lwhs

Kang Crier
Dec. 11, 2013
Issue No. 7
LWHS PTSA Newslettertop
In This Issue
Quick Links
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Winter Holiday Band Concert
Monday, Dec. 16, 7pm, LWHS Theater
EOC Exam Bootcamp Informational Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 3 - 4:30pm, LWHS Theater
Winter Holiday Choir and Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7pm LWHS Theater
Auditions for Spring Musical

Thursday, Dec. 19
Class of 2018 Information Night
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7 - 8:30pm - LWHS
End of Course Exam Retakes
Wed. and Thurs. Jan. 15 & 16, 8am, Auxilliary Gym

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Letter from Principal Christina Thomas

Dear Parents,

 

At Lake Washington High School, we continue to be thankful for the support we receive from our parents and community on a daily basis. As we enter this holiday season, I want to highlight some specific reminders.

 

Parents at school:

  • With 90-150 students each day, it is extremely difficult for teachers to hold drop in conferences before or after school. If you need to meet with your student's teacher(s), please contact the teacher by email or phone to set up a meeting during a time that is convenient for you, your student, and the teacher. 
  • A reminder that ALL visitors are required to check-in to the Main Office anytime they visit the school before, during or after school, regardless of how short the visit may be. If you have a meeting scheduled with a teacher before or after school, please sign in at the main office and get your visitor pass. If you are going to go anywhere other than the Student Office to drop something off for a student, you need to sign in first. This is part of our safety procedures and helps to ensure you are accounted for in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Thank you for your continued commitment to maintaining a safe environment for our kids.

Attendance:

  • Remember that attendance is crucial to academic success. During the holidays, increasing numbers of students are absent. Students who miss ten or more days in a semester (excused or unexcused) have the potential for losing credit in that class. Please emphasize consistent school attendance with your student.

Your bond/levy measure questions answered on the LWSD website:

  • Information and charts continue to be added to the LWSD website's News section to provide answers to questions posed by parents and community leaders. A complete list of all projects that would be funded under the bond measure, including cost and location, has been posted. Sources of funding for new schools are examined. Enrollment and capacity planning details are spelled out. If you still have any questions, please email [email protected] for an answer.

We hope you enjoy time with family and friends during the upcoming holidays. Our holiday concerts are an excellent way to get in the spirit of the season and hear amazing music.

 

Sincerely,

Christina Thomas, Principal 

 

PTSA News

Letter from PTSA President Julie Peterson

The busy holiday season is upon us and the end of the first semester is not long behind. This is a perfect time to update you on what your PTSA has been up to over the last few months:  

  • Grants totaling $7,508 were given in November. We were able to grant a full or partial grant for every request received by using our budget of $5,000, our Club budget of $1,000 for club grant requests and $1,500 of extra proceeds from the Pass the Pouch drive. 
  • The Reflections committee received 25 entries and 19 were sent on to the district.
  • Student directories are complete and were passed out in homeroom.
  • Our nominating committee has been elected and is hard at work qualifying a slate of officers for next year's board. If you are interested in serving please contact the PTSA and we can put you in touch with them.
  • The PTSA has baked, handed out schedules, coordinated a very successful Pass the Pouch campaign, helped with laptop delivery and much, much more.
  • The senior party committee held a great auction and has sold over 100 tickets to the senior party.

We are currently working on a parent survey for January asking your opinion about how your PTSA is working and what programs we should be offering. Please watch for it and respond - your opinion matters!

 

Please join us at our next general meeting on January 22. Our parent education speaker will be from YES talking about teenage issues today.

 

Have a wonderful holiday with family and friends!

 

Julie Peterson

Co-President, LWHS PTSA 

 

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PTSA Fall Grant Recipients
ptsa

We are proud to announce the Fall Grant Recipients for 2013.

