Spanish classroom materials and library books

This article is the second in a series to explain what the LWHS PTSA does and where contributions to the PTSA are used. The PTSA funds student programs, events and grants to teachers for professional training and classroom supplies, all to benefit the educational experience. Programs like these are at risk for future funding due to a decline in contributions this year.

As our school continues to grow, classes are being added to meet the needs and interests of the students. An example of this is the Spanish for Heritage Learners class established in the fall of 2020. This class provides an opportunity for native Spanish speakers to develop literacy skills in Spanish that can be applied in core classes such as English and history. A grant from the PTSA funded the purchase of a set of novels. For most of the students, this was the first time they had read a book in Spanish. Many of them were surprised to learn that they are capable of reading novels in Spanish and consequently felt a big sense of accomplishment.

The following year, a PTSA grant funded the purchase of over 30 books to add to the class library. Providing a variety of high-interest books to read during the silent, sustained reading time at the beginning of each class helped the students to grow more confident in their ability to read Spanish. The graphic novels were especially popular with students.

PTSA has also funded general book purchases for the LWHS library for many years in a row. These books expose our students to a broader set of ideas, experiences and opinions, expanding their educational experience.

These programs reflect PTSA’s impact on the educational experience. Tune into future issues of the Kang Crier to learn about how PTSA funded over 30 teacher classroom grants this year, additional investments in classroom materials, suicide awareness training, and much more!

PTSA fundraising declined this school year. If you are able to make a contribution, please follow the "Pass the Pouch" directions on our website. Thank you for your support!

Join us online on Monday, March 6 at 7:00 pm for our next PTSA General Membership Meeting. A few highlights for the meeting include: elect the Nominating Committee, updates about PTSA sustainability efforts and visionary sessions, and 2023 Senior Party updates. Principal Bell will also have updates about what's new at LWHS. We hope to see you there!

This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom. Click here to join.

Questions? Contact Tanya Knudsen, LWHS PTSA President

Do you have an eye for detail and like to be in-the-know? We are seeking a new Editor for the Kang Crier newsletter. This role is a great way to contribute to the LWHS community and keep on top of events going on at LWHS and with PTSA! We'd like the new Editor to start this spring for training and transition. Contact kangcrier@lwhsptsa.org for more information.

LWHS Students and Staff to unite in bold vision for a fully-integrated sustainable 21st century school culture

In response to student advocacy efforts, PTSA President Tanya Knudsen and Sustainability Chair Stephanie Lecovin are hosting a series of visioning sessions to create a bold sustainability culture at LWHS. The initial sessions were well attended and full of colorful, practical and visionary thoughts. Come to the final session and contribute your vision!

• Parent/Teacher Session: February 22 at 1:30-2:15 pm in LWHS Library 

Questions? Contact Tanya Knudsen, LWHS PTSA President

Thank you to all of the wonderful parents who donated items to our staff appreciation Valentine’s goodie bags!

If you are interested in supporting future staff appreciation activities, please contact Beatrice Joe, LWHS PTSA Staff Appreciation Chair

Tonight! February 21 at 7:00 pm

Join LWPTSA Council’s Special Education Group (SEG) for their February meeting, in person! The meeting will kick off at 6:30 pm with family networking. At 7:00 pm, the formal program will begin with Ramona Hattendorf, Director of Advocacy at the Arc of King County to learn about legislative advocacy and the Arc’s priorities for this legislative session. At the Arc, Ramona works with advocacy coalitions and government leaders to improve supports for people with disabilities, and produces news and education materials to help people understand and engage in public policy.

Child care is available! Contact specialservices@lwsd.org with your student's name and age.

• When: Tuesday, Feb 21 at 7:00 pm; Family networking begins at 6:30 pm
• Where: LWSD Resource Center Boardroom (16250 NE 74th Street at Redmond Town Center)
• Stay Connected: SEG Page | Facebook Group | SEG Newsletter

Please send questions to SEG co-chairs, Huma Zarif and Kaity Mason, at specialeducation@lwptsa.net.

This Thursday, February 23 at Noon

LWPTSA Council's Lunch & Learn series consists of short presentations and discussions on topics relevant to your child's education. All community members are welcome—you bring your lunch, and we'll provide the speakers. We hope you will join us this month for an informative discussion on school funding. How does it get distributed to our individual schools? Who decides how much goes to which programs? Where can we find more information about how funds are allocated?

