tree and the integration of tree-focused lessons across classrooms. ORLA received a plaque and flag, and the school community announced this award during their International Day of Peace Celebration on September 22 at the ORLA Peace Pole.

 

As we look ahead, here are a few reminders:

 

• Walk N' Roll Initiative – In partnership with Intercity Transit, we encourage safe, healthy, and sustainable travel to and from school.

• Panorama Fall Climate Survey – Open September 22–October 12, 2025, for students, staff, and families in grades 3–12.

• Olympia Education Foundation's Rise and Shine for Students’ Breakfast – Friday, October 3, 2025, at Capital High School. This event supports programs that directly benefit students.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership as we launch another school year of growth, achievement, and opportunity for every student in the Olympia School District.

 

With gratitude,

 

Patrick Murphy

 

---

 

 

A Joyful Start to the 2025–26 School Year

The first week of school brought smiles, laughter and lots of excitement across the Olympia School District. On Tuesday, September 3, students from first grade through twelfth grade kicked off the 2025-26 school year. From cheerful morning drop-offs to happy classroom reunions, the energy was everywhere. Superintendent Patrick Murphy even joined the fun by riding the route 26 bus to school alongside Centennial, Washington and Olympia students. At Hansen Elementary School, the Saint Martin’s Men’s Basketball Team gave a warm welcome back, cheering on students and handing out fistbumps and cool t-shirts!

 

High school seniors at both Capital and Olympia high schools carried on the tradition of a 6 a.m. Senior Sunrise, gathering together to celebrate the start of their final year. It was a special moment of reflection and excitement, as they thought back to their very first days of school, the friends they had made and all the memories that had brought them to this point of their high school journey.

Lincoln Elementary School hosted an ice cream social, giving new and returning families a chance to celebrate the first week of school while getting to know one another. 

On Monday, September 8, we welcomed the youngest members of our OSD family, our preschoolers and kindergartners! Their day was full of “firsts” from classroom adventures to morning goodbyes and even a first loose tooth.

PTA/PTO organizations at several schools created cozy spaces for parents to connect with coffee, pastries, hugs, high-fives, or tissues in hand, because the first day of kindergarten can bring both tears and cheers.

At Pioneer Elementary School, PTO volunteers greeted students with a sweet treat and a brand-new pencil. What a way to start the day! Roosevelt Elementary School PTO hosted a ‘Kindergarten Parent Drop-Off’, featuring pastries from San Francisco Street Bakery and fresh coffee, providing an opportunity for families to connect. McLane Elementary and LP Brown Elementary schools hosted ‘Java Jitters’ to make sure the coffee was hot and the welcome was warm.

Across the district yard signs welcomed families, new shoes squeaked down the hallways and smiles could be seen on every face. From preschoolers to high school seniors, it was a week full of connection, excitement and the joy of starting a brand-new school year together.

 

Check out all the fun from the first week in our Facebook Albums from September 3 and September 8. Stay tuned for more back-to-school fun and check with your school offices for upcoming events.

 

---

 

 

Olympia Education Foundation: Rise & Shine for Students!

The Olympia Education Foundation invites families and community members to “Rise & Shine for Students!” on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. in the Capital High School Performing Arts Center. This free community event is a fantastic way to start your morning while learning how your support helps students across the Olympia School District.

During the event, you’ll hear about the impact of the Foundation’s Principal’s Emergency Fund, Opportunity Grants, and student and community well-being efforts—all programs that help cultivate student potential and strengthen our schools. It’s a chance to see how the generosity of families, neighbors and local businesses makes a real difference in the lives of students every day.

The morning will also feature delicious treats from Ember Goods and Left Bank Pastry, adding a warm and welcoming touch to this uplifting gathering.

We hope you’ll join us to connect with others, celebrate the power of community support, and be inspired by the many ways we can all work together to ensure Olympia’s students thrive. To learn more, visit olyedfoundation.org.

 

---

  

 

Be the Change: Apply for the Student Leadership Advisory Council

Do you want to make a difference in your school and community? The Student Leadership Advisory Council (SLAC) gives Olympia School District students a direct voice in school decisions. SLAC members share ideas and concerns with the school board, helping shape policies that work for everyone while building a stronger, more inclusive district.

We are looking for a diverse group of students who bring unique experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives—whether through culture, academics, athletics or extracurricular activities. Applicants should be sophomores, juniors or seniors in OSD who are passionate about leadership, equity, and student voice and ready to collaborate to make positive change.

Applications open October 6, 2025, and are due by October 20, 2025. After applications close, there will be a review period through early November.

Be part of the conversation. Be a voice for students. Apply to join SLAC today!

• SLAC Application: Opens October 6, 2025

 

---

 

 

Community Comes Together for 43rd Annual Spaghetti Bowl

The 43rd annual Spaghetti Bowl lit up Ingersoll Stadium on Friday, September 5, as fans packed the stands to watch the Olympia Bears and Capital Cougars face off in one of the community’s most anticipated rivalries. With a capacity crowd and an overtime finish, the 2025 matchup was nothing short of unforgettable.

