Superintendent’s Message
Dear Olympia School District Families and Community,
Olympia has been a destination school district for families and staff for decades. It is a wonderful place to live, work and learn. By most traditional measures, the Olympia School District is one of the highest-performing districts in the state which is a reflection of the students and families we serve and the skills and dedication of our staff. Annually we attract hundreds of students from outside of our district who seek out that experience. Besides word of mouth, data is a powerful tool for our existing families and prospective ones to better understand what our schools offer.
I am pleased to share that our 2023-24 Annual Report is now available online. This report comprehensively examines the achievements, initiatives and progress made across our schools during the 2023-24 school year. Some of the highlights include:
I encourage you to explore these resources to learn more about the work being done in our schools to help ensure success for all of our students.
One other note. Every year we recognize two Olympia School District Teachers of the Year. This year we are recognizing two exceptional educators who have been selected as our 2025 Olympia School District Teachers of the Year: Devin Alexander, Reading Specialist at LP Brown Elementary School, and Kimberly Merkley, Orchestra Director at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.
Both teachers will be honored during an Olympia School Board special recognition ceremony this evening Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Knox 111 Administrative Center. We invite our community to join us in celebrating both Devin and Kimberly!
Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff and school community.
Warm wishes,
Patrick Murphy
Congratulations to this year's OSD Teachers of the Year!
This year, the Olympia School District is thrilled to announce that two teachers have been selected as the 2025 OSD Teachers of the Year: LP Brown Elementary School Reading Specialist Devin Alexander and Thurgood Marshall Middle School Orchestra Director Kimberly Merkley.
Both teachers learned the news during surprise after-school staff meetings. Superintendent Patrick Murphy was on hand to announce the recognition and presented the honorees with flowers while a roomful of excited colleagues cheered them on in support.
Read the full article
Kindness Celebrations Fill Hearts Across the District
Over the past few months, kindness has taken center stage across the Olympia School District, with students, staff, and families coming together meaningfully to build a culture of compassion, connection and care. From classroom lessons to school-wide initiatives, kindness has been woven into everyday interactions, making a lasting impact on our communities. Check out how several of our schools are spreading kindness and making a difference in the lives of all our students and families.
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Seal of Biliteracy Program Highlights Linguistic Diversity
The Washington State Seal of Biliteracy program is a prestigious recognition for high school graduates who demonstrate advanced proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English. The Olympia School District is proud to honor language as a valuable asset and believes that multilingualism opens doors to many opportunities. Through the Seal of Biliteracy Program, OSD encourages students to develop language skills that enhance their cultural awareness and prepare them with a competitive edge in the global job market. This recognition fosters a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, broadens career possibilities and prepares students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.
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2023-24 OSD Annual Report
The 2023-24 Olympia School District Annual Report is now available. Take a quick peek at some of the accomplishments of our students, staff and schools for the 2023-24 school year! You will also find our 2023-24 School Performance Reports and School Improvement Plans. To access this information, simply follow the links below.
School Performance Reports and School Improvement Plans are published annually by the Olympia School District. Much of the data on these pages may also be found on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Report Card.
Should you have any questions regarding these reports, plans or district policies please contact the OSD Communications Office at [email protected] or (360) 596-6103.
You’re Invited: Unveiling of our 3D Printed Community Mosaic
Join the Olympia School Board for the highly anticipated unveiling of the Olympia School District 3D 3D-printed community mosaic!
Andrew Woodbridge’s Advanced 3D Design & Fabrication students at Olympia High School have been hard at work assembling this vibrant masterpiece, crafted from 3D—printed pieces contributed by our staff, students, families, and community members. This stunning mosaic will soon serve as a welcoming addition to the OSD Board Room at the Knox 111 Administrative Offices.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time and creativity to this inspiring community project!
Come celebrate this collaborative work of art with the OSD Board, district design and fabrication students and community members. We can’t wait to celebrate our contributors and share this moment with you!
Nurturing Minds: How Madison’s Wellness Center Supports Students and Staff
In today's world, there is a lot happening around us, and mental well-being has never been more important. At Madison Elementary School, the Wellness Center is dedicated to supporting the emotional health of students at a time when self-care and mental wellness are crucial. This calming space is designed with regulation tools, comfortable seating, and helpful resources to encourage relaxation and emotional growth. The Wellness Center's mission is to create a culture of wellness for teachers, staff, and students by offering a safe and welcoming place to take a break, relax, learn and heal. Through various counseling tools, coping strategies, wellness education, and mindfulness practices, the wellness center nurtures the mental health and well-being of the entire school community.
Read the full article
Varian Johnson Inspires the Next Generation at Olympia Reads!! Events
This year, Olympia Reads!! teamed up with Lacey Loves to Read to bring award-winning author Varian Johnson, (known for books like The Parker Inheritance, The Great Greene Heist, and Twins) to the Olympia and North Thurston school districts.
This annual initiative gave select students from each elementary and middle school in the district a chance to hear from the author during a special presentation at Capital High School. Students and families also had another opportunity to meet the author at the free community event on the evening of February 13, co-hosted with Lacey Loves to Read. Olympia Reads!! provides students with a unique chance to connect with a talented storyteller and strengthen their love for books and reading. Pioneer Elementary School fourth graders Griffin and Oliver shared what they enjoyed most about the event, saying, “His story about growing up, his drive to keep going, and how he found a way to get back into writing really inspired us.”
