Lake Washington High School PTSA Newsletter        
            

     January 6, 2016 | Issue 9 
In This Issue
Kang Crier Links

sidebarCo-editors Karen Peters & Debbie Ohman:
 
Quick Links
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~ Upcoming Events ~

TODAY! College Application Workshop
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 12:35pm, College & Career Center

TONIGHT!
ALICE Safety Training
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 7-8:30pm, LWHS Library

Last Chance to Purchase Yearbooks
Today through Friday, Jan. 22

Help Fund Education Now! Postcard Campaign
Today - Sunday, Jan. 31

Second Semester Schedule Distribution
 
Friday, Jan. 8

LWPTSA Council District Reflections Open House
Friday, Jan. 8, 6-8 pm, LWSD Resource Center

Deadline to Sign Up for Mock Admission Interviews
Monday, Jan. 11, College & Career Center

LWHS Reflections Art on Display
Monday, Jan. 11 - Friday, Jan. 15, LWHS Library

College Application Workshop & Mock Admission Interviews
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 12:35pm, College & Career Center

Senior Portraits for Yearbook Deadline
Friday, Jan. 15 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
Monday, Jan. 18

Special Needs Group Meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 7-8:45pm, LWSD Resource Center

Final Exams
Wednesday, Jan. 20 - Friday, Jan. 22

PTSA General Meeting with Parent Ed: Sleep for School and Life Success
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 7-8:30pm, Library

Brown Bag Lunch: LWSF Grant Writing Workshop
Thursday, Jan. 21, 12-1pm 

Last Day of 1st Semester
Friday, Jan. 22

"Fear-Free" SAT Practice Test Registration Deadline
Tuesday, Jan. 26

Senior Party Parent's Night Out Fundraiser
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 6-8pm, Kirkland Arts Center

"Fear-Free" SAT Practice Test
Saturday, Jan. 30, 8:30am-1:15pm, LWHS
 
 

From Your PTSA Co-Presidents
Happy New Year from the LWHS PTSA! As 2016 gets started we are pleased to announce the following grants that have been gifted to our wonderful teachers and staff at Lake Washington High School:

ASB Club Grants

National Art Honor Society - $660 for supplies and installation of three murals in the school.

Clay Club - $250 for clay, glaze, and tools. 
LWHS Leadership - $500 for a "Finding Kind" documentary showing to female students with discussion.


Total ASB Grants: $1,410


Teacher Grants

French - $99.95 for a
12-month subscription to Yabla.com. 

French - $200 for a field trip to view National Gallery Impressionist exhibit at SAM.

Counseling - $400 for a bus to take seniors on a tour of Lake Washington Technical College.

English - $331.65 for a class set of Fast Food Nation for Literature Circle.

English - $600 for 75 young adult and adult, fiction and non-fiction novels for literature circles to support world literature curriculum and common core standards.
Special Ed - $500 for food for basic cooking classes.

Ceramics - $1,420 for a kiln.

Physics - $304 for two dynamics carts and six masses.

Material Science - $750 for specialty supplies to produce projects for building-wide improvements and decoration (laser engraved acrylic hall passes, adhesive vinyl wall quotes/signage, sandwich board for event parking).

Athletic Training - $395 portable stim machine for pain management and injury rehab.

Total Teacher Grants: $5,000


These grants are only possible with the generous support of YOU, the parents and supporters of LWHS! Thank you!

Please plan to join us at our next PTSA General Membership meeting on Wednesday, January 20 at 7pm. Our parent education speaker will be Dr. Catherine Darley of the Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine, talking about how sleep affects your teen's success.

Happy New Year and as always, GO KANGS!
LWHS PTSA Co-Presidents

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PTSA News

CAWCollege Application Workshops Continue
Mock Admission Interviews on Wednesday, January 13
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Parents! Remind your seniors to check in with the College Application Workshop for support with their essays and personal statements. Help us help them be prepared for those application deadlines! We're available in the College & Career Center Wednesdays after school; have them bring their work and enjoy a slice of pizza!

