Olympic Hills Family Newsletter
2-4-21
This week, we celebrated Black Lives Matter in Schools Week. Thank you for your partnership throughout this week and beyond as we work together to raise the next generation to be advocates for racial justice and a more equitable world.
I have a couple updates to share regarding the return to in-person learning.
1) As you know, the district released a proposed AA/BB hybrid schedule that has students in-person two days per week, asynchronous two days, and online Wednesdays. This is different than we anticipated, and I know this has caused anxiety and raised questions for families. Some of you asked if you can change your decision about returning or staying remote. We have been told the district will send out another survey to families soon. We do not know specifics about how this schedule will work, but we will keep you informed as we learn more.
2) We also found out the timeline for returning to in-person has been pushed back. Students in Focus K-2 are to return March 1st. Preschool, kindergarten, and 1st graders may return the following week or possibly later into March, depending on bargaining . I know this uncertainty can be challenging, but we have been told a decision will be announced February 22nd.
Regardless of the final schedule and timeline, we will be ready and excited to welcome our students back safely and make the most of our time with them in the building, and we will continue to provide strong remote learning instruction for our students at home. Our Safety Team is making headway planning as much as we can in advance - setting up classrooms, organizing Personal Protective Equipment, ordering signage, developing entry and exit procedures, and more. We are very fortunate to have parents on our team who are providing valuable insights and feedback.
If you have any questions/feedback, please don't hesitate to email me at ecdebell@seattleschools.org or call me at (206) 556-6296.
In partnership,
Libby DeBell
Assembly Video
Would you like to participate in an upcoming assembly?
- We would like to feature Black staff, students, and families for our assembly videos in February sharing about your family and culture.
- We are also looking for students and families to share how you celebrate Lunar New Year.
- We always need more students to sing the Olympic Hills song!
If you would like to participate, please send videos to Ms. Toledo (mesalesrojas@seattleschools.org) or Ms. Gardner (rrgardner@seattleschools.org) or text to Ms. DeBell at (206) 556-6296.
Upcoming Dates
2/5 All School Asynchronous Day for teachers to do 1:1 assessments with students
2/12 Lunar New Year; 100th Day of School
2/15-2/19 Mid-Winter Break
2/24 Beep and Greet: Materials Pick Up
Kindergarten and New Student Enrollment
For families with incoming kindergarten students or new students, registration is now open. Please help spread the word and encourage friends and neighbors to register their children at the Enroll My Student webpage.
Did you know there is a medical clinic at Nathan Hale High School?
This year, due to the impacts of Covid-19, the clinic is open to students of all ages who attend Seattle Public Schools. The nurse practitioners there can see students who need a physical, vaccines, a medication refill, or to complete medical forms required for school, among many other primary care needs. Best of all, services are free regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Reach out to them at (206) 302-1840 to schedule an appointment.
A Message from Lake City Librarian Nancy Pew
Ms. Pew is retiring next month! Watch her two latest videos here and here. You can email her at Nancy.Pew@spl.org.
Girls on the Run
Information and Resources
Technology Resource Center at Nathan Hale: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 6:00pm, lunch from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Still first come, first served. No appointments can be made.
Family Works at Nathan Hale: Wednesdays 12:45pm-3:00pm. An organization called FamilyWorks is providing Family Support Services to help families navigate various services and resources. They will be staffed with individuals who speak Somali, Spanish and English.
Virtual Volunteering: Are you interested in becoming a virtual volunteer to help support in breakout sessions or tutor students? Please reach out to Danielle Vaillancourt at olympichills.volunteer@seattleschools.org or call (425) 616-2516.
Olympic Hills Elementary School
School Office Hours and Contact Information:
Monday-Friday 8:00am-3:00pm
- For attendance and technology support, contact Danielle Vaillancourt at (425) 616-2516 or drvaillancourt@seattleschools.org.
- For all other questions, call the main office at (206) 413-2200 or email Joyce Phitts at jophitts@seattleschools.org.
Email: ecdebell@seattleschools.org
Website: www.olympichillses.seattleschools.org
Location: 13018 20th Avenue Northeast, Seattle, WA, USA
Phone: 206-556-6296