Connections - September 26, 2024
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
Student grades in Skyward Family Access
Skyward Family Access provides access to student grades. Information on how to access the gradebook is below. Automatic notifications on grades and missing assignments will begin coming from the system today. These notifications can be adjusted or turned off.
Click here to read the instructions for accessing the gradebook and adjusting your notifications.
More information about Family Access can be found here.
Directions on how to use the Mobile App are available here.
Families can contact ftaccess@lwsd.org for further assistance.
Advanced Placement exam registration information for 2024-25 school year
Registration and payment is open September 30, 2024, 12:01 am until October 30, 2024, 11:59 p.m. for Advanced Placement exams!
We encourage all students who want to take May 2025 AP exams to complete the registration on time and pay for their exams during this period.
Exam information, exam dates, costs, late registration windows/fees and cancellation fees can all be found on our new LWSD Advanced Placement webpage.
*Please note* Exam registration and exam payment are separate required processes.
- Students register for exam(s) via AP Central. AP teachers and the school’s AP coordinator will have the codes that students will use to register for each exam.
- Students pay via Online Payments or directly to the school bookkeeper. Students can pay for their exam(s) from now until October 30.
An AP Late Registration window will be offered in February. Students who register during this late window will pay an additional $50 per exam late fee in addition to the regular exam fee.
If you are a Private/Homeschool student, please note that there will be an additional one time $80 assessment fee to support staffing and resources related to support students who are not currently enrolled as a LWSD student. Private and homeschool students will request and register through Juanita High School's website and pay fees in-person to the bookkeeping office at JHS.
Questions? Please contact your AP teacher and/or school’s Advanced Placement Coordinator:
| Eastlake High School | Chase Covington | chacovington@lwsd.org |
| International Community School | Melissa Shen | mshen@lwsd.org |
| Juanita High School | Breck Ivy | bivy@lwsd.org |
| Lake Washington High School | Joe Joss | jjoss@lwsd.org |
| Redmond High School | Margaret Kinney Kasey Dauenhauer |
mkinneykrepel@lwsd.org kdauenhauer@lwsd.org |
| Tesla STEM High School | Heidi Cooperrider | hcooperrider@lwsd.org |
| WANIC Skills Center | Jana Robertson | jrobertson@lwsd.org |
World language proficiency testing
LWSD offers in-person, world language testing for high school students. These tests help students meet the “world languages” graduation requirement. They can earn up to four high school credits. They can also earn the Washington state "Seal of Biliteracy" on their transcript and diploma.
- All students in grades 8-12 can take one language test for free.
- Students can take the test at any location (see list below).
- Tests are available in any language that is both written and spoken.
See below for test dates and locations.
Register and find more information here.
Questions? Contact the Assessment Team at assessmenthelp@lwsd.org.
ENAEP Indigenous People's Day event October 14
Come celebrate the beauty of Indigenous people with the Eastside Native American Education Program (ENAEP)! The event will have traditional drumming, pow-wow dancers, singing and presentations from the students as well as families.
Event details:
- October 14 at 6:30 p.m.
- Lake Washington High School
This event is open to everyone!
ENAEP Veteran's Powwow October 26
Come join in the Native community and the Eastside Native American Education Program (ENAEP) in honoring our veterans! We are hosting a powwow to lift up our veterans as well as lift up our Native youth. There will be vendors, concessions, dancing, powwow drumming, a raffle and more!
Event details:
- October 26 at 4:00 p.m.
- Juanita High School
This event is open to everyone! View the flyer for more information.
Two new students selected as Student Representatives for Lake Washington School District Board of Directors
Four students will share their voices in Board conversations
The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors has added two additional student representatives to the Board. In total, four student representatives serve on the School Board each school year. Student representatives were selected through an application and interview process.
Read more about the Student Board Representatives on the LWSD website.
District announcements
LWSD partners with Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) to offer flu & COVID shot clinics in October
LWSD is partnering with Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) to offer flu and COVID vaccine clinics throughout October. The exact products available will be the Flucelvax Trivalent Preservative-Free Flu Vaccine and the newly approved Moderna Spikevax (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) whose formula has been updated to protect against the KP.2 strain of the virus. Flu shots can be provided to those ages 4+, but patients must be at least 5 years old for COVID vaccines. Flu and COVID vaccines will be available at the following five locations.
Dates/Locations
- Wednesday, October 16, 2-7 p.m. at Inglewood M.S. (24120 NE 8th St. Sammamish)
- Friday, October 18, 1-5 p.m. at LWSD Resource Center (16250 NE 74th ST, Redmond)
- Monday, October 21, 2-7 p.m. at Rose Hill M.S. (13505 N.E. 75th ST., Redmond)
- Thursday, October 24, 2-7 p.m. at Kamiakin M.S. (14111 132nd Ave N.E., Kirkland)
- Saturday, October 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Redmond H.S. (17272 NE 104th St, Redmond)
Important Information:
- Each patient needs their own individual appointment registration, in their legal name, completed with their individual information. For records reporting purposes, please ensure the accuracy of your demographic information, including your name and date of birth.
