Community Budget Update – April 10, 2025

Dear LWSD Staff and Families: At Monday night’s School Board meeting, I shared a budget update to help explain where we are financially as a district and the decisions we are making to stay on a strong fiscal path. I am pleased to share that, even though difficult decisions have needed to be made, we are set up to develop a balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year. I’ve created a short video to share additional details with our staff and community. If you would like to review the full school board meeting video , click here. (Budget Update begins at 1:01:50). We’ve also broken the video into three sections that you can review here: Washington state budget outlook   Current budget situation for LWSD Budget Alignment Watch my video  here : I want to acknowledge that while this message is about the budget, it’s really about people. 85% of our budget goes directly to staffing, people who care deeply about students and give their all, every day in Lake Washington schools. When we make reductions, even when they’re strategic, they affect the lives and livelihoods of our colleagues. We don’t take that lightly when making difficult decisions.    Here are some important points from my video: While it may have been easier to make one or two big changes to quickly close the budget gap, we sought to make strategic changes that continue our focus on supporting students. We are making strategic reinvestments to support student experiences. Making strategic changes to the highly capable program in response to stakeholder committee input, along with changes to how we staff fourth and fifth-grade classes will allow us to reinvest in reducing class sizes in grades K-3.  In professional learning, we’re moving toward a model that puts learning closer to our educators and professional learning communities.  Half of the savings of the change to a six-period high school day will be reinvested into our high schools to focus on three areas: removing barriers to graduation; supporting courses that serve many students or are tied to school improvement goals; and providing new elective opportunities where possible, based on student interest. None of these changes are easy. But they reflect our effort to act responsibly, protect the core of our work, and continue making decisions that center students. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we move through this together. Sincerely, Jon Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent Lake Washington School District Lake Washington School District | 16250 NE 74th St. Redmond, WA 98052

Thursday, Apr 10 2025

Safety Incident on LWSD Campus

Good afternoon, I wanted to share information about an incident that occurred on one of our school campuses yesterday that caused an interruption to the staff workday and generated fear for our staff and community. The health and safety of our students and staff is a primary responsibility for Lake Washington School District and so we wanted to share information and actions taken.  Our work is guided by our  Layered School Safety plan which outlines elements of our work on student, staff and school safety. The District has been aware of individuals that identify as “First Amendment Auditors.” First Amendment Auditors are individuals or groups who record (via video or photography) in public spaces to test, assert and document their constitutional rights, particularly the right to record public officials and matters of public interest. An individual identifying himself as “James Madison” has come to the district office three times over the past seven months. This individual wears a costume which includes face and head coverings with a “GoPro camera.” District leadership has engaged with local law enforcement about his presence at the district office. This individual has made multiple public record requests, recorded staff, attempted to record computer monitors and asked staff to verbally interact with him. We are also aware that this individual was previously on an elementary campus after hours when no one was on campus. We are aware that this individual was in one of our elementary schools yesterday after the student day and his presence caused concern and disruption. The school principal monitored and responded to the situation. Action and Next Steps: We are working with law enforcement to formally trespass this individual from all school district campuses and facilities in Lake Washington School District. We are providing updated guidance for our schools to ensure a strong and consistent response to unauthorized individuals on our campus. We are asking our school leaders to review expectations and protocols with staff regarding the physical safety of our schools.   Lake Washington School District school campuses are closed during the student day and school buildings are closed during non-student hours. I want to make it clear that individuals without a legitimate purpose for being on our campus during the school day are not allowed on campus and will be asked to leave immediately.  School administrators have the authority to ask individuals without legitimate purpose to leave campus.  Should this be disregarded, further action will be taken, which may include the involvement of law enforcement. Our priority is always the success and well-being of our students.  To support this commitment, we will continue working to ensure our schools and environments are healthy, safe, and secure for all students and staff. Thank you, Jon Dr. Jon Holmen Superintendent Lake Washington School District superintendent@lwsd.org | 425-936-1257 Lake Washington School District #414 16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052 425-936-1200 www.lwsd.org  

