March 22, 2022 | Issue #15 |
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Virtual Coffee With Christine |
The next PTSA-sponsored “Coffee with Christine” will be Thursday, March 24 at 6:00 pm. Come login and join other LWHS parents and community members for an open Q&A discussion with LWHS Principal Christine Bell. The meetings last about an hour, but you are free to join late or leave early.
The next Coffee is scheduled for Wednesday April 14 from 9:00-10:00 am and will be in-person in the LWHS College and Career Center.
Please be sure to read Principal Bell's letter in the "School" section below.
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Parent Ed Night: ALICE Exercise Explained |
LWHS staff and students practice emergency drills throughout the year. In March, LWHS staff and students conducted an ALICE drill. Join LWHS PTSA and School Resource Officer Storm Gehrke to learn more about this and other aspects of LWSD's safety and security plan. Our Emergency Prep team will also join us and talk about what they do. Q&A to follow.
Drop in when you can, stay as long as you’d like. We welcome your questions!
When: Wednesday, March 30 at 7:00 pm, virtual
Where: Link will be on the PTSA calendar closer to the date of the presentation.
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LWHS PTSA Virtual General Membership Meeting Recap |
Our March General Membership meeting was held on Wednesday, March 16. A member of our financial review committee presented the mid-year financial review results. Guest speaker Nichole Swanger, LWHS College and Career Specialist, gave a presentation on volunteer and job opportunities for teens. The LWHS CCC webpage offers a plethora of resources for students and families,and Ms. Swanger will continue to update it through the remainder of the year. Meeting slides are posted on our website here.
Our next General Membership meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm.
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Correction: Congratulations to This Kang Student! |
In the #14 edition of the Kang Crier, one of the Reflections student winners was listed incorrectly. Jinho (Jacob) Lee won an Award of Merit (third place) for his “game changing butterfly” entry in the Visual Arts category.
We regret the error and offer our congratulations to Jinho Lee!
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LWHS Student Advances to National Level in Reflections Competition |
Andy Alkin (10th grade) won Outstanding Interpretation (1st Place) at the state level in this year’s Reflections competition with his musical composition “The World Will Change” and has advanced to the national level. Alkin’s submission was chosen from among more than 650 entries sent to the state level. Only 28 entries from Washington State were submitted to the national level. LWHS PTSA offers Reflections, an annual, nationwide PTA fine and creative arts competition, yearly. Click here for more information.
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A Lunch Celebration for our Teachers and Staff |
Our LW Staff was treated to an amazing homemade soup and salad St Paddy's Day themed lunch last week. We had multiple types of delicious soups, huge salads with all the toppings, along with giveaways, and guessing jars. Thanks to all of you we were able to make this happen. A huge thank you to all of our PTSA Families and to our hard-working Staff!
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Sustainability: Earth Day Slogan and Graphic Contest |
Create a Slogan + Graphic for Earth Day (April 22)
The LWHS PTSA Sustainability Chair is looking for a slogan to highlight the “green” goal for the year: Reuse. This is a great opportunity for students to inspire and remind others to think “green.” This contest is open to all students. To enter, students are asked to create a slogan + graphic based on the theme: Reuse. The slogan should represent how students, their school or community can help reduce the amount of waste we produce and how that action can lead to change. As well, the student will submit a graphic depicting their slogan.
Entries are due Friday, April 1 to the Sustainability Chair. The winner will be announced the week of April 18 to celebrate Earth Day and receive a prize. And the winning entry will be made into a poster to be displayed in the school.
For more details, rules and how to enter, click here.
Questions? Contact Pam Hay, LWHS PTSA Sustainability Chair
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LWHS PTSA Grants Still Available |
LWHS PTSA still has funds available to support grants for 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, for example, funding equipment and participation at events. The grants schedule for the remainder of this school year is:
- Applications received by the end of Friday March 25 will be reviewed at the April 13 PTSA board meeting, with notifications to applicants the following day.
- Applications received by the end of Friday April 29 will be reviewed at the May 11 PTSA board meeting, with notifications to applicants the following day.
