Olympia West

​Due to weather concerns, all after school activities (including all practices and games) have been canceled for today, Monday January 22nd. Please be safe if you need to be outside today!

Due to the impending ice that is projected to arrive in our area during the morning commute, Olympia will not have school today, Monday, January 22nd. We are concerned about our buses and our student drivers getting to school given the ice in the forecast. This will be a traditional snow / ice day - students do not have to do any school work today as we are uncertain about power and internet stability given we are anticipating ice. We will add this day to the calendar in May. A decision about after school extra-curricular events will be made by early afternoon.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for FREE swim!

Due to extreme cold, Olympia CUSD 16 will have an eLearning day tomorrow. Students should not report to school on Tuesday, Jan. 16th. Full details can be found in the News story on our website.

Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv2 "It's complicated" can describe many of our relationships with others, both romantic and otherwise. Add digital devices and social media to the mix, and things get complicated even further. Help students take the first step toward building healthy and rewarding friendships and romantic relationships, both online and off. Students listen to other teens' thoughts and feelings about having and maintaining boundaries in friendships online, in a world of being constantly connected.

Help kids trust their guts so they can exit iffy or inappropriate online conversations. Discuss different scenarios and ask how they would feel and what they would do.

2nd Graders had an amazing time kicking off the holiday break with a party yesterday! We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

5th Grade Christmas Escape Room. Trying to find what country Santa left his present bag in.

Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv6 For most kids, being on social media can mean connecting with friends, sharing pictures, and keeping up-to-date. But it can also mean big-time distractions, social pressures, and more. Help your kids navigate the different feelings they may already be experiencing on social media. In this video, kids hear what other teens have to say about using social media to connect with friends, consider the complications and distractions that can happen, and think critically about how social media affects their own relationships.

In the beginning, you might limit all communication with strangers online. As kids get older, you can monitor any online chatting. And once they're more independent, you can discuss which methods are appropriate as well as what information to keep private.

Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv3 Students hear from teens about the benefits and drawbacks of presenting themselves differently (or even anonymously) to others online, and consider what it means to "be yourself" in digital spaces. Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online.

OMHS Angel Tree Deadline Friday!

Discuss how a message can change depending on the person delivering it or the delivery method. Read a question like "What are you doing?" with different tones of voice. How do emoji and punctuation help communicate tone and emotion in texts?

Parenting can be hard! Holidays can add stress. Find hope, answers, and stay current on parenting trends. Check out this Spartan parent resource: https://parentguidance.org/ This resource is available to all parents, grandparents and staff.

Kids learn about appropriate verbal and physical communication from watching you. But online conversations can be invisible. Occasionally, narrate as you're writing texts or social media comments when your kids are in earshot.

Parenting can be hard! Holidays can add stress. Find hope, answers, and stay current on parenting trends. Check out the Spartan parent resource: parent guidance.org. This is a resource available to all parents, grandparents and staff.

Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. Of course, online communication can come with some risks. Show your kids how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive. Video: bit.ly/olyRCv1 Video Discussion Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HQQ_lgKj5SVL5aGWYOrIfDfcwtxxjK9sI9-hJmSs3XY/edit

Soon after kids start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, kids need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online. Throughout December, be on the lookout for these 4 Family Tips for elementary families who are looking to build a strong foundation for online relationships and communication! 1. Give them the right words. 2. Play a game of telephone. 3. Help kids navigate online friendships. 4. Develop their instincts.

Congratulations to this artistic group of OWE students. Their posters were selected for the Kiwanis Minier Christmas Parade Poster Contest and will be displayed for the community today!

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