Lake Washington High School PTSA Newsletter     
            
 
           May 18, 2016 | Issue 18
     
In This Issue
Kang Crier Links

sidebarCo-editors Karen Peters & Debbie Ohman:
 
Quick Links
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~ Upcoming Events ~
 
TODAY! College Prep Mini-Seminar: Enjoy Your Summer AND Plan for College 
Wednesday, May 18, 12:40pm, College & Career Center

TONIGHT! Parent Ed: Teen Drug Use in our Community at PTSA General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, May 18, LWHS Theater
7pm - Business Meeting; 7:30pm - Parent Ed Talk

Prom Tickets on Sale
Now - Wednesday, June 1, Cashier's Window

Smarter Balanced Assessment (State Testing)
Thursday, May 19, Tuesday, May 24 & Thursday, May 26
8-10:30am; Late start for those not testing - 11am

Brown Bag Lunch: What Happened in Olympia and Why Should I Care?
Thursday, May 19, 12-1pm, LWSD Resource Center

Senior Party Ticket Sales/Bus Sign Ups
Friday, May 20, during lunch

Senior Party Ticket Price Increase
Saturday, May 21

Social Media Safety Talk
Tuesday, May 24, 7-9pm, Eastlake HS Theater

2017 Senior Party Planning Meeting
Wednesday, May 25, 8am, College & Career Center

Memorial Day - No School
Monday, May 30

Math End Of Course (EOC) Exam
Tuesday, May 31, 8am

Poetry Slam
Tuesday, May 31, 6:30pm LWHS Theater

Yearbook Distribution
Wednesday, June 1, after school in the Commons

Biology EOC Exam
Thursday, June 2, 8am

Limited Yearbooks for Sale for $75
Friday, June 3, after school at the Cashier's Window

Senior Prom
Saturday, June 4, 8-11pm, Columbia Tower

Kangapalooza
Wednesday, June 8, after school

Graduation*
Thursday, June 9, 5pm, Key Arena

Last Day of School - Half-Day
Wednesday, June 15

* See full list of events for seniors below in the Senior Info section
  
 

From the Principal
As the year is winding to a close, I want to send out a big thank you for all of the support, encouragement and thoughtful ideas you have shared throughout this year. It is a pleasure to work in a community where teamwork and honest conversations are the norm. Every year we work as a staff to improve our practice. We have worked this year on having common assessments which measure student learning, and aligning those assessments to the skills and knowledge outlined in the Common Core Standards. Additionally, we continue to work to have a positive learning environment. To this end, we have increased our Safe School Ambassador Program and provided educational speakers for students.

As the year closes, we have many activities to engage students and facilitate a safe, friendly school environment. On Friday, May 20, we host an all-school mock car crash assembly. This collaboration with Kirkland Police and Fire will emphasize the importance of safe driving - including not driving while impaired or distracted. Students will have meaningful discussions in homeroom prior to and following this event.  

Additionally, we are having Kangapalooza, a carnival-type event, on Wednesday, June 8 after the Moving Up Ceremony. The event is free, but students must have a signed permission form to participate. Students will receive these forms shortly before the activity.

There are many upcoming events which will change our schedules. Please watch for information via email and our website so your students are aware when our schedules vary.

There are only a few weeks left of the school year - please take this opportunity to check your student's grades and encourage them to continue to work hard and attend school regularly to ensure a successful end to the school year.

Christina Thomas, Principal

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PTSA News

Tonight! Parent Ed Presentation:
Teen Drug Use in our Community
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Wednesday, May 18 in the LWHS Theater
7pm - PTSA Business Meeting
7:30pm - Parent Ed Presentation

Heroin and opioid abuse have become a public health crisis. Unfortunately, the community of LWHS has been hit hard in the past 11 months. Please join us for a very special presentation led by Suzanne Peterson, LWHS's Prevention Interventionist with Youth Eastside Services. The presentation will begin at 7:30pm, following a brief PTSA business meeting. 