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From the Desk of LWHS Principal Christine Bell |
Dear Kang Families,
Thank you for taking the time to read this important newsletter. Our PTSA works diligently to keep you informed and up to speed on upcoming events and activities at Lake Washington High School.
Spring has sprung at LW. We are excited to see daffodils and occasional sunshine, and our spring activities are in full swing. Importantly, our future freshmen are excited about the upcoming year and our seniors are in the final countdown to graduation. As I am sure you have heard, our graduation ceremony is planned for June 14 at the University of Washington, from 6:00-8:00 pm. We will soon have spring break, spring testing, and we will share out a calendar of end of year activities.
Thanks to the lifting of the mask mandate we now know how our students look when they smile, and it is truly awesome! Some students remained masked and we honor the choice to either mask or unmask. In fact, we have new signage around campus saying just that. The further we get from the mask mandate, the more it seems that our students and staff feel safe removing their masks and gathering. We are even planning for an end of year Moving Up Assembly!
Ensuring that all students feel safe and supported is our primary goal, and this is not only true when it comes to our mask policy, but also in our safety drills. This month our staff was trained by our School Resource Officer, Officer Gehrke, to use an ALICE protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) and in the next two weeks we will train students in an ALICE lockdown drill.
There are two more events I would like to highlight here. The first is the Unspoken Truths Museum. On Wednesday, March 16 our Juniors had a chance to visit the travelling museum in our gym, where they learned about racial and cultural identity and Black History. As our librarian Liz Courage wrote, “The students that attended were enlightened by his hands-on artifacts and dynamic storytelling presentation. His exhibit consists of four main parts; Mother Africa, Middle Passage, American Chattel Slavery, and Still We Rise (STEM inventions). This exhibit is a good example of the importance of teaching the truth in education. It is a moving experience and critical work for equity, diversity, and inclusion in society.”
Finally, students had the opportunity to provide feedback to our Food Services Program staff. They learned about nutritional guidelines and regulations around school breakfast and lunch and they shared their thoughts on food choices, quality, and the organization of our breakfast and lunch lines.
I look forward to seeing parents virtually at the upcoming Coffee with Christine virtual event. Thank you to all of you who regularly attend and engage!
I hope you enjoy the last few weeks of our third quarter and that you have a wonderful spring break.
Go Kangs!
LWHS Principal
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LWHS College and Career Center Updates |
Live Wednesday March 23
Have your student join us on March 23 at 1:30 pm for our Live Wednesday Career Panel as we present a Social Services panel with David McHale (Social Worker, Evergreen Health, Community Health Access), Erik Gray (Advocate, Vulnerable Populations, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office), and Julia Sughrue (Refugee Health Liaison, Nationalities Service Center). Any student interested in a career path in Social Services is invited to join. https://linktr.ee/lwsdcollegecareercenter
College Bound Program Info Night March 30
The College Bound Program is offering a virtual information night on March 30 at 6:00 pm. The presentation will discuss what the College Bound scholarship is, how to access the funds and where the scholarship can be used. Join us for this virtual information session. https://linktr.ee/lwsdcollegecareercenter
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Support LWHS Theatre on March 31 at Tres Hermanos |
Show your support for LWHS Theatre by dining in or ordering takeout at Tres Hermanos all day on Thursday, March 31! Tres Hermanos has generously agreed to donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Theatre Boosters. Please present this flyer at the restaurant and enjoy a great meal!
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Donations Needed for Kang Closet |
The LWHS Counseling Team has created a Kang Closet for students. Donations of new and gently used items are needed to stock it: socks, shorts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and backpacks. Please mark donated items with “Kang Closet” and drop them off at the school’s main office, Questions? Please email Counselor Wendi Thomas.
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LWHS Executive Booster Board Needs You! |
We’re looking for a few new Board Members to round out our fun and enthusiastic Executive Booster Board!