Teacher-librarian liaison and instructional coach Sharyn Merrigan shared, “Meeting an author who wrote a book that you love or simply hearing about how writers conduct their craft opens students up to the possibilities of pursuing their own passions. Olympia Reads!! brings students face-to-face with incredible writers, demystifies the writing process and facilitates a personal connection with books and literacy. OSD Teacher-Librarians are thrilled to build Olympia Reads!! into a much-anticipated annual event for the entire community.”
Olympia Reads!! Bookmark Winners
As part of the event, students had the opportunity to design a bookmark that reflected a love of literature and reading, inspired by this year's author, Varian Johnson. Four designs were selected as grand prize winners across four age brackets. These students were surprised at their schools and celebrated at the Olympia Reads!! author events. Their bookmarks were printed and made available throughout the district as part of their prize.
Thurgood Marshall Middle School Teacher-Librarian Cassie White shared how the bookmark contest fosters creativity and community, saying, "Students feel a personal connection, pride, and possibly even bravery to their school and peers through submitting their bookmark creations, but it becomes so much bigger and more real when they get to attend the author spotlight or are chosen as a building semifinalist or cross-district grand prize winner. There is so much excitement around seeing their artwork publicly posted and praised. It plants a seed of self-worth, confidence and connection to something larger than themselves." She also praised the inclusivity of the contest, stating, "I love how all of the schools showcased all student work. Each school has unique ways to involve students and staff throughout this contest. Ultimately, it is a community builder: School community. District community. City community. County community. Cultural community."
Congratulations to our 2024-25 Olympia Reads grand prize bookmark winners:
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Grades K-2: Laurence Hobbs, 1st Grade, Roosevelt Elementary School
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Grades 3-5: Kirra Quinn, 5th Grade, Centennial Elementary School
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Middle School: Timothy Nguyen, 8th Grade, Reeves Middle School
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High School: Molli McLeod, 11th Grade, Olympia High School
Olympia Reads!! is a community reading initiative designed to encourage our students to be lifelong readers and learners. The mission of Olympia Reads!! is to excite readers of all ages by connecting them with published authors and illustrators. The Olympia Reads!! committee is made up of teacher-librarians from all levels in OSD. Thank you to our valued partners for making this event possible: Timberland Regional Library, Olympia Education Foundation and Browsers Books.
Olympia Robotics Federation Mentoring Program
The Olympia Robotics Federation (ORF) is proud to mentor teams across the district, including Jefferson MS, Washington MS, NOVA, and ORLA!
Our middle school teams have been rocking it! Five of our teams placed in the top five at the First Lego League (FLL) competition, showcasing incredible talent, hard work and teamwork.
These students aren't just building robots—they're designing, coding, presenting and even learning computer-aided design (CAD) & 3D printing. This program is a fantastic experience, especially if you're in middle school. Join the fun at ORF, where innovation meets inspiration!
Save the date for the 2025 Countdown to Kindergarten
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Doors will open at 9:40 a.m.)
Location: Olympia High School (1302 North Street SE)
We would like to welcome the students and families from the Class of 2038 to our annual Olympia School District Countdown to Kindergarten event. This exciting and informative event is open to all parents/guardians who have children entering kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year, both in-district and out-of-district families.
Parents/guardians and incoming kindergartners are encouraged to attend, and feel free to invite your friends and neighbors! Families will have an opportunity to:
If you have any questions, please contact the OSD Elementary Education Department at (360) 596-6113. We hope to see you on March 22!
Please Note: Online kindergarten enrollment is now OPEN! Students must be five years old by August 31, 2025, to enter kindergarten in the 2025-26 school year. Families can request an early entrance kindergarten assessment if the student turns five between September 1 and October 31, 2025.
February/March
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March 5: 50-Minute Early Release
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March 6: OSD Board Work Session at 6:00 p.m.
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March 10-14: Education Support Professionals Week
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March 12: 50-Minute Early Release
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March 13: OSD Board Meeting (in-person and via Zoom) at 6:30 p.m.
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March 19: 50-Minute Early Release
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March 22: Countdown to Kindergarten
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March 24-28: Half Day (Elementary Students Only - Conferences)
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March 26: 50-Minute Early Release (MS & HS Only)
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March 27: OSD Board Meeting (in-person and via Zoom) at 6:30 p.m.
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March 31-April 4: Spring Break (No School)
OSD 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 Paula Perryman, 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:
James Whitehead, Title IX Officer
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-8545
[email protected]
Autumn Lara, Executive Director of Elementary Education
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-8534
[email protected]
Ken Turcotte, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator (Students)
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-7530
[email protected]
Starla Hoff, ADA Coordinator (Staff)
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-6185
[email protected]
Scott Niemann, Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 596-6185
[email protected]
Paula Perryman, Director of College and Career Readiness
Knox 111 Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
(360)-596-6102
[email protected]
All six individuals may also be contacted at 111 Bethel St. N.E., Olympia, WA, 98506.