Lake Washington High School PTSA Newsletter
 
June 3, 2015 | Issue 19      
 
In This Issue
Kang Crier Links

sidebarCo-editors: Jeanine Lewis & Karen Peters
 
Quick Links
top 

 
~ Upcoming Events ~
Prom
Saturday, June 6, 9-11pm, Bellevue Art Museum

Latino College Prep Event
Tuesday, June 9, 5:30-8:30pm, Commons 
 
Netbook Check-in for Grades 10-12
Thursday, June 11, 8am-1:30pm, LW Library
 
Senior Salute
Thursday, June 11, 7-9pm, LW Theater & Commons
 
Senior Breakfast & Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal
Friday, June 12 
Breakfast: 7-8am, Commons
Rehearsal: 8-10am, Gym 

 

Netbook Check-in for 9th Grade
Friday, June 12, 8-11am, LW Library
 
Last Day for Schedule Requests
Friday, June 12, Counseling Office
 
Tech Prep Registration & Payment Deadline
Friday, June 12
 
Early Dismissal for Graduation
Friday, June 12, 11am
 
Graduation
Friday, June 12, 2pm, Key Arena 

Class of 2015 Senior All-Night Party
Friday, June 12, 9:30pm

Class of 2016 Senior Party Fundraiser
Sunday, June 14, 3pm-close, Lucia at Kirkland Parkplace 
 
Last Day of School - Half-Day
Wednesday, June 17

~ Important Summer Dates ~

Picture Day/ASB Cards and Fees
9th &10th Grades - Tuesday, August 18, 9am-2pm
11th &12th Grades - Wednesday, August 19, 9am-12pm

Freshman Orientation
Wednesday, August 26, 9-11am

Back to School BBQ
Wednesday evening, August 26, 5:30-7:30pm

First Day of School 
Tuesday, September 1  
 
 
 

From Your PTSA Co-Presidents

THANK YOU to our PTSA volunteers who shared their valuable time this year to help make our school a better place. If you are considering helping out next year we are still looking for volunteers to fill some important roles: Fear Free SAT/ACT practice testing, Special Needs, and Senior Salute are programs that need a chairperson for the next school year. Please contact PTSA Co-President Liz Hedreen if you have any questions or are interested. If you have never participated in an active role in PTSA, this is your chance!

 

SENIOR SALUTE is Thursday, June 11 from 7-9pm. Tickets are free but must be reserved - see the article below for more information. This event is produced by the PTSA each year to celebrate our seniors and will feature student speeches, student artwork and music performed by our orchestra, choir, and soloists. A reception will follow in the Commons. It's a wonderful time to see the graduates in their caps and gowns and visit with friends and family!

 

SENIOR PARTY tickets are still available but are limited. Check our website for more information. Seniors will not want to miss this amazing night! Partial scholarships are available to help reduce the ticket price - just ask!

 

Do you have a student who is contemplating college next year? Next fall we will be starting a new program for seniors - a series of free, after-school workshops that will help kids figure out the college application process. A professional college counselor will lead the workshops, with trained volunteer assistance. Details are still being worked out, but if your soon-to-be senior needs assistance with the college application process, this will be the place to be! 

  

If you are not sure if college is right for your child, read this recent article from The New York Times about whether or not so-called "marginal" students benefit from college. (Spoiler alert: they do!) 

 

Go Kangs!

Liz Hedreen and Anne Ryan  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PTSA News

Thank You for the Coffee Fix
croissant2.jpg The last Coffee with Christina, welcoming incoming freshmen parents, was a great success, overflowing with new and current parents! With the coffees over for this school year, we would like to thank Principal Christina Thomas for so generously giving us her time and patiently answering all of our questions. Many thanks also to College & Career Counselor Julie Madsen for graciously allowing us to take over her office for each of the coffees. Thank you to the counselors who popped into the coffees, providing us with insight on academic planning. Lastly, our appreciation to Jody Lallas for organizing the outstanding hospitality, and all of the volunteers who provided delicious, often homemade, baked goods, fresh fruit and other refreshments. Watch for the next Coffee with Christina in the fall.  
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Few More Bakers Needed

Senior Salute is almost here and we still need four more volunteers to provide home-baked cookies or brownies/blondies for the event. Cookies that aren't too crumbly, or bar cookies that are already cut are preferred. Please sign up if you can help out! Drop off cookies/brownies at one of the following times/places on Thursday, June 11: 