The PTSA business meeting will include approval of our 2016-2017 budget, our financial report and the presentation of the PTSA's Sheeley scholarships to four deserving LWHS students. Principal Christina Thomas will be available to answer questions from parents. 

Please note that tonight's event will be held in the LWHS Theater in order to provide extra seating for parents and students. Contact LWHS PTSA Co-Presidents Liz Hedreen & Anne Ryan for more information.

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Today! Make Sure Your Junior is Ready to Go When College Applications Open!
sunflower-2.jpg Is your soon-to-be-a-senior student ready for the Common Application, the new Coalition College Application (which UW will be using) and the Universal College Application - not to mention all the other applications that individual schools use? The final College Application mini-seminar of the year, Enjoy Your Summer AND Plan for College, will make juniors aware of all the college applications that open this summer.

Students will learn how to make an account for the various college applications, what is included in each one and what the essay topics are. Even if your student is not sure where they are applying, send them to the talk to get an early look at the work ahead and ask any questions they may have. The mini-seminar will be presented today, Wednesday, May 18 at 12:40pm in the College & Career Center. As usual, pizza and dessert is provided! Contact Judy Shedd with any questions.

Look for the College Workshop in the Fall
The College Workshop will return in the fall to provide college application and essay support to LWHS students. The mini-seminars will resume as well, with the bulk of them taking place after the college application season.
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Donations Needed for Senior Salute
Cookies, Coffee and Fruit
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Senior Salute is fast approaching. This year it's on Tuesday, June 7 from
7-9pm. The organizers would very much appreciate your help in providing refreshments for the reception. They are asking for volunteers to provide decaffeinated and regular coffee, fruit and cookies. All donations should be dropped off at the school on June 7 at the times given here. The coffee should be taken to the Commons between 7:15 and 7:45pm; the reception variety_cookies.jpg begins at 8pm. Cookies and fruit can be dropped off in the Commons anytime from 2:30 to 6:30pm. Sign up and get details on the Senior Salute Donations page

Email questions or comments to [email protected].
Thank you, from the Senior Salute Committee!

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Get Your Senior Party Ticket Before the Price Increase on Saturday
Ticket Sales During Lunch on Friday
graduation partyRead the Senior Party article in the Info for Seniors section below for more information.
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LWHS PTSA Wins You Rock! Award
The May You Rock! Award was presented to the LWHS PTSA by the Lake Washington PTSA Council for its College Application Workshops. The You Rock! Award is granted to local PTAs or individuals in the district who, through time, creativity and community, help students build for the future by doing something worth sharing with the rest of the district. Congratulations to Judy Shedd, College Workshop Chair, and volunteers Karen Peters, Liz Hedreen and Debbie Cossey! 

Rolled out in the fall of 2015, the College Application Workshop was designed to help students fill out college applications and in particular, provide essay support. Sessions were held Wednesdays after school from September through May, with college application help given in the fall and "mini-seminars" on college prep topics held in the spring. The results were outstanding: 20 students received essay support; 184 students attended the mini-seminars. The PTSA plans to expand the program next year to twice a week to meet growing demand.

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2017 Senior Party Planning Meeting
Parent of Juniors Needed Now
A meeting to round up a Senior Party Planning Committee for next year's graduates will be held on Wednesday, May 25 at 8am in the College & Career Center. Yes, the event is over a year away, but the planning needs to start now! There are lots of ways you can help - ticket sales, chaperoning, marketing, logistics and more. 

If you are interested in being part of the Senior Party Planning Committee for 2017, please join us at the planning meeting. If you would like to participate but can't make the meeting, contact Mindy Lincicome.

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Take Advantage of Your PTSA Member Benefits
If you joined the LWHS PTSA, don't forget to make use of your member benefits! Check out your discounts and benefits from the Washington State PTA, as well as the National PTA.

