May 19, 2020 | Issue #19
PTSA
Tomorrow! Online PTSA Membership Meeting & Principal Chat
Join us for our next Membership Meeting from the comfort of your own home! Principal Thomas will join us after the meeting to provide an update and answer your questions. You can find the meeting agenda here . Please submit questions for Principal Thomas in advance of the meeting to president@lwhsptsa.org .

LWHS PTSA Membership Meeting
Wed, May 20, 2020 7:00-8:30 pm

Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3122

Access Code:  150-249-029

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
PTSA Award Nominations Now Being Accepted
Due tomorrow, May 20!

Do You Want to Honor a FABULOUS Educator, Volunteer, or Student?

Last chance to submit your nominations for our four LWHS PTSA awards:
  • Golden Kang / Outstanding Educator - for an outstanding teacher or staff member
  • Golden Acorn - for an outstanding volunteer
  • Outstanding Advocate - for an outstanding advocate of all children
  • Outstanding Student Advocate - for a student who has made significant contributions in leadership and service

Feel free to nominate more than one person. Please use one form per nominee.

Nominations forms, information and award criteria are  available here . Email your completed nomination forms to  communications@lwhsptsa.org  by May 20.
 
LWHS PTSA Awards Committee
Colette Ulloa, Pam Hay and Anne Buck
Online Special Education Group Meeting - Today at Noon!
The LWPTSA Council Special Education Group is pleased to host their monthly gathering online for May. Our topic will be "Inclusionary Practices in LWSD", presented by Associate Superintendent Mike Van Orden. 

In January 2020, Lake Washington School District was selected to serve as the model district for the state Inclusionary Practices Professional Development Project. The state Legislature, OSPI and LWSD have made it a priority to provide more students with disabilities access to learn in general education settings with their non-disabled peers. When students with disabilities are included in the general education classroom with their peers, they (and their non-disabled peers) have more positive academic and social outcomes. Regardless of the current school closures, this work continues in LWSD.

Additional information can be found here . We hope you can join us!

LWPTSA Council Special Education Group meeting
Tue, May 19, 2020 12:00-1:00 pm
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3412  
Access Code: 432-621-117

Questions? Email the  Special Education Group leaders !
LWHS PTSA Committee Openings
PTSA chairs and committees make things happen! We have many committees seeking members/chairs and would love to have you on our team! Over the next few newsletters, we will feature a few of these roles with more specifics on what each committee does. But in the meantime, start thinking about how you might want to get involved with your student’s school and the larger LWHS community.

  • Student Recognition
  • Welcome Event
  • Advocacy
  • Communications
  • Membership
  • School Beautification/Service Projects
  • Reflections
  • Co-chairs for: Staff Appreciation, College Application Workshops, Senior Events
 
Ready to dive in or have questions about any of these openings? Contact  LWHS PTSA Board
School
LWSD Resources During School Closures
Lake Washington School District buildings may be closed, but LWSD staff members have been working around the clock since then to support the families in our school community. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the  LWSD Coronavirus (COVID-19) website .

Meals :  Grab and Go student meals  for students are available at six middle school sites across the district.  Delivered meals  are also available at 29 sites across the district. On Fridays, the district meal delivery will include extra weekend meals. Pantry Packs will distribute weekend packs on Fridays at the middle school meal sites. Check the  Pantry Packs website  for the latest information in case of changes.

Childcare : The YMCA and Bellevue Boys & Girls Clubs are providing care for families in our district that need care. More  details and instructions .

Remote Learning : Updates regarding instruction, grading, materials distribution and Class of 2020 FAQ.

Technology Support : Families in need of laptops can contact Family Technology Access: ftaccess@lwsd.org or 425-936-1322, 7:00 am-4:30 pm, Monday-Friday.

Community Resources : Find resources including health, wellness, food, finances, technology, Internet, legal and more.

Have a closure-related question? Please check the  Frequently Asked Questions  or  submit a question .
Free College Essay Boot Camp with The College Essay Guy
LWHS students have the opportunity to join a one-week college essay boot camp delivered by Ethan Sawyer, AKA The College Essay Guy.

Students can join this essay boot camp at no cost. The live sessions will be held on June 1, 3, and 5 at either 10:00-11:30 am or 4:00-5:30 pm (whichever session time fits your student's schedule).
 
