Final General Membership Meeting Tomorrow, May 18 |
Our final LWHS PTSA General Membership Meeting will be held virtually tomorrow, May 18 at 7:00 pm. We will elect our officers and approve our budget for the 2022-2023 school year. Meeting documents, including the proposed budget and the slate of nominated officers, is here. Our guest speakers will be LW Resource Officer Storm Gehrke, who will talk about safety and security at LWHS, and the LWHS PTSA Emergency Prep team, who will talk about what they do to keep staff and students prepared for emergencies. Q&A to follow.
When: Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 pm
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May 25 at 6:00 pm
Please join us for the last Coffee with Christine event this year on Wednesday, May 25 at 6:00 pm in the LW Commons. 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. There will also be a guided walking tour through the school, so please wear comfortable shoes.
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Recognize a FABULOUS Educator, Volunteer or Student |
Every year LWHS PTSA recognizes individuals and volunteers who have gone above and beyond for LWHS students and families. Please take a moment to nominate a candidate for one of the following 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
To nominate someone, please complete this short form and either email it to the Awards Committee or drop it off at the LWHS main office. Please be sure to include your name and the best way to contact you.
Information, award criteria and past recipients are available on the nomination form. Feel free to nominate more than one person. Please note that past recipients cannot be given the same award again but may be nominated for a different one. The deadline for award nominations has been extended to Tuesday, may 24. Winners will be announced in June.
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2022-2023 LWHS PTSA Slate of Officer Nominations |
The 2022 Nomination Committee for Lake Washington High School PTSA is pleased to announce our nominations for the slate of officers for the 2022-2023 school year!
President: OPEN
Executive VP: OPEN
Secretary: OPEN
Treasurer: Susan Dietz
VP, Student Programs: Judy Chiu
VP, School Support: OPEN
VP, Ways & Means: Janet Smith
VP, Family & Community Engagement: Colleen Rutherford
Elections will take place at the next (virtual) LWHS PTSA general membership meeting on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 pm.
If you are interested in any of the open positions or have any questions about serving as part of our PTSA leadership team, please contact the Nominating Committee at nomcom@lwhsptsa.org. Nominations will be taken from the floor for all positions during the election.
Meredith Schwietzer, Deepali Bhardwaj, Karen Smith
LWHS PTSA Nominating Committee
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Volunteer with College Application Workshop |
Volunteers are needed as we prepare for Fall of 2022. LWHS PTSA’s College Application Workshop program needs volunteers who will work one-on-one with seniors to provide college application essay and personal statement support.
We ask for a once-a-week commitment for the months of October and November. Workshops are held multiple times a week in-person as well as virtually. PTSA provides (mandatory) virtual training.
For any questions or to volunteer, please contact Judy Shedd, LWHS PTSA College Application Workshop Chair
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Staff Appreciation Week a Huge Success - Thanks to All of You! |
The week of May 2-6, our LW staff enjoyed a series of treats in recognition of Staff Appreciation week. Items provided included coffee and doughnuts on Monday; grinders, salads, chips, and drinks on Tuesday; a special note and treat in mailboxes on Wednesday; taco bar for Cinco de Mayo on Thursday; and finally ice cream bars and popsicle treats on Friday. We were also able to provide gift baskets and gift cards which were given away using guessing jars and drawings.
All these fun items and activities were made possible by our amazing PTSA families. We asked for a lot of items to be donated and you more than delivered. Thanks to all the volunteers who donated items and helped set up each day's events!
To all of our teachers and staff: We hope you were able to enjoy several of the things going on during the week. We are here and we support you!
💜 LWHS PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee
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Special Education Group's Resource Fair - Tonight! |
The LWPTSA Special Education Group is excited to invite you to their Special Education Resource Fair. You will hear from local organizations that provide a wide range of services for students with IEPs, 504s and IHPs. Representatives will share about supports and programming they offer throughout the school year and over the summer. Topics include occupational therapy, physical therapy, sibling support, mindfulness, ADD/ADHD support, legal services, advocacy, recreation, and school district support. Click here for more information.
When: Tuesday, May 17 from 6:30-8:30 pm
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LWPTSA Council May Lunch and Learn |
Join LWPTSA Council tomorrow, May 18, for their May Lunch & Learn discussion, "Community Service Connections."
When: Thursday, May 18 from 12:00-1:00 pm
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From the Desk of LWHS Principal Christine Bell |
Dear Kang Families,
As we enter the second half of the last full month of school it is tempting to focus on summer and the plans we have for after that last bell rings on June 17th. End of year activities are planned, Prom is this weekend (5/21) and spring sports are in post-season. We even have an all-school Moving Up Assembly planned! Spring is definitely in the air at LW.
It is also important, though, to focus on how we can continue to make each day count. There is still a lot of learning to experience before we wrap up the year. This is true not only for our students, who have wrapped up AP testing and now head into the final stretch, it is also true for our staff.
