Lake Washington High School PTSA Newsletter        
            

     January 20, 2016 | Issue 10 
In This Issue
Kang Crier Links

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

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

TONIGHT! 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, LWSD Resource Center

Last Day to Buy Yearbook
Friday, Jan. 22

Second Semester Begins
Monday, Jan. 25

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

College Application Workshop
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 12:35pm, College & Career Center

Lil Roos Cheer Camp
Saturday, Jan. 30, 9am-noon, LWHS

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

Coffee with Christina
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 9-10am, College & Career Center

PTSA Focus Day 2016
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 8am-4pm, Olympia

PSAT Score Reports to Sophomores and Juniors
Tuesday, Feb. 9

Poetry Slam
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6:30-9pm, LWHS Theater

"Fear-Free" SAT Review Session
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7pm, LWHS

 
 

From the Principal
Happy New Year! For parents of seniors this is an important milestone. This will be a very busy second semester for all of our seniors. As the first semester comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to review some important procedures and issues. Academic achievement requires students to attend school and complete outside homework. We are having issues with students missing multiple days, with some missing over twenty-five days just in the first semester. Please work with your students to ensure they are attending regularly and that you are excusing absences within the 48-hour timeline. The other area which is causing students to fail classes is that they are not completing assignments. For some students, they still need the assistance of their parents in setting up study time, checking Haiku for assignments and checking grades on a regular basis. It was interesting to learn that many parents that were contacted regarding student failures had no idea their students were failing. We have implemented the tutorial period which is helping with lowering the number of failures, but I believe with intentional intervention by parents we will have even more success.

Freshman students who need twenty-four credits to graduate and have failed a class this first semester will be offered a credit retrieval option in English, algebra and physical science. This is a new program by the district and parents will be contacted in the next few weeks.

In addition, we are gearing up for registration for the 2016-17 school year. Students will hear presentations from counselors in February. This is an important time to be having conversations with your students regarding career pathways and developing the four year plan. Career Cruising is the mechanism we use to do this. Information will be given to students next week on how to give their parents access to their Career Cruising account. If you are not added, we will be posting the directions to our webpage so you can work with your student at home. 

We wish you the best for the New Year and hope to see you at a PTSA meeting or Coffee with Christina in the future. 

Christina Thomas, Principal

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PTSA News
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). Principal Christina Thomas will update us on happenings at LWHS and we'll take a few moments to support the 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 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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CAWNo College Application Workshop Today
The College Application Workshop wishes LW students best of luck during finals week. We will be back to help students with essays and mock admissions interviews next Wednesday, January 27, at 12:35pm in the College & Career Center.
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Warm Up with Coffee (with Christina)
Wednesday, February 3, 9-10am, College & Career Center
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Here is your chance to find out what's going on at LW and ask the principal any questions you have. Principal Christina Thomas will host her popular Coffee with Christina on Wednesday, February 3 from 9-10am in the College & Career Center. Grab a coffee, warm up and ask away!

Contact PTSA Co-Presidents Anne Ryan and Liz Hedreen for more information.
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SrParty2Get 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. There's 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. The Senior Party is sponsored by the LWHS PTSA.

Contact Senior Party Chair Joan Lindell Olsen for more information.
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PTSA Membership Drive for 5!
We Want You! Please Support our PTSA's Drive for 500 Members
We thank the 412 of you who have already joined the Lake Washington High School PTSA, but we're not done yet! We set big goals at LWHS, and we're aiming for 500 members. Please help us in our Drive for 5!  
 
Why should you join the PTSA?  
  1. Strong parent involvement is one of the markers of a great school.
     
  2. Becoming a PTSA member is the simplest way to participate at the high school level.
     
  3. Our PTSA provides a wide variety of services and funds to the school including teacher classroom grants, student club grants, science and art supplies, SAT prep, college essay prep, staff appreciation and more.
     
  4. You add your voice to the largest child advocacy organization in the state, the Washington State PTA, which lobbies our legislators for better education in our schools.
  5. You gain access to the online student/parent directory.
     
  6. There are great member discounts at FedEx Office, Great Wolf Lodge, Washington State Fair, Wild Waves, Value Village and many others.

Membership is $15 for an individual, $25 for a family membership (2 adults) and $10 for staff. Join onlinedownload a form or pick up a form and pay by check in the Main Office. Not sure if you are a member? Email Membership chair Meredith Goldstein to find out.

 

Thank you for supporting our PTSA Drive for 5!

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Prepare for the ACT and New SAT
Register Now for "Fear-Free" SAT/ACT Practice Tests
There is still time to register for the "Fear-Free" SAT/ACT practice tests. The deadline to register for the SAT practice test is Tuesday, January 26; the test will be held Saturday, January 30 in the LWHS Library. Remember, these tests are a great way to learn about the ACT and the SAT in a real test environment but without the stress! Scored, but unrecorded tests are returned to students in a free review session 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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Brown Bag Lunch: LWSF Grant Writing Workshop - Get More Money for Your SchoolbrownBag
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. 

Last year LWSF gave out over $300,000 in grants to district schools. Help your school benefit from the foundation by applying for a grant now. Come meet Larry Wright, LWSF's executive director and learn tips, ideas and the "how tos" of the application process for the foundation's "Reaching for Success" grants.

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

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Focus Day 2016
Stand Up, Speak Up & Show Up for Education!
Please join us in Olympia on Wednesday, February 3 from 8am-4pm for the biggest advocacy event of the year. Your presence will help us put education front and center with our lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session. Check out why this matters to us in Lake Washington School district on the LWPTSA Advocacy page.

