Coronavirus Update

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) will continue to monitor and follow guidance provided by the Washington State Department of Public Health and Center for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the Coronavirus. 

The current guidance and our approach includes: 

• Requesting that families follow Health Department guidance around quarantine if they have traveled to China (arriving home after February 2), or have symptoms related to the virus. 
• Requesting that families keep children home when they are sick.  
• Encouraging frequent hand washing. 
• Encouraging covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash and cleaning hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available). 
• Using our school routine cleaning and disinfection program which emphasizes cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

You can follow Washington State Department of Health guidance here.

There are currently no known cases of Coronavirus in LWSD. Should we have any active cases, we would follow directives from the Center for Disease Control and the Washington State Department of Public Health for guidance around quarantine, school closures, or other protective measures necessary to help prevent the spread of the virus in our schools. 

We are aware that Northshore School District closed Bothell High School today, out of an abundance of caution, because a staff member’s relative became ill after traveling internationally. You can read more about that closure. 

The District is currently reviewing our comprehensive emergency management plan and is in communication with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to prepare for the possibility of extended work and school closures. Families should also follow guidance from the CDC to prepare for extended closures. We will update families as we receive additional information and guidance from our state and local officials.

 

Reminder: Late registration for AP exams  

College Board changed registration dates for May 2020 AP exams. To meet the new College Board ordering deadlines, LWSD students registered for AP exams last October.

LWSD recognized that some students may need more time to decide if they want to take AP exams and is offering a Late AP Exam Registration Window from February 18, 2020 through the end of the school day on February 27, 2020.  Students who register during the late AP Exam Registration window will incur a $50 per exam late fee in addition to the $96 per exam fee.

Absolutely no AP Exam Registrations will be accepted after the end of the school day on February 27, 2020.  

More information on registration dates, late fees and cancellation fees is available here. 

 

Reminder: Lake Washington Tuition Preschool Program (3- and 4-year-old students) now accepting Interest Statements for 2020-21 school year

The tuition-based Lake Washington Preschool Program is now accepting Preschool Interest Statements for the 2020-21 school year. For families interested in securing a seat for their child for the 2020-21 school year, please complete this form by March 5, 2020. Interest forms are not required for students qualifying for preschool through special education or Headstart.

Program locations for 2020-21 are below (subject to change prior to school starting in September):
•     Kirkland: Bell Elementary, Juanita Elementary, Muir Elementary, Sandburg Elementary
•     Redmond: Old Redmond Schoolhouse, Wilder Elementary
•     Sammamish: Carson Elementary

 For new families, Preschool Interest Statements received by March 5, 2020 will be entered into a lottery for available seats in the LWSD preschool program. The lottery will be held the week of March 9, 2020 and families will be notified by March 20, 2020. Students not securing a seat through the lottery will be placed on the waitlist.  

 

Reminder: Credit requirements for high school students available in Family Access  

Students and families can now monitor progress toward high school graduation requirements. There is a tab called “Graduation Requirements” on the left menu in Student and Family Access. After opening this menu, you will see a list of the coursework requirements. Questions about how to interpret the information can be found on our Skyward Family Access Support page.  

 

Reminder: 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.  

 

Educators and community members gather at Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) annual “Be the Bridge” benefit luncheon  

LWSF hosts its annual spring luncheon on Thursday, March 26, 2020, at the Seattle Marriott Redmond in Redmond Town Center. The program emcee will be Emmy Award winning KIRO 7 TV news journalist, Alison Grande, who attended LWSD schools growing up. Susie Kroll, Founding Mental Health Provider with several area police crisis response teams, joins us as our keynote speaker. The luncheon will highlight the innovative programs and opportunities made possible by the foundation and its generous community of supporters.  

Please join the LWSF to expand community support of youth mental wellness and social emotional learning to benefit all students in the Lake Washington School District. Register to attend or donate to support the event at https://www.lwsf.org, email info@lwsf.org or call 425-936-1414 for information.  

 

LWPTSA Safety and Emergency Preparedness Night   

Join the Lake Washington PTSA on Wednesday March 25 at Redmond High School from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. for their Safety and Emergency Preparedness Night. The event is designed to help LWSD families be more prepared for emergencies, disasters and hazards affecting personal and school safety.

• Visit stations and engage in discussions that include: 
• Disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis 
• Preparing your family’s emergency kit 
• Physical safety and security in schools 
• Emotional first aid for students 
• Social media awareness and cybersecurity 
• CPR and first aid 
• Basic fire safety 

Reach out to LWPTSA co-chairs Jason Moore and Stephanie Wagner at emergency.prep@lwptsa.net with any questions.

 

Reminder: Provide feedback on ELA curriculum materials for grades 6-12

As part of the Lake Washington School District curriculum adoption process, an English Language Arts (ELA) Adoption Committee has selected middle school and high school curriculum to pilot through the end of March. The committee will evaluate how the different programs operate in a daily classroom environment for both teachers and students. It will review the results of the pilot in late March and give a recommendation for the adoption of materials to our district Instructional Materials Committee to review in the spring. The committee will make a recommendation for the adoption of middle and high school English Language Arts curriculum to the School Board by April 28. 

