Winter break begins Monday, December 24, and extends through January 4. District offices will be open December 26-28 and January 2-4. We will see all students back at school on Monday, January 7, 2019. Until then, enjoy your break and happy holidays!

2019 LWSD Capital Projects Levy informational flyer

LWSD has created a one-page flyer that highlights the upcoming April 2019 Capital Projects Levy. Please use this document as a resource to provide information. More information will be available on the LWSD website after Winter Break. Click to read the flyer.

Forty-three Lake Washington Teachers achieve National Board Certification

Forty-three Lake Washington Teachers Achieve National Board Certification
Forty-three Lake Washington School District teachers achieved National Board Certification®, as announced by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). In addition to the 24 newly certified teachers, 19 teachers renewed their certification this year, for a total of 43 people completing the process. (Certifications must be renewed every ten years.)

The National Board certification takes teachers through a demanding process to help further their instructional skills and typically takes more than a year to complete. It requires these teachers to demonstrate how their work improves student achievement. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videos and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Teachers also are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach. National Board certification is considered the highest professional credential a teacher can obtain.

Read more…

Lake Washington earns place on prestigious Advanced Placement District Honor Roll

For the third year in a row, the College Board named Lake Washington School District (LWSD) to its Annual AP District Honor Roll. LWSD is one of only 373 public school districts in the nation and one of four in Washington to be honored.

The Honor Roll recognizes districts that increase access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.

HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health curriculum presentation for grades 4-12

Interested in learning more about the HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health curriculum for students in grades 4-12? Attend the HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health curriculum presentation for 4 -12 grade parents on February 5th from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the LWSD Resource Center (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052). Information about the curriculum will be shared and materials will be available for parents to review.  

Reminder: Are you ready for inclement weather?

When emergency conditions such as snow and ice or windstorms result in school schedule changes, the district will notify families directly through our SchoolMessenger automated phone system. You can learn how to know when school is delayed or cancelled on the School Closures and Late Starts page of the district website. Families with students who ride the bus should watch their mail for a postcard with information about their bad weather bus route. Want to make sure you receive alerts about school closures right away? Sign up on flashalert.net to be notified about the latest school delay and school closure news from LWSD.

Building on Success is Lake Washington School District's long-term plan designed to accommodate a rapidly growing student enrollment and provide quality learning environments and experiences for our students. The long-term plan guides the district as we continue building toward future success. The bond measure that passed in April 2016 provides funding for eight capital improvement projects from the long-term plan. 

2016 Bond Projects: A Year in Review

It is with gratitude that we share this video of the moments that made 2018 a year to remember: We celebrated the grand openings of two new elementary schools and progress continues on the remaining 2016 bond projects at Juanita High School, Peter Kirk Elementary, Margaret Mead Elementary, Old Redmond Schoolhouse and the new middle school at Redmond Ridge newly named Timberline Middle School.

As we look ahead to 2019, we look forward to providing additional space for more students as we open new schools and rebuild and expand other schools. All of the capital improvement projects add quality learning spaces for students. Even with the addition of these learning spaces, the district has ongoing critical capacity needs because of our rapid growth and will propose a Capital Projects Levy to voters in April of 2019.   

Thank you to the communities of Lake Washington School District for your ongoing support for providing great places for students to learn!

Looking back on our Building on Success projects in 2018

Our new middle school at Redmond Ridge has a name - Timberline Middle School! The LWSD School Board approved the school's name during the December 3 meeting.  

Timberline is a word that means “the highest location where trees thrive and grow.” This definition and name symbolically connects to our students. We believe this name honors the history of the land and natural environment. We also believe this name defines the purpose for our community as we diligently work to create an environment that helps students not just grow, but to thrive in connection, integrity, kindness, empathy, resilience and service to others.

Choice School applications open; Middle school and high school options booklets available

Choice school applications are now available online for the 2019-20 school year. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. January 18, 2019, for any school that relies on a lottery to determine enrollment.

Parents of students in grades five or eight should have received a Middle School Options postcard or High School Options postcard. They outline the opportunities in these respective levels, including information about neighborhood schools and choice schools. Videos about each choice school are posted on the district website and YouTube channel.

Season of Giving

Every year, in November and December, students, staff and parents in our district give back to our families and our community in many ways. Here are just a few examples: 

• Support Services staff packed 130 Pantry Packs in 7 minutes and 32 seconds during a Packing Party on December 5. Staff donated protein-rich soups, shelf-stable milk and boxed macaroni and cheese. Sodexo/LWSD Nutrition Services donated the remaining eight items for each pack.
• Rush Elementary students collected more than 800 items as part of their toy drive! These items will be displayed at their Holiday Shopping Day for families in need.  
• Kirkland Middle School students are collecting socks and mittens. Two students from the school have sponsored the project and it runs from 12/10-1/7. 
• Eastlake High School’s Leadership Team will put on a Winter Wishes Assembly on 12/21. Students can fill out a slip of paper with a wish for themselves and friends. Leadership deliver the wishes in classrooms leading up to the assembly. They save the most generous and impactful surprises for the assembly. 

More stories of generosity will be posted on the district website and on our Facebook page. 

We’re hiring!

LWSD needs bus drivers, custodians, para educators and instructional assistants. Job descriptions are available on the district website, under “Employment” then “Classified Employees.” Bus drivers earn $25.57 per hour. Learn more about why driving a bus for LWSD is a great job. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors.

Lake Washington School District is currently hiring paraeducators

Paraeducators make an important difference in the lives of our students. Paraeducators are responsible for individual and small-group instructional support for students who have physical, behavioral or medical needs; encourage and help students working on assignments; support students’ health care needs; and much more. Additional job descriptions, qualifications, openings and more are available on the district website.

Custodians needed

LWSD is looking to fill multiple custodial positions throughout our district. Custodians need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete a physical and pass a criminal background check. Job descriptions are available on the district website, under “Employment” then “Classified Employees.” Pass along to anyone looking for an important and fulfilling position with LWSD.

Sodexo/Nutrition Services is hiring

Are you looking for a way to get involved in LWSD? Would you like a part-time job that gives you the flexibility to be with your kids before and after school? Shifts that range from two hours to eight hours are available, helping serve students breakfast and lunch. Starting pay depends on experience. If interested, contact Nutrition Services at 425-936-1385.