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Connections - March 25, 2022
Stay connected!
Work with us
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.
Learning Focused
Online School update 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.
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: K-5 math curriculum
Positive things are happening for students as we continue forward with our new math curriculum, Illustrative Mathematics by LearnZillion. Teachers have been excited to engage in professional learning and collaboration this year as we get deeper into the new curriculum, with many positive benefits for their work with students. Teachers and administrators report that students are engaging in math in deep ways and seeing themselves as mathematicians in their daily work. Students are engaging in learning by developing conceptual understanding through explaining their thinking, justifying their solutions and working together to solve problems. Teachers’ observations about their students’ learning have been exciting and positive:
- "Kids are able to interact and talk a lot about math. It’s amazing hearing them share their thinking with each other."
- "Students are realizing the importance of explaining the concepts behind their mathematical expressions."
- "The kids are having really meaningful conversations around math and seem to have much stronger numbers sense."
- "I have never seen students so engaged in math, nor have I seen such high-level critical thinking."
- "Students are engaging in in mathematical discourse better than ever before.They are looking at math in new ways and are excited about the content."
We also wanted to share that we have worked with LearnZillion to expand family access to learning through a Family Portal. Families can access math resources outside the classroom and follow along with the in-class learning. Parents can access these resources using their student’s district credentials. Parents can contact their student’s teacher to get that information, if needed.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Jen Rose, Director of Teaching and Learning.
Reminder: Early entrance to LWSD kindergarten application now available
In the state of Washington, students must be five years old by August 31 to register for kindergarten. Children whose fifth birthday fall between September 1 and November 30, and whose parents believe to be exceptionally qualified for kindergarten, may apply for early entrance to kindergarten. The application for early entrance to kindergarten for LWSD families is now open. Children whose fifth birthday falls after November 30 are not eligible to apply for early entrance to kindergarten.
Please read the Early Entrance to Kindergarten FAQs before completing the application. Please contact the Accelerated Programs office at 425-936-1238 if you have questions about the early entrance to kindergarten process. Please visit the LWSD website for more information.
Reminder: Heritage language opportunity
Virtual Heritage Language Program for Russian, Romanian, and Ukrainian Speakers
This free, virtual program through OSPI and International Education Washington meets once a week through June to assist heritage speakers of Russian, Romanian and Ukrainian with earning the Global Seal of Biliteracy. Space is available now for heritage language speakers from any public high school in Washington state. Interested students should apply ASAP using the application form.
District Announcements
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.
Reminder: 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.
Student & Staff Success
Top of the science world – Eastlake student wins $250,000 award for project on space research
Christine Ye, senior at Eastlake High School, was recently awarded a major prize for her research on space. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science announced on March 15 the top ten winners headed by Ye, who won the top award in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. According to the organization, this is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
Read more about this on the LWSD website.
Juanita High School student receives Student Community Service Award from Kirkland Chamber of Commerce
Juanita High School (JHS) senior Koumudi Thanda received the 2021 Lee Johnson Student Community Service Award. Brett Johnson and Kendra Rodland, JHS college & career guidance specialist, presented the award during the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce luncheon in December. The award recognizes a student leader with exemplary community service while demonstrating achievement in areas of academics and extracurricular activities.
Read more about this on the LWSD website.