Our final LWHS PTSA General Membership Meeting of the year will be a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, May 17. We will elect our officers and approve our budget for the 2022-2023 school year.

When: Wed, May 17

Time: 7:00-8:30 pm

Where: Via Zoom

Look for additional information in the next Kang Crier.

Want to get involved? Build community? Have fun? We have the opportunity for you!

LWHS PTSA is seeking new board members for the 2023-2024 school year. We're looking for candidates who are passionate about PTSA's mission of enhancing the educational experience of students for several critical Board roles.

If you think it sounds daunting, perhaps because you've never served on a PTSA board or only have experience at the primary school level, don’t worry. Our current board members - almost all of whom work full time - have found the time commitment to be very manageable. On average, six to eight hours per month (sometimes even less) is all it takes.

Open Board Positions:

EVP

Secretary

Treasurer

VP School Support

Role Descriptions can be found here: LWHS PTSA Job Summaries.

Sound like something you’d like to try out for the 2023-2024 school year? Please email us at nomcom@lwhsptsa.org to add your name to our list of candidates or request additional info. 

LWHS PTSA is actively seeking underclassmen parent volunteers to help set up and take down at the Senior Farewell on Friday, June 9. The Senior Farewell event provides an opportunity for all 2023 seniors and families, as well as LW staff, to connect and celebrate one final time as LWHS Kangs. Since time and space limitations at the graduation ceremony prevent the ability to have a reception, Senior Farewell provides a chance for attendees to mingle, enjoy light refreshments, and take photos in caps and gowns. 

Senior Farewell will be held in the LWHS Commons on Friday, June 9, 2023, from 6:30-8:00 pm, directly preceding the Senior Sunset. Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Questions? Contact Colleen Rutherford, LWHS PTSA Senior Farewell Chair

Students, parents, and teachers joined in guiding students to properly dispose of lunch waste beginning the week of April 24. Instead of one bin for trash, there are now four options in two locations in the Commons: compost, trash, recycling, and food donation.

As this change gets underway, we need your help! Sign up here to monitor the waste stations alongside student volunteers. Help change the culture toward sustainability.

For more information on the PTSA sustainability initiative, check out our sustainability page on the LWPTSA website. 

Questions? Contact Stephanie Lecovin, LWHS PTSA Sustainability Chair

Lake Washington PTSA Council is excited to co-sponsor a special event, along with LWSD: Come hear from Erin Jones, award-winning educator and author of the book Bridges to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing.

When: Thursday, May 4, at 5:30 pm

Where: Redmond High School (17272 NE 104th Street)

RSVP: Reserve your spot at this free event

At this free, interactive speaking session, families and educators can expect to learn about strategies to help you move your community toward racial justice. On-site child care is available. Can't attend in person? Request the Teams link when you register. Learn more about this event and about Erin Jones here. 

LWPTSA Council is partnering with LWSD to host a free education event for parents and caregivers. Come experience a potentially life-saving training from the University of Washington's Forefront Suicide Prevention program. The information shared in this session will help you recognize when someone might be at risk for suicide and how to connect them with immediate help.

When: Monday, May 8 at 7:00 pm

Where: Redmond High School Library (17272 NE 104th Street)

RSVP: Reserve your spot at this free event

Click here for more information. Speaker Peter Loft is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a volunteer with UW's Forefront program. Forefront's mission is to help people take action to prevent suicide in their communities. Have questions about this event? Email Council's Parent Education chair, Irene Neumann. 

Join LWPTSA Council's Special Education Group (SEG) for their May meeting. The meeting will kick off at 6:30 pm with family networking. At 7:00 pm they will begin the formal program with a presentation on the Best Buddies supported employment and one-to-one friendship programs, followed by a facilitated discussion on future planning for SEG.

Child care is available! Contact specialservices@LWSD.org by May 10 with your student's name and age.

When: Tuesday, May 16, at 7:00 pm; family networking begins at 6:30 pm

Where: LWSD Resource Center (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond)

Stay Connected: SEG Page | Facebook Group | SEG Newsletter

Questions? Please email LWPTSA Council's SEG co-chairs, Huma Zarif and Kaity Mason, at specialeducation@LWPTSA.net.

Dear Kang Parents, 

We are as excited to welcome the sunshine as you are. It is nice to be outside and active, and our students are taking full advantage of it. You can see the energy it brings to have daylight when we arrive and leave for the day. 

I have just a few pieces of information to share with you in this edition of the Kang Crier. 

First, thank you to the parents who joined us for Learning Walks in April. It was a positive experience for all involved and we are excited for the next opportunity in June. 

We wrapped up SBA and WCAS testing last week. Thank you to everyone who encouraged students to get rest, come to school prepared, and try their best on these assessments. Our students were incredible last week. We are headed into AP testing this week. This can be an exhausting time for our students, especially those who take more than one AP class. Our staff work to prepare for these tests for months and I appreciate their efforts to provide every opportunity possible to our students. 

As a reminder, students may not park in the parking lot without a parking pass. Our School Safety Prevention Specialists have been writing tickets this week and that is not what they like to do. The bottom line is that we have students with passes who come in and tell us that the lot is full and there is nowhere for them to park. We have limited spots and cannot have them taken by cars without passes. Please ensure that your students without passes are not parking on campus. Thank you for your support with this. 

