October 19, 2021 | Issue #5 |
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A Message from your LWHS PTSA President |
Ah, fall. That means the return of the rain, students returning to school, and pumpkin spice in (almost) everything. It’s also time for Homecoming – that quintessential autumn American tradition of welcoming back students and celebrating school spirit. The LWHS community had the chance to do just that this past weekend. The Homecoming game and associated social events looked a little different this year but staff and students, parents and guardians found ways to gather and celebrate nonetheless.
LWHS PTSA holds an annual homecoming of sorts too, as we welcome new and returning members and volunteers. PTSA memberships need to be renewed every year, and 230 of you have already joined. Welcome…and to some of you, welcome back!
So, what does a spiffy new 2021-2022 LWHS PTSA membership do for you? Here’s a sampling:
- Voting rights at membership meetings (LWHS PTSA general membership meetings are open to our community but only members can vote).
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Access to the 2021-2022 LWHS Student Directory, which will note Parent Pledge participants.
- Membership in Washington State PTA, the oldest and largest child advocacy organization in Washington state.
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Discounts to local and statewide businesses and associations.
What do your membership dues and donation do for LWHS PTSA?
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A significant portion of your membership fee, and 100% of your donation, stays at LWHS PTSA to fund classroom grants, student activities, and ongoing school support and programs. Click here to read what we do for LWHS students and staff!
- A portion of your membership fee goes to WSPTA to support, among other things, advocacy, scholarships, and local PTSA volunteer support and training.
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If your employer matches donations, please remember to report your contribution! If you need any information from our PTSA, please contact us.
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You can continue to support LWHS PTSA at no extra cost to you by designating LWHS PTSA as your charity of choice with Fred Meyer Rewards, Amazon Smile and Bing Rewards.
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Watch our video to learn more about PTSA at LWHS and the many things that we support! (Note: this video was made pre-COVID but is still accurate and relevant.)
We cannot do all that we do to support LWHS staff and enrich the education of LWHS students without your donations of time, funds, and talent. If you have not yet become a LHWS PTSA member, donated to our Pass the Pouch fundraiser, or offered to volunteer with us, please consider doing so now. The process is quick, simple, and entirely online.
We hope to welcome (back) many more of you soon!
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Coffee With Christine - Two Options to Attend! |
The next PTSA-sponsored “Coffee with Christine” will be Thursday, October 28. Come join other LWHS parents and community members for an open Q&A discussion with new LWHS Principal Christine Bell. These informal gatherings will be held both virtually and in-person, with one in the morning and one in the evening (details below). The meetings last about an hour, but you are free to join late or leave early. Choose the attendance option that works best for you!
Coffee with Christine - Thursday, October 28:
- 8:30-9:30am: In-person at LWHS College & Career Center
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6:00-7:00pm: Virtual Teams Meeting Click Here to Join
Please be sure to read Principal Bell's letter in the "School" section below.
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In addition to state, county, and local issues, there are also 2 LWSD school board position races on the ballot this November for the Directors of District #3 and District #4, who are elected by voters across the entire district. Election day is Tuesday, November 2.
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SAT and ACT Practice Tests |
Back by popular demand! LWHS PTSA is pleased to offer additional sessions for the SAT and ACT practice tests with Princeton Review. The practice tests will continue to be conducted online due to COVID restrictions.
The practice tests are created from original SAT/ACT tests from past years. They are a great way for your student to get comfortable with the format and style of the SAT or ACT. Students who take the test will also be invited to a strategy session that provides tips and tricks for better performance in the actual test.
The online practice tests will occur:
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SAT: Saturday, November 6 with Strategy Session following (date TBD)
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ACT: Saturday, November 13 with Strategy Session following (date TBD)
Note: If your student has taken an earlier practice test, they can take it again. However, please note that the set of questions will be the same.
Don’t let your student miss this opportunity! Sign up for free! Registration must be completed by November 2.
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Fall PTSA Grants Now Available |
Again this year, LWHS PTSA will be able to support grants for LWHS staff and ASB clubs. The teacher/staff enrichment grants provide an opportunity for staff members to request funding to support programs, equipment, or other activities that will help enrich the educational experience at LWHS. ASB Club grants can support activities by funding equipment and participation at events. The PTSA is excited to be able to support the Kang community by funding equipment and activities that will help to foster connection and learning!
Additional information and the application form are on the PTSA website. Grant requests are due by Friday, October 29.
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LWHS PTSA Staff Appreciation Needs You! |
Your LWHS PTSA Staff Appreciation Team and Hospitality Crew is looking for fun teammates. We'd love to have help with the setup and presentation of our events. We are also looking for volunteers to occasionally donate items or baked treats. Please contact us at appreciation@lwhsptsa.org to sign up. "It's always more fun with a friend!"
