Lake Washington School District Students Perform Well on WASL
Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students continue to perform well on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), according to the preliminary 2008 test score results announced today by the Office for the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Scores were significantly higher than state averages in every grade and subject tested.

The district continues to shine in writing and science. All three grades tested in science showed gains. All three grades tested were higher than last year’s writing scores. Math scores were mixed and reading scores were mixed. More…

Lake Washington School District SAT Scores Increase
While national and state mean scores for college-bound seniors dipped in 2007, Lake Washington School District (LWSD) seniors scored higher on all three tests: critical reading, writing and mathematics. The largest increase came in Math scores. LWSD college-bound seniors averaged 570 in Math, up seven points from 563 in 2007. The mean for all college-bound seniors who took the test is 515, the same as in 2007, and Washington state students scored 533 on average, up two points. More…

Lake Washington School District Meets Progress Targets in 49 of 59 Areas
With high average WASL scores, Lake Washington School District (LWSD) met the standard for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 49 of 59 areas under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), according to preliminary information released today by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. In most of the 49 areas, which include subject areas (math and reading), three grade-spans (3-5, 6-8 and 10) and student subgroups such as race or income groups, students scored significantly above the targets. More…

One More Principal Move
Darryl Pernat, Mann Elementary principal, was hired this summer as human resources coordinator, working in the district’s central offices. Megan Spaulding has been selected as the new principal at Mann Elementary. Megan has been serving as assistant principal at Inglewood Jr. High and brings a wealth of both secondary and elementary experience to Mann.

Pat Bangasser has agreed to serve as substitute/interim assistant principal at Inglewood for the 2008-2009 school year. Pat has served as Inglewood’s athletic director/PE teacher/coach for many years, and served in a substitute/interim assistant principal role at Redmond High School a number of years ago.

New School Resource Officers Begin Assignment
School resource officers (SRO), police officers who work in our schools, are important partners for schools and community to help keep schools safe and students on the right track. Lake Washington School District is fortunate to have school resource officers in each of our jurisdictions this year. Redmond Police Department has assigned two officers as school resources officers – one new to the position and one returning.

Officer Paul Edwardsen is assigned to Redmond High School. Officer Edwardsen is a graduate of Redmond High, class of 1970. He worked for the Port of Seattle Police Department before coming to the Redmond Police Department in 1983. During this tenure he served as a SWAT Officer (14 years), Officer in Charge (19 years), Field Training Officer (15 years), background investigator (three years), and current serves as a crisis negotiator. He has five children, four grown and one who is 11 years old.

Officer Bill Corson is assigned to Redmond Junior High and Rose Hill Junior High. Officer Corson began his career with the Long Beach (Calif.) Police Department. He has been with the Redmond Police Department since 1990. Officer Corson served as SRO in the same schools from 2000 to 2005, while also serving as an undercover investigator, Field Training Officer, SWAT officer, Tactical Training Instructor, EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course) instructor, and Crowd/Demonstration/Riot Instructor. He and his wife, Karen, have four children who range in age from 19-28.

Solar Panels at Evergreen Junior High, Coming to Eastlake High School and Support Services
Lake Washington School District is continuing its work toward resource conservation by installing more solar panels in schools and other district buildings. Evergreen Junior High is the first of three buildings in line to receive solar panels within the next few months. More…

New American Beverage Association Guidelines Mean Changes in District Vending Machines
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury Schweppes have agreed to new national guidelines for products offered to students. While the district’s nutrition policy already has limited what drinks can be offered in vending machines in district schools, the adoption of ABA guidelines by beverage distributors will result in further restrictions.

Highlights including removal of sports drinks from junior high vending machines. Junior highs were allowed to sell carbonated drinks (pop) after school: now they will not be available at all in junior highs. Changes at the high school level include offering only diet versions of carbonated drinks and tea drinks. Juice and sports drinks will be limited in the sizes available.

Coincidentally, the district’s beverage vending services contract was up for bid this summer. The bid was awarded to Coca-Cola, so students and staff will see a change from Pepsi to Coke products when they return to school.

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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.