School News | The JOLT News Organization, A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Olympia School District Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Jennifer Priddy explains to the board the effect HB1664 in terms of physical, emotional and social services on April 24, 2022.

OSD’s physical, emotional and social services to improve through HB 1664, says school district official

The Olympia School District will improve physical, social, and emotional services through increased state funding required in House Bill 1664, passed in the recently concluded legislative … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/5/22

Olympia and other local school districts are considering changing to a Balanced Calendar. This slide is from the OSD board meeting on March 16, 2022.

OSD wants community members to participate in survey for balanced calendar

Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy encourages the community to complete an online survey about the balanced calendar concept. “We want to know what our community thinks … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 5/2/22

Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy reads a proclamation designating May 2-6 as Teachers Appreciation Week on April 28, 2022.

Olympia School District celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week

The Olympia School District (OSD) proclamedthe week of May 2-6 as Teacher Appreciation Week. The proclamation, signed at the OSD regular board meeting yesterday, underscored the teachers’ … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 4/29/22

Saint Martin's University honorary doctorate recipients (l-r) Fr. James Lee, Sr. Angela Hoffman and Kathleen Heynderickx

Saint Martin’s University to award three honorary doctorates

Saint Martin’s University will confer honorary doctorate degrees to three members of the Benedictine community at its commencement ceremony next Saturday, May 7. “Each year Saint … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 4/27/22

In a Tuesday public hearing, residents showed up to air support for Thurston County’s condemnation of an abandoned property adjacent to L.P. Brown Elementary School in Olympia.

County greenlights condemning abandoned property next to L.P. Brown Elementary School

The Thurston Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) has authorized the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to start condemnation proceedings for the abandoned property adjacent to L.P. Brown Elementary School … more

By JC Medina | 4/20/22

This is the hybrid live and online meeting of the Olympia School Board on May 13, 2021.

Olympia School District board supports Proposition 1

On Thursday, the Olympia School District board of directors adopted a resolution supporting Proposition 1, which would add .01% to the Olympia city sales tax. In supporting the ballot … more

By Lorilyn C. Lirio | 4/19/22 | 3 comments

The seals of the five service academies are shown above. Left to right: U.S Military Academy (Army, "West Point"), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Does your student seek an appointment to a US service academy?

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D) will host two informational meetings for middle and high schoolers curious about attending any of the five U.S. service academies, with the first of the two … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 4/14/22

Olympia High School, showing its main entrance on the North St. side of the campus.

Oly High ranked 21st best school in state

Stacker compiled a list of the best public high schools in Washington using rankings from Niche. It ranked Olympia High School as the 21 best among 884 public high schools in the state and the only … more

Edited from Stacker | 4/7/22

Active shooter drills banned in Washington schools

During the 2022 Washington State Legislature, lawmakers worked to prohibit the usage of active shooter drills, including conducting lockdown drills, by schools, which include simulations of or … more

By Troy Kirby | 3/28/22 | 1 comment

Library Giving Day is an opportunity for people to give back to the local library that serves their community.

Support your local library on Wednesday, April 6 – Library Giving Day

Timberland Regional Library asks patrons to show their support for accessible and life-changing resources, programs and materials on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 – Library Giving Day. Timberland … more

By Taniah Najih | Timberland Regional Library | 3/24/22

Olympia Parks, Art & Recreation Director Paul Simmons presenting Olympia School District's co-location offer to the City Council

Olympia OKs talks to share Yelm Highway property with Olympia School District

Olympia City Council has unanimously approved starting negotiations with the Olympia School District (OSD) on building a school on the city’s Yelm Highway property planned to be developed into … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 3/23/22 | 1 comment

Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Paul Simmons presented various options OSD provided concerning plans by the school district to build a school along the highway of the Yelm property.

Vote set that would share Yelm Highway park land with Olympia School District

The Olympia City Council is set to vote tomorrow on a proposed Co-Location Agreement that would make part of the Yelm Highway land designated to become a new park available to Olympia School … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. and Danny Stusser | 3/21/22 | 2 comments

South Puget Sound Community College's Northwest Athletic Conference All-Region awardees (l-r) Payten Foster, Sharay Trotter, Justin Hicks and Head Coach  Darah Vining

Honors for SPSCC Clippers basketball athletes

Several South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) basketball student-athletes won Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) All-Region awards, according to a press statement released by the … more

3/21/22

Olympia School District probes shifting to Balanced Calendar

Olympia Schools District (OSD) is exploring adopting a Balanced Calendar, potentially as soon as the 2024-25 school year. During a webinar held Tues., March 15, OSD Superintendent Patrick Murphy … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 3/17/22 | 1 comment

Legislature seeks to establish a state student loan program

Prior to closing the 2022 Washington State Legislative session, the Senate passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1736, which establishes a state student loan program. Originally passed by the … more

By Troy Kirby | 3/16/22

Top row, l-r: Coach Cesar, Soraya Ogaldez, Sophi Swanson, Alexis Meyer, Kaylin Henderson, Grace Lee, Laney Borchart, Coach Owens. Middle row, l-r: Coach Meyer, Kaylin Koval, Alberta Samuelu, Avery Anderson, Tay Birdtail, Jordan Harn, Mckalya Seng, Coach Stippich. Bottom row, l-r: Team Managers Amanda Pierre, Emma Anderson, Haily Boykin

North Thurston High honors Lady Rams

North Thurston High School honored its Girls' Basketball teams with a banquet Fri., March 11 at 6:30 p.m. The varsity Lady Rams, led by Head Coach Jackie Meyer, played in the Washington … more

By Gloria Towne | 3/16/22

Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, Ph.D., was named the 11th president of Saint Martin's University on March 15, 2022.

New president of Saint Martin's University will be first woman to serve in that post

Saint Martin’s University announced yesterday that Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, Ph.D., current provost and vice president for academic affairs of St. Norbert College, a top Catholic liberal arts … more

Edited from the university's press release | 3/16/22

National Honor Society recognizes local students at North Thurston High School

The National Honors Society (NHS) inducted some local students into their organization Thurs., March 10, at North Thurston High School, Lacey. Recognized for their accomplishments in their … more

By Gloria Towne | 3/15/22

Timberland Regional Library staff celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by offering a variety of accessible materials and resources, collected digitally on the TRL.org Celebrations webpage. https://www.trl.org/Celebrations

TRL celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Timberland Regional Library celebrates March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by highlighting staff-selected resources that recognize the many achievements and contributions of people … more

By Taniah Najih | Timberland Regional Library | 3/10/22

Olympians attended city councils meeting to weigh in on whether or not the city's new Yelm property should include a school in its proposed park and soccer field.

Olympians chime in on Yelm Highway park-school co-location concept

Concerned residents attended the Olympia City Council meeting on Tue., March 1 to voice opposing stands on whether the city’s Yelm Highway property should make room for a proposed school site … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 3/3/22