The middle school curricula selected for piloting are: 

• EL Education 6-8 Language Arts  
• Amplify English Language Arts 

 The high school curricula selected for piloting are: 

• Engage NY English Language Arts  
• Pearson, myPerspectives 

The materials for all four curricula are available for parent/public preview until March 27. They are located outside of the Curriculum Library on the first floor of the LWSD Resource Center. Parents and community members can access the digital materials and a survey to gather their input online as well. We appreciate your feedback using the survey forms located with the materials and/or the online link. If you have further questions, please contact Alice Humphres or Jen Rose. 

 

Reminder: Lake Washington Schools Open Enrollment Is February 3-28

Most schools closed to those outside their area
Lake Washington School District holds an open enrollment period once each year for parents who want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school. Parents may apply between February 3-28 for a change to the school assignment for the 2020-21 school year for their student in grades 1-12. This option is also known as an In-District Variance.

This open enrollment option only applies to neighborhood schools that have space available. The list of schools that are closed to students outside their neighborhood will be available on the district website. Schools are closed if current and projected enrollment shows that students who live within their attendance boundary will fill the school’s capacity. District enrollment has increased rapidly over the last seven years. Learn more on the In-District Variance webpage.

 

Reminder: Use the My Stop app to estimate your bus arrival during winter weather 

The My Stop app that allows you to view the estimated time of arrival for your student’s bus can now be used to monitor changes to arrival times during winter weather events. Download the Versatrans My Stop app for Apple or Android. GPS technology allows families to view estimated times of arrival for buses at bus stops. (Data on the app is updated every 5 minutes.) 

Visit the My Stop App page for information on how to download and register to use the app. Families with students who ride the bus should have received a postcard in November with information about their school bus snow route.

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 more about school delay or closure decisions on the School Closures and Late Starts page of the district website.

 

Reminder: Share one hour a week with our students: Lunch Buddy seek mentors 

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for students to meet with and learn from community members. We are currently looking for mentors for the LINKS Lunch Buddy program.

In the LINKS Lunch Buddy Program (Looking Into the Needs of Kids in Schools), mentors provide social-emotional support to elementary students who need a little extra one-on-one attention. Mentors are matched with a student and meet once a week during the school year for lunch, games, crafts and conversation. All Lunch Buddy mentors attend a two-hour orientation session to learn about tips and resources for a successful mentoring experience.

To learn more about Mentor Programs, please visit the Volunteer Programs page on the LWSD website at: www.lwsd.org/volunteers. For more information please contact Chris Robison at crobison@lwsd.org or call 425 936-1270.

 

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. 

Old Redmond Schoolhouse: Inclusive preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds    

“Every Student Future Ready” starts with our youngest students. In LWSD’s inclusion preschool, special needs students learn and play with typically developing 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds. 

Each class has a special education teacher, a general education preschool teacher and a paraeducator. This co-teaching and inclusive model of instruction allows students to learn from each other and to respect the differences of others. 

Like the rest of LWSD’s preschool classrooms, the 10 preschool classrooms in Old Redmond Schoolhouse will be set up for students to enjoy circle time, centers and creative play. Snack time and recess will help keep little bodies moving. 

The priority deadline to submit interest forms for the tuition program for the 2020-21 school year is March 5. In addition to Old Redmond Schoolhouse, preschool classes will be held at these elementary schools: Bell, Carson, Juanita, Muir, Sandburg and Wilder. Preschool locations are assigned based on home address. 

There are also limited openings remaining for the 2019-20 school year. Contact the preschool program to learn more: 425-936-1226.

 

Construction Updates

Workers at Old Redmond Schoolhouse have been repairing windows and bricks and installing interior wall boards. Metal panels for the roof are nearly complete and exterior siding is being upgraded.

 

We’re hiring!

LWSD needs paraeducators, instructional assistants, bus drivers, mechanics, custodians, plumbers and electricians. Job descriptions are available on the district website, under "Employment" then "Classified Employees." Bus drivers earn $29.66 per hour. Learn more about why driving a bus for LWSD is a great job. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. 

 

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. 

 

Your John Hancock, please – LWSD students participate in the February National Signing Day 

It is a big moment for student-athletes when they get to sign the National Letter of Intent to attend a college to play sports. Both Eastlake High School (EHS) and Lake Washington High School (LWHS) hosted events on Wednesday, February 5 to celebrate the occasion. Nine students from EHS and three students from LWHS participated in their school’s signing day events. Read more about signing day.  

 

British Invasion – Redmond High string quartet performs with touring Beatles/Rolling Stones production 

Four Redmond High School (RHS) musicians got the chance to rock out on stage with a professional touring production. The string quartet is made up of RHS seniors Kai Slesarev-Nogami and Teagan Elliott with juniors Thrisha Ramesh and Mathangi Venkatesh. They played seven classic hits from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The touring show is called Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown. The show pits Rolling Stones tribute band “Satisfaction” against rival Brit boys “Abbey Road” in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance. The performance took place on February 21 at the Kirkland Performance Center. Read more about their performance.   

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