Spotlight on Success: June 2026

Hello Olympia School District community,

We had a great last few weeks of school. All around the district, we celebrated how far students have come, recognized the people who helped them along the way, and looked ahead to future opportunities. As we close the 2025/26 school year, I wanted to express my gratitude to our students, families, staff and community, and for all you have done to support learning across our district.

This month, we are especially proud to celebrate the Class of 2026. At graduation ceremonies across our district, we honor their hard work, perseverance and growth, as well as the families, educators and community members who supported them along the way.

To the Class of 2026: Congratulations! Whether your next step is college, career, military service, travel or another path entirely, we are proud of you. You leave the Olympia School District with skills, experiences and relationships that will continue to serve you well, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact you will make.

Graduation is one milestone in a much broader preschool-through-12th-grade journey. Across our district, students have learned, grown, built friendships, tried new things and overcome challenges this year. None of that happens without the dedication of our teachers, paraeducators, counselors, office professionals, custodians, bus drivers, food service workers, support staff, administrators and many others who support students every day. Thank you for making this year possible.

As summer begins, we encourage students and families to rest, recharge and enjoy time for reading, exploration, connection and play. Learning continues in many forms beyond the classroom, and summer is a wonderful time for students to pursue interests and prepare for the year ahead.

Summer is also a busy season across our district. While students and many staff enjoy a well-earned break, our operations, maintenance, custodial, technology and support teams are already hard at work preparing buildings, classrooms, grounds and systems for the 2026/27 school year.

Families and staff will also notice a refreshed look online this summer. On July 1, we are launching our new district and school websites through ParentSquare Smart Sites. The new platform is designed to provide cleaner navigation, improved mobile access, enhanced accessibility features and stronger translation tools. As with any major website transition, we expect some items will need to be adjusted after launch, and our Communications team will be making refinements throughout the summer.

I wish all of you a joyful, restful and safe summer break. We look forward to welcoming students in grades 1–12 back to school on Thursday, September 3, our kindergarten students (Class of 2039!) on Wednesday, September 9 and our preschool students on Thursday, September 10.

Take care, and enjoy your summer.

Warm regards,

Patrick

Capital High School Media Arts and Career and Technical Education Teacher Scott Le Duc has been named the 2027 Regional Teacher of the Year by Educational Service District 113.

Le Duc, who has taught at Capital High School for 28 years, was also recently selected as the Olympia School District’s Teacher of the Year. His regional recognition highlights his lasting impact on students, colleagues and the broader school community.

According to ESD 113, Le Duc is known for an instructional approach that centers student agency, real-world learning and preparation for creative industry pathways.

“Scott is an innovative educator whose systems-forward thinking helps students become the best versions of themselves,” said ESD 113 Superintendent Dr. Flip Herndon. “His leadership in CTE centers student-led learning and the sharing of knowledge to prepare students for the industry post-high school.”

Le Duc teaches courses such as Game Design, Film Cinematography and International Baccalaureate Film. In many of his classes, students across multiple levels learn during the same class period, creating a collaborative environment where students take ownership of their work, support one another and grow as artists, storytellers and creative problem-solvers.

We're rounding up some of the most popular stories, celebrations and community moments from our social media channels. While school may be out for the summer, we'll continue sharing photos, highlights and memorable moments from the 2025/26 school year. Follow Olympia School District on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected with district news and celebrations all season long.

As we head into summer break, we want to thank you for all you have done to support our schools, students and one another this year.

Summer can be a time for rest, connection and new routines. We also know that time away from school can bring added stress, isolation or uncertainty for some students and families. We want to make sure our community knows that support remains available throughout the summer.

The Olympia School District’s Resources for Youth and Families webpage includes local and national resources for mental health, crisis support, basic needs, food assistance, health care, family support and more. This is a helpful place to start if you or someone you know needs support during summer break.

Families may also review this youth mental health and suicide prevention information from Thurston County Public Health and Social Services: Youth Suicide Risk Health Advisory.

Students and families are also encouraged to continue speaking up when something does not feel right. If you are worried about yourself, a friend or someone in our school community, please tell a trusted adult. Safety concerns may also be reported through the district’s anonymous Vector Alert system.

Another resource available to young people in Washington is HearMeWA, a free, anonymous, 24/7 helpline for Washington youth up to age 25. Youth can use HearMeWA to share concerns about themselves or someone else and get connected with trained support.

Graduation season for the Class of 2026 has officially come to a close, and all of our senior classes have walked across their respective stages.

If you were unable to attend one of our five graduation ceremonies this year or didn’t catch the livestream, you can find all of our graduation livestream recordings linked below. You will also find photo albums capturing the smiles of this momentous milestone from all of our high school graduations. Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We wish you the best on your next adventure!

 

The Olympia School District is preparing to launch new district and school websites on July 1, 2026.

This launch marks a major upgrade to our district’s web presence. We are moving from our current SchoolMessenger Content Management System to ParentSquare Smart Sites, a more modern website platform that connects with our existing ParentSquare communication system.

The new websites are designed to provide a cleaner, more consistent experience across all district and school sites. Families, staff, students and community members will see improved navigation, a more user-friendly layout and stronger mobile access, making it easier to find information on a phone, tablet or desktop computer.

The websites will also include enhanced accessibility features to better support all users. In addition, the district will use the Weglot translation tool, which provides improved content translation for families and community members who prefer to access information in a language other than English.

In preparation for the launch, schools and departments have been reviewing and updating website content to ensure information is accurate, up to date, and easy to find. This includes school and department pages, public-facing webpages, staff resources, links, documents and other online resources.