As a final note, this week is Staff/Teacher Appreciation Week. Our PTSA is gracious in providing appreciation for our staff throughout the week. This is a great time for you to encourage your student to show appreciation as well. It means so much to me and to our teachers to hear them celebrated for the work that they do in service to our community. 

Enjoy the sunshine, and Go Kangs!

Christine Bell  

LWHS Principal

May 5 and 6, 2023

Tickets on sale now!

Last chance to come see our swashbuckling spring production! Ken Ludwig's adaptation of the classic novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is a tale of heroism, treachery, close escapes and above all, honor.

Set in 1625, this historic tale depicts a brother and sister, d’Artagnan and Sabine, as they set off for Paris in search of adventure - and they definitely find it among The Kings' Musketeers! This show is double-cast. Please click on the Brown Paper Tickets link below for full details. 

Tickets prices:

$8 Students w/ASB, Seniors (60+), Military

$10 General Admission

Click here to buy tickets

Select Print-at-Home option for quick entry. Online ticket sales close Thursday, May 4 at 7:00 pm. Tickets also available at the door each performance with cash/check only.



Additional information on the LWHS Theatre Website. Follow us on Facebook for event listings, updates and photos.

Bus sign-ups begin May 5! Ticket sales close June 4!

What is Senior Party? Senior Party is a safe and fun-filled post-graduation all-night party on June 15 for Seniors organized by the LWHS PTSA. We provide the transportation to two surprise venues, entertainment, food and a memorable end-of-year experience with friends. 

When: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Start Time: 8:30-9:30pm

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

Important! Bus sign-ups begin Friday, May 5! Seniors must purchase a ticket and submit completed waivers before they can sign up for a bus with friends. All forms must be in and processed to sign up for a bus! Send completed forms to seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org or drop them in the PTSA box in the main office. Bus sign-ups will happen during lunches on May 5 and 12 (other dates TBD); look for the Senior Party information table in the Commons.

How do you sign up your Senior? Click here to purchase Senior Party Tickets. Also see additional information for required waivers. You do not need to be a PTSA member to purchase tickets.

Ticket prices:

• $200 until May 15
• $210 between May 16 and June 4
• Last day for ticket sales is June 4!  
• 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 with her in the athletic office at school.

Do you want to help? Do you want to help chaperone or plan the event? Contact the Senior Party Co-Chairs at seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org or sign up to help at the lunch information table or to volunteer for bus check-in or to chaperone that night.



We want every senior who would like to attend the party to join!

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

Has your senior been accepted into a fine arts program at a university or college? We would like to celebrate our students in band, orchestra, choir, theatre, art, digital arts, photography, and dance committed to continue their visual and performing arts in post-secondary education with a Fine Arts Signing Day in May 2023.

To participate please contact Jennifer Malick, LWHS Theatre Boosters

Hello parents,

The High School & Beyond Plan is a high school graduation requirement and one of its components is the career planning work we do in Xello, our online interactive platform. Xello can be accessed via the ClassLink app.

We want to remind Seniors that their Xello work needs to be completed now.

If you have questions, contact Margaret Campbell (mcampbell@lwsd.org) for last names A-Law or Phil Magnenat (pmagnenat@lwsd.org) for last names Le-Z. 

May 2 at Lunch A & B

Have your Senior join their classmates in celebrating their college or university decision by wearing college gear and taking pictures with pennants and our LW Decision Day banner. We will celebrate all decisions including gap year, military, working or school decisions. Students can snap pics with friends and teachers. Have them join the fun!

Questions? Contact Nichole Swanger, LWHS College and Career Specialist

LWHS will celebrate all seniors and their future plans in our annual Destination video! All seniors wishing to participate should complete the Destination Video form which includes post high school plans as well as uploading a picture. Students must be signed into their student LWSD account to complete the form. Parents or students can also email their post high school plan and a photo to Nichole Swanger in the College and Career Center at nswanger@lwsd.org.

Lake Washington High School will be presenting Senior Awards Night on Thursday June 1 at 6:30 pm in the LWHS 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. Invitations will be sent out once the determinations have been made. 

Social Media & Mental Health—Practical Advice

Being a teen today (and raising one) isn't easy. Adolescents everywhere are facing mental health struggles. While every parent has heard about cyber dangers, many don't fully understand the "everyday dangers" of normal social media use. At the next Balance in Mind Parent Chat, at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, May 3, award-winning speaker Ashley Bendiksen combines compelling and relatable storytelling with research-backed practical advice to help parents understand their kids and know what they CAN do.

Register here

Balance In Mind is a program of Lake Washington Schools Foundation.

For Parents/Caregivers & Teens to attend together. Offered virtually one Saturday per month during the school year.

• Learn the impacts of substance use on the developing body & brain
• Learn where and how to turn for help--drug/alcohol and/or mental health
• Learn how to make more informed decisions for your future
• Healthy coping & decision-making skills
• Mindfulness skills

Classes are on Saturday May 20 or June 17 from 9:30 am-12:30 pm. We ask that one parent/caregiver attend with the youth.

Go to http://www.youtheastsideservices.org/adec to register.

Questions? Contact Andrea Frost, YES Prevention Intervention Specialist for LWSD