Reminder: Heritage speaker opportunity 

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), in collaboration with the World Affairs Council, is funding an exciting program for heritage speakers of Spanish, Russian and Romanian (students 14 years old+). These free, virtual after school programs aim to connect students with other heritage speakers of their language around the state, engaging in interesting learning and projects, and improving their language and intercultural proficiency. Students can earn the Global Competency Certificate and will be offered the Seal of Biliteracy Testing at no cost, for which they can earn up to four high school credits, depending on their proficiency. More information for students and families can be found here. If students are interested in applying for the program, they should email intledwa@gmail.com as soon as possible, as recruitment for the program is underway and will run through November. The Spanish program in particular is already filling up. 

If you would like more information about the World Language program in LWSD, please contact Dr. Jen Rose, Director of Teaching and Learning, or Theresa Vasquez, our World Language Specialist.

 

Reminder: Free internet available to eligible families

Reliable connectivity to the internet is critical for student success during remote teaching and learning. The state recognizes this need and has partnered with Ziply Fiber, Comcast/Xfinity and Presidio to create Washington’s K–12 Internet Access Program, which gives eligible families free internet access so students can connect to online learning from home.

This internet access opportunity will potentially provide families with faster and more reliable connectivity than hotspots, which will better support our students. Eligible families can receive free internet access through June 30, 2021.

LWSD has developed this webpage for families to check eligibility, choose a provider in their area, request an access code and sign-up for service.

 

Reminder: Middle school and high school options information now available/Choice school applications now open 

Parents of students in grades five or eight should have received a Middle School options message or High School options message in their email. The messages 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.

If you did not receive this message or are interested in learning more, click on the links below:

• Middle School Options
• High School Options

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a choice school? Learn more about the process and curriculum at our information sessions coming up in November and December. Applications for choice schools will close on Friday, December 11 at 4 p.m. For more information, visit: lwsd.org/choice-schools.

 

Update: Grab and go meals are free for all children ages 1-18

Lake Washington School District is offering free meals to all children ages 1-18. Please visit the website for more information: https://www.lwsd.org/covid-19/grab-go-student-meals.

 

Reminder: World language proficiency testing

To continue to recognize the talents of our bilingual and biliterate LWSD students, we are tentatively offering in-person testing on Wednesdays this year, as indicated below. Testing will be conducted following strict safety and social distancing protocols. After registering here on LWSD's website, we will contact you via the preferred email indicated in the registration to coordinate your specific test date and time at your preferred location. Please note that we are operating at limited capacity this year and will prioritize 11th and 12th graders who need World Language credit to graduate. We will test 9th and 10th graders if additional spots are available. 

We are using a rolling registration this year and students can register now for any of the following testing windows:

• Wednesdays in January at Eastlake High School
  (Registration closes December 16, 2020)
• Wednesdays in February at Redmond High School
  (Registration closes January 31, 2021)
• Wednesdays in March at Lake Washington High School
  (Registration closes February 28, 2021)
• Any Wednesday at the LWSD Resource Center, 16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052
  (Registration closes March 31, 2021)

Registration is now live for Seal of Biliteracy/World Language Proficiency Testing at https://www.lwsd.org/schools/high-school/high-school-guide/world-language-credit-options. 

Questions? Contact the LWSD World Language Specialist and Test Administrator, Theresa Vásquez at tvasquez@lwsd.org.

 

Reminder: Microsoft Classroom Teams video tutorial for families

Need help using Microsoft Classroom Teams? Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has created a video tutorial to help families navigate this online learning platform. Visit https://www.lwsd.org/help/classroom-teams-support. 

For additional, self-guided support, feel free to look through the below documents to help you navigate the Classroom Teams platform:

• Classroom Teams Student Guide | Español
• Classroom Teams Parent & Guardian Guide | Español
• Changing language settings in Teams | Español

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. 

Additional Help Resources:
Helpdesk is open! 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., 7 days/week.
Families Contact: Family Technology Access at ftaccess@lwsd.org, 425-936-1322
24x7 Parent Help email address: parentquestions@lwsd.org

 

Reminder: Child care space still available

Space is still available for families and staff who need child care. The district has worked with community partners, YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of King County to provide emergency child care for students in grades K-5. In addition, our district extended day program will provide care at select sites. Each provider will have multiple locations to choose from.

These childcare services provide emergency or critical support for families that cannot otherwise be with their children during the day due to work responsibilities outside of the home.

Visit the LWSD website for more information.

 

Weather Events & Internet/Service Outages – What to Expect

We know that our Pacific Northwest weather can be unpredictable. Please take a few minutes to review the information below so you know what to expect when there is a weather event or power outage during a school day.

Power and Internet Outages 
If a student/teacher experiences a power or internet outage:

• Contact your teacher or school to report the outage.
• If you lose power or connection during a Microsoft Teams class session and you are unable to connect, you should attempt to connect as soon as a connection is available.
• If your teacher is suddenly absent without notification from a Microsoft Teams class, you should leave the session and re-enter after 15 minutes. If the teacher is still absent from Microsoft Teams you may end class.
• The teacher will follow up with individual students or the class as soon as possible.
• You should take note of asynchronous activities you could do without an internet connection.
• You can also continue to work on previously assigned classwork.