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Internet/Social Media Safety and Digital Literacy for Parents Presentation
Parent Ed Event at Eastlake High School
On Tuesday, May 24 from 7-9pm, a parent ed presentation will be held in the Eastlake High School theater. Internet/Social Media Safety & Digital Literacy for Parents will cover many topics, such as: Who is the Internet predator and what are his tricks? What is the law specific to sexting and digital peer aggression? When to be concerned as a parent, and much more. View the flyer for full details.

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Brown Bag Lunch: Legislative Wrap-Up - What Happened in Olympia and Why Should I Care?
The Lake Washington PTSA Council invites you to a bipartisan discussion about education policy and funding on Thursday, May 19, 12-1pm at the LWSD Resource Center. View the flyer for full details.

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Kang Achievements

DECA Students Succeed at Internationals
Lake Washington High School was well represented at the DECA International Career Development Conference competition held recently in Nashville. All of our LWHS students did extremely well at this annual competition, with 17,000 people in attendance. See photos on the LWHS Facebook pageCongratulations go to:

Mckenzie Granston - Placed Top 10 overall for Marketing Management Individual Role Play. Mckenzie received four medals and is in the top 1% of all students in the world for DECA. 

Katrina Yang - Placed Top 20 overall for her Franchise Business Plan (a 30-page paper and 10-minute presentation). Katrina went on to finals and the judge was very impressed with her visual presentation. She is in the top 2 % in the world for DECA. 

Matt Malloy, Emily Calderon and Spencer Burmester - Competed in the Student Store Enterprises and received a Gold Achievement Level plaque - the highest achievement - which we'll be placing in the student store. They did a great job presenting in front of the judges and Matt deserves a big congrats for writing a 50-page paper for this event. 

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National Merit Scholarship Winner at LWHS
Kudos to Sarah Chen for winning a National Merit $2500 Scholarship. Sarah was one of just 2,500 distinguished high school seniors nationwide to win this scholarship. Students were selected from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program.

National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. 

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Art Student Wins National Award
PTA Reflections Competition
Congratulations to Kalista Schultz for winning the Award of Merit in the National PTA Reflections competition for her photograph titled, Thaumaturgic. Kalista is the only student from the Lake Washington School District to win an award at the National level this year. This was her first year to submit a Reflections entry. She was glad to partake in a competition focused on the arts as there are not many of these opportunities available to students. Kalista is graduating this year and the PTSA wishes her all the best!




Kalista with 
her winning 
photograph.

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Kang Sports

Baseball Team Wins KingCo 3A Title
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Congratulations to the baseball team on their 1-0 victory over Mercer Island. That win earned them the KingCo 3A title! Well done.


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Boys Soccer Players Honored by KingCo
League coaches named three LWHS players to the KingCo 2A/3A all-conference first team in a recent vote. Shuma Katori, Matteo Loi and Justin Soto made the first team. Tom Veldee and Billy Wiskel made the second team. Arturo Lomeli, Jose Torres, Alex Lundin and Conor Knox made honorable mention. Congratulations, Kangs!


The varsity team after defeating Juanita High School in the last game of the season.

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JV Tennis Team Undefeated
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Congratulations to the JV tennis team who finished the season with a perfect record. Go, Kangs!

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LWHS News & Activities

Yearbook Distribution on Wednesday, June 1
Limited Number of Books for Purchase
yearbook
Yearbook distribution will take place on Wednesday, June 1 after school in the Commons. Students cannot pick up their yearbook if they have any fines. You can check the status of your student's account online through your Parent Access account.
 
If your student didn't purchase a yearbook and would like one, there are a limited number of extras that will be sold on a first come, first serve basis after school on Friday, June 3 at the Cashier's Window. The cost is $75, cash or check only, and in order to purchase, students may not have any fines. If you have any questions, please contact LWHS bookkeeper Mrs. McChesney.

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Attend the Last Poetry Slam of the Year
See our talented LWHS students perform in the final Poetry Slam of the year on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:30pm in the Theater. Doors open at 6pm; admission is $5 and proceeds will go to help fund this year's Kangapalooza festivities. Bring $10 to the show to buy admission and the new 300-page Poetry Book - over 90 poems from the last three slams collected in one book! $5 to get in, $5 for the book. Supplies of the book are limited! 

