Olympia CUSD 16

Congratulations to Grace Melick for making the state final round of Oratorical Declamation and to Mariah Maris for making the state final round of Prose! Good luck Spartans!

Family Tip 5: Take breaks. Notice your kid getting pulled into digital drama? Help them take a break. They may determine for themselves when they need to step back, but they might need some help setting limits. Putting devices to bed at a specific time can help kids recharge.

During today’s Pathway Day, OHS celebrated Kindness Month promoted by the PBIS team! Students collaborated in team-focused games, wrote kindness letters to incoming students, and attended a presentation on the impact of cyber bullying and online disinhibition.

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV5 Digital harassment happens when teens use texts, instant messages, emails, and social media posts to keep tabs on or threaten someone else. It usually involves two people in a close relationship. Here are four ways to help teens avoid digital harassment.

Any MS Student interested in MS Track - there will be a meeting, Friday, Feb 28th at 2:27pm in the MS Gym. Questions email: naomi.springer@olympia.org or brendan.hoskins@olympia.org

Olympia North teachers met the SEL challenge today by creating lessons that incorporated a mystery item. It was a fun and engaging way to end the day!

Q&A: How can I explain why teens shouldn't create fake profiles to tease their friends and/or peers? https://www.commonsensemedia.org/facebook-instagram-and-social/how-can-i-explain-why-teens-shouldnt-create-fake-profiles-to-tease Photo from Rober Monkada

bit.ly/OlyCBB Teaching kids character strengths and life skills such as empathy is one of the most important jobs of being an adult. These great books for all ages help make it easier by celebrating friendship, difference, and the importance of caring for one another.

7th Grade meeting for Washington DC trip in Spring of 2021 is being held on Wednesday, March 4th at 6pm in HS Cafe. Questions email colleen.williams@olympia.org

Family Tip 4: Encourage upstanding. Let kids know that supporting someone who is being bullied can make a big difference. If they feel safe confronting the bully, they should. If not, a PM can help someone through a tough time. Speaking up against hate speech is important too!

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV7 As humans, we thrive on social connections and group associations. But this tendency can also lead us to be suspicious of people outside our group. This fear -- xenophobia -- can be overcome by more exposure to people who are different from us. However, the internet can often make this more difficult. Help your kids recognize this challenge and find strategies for navigating content online.

The Olympia Outdoor Adventure Club hit the slopes on a snowy day at Sundown Mountain in Dubuque, Iowa!

The Olympia High School Speech Team Sectional Qualifiers did amazing things yesterday at Belleville West. Beatrice Harbaugh and Zach Manahan were IHSA Sectional Finalists and Grace Melick and Maria Maris are headed to the State competition next weekend!

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV6 Cyberbullying is something most families hope they never have to deal with. But if your kids are texting, sharing photos, and posting comments, it’s important to talk to them about how to deal with online harassment. Learn 5 ways to stop cyberbullies.

Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Loyer spoke about best practices in math instruction at the ESSA conference in Chicago on Wednesday, February 12th. They shared their experiences on "How Mathematicians Work" in their classrooms at Oly North!

Today, Friday, February 14th all Olympia schools will begin one hour late due to the extreme cold.

Family Tip 3: Role-play. If kids feel like they might have trouble removing themselves from digital drama, experiment with some different ways they can make a graceful exit. Talk through words they can use, ways they can steer conversations in positive directions, etc.

All Olympia activities are cancelled for today, February 13th. All Olympia buildings are closed today as well.

Q&A Time: Is there any way to make sure my kid won't become a cyberbully? https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying/is-there-any-way-to-make-sure-my-kid-wont-become-a-cyberbully

Congratulations to Mrs. Jennings and Miss Clarke from Olympia West, they are the recipients of a PNC First Grant! Mrs. Jennings and Miss Clarke will use the grant money to create a sensory path for their students.