August 27, 2019 | Issue #1
School
Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year!
The LWHS PTSA would like to welcome all families, students and staff to the 2019-2020 school year! We are looking forward to a great year of learning, connecting and building a supportive and engaged community. Please read this newsletter and check out the PTSA website to know what's happening at LWHS. We look forward to meeting you at a PTSA event or membership meeting soon, or at Curriculum Night on September 18, where optional information sessions begin at 6:00 pm and classroom visits begin at 7:00 pm.

LWHS PTSA Co-Presidents
Freshmen and New Student Orientation
Wednesday, August 28, 9:00-11:00 am
Incoming Freshmen and other students new to LWHS are encouraged to attend this New Student Orientation. Parents, this is event is intended  only for students . If you have questions or want to connect with other parents, please come back that same evening for our family-friendly Welcome to LWHS! Event (information below).
Welcome to LWHS! Event for New Students and Families of LWHS
Wednesday, August 28, 6:00-8:00 pm
Join us for an evening especially designed for families of Freshmen and others new to our school community, although all Kangs are welcome to attend. A delicious buffet dinner will be provided by our PTSA, and informational break-out sessions on a variety of topics will begin at 6:20 pm. There will be four 20-minute sessions. You will have the opportunity to pick the topic of your choice for each session, including:
  • AP Capstone
  • Different Paths to High School Graduation
  • Communicating with Your Teen
  • Navigating High School and Beyond with Your ADHD Student
  • College Admission Tests - Which Ones When?
  • How Parents Can Get Involved at LWHS
  • Code Purple Robotics Team robots showing their stuff
  • and more!

Tours of the school will be available from ASB Leadership students and our school administrative team will be on hand as well. Bring your appetite and questions about LWHS and enjoy an evening of Kang community!

LWHS Principal
Families of Students with Special Needs
LWHS PTSA Special Needs Liaisons, Lisa Earl and Gwen Alharbi, welcome you to join them at the Welcome to LWHS! event on August 28. They will lead Q&A sessions and share their experiences with LWHS Transition classes. They look forward to meeting you and connecting!

Questions? Contact Lisa Earl and Gwen Alharbi
LWHS PTSA Special Needs Liaisons
Volunteers Needed - Picture Day and Laptop Roll Out
Calling all volunteers! We need your help the first week of school with picture day and laptop roll out.

Picture Day will be Tuesday, September 3. Volunteers are needed from 7:45 am until 3:00 pm in shifts of 3 hours. All volunteers will receive a free photo package of their choice!

Laptop Roll Out will occur September 4 for Seniors and Juniors, and September 5 for Sophomores and Freshman. Volunteers are needed from 7:45 am until 3:00 pm in shifts of 3 hours.

All volunteers need to have an approved volunteer application on file with the district. To submit a new volunteer application for approval, click here .

Questions? Contact Hae Sue Park , LWHS Volunteer Chair
LWHS Fall Sports Parent Meeting
All parents of athletes participating in a fall sport are encouraged to attend the Fall Sports Parent Meeting in the LWHS Main Gym this Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 pm. This is a chance for parents to meet their child's coaches and learn about the program as well as review expectations and plans for the season. We look forward to seeing you!

LWHS Athletic Director
Seniors
College Application Workshop Resumes September 25
We’re here to help! Now in our fifth year, trained volunteers assist Seniors with college application essay and personal statement support. We also answer questions about the college process and steer students in the right direction for any additional support they may need. Seniors are invited to drop in during Wednesday morning ROO and/or after school each Wednesday from September through January. We hope to add Thursdays after school, too, so stay tuned!

Please encourage your student to take advantage of our time and expertise! They are welcome to drop in as often as they'd like, there is no cost. (And we have snacks!)  

Please note that beginning in February, we shift our focus to underclassmen as they begin their college application process. Presentations are geared toward specific topics, such as how to conduct college visits, how to select a college, information on specific college majors, etc. 

Click here  for more College Application Workshop details. 

