Connections - May 15, 2025

Thank you, teachers!!!

The Lake Washington School District community celebrated our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9) and National Teacher Day (May 6). LWSD teachers work to create learning environments that support the district’s mission, "Each student will graduate prepared to lead a rewarding and responsible life as a contributing member of our community and greater society." We appreciate all the incredible work our teachers do for our students.

Follow along on our Facebook page as we honor and recognize our wonderful teachers.

View the LWSD proclamation, signed by the board, for Teacher Appreciation Week and National Teacher Day.

LWSD celebrates Earth Week 2025

Many schools celebrated Earth Week in April with educational activities. This year’s theme was "Our Power, Our Planet." Muir Elementary students had the opportunity to plant vegetable and flower seeds in celebration of the observance! The school used milk cartons that were taken from the lunchroom trash as planting containers.

Visit the LWSD Facebook page to see how LWSD celebrated this important day.

Arts in Education Month

May is Arts in Education Month in Washington state. LWSD recognizes that the arts can transform our schools into havens of creativity and exploration - places where students want to learn, teachers want to teach, and all learning community members are more engaged and motivated. Thank you to all the LWSD staff who help bring the arts to our students.

View the LWSD proclamation, signed by the Board, for Arts in Education Month. 

School Nutrition Employee Week (and School Lunch Hero Day)

School Nutrition Employee Week, including School Lunch Hero Day (May 2), ran from April 28 to May 2. As stated in the LWSD Board of Directors’ proclamation, the staff members who prepare and serve school meals help nurture our children through their daily interaction and support. Thank you to all our school nutrition employees!

View the LWSD proclamation, signed by the Board, for School Nutrition Employee Week. 

School Nurse Day

LWSD commemorates School Nurse Day on May 7, a national recognition of our school nurses and their role in helping keep our students safe and healthy. As you can read in the School Nurse Day proclamation, school nurses are professional nurses who advance all students' well-being, academic success, and life-long achievements by serving on the frontlines and providing a critical safety net for our nation’s most fragile children.

View the LWSD proclamation, signed by the Board, for School Nurse Day. 

Reminder: Canvas to be rolled out as learning management system for 2025-26 school year

This school year, Inglewood Middle School and Lake Washington High School used Canvas as their learning management system (LMS). Their success has paved the way for LWSD’s full adoption of Canvas as the official LMS for all secondary schools starting with the 2025-26 school year. Canvas is funded by the 2022 Technology and Capital Projects Levy.

As a family member who supports a student in grades 6-12, here are a few things to know about Canvas at LWSD:

• Anyone who supports a student in Canvas is called an “Observer."
• Only secondary (grades 6-12) students and staff will be using Canvas.
• All Observer accounts will be created automatically and paired with their student(s) using Primary Contact Email in Skyward. So, please validate that LWSD has your correct information before the start of the 25/26 school year.
• Check out the Canvas for families page on our district website for the most up-to-date information and resources related to supporting your students via Canvas.

Reminder: Important Update: Changes to outside-of-district credit policy

After careful consideration and input from stakeholders, we have updated the guidelines for how outside-of-district (OOD) credits will be recorded on student transcripts. This policy update brings our practices in alignment with those of other school districts in our region, while staying true to the policy's intent: to allow students to pursue enrichment opportunities outside our district that may not be offered in our schools. By maintaining a balance between flexibility and transcript integrity, we aim to provide meaningful avenues for student growth while respecting the academic framework of our district. 

• Seven outside credits on transcript: High School students are allowed to earn up to seven credits from outside-of-district courses beginning the summer before entering the 9th grade. This provides greater flexibility for students to explore enrichment opportunities. Students submitting the Appendix C form, must be enrolled in six courses at their high school with the exception of seniors who have an early dismissal or late arrival.   
• Credit limits for grade improvement: Out of the seven outside credits, a maximum of three credits can be used to improve grades in courses taken previously. These courses will be awarded both a grade and credit. 
• Courses taken for initial credit: Any initial coursework will be recorded as "P" (Pass) and will only show credit, not a grade, to maintain the integrity of the student's academic record. Students can send the outside transcript as a separate document in college applications.  

*Please note: The district does not verify whether outside courses meet specific college or NCAA requirements or qualify for scholarships. Parents and students are responsible for ensuring courses meet their needs. 