 

Teacher Grants 

  • Nicole Massey - English Dept.: Granted $2,310 to purchase 225 fiction and non-fiction books. Benefits 350 students.  
  • Lis Christiansen - English Dept.: Granted $575 for a second quarter performance/workshop by Repertory Theater Book it program for all juniors. Benefits 350 students.  
  • Milo Dullum - Material Science: Granted $750to purchase hearing protection for students for years to come. Benefits 125 students.  
  • Lindsay Rogers - Social Studies: Granted $285 for a Safety Net class to purchase scholastic magazines for at risk students. Benefits 31 students.  
  • Dawn Wyatt - Advanced Art: Granted $500 for mural installation for 5 paintings. Benefits 24 students (entire school to enjoy).   

 LWHS Club Grants

  • Cathy McCreary - Special Needs classroom: Granted $350 to purchase food for cooking. Benefits 25 students. 
  • Dawn Wyatt - National Art Honor Society: Granted $300 to purchase art supplies for community projects. Benefits 25 students. 
  • LW Robotics Club: Granted $788.99 to purchase a practice field for robotics competition. Benefits 20 students. 
  • Erin Day - Clay Club: Granted $150 to purchase supplies for club members. (clay, tools etc). Benefits 10 students. 

 Field Trip Grants

  • Ryan Palmer - Astronomy Observation Field Trip: Granted $1500 ($750 per semester). Benefits 120 students. 

  

Total Amount: - $7,508.99

 

 

LWHS News & Activities

Class of 2018 Information Night
Wednesday, Jan. 8th, 7 - 8:30pm
Incoming freshmen for the 2014-2015 school year are encouraged to attend an information night on Wednesday, January 8th from 7 - 8:30pm to learn about LWHS' academic and extra-curricular offerings. Parent presentations will be held in the LWHS Theater and student expo/tours will be in the LWHS Commons.

End of Course Exam Retakes in January

The Algebra EOC is scheduled on Wednesday, January 15th at 8am in the auxiliary gym. For any student who has taken, but not yet passed a math HSPE or algebra/geometry EOC exam.    

 

The Biology EOC exam is scheduled on Thursday, January 16th at 8am, also in the auxiliary gym. For students in the class of 2015 only.  

 

An informational meeting for EOC Bootcamp is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17th from 3 - 4:30pm in the LWHS Theater. 

 

If you have questions, please contact DeAnna Kilga at [email protected].

 

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Attendance
Absences of 3 or more days
As the holidays descend upon us, please remember that if your student will be out 3 or more days from school, a pre-arranged absence form needs to be filled-out, signed off by all teachers, signed by a parent, and returned to the attendance office before the first day of the absence, or your days of absence will not be excused. This form can be picked up in the attendance office and also can be found on the Lake Washington High School website. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Suzie Connor in the attendance office.


New STEM Signature Program Offering at LWHS:
Design Your World
Lake Washington High School students seeking experience with a STEM program will have a new opportunity in the 2014 - 2015 school year. Titled "Design Your World", this program joins the ranks of other STEM Signature Programs across the Lake Washington School District offering students hands-on exposure to other inter-disciplinary studies.

This cluster of three courses offers students practical experience in Physics, English and Engineering. Through research and interviews, students will explore a real-world problem that can be addressed or solved with engineering and design principles. They will then combine physics and product design concepts to create a patentable product that can solve this problem.  With the help of industry partners from across the Puget Sound region, students will approach their chosen projects in a way that closely resembles the real-world process. By the end of the program, student teams will write up and present their findings to their peers and industry partners.

The program is open to all Juniors and Seniors who are imaginative, persistent, curious, and can work with a team to achieve a common goal. Diverse teams are successful teams - all kinds of learners are welcome to enroll! For more information, look for the course description in the upcoming LWHS Course Catalog.

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LW Student Newspaper
Write for LW's Student Newspaper! A new club will be meeting Mondays after school in the marketing room. To join the club or contribute a piece, show up or email Siri Hedreen.



