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.

 

Equity Work in Action: Foundation’s Generosity will Result in More Inclusive Library Collections 

“All children want to see images that reflect themselves and encounter stories in their native language and within the context of their personal cultures. Diverse, culturally authentic materials in library collections allow all children to meet people like themselves and develop an appreciation for the beauty of their culture and the cultures of others.” - Jamie Campbell Naido, ALSC Board of Directors 

Through the generosity of the Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF), library collections in the district are about to become much more representative of the broad diversity inherent in our schools and community at large. 

The LWSF recently awarded the Lake Washington School District library program a 5-year grant that provides training for district librarians to perform diversity audits of the fiction collections in our school libraries. As librarians receive the training over the next several years, they will be performing audits on their school collections in an intentional effort to broaden the diversity represented in school collections. The LWSF also generously provided substantial funding for each library to purchase new books to expand the collections in each school to support the needs identified in the diversity audits. 

This work is a big step forward in creating a welcoming district culture, where all students and families are represented. Representation matters and providing materials that allow students to see themselves reflected in literature is an important part of the district’s equity-focused work. The Lake Washington Schools Foundation is a critical partner to the continued work in the district, and we truly appreciate their generosity to support each and every student throughout the district. We’re also proud of our district librarians for taking on this important work and leading the way towards a more equitable future. 

Additional resources: 

• Article from the American Library Association on the Importance of Representation in Children’s Literature
• Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors – a discussion of why we need diverse children’s literature
• Equity Auditing Process

 

Help recognize our teachers

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up! Show our teachers how much you appreciate them by nominating one! Email us at communications@lwsd.org or send us a direct message on Facebook and Instagram for a chance to be featured on the district's social media channels.

 

AP Biology curriculum adoption resources available to review

The AP Biology Adoption Committee has used College Board standards, as well as their knowledge of effective practices in teaching to guide an evaluation of different available AP Biology curricula. The committee reached consensus in choosing two curricula to pilot this spring. Teachers on the adoption committee, along with interested teachers, are currently piloting both curricula, gathering data on the impact of each curricula, and collecting student, teacher and parent/community feedback.

The programs will be piloted until the end of April. Throughout the pilot period, the committee will consider how each program operates in a daily classroom environment for both teachers and students, as well as how they effectively support instruction aligned with College Board standards and effective and inclusive instructional practices.

Parent and community feedback is essential in this process, and we welcome your input. You can access digital versions of the programs, along with a survey link that you can use to provide feedback here: Community Access for Pilot Resources.

Survey responses are anonymous. Your responses will help inform our AP Biology Adoption Committee as they make a recommendation regarding the adoption of materials. The committee is scheduled to make a recommendation to the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors by June.

Additionally, information about the adoption process and the AP Biology programs being considered will be shared at an information night on April 20, from 7:00-800 p.m. A recording of the meeting will be made available after. If you have further questions or comments, please contact Director of Accelerated Programs Becky Kadrmas or Program Specialist Erin Fleshman.

 

8-12 French Curriculum Adoption Community Information Night

Please join us for an online Community Information Night to review the new grade 8-12 French curricula on Tuesday, May 3 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. We will share an overview of the adoption process, provide details and access to the curricula being piloted for French 1-AP, and offer an opportunity for community members to review and give input on the potential materials. 

To join on your computer or mobile app 
Click here to join the meeting 

Or call in (audio only) 
+1 206-800-4750, 59519062#  United States, Seattle 
Phone Conference ID: 595 190 62# 
Lake Washington School District #414

For additional information, please contact Dr. Jen Rose, director of Teaching and Learning, or Theresa Vásquez, World Languages specialist.

 

Reminder: Help us spread the word – Kindergarten registration is happening now for 2022-23!

If you live in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and your child will be five years old on or before August 31, 2022, it is time to register your child for Kindergarten! Registration for all K-12 LWSD students is online. All necessary documents can be accessed on the LWSD website and completed documents can be uploaded securely. Parents who are unable to upload documents may send them by U.S. mail or drop them off at their neighborhood school.

