The JOLT - The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater

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

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 | 2 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

Dr. Antonio Sandifer, NTPS's new Director of Equity and Languages, made his first presentation to the school board on Sept. 7, 2021.

North Thurston schools are safe, majority of students agree

In a district-wide survey conducted by North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) in 2020-21, results showed that the majority of students felt safe in their schools. During the regular NTPS board … more

By Danny Stusser | 9/10/21

Ocean Laura shares Avanti High School experiences during the 2021 graduation ceremony.

Congratulations to Avanti High School's 2021 graduates

Avanti High School held its graduation on Fri., June 12, 2021 from 1 to 4 p.m. "Avanti's commencement ceremony each year is a special one because each teacher says something about several … more

By Danny Stusser | 9/7/21

Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek, the Thurston County Health Officer.

County health officer writes to school leaders today about how to proceed

Dear Thurston County Superintendents and Heads of Schools, I am writing to inform you about the COVID-19 guidance from the Washington State Department of Health for the 2021-2022 school year. The … more

8/31/21

A student browses the shelves at the Lacey Timberland Regional Library on April 9, 2019.

Celebrate Back-to-School and Library Card Sign-Up Month with Timberland Regional Library!

Timberland Regional Library supports students of all ages with easy-to-access resources in its 28 libraries and online, and an effortless process to obtain a library card. Parents and teachers can … more

By Taniah Najih | Timberland Regional Library | 8/26/21

Critical Race Theory: In response to a push for culturally responsive teaching that gained steam following the police killing of George Floyd, Republican lawmakers and governors have championed legislation to limit the teaching of material that explores how race and racism influence American politics, culture and law.

Critical race theory: A political debate hits WA schools

By Venice Buhain / Crosscut.com August 24, 2021 Unlike in previous years, instead of kicking off this year’s English literature class with reading, Mark Gardner plans to … more

8/25/21 | 1 comment

This image shows Kaleena Pierce, Austin Moser-Attaway, Ryan Spiva, Clifford Kettle who graduated in June 2021 from Envision Career Academy of North Thurston Public Schools. Not pictured: Karina Herrera.

Envision Career Academy graduates listed

Last and smallest among North Thurston Public Schools' graduations this year was the Mon., June 21 ceremony to commemorate the accomplishments of the five students who graduated from Envision Career … more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/19/21

At the North Thurston Public Schools board meeting on Tue., Aug. 17, 2021, Stephanie Grip, a parent in the district, shared that masks should remain optional and not a requirement

NTPS parents lobby against integrating social justice and equity in curricula … and masks

Several parents spoke out against the North Thurston Public School’s (NTPS) decision to implement its new social justice curriculum during the regular school board meeting on Tuesday, August … more

By Danny Stusser | 8/19/21

River Ridge High School graduate Joyce Lee just after receiving her diploma at the school's graduation ceremonies on June 16, 2021.

River Ridge High School graduates listed

Caleb Edward Akana Zachary David Albaugh Anthony John Alexander Juan Francisco Alonso Farias Bianca Alvarado Alyssa Angel Anderson-Creasey Nathaniel Leon Anderson Deja N. Avery Victoria Hope Bahler … more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/18/21

Komachin Middle School business education teacher Kate Reece poses with her students, Cyrus Biel, Issy Justis and Zeke Hanson, whose team ranked third at the national Future Business Leaders of America Fall Stock Market Challenge.

Komachin Middle School students named national CTE champions

North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) honored three Komachin Middle School students who ranked third in the national Career and Technical Education (CTE) championship during its school board meeting … more

By Kristine Javier | 8/18/21

Hayden Anderson and Nhino Denis celebrate in their highly personalized Timberline High School graduation gowns on June 15, 2021.

Timberline High School graduates listed

Timberline High School graduated its seniors on Tue., June 15, 2021 at St. Martin’s University in Lacey. More photos are available on the school's official Facebook … more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/17/21

North Thurston High School graduates, l-r, Hannah Brannam, Maddie Hansen, Annie Hoffman, Cirena Adams, Helene Budd show off their various awards and honors on June 14, 2021 at their graduation ceremony, held at St. Martin's University.

North Thurston High School graduates listed

North Thurston High School graduated its seniors on Thu., June 17, 2021 at St. Martin’s University in Lacey. Congratulations from The JOLT to every graduate named … more

By The JOLT Staff | 8/16/21

This was the first of the Facebook meme posts for which Zhdanov was criticized. It was posted on January 19, 2019 with the comment, "Speak!"

Tumwater Schools loses its new Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Tumwater School District’s new Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) had been on the job for less than a month when four postings on his personal Facebook account became known to … more

By Danny Stusser | 7/30/21

Viewing a poster showing proposed exterior improvements for the Dr. Angela Bowen Center for Health and Education are, left-right: Ted Schultz, executor of the Estate of Angela J. Bowen and SPSCC Foundation board member; Tanya Mote, SPSCC executive director; Dr. Tim Stokes, president of the college; Leonor Fuller, vice chair of the SPSCC board of trustees.

SPSCC Nursing Program receives national accreditation

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) announced on Wed., July 7 that its nursing program received national accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education … more

By Kristine Javier | 7/9/21