A huge thanks to the 50+ student and the 10 parent volunteers who did an amazing job on the school gardens on October 14. Weeds were pulled, plants were trimmed, dead plants were removed and a HUGE pile of mulch was spread. This collaboration between the ASB & PTSA is a great example of the power of teamwork and Kang spirit. More landscape improvements are scheduled to come!
All are welcome -- PTSA Membership Meeting Nov. 15!
Please join us on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 7-8:30pm in the LWHS Library for our next PTSA meeting.
Principal Christina Thomas will join us to present information and gather parent feedback about a "7-period day" being planned for fall 2018. We will also have speakers and information about the upcoming LWSD levies and bond. The evening will include a brief PTSA business meeting where we will elect a Nominating Committee and vote on whether our PTSA will endorse and support the upcoming levies and bond.
The LWSD School Board voted to approve a bond and two replacement levies for the February 13, 2018 ballot.
The 2018 Bond will raise $299 million with no tax rate increase. It will fund building projects that address growth and overcrowding, as recommended by the Task Force.
The Capital Projects levy funds critical facility and technology needs not funded by the state. The 2018 levy replaces the expiring levy with no tax rate increase.
The Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy funds program and operations needs not funded by the state. The 2018 levy replaces the expiring levy and decreases the tax rate.
Total LWSD Tax Rate for all 3 measures: $2.93 per $1,000 assessed value (a decrease from $3.18 per $1,000 AV).
For additional details, the district has created an information sheet.
** Also, don't forget to vote for the two LWSD Board Director positions on the ballot due November 7th. More information on the candidates can be found here. Your voice (and vote) counts!
Special Needs Chair Wanted
October is Disability Awareness month! Schools around the district are supporting this effort in a myriad of ways. Some schools are hosting fairs, others are promoting books with themes around disability awareness and some have designed bulletin boards with pictures of biographies of famous people who have disabilities. We need someone to lead this kind of effort here at LWHS!!!!
Become the Special Needs Chair for the LWHS PTSA. What does the role include?
Communicating with caregivers about monthly district-wide Special Needs Group meetings and other community events;
Advocating for meaningful inclusion in school events;
Educating the student body and staff about disabilities.
If you are interested in this fully supported role, please contact Mindy or Irene, Co-Presidents, LWHS PTSA or Jennifer MacLachlan, Special Needs Chair, LW Council PTSA at: special.needs@lwptsa.org. For more information about Special Needs PTSA Council Group: http://www.lwptsa.net/special-needs/
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.
On October 11, all sophomores and many juniors took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Typically, College Board sends the results in early January. Counselors will meet with students in the PAC to quickly review and interpret their Score Reports. Students are also encouraged to log on to the website given to review test questions and even try some challenge questions. Students can also go to their Math and English teachers with PSAT questions and/or read their interpretation booklets for additional explanation on the variables that can affect scores. This is the first pre-college type of test for most of our sophomores and our goal is to have students look at their results with those variables in mind. They may be disappointed in their results, but they can take consolation in the fact that much learning can take place between now and the spring of their junior year when they will be taking the SAT I or the ACT. And, if their scores are high now, it can be a good boost in their self-confidence.
Senior Update
On October 11 while the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were listening to speakers or taking the PSAT or the ASVAB, seniors were managing their own busy schedules. Seniors chose from eight different workshops, in addition to the mandatory Career Cruising presentation and College Fair in the gym. Because they chose the workshops that were important to them, students were, for the most part, attentive and asked good questions. If seniors still have questions or wish to further discuss their post high school options, please encourage them to meet with their counselor.
Mark your calendars for November 8, 7:00pm in the Library at LWHS! The College and Career Center is pleased to host a Scholarship Market Workshop with guest speakers from the College Planning Network. This workshop is designed to help students and parents identify scholarship sources and develop scholarship application techniques. The Washington State resource, theWashboard.org will be fully reviewed and the process of matching students with scholarship characteristics will be discussed. This presentation will be especially helpful for Senior students and parents; however all grade levels are welcome.
Interested in going to Ireland and Scotland during Spring Break!? You can find more information HERE. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Day at edayef@hotmail.com.
Game Development Competition for 9 - 12th Graders
Is your student a gamer or interested in coding? The Washington State PTA is hosting a Game Development Competition to provide an opportunity for students, either individually or in teams of up to six members, to use their creative talents and express themselves by developing a computer game. Students participate and share their knowledge of computer science based on an assigned theme. Submissions are judged in the following areas: game of the year, arts and animation, game design, programming (code), and audio design. Award information for the five categories will be announced in December.
The theme for the 2017-2018 competition is Gravity.
Timelines: Intent to Submit forms are due January 15, 2018. Final project submissions are due March 15, 2018. Winners will be announced by April 28, 2018.
Everything you need to know about LWHS clubs and activities now appears on the main LWHS website. This information includes how to connect with the over 30 existing clubs and interest groups at LWHS and how to form new clubs or interest groups. All students are encouraged to join something that interests them, and if they see a need for a new club or group, they are encouraged to form one.
All 2018 LWHS seniors are invited to the annual all-night Senior Party. Scheduled for the night of graduation, Senior Party is a way for graduates to celebrate with their classmates in a fun, safe way: alcohol-free, tobacco-free, drug-free, and well-chaperoned. This is a LWHS tradition, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime evening for our students. Last year we had close to 200 students attend!
... if your student is applying to the UW or a University of California school! Deadlines are 11/15 and 11/30 respectively.
Encourage your senior to drop by the College Application Workshop any Wednesday after school or Thursday ROO Time and let us help with peace of mind. A fresh pair of eyes is helpful in brainstorming or when wrapping things up!
Where:
Wednesdays after school in the College and Career Center
Thursday ROO Times in the Bistro
aka Outside the Library/Upstairs Commons/2nd Floor Commons
Encourage your senior to sign up via FlexiSCHED. We are listed as an option More Info: The program is offered at no cost to students, they are welcome to drop by as often as they'd like. We offer lunch on Wednesdays and breakfast snacks on Thursdays. There is always chocolate.
