School Start Time Advisory Process and Survey

School start and end times changed for the 2018-19 school year as a seven-period schedule was implemented for high school students.

A School Start Time Advisory Committee comprised of staff and parents from elementary, middle, and high school levels is continuing work in 2018-19. Due to Advisory Committee membership attrition and changes, we added members for this year’s work, including two middle school principals, two Lake Washington Schools Foundation trustees/parents, and two elementary school office managers, and two Preschool teachers.

The district recognizes that many families have had to make changes in child care arrangements to adjust to the new schedule. This Advisory Committee will use their time this year to learn about the impacts of these changes, both intended and unintended, and make recommendations for the district to consider.

At this time, LWSD is not planning to make changes to the current start/dismissal times for the 2019-20 school year.

In 2018-19, the focus of the Advisory Committee will be to:  

• Administer two online surveys, one per semester to gather staff and parent feedback on start/dismissal time impacts
• Analyze survey feedback to understand the impact of start/dismissal time changes
• Use the feedback to determine how far and how fast we make any further changes to start/dismissal times in the future

The first survey will be open between November 7 and 26.

Middle school and high school options postcards on their way

Parents of students in grades five or eight should watch their mailboxes for this year’s middle school and high school options postcard. These postcards will be mailed out this week. They will direct you to specific pages on the district website which outline the opportunities in these respective levels, including information about neighborhood schools and choice schools. Dates and times for each school’s Information Night will also be listed on the postcard. Parents of students in grades five will receive a middle school options postcard. Parents of students in grade eight will receive a high school options postcard in the mail. You can visit the pages now by clicking on the links below:

• Middle School Options webpage
• High School Options webpage

Is your child too sick for school?

While school attendance is important, so is the health of all students and staff. If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, please keep him/her at home or make appropriate child care arrangements: fever, vomiting, lice/scabies, diarrhea, chronic cough and/or runny nose, sore throat, rash, ear infection (with fever), or eye infection. If he/she experiences any of these symptoms at school, the school nurse or office staff may ask you to pick your student up as soon as possible. Read more about when to keep your child home from school.

Building on Success is Lake Washington School District's long-term plan to reduce overcrowding, accommodate growing enrollment and continue to provide quality learning environments and experiences for our students.

Concrete and steel almost complete at Peter Kirk Elementary  

At Peter Kirk Elementary School, construction crews placed the last concrete floor on Oct. 24. A Facebook Live broadcast recorded the milestone event. Brian Buck, associate director of Support Services, and Kathryn Emtman, project executive from Lease Crutcher Lewis, hosted the video.

Throughout the day, 28 trucks brought in 270 cubic yards of concrete. It took 23 people from Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping to drive, flag, pump, place, spread, consolidate, level and survey the concrete.  

Hidden inside concrete is a material that building users never see. Rebar is used to strengthen and reinforce concrete. Today’s rebar is made almost entirely from recycled items, such as old cars and appliances.

Steel installation is also nearing completion. Work to enclose the building for winter will begin later this month with exterior metal stud framing. The two-story building will have 400 tons of steel.

Read more about our Building on Success program.

Thanksgiving break coming up!

We hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving Break, November 22-23. Please remember that Wednesday, November 21 is a half day of school. For more information, visit the Half-Day Dismissal Times page of our district website.

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 in mid-November 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.

Twice the benefit: students read to raise money for school activities

Rush Elementary School students raised $28,800 in the school’s first annual read-a-thon fundraiser. Over 55 percent of Rush students participated. They collected pledges for the number of hours they spent reading. Each student kept a reading log at home to document their hours. The read-a-thon ended with families attending a pajama read-in night at the school on October 11. Read more about the Rush Elementary fundraiser.   

Small steps make large impact during Energy Awareness Month

We can do more together than we can apart. This is especially true in the quest for sustainable schools and communities. Learn how Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students, staff, parents and community members worked together in October for Energy Awareness Month.  

Read more student and staff success stories here.

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.