Linda Cheyne and Anne Allan, LWHS PTSA Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs
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October is Disability History Month |
The LWPTSA Council Special Education Group would like to invite ALL families to their monthly meeting. Whether your family includes a child receiving special education services or not, if you are a PTA leader or not, if you are simply curious about the Special Education Group...you are welcome.
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When: Tuesday, October 19, 2021
- 6:30pm networking time for families, 7:00-8:30pm meeting to discuss Celebrations and Challenges. This is a collaborative session to discuss what returning to school has looked like for students & families. We'd like to hear what worked well for your family, and what could use a little adjustment.
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Where: Join via Zoom
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2021-2022 Reflections Arts Competition |
Get your student’s creative juices flowing for this year’s Reflections competition! Three more weeks before submissions are due on November 1. The theme this year is I Will Change the World By…
What Is Reflections? A national arts competition offered through the LWHS PTSA. Students enter a piece of art that goes through a judging process at the high school level with the potential to advance to the Council, State and National level. Click here for more information.
What are the Art Categories? Visual Arts (2D only), Music Composition, Photography, Literature, Film Production and Dance Choreography. There is also a Special Artist Division for students with disabilities.
Who can participate? Any student attending LWHS and any student attending a choice school or online school whose home school is LWHS.
How to get started? Review the rules for the art category and the Checklist for Success, both located on the PTSA website.
What is new this year? Students will submit entries online (upload location TBD). Chair will provide help to any students deterred by submitting online.
When is the deadline? Monday, November 1 by end of day.
Theme Search Contest: National PTA are asking students to submit a theme for the 2023-2024 program year. The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100 and his or her theme will be presented at the annual National PTA Convention in June 2022. Repeat themes will not be considered. Click here for a list of past themes. Submit your entry using the new online Theme Search form by November 1.
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Washington State PTA Student Programs |
Washington State PTA has a number of programs specifically for students. We hope you will encourage your student to participate in one or more of these fantastic opportunities.
WSPTA Essay Contest - explores the important and varied influencers in the lives and education of children. Open to all grades. The submission form (available soon) is located on the website and is due by March 1, 2022.
WSPTA Scholarship program - for graduating seniors from Washington state public high schools with an active PTA. The online form (available soon) is located on the website and submissions are due by March 1, 2022.
WSPTA Game Development Competition - a STEM program for students in grades 6-12 who share their knowledge of computer science based on a theme. To ensure all students have an equal opportunity to participate, a new category has been added for best board game. Submissions are due by March 1, 2022.
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Sustainability Volunteer Opportunities for Students |
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September General Membership Meeting Recap |
At our September 29 General Membership meeting, LWHS PTSA membership approved the May 2021 draft minutes, the 2021-2022 budget, and reapproved the standing rules. PTSA members can view the budget on our website. Guest speaker LWHS Principal Christine Bell held a Q&A and parents stayed to socialize after the meeting.
Click here for previous and upcoming meeting information.
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From the Desk of LWHS Principal Christine Bell |
Dear Kang Families,
As I write this, we are wrapping up our October 13 "Super Wednesday" testing day. Our staff and students did a fantastic job with the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT and we even finished early. Thank you to all of you for supporting our students who were testing and those who were not as well.
Last week was also Homecoming Week. Although Homecoming didn't look the same as it did in 2019, our leadership students and advisor worked hard to ensure that it was as engaging and inclusive as it could be. Not having a dance was a district-wide decision and our hope is to have a dance again in the spring. Keep your fingers crossed on that one!
As we get into a routine that is more like what school was like before we went to virtual learning, you will notice a few changes. First, our students are getting into the swing of High School and Beyond Planning. HSBP is a state graduation requirement, and you can expect your student to take time each year to visit and revisit plans for life after high school. Our amazing counseling team oversees High School and Beyond Planning for each of our grade levels. Want more information about this process? You can visit the HSBP page on the OSPI website.
The other update you will hear about is an emphasis on engagement during class time. This means that as a system we are focusing on being on-time to class and keeping cell phones off and away during learning time. If you hear from a teacher regarding a concern in either of these areas we really do need your support. Thank you!
The rest of October will bring opportunities for student voice in a Panorama survey (meant to measure feelings of safety and belonging at school) and also in the form of the Healthy Youth Survey that is provided to sophomores and seniors each year. The Healthy Youth Survey helps schools and districts determine allocation of resources to support student mental and physical health. Also, students in our health classes will have presentations this month from our counseling team around mental health and Signs of Suicide. More information will be forthcoming around these surveys and presentations.
When we get to the end of the month it is important to remember that any costumes must be school appropriate--that is, they must not be disruptive to the learning environment, conceal a student's identity (beyond a COVID facemask) or involve weapons or drug references. Thank you for your support of our learning environment.
I enjoyed meeting many of you last month in the "Coffee with Christine" meetings. If you have a chance, please try to join this month so that you can have some time to hear from me while also connecting with other parents. Our focus for October is safety, and our Dean of Students Mr. Joss and SRO Officer Gehrke will join us.
