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:

• Paraeducators
• Nurses
• Instructional Assistants (IA’s)
• Custodians
• Bus Drivers
• Substitutes

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

 

Happy first day of school!

The first day of school for grades 1-12 was on September 6. We are so excited to welcome back our students. Visit our Facebook page to see some of the photos from the different first days of school at all levels. 

 

New website for Highly Capable division

The Highly Capable (HiCap) division of LWSD’s Accelerated Programs has some important news to share with families:

• The HiCap website received a makeover! Our new site features a simplified design, this year’s
• assessment calendar and the eligibility matrix.
• Applications for HiCap eligibility will open on September 19 and close on October 20. The application will be posted as a live form on the HiCap website.

Visit the HiCap page on the LWSD website.

 

Sixty LWSD students named National Merit Semifinalists

Sixty Lake Washington School District (LWSD) high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists yesterday. 

Sixteen thousand high school seniors nationwide qualified. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level. Nearly half will win a National Merit Scholarship. These students will be able to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships, worth nearly $28 million. 

Read more about this on the LWSD website.

 

Two students selected as Student Representatives for Lake Washington School Board

Students to share student voice in Board conversations
Starting this year, the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors will include two student representatives. Student representatives were selected through an application and interview process.

Evan Kurtz (Juanita High School, Class of 2023) will serve as the student representative for the west side of the school district for this school year. A new student representative from the west side of the district will be selected for a two-year term starting in 2023-24. Evan was first introduced at the August 22 School Board meeting.

 

Shivani Sama (Tesla STEM High School, Class of 2024) will serve as a student representative for the east side of the school district. She will serve in this role for the next two school years. Shivani was first introduced at the September 12 School Board meeting.

The goal of adding student representatives to the board is to add the perspective and experiences of students as the Board considers various topics.

Evan was selected to serve for the 2022-23 school year while Shivani will serve through the 2023-24 school year. Annually, the Board will select an incoming junior for a two-year term.

 

New and International Families Welcome Event 

The LWPTSA Council and Lake Washington School District will be co-hosting a New and International Families Welcome Event soon. Watch for information and details in ParentSquare. 

 

K-5 Social Studies Adoption Committee forming

In Lake Washington School District, we arrange committees of stakeholders to review our adopted curriculum on a regular basis. These committees consist of teachers, administrators, specialists and community members. The committees usually meet 1-2 times a month but may also have additional sessions as needed. Committee members engage in learning about current research, standards and effective instructional practices. They then apply that learning in evaluating resources for potential adoption. The process of reviewing and/or adopting new curricular materials will be a two-year commitment. It will entail independent work outside of the meeting times. We are starting this process in K-5 social studies this fall. If you are interested in applying to be part of this committee, please fill out the application for the committee below. For any additional information, please contact Dr. Jen Rose, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services.

K-5 Social Studies Adoption Committee: Community Member Recruitment

 

LWSD supports Spanish-speaking families through local partnership

Weekly Spanish bulletin provides families with culturally-relevant district news 
Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has joined forces with the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, Bellevue School District, Bellevue Schools Foundation, Eastside Pathways, and Equity in Communication Collaborative Action Network, as part of the Remote Learning and Living Collective Action Network (now known as the Equity in Communication Collaborative Action Network), convened by Eastside Pathways. The partnership was formed with a shared goal of better supporting our community of Spanish-speaking and Latinx families through thoughtful and culturally-relevant communications.

Produced weekly, the video newsletter provides more equitable access to district information, allowing families to support their students. Project partners are looking forward to continuing this work, finding new ways to support and engage families, and having a positive impact on the Latinx community. 

Check out the Noticias en español para familias de BSD y LWSD Facebook page.

Videos are also posted on the LWSD website.

 

Reminder: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

On July 16, 2022, the country transitioned to using the 988 dialing code. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen and expand the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and change how crisis services are delivered nationwide. 
 
988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number. It is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health related distress. Whether that is thoughts of suicide, symptoms of mental illness or substance use disorder or other factors. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need these types of crisis supports.

 

Reminder: District tip line

Safety is one of our district’s top priorities. To keep our school community safe, our district uses Vector Alert, a tip reporting service that allows students, staff and parents to submit safety concerns to our administration five different ways:

1. App:    Search for “Vector Alert” in the App Store to download for free 
2. Phone: 425.529.5763 
3. Text:    Text your tip to 425.529.5763 
4. Email:  1342@alert1.us 
5. Web:    http://1342.alert1.us

If an administrator is not nearby or available to take your tip, you and your child can easily report tips on bullying, harassment, drugs, vandalism, threats of violence or any safety issue you're concerned about through Vector Alert. When you submit a tip, be sure to use our district’s identification code: 1342 in your communication.
 
Every tip Vector Alert receives about our district is immediately logged in the system and our administration is notified so that they can investigate and take appropriate action. And, tips may also be submitted anonymously if you prefer.
 
