Lake Washington High School PTSA Newsletter
 
April 1, 2015 | Issue 15    
 
In This Issue
Kang Crier Links

sidebarCo-editors: Jeanine Lewis & Karen Peters
 
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~ Upcoming Events ~
 
Today! Coffee with Christina 
Wednesday, April 1, 9-10am, College & Career Center
   
Today! Deadline to Sign Up for Graduation Auditions
Wednesday, April 1, by end of school day, Main Office

Tonight! Girls' Softball Field Dedication and Game
Wednesday, April 1, 4:15pm, LWHS  

Spring Break - No School
April 6 - 10
 
Deadline to Apply for Sheeley Scholarships
Monday, April 13, College & Career Center

Deadline to Apply for LWPTSA Council Scholarships
Monday, April 13

Graduation Solo Auditions
Tuesday, April 14, 2:35pm, Room 110

Career Pathways in Healthcare Panel
Wednesday, April 15, 6-8pm, Evergreen Surgical & Physician Center

Graduation Speech Auditions
Thursday. April 16, 2:35pm

LW Football Mattress Fundraiser
Saturday, April 25, 10am-5pm, LWHS

Trivia Night
Tuesday, April 28, 7-8pm, LWHS Commons

LW Schools Foundation Annual Luncheon
Wednesday, April 29, 11am, Juanita High School

Boys' Soccer Tres Hermanos Fundraiser
Thursday, April 30, Tres Hermanos
 
 

From your PTSA Co-Presidents

Can you believe it is already April? The school year seems to be speeding up as we get closer to the end of another great year at LWHS. The PTSA board has already begun work on preparing our budget for next year. A committee has been formed and has been reviewing current and new budget items in order to better fund the needs of our students and staff. The budget will be presented and voted on at our next General Membership meeting on May 13.

 

At our last General Membership meeting on March 18, the slate of officers for next school year was presented by the nominating committee and voted in by our PTSA members. A big THANK YOU to the hard working nominating committee: Julie Peterson, Debbie Ohman, and Wendy Macomber. The LWHS PTSA officers for 2015-2016 are as follows:

 

Co-Presidents: Anne Ryan and Liz Hedreen

Co-VP Communications: Karen Peters and Debbie Ohman 

Co-VP Programs: Mindy Lincicome and Susan McCarron

Co-VP Ways and Means: Irene Neuman and Susan McClung

Co-Treasurers: Julia Ednie and Sarah Borthwick

Co-Secretaries: Valerie Horvath and Karen Tipp

 

Non-elected board members will be:

Senior Party chair: Joan Lindell

Membership chair: Meredith Goldstein

Member at large: Nicole Camp

Advocacy chair: Melissa Jackson

 

The Lake Washington Schools Foundation Luncheon will be Wednesday, April 29 at Juanita High School. Learn more, be inspired by students and teachers, and find out how you can be a part of their success. There is no charge to attend, but a suggested donation of $150 is requested. For more information please visit lwsf.org.

 

Senior Parents - Has your student purchased their ticket to the all-night Senior Party? If not, tickets are limited... do not let your student miss the fun! Partial scholarships are available. Contact Senior Party Chair Svea Dagel for more information.

 

As always, we look forward to seeing you at our next General Membership meeting on Wednesday, May 13 at 7pm in the library. The Parent Ed topic is titled, "Dismantling the Parental Helicopter"!

 

Go Kangs!

 

Liz Hedreen & Anne Ryan

PTSA Co-Presidents
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PTSA News

Today! Coffee with Christina
Wednesday, April 1, 9-10am, College & Career Center
Coffee with Christina is your chance to chat with the principal. Ask her about the search for a new associate principal, the upcoming Smarter Balance Assessments or anything else you may be wondering about. What better source to confirm or dispel the latest rumor?

Join us in the College & Career Center on Wednesday, April 1 from 9-10am as we cross-examine Christina. We'll also enjoy tempting refreshments provided by the PTSA hospitality committee. Drop in for the whole hour or just a few minutes - everyone is welcome for any amount of time.
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Thank You to Julie Madsen
Many thanks to College & Career Center counselor Julie Madsen for speaking at the recent PTSA General Membership meeting. Julie has a wealth of knowledge and shared with us the many ways that our students can make their summer count. Look for her presentation on the school website under Career Center or on the Counseling Center Haiku page. 
 
