Olympic Hills Family Newsletter
5-25-2020
I hope you are taking today to enjoy the holiday in whatever small ways you can with your family. I want to share a quote from an article that is resonating with me this week.
“Distance learning requires us to be humans in an inhuman situation. We can’t simply provide lessons and assessments; we have to bridge this digital gap and carry some sense of humor and goodwill and community through the cold wiring. If we’ve succeeded in even a modicum of that task, we owe that to the success in the months prior when we created something special. A school family. A community that could rely on itself, that could flourish even in isolation.” Daniel Parsons in “I See Education and Humanity in ‘Full Bloom’ in My Covid-19 Classroom” in Education Gadfly, April 24, 2020.
Much like in the quote, we are continuing to learn and grow in how we deliver online instruction, while having some grace along the way as we figure this out together. We can attribute much of how we have weathered the pandemic so far to the bonds we formed amongst our school community prior to closure. I speak for the Olympic Hills staff when I say we are so grateful for all of you and this community.
In partnership,
Libby DeBell
e: ecdebell@seattleschools.org | m: 206-556-6296
Follow me on Instagram @principaldebell
Upcoming Dates
Week of May 25-29: 5/25 Memorial Day (no school)
Week of June 1-5: Staff Caravan through the Olympic Hills neighborhood! Day/time will be announced next week.
Week of June 8-12: Student belonging pick up June 10th and 11th
Week of June 15-19: 5th grade graduation celebration (details TBD). Last day of school June 19th.Information and Resources
Summer of Learning: Free virtual summer school is available for all students July 6th-August 7th!
- Click here to read about summer school.
- Registration links will be available May 26th.
Student Belonging Pick Up: June 10th and 11th. Families will be able to pick up student belongings such as bags, coats, medicine, and school supplies. You will also be able to return library books, instruments, and other school items. A schedule will be shared the week before.
Naramore Art Show Virtual Museum & Celebration June 4th 5:30pm: The Naramore Art Show is celebrating over 200 artworks by Seattle middle and high school students online. Naramore is a partnership with Seattle Art Museum and this year they are making a virtual museum on their website (May 18 - June 30) with a celebration on SPS TV (June 4 at 5:30pm) to show what students have been creating during “Stay Home, Stay Healthy.” The celebration on June 4th will include a viewing of the artwork, keynote by Superintendent Juneau, student video diaries and more.
Introducing New Staff
Please join me in welcoming two more fabulous teachers to Olympic Hills next year!
Jillian Khalife, Special Education Preschool Teacher: Hello! I’m Miss Jillian! For the past four years I have been working as an itinerant (traveling) Special Education Preschool teacher in the Seattle School District. I am incredibly excited to be planting my roots here at Olympic Hills and joining this wonderful community! I graduated from the University of Washington in 2015 with a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education. Outside of work I enjoy being outdoors, traveling, singing karaoke, and spending time with my closest friends, family, and my dog Rudy!
Counselor's Corner
Weekly Parenting Class - Parenting in Times of Covid-19
- We invite you to connect with other families and learn Positive Discipline tools that will support you in your parenting. Every Wednesday 7:30pm–8:15pm until June 17. Join Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 871 8076 7167. Password: 554566
- Sign language interpretation available
ESPAÑOL: Criando en tiempos de Covid-19
- Los invitamos a conectar con otras familias, y a aprender herramientas de Disciplina Positiva que les apoyarán en la crianza. Cada martes 7:30 PM – 8:15 PM. Join Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 894 2971 8001. Password: 058987
Weekly Student Classes with Ms. Paulina
- From Boredom to Creativity, Mondays 2:00-2:30pm. Join Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 876 8232 5028. Password: Counselor
- Bilingual Story Time, Wednesdays 2:00-2:30pm. Join Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 826 6973 1607. Password: Story
Olympic Hills Elementary School
Email: ecdebell@seattleschools.org
Website: www.olympichillses.seattleschools.org
Location: 13018 20th Avenue Northeast, Seattle, WA, USA
Phone: 206-556-6296