College Application Workshop Chair
PTSA
Join the LWHS PTSA!
Thank you so much, parents and staff, for your continued support of the Lake Washington High School PTSA. Your membership truly makes a difference in the lives of our students and all kids throughout our state thanks to the extraordinary work of the Washington State PTA which advocates every day for our kids. By being an active PTSA member, you get to:
  • Become part of a team that makes a significant difference for LWHS students, teachers and staff.
  • Make your voice heard by joining the largest child advocacy organization in our state, the WA State PTA.
  • Gain access to the LWHS online student directory and receive discounts to FedEx Office, Great Wolf Lodge, Wild Waves and more.
  • Get to vote on key decisions that guide our PTSA, including budget, programs, grants and officer elections.
Please Donate to the "Pass-the-Pouch" Fundraiser
This is it! " Pass-the-Pouch " is the  only  PTSA fundraiser and generates the income necessary to finance our outstanding student and school support programs. We strive to make every dollar count! With your help, we will reach our goal of $23,000. Here are  just some  of the programs for which your donations provide essential support:

  • Staff, classroom and club grants totaling $14,500 for equipment, supplies and activities.
  • Our online parent newsletter, Students-In-Need fund, and Emergency Preparedness supplies.
  • Senior Salute and Senior Party events that celebrate our graduating class.
  • After-school College Application Workshops with hands-on support for your student.

Questions? Contact Jody Lallas , LWHS PTSA Ways and Means Chair
Support Students and Meet Other Parents!
PTSA Committee Chairs Needed
Your PTSA is underway and getting ready for a great year. There are a few PTSA chair positions looking for leadership, and your talents and experience can benefit all LWHS students and the LWHS community. The PTSA Board and others are here to help anyone who would like to serve - no chair experience required! Many of the committees have outgoing chairs who can train you. Each committee has a small amount of paperwork for record-keeping purposes, and you will get help with that as well.
 
If one of these sounds enticing to you, or you're interested in learning more about it, please email  support@lwhsptsa.org .
 
Advocacy
The Advocacy Chair will work to inform members about important legislative issues that impact our district and students. Activities can include organizing local PTSA events in support of district and statewide initiatives and attending WSPTA Legislative Assembly and Focus Day held annually.
 
Beautification
Co-chair this committee with its outgoing chair and work with LWHS students and other adults twice per year to keep the LWHS grounds looking great with weeding, mulching, and adding new plants and trees (with help from a Master Gardener). A great way to work with students and immediately see results.
 
Grants
Co-chair this committee with its outgoing chair. Each year, the LWHS PTSA gives thousands of dollars in grants to teachers, students and the entire LWHS community to enhance learning for all LWHS students. Work with a small group to review grant requests from LWHS staff and recommend those for Board approval. A fun way to see dollars directly affect education.
 
New Family and International Outreach
Co-chair this fairly new committee with its outgoing chair. Work to welcome all new families to the LWHS community, including those from elsewhere in the U.S. and from foreign nations. Promote that inviting Kang spirit and encourage folks less familiar with the U.S. school system to jump on in as they wish.
 
Parent Education
The chair helps vet and schedule educational speakers of interest to the LWHS community. Speakers typically are scheduled for PTSA general membership meetings which are held 5 times per year but other events may be scheduled as desired.
 
Reflections Art Competition
Chair this committee with training and resources provided by previous chair. Each year the PTSA sponsors this national art competition, with visual, literature and performing arts categories. LWHS students have achieved significant honors at the local, state and national levels, with one LWHS artist's painting making the national competition last year. Great opportunity to encourage the young artists in our community to showcase their talents in a national competition.
 
"Fear-Free" SAT/ACT Practice Tests
Chair this committee with information provided by prior chairs. Work with LWHS Admin to schedule and proctor two practice runs each for the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, one in Fall and one in Spring. These practice runs use prior year tests and are given to students in a simulated exam setting at LWHS so they can experience what the actual tests are like.
 
Sustainability
Build this committee from the ground up. This is a relatively new program for PTSAs, and the LWHS PTSA would love to get on board by helping LWHS build on its already great approach to environmental sustainability. This program is supported by LWPTSA Council so you will have the opportunity to interact with chairs from other schools. There are so many ways to go in this program - composting, air quality, etc. Your talents are needed!
 
LWHS PTSA VP for School Support
Get the News Out to Our New Kangs
The Kang Crier Newsletter is the primary communication method used by LWHS PTSA to provide information to LWHS families. Unfortunately, the district does not update distribution lists until late October, so the families that need this news the most are missing out. If you know of a family new to LWHS, please have them subscribe to this newsletter by visiting lwhsptsa.org or forward this newsletter so they can click here to subscribe .

Thank you!
Kang Crier Editor
Events
Freshmen and New Student Orientation - August 28, 9:00-11:00am
Welcome to LWHS! Event - August 28, 6:00-8:00pm
Fall Sports Parent Meeting - August 29, 7:00pm
First Day of School - September 3, Freshmen 8:00am, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors 10:00am
Picture Day - September 3
Laptop Distribution - September 4 and 5
Wednesday Early Release Begins - September 11
Curriculum Night - September 18
PTSA Membership Meeting - September 25
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.