• Speaker: Barbara Posthumus, LWSD Associate Superintendent of Business and Support Services
• When: Thursday, Feb 23 from noon to 1:00 pm
• Where: LWSD Resource Center Boardroom (16250 NE 74th Street at Redmond Town Center)

Bring your questions and your lunch, and learn with us! Please email Council's executive vice president, Brandi Comstock, with any questions.

Greetings Kang Families,

It is starting to look like spring! Our winter athletes are headed to post-season play and our spring sports are just getting warmed up. The drama program performed Legally Blonde, The Musical and if you missed it you missed a fantastic display of our student talent. Kudos to the students who performed and thanks to you and our staff for supporting them. 

February is Black History Month. We are so proud of our Black Student Union for visiting Audubon Elementary and leading discussions in an assembly with our future Kangs. Our BSU advisor Mr. Green has provided consistent and thoughtful leadership and learning to our community. 

This is also the time of year when we host elementary school students for events and connect our music programs with those in our greater community. I encourage you to support your student in joining a club, sport or activity. There are so many wonderful ways to get involved. 

We are excited to share with you that our senior events have been planned and scheduled. This spring we look forward to bringing back events that were celebrated last year and we are partnering with the PTSA to make them even better. 

Here are a few dates to look forward to: 

• June 3: Prom at Sunset Bay Lodge Ballard 8:00-10:00 pm
• June 9: Senior Sunset on LWHS Baseball Field 8:00 pm
• June 13: Moving up Assembly in the gym, end of school day
• June 14: Senior breakfast and rehearsal in commons and gym
• June 15: Graduation

We also have plans for a senior awards night and other exciting events. You can view our calendar of events on the district website: https://lwhs.lwsd.org/about-us/calendar 

As parents you know how quickly the spring semester goes. Please consider joining our parent engagement events so that you can stay up to date on all things LW. You can visit Coffee with Christine both in person and virtually (dates listed in this newsletter) and provide your input, as well as ask questions of our counseling team and administration. 

I am so grateful for this learning community and the opportunities we have for partnership with our families. Please reach out to me, and to our staff, if there is anything we can do to better serve you.

Go Kangs!

Christine Bell  

LWHS Principal

College Fair

Save the Date! On Thursday April 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, LWHS will host a spring college fair. This is a great way to kick off the college search for our current junior class who will be our 2024 grads! All grades and parents are welcome to attend. Come and speak directly with college admissions advisors about admissions, housing, campus life and more. We have many great schools attending such as UW, Gonzaga, WSU, Arizona State, University of Arizona, UNLV, San Diego State, Oregon State, UMass and more!

Upcoming College Visits in the College & Career Center

For Junior and Senior students: There are several upcoming college admissions reps visits coming to LWHS in the College & Career Center. Have your student stop by or email Ms. Swanger at nswanger@lwsd.org if they need a pass.

Feb 23, B Lunch 12:44-1:14 pm: Academy of Interactive Entertainment

Mar 7, A Lunch 11:07-11:37 am: University of Idaho

Mar 14, A Lunch 11:07-11:37 am: Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)

Mar 16, B Lunch 12:44-1:14 pm: Texas A&M - College Station

WANIC Applications Open & WANIC Presentations

For rising Juniors and Seniors for the 2023-2024 school year, WANIC is currently accepting applications for FULL year programs. Students can participate in many different options such as Aviation Technology, Institute of Systems Biology-Systems Medicine, medical, dental, baking, CISCO, FITE (Fire & EMS program), and DigiPen combined with their classes at LWHS.

• LWHS WANIC Info Session: February 24 during Roo B in the College & Career Center.
• WANIC open house: March 16 from 5pm to 7pm at LW Institute of Technology at 11605 132nd Avenue NE in Kirkland.
• For students interested in attending DigiPen through WANIC, register for a DigiPen session here: https://forms.digipen.edu/view.php?id=729215.