Weather events (snow days)

Snow days during remote learning will work differently than a normal school year. If snow or inclement weather affects a school day, remote instruction will continue and in-person students receiving special services will shift to all remote learning for that day. There will not be late starts due to snow or weather events.

Announcements will be made to staff and families via our SchoolMessenger system (by phone, email, and by text messaging for those signed up), district website posting, and social media postings. We will also use FlashAlert.net, which reports directly to local media and provides text alerts to anyone who signs up.

 

Safety Night Webinars

The LWPTSA Emergency Preparedness Committee is taking the COVID-cancelled district-wide Safety Night Event from last Spring online into a webinar series for parents, students and staff. Join us for several webinars throughout the year on a variety of safety and emergency preparedness topics.

Please RSVP for the first next webinar here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45AFAA2DA1F9CF8-safety

• Thursday, December 10, 7:00-8:00 p.m. - Emergency Preparedness for the Family by Pattijean Hooper, Ph.D., City of Redmond Emergency Manager. Learn ways to keep the whole family prepared for disasters that you might experience while at home such as earthquakes, wildfires, and winter storms.

Questions or comments: emergency.prep@lwptsa.net

 

Reminder: Lake Washington Schools Foundation supports LWSD students and staff 

Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) is a non-profit organization that has been partnering for 15 years with Lake Washington School District to improve the education of every student in the district. LWSF supports students and families with programs like Pantry Packs, Balance in Mind, LINKS Mentoring, Find Your Fit and Reach for Success Classroom Grants. 

LWSF relies on donations from community members and local businesses to fund these important programs. You can learn more about the LWSF here: www.lwsf.org.

 

Reminder: LWSD fields remain closed - playgrounds, tennis courts and tracks are open to public on evenings and weekends

All LWSD Playgrounds, tracks and tennis courts will be closed to the public during the school day from 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. All LWSD fields remain closed seven days a week/24 hours per day. This is in accordance with city, county and state guidance. Playgrounds, tennis courts and tracks are open to the public during evenings and weekends. Just a reminder that large, organized activities are not allowed. Play is limited to groups of five or fewer. Face coverings and six feet physical distancing are required. Hands should be washed after play. Please note that some elementary schools have childcare on site until 6:00 p.m. so play structures may be in use until that time.

We will update our communities as more of our facilities open to the public.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to slow the transmission of COVID-19. 

 

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.

Welcome to the Early Learning Center at Old Redmond Schoolhouse

After a remodel, approved by voters in 2016, the 98-year-old Old Redmond Schoolhouse now serves as an Early Learning Center. Spaces include 10 preschool classrooms, therapy spaces, a family resource library and family meeting space.

Classrooms are divided by a shared area with bathrooms and generous space for art and sensory-play activities. An accessible playground allows preschoolers of all abilities to practice cooperative play, balance, fine and gross motor skills. 

LWSD’s preschool programs support the needs of both special education and typically developing preschoolers. In addition to seven inclusive preschool classrooms, the building has two SNAPS preschool classrooms for students with autism and a Head Start classroom for income-eligible families. 

In 2015, the community Long-Term Facilities Task Force recommended the district renovate the building for preschool classrooms as it cannot be used for K-12 students. 

 

New classroom addition complete at Lake Washington High School

At Lake Washington High School, teachers can help prepare students for college and careers in 20 new general, science and Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms. The new addition blends seamlessly with the rest of the school while bringing everyone into one building. 

The original LWHS building construction was funded to accommodate capacity for three grade levels (10-12). The planning and design included future additions (both classroom and core space) that could be added as enrollment increased. Voters approved funding for the 20-classroom addition, as well as expansion of the commons and auxiliary gym as part of the 2019 Capital Projects Levy.

The project also included a new secured connection from the main building to the gym, which means the campus is now enclosed. “If there’s a lockdown, you can secure the campus,” said Principal Christina Thomas. “Before we weren’t able to do that.”

Learn more about the district’s long-term plan to continue to build schools and to provide quality learning environments and experiences at www.lwsd.org/BuildingOnSuccess.

 

Juanita Cheer Coach named WSCCA’s Assistant Coach of the Year

Mia Orloff, Assistant Cheer Coach at Juanita High School (JHS), was recently awarded the 2020 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Washington State Cheer Coaches Association (WSCCA). Orloff was presented the award on September 12, 2020. The WSCCA honors and celebrates the achievements of the outstanding women and men in the organization. The non-profit organization was created for cheerleading coaches in Washington state as a source for education and development. Read more about the award on the LWSD website.

 

We've got this! Calling all LWSD students! We’re asking student artists to color in our "We've got this" 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! 

Download the coloring page here.

 

Careers at LWSD

LWSD is always seeking great talent for positions throughout our district. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings. 

 

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.