Together, using Vector Alert, we can make our district a safer place to work and learn! Thanks in advance for your support.

 

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: 

• September 22: Invasive Species Removal 
• September 27: Legos for Eastside Baby Corner 

 

Building inclusive library collections in our schools - LWSF update 

Over 4,000 students in seven schools have already benefited from Lake Washington School Foundation’s five-year grant commitment to increase the diversity of library collections across the district. In the grant’s first year (2021-22), a total of 1,120 books were purchased for:

• Alcott Elementary
• Bell Elementary
• Franklin Elementary
• Muir Elementary
• Inglewood Middle School
• International Community School 
• Kirkland Middle School

Each book was carefully selected and purchased based on the needs identified in the diversity audit of each school’s library collection. 

This year, students at 13 additional schools will benefit from the program! Watch this short clip where Cathy Webb, librarian at Mark Twain Elementary, explains the importance of students being able to see themselves and their peers reflected in school library collections.

 

Mentors needed for local students 

Become a Lunch Buddy mentor and make a difference in the life of a local elementary school student. The LINKS Lunch Buddy Program is seeking volunteers to mentor young students in Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish. Give 45 minutes of your time each week to enjoy fun games and crafts, and to talk with a student who could really benefit from some extra social-emotional support at school. 
To learn about the process and how to apply, visit www.lwsd.org/links. Please contact Victoria Goetze-Nelson at vgoetzenelson@lwsd.org or call 425-936-1410 if you have any questions. Mentor training and support will be provided.

 

Teen Startup event application deadline 

The LWSD Teen Startup Challenge is designed to promote student startup ideas and venture creation. The challenge provides the opportunity for high school students to win prizes and learn from local business leaders. Finalists will present their ideas and business plans and receive invaluable feedback from successful professionals. The application deadline for this event is midnight on October 3, 2022. Visit www.lwsd.org/teen-startup to learn more about this event.

 

 

Summer construction update

Thanks to our voters, LWSD construction teams have been busy this summer. Most of the summer construction projects were completed with a few finishing up in the next few weeks. All of these projects will give our students the space they need to thrive and be future ready. Below is an overview of the summer construction and project planning for the upcoming school year.

 

2019 Construction Levy projects

Projects to provide additional capacity are ready for students and staff. Rachel Carson Elementary now has four new classrooms to accommodate the community’s growing number of students. Mark Twain Elementary’s new gym was ready for the first day of school. Students attending Rose Hill Elementary enjoyed using their new commons expansion on their first day. Ben Franklin’s new gymnasium is scheduled to open to students on Monday, September 19. 

 

2018 School Technology and Capital Projects Levy 

There are many facility projects that were completed this summer under the 2018 school technology and capital projects levy: 

1. Eastlake High School (EHS) classroom conversions (addition three classrooms) 
2. Traffic flow enhancements at EHS
3. Parking and traffic flow enhancements at Juanita Elementary School 
4. Special Services projects at multiple sites 
5. Space conversions/enhancements at Redmond High School
6. Flooring improvements at Twain Elementary School 
7. Roofing improvements at the Juanita High School (JHS) Fieldhouse
8. Roofing improvement at Inglewood Middle School
9. ADA upgrades at Bell Elementary School
10. Security system upgrade at Rockwell Elementary School
11. Security system upgrade at Dickinson Elementary Schools

 

2022 School Technology and Capital Projects Levy

Project planning is underway for the 2022-23 year to include: 

1. Water bottle filling stations district-wide
2. Tennis court upgrade at Redmond Middle School
3. Tennis court upgrade at Rose Hill Middle School
4. Traffic flow enhancements at Audubon Elementary School
5. Parking lot upgrades at Juanita High School
6. Parking lot pavement replacement at SSC-Transportation bus lot
7. Pool upgrades at Juanita High School
8. Intercom upgrades at Wilder Elementary School
9. Intercom upgrades at McAuliffe Elementary School
10. Classroom conversions at multiple sites
11. Roofing improvements at multiple sites
12. Flooring improvements at multiple sites
13. Field and track upgrades at Inglewood Middle School
14. Stadium field and track upgrade at Lake Washington High School

 

2022 Building Excellence Construction Levy

Design and permitting is underway for the upcoming projects which will provide critical capacity and reduce overcrowding: 

1. Eight classroom addition at Kirkland Middle School
2. Eight classroom addition at Finn Hill Middle School 
3. Eight classroom addition at Redmond Middle School 
4. New Redmond Elementary School on Redmond Elementary School campus 
5. New high school capacity - Eastside (Sammamish)

 

Health first – LWSD students place in top ten at national health professionals competition

Lake Washington School District students have a lot to be proud of. These students recently traveled to Nashville, Tenn. for the HOSA – Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference and finished in the top ten. Students from all over the world participate in competitive events, educational seminars, networking and more during the four-day conference. Read more about this on the LWSD website. 

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.