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Highly Capable Programs/Quest Applications Due TODAY - Friday, October 25 

Applications for Highly Capable Programs/Quest are now available on the district website. All applications are due on Friday, October 25 at 4 p.m. If a family is unable to access the internet-based application or needs an application in a language other than English, please contact the Accelerated Programs Office at 425-936-1238. More information on these programs can be found on the Accelerated Programs section of the district website. 

 

Parent/Guardian Survey on Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying and Discrimination    

The Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education would like to hear from parents and guardians regarding their familiarity and experience with school district policies and procedures regarding harassment, intimidation, bullying and discrimination. A survey is available through November 1.

 

Students and staff wear orange on October 23 to show we’re united against bullying 

Unity Day Celebration

Make it ORANGE and make it end! What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? LWSD staff and students showed they cared about safe and supportive schools by making their color ORANGE for Unity Day on October 23. That’s the day everyone came together – in schools, communities, and online – to send one large ORANGE message of support, hope and unity.  

Check out more photos from Unity Day on our Facebook page.  

Read more about how you can stand against bullying and come together for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. 

 

October is National Energy Awareness Month 

Earth Day is every day in Lake Washington School District. We are a recognized leader in sustainability practices and education in the region. This recognition has come from various organizations: 

• U.S. Department of Education’s 2019 Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award 
• Since the 2005–06 school year, we have reduced electricity usage per square foot by 30 percent. Domestic water usage has been reduced 30 percent per student. 
• LWSD has the largest solar energy capacity of any district in the state at 615 kilowatts. 
• By 2020, 27 percent of the district schools' heating will come from high-efficiency geothermal, including 75 percent of heating in its high schools. 
• A total of 27 schools have been recognized by King County Green Schools. For our 75th anniversary, our goal is to reach 75% participation: 34 total schools. 
• McKinstry’s 2015 Champions of Sustainability award. 
• Eight-time winner of the King County Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling. Nearly 75 percent of schools in the district collect organic food waste for composting. The district is committed to proactively right-sizing service, including smaller garbage containers and less frequent pickups. 
• LWSD is one of 12 districts in the nation to receive Excellence in Integrated Pest Management star certification. This certification ensures the use of alternate, non-chemical pest control methods. The district passed a rigorous 37-point evaluation conducted by the independent nonprofit IPM Institute of North America.
• 2017 Green Cleaning Award from American School and University Magazine. Cleaning to protect the health of students and staff without harm to the environment. 

District sustainability efforts rely on the participation of every person in the district, in addition to community partners and volunteers.  

Learn more about LWSD’s commitment to resource conservation.

 

Reminder: Lake Washington School Districts Seeks Facility Advisory Committee Members  

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) is growing rapidly. LWSD has grown from the sixth largest school district in the state to the second largest district in just five years. LWSD’s October 1 student enrollment was 31,106 students, 1,124 more students than last year. For the last 11 years, from 2008 to 2019, the district’s enrollment grew by an average of 667 students each year. That is the size of a large elementary school. A total of 7,337 more students are in LWSD schools today than 11 years ago, representing 31 percent growth.  
 
LWSD is forming a Facility Advisory Committee to make recommendations for future facility planning, informed by enrollment trends, community expectations and district programs. The facility strategy will align with the District’s strategic plan and make recommendations to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and continue to provide quality learning environments. The Superintendent and School Board will consider these recommendations as it plans for future ballot measures to fund construction.  

Read more about the Facility Advisory Committee and view the Committee Interest Form on the district website.  

 

Reminder: Setting Up Automatic Emails for Missing Assignments

Parents and families can choose to receive automatic notification once each day about the existence of any assignments marked by a teacher as missing. Visit the LWSD website for step-by-step instructions on how to setup automatic email notifications for missing assignments. 

 

City of Sammamish to host Community Forum on Teen Drug Use 

In light of recent tragedies in Sammamish, the city is hosting a community forum entitled Teen Drug Use: Warning Signs and Resources. The forum will take place on Thursday, November 7 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Central Washington University Sammamish Campus. It will include Influence the Choice’s "Hidden in Plain Sight” exhibit, which is designed to equip parents and guardians with knowledge to help them identify signs in the home of possible teen drug or alcohol use. 

In addition, there will be presenters from Friends of Youth, Sammamish Police and other organizations who will address the state of teen drug use, warning signs and what parents can do. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with providers for information and resources.  

Visit the Facebook event page for more information.  

 

Remember to Vote: November 5 

November 5 is election day! Remember to vote. Ballot drop box locations can be found on the King County Elections website. You can also find more information about the November 2019 General Election here. 

 

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. 