  • 5-6:30pm at the LW Theater entrance
  • 7am-5pm at Anne Anderson's house at 8128 126th Place NE, Kirkland. There will be a cooler on her front porch where you can leave the food. Anne can be reached at (425) 829-0301.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sheeley Scholarship Award Recipients
Grace Muenz, Christopher Leavitt, Brooks Klinker, Kim Veldee, and Zena Halaweh
The Lake Washington High School PTSA is proud to announce the five winners of the 2015 Sheeley Scholarship Award. The winners are Grace Muenz, Christopher Leavitt, Brooks Klinker, Kim Veldee, and Zena Halaweh. The scholarship is named in honor of a beloved former school counselor, Louise Sheeley, and recognizes students for outstanding achievements in school and in their community. The scholars will each receive $1,000 toward their college tuition. Muenz will be attending University of San Diego; Leavitt will be attending Cal Poly; Klinker will be attending University of Southern California; Veldee will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Halaweh will be attending Western Washington University.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LW Class of '85 Sheeley Scholarship Recipient Gives Back  
Thirty years ago when Victor Nakano was a LWHS senior he was awarded a Sheeley Scholarship. This scholarship helped cover his tuition at University of Washington, which was only $450/quarter at the time. He attended UW for two years while working to improve his SAT scores so that he could attend his top choice school, the US Naval Academy. Victor was able to raise his SAT scores, but then could not pass the vision portion of the physical exam. Despite this setback, he qualified to attend the US Military Academy at West Point. At West Point he enjoyed the small class environment, regimented schedule and focus on the well-rounded individual (scholar/athlete/military officer). He feels that LWHS provided him with a rich educational experience and a supportive environment which allowed for his future successes. 
 
After graduating from West Point, Victor spent the first half of a 22-year military career as an engineer officer, and the second half in program management of weapon systems, science and technology. Later, the Army sent him to earn a masters at Stanford University, and then a PhD from Purdue University. Retiring in 2013 from the military, he was hired by Johns Hopkins University to help manage a research institute that focused on military equipment safety. For Victor, the Louise Sheeley Scholarship provided an initial stepping stone which allowed him to advance his education and pursue his goals. That is why 30 years later he decided to give back. With his generous (and unexpected) donation, the PTSA was able to provide an additional Sheeley Scholarship award this year. Thank you, Victor!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Class of 2016 Senior Party Fundraiser   

Sunday, June 14, 3pm to close, Lucia at Kirkland Parkplace  

Please join us for dinner to celebrate the end of the school year and support the Class of 2016. Lucia is generously donating 10% of proceeds to the Class of 2016 Senior Party fundraiser. Thanks to Michael Halter and the Lucia team for their support! We hope to see you there! 

 

Make your reservations now at: www.iloveluciakirkland.comSee the flyer here. Questions? Contact Joan Lindell at [email protected].

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kang Crier Information

Unsubscribing after the last issue
There will be one last issue of the Kang Crier on June 10. If you no longer wish to receive the Kang Crier, you must unsubscribe yourself. We don't automatically delete any emails from our database, even for senior parents. (The "Unsubscribe" link is in the footer of this email.)

Information about Privacy Issues & the Kang Crier
Every August/September in the First Day packet parents/guardians receive a form from the district called "Directory Withhold Form - SS100", where you have the opportunity to check boxes labelled "Withhold [your child's name or image] From Public Release" and "Withhold [your child's name or image] From District Use". If you check those boxes, your child will not be listed in the Kang Crier, nor will any photos including their image be published. If your child is in a group photo, they will be deleted from that photo. The Kang Crier newsletter primarily goes out to LWHS families, but any member of the public can go to our LWHS PTSA website and sign up to receive it; we also archive our newsletter on that website, which is accessible to the public. 
 
If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact the Kang Crier editors Karen Peters or Jeanine Lewis at [email protected].