Please take note: We are offering mock admission interviews this month. For a practice session providing tips and strategies, please have your senior sign up by Monday, January 11 with Julie Madsen in the College & Career Center. Mock admission interviews will be held after school on Wednesday, January 13 in the College & Career Center. Limited slots available; first come, first served. We hope students take advantage of this opportunity!

It Wouldn't Happen Without You
The PTSA would like to extend a special thank you to Judy Shedd, for her time and energy developing and running the College Application Workshops, as well as her volunteers who help make it happen. Thank you also to Julie Madsen for generously allowing the workshops to take place in the College & Career Center each week.

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Art
Painting by Amanda Kartes.
Photo by Kalista Schultz.
 
Everyone is invited to attend the District Reflections Art Show & Open House on Friday, January 8, 6-8pm at the LWSD Resource Center located at 16250 NE 74th Street in Redmond. If you miss the Open House, the art will remain on display through the week of January 11 and can be viewed during the Resource Center's business hours. 

If you can't make it to the district's art show, you can see all of LWHS's entries on display in the school library the week of January 18. You'll have the perfect opportunity to check out the art at the PTSA General Membership meeting on Wednesday, January 20. Don't miss these opportunities to see some great art by LW's talented students!

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Please join us at the PTSA General Membership meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 7-8:30pm in the library. You'll have the chance to view the Reflections artwork created by our talented students. At 7pm, we will have a short business meeting as we elect our Nominating Committee who will recruit candidates for the 2016-2017 PTSA board of directors election in March. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, please contact LWHS PTSA Co-Presidents Liz Hedreen or Anne Ryan. Principal Christina Thomas will update us on the upcoming LWSD bond and we'll take a few moments to support the Help Fund Education Now campaign

Our Parent Ed presentation, Sleep for School and Life Success, will begin at 7:30pmYou've probably seen the headlines about area school districts that are moving to later school start times to better match teen sleep patterns. Eighty percent of high school students don't get the sleep they need. This can negatively affect their performance in many ways:
  • Cognitive abilities are impaired, from simple memory to complex problem solving
  • Physical performance plummets, including driving safety
  • Poor sleep impacts physical health, increasing risk of obesity
  • Emotional intelligence is impaired, a vital skill for life success
  • Inadequate sleep contributes to ADHD, depression, and increased risk-taking
  • Life enjoyment decreases - good experiences are not as good, and bad experiences are perceived as worse
Dr. Catherine Darley, Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine, will teach us how to help our students get the sleep they need to do well in school, and in life. This dynamic presentation covers how much sleep your child needs, how to identify sleep problem red flags, how to make a healthy sleep plan, and the latest research on aligning school start times with teen physiology.

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Register for "Fear-Free" SAT/ACT Practice Tests
Get Ready for the New SAT
Register now for the "Fear-Free" SAT and ACT practice tests, set for January and February. These tests are a no-pressure chance for kids to practice taking the ACT or the SAT without having the results recorded. They are also a great resource for choosing the right test for your student. The practice tests are held at LWHS. Scored tests are returned to students in a free review session, also at LWHS.

Registration DeadlinePractice Test DateReview Session
SAT - Tuesday, Jan. 26
Saturday, Jan. 30, 8:30am-1:15pmTuesday, Feb. 9, 7pm
ACT - Tuesday, Feb, 16
Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:30am-1:15pm
Tuesday, March 1, 7pm

See the PTSA website, lwhsptsa.org, for more information or to register online. To pay by cash or check, print the registration form and return it to the Main Office. Students who qualify for free and reduced lunches or have financial hardships may take the practice test at no cost, but still must register. Contact "Fear-Free" Chair Martha Rames with questions.

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raindrops-umbrella.jpgGimme Shelter (from the Rain)

Many thanks to the anonymous parent who donated purple and white umbrellas and umbrella stands for students to use when coming and going to the portables. Students, teachers and parents all appreciate the thoughtfulness, not to mention usefulness, of this generous donation.

The PTSA would also like to thank Mili Nelson in the Main Office for the unfailingly cheerful support she gives us. And for making the first experience that visitors have at LW a positive, happy one. 