Remind your friends and neighbors to register their incoming kindergarteners now! Our priority date for registration is April 1, 2022. Registering by this date will help us ensure that we have teachers and staff in place for our first day of school in September.

Read more about Kindergarten registration on the district website: Kindergarten Information - Lake Washington School District (lwsd.org)

 

Reminder: Interested in Online School for 2022-23?

Elementary Online School
At this time there are not enough current online students who expressed interest in remaining for 2022-23 to run an Elementary Online School. We will be reaching out to our Choice transfer families along with families who have chosen to home school to invite them to register into this program by June 1.  

Registration data for grades 1-5 will be reviewed on June 1 to determine if there are enough student’s enrolled in all grade levels. Each grade level will need at least 20-28 students. When families register, we will be expecting them to commit to the entire school year. A final decision on running an Elementary Online School for the 2022-23 school year will be made by June 6.  

Secondary Online School
Based on the interest survey for the 2022-23 school year approximately 100 students currently plan to enroll. We will move forward with a Secondary Online School for grades 6-12.  

Families interested in enrolling for the Online School need to register through our Lake Washington School District website. 

 

Be the Bridge spring benefit: Everyone is welcome!

It’s the event of the year that you won’t want to miss. Register now for a free ticket to watch Lake Washington Schools Foundation's live stream spring benefit on April 28! 

Please join us as we go behind the scenes to see our programs at work, hear stories of resilience and kindness, and witness how your contributions make a difference to the students in Lake Washington School District. Be inspired by interviews with librarians, kids, and school leaders, and take a peek into our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the community. Registration is now open. We look forward to celebrating with you!

 

Do you want to be a calm, present, and empathetic parent?

Don't miss our upcoming workshop for parents of school-aged kids: Parenting for Emotional Wellbeing. This 4-session, virtual workshop will provide a friendly space for you to cultivate advanced social and emotional awareness and skills that can help you clarify your parenting identity, improve relationships in your family and help you raise resilient kids. The first session starts on April 20. Learn more at www.lwsf.org/parentingworkshop. Spaces are limited, so register early!

 

Parent Chat webinar: Anxiety in Elementary-Aged Children

At the next Parent Chat on March 9, learn how to recognize the signs of anxiety and to use strategies to support your elementary-aged child. We welcome guest speaker Lynnette Pullman, Ph.D. Register at 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.
Check out our April calendar of events and register your child to attend!

 

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.

 

Mark Twain addition update

The construction of the new gymnasium at Mark Twain Elementary is really starting to take shape. The steel structure of the building, as well as the roofing, is complete. In the last few months, the exterior framing, sheathing, insulation, drywall, masonry and metal panel installation is complete. Window installation is nearing completion.

Twain opened its new classroom addition this last fall. This addition is providing critical learning spaces for the growing student population. The new gymnasium will provide additional core space for physical education and the existing gymnasium space will become flexible space to use to expand commons/cafeteria space during lunches or provide additional space for physical education. Similar projects related to core expansion are also taking place at Benjamin Franklin and Rose Hill Elementary Schools. The new gymnasium is scheduled to open in fall 2022.
 

At Rosa Parks Elementary, fifth graders put their critical thinking and public speaking skills on display at the “Brain Museum” 

In Chelsea Smith’s fifth-grade class at Rosa Parks Elementary, her students not only learned about the brain, but got to share their knowledge with classmates during the class's Brian Museum event. Their assignment was to read articles about the brain and answer three essential questions:

1. How do our brains work? 
2. How do we learn/grow our intelligence? 
3. Why is our ideal learning environment important for our brains? 

Read more about this on the LWSD website. 

 

More science, please – Redmond High School hosts middle school Science Olympiad for the third year

Redmond High School (RHS) science enthusiasts hosted a virtual Science Olympiad for middle school students. The RHS Science Olympiad club hosted the third annual B-division invitational in the “Mini Science Olympiad” virtual format on February 5. The Redmond Invitational is set up to help middle school students practice for their events for the 2021-22 competition season. The event was run by RHS students with the help of some advisors and volunteers. Read more about this on the LWSD website.