Drama Club News
Auditions/Callbacks for Spring Musical - Dec. 19th & 20th
  • Auditions for the Spring Musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", are scheduled for Thursday, December 19th, with callbacks scheduled for Friday, December 20th. The Spring Musical is scheduled for March 13, 14 and 15th.  
  • Mark your calenders! Saturday May 10, 2014 is the Drama Club's Dinner-theater/Cabaret, which will be a fundraiser for future shows. All are welcome and there will be try-outs for different acts to perform.  
  • Drama club meets every Friday after school in the Theater (or alternatively in Ms. Sullivan's room).  All are welcome!
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LWHS American Sign Language Program
Spring Show "Signing in the Rain"
LWHS American Sign Language Program is pleased to announce our upcoming Spring Show, "Signing in the Rain" - A Taste of ASL on Broadway.

Show dates: May 2 and 3, 2014

Students will be signing and signing and storytelling. We are looking to collaborate with LWHS families and community partners for scenery, art work, choreography, photography for sets, and baked goods for the intermission; a truly colaborative adventure. We hope you will join us. As the holidays approach, if you find any extra Halloween costumes that you would like to donate... we would truly appreciate them.

If you would like to help with the production in any way, donate costumes or have questions please contact Ms. Carin Storch - ASL, LWHS.

Yearbook Information

Save $10! Order by Jan. 16th for $60 - prices go up to $70 Jan. 17th

We place our yearbook order in mid-February and have to take an educated guess about how many extra copies to order for our procrastinators. Don't wait too long! We sold out in 2012 and the supply of books will be limited again this year. 

 

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Loyalty Club News

Loyalty has started their annual food drive, Holiday Baskets, in which proceeds go to Hopelink and the Rainer Valley Food Bank. Many students from LW have been collecting money, food, and household items at local grocery stores like QFC, PCC, and Red Apple. They are currently at their half-way mark with $3,200 in cash and a room full of food! Their goal is to beat last year's numbers which were $5,000 and 14,000 pounds of food.  

 

Loyalty would like to thank the following groups for volunteering to collect goods at the grocery stores: Philosophy Club, Leadership, Key Club, Cheer, Gymnastics, the homerooms of Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Wyatt, and the AP Government classes of Ms. Roger and Mr. Dawson. More groups are still scheduled until December 15th, so keep your eyes open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Keep up the good work, Kangs!

 

Sami Wilmot, Elean Herting, Jessica Truong
 
Nic Chu, Tarah Fekri, John Lyon, Jessica Truong 

 

News from the LW Physical Education/Health Department
The following students have been selected by their Physical Education/Health teachers as Students of the Month for November 2013. During this time these students have excelled in their participation in unit/class activities, displayed pride in their fitness and skill development, and have served as role models for others in their physical education/health class. Congratulations!

Shane Hawkins
Erin Grove
William Ho
Isabel Aschbacher
Calvin Dunn
Sevda Fakhri
Daniel Kelley

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When Snow Hits...
Metro Winter Rider Tips
When snow comes to the Northwest, Metro bus routes change. Here's what you need to know:

In "snow route" conditions,

  • the best place to catch the bus is along a major arterial
  • Wait for the bus at the top or bottom of hills 
  • wait back from the curb
  • dress warmly
  • prepare for delays

Metro Snow route information can be found on the Metro website.


Counseling Center

NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse
Juniors and seniors considering participating in intercollegiate athletics need to register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse. This registration certifies the eligibility of student athletes to participate in sports during their freshman year in college. 

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Upcoming SAT and ACT Test Dates for 2013-2014

LWHS Code is 480545

 

SAT (see complete list of registration dates)

Test Date                                                                Regular Registration Deadlines

                                          

January 25, 2014                                                     December 27, 2013

March 8, 2014                                                          Feb. 7, 2014 

 

 

ACT (see complete list of registration dates)

Test Date                                                                Regular Registration Deadlines

                                         

 February 8, 2014                                                     January 10, 2014 

 

College and Career Center News

Washington Network for Innovative Careers (WaNIC)
A Regional Skills Center in NE King Co.

WaNIC, the Washington Network for Innovative Careers, is a consortium of seven school districts that shares Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. WaNIC was established to provide advanced-level CTE programs to prepare students for post-secondary education and successful entry into high-skill, high-demand careers and employment.