- For example, a family of four will need four separate appointments. If you are unable to schedule all family members in the same time slot, please register the remaining members in the closest available time slot. You may all still come to the clinic at the same time.
- Please have your confirmation code ready. The confirmation code will be included in your confirmation text message and email.
- If you have an approved insurance plan, including Medicare and Medicaid, you must provide this information during registration, and we will bill your insurance. You will not be charged a co-pay or deductible.
- Patients without an active, accepted insurance plan may pay out-of-pocket at the time of service. Cash rates for the 2024 season are $55 per flu shot and $200 per COVID-19 immunization.
Questions? Email info@seattlevna.com.
Reminder: New mental health resource: Care Solace
We are excited to share a partnership with Care Solace! This is a free, confidential service that connects students, staff and their families to mental health providers and substance use treatment matched to their needs – regardless of insurance. As a care coordination resource, it is designed to remove barriers to mental health care. School counselors will get training and be provided with a link to refer students soon.
What this means for schools:
- Barrier-free access: It is accessible to all, insured or uninsured.
- Service monitoring: Keep track of the services referred.
- Peace of mind: Students get support outside of school.
- Simplified process: Streamlined Release of Information (ROI) process to stay informed.
Benefits for students and families:
- Access for all: Insured or not, find counseling easily.
- Relief for parents: Connect with therapists quickly.
- Collaboration: Keeps supportive adults informed.
- Privacy: Families can access the service directly from home without school involvement.
Lake Washington School Foundation
Finding moments from chaos to calm with the Holl family
Discover how LWSF's Social Emotional Learning for Parents workshop gave LWSD parents Emily and Tom Holl valuable tools to navigate daily stresses, strengthen their family bonds and nurture resilience in their children. Read Emily's story here.
Social emotional learning isn't just for kids!
Are you a parent and caregiver looking to deepen family connections, improve communication and tackle parenting challenges with patience and calm? Want to learn more about our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Parents workshop?
Join LWSF at their in-person or virtual workshops starting this October and November! Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot!
Cut through the noise with your college essay | Find Your Fit event
High school seniors: We invite you to LWSF’s upcoming session with independent college counselor, Mary Pat O'Neil, to learn effective strategies for crafting standout college essays, with brainstorming exercises to kick-start the writing process. Whether you’re facing one essay or thirty, this session will help you tackle each one with confidence.
- When: Sunday, September 29, 1-3 p.m.
- Where: LWSD Resource Center, Redmond
- Details and registration
Preparing to launch | Parent Chat webinar
Join LWSF at their next Parent Chat to discover strategies for integrating lessons into daily life and setting your child up for long-term success. Gain insights and resources to help nurture capable, self-reliant adults, no matter your child’s age. Essential life skills, such as communication, emotional intelligence, personal finance and critical thinking, will be covered.
- When: Wednesday, October 9, 7-8 p.m.
- Where: Zoom Webinar
- Details and registration
Reminder: Call for ambassadors
Join the Foundation Family! LWSF Ambassadors are adult volunteers who represent their school community and champion LWSF programs that help every student in our school district thrive.
At the heart of our mission are dedicated individuals like LWSF Ambassador Zahra Eslami, who is committed to empowering students and building an inclusive community where every child's voice is heard. Hear her story and see how you can make a difference, too.
To learn more and/or to apply, visit the LWSF website or contact june@lwsf.org.
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.
November 5, 2024 Building Excellence Levy
The health and safety of our students and staff is one of our top priorities. That is why the November 5 Capital Construction Levy will rebuild and enlarge our oldest facilities to ensure they meet the needs of our students and staff.
The November 5 capital construction levy addresses the health and safety at four oldest schools. When students and staff are in a building that supports their physical needs, they can focus on learning. The levy addresses the health and safety of our students and staff:
- Adding school safety enhancements like secure entryways
- Updating heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems
- Modernizing and adding restrooms
Please join us! LWSD Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen and Associate Superintendent of Business and Support Services Barbara Posthumus will offer a series of online town hall events about the 2024 Building Excellence Capital Construction Levy. Each town hall meeting will offer an opportunity for question/answer sessions. We still have three events left.
- Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 7-8 p.m., Meeting link
- Thursday, October 24, 2024, 12-1 p.m., Meeting link
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 6-7 p.m., Meeting link
Student & Staff Success
Redmond Elementary custodian given 2023-24 PTSA Educator of the Year award
Redmond Elementary School’s head custodian Shane Lux was given the school’s PTSA Outstanding Educator of the Year award at an assembly at the end of the 2023-24 school year,