Ed Hatzenbeler, Orting School District Superintendent |
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Hello, Orting School District (OSD) Families.
As we near the end of the school year, the stress and workload start stacking up for many of our students. Components such as testing, exams and graduation around the corner weigh heavy for many of them. However, with how this school year began complex than normal, I couldn’t be more proud of how they overcame these obstacles to make it to the final stretch. Our schools look and feel much differently than in the fall, but I cannot underestimate the physical and mental toll it took on our local youth. I thought I would take a moment to speak about mental and physical health.
Some of the indicators of mental health challenges in students may look like:
- Feeling very sad or withdrawn for an extended time
- Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
- Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
- Extreme difficulty concentrating or staying still
- Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Drastic changes in behavior or personality
If you see these signs in your child or yourself, consider the following steps:
- Promote social and emotional competency and build resilience
- Encourage good physical health
- Seek or help others access mental health supports
- Teach, reinforce and/or practice positive behaviors and decision making
Above all, I hope we can continue to create positive, healthy and safe learning environments for everyone. I think each of us can help in this regard. Notice and celebrate the good in others. Share what you see. Build on strengths.
Have fun! Take care of yourselves so you can take care of others. You are what makes this school system great!
Ed...
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Superintendent Cabinet Updates |
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Executive Director for Human Resources |
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The OSD Transportation Department is looking for substitutes bus drivers for the 2022-23 school year!
Paid training is included, starting at $14.49 per hour and increasing to $22.91 after completion of training.
Before applying, contact the transportation department at 360-893-2302, or email assistant transportation supervisor Loni Storm at storml@orting.wednet.edu.
Click here to apply to read the full job description and apply.
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Executive Director for Equity & Student Outcomes |
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Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said, "Dignity not only sustains but it also energizes and enables. It accomplishes great things. It lifts the fallen and restores the broken. How wonderful it would be if we all, everyone of us, became agents of dignity".
While one of Orting’s key district strategic goals centers on developing, highlighting and celebrating student agency, the foundation of this goal can be found in our work around dignity first. As people, sometimes, we blur the definitions of dignity and respect. For clarification, respect is admiring someone because of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. Dignity is everyone having the right to be recognized for their inherent humanity and treated ethically.
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With the help of Orting High School (OHS) Spanish Teacher and Culture Club Advisor Mauricio Portillo and Principal Cliff Fries, I had the opportunity to connect with students, hearing their stories and personal experiences. These stories and experiences were stitched together in a presentation to our school and district leaders earlier this week with the goal of placing dignity first in our work together.
Elevating student voice as the driver of our work in OSD is an essential step to ensuring that all are connected, inspired and empowered as "agents of dignity".
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Executive Director for Teaching, Learning & Technology |
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Congratulations to Ptarmigan Ridge Elementary School (PTR) Intervention Teacher Beth Crowe (right) and Fourth Grade Teacher Michelle Avoilio (left), who will be OSD's Elementary English-Language Arts (ELA) teacher on special assignments (TOSA) for the 2022-23 school year! |
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Their work will target support for new curriculum adoption and literacy instruction. Also, they will also partner with a larger team to build and support our assessment and intervention process for K-5 literacy.
We are excited for this new chapter of reaching every student with the power of literacy.
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Executive Director for Student Support Services |
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This month, the student services department will host a parent night exclusively for families of OSD Special Education Students. This event will be the first in-person family night we plan to hold since the pandemic.
At the event, along with some of our paraeducators across the district, we will listen to families, gathering feedback and constructive criticism to help us meet the needs of their children. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it will be the first time in two years, so we really look forward to reconnecting with our local families.
If you are a parent/guardian of an OSD Special Education Student and have not received any information about the event, contact Executive Assistant for Student Support Services, Colleen Flanagan, at flanaganc@orting.wednet.edu. |
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What's Happening in our Classrooms |
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At Ptarmigan Ridge Elementary School (PTR), Mrs. Baskett's third grade class worked on an ocean pollution GLAD unit focusing on plastic pollution. Students activated their prior knowledge by looking at observation charts with different categories of pictures related to the topics we would be covering in the unit. |
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The students completed a pictorial input chart over a couple of days, learning new vocab words and information as we added to the chart. On Earth Day, they made Lorax Mustaches, stating on the back of it one way they could help the environment and oceans, and celebrated the holiday by picking up garbage on the playground. |
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What's Happening Outside our Classrooms |
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On Saturday, Apr. 23, at the Seattle Mariners Game at T-Mobile Park, the Orting Middle School (OMS) Choir performed the National Anthem in front of over 28,000 people.
Click on the picture above to watch the official video of the performance (note: we recommend that you download the video if you would like to view it again within a few days, as the link may expire).
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On Friday, Apr. 29, OSD Students and Staff participated in the annual lahar exercise, the largest volcano evacuation drill in the country. Thanks to the City of Orting and other local public agencies, the exercise was successful for OSD and other participating school districts in East Pierce County.
Click on the photo above to view a photo slide show of this year's lahar evacuation exercise.
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Most likely, you have already heard about the heroic story of OHS Behavioral Tech Gerald Goldwire saving the life of OHS Student Jeremiah Connolly. During the 11 p.m. KOMO 4 Newscast on Thursday, Apr. 21, they ran the story of the OSD Board of Directors recognizing Goldwire at the Apr. 21 Regular Board Meeting.
Click on the picture to watch.
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To:
OHS Senior Emilia Flesner (right)
From:
OHS Senior Alicia Bishop (left)
"I have known Emilia since 4th grade, and since then, when I'm having a bad day, she always knows how to make my day better."
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A special shoutout to PTR Head Secretary Danielle Kinney (left) and OMS Multi-media Technician Karlena Bowers (right), helping out at Central Office by taking on extra duties over the past month. When our student information and data security manager position opened, Kinney filled in to monitor and update student and district data. Bowers stepped in as the interim assessment coordinator, ensuring student testing operations ran smoothly.
Thank you both for your willingness and hard work!
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External Opportunities For Our Students |
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Funded through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Multilingual Education Department, this year-long program helps students develop their language proficiency and literacy in their heritage language and the opportunity to earn high school credits in their language.
To learn more about the Global Competence Certificate Program, click here.
To learn more about the Global Seal of Biliteracy, click here.
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OSPI Wants Your Opinion to Help Meet the Needs of Multilingual Learners
OSPI’s Multilingual Education Advisory Committee (MEAC) is developing a statewide strategic plan to meet the needs of multilingual learners in Washington State.
The committee has launched an online survey to gather input from educators, families, and community members across the state. Individuals will be asked to review and prioritize potential goals to be included in the plan.
The survey closes Wednesday, May 4.
Click here to take the survey (note: two versions of the survey are available for educators and community members/families). |
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Upcoming Events & Important Dates |
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Thursday, May 5 - OSD Board of Directors Retreat
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Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m. - OSD Board of Directors Meeting at Central Office
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Friday, May 27 - Make-up day from Jan. 17 school closure
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Monday, May 30 - No School; Memorial Day
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