 

Courses available to WaNIC students include the areas of Arts, Media, Communication and Design; Business Management; Natural Resources and Agri-Science; Engineering, Science, and Technology; Health and Human Services; and Information Technology. 

 

  • Investigate an area of interest through these exciting classes
  • Explore career choices before you leave high school
  • Earn college credit and/or industry certification in most programs
  • Save tuition $$ by deciding on a major before leaving high school

Student registration begins February 3, 2014.  

For detailed information about the programs, please go to: www.wanic.org.  

 

 

 

Information for Seniors & Senior Parents  

Financial Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

Get ready to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early in January
. The   FAFSA is the paperwork step necessary to access federal student aid, including the Pell Grant and federal student loans, and most state and college aid. Regardless what your family's economic situation currently is, you are always eligible for federal student or parent loans, so don't put it off. Also, many scholarships are now requiring that a FAFSA be filed. It's usually advantageous to get the FAFSA filed as early as possible after January 1 because it allows you more time to consider your options. Check with the financial aid administrator at your college about state and college sources of student aid and deadlines.  

To complete the FAFSA, you have to have at least an estimate of your family's 2013 taxes. The earlier you get things in order for this process, the better. The student and parents need a PIN (personal identification number) to complete the FAFSA online. If you don't already have one, now is the time to apply at: www.pin.ed.gov. When you are ready to fill out the FAFSA be sure to use the site: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember, it is a free form - don't go to sites where you have to pay to fill out the form.

Need Help Completing the FAFSA?

 

LWHS sponsored a financial aid workshop on December 4th. We hope that those of you who attended found the information helpful. If you experience difficulty when you fill out the FAFSA, we encourage you to call the financial aid offices at any of our local community colleges or universities. They will be more than happy to help answer your questions. Again, it is important to submit the FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible. Many schools have early spring financial aid deadline dates. They strictly enforce deadlines and need your financial information as early as possible in order to give your student the best package.  

 

LWHS Code is 480545

 

 

Student Aid on the Web 

A resource for in-depth information on federal student aid programs, applying for financial aid, and repaying student loans can be found at www.studentaid.ed.gov. This site can also be used to conduct college and scholarship searches, estimate college costs and track and compare financial aid award letters.
 

  

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Congratulations!
Senior Culminating Projects
Many congratulations to the 63 students that completed, presented and passed the Senior Culminating Project on November 13!  We are so proud of you, Kangs!

For a list of the students who completed their projects, including project name, click here.
College Applications
Students are responsible for providing addressed envelopes for transcripts. Test scores must be requested directly from the College Board or ACT. Students are encouraged to submit their applications early and not wait until deadlines. Directions for transcript submission are printed on the yellow "Transcript Request Form" (available in the Counseling Center) and are also explained on the school's website.

Students are reminded that the Counseling Center will be closed for winter break from 3 pm on Friday, December 20, 2013 until 7:30 am on Monday, January 6th, 2014. During this period we are unable to respond to emails or phone calls, so please advise your senior student to have their college application questions answered prior to the winter closure. 

 

One piece of advice they will need to hear over and over - don't wait until the deadline!

 

For SAT and ACT Test Dates, click here

 

Keep Informed 

For more information on these and other topics, check the "Information for Seniors" page on the LWHS website. Information on scholarships can be found on the Career Center Scholarship Information page.  

 

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These Community Announcements are provided as a service to the community: Lake Washington School District (LWSD) does not sponsor, endorse or recommend any of the organizations, services, or activities described in these materials.
10th Annual SJV Holiday Tree Sale
Help local high school students earn their way to Tijuana to build homes. Sale runs November 29th - December 22nd.
Where:  St. John Vianney Church, 12600 84th Ave NE, Kirkland 98034

Hours:  Monday-Friday 5-8:00pm, Sat 8-9:00pm, Sun 8-5:00pm

Questions or special orders:  Email Ken Goodwin or call (425) 823-6840
.

Kang Crier Newsletter Archives

Did you miss an issue of the Kang Crier?  Past issues are now archived on the PTSA website.


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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.bottomofpage