May 18, 2021 | Issue #19
PTSA
PTSA Membership Meeting, Awards Announcements and Parent Education Event - Tomorrow!
Last general meeting of the year! Wednesday, May 19 at 7:00 pm
 
Join us virtually for our last meeting of this year - everyone is welcome! We will be electing our new officers, approving our 2021-22 budget, and announcing the winners of our PTSA volunteer, staff, and student awards. Plus, you can share well wishes for Principal Thomas as she prepares for her retirement this July. The meeting agenda and proposed budget are on our website; members can also view treasurer and board reports.

Click here to join the meeting. The link is also available on the PTSA calendar or school calendar.

Following the meeting, stay for our parent education event with Cadence Child and Adolescent Therapy for a short presentation on Coping Strategies for Back to School Anxiety. Learn tips and tools your student can use now, next year, and even this summer as they re-engage with friends and activities.

Questions? Contact Denise Campbell, LWHS PTSA President
Coffee with Christina
May 26 at 9:00 am

Please join us for the last Principal Coffee Chat this year on Wednesday, May 26 at 9:00 am. This coffee is primarily geared towards parents of next year’s freshman class, but all are welcome. Experienced parents are always helpful in answering questions, too! Grab your coffee and join us as we welcome new families, hear what’s happening at the school and have a chance to ask questions.

Click here to join the meeting. The link is also available on the PTSA calendar or school calendar.
Volunteers Needed for Senior Party
Freshman, Sophomore, Junior parents - we need you! Volunteers are needed for our Senior Party on June 9. Committees are hard at work planning the event and we'd like non-Senior parent volunteers to assist with a variety of activities. We especially need chaperones for the party itself, 9:30 pm to 2:30 am. Please consider paying it forward so our senior parents can have the night off!

Contact Debi Blaskovich at seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org to volunteer.
Get Informed, Stay Connected!
There are multiple ways to stay on top of what is happening at Lake Washington High School. Below are just a few of the helpful websites and social media accounts where you can find info or subscribe to get timely information.
 
Websites:
 
Social Media:
  • LWHS: @lwhs_alwaysrising
  • Counseling/College & Career Center: @lwhscounseling
  • Student newscast: @Kangnewslive Info for students, by students. Great place to learn what the students are up to in school and related activities. Also live streaming many of the current sporting events.
  • ASB events and activities: @lwhs.asb
  • Graduation years: @lwhs.2021 (2022/2023/2024) Stay up to date on happenings by class.
  • Student athletic information: @lwhsboosterclub Highlights student athletic teams and other interscholastic activities.
  • LWHS PTSA: @lwhsptsa PTSA happenings, school announcements and events.
Thank You from the Staff Appreciation Committee
A huge thank you to our PTSA Families for hosting a fabulous week celebrating our amazing LWHS Staff!

The weekly celebrations included:
  • Monday: Pick Me Up - Fresh Coffee and Donuts in all Staff Lounges
  • Tuesday: Greek Lunch of Grinders and Salad
  • Wednesday: Game Day - Guessing Jars and Drawings
  • Thursday: Tropical Day - Smoothies Delivered
  • Friday: Snack Attack - Snack Boxes in all Staff Lounges

Our Staff was excited and appreciative of all the fun we were able to bring to them! It was big, delicious, and COVID-safe!  All the wonderful contributions from our families were greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping us support them throughout the entire year! We couldn't have done it without you.

Thank you to our local businesses, Acropolis, Emerald City Smoothie, Tipsy Cow, Starbucks and Safeway, for their donations as well!

Linda Cheyne and Anne Allen
Special Education Group Meeting - Tonight!
Please join LWPTSA Council Special Education Group for the next virtual meeting on tonight, May 18 at 7:00 pm. There will be a presentation by Lei Wiley-Mydske, the founder of Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library and creator of Neurodivergent Narwhals. The mission of the Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Library is to promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion for Autistic people.

Join at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/176585909 or dial in at (872) 240-3412 with Access Code: 176-585-909 

Persons with disabilities needing accommodations, those needing an interpreter or who have questions about access may email specialeducation@lwptsa.net in advance of the event.
The Journey to Becoming an Anti-Racist Family
Join LWPTSA Council for the second workshop with Lewin Education and Consulting on "The Journey to Becoming an Anti-Racist Family."

The journey is a long one and it's never too early to start talking about how to be anti-racist. As Angela Davis states: “In a racist society, it's not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” 

Please send questions to Irene Neumann and Hae Sue Park, Parent Ed Co-Chairs.
Self-Care Series
Save the date for the final LWPTSA Council Self-Care Session on May 21 at 5:00 pm. The topic will be Mindfulness and Meditation. If you missed the April Session on Gratitude with Staci Danford, here is a recap.

Meeting link will be posted on the LWPTSA Council calendar.

