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.

Pathway Forward message from Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen

I want to share with you an update regarding changes in guidance from the Department of Health.

• I’ll be sharing about all of the layers of protection that continue to be in place such as staying home when sick and isolating when testing positive for COVID. 
• I’ll share details about the choice of whether to mask or not, with the exception of our health and isolation rooms. 
• I’ll also share information about changes to quarantine protocols. 
• Additionally, I’ll share the continued vaccination requirement for employees, contractors and volunteers. 

To watch this update as a video message, click here: https://youtu.be/i5CzkHEMeWw

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.
 

Information on how to receive the Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax Credit

The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit are large tax refund payments that people can receive when they file a tax return. The 2021 American Rescue Plan expanded who can receive these payments and increased the amount of money available to many families and individuals. The Child Tax Credit increased from $2,000 to either $3,000 or $3,600, depending on the child’s age and the income of their parents or guardians.

Most families got half of what the IRS estimated would be their Child Tax Credit in advance monthly payments from July to December 2021.

The Earned Income Tax Credit increased to $1,500 for some workers without qualifying kids at home. This is nearly three times as much as previous years.

To get these remaining credits, families and workers must file their taxes, even if they might not normally make enough to be required to file.

Visit the ChildTaxCredit.gov website or the IRS.gov Child Tax Credit website for more information, and resources to file taxes for free.

Valentine Recap

This year, for Valentine's Day, our community put a record of over 450 messages of appreciation on our virtual Wall of Love and sent more than 320 postcards to LWSD teachers and staff. Donations in honor of teachers and staff raised $17,800 to help LWSF pursue its mission to enhance academic access and nurture all students' emotional well-being. Thank you for warming the hearts of so many teachers and staff members this spring! We are absolutely honored to have received your donation.

Community Service Opportunities for Kids

Kids Coming Together is back with a full slate of community service events this month, where children grades 3-8 can meet new friends and connect with their community. Register for upcoming events.

College 101 Webinar 

On March 15 at 6:30 p.m., join independent college counselor Mary Pat O’Neil as she dives deep into explaining the college application process. Learn about the five possible parts of a college application and what colleges look at. Understand the numbers behind highly selective colleges and why students need a balanced college list. Register here.

Parent Chat webinar: Winter series

Parent Chat brings you topics at the intersection of youth mental health and parenting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Register at www.tinyurl.com/BIMWinter2022.

Franklin Elementary addition update

In addition to the eight classrooms that opened in the fall, construction on a new gymnasium at Benjamin Franklin Elementary is underway. The classroom addition provided 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.

Stormwater utilities for the new gym and recently relocated portables have been installed while the footings and foundations for the gym are now formed and ready to receive concrete. A concrete workers strike, which began in December 2021, continues to impact all construction activity throughout King County. The project team is actively implementing innovative strategies to limit the impact until concrete becomes available again. Next steps include the installation of under-slab plumbing and electrical, followed by preparing the building footprint for the first concrete slab pour that makes up the floor of the gym. The new gymnasium is scheduled to open in fall 2022.
 

Taking care of business - 316 LWSD students qualify for state DECA competition

A total of 316 LWSD students received an invitation to the DECA State Career Development Conference from March 3-5. The students competed at the DECA state competition at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Wash. on January 7. Any competitors who place in an event are eligible for the state competition. Students from all four comprehensive high schools competed. The state competition will also be held at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Read more about this on the LWSD website.

If the shoe fits – Wilder Elementary creates empathy month to celebrate good deeds with shoe cut-outs 

Staff and students at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary have been focusing on character traits all school year. For the month of January, the trait they centered on was empathy. The definition they used throughout the month was “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” The school’s Student Council took it one “step” further by creating the Empathy Challenge. Each time a staff member, or fellow student, witnessed acts of empathy, they would give the person a paper shoe to color. Those were then added to the “Empathy Jar”, which was a giant poster filled with the shoe cut-outs that were colored by the empathetic student. Read more about this on the LWSD website.