Look for your first Kang Crier of the 2015-2016 school year sometime in August!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kang Achievements

LW Band Wins Big at Heritage Music Festival

Over Memorial Day weekend, 72 students representing Lake Washington High School Bands visited San Francisco, Stanford University, and participated in the Heritage Music Festival. Both our LW Wind Ensemble and our LW Percussion Ensemble were awarded 1st Place Gold awards. LWHS Bands also won, once again, the Instrumental Sweepstakes Award for having the most outstanding instrumental music program at the entire event. Winning special Individual Maestro Awards for Musical Excellence were junior Forrest Malcolm on percussion and senior Alexander "Buddy" Gilbert on tenor saxophone. Earning the only individual Ovation award for musical achievement and inspiring others (from among the 700 student participants at the festival)  was our own senior Logan Esterling on oboe and baritone saxophone. If you know a band member, give them a thumbs up! LW bands are directed by Mr. John Logan.    

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kang Sports

Congratulations to LW Baseball and Softball 

baseball-glove.jpg Congratulations to the baseball team for winning the 3A KingCo title!

 

The softball team won the 2A/3A KingCo title for the second consecutive year. They went on to win the District title and now battle for the State championship. Additionally, Hannah Walker was named Most Valuable Player, head coach Traci Tawney earned Coach of the Year and the Kangs were given the Sportsmanship award during the regular season 2A/3A KingCo awards. Well done, and good luck! 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LWHS News & Activities

LWHS Prom

Saturday, June 6, 9-11pm, Bellevue Art Museum


Prom will take place on Saturday June 6, from 9-11pm at the Bellevue Art Museum. The entire museum will be open for students to wander and view multiple stories of exciting exhibits! There will be several sources of entertainment and activities, along with a mouth watering dessert bar. The theme is "An Affair to Remember." Ticket prices are $40 per person and are on sale now. Get hyped, Kangs! It's going to be an amazing dance and experience!

Back to top 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Latino College Prep Event
Tuesday, June 9, 5:30-8:30pm, Commons

The LW Latino College Prep Club is hosting a presentation about Latino kids and college on Tuesday, June 9 from 5:30-8:30pm in the Commons. This event will show Latino kids how to apply to any college. Guest speakers will talk about their life experiences and share the struggles they overcame to attend college. This event will show students that they can apply to any college they want and how to do it.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Summer School Registration is Open

Summer school will be held July 6-31. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Mail-in registration is May 8 - June 19. Walk-in registration will be held at Redmond High School, June 24 - 26 from 9am-2pm. Late registration at RHS will be held on Saturday, June 27 from 9:30am-1:30 pm. Summer School offices will be closed June 29 - July 3. There will be NO REGISTRATION AFTER JUNE 27. View the course catalog and find more information on the LWSD website.  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LW Library is Grateful for Support
During the current school year, the LW library saw an increase in book circulations of 2,564 over last year! There were 4,310 circulations as of May. LWHS Librarian Susan Gregerson would like to thank the English teachers for working with her to put more books into the hands of our students; the PTSA for giving the library generous grants to purchase Lit Circle and Multicultural titles; and Principal Christina Thomas for her support of the LW library, our staff, and our students.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

End of Year Clearance Sale at Student Store


For information on how to purchase from the student store, email [email protected] or call the student store at (425) 936-1700.

Back to top
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PE/Health Students of the Month
The following students have been selected by their Physical Education/Health teachers as Students of the Month for May. 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!

Kaitlyn Brixey

Brandon Montesa
Sara Anderson
Max Fanning
Frank Anderson
Molly Odell
Dana Finzi
Scooter Holmes

Emily Calderon

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Is Your Student's Laptop Ready for Check-in?

white_laptop_mouse.jpg

Here is one more item for that end-of-school to do list. With laptop check-in coming up on June 11 and 12, now is the time to have your student check their computer to see if there are any hardware issues, such as broken or missing keys. If there are any problems, have them bring their computer to the library. The library staff appreciates your help with this!

 

Grades 10, 11 and 12 will check-in their netbooks on Thursday, June 11 from 8am -1:30pm; Freshmen will return their laptops on Friday, June 12, 8-11am. All netbook check-ins will take place in the library.

 

Back to top

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Counseling Center

 

Fall Schedule Adjustments

Students will receive their final first semester schedule on the first day of school. Every effort is made to provide students with a schedule that includes both their required core classes as well as their requested electives.

 

As we explained to students earlier this spring, we offer courses and staff our building according to student requests. We are able to schedule the majority of students into most of their requested classes. In some cases though, courses were assigned because a particular class was full, isn't being offered this year, or the requested class conflicted with another class.