Implementation:  

• Class of 2025 and 2026 (current seniors and rising seniors) will follow the previous policy and procedures of the district. Any approved initial coursework may be posted for credit on the transcript with a letter grade.  
• Class of 2027 and beyond will follow the updated policy and procedure of the LWSD. Any approved initial coursework may be posted for credit on the transcript without a grade.   

You can find more information about these opportunities here: More Ways to Graduation - Lake Washington School District.

Reminder: LWSD to fly rainbow flags for Pride Month, as well as Juneteenth flag on June 19

This June, schools across the Lake Washington School District will fly rainbow flags in recognition of Pride month and on June 19, they will fly the Juneteenth flag in recognition of this federal holiday honoring the end of slavery. A couple years ago, students and staff members shared with the district the importance of flying the Pride flag as a symbol of the district’s commitment to an inclusive and safe school environment. In response, the district developed a policy regarding the exhibition of flags at district facilities which specifically authorized the flying of the two ceremonial flags in alignment with action taken at the state level to authorize the flying of these flags at state facilities. Policy 6980 was adopted on September 27, 2022.

Twenty Lake Washington School District schools earn Washington School Recognitions

Recognition from State Board of Education, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has announced that 20 different LWSD schools have been recognized through the Washington School Recognition Program for the 2023-24 school year.

Statewide, 406 public K-12 schools received state recognition for outstanding achievement in 155 school districts. Only 16% of schools statewide received recognition this year.

Congratulations to the following LWSD schools for being recognized for the 2023-24 school year:

• Benjamin Franklin Elementary - Achievement
• Carl Sandburg Elementary - Growth
• Christa McAuliffe Elementary - Achievement
• Community School - Achievement
• Discovery Community School - Achievement
• Environmental & Adventure School - Achievement
• Explorer Community School - Achievement & Growth
• Helen Keller Elementary - Growth
• Horace Mann Elementary - Growth
• International Community School - Achievement
• John Muir Elementary - Growth
• Juanita Elementary - Growth
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - Achievement
• Nikola Tesla STEM High School - Achievement
• Northstar Middle School - Achievement
• Peter Kirk Elementary - Achievement & Growth
• Rachel Carson Elementary - Achievement
• Rosa Parks Elementary - Achievement
• Samantha Smith Elementary - Achievement
• Stella Schola Middle School – Achievement

Learn more about the Washington School Recognitions here.

Join City of Redmond listening session on teen services

You’re invited to the City of Redmond’s second listening session on the topic of teen services. The listening session will be held on May 28 at 6 p.m. at the Redmond Senior & Community Center. Share your hopes and ideas directly with City staff about the programs and services you’d like to see for current teens and future generations.  

Reminder: Nexus: Mental Health Hub

Lake Washington School District is excited to announce the official launch of Nexus, a mental health platform for students. Created by Inglemoor High School student, Taanvi Arekapudi, Nexus offers a 360° view of mental health support including online self-help resources, available 24/7, and regularly scheduled in-person events.

You can access Nexus by visiting the District’s Student Services webpage, or directly at https://lwsd.nexusforschools.com/. English and Spanish mental health resources are currently available with more languages coming soon.

A handy student-focused app is coming soon. Lake Washington School District is grateful to Taanvi for all her efforts to improve students’ mental health by providing easy, coordinated resource access.

From Conflict to Connection: The Hidden Forces Harming Your Marriage | Tuesday, May 20, 12-1 p.m.

Kids learn about love, respect and partnership by watching their parents. A strong, connected relationship isn’t just good for you – it’s good for them, too.

Don't miss this live Q&A with marriage therapist, author and mindfulness coach, Dené Logan. She’ll explore the common roots of conflict and disconnection – and how to reignite your relationship amidst the chaos of parenthood.

Sign up here for this free Q&A-style webinar. You'll also gain access to recordings for the entire series, so you can watch them anytime, anywhere.

Reminder: LWSF seeks new trustees to join its board

Lake Washington Schools Foundation is seeking dedicated trustees to help guide their mission of ensuring every student in LWSD has the support they need to thrive, both now and in the future. They’re especially interested in thoughtful, diverse candidates with community ties, who are eager to help grow LWSF’s impact.

Apply today at www.lwsf.org/trustee-application. Questions? Contact us at LWSFBoardRecruitment@lwsf.org.