Julie has also generously allowed the PTSA to hold the Coffees with Christina in the 
College & Career Center all year. Thank you, Julie! Drop in this morning to Coffee with Christina and check out all the resources to help your student find opportunities ranging from jobs and internships to scholarships and post-high school options.

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Kang Achievements

Lyrica to Perform at Carnegie Hall!
Recently, the Lake Washington High School Lyrica Concert Choir had a day-long retreat at the high school to rehearse in preparation for their performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 19. The LWHS Lyrica choir has a long tradition of excellence and is one of a very select group of high school choirs in the U.S. invited to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the Festival at Carnegie Hall. Break a leg Kangs!


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Grease was a Huge Success!
Lake Washington High School's production of Grease was a huge success! Eighty LWHS students were involved in the cast and crew. Sold-out audiences during the second weekend proved that this show was a hit!



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East Puget Sound Regional History Day
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Kang Sports

Today! Girls' Softball at LWHS
Please join us Wednesday, April 1 to celebrate the first ever girls' softball home game, played on the LW campus! We are planning a celebration full of school spirit! The team will be unveiling their 2014 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP banner, there will be a field dedication and a first pitch thrown out by some special guests! The festivities begin at 4:15pm, with the game against Juanita following at 4:30pm. Please come out and show these softball ladies your support!

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LWHS Football Family, Friends and Fans!
Fundraiser Saturday, April 25, 10am-5pm, LWHS

The LWHS Football Booster Club is hosting a one-of-a-kind fundraiser that's been very successful across the nation over the past nine years, helping groups like ours raise thousands of dollars in a single day (Woodinville raised $8,200 and Kentwood raised over $15,000). This event will take place Saturday, April 25, 10am-5pm at LWHS. See the flyer here

 

If you have a mattress in your home that you'd consider replacing, this is the time to buy! Great savings, up to 60% off! Twenty-five NEW, top quality, name brand mattresses (like Simmons) will be on display, order yours in the size that you need, and get it delivered to your home in a week or two.  

 

Our primary job in this fundraiser is to get the word out about this sale, so please share this information with everyone that you know. The more mattresses that we sell the more money we'll make! If you're on Facebook, please go to the event link; "Join", "Share" on your page, and "Invite" all your Friends! Print out the flyer here

 

Thanks in advance for your support,
LWHS Football
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Let Tres Hermanos do the Cooking!

Support LW Boys' Soccer on Thursday, April 30

Need a break from cooking on a busy week night? Dine in or take out at Tres Hermanos on Thursday, April 30 from 11am-10pm and 30% of your bill will be donated to the LW boys' soccer program. Just give this flyer to your waiter.

 

If your evening is too busy to dine in, drop by for convenient takeout. You can even call Tres Hermanos to place an order at (425) 827-4422 for easy pick up. Don't forget your flyer! And feel free to pass the flyer along to family, friends and co-workers - everyone is welcome. Thank you for supporting the Kangs!

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Support LW Boys' Soccer
Get Raffle Tickets for a Chance to Win Signed Sounders Gear!
Come out to the LW boys' soccer home games and get your chance to win while cheering on the team!  At each varsity home game you can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win signed Sounders gear, including balls, scarfs and a framed, white team jersey.

Tickets for the season-long raffle will be sold during varsity home games, at the LW student store during the week (open 7:30-7:50am and 11am-12:30pm) and during most team functions. Prices for raffle tickets are: one for $3, two for $5, five for $10, and the best chance to win - 15 for $20. The drawing and winners will be announced Tuesday, April 28 during the last home game of the year, Senior Night!

 

Come out, support the team and get your chance to win some awesome signed Sounders gear! For more information, or to purchase raffle tickets, contact John Suk at [email protected].  

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LWHS News & Activities

Trivia Night
Tuesday, April 28, 7-8pm, Commons 
The senior class is holding a Trivia Night here at the school in the Commons. This class of 2015 fundraiser will be a battle of wits and trivial knowledge as teams of up to five will be competing for amazing prizes! Teams will be made up of up to five people (teams may include a maximum of one teacher and one parent). Each contestant will pay $5 per entry for the fundraiser. So, with a team of five, that would be $25 for that entire team. Prizes will include a signed box set of John Green hardcovers, hand-screenprinted posters ready for framing, and many others! Join us for a fun night of trivia and help support the senior class! Tell your student to watch for sign-up announcements to register their team!
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Italian Student Exchange    

My Life as an Exchange Student at LWHS 

The experience I've lived with you has changed me deeply. I've grown up and become more mature. But the greatest victory for me are the relationships I've built with people of a completely different culture. I realize how easily people can bond even though they are different, because no matter what they like to do or what they believe in, they are always able to understand people's personality and appreciate their values.