Much of our adult learning this year has been focused on how we can build meaningful relationships and create a system wherein students not only experience success, but they also feel a sense of belonging. One of our School Improvement Goals this year is to increase the sense of belonging felt by our students. This has meant focusing on welcoming students, celebrating their successes, checking in regularly and encouraging personal connections to learning. We are also working to bring students closer when they experience behavioral issues, rather than sending them away through exclusionary practices.
Key to students belonging in our school is seeing themselves represented in the culture of our school. Culture is what we choose to celebrate, and what we reinforce. As the principal at Lake Washington High School I am thoughtful about what we have on our walls. I am also careful in curriculum choices and I seek to hire diverse staff. The most important piece in changing culture, though, is in caring for the words that come from our mouths. Professional development this year has been key in helping all adults acknowledge and understand the way it feels to be a student, and in particular, a Person of Color in our school. Voices of student and adult leaders have been critical to this understanding.
As we have moved through this year I have heard voices of our LGBTQIA+ students, along with the voices of our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color) community. If we want to succeed at an even greater level than we are currently, elevating these voices and continuing to learn and grow is key.
As Robin DiAngelo wrote in her book White Fragility, "This belonging is a deep and ever-present feeling that has always been with me. Belonging has settled deep into my consciousness; it shapes my daily thoughts and concerns, what I reach for in life, and what I expect to find." Something as entrenched and intangible as belonging can seem like a daunting reach for us as educators. It is key, though, and a factor that cannot be ignored.
If you want to join us in this work we welcome your partnership. You can help by talking with your student about what helps them to feel that they belong and encourage them to include others in their day. A kind word can make the difference for another student and seeking to understand what it feels like to walk around in someone else's skin is critical to building a community.
LWHS Principal
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Reminder: May 31 is a Regular School Day |
Lake Washington School District has finalized plans to make up for the one day missed due to the January 3, 2022 snow day. May 31 was built-in as a snow make up day, meaning that if we had snow days this school year, we would make them up by changing this day from a non-student day to a regular school day.
The 2021-22 calendar has been modified to reflect this change:
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Tuesday, May 31: change from a non-school day to a full day for students
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Key Club Blood Drive is Back! |
It has been a long-standing tradition for LWHS Key Club to sponsor blood drives in conjunction with Bloodworks Northwest. We are excited to be able to bring back this important service project this year!
Students must be at least 16 years old. Students 16 or 17 years-old must bring a permission slip. Permissions slips are available in the main office or by clicking here.
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Donate Test Prep Books to LW Library |
Now that AP testing season is over, don’t throw out your student's AP testing books! Consider donating them to the library for our AP, SAT, ACT book swap. We are part of a statewide program that swaps test study materials throughout the state. Of course, LW students have first dibs on all donated books. We will take any testing material for AP courses including SAT or ACT prep materials. Help us stay green while benefiting our students.
Questions? Email Elizabeth Courage, LW Library Media Specialist, at ecourage@lwsd.org
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Final Live Wednesday Event of the Year! |
On Wednesday, June 1, the Lake Washington School District College & Career Specialists will present the final Live Wednesday of the year. This event is geared toward rising seniors – the Class of 2023 – but all are welcome!
1:00-1:45 pm: Senior Year Timeline and College Essay Tips
Joe Johnson from Lawrence University and Nhien Quach from the University of New Hampshire will be presenting this important information. Find out what a senior year schedule looks like when it comes to college applications with some first hand tips on creating great essays direct from college admissions advisors.
2:00-2:45 pm: How College Decisions are Made
Jarrod Larse from Oregon State University and Anna Aegerter from the University of Redlands will present information surrounding how colleges make their admissions decisions.
Click here to join us for this end of the year Live Wednesday event.
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Calling all Kang Families! |
Will your current student or incoming freshman participate in one of our 16 booster club-supported programs next school year? Whether it’s a sport, theatre, or music, we’d like to help get you connected to your team/program now so we can answer your questions and get you dialed in for next year! Parent support is what helps keep our programs thriving and this is one of the handful of ways you can get involved.
Go Kangs!
Janis Rabuchin, LWHS Booster Club President
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Save the Dates for Senior Celebrations! |
The following is a list of Senior events sponsored by LWHS, ASB, and PTSA:
- Saturday, May 21: Senior Prom
- Thursday, June 2: Senior Award Ceremony
- Friday, June 10: Senior Farewell and Senior Sunset
- Monday, June 13: Senior Breakfast and Graduation Rehearsal
- Tuesday, June 14: Graduation and Senior Party
There are many expenses associated with graduation and senior celebrations. LWHS and LWHS PTSA believe that all seniors deserve to be honored for their years of hard work and to have the chance to celebrate this milestone. If you or your family is having difficulties finding funds for these expenses, please let your/your child’s school counselor know; there is assistance available for caps and gowns, Senior Party tickets, yard signs, and more.
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New Event - Senior Farewell! |
Friday, June 10 at 6:30 pm
LWHS PTSA has been hard at work to create an event for our Class of 2022 that is both meaningful and inclusive for all families but separate from the Senior Awards Night ceremony. With support from the LW Administrative team, we are pleased to announce the inaugural Senior Farewell event!