 

Historically, most classes are full when school begins in September which means that we will be able to accommodate very few schedule changes. Additionally, all schedule changes require administrative approval.

 

Please keep in mind that students must remain in assigned classes for the first two days of school unless the student's schedule meets one of the criteria below. If a student's schedule meets one of the criteria below, we will see those students when school begins.  

  • Student has a definite error or schedule conflict (i.e. two classes are scheduled during the same period or a core requirement is missing).
  • Student failed a world language or math course last year and needs to repeat it.
  • Student has fewer than six classes first semester. All freshmen, sophomores and juniors must have six classes each semester. There are no open periods and only seniors may have late arrival or early dismissal.

If students would like to change an elective because they were placed in a class that they did not select, they will be able to download a Schedule Change Request Form after school on Wednesday, September 2.

 

And, finally, just a reminder that the beginning of school is a very busy time of year. While we would love to immediately accommodate and meet with every student, it simply isn't possible. Following the above process and being patient will make for a less frustrating and more enjoyable beginning of school - for both the student and the counselor!  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Guide to Taking Old vs. New SAT
The last administration of the current SAT will be in January 2016. The first administration of the redesigned SAT will be in March 2016. See the May 20 issue of the Kang Crier for a guide to who should take which version of the SAT by class.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Information for Seniors & Senior ParentsSeniorInfo
SeniorSalute
Senior Salute for Families of Seniors
Thursday, June 11, 7-9pm LW Theater

greyscale-graduates.jpg Senior Salute, a more intimate opportunity to celebrate our seniors with music, poetry, artwork and student reflections, takes place at LW the day before graduation on Thursday, June 11, 7pm. The presentation is followed by an informal reception; many families appreciate this slower-paced, more personal opportunity to visit and to photograph their cap-and-gowned graduates. Each family is allotted four free tickets (grads do not need a ticket) on a first-come-first-served basis. Email graduate's name, parent name, and number of tickets needed to: [email protected].    

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SrPartyClass of 2015 Senior Party
It's Not Too Late to Sign Up

Due to popular demand, we were able to add another bus for the senior party! The senior party is a safe place for our kids to be the night of graduation and will be a ton of fun for the new graduates. You can still sign up and pay online on the PTSA website, or by using the paper forms found on the site. Due to some additional, generous senior parent donations, partial scholarships are still available - you'll find the scholarship request form on the PTSA website. The permission slip also needs to be turned in at this time, with your signature regardless of if your senior is 18 now or at the time of the party. Finally, please fill out the food allergy form, if applicable. All the forms can be found on the PTSA website under the graduation cap/"Senior Class & Party Tix" in the left sidebar; turn all paperwork in to the Main Office.

 

Back to top

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Countdown to Graduation
Find all the information you need for graduation on the LW website. You'll find the countdown calendar, ceremony details, ticket information, final transcript request form and more.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lake Washington Schools Foundation

LWSF Thanks You

THANK YOU! Thank you to our incredible community - you helped raise over $280,000 at the Foundation's 10th Anniversary Luncheon on April 29! Community supporters, including teachers, business leaders and PTSA members came out to celebrate ten years of investing in kids.

 

Without the incredible team of volunteers, this event would not have been such a success. Many thanks to luncheon chair Alison Johnson, luncheon committee members, the table captains, many PTSAs, parents, trustees, our corporate partners, Dr. Traci Pierce and district and school staff.

 

Special thanks to Tesla STEM High School senior Alka Pai who shared her passion for encouraging more girls to enter the computer science field; and Rockwell Elementary School principal Kirsten Gometz and Rose Hill Middle School 7th grade STEM teacher Jason Ewert for sharing their inspirational messages.

 

The Foundation is expanding investments in district-wide programs in order to impact more students across our growing district. If you missed the luncheon but would still like to support our students and teachers, click on this link to donate. Check out the 2015 luncheon video here. See you next year!  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Community News

Kirkland Arts Center Summer Camps
Scholarships Available
Kirkland Arts Center is offering scholarships for their summer camps, including Teen Intensives programs in print, clay, and 2D mediums. For more information about the programs, see the Kirkland Arts Center website or the flyer. The scholarship application is available here.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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.

Back to top
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