 

I consider myself blessed to call close friends people that are actually on the other side of the world. I've met some of the most important people of my life, that I really hope to meet again someday. For now, I'm looking forward to seeing my host family who is coming to visit me in Italy in June.

Benedetta and Maret 

 

Benedetta Zocchi

Exchange student at LWHS, class of 2015

Ergon Student Exchange program

  

Our Experience as a Host Family 

Our family was very excited to have our exchange student, Benedetta, live with our family for a semester. We enjoyed learning about Benny's life in Italy and the differences she was encountering here as an American teen. She was a wonderful addition to our family and we are especially excited to see her and her family this summer in Milan, Italy. The Ergon Exchange program did an excellent job finding someone who fit so well with our family. They are a small program with a director that personally interviews all parties to ensure a good match. The Ergon Exchange program provides the option to have the local student live with the student's Italian family for up to three weeks and our daughter is looking forward to that too! An additional bonus is that Ergon pays for part of the flight cost for the visit. I encourage any interested family to investigate this program further: www.ergon-se.org.

 

Don, Sandy, & Maret Helgeson

Host an Italian Student - Your Child will be Invited to Italy! 

Ergon Student Exchange is looking for families to host a 16-17 year old Italian student for a semester or school year. The Ergon program ensures a true cross-cultural opportunity that will provide a transformative experience for both the host family and the student. The Italian families offer your son or daughter direct exposure to Italian culture through an all-expenses paid summer vacation in Italy, and Ergon sponsors the flight! To learn more, please email the Seattle coordinator Denise Trogdon and visit the Ergon website 

 

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AP World History Review Sessions Begin!

Around 90 sophomores have been showing up early or staying late on Tuesdays to review for the upcoming AP World History exam on May 14! These dedicated students review key concepts, play some fun review games, and together work to prepare themselves to do their best on the exam. Sessions are co-taught by Mr. Dawson and Mrs. Berge, and continue to May 12. Great Kang dedication!

 

 
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Lost and Found 
Has your student lost a leather jacket, or a favorite hoodie, or maybe a watch or iPod? There are lots of items in the Main Office lost and found AND in the PE locker room, so ask your student to check it out or ask Mili for help! 
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PE/Health Students of the Month
The following students have been selected by their Physical Education/Health teachers as Students of the Month for March. 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!

Camille D'Costa 

Desmond Malpica

Kathryn Zigweid

Spencer Goldstein

Valerie Kettering

Nathan Ridenour

Jessie Page

Ethan Lockhart  
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Read the latest issue of the LW student newspaper, The Pouch, to get the student view.
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Counseling Center

Especially for Juniors
Plan for Senior Year
The upcoming senior year is packed with long lists of things to do. Not only do students need to stay current on their six courses, but they also want to continue their extracurricular, athletic, employment, or volunteer commitments. Now add to that the no small task of preparing for life after high school, and it is easy to see why a senior's stress level can hit overload by the end of September.

The key to managing the senior year is plan-organize-implement. Your student's counselor is here to help every step of the way. Here is a short list of things that your junior can do this summer to get ahead of the busy senior year. 

  1. Think about your priorities and values. What is important to you and why?
  2. Think about what kind of colleges might be a good fit based on those values. It's all about fit. Consider size, location, academic programs, and social and cultural environment.
  3. Have a conversation with your parents about the financial piece. Will you need to apply for scholarships or other financial aid opportunities? (We have a list of some great websites to check out!)
  4. Make several campus visits and interview with admission representatives if appropriate. If you're not sure where you want to go, think local. Visit UW to get a sense of what a large campus feels like; visit Seattle Pacific to get a sense of what a residential campus feels like. Walk around Seattle University's campus to see if you like the urban feel. You get the picture.
  5. As you research schools on the web or make your visit, double check to make sure that your senior courses meet their recommended/required courses.
  6. Read, read, read. The more you read, the more you understand what good writing sounds and feels like. (Yes, good writing has a cadence and rhythm all its own.)
  7. Get a job to gain experience and help pay for college.
  8. Volunteer.
  9. Start narrowing your list of colleges: think in terms of safety, match and reach schools.
  10. Work to improve your SAT or ACT scores.

