Note: Lake Washington Schools are on spring break March 30 through April 3. The communications staff will be available in the district office during that week but schools will be closed.

Rose Hill Junior High Wins Gold at WWU Orchestra Festival
The Rose Hill Junior High Orchestra traveled by train to Western Washington University (WWU) on Friday, March 13, to compete in the University's orchestra competition, a statewide competition for middle school and junior high school students.

Under the direction of Janet Miller, the string musicians won a Gold Level trophy for their performance of Vivaldi's "Autumn" and David O'Fallon's "Legends." In total, five bronze trophies, five silver trophies, four gold trophies and one award for “Best Overall” were given at this event. RHJH missed getting the “Best Overall” award by three points. Fourteen groups attended this event, including schools from Seattle, Ferndale and Bellevue. Redmond Junior High’s Orchestra also participated, and received a silver trophy. In addition to the competition, the students also participated in break-out clinics and master classes, and were judged by national-level adjudicator, Kathleen Brungard from North Carolina. Receiving the highest marks for technique, style and presentation, members were congratulated on their enthusiasm and their performance of two very different and challenging pieces. At the end of the day, the participants were treated to a performance by the WWU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Shaw.

LWHS Orchestra Places Third in Northwest Orchestra Championships
The Lake Washington High School Orchestra had an outstanding performance at the Northwest Orchestra Championships, held in Gresham, Ore., March 14-15. They brought home the third place award in the large school string division.

Redmond High School Knowledge Bowl Team
A Knowledge Bowl team from Redmond High School (RHS), comprised of Tejas Renade, Emily Rice, Rishi Goutam, Jonathan Shi, and Evan Nelson, took fifth place in the Puget Sound Regional Knowledge Bowl competition, thus earning them a place at the state championships on March 28 in Camas, Wash.

Kirkland Junior Students to Represent State in Choral Director Association Honor Choir
Kirkland Junior High School (KiJH) students Connor Bergren, Matt Mihara and Jake Nathlich were selected out of thousands of applicants to represent Washington state in the American Choral Directors Association’s Junior high/Middle School Honor Choir in Oklahoma City, Okla. Only five students from the state of Washington were chosen for this chorus of just over 300 students. Photo: Jake Nathlich, Connor Bergren and Matt Mihara.

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News from the Schools is compiled by the Lake Washington School District Communications Department. For more information or to submit your school's news, please e-mail Kathryn Reith or Shannon Parthemer.