 

Reminder: 13th Annual Eastside Native American Education Program (ENAEP) Veterans’ Powwow – October 26 

The 13th annual Eastside Native American Education Program's Veterans' Honor Powwow will be held on October 26. Flag Raising begins at 3:30 p.m., the Veterans Dinner at 4:00 p.m. and Grand Entry will start at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Juanita High School (10601 NE 132nd Street, Kirkland, WA 98034). For additional information, contact Mary Wilber at 425-936-1402. Admission is free. Click here to view the event poster.  

 

Reminder: World Language Proficiency Testing 

District World Language Proficiency Testing is open to all high school students who speak/read/write a language other than English and register for the test. Students can take the test once free of cost and earn up to 4 high school credits. Tests will be offered on the following dates:  

• December 11, 2019, 1:30 p.m. at Lake Washington High School 
• February 26, 2020, 1:30 p.m. at Redmond High School 
• April 29, 2020, 1:30 p.m. at Juanita High School  

Registration will close 2 weeks before each test date. Registration and further information about assessments can be found on the LWSD website: World Language Credit Options. 

For additional information please contact Theresa Vasquez, World Language Teaching and Learning Specialist. 

 

Reminder: National School Bus Safety Week – October 21-25 

National School Bus Safety Week is a public education program that addresses the importance of school bus safety. School districts throughout the country observe School Bus Safety Week the third week in October each year. This year’s theme is “My School Bus, the Safest Form of Student Transportation!” 

 

Reminder: October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month 

October is National Cyber Security Awareness month co-founded and co-led by the Department of Homeland Security (https://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (https://staysafeonline.org/).  

Program materials from the Stop.Think.Connect.Toolkit provide information and activities to help students, staff, and parents learn more about and practice safe computing. Cyber criminals target vulnerable computer systems or users of technology in large and small businesses, schools and at home. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility in which we all have a role. Click on the links to access tools for Students and Parents and Educators.  

 

Reminder: High School PE Credit Options 

High school students can meet the Physical Education graduation requirement through taking PE classes, taking the Fitness Knowledge Assessment or submitting a Fitness Plan. The Fitness Knowledge Assessment is offered three times a year. The first session was on October 9, but there are additional sessions on December 4, 2019 and February 19, 2020. Students must fill out specific forms and register for this test at their high school. Students opting for the Fitness Plan will have three opportunities to submit their plan this year. See the district website for more information. 

 

Reminder: General safety reminders when visiting LWSD schools

It is always a good idea to be vigilant while out and about, visiting a school should be no exception. Just a reminder that if you park at our schools, always lock your door and put your valuables away; just like when you visit your local store. You are also encouraged to help report something suspicious if you come across a situation that doesn’t look right. You can call the LWSD Resource Center at 425-936-1200, the front office at the school you are visiting, or find a staff member and let them know the situation. For more information about safety in our school, you can visit the Safety page on the district website.  

 

Reminder: Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Registration Information for 2019-20

The College Board has new ordering deadlines, late fees and cancellation fees for Advanced Placement Exams. To meet the College Board ordering deadlines, Lake Washington School District students will register and pay for AP exams from October 14, 2019 through end of last lunch on October 25, 2019. We encourage all students wanting to take May 2020 AP exams to complete the registration and pay for their exams during this October registration window. 

For students who may still be deciding in October if they want to take AP exams in May, LWSD is offering a LATE AP Exam registration window from February 18, 2020 through end of last lunch on February 27, 2020. Students who register during the late AP registration window will incur a $50 per exam late fee in addition to the $96 per exam fee.  

Read more about the changes the College Board has made to the AP Exam registration process. 

 

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. 

 

Grand Opening at Timberline Middle School 

“I challenge you to look for small moments to do great things. That is what will define this great school.” Principal Heidi Paul recognized students who do small things that make a difference at Timberline Middle School during a Grand Opening Ceremony on Oct. 11. 

Speakers included Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem, King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert, School Board President Siri Bliesner, Principal Heidi Paul and two leadership students. School Board Vice President Mark Stuart, School Board Member Cassandra Sage and LWPTSA President Mindy Lincicome also attended the event.

 

Kirk Elementary School Student Tour

Welcome to Peter Kirk! Students at the rebuilt and enlarged school share what they like about the new school, including more space to read, play and eat. 

 

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 $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. 

 

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. 

Teacher Maryline Williams named a Symetra Heroes in the Classroom  

Students in Maryline Williams’ kindergarten class know they have a teacher who will help them succeed. The Henry David Thoreau Elementary School teacher is one of 16 Seattle Heroes in the Classroom to be recognized during the 2019 NFL season. Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks will recognize her during the October 20 game in a customized Seahawks jersey, where she will be an honored guest. Read more about the award.  

 

Lake Washington School District named a National Board Accomplished District    

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has been named a National Board Accomplished District by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). NBPTS announced their new “National Board Accomplished Districts” program in late September. It is designed to recognize school districts that have worked hard to promote student learning through accomplished teaching. Read more about this on the district website.