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Connections
Lake Washington School District's community newsletter
November 7, 2013
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In This Issue:

WinterGet ready for winter weather

With winter quickly approaching, it is a good time to review the district's bad weather protocols and how to know when school is delayed or cancelled. Families with students who ride the bus should watch their mail in mid-November for a postcard with information on their bad weather bus route.

 

The decision to close schools or delay is not an easy one. Conditions may vary considerably in a district of 75 square miles that reaches from the Kirkland waterfront to the Sammamish Plateau. The district recognizes that snow days often disrupt family schedules and extend the school year. At the same time, student, staff and family safety is most important. The decision-making process is outlined on the district website. Remember that conditions in your neighborhood and even your street may vary from the rest of the district: parents always have the final decision on whether to send their child to school if there is any question about the safety of the conditions.

 

LWSD notifies parents using the SchoolMessenger calling system if school will be delayed or cancelled. Calls will begin by 6:00 a.m. to let families know that school will be delayed or cancelled. The early calls ensure that high school students with long bus rides get the message before leaving home.

 

The information is also posted on FlashAlert.net, which also lists information for all areas schools and colleges. Local media will report any closure/delay information. The district and school websites will also feature an emergency alert if school has been delayed or cancelled. You can call the district's main phone number at 425-936-1200: an emergency message will be recorded on this system as well.

 

CommunityDo you know where to find community events, classes or activities for your family?

Do you know when little league sign-ups are? How about that fun winter event that the city puts on? If you want to know where to go to find out about events, classes and activities sponsored by non-profit groups in our area, you need look no further than your school's website.

 

On each school's website, under the "For Parents" section, there is a page called the "Community Bulletin Board." This page is where you will find all of the fliers from community organizations that have been approved by the district for distribution through the schools. (While the fliers are approved for distribution, the activities or programs described are not endorsed or evaluated by the district.) Fliers must be from nonprofit organizations and include the district disclaimer. The community organizations select on which school websites they want their flier to appear and the flier will only appear on those sites. All fliers are available on the district's bulletin board.

BoardSchool Board Highlights

Emerson High and Emerson K-12 hosted the November 4 Board of Directors Meeting. Principal Nell Ballard-Jones reviewed the unique programs at Emerson K-12, a parent partnership program, and Emerson High, an alternative school. The board recognized National Merit Commended Scholars and National Merit Semi-Finalists from Eastlake High School and Lake Washington High School.

 

The board passed a motion to solicit community members to write statements on the district's three measures for the February 2014 King County Elections Voters' Pamphlet. State law requires local jurisdictions that want measures to be included in the voters pamphlet to submit names of individuals to write pro and con statements for their election measures. Since there is an established committee working to promote the three ballot measures (Lake Washington Citizens Levy Committee), the board of directors has asked this group to provide three members to write the promotional statement. The board is now asking for any interested persons to write a statement against any or all of the three measures. Notice will be posted on the district website on November 8. Final action on the pro and con committee appointments will be made on December 9. Interested persons should submit their name, address phone number and email address (or fax number) to Diane Jenkins ([email protected]).

 

Associate Superintendent Heather Sinclair presented data on the academic progress of students in grades four and five across the district. Strengths in district results show a steady increase in math scores in fourth and fifth grade from 2009-10 through 2012-13. There was an even greater increase in 5th grade science scores.

 

Dr. Pierce announced that the district's strategic plan is being launched this month. A new page on the district website will host surveys seeking feedback from parents and communities. Results of those surveys will be posted there as well. In addition to this effort in public engagement, a number of district committees now include parent and student representatives.

 

Board president Jackie Pendergrass reported on a meeting between the school district and the city of Kirkland. She reported that the city is looking seriously at the issue of a pool in Kirkland. On December 10, the parks department will do a report to the city council on their research around possible pool projects.

BidBid on a basket, help fund a scholarship

Every year, the Lake Washington PTSA Council raises money to provide scholarships to graduating seniors and to staff in our district by auctioning off gift baskets. The Annual Scholarship Basket Auction will be held on Thursday, December 5, at approximately 9:30 a.m. in the Resource Center. In addition to the basket auction, you can enter to win one of several great raffle prizes. Silent bidding on the baskets begins November 7 and ends December 5 at 9:30 a.m. If you are in Redmond Town Center during business hours between those dates, stop by and take a look.

LWSFSchools receive $300,000 in grants from Lake Washington Schools Foundation

Lake Washington Schools Foundation has awarded over $300,000 in grants to teachers and schools across the Lake Washington School District for the 2013-14 school year. The foundation is funding the school district's New Teacher Support Program for the first time, while it continues to support the rollout of the new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) -based Signature Programs and to fund long-standing programs such as Reaching for Success classroom innovation grants, the LINKS mentoring program and the Access Fund for low-income middle and high school students.

 

For more information about specific grants and other programs funded by the foundation, or to donate, visit www.lwsf.org/programs

AwardsAwards & Achievements 

RHS senior receives $20,000 Samsung American Legion Scholarship

Cameron Akker, a senior from Redmond High School, has been selected as one of nine outstanding seniors from across the country to receive a $20,000 Samsung American Legion Scholarship. The Samsung American Legion National Selection Committee announced the 2013 winners on Wednesday October 16. Cameron is the first student from Washington state to win this scholarship since its inception in 1996. Cameron was first selected as the one of two winners in Washington state and then moved on to compete with 98 other outstanding students from 49 states at the national level. The scholarship is an endowment from worldwide electronics leader Samsung Company to show appreciation of U.S. veterans (and their direct descendants) for coming to Korea's aid in the Korean War. Winners are selected according to academic record, involvement in school and community activities. Read more.

 

Redmond High School teams advance at Math is Cool Competition

Redmond High School (RHS) took four teams to the October 18 Math is Cool Competition held at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, Wash. The grade 11-12 team took second place overall and the grade 9-10 team took fourth place overall. The grade 11-12 team will now advance to the Masters held in Moses Lake this December. Kelly Jiang, (junior) had a perfect individual score and took first place in the calculus division. Mayukha Vadari (sophomore) took sixth place in the calculus division. Christina Chou (freshman) took third place in the Algebra 2 division.

 

LWHS senior named WIAA State Athlete of the Week

Devon Grove, a senior at Lake Washington High School (LWHS,) was one of 12 students from across the state selected as the WIAA State Athlete of the Week during week six. Devon is a Cross Country athlete who won the "Hole in the Wall Invitational" on October 12 and ran a course record in the process, finishing in 15:30.8.

 

Have an award or achievement to share? Send all of the information to Shannon Parthemer or contact her at 425-936-1300.

EventsUpcoming Events
  • 11/7 - PTSA Council Meeting, 9:30 a.m., Resource Center
  • 11/11 - No School: Veterans Day
  • 11/12 - Secondary Grades Due
  • 11/18 - School Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Resource Center
  • 11/26 - PTSA Special Needs Meeting, 7 p.m., Resource Center
  • 11/27 - Half Day: Thanksgiving Break
  • 11/28 - No School: Thanksgiving Day
  • 11/29 - No School: Thanksgiving Break

A full list of events is available on the Tandem Online Calendar. This calendar can be filtered by school and is searchable. More details on the Tandem Online Calendar are available here.

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Quick Links: www.lwsd.orgCommunity Bulletin Board | Tandem Online Calendar

 

Lake Washington School District | (425) 936-1200  

 

The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, gender, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran, military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Director of Human Resources, 16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, Washington 98052, (425) 936-1266.