As with any major website transition, we expect there will be items to adjust after the new sites go live. Throughout the summer, the Communications Department will continue to address issues, update content, fix links, and make refinements to ensure the websites are ready for the start of the 2026/27 school year.

After the launch, staff and families may notice that some information has moved or been reorganized. While the new websites are designed to be easier to navigate, it may take a little time to get familiar with the updated structure. We encourage users to explore the new sites and update any saved bookmarks or links as needed.

If you notice any needed updates, broken links or inaccurate information, please contact the Communications Department at communications@osd.wednet.edu.

Thank you to everyone who has helped review and update content in preparation for this transition. Your attention to detail is helping ensure our new websites serve as strong, reliable resources for our entire community.

The SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program is returning to support families during the summer months, when school meals are not available.

SUN Bucks provides a one-time $120 benefit per eligible child each year to help families purchase groceries. Last summer (2025), nearly 550,000 children in Washington received SUN Bucks, helping families stretch their food budgets and support local communities.

Benefits will begin arriving starting in June for eligible families.

Most children will be automatically enrolled if they meet one of the following anytime between July 1 of the previous year and the current summer:

 

 

If your family becomes eligible for free and reduced meals after June 5, school enrollment data will not be shared with the SUN Bucks program due to limited time. You can still receive the benefit by also completing a SUN Bucks Application on the DSHS website.

Families of automatically eligible children will receive a notification by mail.

Students attending schools that provide free meals to all students (Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2 schools) must submit a meal application or SUN Bucks application to verify income.

The Olympia Education Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Hart as its new Executive Director.

Hart brings more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has led programs that connect schools, educators and community partners to expand access to arts, education and enrichment opportunities for students.

“I’m honored to join the Olympia Education Foundation,” said Hart. “I look forward to working with the Board, the school district and our community to support students and educators.”

Annie Pocklington, Olympia Education Foundation Incoming President and Strategic Planning Co-Chair, said the OEF Board was impressed with Hart throughout the interview process.

“We are so excited to bring Kelly’s nonprofit leadership and community-building expertise to the Olympia Education Foundation,” said Pocklington. “Kelly has hit the ground running, and it has been great to see her insight and background shine through in her work already.”

The Olympia Education Foundation supports students and educators across the Olympia School District by partnering with the community to help expand opportunities and remove barriers to student success.

Olympia School District families, staff and community members are encouraged to reach out, introduce themselves and welcome Kelly to her new role. To learn more about the Olympia Education Foundation, visit their website or contact Kelly Hart at info@olyedfoundation.org.

All schools are closed for the summer. Middle and high school offices reopen on August 17, while elementary school offices reopen on August 24.

 

Summer hours for the Knox 111 Administrative Office, located at 111 Bethel St. N.E. in Olympia, will begin on Monday, June 29, and end on Friday, July 31, 2026. During that time, the building will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Please Note: From June 29 through July 31, Knox will be open to the public Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and by appointment only on Fridays.

 

Members of the public who need to meet with the Technology Department on the building’s lower level should knock on the door located near the parking lot next to the Knox building off Tullis Street. The door is at the top of an accessibility ramp with blue railings.

Featured Image Above: “Fleeting” by Raegan Hoffman, a junior at Olympia High School, Winner of the Superintendent’s Choice Award at the OSPI 53rd Annual Superintendent’s High School Art Show.

Olympia School District middle and high school students planning to participate in athletics this fall can now complete their sports registration through FinalForms.

 

 

 

Families are encouraged to complete registration early to ensure students are cleared and ready for the start of fall sports practices.

 

A current sports physical is required annually for participation and is valid for 13 months from the exam date.

 

Visit the Olympia School District Sports Clearance Process page for sport-specific forms, handbook information, and school registration links.

Summer school registration for high school students entering grades 9-12 in the Fall of 2026 is now open!

 

 

Please check with your counselor to verify which courses you will need to complete.

 

For additional information, visit the 2026 OSD Summer School. The registration form for the high school summer program will open on June 8, 2026.

 

 

Please Note: Olympia School District will not be offering an Elementary Summer School Program this year.

Kick off the new school year and football season at one of Olympia’s most cherished traditions, the Spaghetti Bowl!

 

 

Hosted by the Rotary Club of Olympia and the West Olympia Rotary Club, the annual spaghetti dinner costs $10 per person, and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

 

Please Note: Dinner tickets do not include game admission.

 

 

Spaghetti Bowl T-shirts and game tickets will be available for purchase in August.

Please Note: Game tickets do not include dinner or online ticketing fees.

After dinner, head to the stadium to cheer on the Capital Cougars and Olympia Bears in this cross-town classic.

 

 

A special CHS and OHS band collaboration will perform throughout the evening, and both cheer and dance teams will take the field at halftime.

The Olympia School District Transportation Department is now accepting bus registration forms for the 2026/27 school year. If your student plans to ride the bus to and from school, please complete the transportation registration form as early as possible. Students must be registered in order to access district transportation services.

 

 

To ensure transportation is available by the first day of school, please submit your registration by August 15, 2026. Forms received after this date may not be processed until late September, depending on demand.

 

 

 

For students who qualify for special education (IEP) transportation or McKinney-Vento services, or who are enrolled in preschool, registration is handled through the Student Support Department. Do not complete the general form. Instead, contact your student’s teacher, IEP case manager, or the OSD Transportation Deptartment.

For all other transportation-related questions, contact the OSD Transportation Department at (360) 596-7700 or email Transportation directly.

While summer has just begun, we know some families like to plan ahead. Our Back-to-School Resource Page will be your go-to destination later this summer for important information, including school hours, supply lists and more.

 

We’ll share updates as the new school year approaches, so stay tuned and enjoy your summer break!