View a video from a past Poetry Slam. For more information, contact Mr. Terich.

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The Final Mock Trial in AP World History
AP World History students tried Mao Zedong on charges of incompetence and brutality in his efforts to modernize China.


Sean Benson, David Shuer, Gerrit Van Zwol, Hailey Menssen, Aubri Baskin, Helen Serr, Sam Dorsey and Gavin Robertson.




Desiree Eliason, Lauren Peterson, Olivia Kaulfus, Sean Miller, Jayden Saldivar, Robert Coyas and Kerry Malone.

Wilford Huang, Izzi Cooper, Thuan Do, Sajeenaa Jebanathan, Abby Croson, Kiana Maadanian and Ethan Smith.


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Counseling Center

Looking for Something for Your Student to do Over Summer?
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Ah, the lazy days of summer. A few sprinkled here and there are great. Students have worked hard all year and deserve some of these 'no list' days. But too many can get boring! Here are some great ways for your student to stay occupied and get ahead of the busy, upcoming school year.

Class of 2019 and 2020: Begin thinking about your post high school plans (apprenticeships, gap year, military, private career schools, technical colleges, two-and four-year colleges). Begin exploring and investigating details about these different programs and schools. Enrolled in an honors class next year? Make sure you have completed your required readings. Check out potential scholarships.

Class of 2018: Continue to explore your interests and options. Consider all your options: apprenticeships, military, vocational/technical colleges, two- and four-year options. If you are four-year college bound, check out college websites or visit campuses. Make a list of colleges that are of interest to you. If you have already taken the PSAT, SAT or ACT, review your strengths and weaknesses and take some timed practice tests. Check out potential scholarships.

Class of 2017: Continue to refine your list of post high school options and narrow down your choices. Plan to retake the SAT or ACT if you need to improve your scores; register online for these tests and for SAT II Subject Tests if needed. Narrow your college choices to four to six schools; determine if you will apply for early admission. Polish your resume. Create a master calendar of due dates that honor deadlines. Check out potential scholarships.

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Second Semester Progress
Finals will be here before students know it. If students are not doing well, they need to meet with their teacher to see how they can improve. They should take advantage of Tutorial (every Tuesday) and/or plan to meet with their teacher before or after school. Students can also form informal study groups to review lecture notes or prepare for tests. Counselors have a list of tutors if students are really behind or confused. 

For freshmen, sophomores and juniors, this may be a good opportunity to assess progress and perhaps take a summer school course to make up deficiencies; we have summer school course catalogs in the Counseling Center. View information on dates, cost and location

Seniors need to make one solid push to the end; if required classes are not passed, seniors will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

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Next Year's Schedules
If students are having second thoughts on their course selections that they made earlier this spring, they need to stop by the Counseling Center. We would like all schedule requests to be final by Friday, June 10. Schedules will be available in the fall. Students are reminded that it is extremely difficult to change their classes once they are set by periods and teachers

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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. 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
 June 4
 May 20 (late registration)




ACT Test

 
 Test Date Registration Deadline
 June 11
 May 20 (late registration)

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Info for Seniors & Senior Parents

Senior Salute 2016: Farewell to LWHS
A Cordial Invitation to Senior Students and Family
greyscale-graduates.jpg
Join us Tuesday, June 7 from 7-9pm in the Gym for an inspirational
and intimate celebration for graduating students and their families. There will be musical performances, poems, student reflections and a brief speech by teacher Joshua Tuggle. Refreshments will be served immediately following in the Commons. Many families appreciate this slower-paced, more personal opportunity to visit and photograph their cap-and-gowned graduates at the high school. 

RSVP: Please let us know how many people will be in your party; email the graduate's name, parent's name, and number of guests - not counting the graduate - to [email protected].