Senior Farewell will provide an opportunity for all Class of 2022 seniors and families, as well as LW staff, to connect and celebrate one final time as Kangs. Due to time and space limitations at the graduation ceremony that will prevent a reception, the Senior Farewell event will provide a chance for attendees to mingle, enjoy light refreshments, and take the photos in caps and gowns that cannot occur at the graduation ceremony itself. The Senior Farewell will be held in the LW Commons area starting at 6:30 pm on Friday, June 10, directly preceding the Senior Sunset event. More details will be confirmed in the next Kang Crier.
We look forward to celebrating the success of all our graduating seniors! If you are interested in volunteering to help with Senior Farewell, please contact Colleen Rutherford, LWHS PTSA Senior Farewell Chair.
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Time is Running Out! Get Your Senior Party Tickets Now! |
Ticket Sales End June 1!
Over 200 Tickets Sold So Far!
What is Senior Party? Senior Party is a safe and fun-filled post-graduation all-night party on June 14 for seniors organized by the LWHS PTSA. We provide transportation to two surprise and NEW venues, entertainment, food and a memorable end-of-year experience.
When: Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Start Time: 9:00 pm check-in at LWHS
End Time: 5:30 am on Wednesday, June 15, at LWHS
Ticket price is $200. All ticket purchases are non-refundable
Are you concerned about the cost of a ticket? Scholarships or installment plans are available. Contact Jodee Hull at jhull@lwsd.org for more information or go and talk to her in the Athletic Office at school.
We want every senior who would like to attend the party to join!
Bus sign ups and in person tickets sales happen at school lunchtimes on the dates listed below.
Please bring a check and completed waivers if buying a ticket in person. Every senior who buys a ticket by June 1 will have a seat on a bus. The seniors are not grouped by bus colors once we get to the venues. There are no groups at the venues and all attendees can interact.
- Wed, May 18
- Wed, May 25
- Wed, June 1, Final Day for Ticket Sales
- Thursday, June 2, Bus Sign Up ONLY
- Friday, June 3, Last Day for Bus Sign Up!
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From the College and Career Center |
Senior Awards Night
Lake Washington High School will be presenting Senior Awards Night on Thursday, June 2 at 6:30 pm in the Commons. Several academic awards will be presented such as the Washington State Honors Award, the Principal’s Award, the President’s Award and the Gold Kang Award (not related to the PTSA award). This is an invitation only event. Invitations will be sent out once the determinations have been made.
Scholarships Still Available!
Click here to see the list of scholarships still open for applications. New scholarship opportunities are added weekly. Most recently, information was added for the inaugural Peter Kirk PTSA scholarship to be awarded to one graduating senior from LWSD who is a Peter Kirk Elementary Alum. Deadline is May 27. Email alumnischolarship@peterkirkptsa.org for more details.
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Lake Washington School Foundation News |
Film Screening of "LIKE" - Free for all Community Members
Is your phone affecting your relationships with other people? Social media should be a tool for connection, but is that always happening? LIKE breaks down why we find social media so irresistible, examines who is controlling who, and gives you the tools to pivot to a more balanced and contented relationship.
Watch the social media documentary LIKE from the comfort of your own home anytime from May 19-26! Register today and view the trailer at www.lwsf.org/like.
Parent Chat Webinar on May 25 at 7pm: Taming Screen Time
At Balance In Mind's next Parent Chat, Sheri Gazitt from Teen Wise will discuss how parents can help kids with managing their screen time, and how to talk to them about it. To register for this free webinar, visit www.lwsf.org/parentchat.
Thanks for Being the Bridge!
Thanks to a host of compassionate donors and sponsors, LWSF's 2022 Be the Bridge Spring Benefit has raised more than $200,000 to support our mission in the Lake Washington School District! If you missed it, the entire program is available on-demand.
Parent Resource Center
Check out Balance in Mind's new online Parent Resource Center, filled with information about mental health conditions, webinar recordings, and contact information for local mental health and parenting support organizations.
Class of 2023 College Bootcamp
Calling all Class of 2023 students and parents! Join independent college counselor Mary Pat O'Neil of LWSF's Find Your Fit program for a series of three webinars in July. Attend one, two, or all three! Register here.
- Session 1: Monday, July 11 from noon to 1:00 pm - Creating a Balanced College List
- Session 2: Wednesday, July 13 from noon to 1:00 pm - Completing Your College Applications
- Session 3: Friday, July 15 from noon to 2:00 pm - How to Write a College Essay
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From Youth Eastside Services Counselor Andrea Frost |
Did you know? There are new resources available to help support teens/youth:
- New Washington State resource to strengthen suicide prevention and mental health crisis services and is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—just dial 988 to access.
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New website to confidentially and anonymously locate mental health, substance use or other types of counseling services specific to your location/zip code. https://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
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May 18: LWHS PTSA Virtual General Membership Meeting, 7:00 pm
May 25: Coffee with Christine, 6:00 pm
May 27: LEAP Day (No School)
May 30: Memorial Day (No School)
June 14: Graduation, Alaska Airlines Arena, 6:00 pm
June 17: Last Day of School (Half Day)
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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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