Approved a revised budget to include budget increases to the following programs: School Beautification, Emergency Preparedness and $50 mini-grants to teachers; the revised budget also includes $500 for a community engagement event in the spring (if you are interested in helping plan this event, contact us!).
Voted to endorse and support the bond and levy measures set for the February 13th ballot.
Nominated Dan Olson and Colette Ulloa to the Nominating Committee (we need one more volunteer to serve on this important committee that works to find volunteers to build the 2018/19 LWHS PTSA Board - please reach out to lwhsptsaPres@gmail.com). Elections of Nominating Committee members will be held at our next membership meeting.
We heard from LWHS Principal, Christina Thomas, on the 7 Period Day and the planning that the school administration is doing to implement this new schedule, potentially starting in the fall of 2018. We heard from Barbara Posthumus, LWSD Associate Superintendent, Business & Support Services, about the three ballot measures coming up in February. She noted that student enrollment continues to grow rapidly, at an average of 700 students per year. The bond would address overcrowding, aging facilities and inadequate classroom space. The two levy measures address access to technology, staff needs, programming and course offerings to help students graduate future ready. These measures come without a tax increase. See articles below in Kang Crier for more details.
Vote YES! For Our Schools: 2018 Bond and Levy Campaign
We have a school bond and levy vote coming up on February 13th and parents and students of Lake Washington High School are directly impacted because the bond includes a needed addition to LWHS. Tune into future Kang Crier editions to learn more about how the bond benefits LWHS and why it's so important to assure the bond measure passes. The expansion, should the bond be approved, would include a new wing to the school, adding 55 classrooms. To read more about these bond and levy measures, CLICK HERE. District information is HERE.
Pantry Packs Holiday Hunger Campaign, December 4-17
This school year 307 students in the Lake Washington Learning Community (including LW students) are projected to need Pantry Packs each week so they do not go hungry during school weekends. The Pantry Packs program, powered by the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, is a volunteer-run food assistance program that provides weekend food packs for hungry students. Over the years, it has grown to serve 43 schools in Lake Washington School District. As the district grows, so does the need. The number of hungry students has outpaced food drives and fundraisers. Therefore, Feed Washington, a local nonprofit partner of Pantry Packs is running the Pantry Packs Holiday Hunger CampaignDecember 4-17. The online fundraiser seeks to fully fund the Pantry Packs program for 2017-2018.
A donation of $25 will provide a hungry student with weekend food for a month. It is a small amount with a big impact. Your contribution toward LW's goal will help support food-insecure students. Our hope is that we -- as individuals and communities who may have much at our disposal -- will contribute and ensure that none of the children in our schools comes to school hungry on Mondays. Please contact campaign manager Katy Philips at katy@feedwashington.org with any questions.
The LWHS Parent Directory is now available to PTSA members at lwhsptsa.org. Members may sign in to view it. The directory Includes names, email addresses and telephone numbers for all LWHS families except for those who did not authorize that information to be released. It also reflects those parents who signed the Parent Pledge, agreeing not to allow students to use alcohol or drugs in their homes.
The LWPTSA Council Reflections Art Show and Open House will be on Friday, January 5 from 4-8 pm at the LWSD Resource Center. Come celebrate all the students, from primary grades through high school, who participated in the Council round of the Reflections Competition! All are welcome!
Congratulations to the LWHS PTSA for earning the Washington State PTA Bronze Award. We received this award for enrolling 50% of last year's numbers by October 1st. With 572 members, we are well on our way to exceeding the 2016/17 membership number and to reaching our goal of 625 members. This shows the strong commitment of LW parents to our students' education. Thank you to all members for joining, for your support of students and teachers throughout the year and for making LWHS PTSA shine!
As you may know, the class of 2019, this year's eleventh graders, have a twenty-four credit requirement to graduate. This decision was made at the state level several years ago. With the district's current schedule of a 6-period day, students only have twenty-four opportunities to earn those credits, with no room for failing to pass a class. The district and Lake Washington High School have an interest in providing more opportunities for students to either extend their learning or make-up any loss of credit. In an effort to meet this need, a task force consisting of parents, teachers, administrators and district personnel met for two years exploring options. The end result was a recommendation to offer a 7-period day.
NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse Juniors and seniors considering participating in intercollegiate athletics need to register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse. This registration certifies the eligibility of student athletes to participate in sports during their freshman year in college.
WORTH A SECOND LOOK Students will be able to view their 2nd semester schedule on January 8th. If they would like to change a semester elective, they need to download the "Schedule Change Request Form" (available on LWHS's website at 3 pm on January 8), complete it, and turn it in to the Counseling Center anytime between January 8 and January 12. If the counselor can make the change, your student will be able to view his/her new schedule online. As always, schedule change requests based on teacher choice, teacher style, or lunch assignments will not be considered.
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.
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.
2018 spring break opportunity to Ireland and Scotland! Want to travel? Want to travel with your friends and or family!? Join us on our trip to Ireland and Scotland where we will be exploring the lands, learning about the history and culture of the locals and of course...eating all the amazing food along the way! We still have a couple slots left! Email or come see Ms. Day in room 232 before it's too late!
Senior Party ticket prices go up on January 1st to $180 each! Tickets are currently $165 through December 31st. Pay online with a credit card or print out the registration form and pay with a check. Senior Party tickets make perfect Holiday presents for your teen.
Encourage your senior to wrap up that college application essay before break so they can have a stress free vacation! College Application Workshop provides trained volunteers to assist with essay and personal statement editing every Wednesday after school in the College and Career Center AND every Thursday ROO Time in the Bistro (aka Outside the Library, Upstairs Commons and 2nd Floor Commons).
Remind your student that we are here to help! They can drop by on Wednesdays or use Flexisched to sign up for Thursday ROO Time. We hope to see them!