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Planning a College Road Trip?

Summer is the perfect time for juniors and their parents to pack their bags and head off to college campuses. For many students, these visits are the deciding factor where applications will be sent in the fall. Here are some things to keep in mind:  

  1. Colleges go to great lengths to impress you and your parents (those who pay the bills). Expect perky, engaging tour guides to show you the very prettiest parts of the campus. If you know this from the beginning, you will not be (as easily) swept off your feet.
  2. One of the best ways to get a feel for any college campus is to break free of structured tours and hang out - in the student union building or a local coffee shop near the campus.
  3. If possible, stay the night at one of the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, take a jog through the campus, and/or attend a sporting event. Keep in mind that it is summer and some of the buildings will be closed and, more importantly, the campus won't be nearly as crowded as it will be in the fall.
  4. Take an unofficial copy of your high school transcript and know your test scores. Make an appointment to meet with an admissions person and sit down with your list of questions. Do your homework; go prepared with comments and questions that reflect your interest and knowledge about the school.
  5. Talk. Talk to students and adults on campus. Talk to the barista at the coffee bar or the salesperson at the book store. Just talk.
  6. Take pictures of each college and log where the picture was taken. You will be surprised at how similar college dorms, buildings, and rec centers start to all look alike.

 And if you're not planning a road trip? No problem. Get online and take a virtual tour of the campus. (Be sure to reread #1 above.) Read the campus newspaper and student run blogs. This is a great way to learn about the issues the planned tours don't mention (issues with the administration and budget cuts, for example). Take a look at the list of clubs available; clubs grow out of student interests.

 

Remember, it is all about fit. While one student will see the gym as paradise, another will look to the library. And that's what makes this search an adventure - and extremely personal. Keep in mind, though, that if you aren't admitted to your 'perfect fit' school, there will be your second choice, and even third. And if statistics are correct, you will still love the school where you end up attending.

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Reasons to Take the ACT  

We seem to hear more about the SAT than the ACT, and as a result, many students sign up to take the SAT without learning more about the advantages of the ACT. Read about the reasons to take the ACT in the last issue of the Kang Crier.   

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SAT and ACT Test Dates
LWHS Code: 480545
SAT (register at collegeboard.com)
Test DateRegistration Deadline
May 2
April 6
June 6
May 8

ACT (register at actstudent.org)
Test Date
Registration Deadline
June 13
May 8
If you have any questions, contact the counseling office.
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Information for Seniors & Senior ParentsSeniorInfo

Auditions for Graduation Solos and Speeches
Today! Sign-Up Deadline Wednesday, April 1
Seniors interested in auditioning for a speech or solo at graduation must sign up by the end of the school day on Wednesday, April 1 in the Main Office. Contact Kelli Mayer for more information.

Solo auditions for graduation: Tuesday, April 14, 2:35pm, Room 110

Speech auditions for graduation: Thursday, April 16, 2:35pm, location TBD
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Senior Salute
Thursday June 11, 7-9pm LWHS Theater
Mark your calendars for the LWHS Senior Salute Thursday, June 11, from 7-9pm in the LWHS theater. Music, heart-felt senior addresses, refreshments and camaraderie are all part of this festive evening featuring our graduating seniors in caps and gowns.
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Four Scholarships Available - Sheeley Scholarship
Applications due Monday, April 13 

This year the LW PTSA has allocated money to award four college-bound seniors $1,000 toward their tuition through the Sheeley Scholarship Award. The selection criteria that the committee will use includes consideration of community service, school involvement, leadership, work and academic achievements, as well as overcoming challenges. The selection process is blind. Seniors can pick up applications at the College & Career Center. The applications are due back to the College & Career Center by Monday, April 13. If you have any questions, please contact Sheeley Chair Joann Leng at [email protected] or (425) 941-7973.  

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LWPTSA Council Scholarships 

At Least One $1,000 Scholarship to be Awarded at LW

$500 Scholarships for LWSD Certified Staff

Each year, the Lake Washington PTSA Council awards a variety of scholarships to graduating seniors and to LWSD certificated staff. Student scholarships, recognizing achievement and community service, assist recipients in their post-secondary education. Staff scholarships provide assistance with continuing education at an institute of higher learning, through LWSD Professional Development, or for pursuing National Board Certification. 

