We have a ways to go before we reach our goal this year of adding 625 members to the LWHS PTSA. However, now we have an added cash incentive: We've entered the WA State PTA "Power Up" Membership Contest. If we can add at least 15 members to our PTSA through the month of January, we are eligible to win a cash prize...monies that could go toward a number of different good causes and needs in our high school.
If you have not had an opportunity to join the PTSA, please do so by clicking here and help us reach our goal!
Reasons to join (there are many, but here are just a few):
Get connected to your child's school environment - parent interest and participation equates to better student performance, it really does!
At $15 for an individual membership and $25 for a family membership, it's one of the least expensive ways to have your voice heard in Olympia and to support education in the State of Washington.
Still not convinced? Benefits, benefits and more benefits: FedEx Office (4 cents/copy), Great Wolfe Lodge, Hertz/Avis, etc. rental car companies, Key Arena / McCaw Hall and more.
Thank you for listening and for all you do to support LWHS PTSA!
All parents who have signed the pledge can now be found in our online student directory, there will be 2 stars next to the students name **, you must be a Lake Washington High School PTSA member in order to access student directory. Not a member? Join here.
In conjunction with The National PTA Alcohol and Drug Free Resolution and the Washington State PTA, the LWHS PTSA is again sponsoring the Parent Pledge program to achieve the following goals:
To build a communication network to reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs among teens in our school and community.
To host only Alcohol-Free, Tobacco-Free and Drug-Free parties for teens.
To not allow teens to possess or consume alcohol, tobacco or other drugs at their homes.
To discourage their teens from attending unsupervised parties.
By signing this Parent Pledge, you are letting other LWHS PTSA families know that you intend to supervise your child's social gatherings in your home and provide an alcohol, tobacco and drug free space. This pledge sends a clear message that as parents/guardians, and as a community, we believe underage drinking, tobacco, and drug use is unacceptable. Please note that if a family is not listed in the directory, it does not necessarily mean they do not support the pledge. Only PTSA Members can access the online parent directory.
Would you like to make a permanent mark at your old elementary school? Mark Twain PTSA is raising money to expand and improve their overcrowded playground and they are selling personalized engraved bricks as part of that effort. Please visit their website at www.twainplayground.com for more information and to donate.
Washington State PTA FOCUS DAY will be held in Olympia on January 29, 2018. This is an opportunity to connect with legislators to advocate on WSPTA priorities. There will be no set speeches or rallies for this event. For more information visit webpage.
ADVOCACY WEEK will be January 29 - February 4 and is a great opportunity to contact legislators in other ways, especially if coming to Olympia is inconvenient:
Got 2 minutes? Reply to a VOTER VOICE Action Alert. Sign up at here.
Got 5 minutes? Find names of the legislators who represent your school district and call the Legislative Hotline to leave them a message: 1-800-562-6000
Got 10 minutes? Download, print, and mail a postcard to legislators. Find the postcards on our advocacy page. Find mailing addresses for members of the House here and Senators here.
Got 15 minutes? Send a personalized email to legislators telling them your story and why you care about PTA Priorities.
WSPTA will have a new Priority topic every day during Advocacy Week - follow Washington State PTA on Facebook, and check the WSPTA Blog to get weekly updates on WSPTA Priorities and bills.
Quick Reminder for Parents of Seniors If your senior is currently completing a graduation requirement outside of LWHS (for instance, taking an on-line course), remember that we must receive the final grade/transcript documenting the credit earned by June 1. March 28 is the last proctored exam at LWHS that will meet this deadline for seniors.
Midyear Reports for Seniors If your senior applied to colleges using SENDedu or the Common Application or requested a midyear report be sent through Coalition, counselors will automatically send the midyear report including an updated transcript that reflects first semester. As soon as grades are final and posted on transcripts, counselors will complete these reports.
PSAT Interpretation We will be returning PSAT results during RooTime on February 8. Sophomores and Juniors who took the PSAT will receive their score reports and test booklets and then head straight into the theater for an informational session that will include a brief video presentation on how to interpret their test results and how to read their summary report.
