Hello Olson Families,
We want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our teachers, staff, students, and parents. Together, we are fostering a community that nurtures both hearts and minds, guiding our students toward building a better humanity. As we reflect on the past two months, I am excited to share some of the incredible highlights that embody
Olson’s core values and
beliefs.Social-Emotional Development: We believe that social-emotional skills are essential for personal growth and creating a positive community. That’s why we’ve partnered with the
Mindful Life Project to offer regular mindfulness sessions, fostering self-awareness and empathy among our students. Additionally, we provide one-on-one counseling, social skills groups, and weekly
Second Step lessons that focus on
anti-bullying education.
Safety is Essential: Safety remains a top priority at Olson, and we are proud to have earned Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Platinum status, an honor awarded by the state of California. This recognition reflects our commitment to a positive and safe environment where students can thrive. Our approach includes timely, responsive consequences for education code violations, ensuring that discipline is always educational and restorative. In addition, we hold weekly assemblies to celebrate student achievements, are looking forward to the upcoming Orca Awards, and regularly conduct safety drills—including earthquake, lockdown, and fire—to ensure our students and staff are well-prepared.
Partnerships that Promote Growth: We are fortunate to have strong partnerships with our PTA and community organizations. So far, our PTA has organized the Back-to-School Dance, Fall Festival, and the much-anticipated Movie Night. We also promote wellness through programs like Kids Eat Right nutrition education and Brighter Bites, which provides free produce to our families. These partnerships enhance our students' experiences and strengthen our school community.
Diversity in Perspective and Lived Experiences: We had a record number of students (18) give speeches for student council this year, paving the way for our officers and class representatives to contribute in more meaningful ways through a newly designed structure for 2024. The newly developed Olson Student Empowerment Plan creates opportunities for students to develop agency and ownership through shared leadership and decision-making with all stakeholders.
Authentic and Rigorous Learning Experiences: At Olson, we are committed to providing every student with grade level, affirming, meaningful, and engaging instruction. We offer small group literacy and math instruction to meet the needs of all learners, along with after-school tutoring for additional support, all supplemented by our accelerated learning specialist staff. Our comprehensive after-school program, in collaboration with EDMO, offers enrichment options that include Na Haumana (cultural enrichment), theatre (featuring a production of Winnie the Pooh), and Kodely coding classes, which foster creativity and problem-solving skills.
Literacy as a Gateway to Improvement: Olson has been recognized with the district’s Reading is Key honors for prioritizing foundational reading skills. With teacher training and the use of high-quality instructional materials like From Phonics to Reading and Building Reading Success every student is building strong reading skills. Our commitment to literacy reflects our belief that it is not just a tool for academic success, but a gateway to personal and societal improvement.
Research-Informed Decision-Making: We continuously support our teachers with professional development that helps them meet the diverse needs of our students, particularly our multilingual learners and students with exceptional needs. This ongoing and embedded support allows our educators to analyze data, refine their teaching practices, and make informed decisions that benefit student learning. Additionally, we provide our teachers with opportunities for mindfulness and self-care, helping them stay energized and focused on delivering trauma-informed instruction that supports every child's emotional and academic needs.
In collaboration, we are excited to continue developing innovative opportunities for all Olson students. We believe that sharing ideas and challenges is key to sparking innovation, and we encourage you to participate in shaping our school’s future. Keep an eye out for the annual YouthTruth Family survey, where you’ll have the chance to provide valuable feedback on your family’s experience at Olson.
We are also eagerly anticipating the start of Olson’s Modernization Project in the Summer 2025. This project will upgrade our facilities and ensure that Olson remains a state-of-the-art learning environment for generations to come.
Finally, we want to express our deep gratitude for your continued support. Your collaboration is vital in making Olson the premier school on the peninsula, and we are honored to have you as partners in this important work.
In service,
Mr. Coleman