The energy was electric, with both schools showcasing incredible spirit. Olympia’s student section, “The Trench,” turned the stands into a white-out with more than 1,000 students dressed head-to-toe in white. Across the stadium, Capital fans matched the intensity, filling their side "The Cage" in Cougar red. The pride, tradition, and camaraderie of both communities rang out in every cheer, chant, and play.

On the field, the game lived up to the hype. Olympia led 27–16 going into the fourth quarter, but Capital mounted a late comeback, to force overtime. In the extra period, Cougar quarterback Nolan Potts powered into the end zone for the winning touchdown, securing a 33–27 victory. Both teams left it all on the field, playing with heart, determination, and sportsmanship in a game that players and fans will remember for years to come.

 

Special appreciation goes to Olympia Police and Fire for being with us, and to the Olympia and West Olympia Rotary for once again serving the traditional pre-game spaghetti dinner, a meal that nourishes both belly and heart. Sean Padget, a Capital High School Class of 1984 graduate and proud Rotary member, shared, “The event was a success. They sold 500 tickets and the proceeds will benefit both Olympia and West Olympia Rotary Student Scholarships.” The dedication of Padget and his fellow Rotarians to supporting students and the Olympia community continues to be nothing short of inspiring.

Since its beginning in 1976, the Spaghetti Bowl has grown into more than just a football game. It’s a celebration of connection, tradition and school spirit. A night that brings everyone together in support of students, athletes and our community. That spirit carried on throughout September as Olympia and Capital also faced off in other fall sports, including volleyball, freshman and JV football, girls soccer and boys tennis. Showcasing the incredible talent, teamwork and pride across both schools. 

• 2025 Spaghetti Bowl Photos

 

---

 

 

The Olympia School District’s Student Mentor Program (SMP) is excited to share some big updates for the 2025-26 school year. The SMP has a brand-new logo (see image above), a dedicated webpage, and a triannual newsletter that will go out to all students, staff and families - watch for the fall edition, coming out next month! These new tools will make it easier for the community to stay connected and learn about the positive impact students are making across the district.

What is the Student Mentor Program?
The Student Mentor Program is a student-centered initiative focused on leadership, peer mentoring and identity exploration. Rooted in equity, it uplifts underrepresented students while welcoming all students to take part.

A Growing Program
Launched in February 2021, the program was created to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and underrepresented students by fostering safe spaces for social-emotional growth and mentorship across grade levels. Building on existing student groups already established in the district, the program has strengthened these efforts by bringing together existing groups and building on their strengths, creating new pathways for students to connect, lead and thrive. What began as a small initiative has since grown into a district-wide program that expands opportunities for all students, strengthens connections across schools and highlights the power of peer support.

Some key parts of the program include:

• Peer Mentoring across high school, middle and elementary schools.

• Affinity Groups bring students together around shared identities, backgrounds, or cultural heritage, while remaining open and welcoming to all students who wish to participate or learn as respectful allies.

• Student Mentor Leadership Team made up of middle and high school leaders who help guide activities and support their peers.

• Collegiate Athlete Partnerships that inspire students through stories of teamwork and perseverance.

 

With its new logo, webpage and newsletter, the Student Mentor Program is ready to reach even more students and families. These updates will help highlight student voices, celebrate diversity and strengthen a culture of belonging across the Olympia School District.

 

---

 

 

This is Part 2 of our throwback series, as we ask Jefferson Middle School students about trends and treasures from the 1980s and 1990s! From Moon Shoes to Yak Baks, Camcorders to Squeeze Its, watch as students take their best (and funniest) guesses at what these throwback items are and how they were used.

Will they nail it—or be totally baffled? Either way, you’re in for some laughs and nostalgic moments in this fun, lighthearted feature!

 

 

 

With fall officially here, we would like to invite families to lace up your shoes, hop on your bikes and join us for Walk to School Month. Celebrated in more than 40 countries, this global event encourages students and parents to leave their cars behind, explore their neighborhoods and adopt a new way of getting to school.

As part of the celebration, the Olympia School District is joining Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program, which promotes walking, biking and rolling to school. These small changes make a big difference, fostering community, boosting physical activity, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality near schools.

Olympia School Board will read the Walk to School Month proclamation at the September 25, 2025, school board meeting: “In October, people around the world will celebrate the health and environmental benefits of walking and biking to school.”

Drivers, we need your help too! Please slow down, follow posted speed limits and remain alert in school zones. Every careful choice behind the wheel helps ensure students arrive safely.

Let’s make this October a month of movement, connection and fun as we celebrate Walk to School Month across our district!

Helpful Tips for Walk N Rollers:

• Use sidewalks when possible

• Cross streets at intersections and crosswalks

• Always look both ways before crossing

• Pay attention and listen to crossing guards

• Watch carefully at driveways and exits

• Know your route and walk with others

• Don’t talk to strangers

 

Interested in a Free Yard Sign?

As part of Walk N Roll, Intercity Transit has partnered with Target Zero Thurston Task Force, Child Care Action Council’s Safe Kids Thurston County, and the Olympia Police Department to design and distribute traffic safety yard signs.

The three different signs were designed by Avanti High School students and funded by Target Zero. Signs are displayed in neighborhoods and around schools across Thurston County to remind drivers to slow down and make our community safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

 

Pick up your free sign at:

Intercity Transit Customer Service (Olympia Transit Center, 205 Franklin St. NE, Olympia)