The small Exec Board (6-members) guides and oversees the larger General Board, comprised of parent volunteers representing 16 Sports and Arts programs at LWHS. Now is your chance to help support and enhance the programs that so many students and parent-fans enjoy, AND make some new friends in the process. These are the roles we are looking to fill:
Exec Board President:
- sets the agenda and leads Exec and General meetings
- sets goals and strategies and trains new members
- shares fundraising ideas and goals across the larger group
Vice President / Communications:
- attends Exec and General meetings
- manages social media accounts (Insta / FB)
- leads communications as needed
Secretary:
- attends Exec and General meetings, takes Minutes and attendance
- sends out reminders, Agendas & Minutes, keeps current roster
- maintains documents
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SENIORS Get Your Senior Party Tickets and Class of 2022 Signs! |
What is Senior Party?
It is a safe and fun-filled post-graduation all-night party presented by the LWHS PTSA. We provide transportation to two venues, entertainment, food and a memorable end-of-the 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 prices:
- $200 through April 15
- $210 between April 16 and June 1
- Ticket sales end June 1, 2022
- All ticket purchases are non-refundable.
Are you concerned with the cost of Senior Party? Scholarships or installment plans are available. Contact Jodee Hull at jhull@lwsd.org for more information.
Questions? Do you want to help chaperone or plan the event? Contact the Senior Party Co-Chairs at seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org
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Order Your Class of 2022 Sign Now through May 6!
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Yard sign with NAME: $16
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Car decal: $11
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Bundle & save! Get both for $25
Order online here. Pick-up will be at LWHS, after school and in the evenings, May 23-25; more details to come. You do not need to be a PTSA member to purchase yard signs or decals for your senior.
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LWHS will celebrate all seniors and their future plans in our annual Destination Day video! All seniors wishing to participate should fill out the Destination Day form which includes post high school plans as well as uploading a picture. If seniors have any questions or issues completing the form, feel free to email Nichole Swanger in the College and Career Center at nswanger@lwsd.org.
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Two Additional Scholarships Available through LWPTSA Council |
The Lake Washington PTSA Council is pleased to roll out its 2022 Scholarship Program! Council offers several student scholarships and two $500 staff scholarships every spring. This year’s Student Scholarship Program will now include 15 scholarships of $1,250 each:
- 8 Merit scholarships
- 1 LWEA/Teeley scholarship (funded by the LWEA)
- 2 Perseverance scholarships
- 1 Turn Around scholarship
- 1 L.E. Scarr 2 year, technical or vocational scholarship
- 2 At-large scholarships
Applications for both staff and student scholarships are due by midnight on March 25, 2022.
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Lake Washington School Foundation News |
Save the Date for Our Annual "Be The Bridge" Spring Benefit
Mark your calendar! On Thursday, April 28 at noon, join us for an engaging livestream experience to hear inspirational stories, laugh with entertaining speakers, and learn how your contribution can "be the bridge" to success for students in our community! Learn more at www.lwsf.org/be-the-bridge.
Parent Chat Webinar: Youth Susceptibility to Extremism--What Parents Can Do
At the next Parent Chat on March 23, hosted online by Balance in Mind, learn about how "good" kids get lured into extremism, why your child might be vulnerable, and what you can do as a parent. We welcome speaker Enrique Nusi from Middlebury Institute. Register at www.tinyurl.com/BIMWinter2022.
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Youth Eastside Services Update |
New Tool for Families: Find local and national resources with SAFE Family Support Locator
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing substance abuse, addiction and overdose epidemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the number of people with both substance use disorder and mental health challenges more than doubled in 2020.
With this surge in families and loved ones seeking immediate support and resources, Partnership to End Addiction and SAFE Project partnered to launch the first-of-its-kind online SAFE Family Support Locator — a free, user-friendly tool that helps families and caregivers quickly find treatment services and support for their loved ones.
For student support at LW, please contact Andrea Frost, our Youth Eastside Services’ Prevention Intervention Specialist at andreaf@youtheastsideservices.org or 425-747-4937 x2721.
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March 24: Virtual Coffee with Christine, 6:00 pm
March 30: Parent Ed: ALICE Exercise Explained
March 31: LWHS Theatre Fundraiser at Tres Hermanos
April 4-8: Spring Break (No School)
April 14: Coffee with Christine, 9:00 am
May 18: LWHS PTSA General Membership Meeting, 7:00 pm
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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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