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August 25, 2016
Welcome Back!
This newsletter is just one way to stay in touch with what is happening in the district. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute news and information.

Verify your student's information online now

You can now verify your student's information online through Skyward Family Access. Check the information on file for accuracy. You can also change student information, including health information and emergency contacts. Read more.

What's the best way to reach you? Let us know through Skylert

Skylert is a new tool that allows you to control how we contact you for emergencies, attendance calls, food service balance notifications and other communications using our parent notification service.

 

Get to Skylert through Parent Access. In Parent Access, click on "Skyward Family Access" (right side of the page). Next, click on the Skylert tab. In Skylert, you will see the phone numbers, email addresses, and text message numbers on file for you. Select or unselect check boxes to indicate which phone number or email address should get each message type. You can add phone numbers to get text messages. You can also add more contact numbers/emails.

Keep your student healthy

Before school starts on September 6, don't forget: 

  • Families must show proof of immunization or certification of exemption for each child to attend school. Students cannot start school without the required documentation. Read more
  • If your child has a life-threatening health condition, you must supply the required emergency medication, health care provider orders, an individual health plan, and any necessary supplies on or before the first day of school. Until those items are in place, your child will not be able to attend school. Read more.

Getting to/from school:

Riding the bus: LWSD's transportation department mailed out postcards to all families whose student(s) will ride the school bus to/from school on Thursday. Watch for them in your mailbox soon. Questions about buses? Contact the transportation department at 425-936-1120 or visit the district website.

 

Walking or Bicycling: Walking and bicycling are healthy ways for students to get to school. Suggested Walk Route Maps for elementary schools are available on the district website. A subcommittee of the district's Safety Advisory Committee, along with traffic and pedestrian safety experts, worked with a consultant to develop GIS maps of updated walk routes last school year.

Kindergarten changes to help students, families to a successful year

New for the upcoming school year, Lake Washington School District will provide full-day kindergarten, funded by the state of Washington. The new kindergarten program will help students and families to a successful start to their education. The first day of school and classes for kindergarten only will be September 9. (Grades 1-12 begin school on September 6.) Kindergarten families will meet with their student's teacher in a Family Connection meeting on September 6, 7, or 8. Read more.

Lake Washington student test scores rise

The 2015-16 school year was the second for new, more rigorous state tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Results for Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students rose in almost every grade and subject over last year.

 

"Our building administrators, teachers and staff are working hard to ensure all students are meeting and exceeding standards," noted Dr. Traci Pierce, superintendent. "Student performance on state assessments is one important measure of academic achievement and progress. We are pleased with our results and continue to work hard to ensure that every single student in our district is learning, growing, and succeeding." Read more.

Peachjar to deliver community electronic flyers

LWSD will continue using the Peachjar eflyer service this year. Peachjar distributes eflyers from nonprofit organizations as well as from schools and school-related organizations directly to parent email inboxes. If you are new to LWSD, you will receive a welcome email from Peachjar that gives instructions on how to manage flier delivery preferences.

Is your child's backpack too heavy?

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), backpacks should weigh less than 10 percent of a student's body weight. Backpack Awareness Day is September 21. LWSD will observe the day, with a theme of "Pack it light, check at night." We encourage students and parents to look through student backpacks each night. The goal is to reduce excess items in a student's backpack, thus reducing the total weight students are carrying. Purchasing a backpack this year? Go to www.aota.org/backpack to learn more.

Want a full LWSD Calendar for the 2016-2017 school year?

Printable versions of the district calendar are available on the district website. You can also access the Tandem Online Calendar for school-specific events.

LWSD offers preschool programs

Lake Washington School District has two different preschool programs. The federally-funded Head Start Preschool program is for students/families whose income meets federal poverty guidelines. Families must apply and be accepted. Head Start classes start on Tuesday, September 6, at Bell Elementary and Dickinson Elementary. Teachers will contact families with details before the start date.

 

The Ready Start Preschool program, with classes at Carson, Dickinson, Juanita, Muir, Rush and Sandburg Elementary Schools, will start school on Thursday, September 15. Teachers will contact families with details before the start date. The Ready Start program is in session four days a week. (No Wednesdays.) We offer a fee-based program within our Ready Start Preschool program. For information about space availability, please call 425-936-1226.

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, gender expression, gender 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 employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Coordinator
Title IX Coordinator
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Director of Human Resources
16250 NE 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
425-936-1266
Director of Student Services 
16250 NE 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
425-936-1289
Director of Special Services
16250 NE 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
425-936-1407
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