Please send questions to Irene Neumann and Hae Sue Park, LWPTSA Council Parent Ed Co-Chairs.
Legislative Lunch and Learn
Join LWPTSA Council for a State Legislative Session wrap-up at their last Lunch and Learn of the year on May 20 from 12:00-1:00 pm. Representatives from the 1st, 45th, and 48th legislative districts are scheduled* to answer questions including:
  • Sen. Manka Dhingra
  • Sen. Patty Kuderer
  • Rep. Roger Goodman
  • Rep. Amy Walen
  • Rep. Davina Duerr
  • *Please note that schedules are subject to change.


Questions are being collected in advance. Please submit your questions TODAY, May 18 at 3:00 pm at https://forms.office.com/r/xb20MLeF3Y. If you have more than five questions, feel free to fill out the form a second time.
School
LWSD Pathway Forward
Learn more about Lake Washington School District's return to in-person services at lwsd.org/pathway-forward.
LWSD Partners with SVNA to Provide Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
Lake Washington School District is partnering with Seattle Visiting Nurse’s Association to offer free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics with the Pfizer vaccine to students 12 years and older. Vaccinations will be available at four different LWSD high schools. Clinics for second doses will be offered three weeks later.

Saturday, May 22, 2021
  • Juanita High School (10601 NE 132nd Street, Kirkland)
  • Redmond High School (17272 NE 104th St, Redmond)

Sunday, May 23, 2021
  • Eastlake High School (400 228th Ave NE, Sammamish)
  • Lake Washington High School (12033 NE 80th St., Kirkland)

Register in advance: http://bit.ly/SVNAReg
Class of 2022 Post-High School Planning Presentation
Juniors and their families! Senior year is coming up fast and it is time to start thinking about plans for after graduation. LWHS College and Career Specialist, Ms. Henderson, and Counselors Ms. LaMance and Ms. Cummings, have put together a Post-High School Planning presentation just for students and their families! You'll find information on all types of opportunities to prepare your student for senior year and life after high school, including apprenticeships, career schools, military, gap year, direct to work, college, and more. All Junior students should have received an email earlier this month with a link to the presentation, the Junior Handbook, and our Q&A form where students can ask questions about the presentation and/or programs.
 
Additionally, students and parents/guardians can find resources on the brand new Juniors (Class of 2022) page on the LWHS Counseling Center website. Answers to questions from our Q&A form will be also posted in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on this page. We hope that you and your students will check out the presentation and learn more about the many opportunities available for them after high school. 

Questions? Contact Kelsey Cummings, LWHS Counselor
Final Opportunity to Buy a Yearbook!
The final yearbook sales window of the year is here! Sales will run through Sunday, May 23. 
 
We know it's challenging to imagine what a yearbook will look like after a year that’s been primarily online. The yearbook staff of 27 students has been working incredibly hard to capture all the moments this year to create a genuine and authentic remembrance of the school year during a global pandemic. In addition, the yearbook publishing deadlines were extended to capture as many activities as possible, including sports, in-person school, and senior events including graduation! Distribution will happen via drive-through at the school in mid-July. 
 
A few reminders:
  • Yearbooks are $65 and can be purchased online through the LWSD Payment Portal. You can also view your purchase history to double check if you’ve already purchased a yearbook.
  • Yearbooks are NOT automatically included in the purchase of ASB, it is a separate purchase.
  • Make sure you are purchasing an LWHS yearbook, it should say LWHS in the site column.
  • This is the FINAL sales window of the year. We will NOT be selling during distribution. We will be able to sell leftovers next Fall, but we cannot guarantee there will be leftovers. Don’t hesitate to purchase! 

Information about Yearbook sales can be found on the yearbook page of the LWHS website.

Questions? Contact Hanna Kreutz, Yearbook Advisor
LWHS Key Club Virtual Blood Drive
Usually at this time of the year there is a hosted blood drive at LWHS, but since Bloodworks Northwest can’t come to campus, join us instead in the LWHS Virtual Blood Drive! The gift of one hour of your time and one pint of your blood will save the life of another! Find donation locations at a facility or a pop up event. All donations are by appointment only. This is a safe and essential action. No walk-ins, guests, or people under age 16 are permitted onsite.

All donors are required to wear face masks during their appointment. If you need assistance making an appointment, call 1-800-398-7888 or visit schedule.bloodworksnw.org. When you check in, be sure that you share the LWHS code so you can help us reach the goal to have 50 blood donors participate. A signed Parent Consent Form is required for all 16 & 17 year old blood donors. 

Questions? Contact Lynne Luckey, LWHS Key Club Advisor
Seniors
Class of 2021 Senior Party - Early Ticket Price Extended!
Good news! We have extended the early ticket window price until May 23! Senior Party is an LWHS PTSA sponsored, late night chaperoned event for seniors to celebrate in a safe and fun way with their classmates on graduation night. Bus assignments have already started. Once payment is received and waivers signed, you will receive a unique link to sign up for a bus.