Upcoming Virtual Events and College Preview Days

We have several upcoming virtual events and college preview days. For more information on these topics and more, check out LWHS College & Career Center links: https://linktr.ee/lwhscollegecareercenter

Questions? Contact Nichole Swanger, LWHS College and Career Specialist

Show your support for LWHS Music Department by having lunch or dinner at MOD Pizza in Kirkland's Totem Lake this Thursday, February 23! The proceeds will go to the Lake Washington High School Music Boosters to cover expenses for the Music Department's trip to the Heritage Festival in Anaheim, CA this May! Click the link below to print the flyer to show at the restaurant or order online and enter this fundraiser code: MODGIVES20.

Print the flyer

Questions? Contact Gretchen Moosbrugger, LWHS Music Boosters President

LWSD is offering a LATE AP Exam Registration window now through March 3, 2023. Students who register during the late AP Registration window will incur a $50 per exam late fee in addition to the $99 per exam fee. 

Click here for more information about AP Exam registration deadlines and fees. 

Time to start that spring cleaning! LWHS Theatre Boosters is hosting a clothing and textile drive fundraiser on two upcoming Saturdays, March 4 and March 18, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the LWHS north student parking lot. Learn more about what we are collecting.

Questions? Contact Joy Jernigan, LWHS Theatre Boosters Fundraising Chair

Prices go up TODAY, February 21!

Your senior is invited to 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: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Start Time: 8:30-9:30pm

End Time: 5:00 am on Friday, June 16, at LWHS  

Ticket prices:

• $190 until February 21
• $200 between February 22 and April 30
• $210 between April 30 and June 4
• Ticket sales end June 4, 2023  
• All ticket purchases are non-refundable. 

Scholarships or installment plans are available. Contact Jodee Hull at jhull@lwsd.org for more information.

How do you sign up your Senior? Click here to purchase Senior Party Tickets. You can also click here for additional information. You do not need to be a PTSA member to purchase tickets.

Questions? Do you want to help chaperone or plan the event? Contact the Senior Party Co-Chairs at seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org 

The High School & Beyond Plan is a high school graduation requirement for Lake Washington School District. One of its components is the career planning work completed in Xello, an online interactive platform. Students can access Xello through the ClassLink app.

All Seniors need to complete their Xello work by April 10.

Questions? Email Margaret Campbell (mcampbell@lwsd.org) if your last name is A-Law or Phil Magnenat (pmagnenat@lwsd.org) if your last name is Le-Z.

Lake Washington PTSA Council is pleased to roll out their 2023 Scholarship Program! Council offers several student scholarships and two $500 staff scholarships each spring. This year's Student Scholarship Program will include 15 scholarships of $1,250 each:

• 8 Merit scholarships
• 1 LWEA/Teeley scholarship (funded by the LWEA)
• 2 Perseverance scholarships
• 1 Turnaround scholarship
• 1 Two-year, technical or vocational scholarship
• 2 At-large scholarships

Applications for both staff and student scholarships are due by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, March 29. LWPTSA Council's Scholarship Program is funded by money raised at our annual scholarship fundraising auction, by annual donations from the 44 PTAs/PTSAs in the LWSD (including LWHS PTSA), the LWEA, and by donations from the greater community.

Download the Student Scholarship Application

Download the Staff Scholarship Application

Questions? Please contact LWPTSA Council's Scholarship Program chair, Brooke Gialopsos, at scholarships@LWPTSA.net.

Have Lunch With LWSF at Our Be the Bridge Spring Benefit

To all PTSA leaders, active volunteers and families in our community: We invite you to have lunch with us at our Spring Benefit on March 23 at the Marriott Hotel in Redmond! Join us to witness all of the work that we are doing to nurture, connect, and empower students and schools throughout the Lake Washington School District. Reserve your spot at lwsf.org/bethebridge.

Passionate about our students and schools? Support our fundraising efforts by registering as a Table Captain for the event! Email jamie@lwsf.org to learn more!

Body Confidence: How to Talk to Your Teen About Body Image and Eating Habits

It's hard to know how to talk to your teen about body image and eating habits, especially because many of us struggle with it as adults! On March 1 at 7:00 pm, Abby Erickson will share some pointers about how to talk to your teen about these issues, so you can help them develop a more peaceful relationship with food and body. Register at lwsf.org/parentchat.

Check out additional Lake Washington Schools Foundation events and resources at lwsf.org.