*Photo Courtesy North Thurston Public Schools

North Thurston Public Schools Board of Directors recently approved a new fee schedule for 2020-21 which helps encourage more student participation in sports and activities, including elimination of Olympia Junior Program fees and athletic fees for students who qualify for Free/Reduced through the meal program.

The following changes for the 2020-21 Fee Schedule include:

• Elimination of Olympia Junior Program Fees of $5 per student per performance. This will be covered through the district’s Title IV grant instead.
• Elimination of the Middle School Science fee of $10 per student. This will be covered through building budgets.
• Field Trip costs will be determined as needed
• Eliminated Athletic Fees for students who qualify for Free/Reduced through the National School Lunch Program
• Reduced other elective class fees to half prices for students who qualify for Free/Reduced through the National School Lunch Program

Examples of the fee changes for Free/Reduced students include:

• Reduction of high school band/orchestra/choir fees from $24 to $12
• Reduction of Middle School art fees from $10 to $5
• Reduction of College in the High School classes from $90 to $25

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*Photo Courtesy Capital Region, ESD 113

Capital Region Educational Service District (ESD) 113 has named David Buitenveld as their 2021 Regional Teacher of the Year. Buitenveld teaches mathematics at Nisqually Middle School in North Thurston Public Schools.

Buitenveld has an unbridled optimism about public schools. He sees educators as partners with the families and students they serve. Although the current coronavirus pandemic has challenged every part of his job as an educator, it has forced him to think deeply about his teaching practice. “I am interacting with students in new ways,” said Buitenveld. “We are co-creating new possibilities for learning in a post-pandemic educational world.”

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The North Thurston Public Schools Family & Youth Resource Center will continue to support families by providing food, hygiene and paper products through its drive-through center on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “In addition, we’ll be providing school supplies on some special dates near the end of August,” says Deanna East, McKinney Vento Homeless Student Navigator for NTPS. “With the ongoing pandemic, we’ve seen so many families need support who haven’t needed it before and we’re so pleased to be able to provide this ongoing resource.”

The Center will remain open to the public and families will be able to drive through Tuesdays from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The resource center is located at 200 Sleater Kinney Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506 at the Rajinder S. Manhas Activity Center adjacent to North Thurston High School.

For information about donations, supplies needed and dates of school supplies distribution, visit https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/fyrcenter?fbclid=IwAR06bwT7Acyo7bzfVAbrQ7JpOqgSk_eyWkrb1CTBJiD8lPfTcxXDuLaHkmU

Welcome Back!

Summer is winding down. The beginning of the school year will look very different than previous years. Whether instruction takes place completely remotely, in-person, or a combination of the two, we are here to support the students and families of the North Thurston Public School District. We realize the ongoing pandemic creates additional challenges related to child care, accessing school supplies and tools for remote learning as well as other concerns, and we remain committed to helping our most vulnerable students and families in the district.

We are proud to play a role in creating an environment where every child has an opportunity to succeed. The district’s Family & Youth Resource Center will once again be open to the public and families will be able to drive through Tuesdays from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The resource center is located at 200 Sleater Kinney Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506 at the Rajinder S. Manhas Activity Center adjacent to North Thurston High School.

Thank you to all who make our work possible. We know this school year presents challenges, but we remain hopeful and optimistic and we are here to support students and families during the school year. For as long as the COVID-19 crisis goes on, we will continue to work with the North Thurston Public School District to help ALL our students, including our most vulnerable children, get through it.

Wishing you a Safe and Healthy Year,

Mike Jones
Executive Director, North Thurston Education Foundation
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The North Thurston Education Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Bill Williams Memorial Scholarship.

Throughout and following his career as a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the State of Washington, Bill supported education. He served on the North Thurston Public School Board for 25 years. The Foundation was one of many educational organizations Bill served. He was passionate about NTEF and held several positions on the Executive Board. Bill’s contributions were vital to the Foundation’s success.

The Bill Williams Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $2,000, will be awarded annually to an eligible graduating senior who intends to attend a community college or four-year institution that is located outside the State of Washington.

To donate to the Bill Williams Memorial Scholarship or another named scholarship visit https://ntef.org/how-you-can-help/ and indicate the scholarship name in your donation.