Connections - March 13, 2025
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
2025 graduation schedule available
The graduation schedule for 2025 has been posted. You can find the details on the LWSD webpage. We look forward to recognizing our class of 2025 graduates in June. Additional information, including details about tickets, will be shared with families by each school.
Unofficial transcripts now available in Skyward
Unofficial transcripts for high school students are now available in Skyward Student and Family Access. These transcripts are under "Portfolio." The steps to access them are:
- Log in to Family or Student Access.
- Click on the "Portfolio" tile.
- Select the download or view options for the Unofficial Transcript.
These are updated three times a year (after Semester 1, after Semester 2, and at the end of September).
Annual Eastside Native American Education Program silent auction is March 21
This annual auction is in large part a fundraiser that supports many of the events and services that the ENAEP (Eastside Native American Education Program) provides the Native students and families in the Bellevue, Lake Washington and Northshore school districts. Many have approached ENAEP wanting to know how they can better partner with the organization and the Native Community, this is one of those ways that someone can begin building that partnership. Please come and support!
Thank you, classified staff!
Education Support Professionals Week is March 10-14
This week, March 10-14, is Education Support Professionals Week. Classified school employees are involved in nearly every aspect of education, including maintaining school buildings and grounds, providing secretarial and clerical assistance, preparing and serving meals, providing safe transportation, keeping school facilities clean and orderly, assisting in the classroom, providing a secure and healthy environment, and many other specialized services. Thank you to the approximately 2,000 classified school employees working in Lake Washington School District!
Read the LWSD proclamation for Education Support Professionals Week signed by the LWSD board.
Congressional art competition 2025
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Each member of Congress may choose to host the program in their individual districts and ask a panel of local artists, such as artists-in-residence, art teachers, gallery owners, etc., to act as judges. The winning artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The tunnel is the most highly traveled access point between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Every day, Members of Congress, distinguished visitors and tens of thousands of tourists – from the United States and abroad – walk through the tunnel and admire the artwork.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of judges select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC (with two free plane tickets to get there). The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
Congresswoman DelBene – Washington’s 1st District
All submissions are due by April 18, 2025. Award ceremony and reception to be held the week of April 21, final date and details TBA. For more information and to fill out the form, visit https://delbene.house.gov/constituent-services/art-competition.htm.
Reminder: Change in length of student day & common high school schedules – 2025-26
A message from Lake Washington School District Superintendent, Dr. Jon Holmen.
Dear Lake Washington School District Families and Students,
On October 1, 2024, I announced that high schools would shift from a 7-period to a 6-period high school day beginning next school year. This announcement included changing to have common schedules at Eastlake, Juanita, Lake Washington and Redmond High Schools.
After a process that included community, student, and staff feedback, we have finalized the common high school schedule, and it includes the following:
- Increased instructional time for each class, increasing the total class time per credit from 135 to 152 hours annually.
- A block schedule where each class meets 4 times per week with two block periods of 80 minutes and two shorter periods of 45 minutes.
- 10-minute passing periods for students M-Th and 7-minute passing periods on Fridays.
- Homeroom period one time per week.
Reminder: LWSD Human Resources team attending several career events
Come out and meet our hiring teams in-person at these upcoming events (pre-registration or affiliation may be required):
Confirmed events
March 13 - Indian American Community Services (IACS-Anvi) - 1 - 5 p.m.
- The upcoming career fair is aimed at fostering connections between talented professionals and esteemed organizations in education, early childhood, finance, banking, technology, health care, real estate, small business, etc.
March 13 - UW Bothell Job search clinic - 4:45 - 6:45 p.m.
- Specifically for teacher interns in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington Bothell. Contact: jonuwb@uw.edu
March 15 - City U Job Fair, Seattle campus - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Attendees will be over 100 soon-to-be teachers in attendance from City U. Contact: vbutler@cityu.edu
Unconfirmed events
April 30 - WSPA Tacoma - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- A career fair for teachers and administrators. Contact: Natalie Plott or call 360-943-5717
FiNAL Reminder: Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) applications: February 1-March 15
Applications for LWSD's Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) program will open on February 1 and close on March 15, 2025. The FinalForms program will take applicants through the process and payment.
The EEK program screens students whose families believe are exceptionally qualified to enter kindergarten at an early age.
More information can be found on the LWSD EEK webpage.
Please note that student applicants must turn age 5 before November 30, 2025.
District announcements
We want to hear from you! Panorama family survey closes March 21, 2025
Families, students and schools all play important roles in helping students do their best in school. By taking the Panorama Family survey, you can help LWSD learn how to make your child's schooling experience as positive and beneficial as possible. The topics covered in this spring family survey are about your engagement with the district and your local school.
The Panorama family survey can be accessed here.
If you have students at different schools, we encourage you to take the survey multiple times – one time per school.
Thank you in advance for completing this year’s Family Panorama survey!
Reminder: Thinking about serving on the school board?
Two LWSD school board positions will be on the November 2025 ballot: District 3 and District 4. The board and district will host informational and engagement sessions to share information about what it means to be a board member.
School board directors are elected by voters in a school district. School districts identify five areas called “director districts” which aim to distribute population evenly across each of the five areas. To run for a school board position, a person must live within the designated area even though the individual will be listed on the ballot for all voters within the school district. School board members are elected to serve four-year terms. Visit: https://www.lwsd.org/about/school-board/becoming-a-board-member for additional information.