Reminder: Summer college bootcamp for rising seniors | Find Your Fit

Do you work with rising seniors? Find Your Fit is offering a summer college bootcamp for rising seniors (class of 2026) at the end of June. Students will learn how to build a balanced college list, complete their Common Application, and write standout essays. Details and registration at https://www.lwsf.org/our-work/find-your-fit.

Building Excellence: Thank you, voters! Rockwell Elementary School Groundbreaking Ceremony

On May 8, 2025, Lake Washington School District celebrated a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rebuild & Enlarge project at Rockwell Elementary School.

The Rebuild & Enlarge of Rockwell Elementary project is funded by the voter-approved 2022 Building Excellence Capital Construction Levy, which underscores the community's commitment to providing high-quality educational facilities for its students 

The Rebuild & Enlarge project at Rockwell Elementary aims to address the needs of an aging facility while creating space for 252 additional students. The new two-story building will feature 30 classrooms and support spaces. The new building is scheduled to open in Fall 2026. Construction is set to begin this summer, with preliminary work having already started this spring.

Event highlights
The ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including members of the school district administration, project stakeholders and community members. The event featured a ceremonial groundbreaking and a presentation outlining the project's scope and benefits. Speakers included Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent; Brian Buck, Executive Director of Support Services; and Adam Couch, Principal at Rockwell Elementary. Rockwell Elementary students and staff were joined by Lindsey Yocum, LWSD Board of Directors Legislative Representative; Angela Birney, Redmond Mayor; and Melissa Stuart, City of Redmond Council member. Members of the design build team from Lydig Construction and McGranahanPBK also attended the event.

Project details

• Project name: Rebuild & Enlarge Rockwell Elementary
• Location: 11125 162nd Ave N.E., Redmond, WA 98052
• Start date: Summer 2025
• Planned opening: Fall 2026
• Funding source: 2022 Building Excellence Capital Construction Levy
• Capacity: 690 students
• Features: 30 classrooms plus music, art/science rooms, ELL/SN/special education, library, cafeteria/commons, gymnasium, and outdoor covered play area.

For more information about the Rockwell Elementary project and the 2022 Building Excellence Capital Construction Levy, please visit: https://www.lwsd.org/services/facilities/construction/building-excellence-construction-levy/rebuild-and-enlarge-rockwell-elementary.

Thirteen Lake Washington School District students receive National Merit $2500 Scholarships

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced on May 7 that 13 Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students will receive National Merit $2500 Scholarships. Fifty-one students were selected statewide for these awards.

The students receiving National Merit $2500 Scholarships are:

• Achintya Agrawal (Redmond), Nikola Tesla STEM High School
• Sri Sai Meenakshi Arasada (Kirkland), Juanita High School
• Arin Barde (Sammamish), Eastlake High School
• Ashwika Mattam (Redmond), Lake Washington High School
• Manya Pradeep Narayan (Sammamish), Eastlake High School
• Alon Ragoler (Sammamish), Eastlake High School
• Sacchin Saravanan (Redmond), Nikola Tesla STEM High School
• Sneha Sharma (Sammamish), Eastlake High School
• Maxwell Shi (Redmond), Redmond High School
• Ramya Suresh (Redmond), Redmond High School
• Sakshi Verma (Redmond), Lake Washington High School
• Hongning Wang (Sammamish), Eastlake High School
• Wenjuan Zou (Redmond), Juanita High School

These students are 13 of the 2,500 distinguished high school seniors nationwide to win this scholarship. They were selected from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Lake Washington teams finish strong at Washington State Science Olympiad

LWSD high school and middle school teams had an impressive showing at the recent Washington Science Olympiad State Tournament at Central Washington University.

High school, C division:

• Tesla STEM High School Orion, 2nd place
• Redmond High School Green, 5th place
• Tesla STEM High School Cygnus, 8th place
• Redmond High School Gold, 11th place

Middle school, B division:

• Evergreen Middle School Scorpios, 2nd place
• Evergreen Middle School Green, 3rd place
• Timberline Middle School Alpha, 4th place
• Redmond Middle School Mercury, 6th place
• Timberline Middle School Beta, 11th place
• Redmond Middle School Venus, 12th place
• ICS Incredibles, 14th place

Read more about this on the LWSD website. 

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