Itinerary for June 9:
  • 9:00-9:30 pm: Meet at designated location for check-in, screening, and loading buses (buses will load at a location near, but not at, LWHS).
  • 9:30 pm: Depart for Senior Party venue (a surprise location with a large indoor and outdoor space)
  • 2:00 am: Load buses to return to Kirkland
  • 2:30 am: Students will need to be picked up from the designated location near LWHS

Tickets are $115 through May 23, then increase to $135. Ticket sales end May 31. Scholarships are available and need to be requested by May 24 from JoDee Hull (jhull@lwsd.org). Don’t delay, your purchase NOW helps us plan and possibly provide additional perks at the party. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

Questions? Contact Debi Blaskovich at seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org. 
Senior Celebration Events
It's time to celebrate our Seniors! Tuesday, June 8 will be a day full of events and celebrations.

Senior Day
Hosted by LWHS ASB, Senior Day will begin with a Senior breakfast tailgate in the parking lot at 7:30 am before school. Following a pizza lunch at 1:00 pm, Seniors are invited to attend the Moving Up Assembly around 1:30 pm in the gym. Then at 7:30 pm, Seniors will come back to LWHS for hosted dessert food trucks, games, music and the Senior Sunset event. 

Questions? Contact Zach Grundl, ASB Advisor

Senior Salute
Immediately following Senior Sunset, LWHS PTSA will present the 2021 Senior Salute, a video production of Senior class highlights that will be shown on a 55-foot screen in the stadium. If we remain in Phase 3, parents/guardians may be allocated tickets to view the video from the stands.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Wilson, LWHS PTSA Senior Salute Chair

All Seniors, including Running Start and remote students, are encouraged to participate. Seniors must RSVP for the events. Attestations, masks and social distancing will be required. Students should check their email from Mr. Grundl for more information. You and your student can also keep up-to-date by monitoring the websites and social media accounts below:

Websites:

Instagram:
  • Senior class: @lwhs.2021
Graduation Update
LWSD has shared important updates about graduation at T-Mobile Park, including parking, seating, mask requirements and more. Click here for more information.
 
At this time, LWHS can guarantee 2 tickets per graduate. Senior families will be surveyed to tally how many graduates will attend graduation in-person. Once that is finalized, LWHS will determine if additional tickets will be available. Official details will be shared via email soon. You can also check for updated on the LWHS Senior webpage.
Final Transcript Requests
Seniors received an email reminder to select their school of choice in Xello to receive their final transcript by Friday, May 28. Transcripts will be sent out by July 1. Additional transcripts can be requested for free through the Counseling Center's Transcripts/Records page after July 15.

Please note: There will be a one-time $10 senior transcript fee added to your student’s account. Payment is due at senior check-out but can be paid any time. This fee covers any transcripts ordered over the years.

LWHS Counselor
Community
It's Not Too Late to Be the Bridge!
Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to first-ever live streamed Lake Washington School Foundation fundraiser! As promised, it was an event full of laughter and inspiration with messages of support from celebrity guests. 

If you weren't able to attend, LWSF has you covered! Please click here to watch all of the videos created for the event plus the celebrity drop-ins. And it’s not too late to donate! Your generous support will not only help fund impactful existing programs, but will help launch some new and innovative offerings, including Communities in Schools and Library Diversification. Click here to support LWSF's continued vital work in the community! 
Balance in Mind Events for Parents and Teens
Upcoming events:
  • May 19 at 7:00 pm: Parent Chat: Sexting: What Parents Need to Know with Jo Langford, a dad & sex educator for tweens, teens and parents
  • June 2 at 7:00 pm: Parent Chat: Understanding Queer Kids Today with Jen O'Ryan, PhD, experienced with gender identity and sexual orientation


​Missed the latest webinars? Click here to visit Balance in Mind's YouTube Channel.

Want additional information? Balance in Mind's Instagram @balance.in.mind is a destination for teens to gain inspiration, learn self-care tips, and more! 
Free Educational Resource from Youth Eastside Services
Join our no-cost Alcohol Drug Education Class held virtually each month. This is a great way for parents and students (12-19 years old) to gain information, education, healthy coping tools and skills. Learn about the dangers of substance abuse trends, effects of substances on the developing body and brain (including the dangers of mixing substances), how to get help and where to turn for help for both substance use and mental health issues.
 
Go to youtheastsideservices.org/adec to register for this FREE educational opportunity for parents and students to attend together. The next classes are May 22 and June 19. All classes are no-cost to families, on Saturdays, and run virtually from 9:30 am-12:30 pm. Thank you for spreading the word about this important resource!

Questions? Contact Andrea Frost, YES Specialist at LWHS, at 425-747-4937 x2721 or andreaf@youtheastsideservices.org.  
Events
May 19: LWHS PTSA General Meeting, 7:00 pm
May 26: Coffee with Christina, 9:00 am
May 31: Memorial Day (No School)
June 1: Snow Make-up Day (No School)
June 8: Senior Day and Senior Salute
June 9: Graduation, 3:00 pm T-Mobile Park
June 9: Senior Party, 9:30 pm
June 16: Last Day of School (Half Day)
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.