Weather related cancellations

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Weather related cancellations
Snow covered downtown Olympia

Updated: February 14, 2019 @ 5 p.m.

We are aware of potentially changing weather conditions and will notify families and staff if there are any school-related schedule changes, including after-school or evening events and activities.

For additional information regarding weather-related communications and snow route information visit our Snow Bulletin webpage.

Due to this inclement weather, we will be keeping a running list of district-related events and activities that we have been notified have been canceled or re-scheduled. See below:

2-Hour Late Start - Friday, February 15
All of Olympia School District Facilities have full power, heat, and kitchens are prepared to serve meals to students. Our parking facilities have been cleared and campus walkways are traversable. However, numerous side roads throughout our district continue to be difficult to navigate due to slush and snow. Some neighborhood sidewalks remain snowy and/or slush covered, making for difficult walking conditions for students and families walking to school. At this time, the forecast for this evening into tomorrow calls for warmer temperatures which should continue to improve conditions.  

Based on this information, as a precautionary measure, school will start two hours late tomorrow morning, Friday, February 15 to allow more time for families and staff to get to school safely.

Buses will pick up students two hours late and will run in the morning and afternoon on snow routes. A list of snow routes is available on our school district website. During a two-hour late start, there is no out-of-district transportation, no AM preschool, no zero hour classes, and no AM Avanti High School program (for periods 1-3). Breakfast and lunch will be served throughout the district.

A couple additional notes:

  • While school parking lots have been cleared and are accessible to staff, students and families, parking availability is minimized by snow piles. As a result, we encourage student drivers to carpool or ride the school bus.
  • Some neighborhood sidewalks remain snow-covered. Parents should instruct their children to stay on the sidewalks, even if they are slushy or snowy; walking on the road should not be an option. We recommend that parents who are able to, place their students on a bus or drive students who may normally walk. We strongly discourage any family from walking that deems it unsafe to do so.  
  • Any absence due to travel conditions that are deemed unsafe will be excused by the front office at your child’s school upon request.


Please give yourself time and exercise caution when travelling into school. If you have safety concerns regarding transportation or routes to school, again please err on the side of caution and stay home.  

Schools Closed - Thursday, February 14

Significant progress has been made toward clearing our school parking facilities and bus loops and power has been restored to all buildings. However, fallen trees still need to be removed, numerous side streets remain inaccessible, and obstructed city sidewalks make for dangerous conditions for students who walk to school. Therefore all schools will be closed on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Use of Olympia School District facilities for athletics, activities, and rental are cancelled as well.
 
As a reminder, all days missed due to school cancellation are required contractually to be made up at the end of the school year. Mid-winter break will still take place and there will be no school on February 18-19.

Capital High School: We intend to host a boys basketball playoff game at CHS tomorrow, February 13, at 6 p.m.. This scheduled game will move forward if the parking lot and facility are deemed accessible and safe. Our secondary option would be to move the game to Olympia HS with a 4:30 p.m. start time.

Olympia High School: The OHS Boys and Girls teams both play away games tomorrow, Wednesday, February 13. The girls play at Auburn Mountainview at 6 p.m. and the boys at Stadium High School at 6 p.m..

WCD 3 Basketball Tournament Scheduling
After consulting with state and local athletic officials, in order to avoid forfeiture, we will be participating in basketball events Wednesday evening.

Both Capital and Olympia have boys and girls teams vying for state births this year:


  • Capital High School: Capital HS will host a boys basketball playoff game at CHS, Wednesday, February 13 at 6 p.m..
  • Olympia High School: The OHS Boys and Girls teams both play away games on Wednesday, February 13. The girls play at Auburn Mountainview at 6 p.m. and the boys at Stadium High School at 6 p.m..

  • Capital High School: We intend to host a boys basketball playoff game at CHS tomorrow, February 13 at 6 p.m.. This scheduled game will move forward if the parking lot and facility are deemed accessible and safe. Our secondary option would be to move the game to Olympia HS with a 4:30 p.m. start time.

    Olympia High School: The OHS Boys and Girls teams both play away games tomorrow, Wednesday, February 13. The girls play at Auburn Mountainview at 6 p.m. and the boys at Stadium High School at 6 p.m..


Schools Closed - Wednesday, February 13
Due to icy roads, fallen trees, ongoing power issues, obstructed side streets and inaccessible school parking facilities, all schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. All athletics, activities, and facilities use for Wednesday are cancelled as well.

Elementary Parenting Workshop (Safety Without Fear) - Canceled
Free Parenting Workshop with Candyce Lund Bollinger. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 12 at Olympia Regional Learning Academy. This meeting is being rescheduled for a date yet to be determined.

Schools Closed - Tuesday, February 12
All Olympia School District schools will be closed on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. All athletics, activities, and facilities use for Tuesday are canceled as well.

School Year Calendar/School Start Times Citizens Advisory Committee - Canceled
Due to adverse weather conditions the School Year Calendar/School Start Times Citizens Advisory Committee meeting has been canceled. This meeting is being rescheduled for a date yet to be determined.

Schools Closed - Monday, February 11
All Olympia School District schools will be closed on Monday, February 11, 2019. All athletics, activities, and facilities use for Monday are canceled as well.

Special Board Meeting - Canceled
The Special Board Meeting scheduled for Monday, February 11, has been canceled.

District Facilities Closed
Due to the winter storm, all schools and district facilities are closed through the weekend (Feb. 8-Feb. 10).

Early Release - Friday, February 8
With the forecast calling for snowfall later on this afternoon, Friday, February 8, as a precautionary measure for safety we have scheduled a district-wide 1-hour early release.

During this early release afternoon preschool is canceled, and all afternoon and evening events/activities are canceled. Lunch will be served throughout the district.

For out-of-district education the Transportation Department will be contacting parents regarding unique arrangements.

AM preschool will move forward as scheduled.

Buses will drop off children on snow routes this afternoon. A list of snow routes is available on our school district website.

Boys and Girls Club will begin operations 1 hour early; parents are encouraged to pick up their children as early as possible this evening for staff safety. Y-Care will not be able to operate this afternoon; Y-Care will send a message to families shortly.

Girls Wrestling: Olympia Regional - Cancellation
Due to the weather conditions, the WIAA has decided to cancel the regional tournaments.

Traffic Safety Drives (OHS) - Cancellation
All traffic safety drives at Olympia High School have been canceled.

ACT - Cancellation
The February 9, 2019 administration of the ACT, scheduled to be given at Capital High School, Olympia, WA 98502, has been canceled due to the inclement weather forecast in the area. The rescheduled test date will be posted at www.actstudent.org. Registered examinees will receive official notification from ACT. This announcement is only for those examinees registered at Capital High School, Olympia, WA 98502.

ALL announcements about rescheduled test dates must come directly from ACT Test Administration. Notifications will be posted to www.actstudent.org. Once a rescheduled date and time have been set, ACT will inform examinees by email.

Countdown to Kindergarten - Cancellation
The Olympia School District Countdown to Kindergarten event has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 2. The annual event will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. at Capital High School, 2707 Conger Ave. N.W., Olympia.

WCD Basketball Tournament - Cancellation
The WCD Basketball tournament committee has determined it is in the best interest for the health and safety of all involved to cancel all WCD 1A and 2A , and WCD/SWD 3A and 4A basketball tournament games scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday Feb. 9.

Sub-District Gymnastic Meet - Cancellation
The 2A/3A/4A Gymnastics committee has determined it is in the best interest for the health and safety of all involved to cancel this weekend. This would include the 2A/3A group at Mt Rainier on Friday, and the 4A SPSL and NPSL groups at AMV on Saturday.