That's all for now. Go Kangs!
LWHS Principal
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Support LWHS Boosters through Amazon Smile! |
Let’s spread the word to get ahead of shopping season and rally as many Kang families as possible!
Amazon Smile is a free/easy way to have a percentage of shoppers’ purchases support the Lake Washington High School Booster Club. In our board meeting last night, our clubs voted to use our AMZ Smile funds this year towards participation fees, to help enable all students access to a sport or activity.
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This is our unique URL to get started: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-3440935
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If you already have AMZ Smile, it’s easy to update your charity by hovering over the “Supporting” Icon (top left) and searching on: “Lake Washington High School Booster Club”
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Don’t forget to also sign up on your mobile device for your in-app purchases! Simple step-by-step directions are here.
Cyber Monday shopping is right around the corner! Go Kangs!
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Advanced Placement Exam Payment |
Lake Washington School District students are able to pay for AP exams through October 22, 2021. Students can pay the school's bookkeeper or can use the Online Payments tool.
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College & Career Center News |
Live Wednesdays
Volunteering
The College and Career Center is always looking for more volunteer opportunities for our students. If you know of a business, charity or club that is in need of additional volunteers, please contact the College and Career Center.
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Crisis Help - Resources available for mental health, suicide, or substance abuse.
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Free Meals - LWSD offers free meals daily to children ages 1-18. Meals must be pre-ordered and can be picked up at 13 different locations across the district. Get details and pre-order at lwsd.org/meals.
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Community Resources - Find resources including Covid vaccinations, health, wellness, food, finances, technology, Internet, legal and more.
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Technology Support - Family technology access support is available seven days a week from 7:00am to 7:00pm. For student laptop, passwords and other technology questions email: ftaccess@lwsd.org or call 425-936-1322.
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Connections e-Newsletter - biweekly district newsletter. Sign up and see past issues.
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Parents of Seniors, We Need You! |
LWHS PTSA is still seeking a chair for the Senior Salute. If you are interested in helping out, please email Stacy Mehlberg, LWHS PTSA VP of Student Programs. We’d love to hear from you!
Senior Salute (chair position): The chair/chairs organize a senior baccalaureate evening of inspiration right before graduation which is focused on a more personal level with students, staff, and families. If permitted to take place in-person, the event includes the coordination of school building space, student and staff speakers, student art, refreshments and student music while maintaining a budget. It is an evening to celebrate the graduating class of the year.
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College Application Deadlines are Approaching! |
- Early Action, Early Decision and UW’s deadline is 11/15
- UC Schools deadline is 11/30
Let us help your student complete their application with our essay support!
LWHS PTSA is pleased to provide students with FREE virtual application essay support three times a week via Zoom. Students can connect with trained volunteers who will assist with editing college application essays and personal statements. Volunteers can also answer questions about the college application process and steer students in the right direction for any additional support they might need.
Each one-on-one session will be 30 minutes. Students must sign up in advance for a specific date and time. Parents are welcome to join the call as well!
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Lunch & Learn: Social Emotional Learning |
Join Johnny Phu, LWSD Director of Student Services, for a conversation about Student Mental Health/Social Emotional Learning. Bring your lunch and learn with us!
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Topic: Student Stress, Trauma, and Mental Health
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When: Thursday, October 21 at noon
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Where: Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone via this Zoom link.
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Lake Washington School Foundation News |
Balance in Mind Fall Parent Chats
Parent Chat is a great forum for talking with mental health professionals and other parents in a safe and supportive environment. Our next session on October 27 at 7:00 pm is "Your Child, Their Therapist, and You". Understanding the different roles of parent and therapist, appreciating the importance of both, and establishing clear expectations are key to establishing trusting relationships between your child, their therapist, and you. Register at www.tinyurl.com/BiMFall2021.
Find Your Fit College Planning Events
Get your 2022 graduate ready for post-secondary success by enrolling them in free virtual events hosted by independent college counselor Mary Pat O'Neil. Our next webinar is An Overview of the College Process on Tuesday, October 19. Learn more and register at www.lwsf.org/findyourfit.
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October 19: LWPTSA Council Special Education Virtual Meeting, 7:00pm
October 21: LWPTSA Council Virtual October Lunch and Learn, 12:00pm
October 22: Picture Retake Day
October 28: Coffee with Christine, 8:30-9:30am in-person, 6:00-7:00pm virtual
November 5: End of First Quarter
November 11: Veteran's Day (No School)
November 17: LWHS PTSA General Membership Virtual Meeting, 7:00pm
November 24: Half Day of School
November 25-26: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
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Information distributed in the Kang Crier does not imply endorsement by Lake Washington High School PTSA. We assume no responsibility for any content that does not originate from lwhsptsa.org, nor do we independently verify or exert editorial control over information not specifically endorsed by LWHS PTSA. Lake Washington High School PTSA shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused by the use of this content. |
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