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.

 

We're hiring! Consider a career in LWSD

LWSD is always seeking great talent for positions throughout our district. In addition to other positions available throughout the district, we are looking for applicants for the following positions:

• Nurses
• Instructional Assistants (IAs)
• Paraeducators
• Custodians
• Bus drivers
• Substitutes

These positions are also available in a substitute role. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings.

 

School meals for the 2022-23 school year

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the USDA has funded free meals to all students, The USDA free meal waiver is set to expire on June 30, 2022. As a result, the district will start charging fees again for lunch and breakfast starting in the 2022-23 school year. The district will continue to provide student meals free of charge at all school sites through June 30, 2022.  

 

Free and reduced meal applications

Even though meals are free through June 30 of this school year, we strongly encourage all families who might be eligible for benefits to submit an application now. Filling out an application now may qualify families to receive seamless meal benefits through October 15 to start the new school year. Completing an application online through Myschoolapps takes less than 10 minutes, and parents only need to complete one application per family.  

For more information you can also visit our website.

 

Additional benefits for free and reduced

Students that are eligible for Free and Reduced meals are also eligible to receive fee waivers for athletics, extracurricular activities and ASB cards. In order for the district to waive these fees, you must provide consent to share your Free and Reduced eligibility status for this purpose. You can provide consent on the Free and Reduced application. If you are already qualified for free and reduced meals or you are directly certified through the State, you can provide your consent to share eligibility information in Family Access by following these instructions | instrucciones. For more information about fee waivers, please visit our website.

School counselors can also help connect you with benefits that you may be eligible for if you qualify for free and reduced meals. 
 

Teacher Appreciation Week and National Teacher Day 

The Lake Washington School District community spent May 2-6 celebrating our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week and National Teacher Day (May 3). LWSD teachers work to create learning environments that support the district’s mission, “Each student will graduate prepared to lead a rewarding and responsible life as a contributing member of our community and greater society.” We appreciate all the incredible work our teachers do for our students.

View the LWSD proclamation, signed by the board, for Teacher Appreciation Week and National Teacher Day. 

2022 Summer ORCA Youth Pass sign-up

Effective immediately, high school students can sign-up for a FREE Summer Youth ORCA Pass from King County Metro. The free transit pass is available for students in grades 8-12 who are qualified for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch. The Summer Youth ORCA Pass is good for unlimited rides on all local transit including any bus, the Sounder train, Link light rail, streetcar, Water Taxi and more.

Sign up here: Summer ORCA Pass Sign-Up Form

For more information on the program please visit the Summer Youth ORCA Pass website.

Happy riding!

 

Thank you for being the bridge!

Thanks to a host of compassionate donors and sponsors, our 2022 Be the Bridge Spring Benefit has raised more than $200,000 to support our mission in the Lake Washington School District!

We're grateful for the dedicated Trustees, Table Captains, Ambassadors and matching pool donors who helped make this day a success. Our $28,500 matching pool has been depleted (thank you, donors!), but we're still offering a free ticket to our upcoming donor appreciation Happy Hour to any donor who has given $350 or more this school year.

Be the Bridge wouldn't have been possible without the generous contributions of time and talent from volunteers, staff, and program participants who were interviewed or filmed for this year's program. They honor us with their voices and stories. Thanks to our emcee Morgan Palmer (and the production team at KIRO 7) and the rich voiceovers of Amy Moreno, Be the Bridge felt like a primetime show. Our favorite band, the Royals, gave everyone a reason to tune in early and stay late, and Eli Corriveau of HotSpark Media for putting the video together.

We're thankful for the donors who contributed to our event and are especially filled with gratitude for the PTSA volunteers working hard for schools throughout the year, and to the many advocates for kids inside our schools and across the district who are making a positive difference in our communities. Together, we can be the bridge.

 

Film screening of "LIKE" - Free for all community members

Is your phone affecting your relationships with other people? Social media should be a tool for connection but is that always happening? LIKE breaks down why we find social media so irresistible, examines who is controlling who, and gives you the tools to pivot to a more balanced and contented relationship.

Watch the social media documentary LIKE from the comfort of your own home anytime May 19-26!

 

Parent Chat Webinar on May 25 at 7 p.m.: Taming Screen Time

Our next Parent Chat is Taming Screen Time. Sheri Gazitt from Teen Wise will discuss how we can help kids with managing their screen time, and how to talk to them about it. To register for this free webinar, visit www.lwsf.org/parentchat.

 

Register your child for a Kids Coming Together event!

Kids Coming Together is a program that provides opportunities for local youth in grades 3-8 to make new friends and connect with their community through service events led by high school students. Register for upcoming events:

• May 18: Why are Bees Important?
• May 25: Invasive Species Removal at Big Rock Park

 

Reminder: Snow Make-up Day Announced: May 31 will be a full school day

Lake Washington School District has finalized plans to make up for the one day missed due to the January 3, 2022 snow day. May 31 was built-in as a snow make up day, meaning that if we had snow days this school year, we would make them up by changing this day from a non-student day to a regular school day.

The 2021-22 calendar has been modified to reflect this change: 

• Tuesday, May 31: change from a non-school day to a full day for students

View printable school calendar.

 

Reminder: 2022 graduation schedule announced

The graduation schedule for 2022 has been finalized. You can find the details on the LWSD webpage. We look forward to recognizing our class of 2022 graduates in June. Additional information, including details about tickets, will be shared with families by each school.

 

Now that’s a good Samaritan – Juanita HS student helps person having medical emergency

Juanita High School (JHS) senior Saivion Bell recently received the recognition he deserves. He was recognized in March by the City of Kirkland after helping a stranger who was having a medical emergency on the sidewalk. Bell was given a certificate during a recognition event and was thanked by the Kirkland mayor’s office and the fire and police departments.

 

Top prizes at the fair – LWSD students win several categories at regional science and engineering fair

More than 30 Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students came home with top-four honors at the Central Sound Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CSRSEF). The event was held virtually on Saturday, March 19 for high school students from King and Snohomish counties. Three of the five grand champions in the “Best of Fair” category were LWSD students. Read more on the LWSD website.