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SrPartyParent's Night Out Fundraiser for Senior Party
Wednesday, January 27, 6-8pm, Kirkland Arts Center 
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The PTSA Senior Party Committee invites you to attend a fun night out for parents - we'll enjoy drinks and appetizers, with great music provided by local musician David Flett. Admission is $25 per person - purchase your ticket here. Details are in the evite; if you did not receive one, please email Joan Lindell Olsen at [email protected] to be added to the evite.
 
We hope to finish our Senior Party fundraising with a great night. This event raises funds to pay for party transportation and other expenses which helps defray the overall cost of ticket prices for the whole class. All parents are welcome, you do not need to have a senior! 

If you are not able to attend the fundraiser but would still like to support the Class of 2016 Senior Party, you can donate here.


Get Your Senior Party Tickets Now!
The Senior Party, a great LWHS tradition, is an all-night event on graduation night, Thursday, June 9. This is the last all-senior event for the Class of 2016, and a fun and safe way to celebrate this important milestone.  
 
The night of graduation is potentially one of the most dangerous nights for a grad. With our all-night party, teens are not driving tired, and there is no pressure to drink or do drugs. The party is parent chaperoned, with paid bus transportation for all attendees.
 
Great food, entertainment, and a variety of exciting activities are all included. Something for every grad to enjoy at each location! The details are secret until the night of the party to add to the excitement.
 
Tickets are currently $155. They can be purchased online at lwhsptsa.org. To pay by check, download the registration form. Tickets are non-refundable. 

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postcardHelp Fund Education Now Postcard Campaign
Now more than ever the LWHS PTSA needs your help in getting the word to Legislators that education matters! In 2016, the Legislature will be working to comply with the Supreme Court order to fully fund basic education and comply with the McCleary decision. Lake Washington PTSA Council has set a "Fund Education Now" goal to send 1,000 postcards to our Legislators and Governor by Sunday, January 31.
 
How can you help? Postcards are printed and ready for use. Just write a brief note, add your signature and return address, and send to your Legislator or the Governor. Or join us at the PTSA General Membership meeting on Wednesday, January 20 for a "postcard party." Postcards, addresses and instructions will be available. Please contact Advocacy Chair, Melissa Jackson for postcards or additional information.

Want to Do More? Join Us for Focus Day in Olympia
Stand Up, Speak Up and Show Up for Education!

Save the date and mark your calendar for Focus Day on Wednesday, February 3. This is your chance to get involved, help advocate for all children, meet Legislators and help make our (PTSA) voice heard in Olympia! Bring your family and friends to meet with Legislators and to rally in the main capitol building's Rotunda. An agenda will be posted mid-January on the Washington State PTA website. Free transportation will be provided so all you need to do is sign up and show up! To register early click hereWatch the Kang Crier for additional details. For questions or to sign up early, please contact Melissa Jackson.

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Brown Bag Lunch: LWSF Grant Writing Workshop- Get More Money for Your School
Grab your lunch and join the Lake Washington PTSA Council as they present the Thursday, January 21 Brown Bag Lunch: Lake Washington Schools Foundation Grant Writing Workshop - Get More Money for Your School. This workshop will take place from 12-1pm at the LWSD Resource Center.

Contact Judy East, LWPTSA Council President, for more information.

 

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Eastside Education Network Blog
If you are interested in issues surrounding education, with a focus on schools in the school districts on the Eastside, you might want to check Beth Sigall's blog, Eastside Education Network. A Lake Washington School District mom, as well as a lawyer, Beth has gotten involved at all levels of local and state PTA leadership, and other local advocacy groups. This blog seeks to "educate parents, students and community members about developments in education at the local, district and state level, with emphasis on policies and best practices that directly benefit students."

Recent blog posts include: "Meeting dropouts where they are;" "Ranking Washington's High Schools;" "We're thinking about homework the wrong way;" "Next steps for crowded schools in Lake Washington" and many other topics.