Upcoming school board information sessions:
March 24, 2025, at 4 p.m. - Virtual - LINK or In-person at Resource Center)
Session 2: Key Responsibilities and Areas of Oversight (Study session and board meeting following the session should participants want to join)
April 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. (In-person at Resource Center)
Session 3: Questions & answers and dialog with board members
King County election filing information: Online candidate filing for 2025 offices is available 24 hours a day starting Monday, May 5, 2025 at 8 a.m. and ending on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Learn more: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/for-candidates/online-candidate-filing.aspx
Lake Washington School Foundation
Reminder: Twenty years of impact. One night to celebrate!
Please join Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) for their Be the Bridge Spring Benefit, a fun and celebratory fundraiser that highlights the impact that you and LWSF have made over the past 20 years, and continue to make, for local students.
Enjoy appetizers, drinks and dessert while connecting with fellow LWSF supporters, hearing inspiring stories and meeting community leaders.
When: Thursday, March 27, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Where: Seattle Marriott Redmond
Seating is limited, so please take a moment to reserve your spot today.
Unable to attend? You can still be part of this milestone by making a donation here.
Tech-Savvy Parenting: Setting Healthy Social Media Rules
Empower your family with the tools and knowledge to navigate the digital world safely. Learn practical tips for setting healthy social media boundaries, controlling privacy and security settings, and having conversations with your child about online safety and responsibility.
When: Wednesday, March 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Juanita High School Performing Arts Center
Register: https://juanitahsptsa.givebacks.com/store/items/1162412
Harmony at Home: Successfully Navigating Parent-Child Differences | ParentEd Talk
Parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially when your child’s personality or interests feel completely different from your own. Join this empowering ParentEd Talk with pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to discover how to connect with your unique child, embrace their strengths and turn conflicts into moments of growth.
When: Thursday, March 20, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Where: Online webinar
Sign up here for this live Q&A-style webinar series for free. You'll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere.
Reminder: Social emotional learning for parents workshops
Are you a parent and caregiver looking to deepen family connections, improve communication and tackle parenting challenges with patience and calm? Join LWSF at their last in-person workshop of the year starting on March 21! Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot!
Details and registration: www.lwsf.org/our-work/sel-for-parents.
From Chaos to Calm: Compassionate Discipline for Spirited Kids | ParentEd Talk
Raising a strong-willed child? Instead of fighting their fire, learn how to guide it! On April 1, join parenting coach and author Joe Newman as he shares strategies to turn power struggles into growth opportunities and help distracted, defiant children become motivated, respectful and attentive.
When: Tuesday, April 1, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Where: Online webina
Sign up here for this live Q&A-style webinar series for free. You'll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere.
Lake Washington PTSA
LWPTSA Lunch & Learn: Cultural Competency in LWSD
LWPTSA Council invites everyone to their next Lunch & Learn, as they welcome Pablo Ortega, LWSD's Director of Equity and Family Engagement, who will discuss how we incorporate and foster cultural competency in our schools. Why is cultural competence important? How are our children learning the skills, awareness and knowledge needed to respectfully interact with lessons and individuals from cultures different from theirs?
When: Thursday, March 20, 12-1 p.m.
Where: Zoom – Register here
Lunch & Learn consists of virtual sessions held on select Thursdays during the school year, where LWPTSA shares short presentations, followed by Q&A, on topics of interest to our PTA and school community. Lunch & Learns are always free to join. Grab your lunch, log on and learn with LWPTSA Council!
Questions? Email LWPTSA Council Executive Vice President Bhaskar Ravikanti, at EVP@LWPTSA.net.
Building Excellence
Building Excellence is Lake Washington School District's long-term plan to provide permanent classrooms for students and address aging facilities and reduce reliance on portables through 2034. The Building Excellence Plan identifies the specific projects needed and a long-term funding plan that allows all required projects to be completed by 2034.
Rockwell Elementary good neighbor open house
The Lake Washington School District Support Services team, along with members of the construction project team, met with families and community members from the Rockwell Elementary School community on the evening of February 27. The goal of the event was to show the community the construction plans for the rebuild and enlarge project at Rockwell Elementary that will kick off this summer.
About 50 community members joined the team to learn more and ask questions about the upcoming construction project.
Visit the LWSD website to read more on this open house and to access the project boards.
Student & Staff Success
Hitting the right note – Several LWSD students named to music honor groups
The lists are out and Lake Washington School District (LWSD) musicians are major players for this year’s musical honor groups. This year, two organizations chose students in band, orchestra and choir to join all-state and all-northwest groups. Forty-nine high schoolers and 94 middle schoolers come from LWSD schools this year.
Meeting the students where they are – Juanita High School counselor wins state award for going above and beyond
Juanita High School counselor Stefa Chow is being honored as the 2025 Washington School Counselor of the Year. The award is given out by the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA). According to the WSCA, her peers and students, Chow has made a significant impact at Juanita High School; supporting students, staff and families with her dedication and innovative practices. The WSCA professional recognition committee was particularly impressed by her commitment to using data-informed practices and advocating for comprehensive school counseling programs across Lake Washington School District.