Video update from Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem

Here is a video message from LWSD Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem on planning for the remainder of the school year and beyond:

Graduation Update

We know that this has been a challenging time for our students and families. We know that the uncertainty around graduation has been difficult, so we want to provide you with the details that we currently know around how we will celebrate this important milestone with our students.

Each LWSD High School will provide a virtual graduation ceremony, which will be a multimedia production that will include a variety of options depending on school traditions and preferences. More details will come soon, but examples include pictures of seniors, speeches, and performances. These virtual graduations can be viewed online with the goal of completion by the school graduation date in June.  

Schools will communicate with their communities on the logistics of gathering senior photos, videos, speeches, and other information to include in the virtual graduation ceremony. Schools will also communicate with their communities on when and how students can pick up their caps and gowns.

Governor Inslee’s extension of the stay at home order and phased approach to re-opening will not allow for a traditional, in-person graduation ceremony. 

LWSD has also created a webpage for our Class of 2020. You can watch this page for any updates, and we will continue to communicate these updates with you on a regular basis as we prepare for virtual graduations. 

 

Preschool registration open for 2020-21 school year 

Looking for a preschool for next year? Registration is now available for Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD) preschool programs for the 2020-21 school year. LWSD Preschool Programs focus on providing children and families with a successful first-school experience. Families with a 3- and/or 4-year-old child living within the boundaries of LWSD are eligible to apply for the preschool program. (Child must be 3 years old by August 31 of the school year.) If you are interested in applying, please visit our Preschool page.

 

New date for posting elementary remote learning tasks  

In response to parent feedback, we are changing the day that elementary teachers will post remote learning assignments from Mondays to Fridays starting on May 29. Assignment posted on Fridays are intended for the following week. This change is being made to give families more time to review assignments in advance. There is not an expectation that students work over the weekend, and teachers will be able to respond to questions about assignments throughout the work week following the Friday that they are posted. Though there are only three weeks remaining in the semester after May 29, information we gather about posting assignments sooner will be helpful as we plan for the potential for future remote learning.

 

PowerSchool Learning tutorial video now available 

Need help using PowerSchool Learning? Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has created a video tutorial to help families navigate this online learning platform. Visit the Video Tutorials page to learn more about this tool. This video has been narrated in both English and Spanish. 

As always, feel free to reach out to your student’s librarian for any help navigating technical issues you may be having like forgotten passwords. You can also use the contact information below with any technology assistance that you might need. Videos will be posted in both English and Spanish. 

Additional Help Resources:

Helpdesk is open! 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

• Families Contact: Family Technology Access at ftaccess@lwsd.org, 425-936-1322
• 24x7 Parent Help email address: ParentQuestions@lwsd.org  

Stay tuned for more tutorial videos featuring the tools LWSD is using during this period of remote learning. 

 

Reminder: May 26 is a regular remote-learning school day 

Because of the changes to remote learning, LWSD will now have a regular remote-learning day on May 22 and May 26. May 25 is still a scheduled holiday: Memorial Day. 

 

Reminder: Are you a Lake Washington School District parent/guardian or staff member who wants to receive announcements from LWSD by text message? 

If so, text the letter “Y” to the number 67587. If your phone number is already on file at your child’s school, or in Skyward for staff members, this text will confirm that you want to receive text messages on your cell phone. LWSD cannot text you important updates unless you have confirmed that you want to receive these messages. If you aren’t sure what phone numbers are on file, visit your Skyward Family Access account, then go to “Skylert” to see the list of phone numbers and email addresses we use to contact you.

You should receive the following message back:

You’re registered 4 SchoolMessenger notifications. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply. Msg freq varies. 

 

Reminder: New student online registration

Families may now register one or more of their new students online using Skyward, the district’s student information system. To do so, you will need a login (username) and password. 

Skyward Login and Password

• If you have a student currently attending the Lake Washington School District this school year, or if your student is returning to the district from a prior enrollment, use your Skyward Family Access login and password to register new students from your own family. If you do not know your login and password, simply click on the Forgot your Login/Password link on the Skyward Family Access login page.
• If you are new to the district, click here to request a login and password.
• Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information

Please note, this is only for new students to the district.  Current students don’t need to go through this process. Visit the district website for more information. 

 

Teen Startup event pushed back to fall, application deadline extended 

The LWSD Teen Startup Challenge is designed to promote student startup ideas and venture creation. The challenge provides the opportunity for high school students to win prizes and learn from local business leaders. Finalists will present their ideas and business plans and receive invaluable feedback from successful professionals. Due to changing circumstances this year, we are going to extend the deadline the application deadline to September 18, 2020. This deadline may be subject to change depending on circumstances in the Fall. Visit www.lwsd.org/teen-startup to learn more about this event.  

 

Reminder: Fill out your Census forms today!

The #2020Census is an opportunity to bring vital resources into our community for the next 10 years. Things like funding for schools, Medicaid, support for hospitals, and emergency funding. Your response today will help us be more prepared in the future.

Please complete your form online, by phone, or by mail using your invitation to respond. Visit my2020census.gov to begin.  

 

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.

Seven schools scheduled to receive portable classrooms this summer 

Due to rapid enrollment growth, LWSD is adding portables to seven campuses this fall. These projects were planned as part of the 2019 Capital Levy capacity projects and are funded by remaining state construction assistance dollars.

Four elementary schools (Bell, Frost, Thoreau and Sandburg) will receive new SAGE (Smart Academic Green Environment) portable classrooms this summer. 

With the 20-classroom addition at Lake Washington High School scheduled to open this fall, the 10 SAGE portable classrooms at the school will be relocated to provide additional classrooms at three middle schools. Rose Hill Middle School will receive six portable classrooms. Inglewood Middle School and Kirkland Middle School will each receive two portable classrooms.

 

Seventeen LWSD students on their way to nationals for history day competition after virtual state event

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students performed very well at this year’s Washington State National History Day (NHD) event. Eight LWSD students in three categories won at the competition held virtually because of the Coronavirus on May 2. You can view the full virtual event on YouTube.

This year’s NHD theme is “Breaking Barriers in History.” Students who finish in first and second place in each category go on to the National contest, held in mid-June at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. Seventeen LWSD students earned their way to the National event. In addition, 10 LWSD students were special award winners during the competition. Read more about the National History Day winners on the district website. 

 

What a surprise! – State superintendent joins virtual Thoreau Elementary staff meeting for Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week ran from May 4-8 this year. Educators across the nation are being recognized in creative ways during the coronavirus pandemic. Staff members at Henry David Thoreau Elementary received one of those creative surprises during their weekly virtual meeting on May 4. Joining the call to provide kind and motivating words was Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Superintendent Reykdal showed up via web cam on the Microsoft Teams video chat platform. Read more about the surprise visit. 

Read more student and staff success stories here. 

 

We’re in this together! Calling all LWSD students! We’re asking student artists to color in our “We are in this together” coloring sheet. Then, take a picture of yourself holding the sheet when you are done, and post to the LWSD Facebook page to share with the rest of our community!

Here's a link to the coloring page.

 

We’re hiring!

LWSD needs paraeducators, instructional assistants, bus drivers, mechanics and substitute custodians. Job descriptions are available on the district website, under "Employment" then "Classified Employees." Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. 

 

This newsletter is just one way to stay in touch with what is happening in the district. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for up-to-date news and information.