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LWSD Special Needs Group Meeting
The LWSD Special Needs Group meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 19 at the LWSD Resource Center. This month's presentation will take place 7-8:15pm, with a Q&A session to follow.

Advocating Effectively for Your Special Needs Child in School will be presented by Amy Schley and Amy Huntley of WAAA. As children with special needs enter the education system, parents often face challenges navigating the system and learning how to best advocate for their children. It can be an overwhelming and confusing process at times. This presentation will provide an overview of Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and other special education services, while sharing strategies, tips, and resources that families can use to help their children thrive in school. Read more.

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LWHS News & Activities

PE/Health Students of the Month - November
The following students have been selected by their physical education/health teachers as Students of the Month for November. 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!

Uriel Peizer
Emily Snyder
Dorothy Flegel
Makenna Thompson
Nika Bayanbat
Audrey Hur
Camille Henry

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LW Students Learn About Life as a "Googler" 
Thirty-seven students from Lake Washington High School, Emerson High School, International Community School and Juanita High School experienced life on the Google campus for a day in November. A panel of "Googlers" shared with students how they came to work at Google; the diversity of positions on the panel showed there are more jobs at Google than just the expected computer science jobs.

A key message for students was not to give up. At least two members of the panel did not get hired or accepted for internships at Google the first time they applied. After the panel, students checked out Google Cardboard, a tool that uses a phone inside of a cardboard box to view images as though they are in virtual reality. The highlight of the students' time at Google was a tour of the campus. (From lwsd.org)

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Last Chance to Buy Yearbooks 
Last year's award-winning yearbook.
Now through Friday, January 22 is the last chance for your student to purchase a yearbook. Yearbooks can be purchased online using Parent Access or at the cashier's window before school or during student lunches. This will be the last opportunity to purchase yearbooks; the cost is $65. If you are unsure whether your student has purchased a yearbook for this school year, you can check your student's purchase history on Parent Access.
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Tonight! ALICE Safety Training
Wednesday, January 6, 7-8:30pm, LWHS Library
LWSD works closely with local police and fire departments to continually improve their knowledge of safety procedures. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) is a set of safety principles and tools that can be used in an emergency. Learn how to use ALICE principles and what information your students will receive during the February lockdown drill. Contact Principal Christina Thomas for more information

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Counseling Center

The End is Near: Finals are Coming!
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Dread. Anxiety. Fear. Many students experience one or a combination of these emotions when they think about semester finals. With careful planning though, these emotions can be lessened. Preparation is the key. Students should know what is going to be tested and how the test will be formatted. For instance, will the semester exam cover the entire semester? Will the exam be essay questions or multiple choice? If there is anything that a student doesn't understand, meeting with the teacher early is critical. This translates into reviewing for the final early and consistently. Research has shown that cramming the night before simply doesn't work. Besides, who is there at 2am to answer questions? Review textbook notes, homework assignments, the textbook, and the teacher's lecture notes. Sometimes forming a study group is helpful. Of course, it goes without saying that students think more clearly when they eat a good breakfast and have a good night's sleep. And finally, it's important to remember that while that semester final is important, it is the process of learning that is most important.  

Take 10 - Quick Study Tips
Read the ten quick study tips that will help your student succeed.

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Student Schedules Worth a Second Look
Second semester schedules will be available for students to look at Friday, January 8. If they would like to change a semester elective, they need to download the "Schedule Change Request Form" (available on the LWHS website at 3pm on January 8), complete it, and turn it in to the Counseling Center anytime between Monday, January 11 and Wednesday, January 13. As always, schedule change requests based on teacher choice, teacher style, or lunch assignments will not be considered. Please remember there will be NO schedule changes once semester two begins.

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Financial Aid for College - It's FAFSA Time
Hopefully, parents were able to attend our Financial Aid Night on December 14. If you missed it, you can find the Financial Aid Presentation on the LWHS website under Counseling. Remember, if you do 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 1 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. Parents file online.  

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PSAT Interpretation
Sophomores and juniors who took the PSAT will receive their score reports in an informational session in the theater on Tuesday, February 9.  