The event is free, but please register to attend Focus Day 2016. Children are welcome to attend. Lake Washington PTSA Council has reserved a bus to take our members to and from Olympia. If you don't want to hassle with driving or parking and you'd like to ride the bus with us, please register for the bus (note - there is no fee to ride the bus, but registration is required). All logistical info (departure location, time) is included at the registration link.

This is your chance to get involved, help advocate for all children, meet Legislators and help make our (PTSA) voice heard in Olympia! For Lake Washington PTSA members, there will be scheduled meetings with legislators from the 45th Legislative District (Sen. Andy Hill, Rep. Roger Goodman and Rep. Larry Springer). A rally in the Capitol Rotunda for all members from across the state is also planned. And we'll personally deliver our 2,000 "Fund Education Now" postcards you've all been working so hard to fill out! 

We hope you will join us. Show up, speak up and help show legislators that education matters now! Questions? Please contact Advocacy chair Melissa Jackson.

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Kang Achievements
Art

Four LW Artists Advance to State
We are very pleased to announce that the Reflections entries of four LWHS students are moving on to the state level of competition. Congratulations to:


Kalista Schultz won an Outstanding Interpretation Award for "Thaumaturgic" in the category of photography.




 


Johanna Brekkan won an Award of Excellence for "Head in the Clouds" in the category of photography.
























 


Emilie Torres won an Outstanding Interpretation Award for "Making the Ordinary Into Extraordinary" in the category of visual arts.
















Cecilia Yagelowich was awarded an Honorable Mention for "Time Flies" in the visual arts category.












Congratulations also to all students who submitted entries in the Reflections competition. You can check out all of the art at tonight's PTSA General Membership meeting. Don't miss this opportunity to see some great art by LW's talented students! Stay tuned this spring when we report on how the above four students compete at state.

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Kang Sports

Cheer Squad Offers Lil Roos Cheer Camp
The LWHS Cheer Squad is holding a Lil Roos Cheer Camp on Saturday, January 30, 9am-noon at LWHS. The camp is for girls and boys in K-8th grade. To register your child, email [email protected]. For more information, read the Lil Roos Cheer Camp flyer.





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LWHS News & Activities

Missing School Over Mid-Winter Break?
Don't Forget the Pre-Arranged Absence Form
With mid-winter break quickly approaching, please remember that if your student will be leaving for an extended trip, a pre-arranged absence form must be filled out before the first day of your student's absence in order for it to be excused.  These forms can be found in the attendance office, or printed from the link above.
 
Also, if your student is out sick, you must call within 48 hours in order for this absence to be excused. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Attendance Office

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Last Three Days to Buy Yearbooks 
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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England, Scotland and Science!
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Mr. Palmer is leading a student trip to England and Scotland for spring break 2017. While in the United Kingdom the itinerary includes visits to traditional sites like Big Ben and Edinburgh Castle, as well as science-focused sites like Stonehenge and an extinct volcano. More information can be found at the trip website: goo.gl/HlskP2

Registration can be completed online and all travelers who register by Thursday, February 15 will receive $100 off the trip cost! Please direct any questions to the trip e-mail account, [email protected], and not to Mr. Palmer's school e-mail address. Note: This trip is not affiliated with the Lake Washington School District.

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Check Out our Talented Students
Be sure to check out the color pencil drawings of first semester Beginning Drawing students on display in the third floor west hallway gallery space. Among the works we are celebrating are those by artists Anna Kruse, Ariana Simon, Athena Hernandez, Linnie Jensen, Lynn Odell, Malia Lakman, and Molly Cassidy.

Anna Kruse
 
Ariana Simon
















Athena Hernandez
 
Linnie Jensen














Malia Lakman
 
Molly Cassidy
















Lynn Odell
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Counseling Center

Need Financial Aid for College?
Fill Out the FAFSA Now
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 can file online

If you missed the Counseling Center's Financial Aid Night in December, you can find the Financial Aid Presentation on the LWHS website under Counseling. Remember, if you experience difficulty when you fill out the FAFSA, we encourage you to call the financial aid office at any of our local community colleges or universities. They will be more than happy to help answer your questions.

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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 during the school day.  

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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
 March 5 - new SAT starts February 5
 May 7 April 8
 June 4
 May 5







ACT Test


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

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Info for Seniors & Senior Parents

Senior Salute - Save the Date!
Mark your calendar, Senior Salute will be held Tuesday, June 7 at LWHS. Watch the Kang Crier for details about this fun, more intimate celebration of our graduates.
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Senior Party Tickets
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Read more about the Senior Party and how to purchase tickets in the PTSA News section of this Kang Crier.

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LW Senior Class Important Dates
The Senior Class Information page is located on the LWHS website; find it listed under Announcements at the very bottom. The Senior page has a list of important senior dates leading up to graduation, as well as the Pre-College Checklist & Calendar in the box on the right. 
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Does Your Senior Need College Application Support?
The PTSA's College Application Workshops continue next Wednesday after school. See the article under PTSA News.

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LW Schools Foundation

Save A Date - You Choose!
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Celebrate and support education in our community by attending your choice of the Spring for Learning luncheon on Wednesday, April 20 or breakfast on Wednesday, April 27. We are offering two events this year to accommodate busy schedules. Pick a date or come to both! 

Are you interested in helping the foundation make these events a huge success? Please contact the foundation office at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more. Volunteers are needed to:
  • Serve as a table captain, a corporate partner or help recruit corporate partners
     
  • Volunteer on the spring events committee
     
  • Help recruit table captains or community members to the event

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Reaching for Success Grant Application Information

The LWPTSA will be hosting a Brown Bag Lunch on January 21 from noon-1pm to learn about the grant making process and to answer questions. Another opportunity will be Thursday, February 4 hosted by the foundation. For more information, please visit www.lwsf.org and click on "Teachers & Grants."
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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.


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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