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Senior Party Tickets Rise to $180 on Saturday
Ticket Sales and Bus Sign Ups at School on FridaySrTix

The price for a ticket is $165 until Saturday, May 21 when the cost increases to $180. Tickets include transportation, activities, entertainment, food and drinks all night long. Tickets are non-refundable. We would like every student to be able to come to the Senior Party! For information about scholarships, contact LWHS staff member JoDee Hull.

For more information on additional ways to purchase a ticket, plus necessary forms, view the seniors section on lwhsptsa.org. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
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Senior Countdown Calendar
Below is a list of important dates for seniors. See the full details in the May 4 issue of the Kang Crier and on the school website.

Department Honors Applications Due - Friday, May 20. SrCountdown
To be considered for department honors, seniors must complete and submit the application to the College & Career Center by Friday, May 20. Recipients will receive notification from the department leader; recipients will then purchase honor cords from the Cashier's Window prior to graduation, where they will be recognized. See the list of departments and application forms.

Senior Prom - Saturday, June 4 at the Columbia Tower Club from 8-11pm  graduate_students_diplomas.jpg

Senior Check-out Form Pickup - Monday, June 6 from 7:30-8:10am

Senior Finals - Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7 at 8:15am

Senior Salute - Tuesday, June 7 from 7-9pm in the Commons

Laptop Turn-in/ Check-in Form Deadline - Wednesday, June 8

Moving Up Ceremony - Wednesday, June 8 from 11:30am-12:30pm in the Gym

Kangapalooza - Wednesday, June 8, 12:30pm, LWHS
 
Senior Sunset - Wednesday, June 8 at 8pm on the baseball field
 
Senior Breakfast - Thursday, June 9 from 8-9am in the Commons
 
Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal - Thursday, June 9, from 9-11am in the Gym

Graduation Tickets - distributed immediately after rehearsal (see above)

Graduation - Thursday, June 9 at 5pm at Key Arena in Seattle. Congratulations, Kangs!

Senior Party - Thursday, June 9 after graduation - students will leave LWHS on buses around 10:30pm and return Friday, June 10 at 6am

Diploma Pick Up - Friday, June 10, starting at 6am at LWHS

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Scholarship Opportunity - Friday Deadline
financial_service_flat.jpg Did your graduating senior attend Carl Sandburg Elementary or the Discovery Community School at Sandburg? The Carl Sandburg/DCS PTSA is offering two $1,000 academic scholarships! The scholarships are intended for the purchase of tuition, required textbooks, or room and board for on-campus housing. The application is due on Friday, May 20.
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Lake Washington Schools Foundation

Thank You for Supporting Our Students!
Thank you to our incredible community - you helped raise $270,000, and counting, at the Spring for Learning luncheon and breakfast in April. Community supporters, including teachers, parents and business leaders, came out to hear the big dreams of LWSD students and joined in helping support those dreams.
 
LWHS student Jake Hanna shared his video and dream of becoming a filmmaker. Students at Evergreen Middle School shared their college plans and their work with AVID, a Foundation funded program. The featured speaker at the breakfast was Seattle Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid who spoke of his childhood as an immigrant and the teachers that inspired him growing up. Former Seattle Seahawk and NFL Hall of Famer Walter Jones talked at the luncheon about his dreams to be a professional football player. 

A special thank you to Dr. Traci Pierce for her inspirational speech on helping students in our district achieve success and the ability to follow their dreams. 

The Foundation is expanding investments in district-wide programs in order to impact more students across our growing district. If you were unable to attend the spring events you can still make a donation to support our students and teachers. Check out the 2016 event photos and the video

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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.
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Free Test Prep & Tutoring Online
Need help preparing for the SAT or Subject Tests? Need help with math, chemistry, physics or other subjects? You can get help for free online at kahnacademy.org
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Summer SAT and ACT Prep Courses
ACT and SAT prep courses will be taught over summer at local high
schools. Find out more and register at satprep.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.bottomofpage