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Registration for the SAT and ACT
LWHS code: 480545
Below are the official test dates for the SAT and ACT tests for the rest of this school year. Students who plan to take a test need to register online at collegeboard.org for the SAT or actstudent.org for the ACT, using the LWHS code, 480545.

SAT Test 

 Test Date Registration Deadline
 January 23 Late registration - Jan. 12
 March 5 - new SAT starts February 5
 May 7 April 8
 June 4
 May 5








ACT Test


 Test Date Registration Deadline
 February 6 January 8
 April 9 March 4
 June 11
 May 6

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Info for Seniors & Senior Parents

LW Senior Class Information Updated
The Senior Class Information page is now updated on the LWHS website, located under Announcements. You will find a list of important senior dates, as well as the Pre-College Checklist & Calendar in the box on the right. 

The first important date is the deadline for portrait photos for the 2015-16 yearbook. Submissions are due on Friday, January 15. Read the details on the Senior page.
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Does Your Senior Need College Application Support?
The PTSA's College Application Workshops continue on Wednesdays after school. See the article under PTSA News.

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Senior Party Fundraiser and Tickets
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Read more about the Senior Party Parents Night Out fundraiser and Senior Party tickets in the PTSA News section of this Kang Crier.

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Prepare Your Student to Succeed in College
Coursera is offering U101: Understanding College and College Life, a University of Washington course that UW requires its freshmen take as part of orientation. Find this free, online course at coursera.org/learn/college-life.

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LWSD News

LWSD Earns Place on Prestigious AP District Honor Roll
For the second year in a row, the College Board named Lake Washington School District (LWSD) to its Annual Advanced Placement District Honor Roll. LWSD is one of only 425 public school districts in the nation and one of ten in Washington to be honored.

The Honor Roll recognizes districts that increase access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams. Districts that reach these goals successfully identify motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit from rigorous AP course work.

This is the third time that LWSD has received this recognition in the six years of the Honor Roll. More than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the U.S. offer college credit, advanced placement or both for a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam. Achieving that score may save students and their families thousands of dollars in college tuition. Read more on the LWSD website(From lwsd.org)

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Concerned about Overcrowding in Our Schools?Take the LWSD Funding Plan Survey
Lake Washington School District has launched a survey for community members to provide feedback on the draft funding plan to implement the project recommendations of the Long-Term Facilities Task Force. That 63-member representative group spent almost a year looking into the district's facility needs. 

The Task Force recommendations include a list of specific construction projects needed to address overcrowding and aging facilities throughout the district through 2030. They also recommended strategies for efficient and cost-effective building designs. A 2016 bond measure would fund the most immediate needs. Subsequent bond measures in 2018, 2022, and 2026 would fund the longer-term needs. The bond measures would not increase tax rates. They would maintain the 2015 tax rate and keep it steady over the next 15 years.

Each measure would have projects to increase classroom space and reduce the reliance on portable classrooms. Additional projects would leverage use of existing facilities and expand choice school/program options. Cost-effective design principles would be implemented.

To give your input, take the survey online here: LWSD funding plan survey(From lwsd.org)

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Community News

Lake Washington School District-approved flyers to keep you informed about upcoming activities, programs and events are listed on PeachJar.
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Below are links provided as a service to the community - LWSD and the LWHS PTSA do not sponsor, endorse or recommend any of the organizations, services, or activities described in these materials.


Engineering Discovery Days at UW
Registration for this event opens on Monday, January 11. Read more details on the UW website.

Free Tutoring and Test Prep
Need help with math, chemistry, physics, English or other subjects? Need help preparing for the SAT or Subject Tests? Now, you can get help for FREE! Salman Khan, who left his lucrative position as a hedge fund analyst, started the Khan Academy to help students succeed. He started the Khan Academy with backing from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Google and other benefactors with the goal of "providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere." He has now partnered with the College Board to continue his work. Now, you no longer have to pay to receive tutoring or test prep. You can learn in the comfort of your own home with your computer. Just sign onto the following website and start getting the help you need: www.khanacademy.org.

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

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.
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