Quick info on The College Essay Guy:
  • Ethan wrote the current bestselling book on the personal statement, College Essay Essentials
  • He’s well-regarded in the college admissions field and is considered one of the go-to resources on college essays
  • His website, which has hundreds of free resources for applying to college
 
This syllabus  maps out what Ethan will cover during the boot camp.

Here’s how your student can register:
  1. Go to this registration page.
  2. Enter student name and email.
  3. They're done! Have your student put the date and time on their calendar and keep an eye on their email with next steps and instructions for accessing the live webinar.
 
LWHS College and Career Specialist
From the Counseling Center
Looking For Something To Do Over the Summer?
Ah, the lazy days of summer. A few spattered here and there are great. Your student has worked hard all year and deserve some of these ‘no list’ days. But too many can get boring! Here are some great ways for them to stay busy and get ahead of the demanding upcoming school year.

Class of 2023 and 2024 : Begin thinking about 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 they have completed required readings if applicable. Check out potential scholarships.

Class of 2022 : Continue to explore interests and options. Consider all the options: apprenticeships, military, vocational/technical colleges, two- and four-year options. If they are four-year college bound, check out college websites or take a virtual tour of the campuses. Make a list of colleges that are of interest and follow-up to see if they will require the ACT or the SAT. Check out potential scholarships.

Class of 2021 : Continue to refine their list of post high school options and narrow down choices. Check potential colleges to see if they are requiring the SAT or ACT; register online for these tests and for SAT II Subject Tests if needed. Narrow college choices to four to six schools; determine if they will apply for early admission. Polish their resume. Create a master calendar of due dates that honor deadlines. Check out potential scholarships.

LWHS Counseling Center
Seniors
LWHS Senior Planning
The LWHS Administration has posted information regarding plans for senior graduation activities. Click here for information on the planning for virtual graduation, cap and gown distribution, speaker auditions, and other activities. 
Class of 2020 Yard Signs Available Again!
Order by Sunday, May 24!

Due to popular demand, LWHS PTSA is again offering LWHS Class of 2020 Signs to display in your yard or windos. These signs are 18 x 24 in size with an H-stake at $10 per sign and can include your students name.  View the design sample here. . 
 
To purchase a sign, visit the LWHS PTSA website  here . Please place your order by Sunday, May 24. We hope to distribute signs with the school's cap and gown distribution on June 1. 
Class of 2020 Survey Results
In April, the PTSA Board requested input from all seniors and their families on how best to honor our graduating seniors during the Covid-19 experience. 137 families responded to the survey, and we want to share those results with you, as well as show you what we are doing to move forward with the results in mind.The PTSA plans and organizes the Senior Salute and the Grad Night Party which were the primary focus of the survey. You can find full details of the survey results  here.  In general, it was clear that parents/students would like to see some type of "live" gathering if/when possible and primarily in the July/August time frame.

Here is what we know for sure;

Senior Salute : Our current chairs will work with the administration to support the district approved virtual graduation event. In addition, they plan to create a memory book that will capture and recognize several of the aspects of the live event that highlight students. This will be distributed to all seniors before the end of the year at an appropriate time/event. They would also like to provide some type of individual photo opportunity for students and families IF this is feasible before the end of the year.

Grad Night Party : Unfortunately the June 15 event is cancelled. The PTSA Board has agreed to refund the ticket price to all families who purchased Grad Night Party tickets for the June date. Families should have received an email on May 13 about obtaining their refund.

Summer "Live" Event : Those who took the survey and volunteered to help plan a later Summer "live" event met virtually on May 18 and are actively planning this potential event for later this Summer, dependent upon if the State has moved into Phase Four of the "Safe Start Plan" for reopening activities. This event is meant to compliment the Senior Salute and give families and graduating seniors a chance to congregate. Look for more activity regarding this potential event during the next few months.

LWHS PTSA VP, School Support
Community
Balance in Mind Events
Balance in Mind is supporting parents and teens with weekly chats. Check one out this week:


Events
May 19: LWPTSA Council Online Special Education Group Meeting
May 20: LWHS PTSA Online Membership Meeting
May 25: Memorial Day (No School)
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