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

Unofficial results as of 4 p.m. on Feb. 10 show that "yes" votes in favor of a levy for Olympia School District No. 111 are in the lead.

‘Yes’ votes for school levies take lead in special election

With nearly all votes counted, the school levies for Olympia, Tumwater, Tenino and Griffin school districts appear to have all passed. According to unofficial results from the Thurston County … more

By Julia Ornedo | 2/10/22

Olympia City Council has yet to decide whether to use the city's Yelm Highway property into a stand-alone park (left) or have it with a school (right).

Olympia ponders adding school to proposed park Yelm Highway property

Olympia city council is currently in limbo whether the land along Yelp Highway would be built entirely as a public park or include a school on the grounds. During their study session last Tues., … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 2/10/22

South Puget Community College's new Clipper esports coach Michael Nguyen sees collegiate esports as the path for gamers to go pro.

SPSCC starts esports varsity team

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has formed an esports varsity team, the first of its kind in Thurston County. In an SPSCC press release, the Clipper eSports team will be coached by competitive … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez Jr. | 2/10/22

A driver deposits her ballot in the official drop box across the street from the U.S. Post Office in Lacey on Election Day last year.

Ballots and drive-through voter assistance available for Special Election

The Thurston County Auditor’s Office reminds voters the deadline to return ballots for the Special Election is Tuesday, February 8. Districts included in the special election are Griffin, … more

2/4/22

North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) ran its third and last community forum on their plan to explore a “balanced calendar” for the upcoming school year on Feb. 2, 2022, at the Salish Middle School.

Balanced calendar: NTPS holds third community forum

North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) ran its third and last community forum on its plan to explore a balanced calendar for the upcoming school year. Held on Feb. 2, 2022, at the Salish Middle … more

By JC Medina | 2/3/22

If passed, the new levy will raise a total of $52,427,000 for Olympia School District No. 111.

Olympia set to vote on new school tax

The Olympia City Council is encouraging citizens to participate -- and vote yes -- in the upcoming levy raising funds for the local schools. In their meeting yesterday Tues., Olympia city … more

By Edwin Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. | 2/2/22

The question is: Would these 2021 North Thurston High School graduates have achieved better educational results had the district adopted a Balanced Calendar? Shown, l-r, are Hannah Brannam, Maddie Hansen, Annie Hoffman, Cirena Adams and Helene Budd.

Balanced Calendar: not the same as year-round school

North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) will hold its first community forum this Wed., Jan. 19, to get insights on their plan to explore a “balanced calendar” for the upcoming school … more

By JC Medina | 1/18/22

NTPS's Sarah Rich, executive director of assessment & student achievement, spoke at the Jan. 11, 2022 NTPS board meeting.

North Thurston school board revises gender-inclusive policy, signs partnership with three Washington universities

Timberline High School hosted North Thurston Public Schools’ (NTPS) first regular board meeting for 2022 on Jan. 11, 2022. Timberline Principal Paul Dean and some student representatives … more

By JC Medina | 1/12/22 | 1 comment

Tumwater School Board President Melissa Beard addressed concerns regarding Superintendent Sean Dotson’s performance. Dec. 9, 2021.

Tumwater schools’ staff questions superintendent’s performance

The Tumwater School Board addressed district staff who have in recent weeks expressed “continued dissatisfaction” with Superintendent Sean Dotson’s leadership in their meeting last … more

By Kristine Javier | 12/10/21

Teams from Olympia High School and North Thurston High School competed together against two other schools on Nov. 13, 2021.

First robotics competition of the year hosted at North Thurston High School

Robotics, not long ago reserved for the realm of science fiction and multi-million dollar factories, has become hobby and sport for local high school students who design and build their own … more

By Danny Stusser | 11/17/21

Tumwater Middle School Assistant Principal David Parascand noted that school closures have a significant impact on student’s behavioral and academic abilities. Nov. 11, 2021.

COVID-19 stunts students' behavior and learning abilities

As schools finally re-open, teachers are starting to realize the impacts that COVID-19 had on students. Discussing school-improvement opportunities at last night's Tumwater School District … more

By Kristine Javier | 11/12/21 | 2 comments

Tumwater and other school districts’ budgets and staffing levels affected by enrollment decline

As the pandemic drags on, some parents across the U.S. and locally have elected to keep their students at home or send them to private schools. The drop in enrollment brings a proportional drop in … more

By Kristine Javier | 11/8/21

SPSCC is eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence based on Aspen Institute's announcement on Nov. 4, 2021.

SPSCC named one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges

For the fourth consecutive time, the Aspen Institute named South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community … more

11/4/21

Forming new habits takes 21 days, according to various sources, and is a key idea behind this program.

Tumwater’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge open to all

Tumwater’s city government and school district have teamed up to deliver the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, a series of brief videos, readings, audio recordings and discussion guides designed … more

By Danny Stusser | 10/12/21 | 3 comments

Year-round education under serious review by local school districts

School districts around the state, including Olympia, Yelm, Tumwater and North Thurston, are looking at a new educational concept called “Balanced Calendar.” It’s … more

By Ken Balsley | 10/12/21 | 1 comment

Tumwater School District and Tumwater City boards met on Oct. 7, 2021 and discussed the city's 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge.

Outgoing Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet discusses racial equity in joint city-school board meeting

As a part of the Tumwater Community 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, city leaders including Mayor Pete Kmet stressed the need to discuss racial equity in an online meeting with the Tumwater School … more

By Kristine Javier | 10/11/21 | 5 comments

Molly Hoghaug expressed safety concerns on her son’s bus route during the NTPS regular school board meeting on Tue., Oct. 5, 2021.

Lacey-area parents complain about school bus service at NTPS board meeting

Several parents spoke out to the North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) board yesterday, complaining about the lack of accommodations from its transportation department for safer alternative bus … more

By Kristine Javier | 10/6/21 | 1 comment

Olympia HS graduates Jenny Jang, Ann Murphy and Michale Tsien pose for family photos following their commencement ceremony.

Congratulations to Olympia High School's Class of 2021

The Olympia High School Class of 2021 received their diplomas on Fri., June 18 during its commencement ceremony at Saint Martin's University. Proud family members and friends filled the bleachers in … more

Never too late to congratulate! | 9/23/21

Welding is one of the skills that can be learned at Lacey MakerSpace.

$1 million federal grant awarded to Lacey MakerSpace

Lacey MakerSpace received $1 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to help retrain workers and business owners who were impacted by the … more

By Kristine Javier | 9/22/21

Griffin School serves students in Grades K to 8 who live west of Olympia, largely in the Steamboat Island area.

Griffin School to open a new Boys & Girls Club location

To meet the growing demand for out-of-school programming for youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County is partnering with the Griffin School District to open its eighth Boys & Girls Club … more

9/16/21