 

The following scholarships are available for 2015 (all student scholarships are $1,000):

 

Qualification based on achievement and community service only:

  • One scholarship to the top candidate at each of the seven LWSD high schools (seven awards)
  • A minimum of two at-large scholarships selected from all of the remaining applicants
  • The Adria Klein Memorial Scholarship, selected at-large

Additional qualifications required:

  • The Dr. L.E. Scarr Scholarship awarded to a student who will attend a vocational/technical school or community college
  • The LWEA/Karen Bates Scholarship for a student pursuing an education degree

Applications are in the Counseling Office. The application deadline for all scholarships is 6pm, April 13. For more information about staff scholarships or student scholarships, see the LWPTSA website. 

 

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Washington State PTA Scholarship 

Applications Due April 30

big-bills-money.jpg
Washington State PTA offers six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from Washington State public high schools that will be starting college. The application must be received by April 30. Scholarships will be awarded by June 15. More information is available on the application.

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Lake Washington School District

LWSD and EvergreenHealth Present "Career Pathways in Health Care" Panel
Wednesday, April 15, 6-8pm
Is your child interested in a health care career? Do they want to know what type of education it takes to be a pharmacist, surgeon, therapist, midwife or physician assistant? Lake Washington School District middle and high school students and their parents are invited to learn about the many health care career options available from a panel of EvergreenHealth experts at a LWSD sponsored "Career Pathways in Health Care" panel on Wednesday, April 15 from 6-8pm at Evergreen Surgical & Physician Center (12333 NE 130th Lane, Kirkland).

The panel discussion will be followed by a resource fair with career pathway and educational information from University of Washington-Bothell, Cascadia Community College, Bellevue College, Northwest University and Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and school health-related programs, as well as an opportunity to meet representatives from many healthcare specialties.

To register to attend, contact the EvergreenHealth Healthline at 425-899-3000
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Lake Washington Schools Foundation

You're Invited!
10th Anniversary Legacy for Learning Luncheon
Mark your calendars for the 10th anniversary Legacy for Learning Luncheon to celebrate 10 years of investing in kids! Please join us April 29 at Juanita High School to be inspired by students and teachers and find out how you can be a part of their success. Visit lwsf.org for luncheon information and to register today! Indicate that you would like to sit at the LWHS table.
 

While at the luncheon you can view the showcase of Foundation-funded programs, a colorful display of all the amazing work happening in our district, by and for our kids. And you will not want to miss the Mission on Parade, featuring our very own students grades K-12 sharing about their schools!

 

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Community News

Make a Difference for Spring Break
Kirkland Nourishing Network Spring Break Food Drive 
Our most challenging food drive of the year is coming up on Thursday, April 2. It is challenging fruit-basket.jpg because many folks are not focused on the spirit of the season that the December holidays engender. It is also the time when those involved in seasonal work may not have begun receiving wages, yet their resources from the prior year are at a low point.

Kirkland Nourishing Network is working to help feed some of the "neediest of the needy" in Kirkland elementary schools over spring break. Teachers and school counselors, who see the needs of students every day, identify kids-in-need while maintaining confidentiality. Many of these kids will not get enough food over the break without this support.

Make an immediate difference in the lives of hungry school children and their families - sign up to donate a box of food. These are real families, living in our neighborhoods, that don't have enough to eat. The food boxes make an absolute difference.
 
For more information, go to: nourishingnetworks.net 
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E-Cigarette Use Among Teens
According to a March 12 article in The Seattle Times describing the results of the Healthy Youth Survey that many of our children participate in every two years, e-cigarette use among King County teens has risen sharply in recent years, even as fewer kids are smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol... Nearly 22 percent of high school seniors reported using electronic cigarettes or vaping in the past month in 2014, up from just 3 percent in 2012. Read more here.
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SAT Prep at LW
The SAT Prep Course provides classroom-based practice testing and instructions in preparation for the SAT test. View the flyer for more information on dates, fees and additional locations, or visit SATPrep.org.
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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.

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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

ptsa 
 Lake Washington High School * Kirkland, WA * PTSA Local Unit 2.8.95