Registration for 2018-19-Already! We will begin registration with our current LWHS students as soon as semester 2 begins. Counselors will cover not only the requirements for graduation, but also specific needs of each student via a credit check form. Selecting classes needs to be a thoughtful process since course offerings and teacher assignments are made based on these selections. Traditionally, scheduling is tight, and schedule changes are difficult and the process oftentimes frustrating for students who sign up for classes without reading the course description in our course catalogue. (Our course catalogue will be available on LWHS's website.) Please help prepare your student for this process. Do you feel your student is being realistic in his/her choices? Is the homework likely to get completed on time? What about other activities/athletics? Do the courses support your student's goals? Your student needs your input, and we need your support. We appreciate your involvement in this process.
Counselors will visit classrooms on January 29-30. All students will register on line in homeroom on February 5.
Just a friendly reminder that when your student will be out 1-4 days a pre-arranged absence form (page 1 only) needs to be turned into the attendance office at least 1 week in advance in order to have the absence excused. If your student will be out 5 or more days a pre-arranged absence form (page 1 & 2) will need to be signed by all teachers, parent and student and then turned into the attendance office at least 1 week in advance in order to have the absences excused.
Pre-arranged absence forms are available in the attendance office or on the LWHS website following the pathway of: Students/Families>Attendance>Under the Attendance section click on the pre-arranged absence form.
LWHS PTSA is partnering with Princeton Review to give students an opportunity to take a low-cost, practice SAT or ACT in a real test environment at school. These practice tests are available for all students but Juniors and interested Sophomores are highly encouraged to attend.
Upcoming test dates:
SAT on Sat February 10
--> SAT Registration Deadline: Tue 2/6
ACT on Sat March 24
--> ACT Registration Deadline: Tue 3/20
All tests are taken in the library from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and will give you the complete testing simulation.
WSPTA Student Essay Contest: Men Making a Difference
The Washington State PTA holds a yearly statewide essay contest that explores the important and varied contributions that men make in the lives and education of children -- from the child's perspective. All men involved in a child's life -- fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, step-fathers, mentors, neighbors, pastors, coaches and friends -- impact the children they care about. Research clearly shows that male involvement positively influences academic success at all levels of schooling -- preschool through college.
Click here for contest guidelines, divisions, and to read last year's winning entries. Deadline is March 1, 2018.
Washington State PTA
Still need a yearbook?
We sell out every year!
Our final sales window will be open from January 22 to February 11th. The cost is $65 and can be purchased in person at the ASB cashier office (closes at the end of lunch), or online through Parent Access. Be sure to check your purchase history to ensure you haven't already purchases one in the fall. Contact Mandi McChesney if you need help with your account.
The only way to guarantee that you get a copy is to make sure you purchase a yearbook before the final order is placed on February 11th.
Weekly College Presentations for Juniors and Sophomores begin in two weeks!
Now that college application deadlines are past, the College Application Workshop - a Lake Washington High School PTSA program that helps seniors with application essay editing and support - shift focus to juniors and sophomores with weekly presentations to help them start their college journey. Debbie Cossey, an experienced college counselor, representatives from local colleges, and community volunteers speak to students about the myriad of options they have when it comes to navigating this next chapter of their lives.
Presentations include topics such as How to Choose a Major, Great Schools for Engineering, Business and Computer Science, Affordable Colleges, College Opportunities in the Arts, and lots more! CLICK HERE for a complete list of presentation topics.
Our first presentation will be "20 Ways to Choose your College" on Wednesday, February 7th.
All presentations will be held on Wednesdays after school, beginning at 12:40, in the College and Career Center. They last about 30 minutes. No registration is required and food will be provided. Presentations are open to all students; we hope to see many curious Kangs there!
These are student-only events but we encourage parents to ask their kids what they learned. Please contact Debbie Cossey or Judy Shedd for more information. Find Frequently Asked Questions HERE.
In the meantime, good luck to all students during finals and we'll see you in February!
Students may apply for more than one scholarship, but only one will be awarded per student. Please go to www.lwptsa.net to download a student application. Completed applications are due back on April 18th, but it never hurts to get an application in early!
It's that time of year for high school seniors: applying for college and figuring out how to pay for college. To help with college costs, the Washington State PTA offers three $3,000 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors from Washington state high schools (with active PTSAs)who will be starting 2-year or 4-year college in the fall of 2018.