Friday, Mar 28 2025

Connections - March 13, 2025: Graduation schedule, u...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Read the website accessible version here March 13, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ In this issue ​ 2025 Graduation schedule Unofficial transcripts in Skyward ENAEP silent auction March 21 Education Support Professionals Week March 10-14 Congressional art competition Panorama family survey open through March 21 LWSF benefit, workshop and webinars LWPTSA Lunch & Learn Rockwell construction open house Student and staff success ​ ​ ​ ​ Work with us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We're hiring! Consider a career in LWSD ​ LWSD is always seeking great talent for positions throughout our district. In addition to other positions available throughout the district, we are looking for applicants for the following positions:  Nurses  Instructional Assistants (IAs)  Paraeducators  Custodians  Bus Drivers  Substitutes  These positions are also available in a substitute role. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Learning focused ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025 graduation schedule available ​ The graduation schedule for 2025 has been posted. You can find the details on the LWSD webpage. We look forward to recognizing our class of 2025 graduates in June. Additional information, including details about tickets, will be shared with families by each school. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Unofficial transcripts now available in Skyward ​ Unofficial transcripts for high school students are now available in Skyward Student and Family Access. These transcripts are under "Portfolio." The steps to access them are: Log in to Family or Student Access. Click on the "Portfolio" tile. Select the download or view options for the Unofficial Transcript. These are updated three times a year (after semester 1, after semester 2 and at the end of September). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Annual Eastside Native American Education Program silent auction is March 21 ​ This annual auction is in large part a fundraiser that supports many of the events and services that the ENAEP (Eastside Native American Education Program) provides the Native students and families in the Bellevue, Lake Washington and Northshore school districts. Many have approached ENAEP wanting to know how they can better partner with the organization and the Native Community, this is one of those ways that someone can begin building that partnership. Please come and support! View the flyer for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you, classified staff! ​ Education Support Professionals Week is March 10-14 This week, March 10-14, is Education Support Professionals Week. Classified school employees are involved in nearly every aspect of education, including maintaining school buildings and grounds, providing secretarial and clerical assistance, preparing and serving meals, providing safe transportation, keeping school facilities clean and orderly, assisting in the classroom, providing a secure and healthy environment, and many other specialized services. Thank you to the approximately 2,000 classified school employees working in Lake Washington School District! Read the LWSD proclamation for Education Support Professionals Week signed by the LWSD board.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Congressional art competition 2025 ​ Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Each member of Congress may choose to host the program in their individual districts and ask a panel of local artists, such as artists-in-residence, art teachers, gallery owners, etc., to act as judges. The winning artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The tunnel is the most highly traveled access point between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Every day, Members of Congress, distinguished visitors and tens of thousands of tourists – from the United States and abroad – walk through the tunnel and admire the artwork. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of judges select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC (with two free plane tickets to get there). The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. Congresswoman DelBene – Washington’s 1st District All submissions are due by April 18, 2025. Award ceremony and reception to be held the week of April 21, final date and details TBA. For more information and to fill out the form, visit https://delbene.house.gov/constituent-services/art-competition.htm. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Change in length of student day & common high school schedules – 2025-26 ​ A message from Lake Washington School District Superintendent, Dr. Jon Holmen. Dear Lake Washington School District Families and Students,  On October 1, 2024, I announced that high schools would shift from a 7-period to a 6-period high school day beginning next school year. This announcement included changing to have common schedules at Eastlake, Juanita, Lake Washington and Redmond High Schools.  After a process that included community, student, and staff feedback, we have finalized the common high school schedule, and it includes the following: Increased instructional time for each class, increasing the total class time per credit from 135 to 152 hours annually.  A block schedule where each class meets 4 times per week with two block periods of 80 minutes and two shorter periods of 45 minutes.  10-minute passing periods for students M-Th and 7-minute passing periods on Fridays.  Homeroom period one time per week.  Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: LWSD Human Resources team attending several career events ​ Come out and meet our hiring teams in person at these upcoming events (pre-registration or affiliation may be required): Confirmed events March 13 - Indian American Community Services (IACS-Anvi) - 1 - 5 p.m. The upcoming career fair is aimed at fostering connections between talented professionals and esteemed organizations in education, early childhood, finance, banking, technology, health care, real estate, small business, etc.   March 13 - UW Bothell Job search clinic - 4:45 - 6:45 p.m. Specifically for teacher interns in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington Bothell. Contact: jonuwb@uw.edu March 15 - City U Job Fair, Seattle campus - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Attendees will be over 100 soon-to-be teachers in attendance from City U. Contact: vbutler@cityu.edu Unconfirmed events April 30 - WSPA Tacoma - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. A career fair for teachers and administrators. Contact: Natalie Plott or call 360-943-5717 You can find out more about employment at LWSD here. ​ ​ ​ ​ FINAL REMINDER: Early Entrance to Kindergarten applications - February 1-March 15 ​ Applications for LWSD's Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) program will open on February 1 and close on March 15, 2025. The FinalForms program will take applicants through the process and payment. The EEK program screens students whose families believe are qualified to enter kindergarten at an early age.   More information can be found on the LWSD EEK webpage.   Please note that student applicants must turn age 5 before November 30, 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​ District announcements ​ ​ ​ ​ We want to hear from you! Panorama family survey closes March 21, 2025 ​ Families, students and schools all play important roles in helping students do their best in school. By taking the Panorama Family survey, you can help LWSD learn how to make your child's schooling experience as positive and beneficial as possible. The topics covered in this spring family survey are about your engagement with the district and your local school. The Panorama family survey can be accessed here.   If you have students at different schools, we encourage you to take the survey multiple times – one time per school.     Thank you in advance for completing this year’s Family Panorama survey! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Thinking about serving on the school board? ​ Two LWSD school board positions will be on the November 2025 ballot: District 3 and District 4. The board and district will host informational and engagement sessions to share information about what it means to be a board member. School board directors are elected by voters in a school district. School districts identify five areas called “director districts” which aim to distribute population evenly across each of the five areas. To run for a school board position, a person must live within the designated area even though the individual will be listed on the ballot for all voters within the school district. School board members are elected to serve four-year terms. Visit: https://www.lwsd.org/about/school-board/becoming-a-board-member for additional information. Upcoming school board information sessions: March 24, 2025, at 4 p.m. - Virtual - LINK or In-person at Resource Center) Session 2: Key Responsibilities and Areas of Oversight (Study session and board meeting following the session should participants want to join) April 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. (In-person at Resource Center) Session 3: Questions & answers and dialog with board members King County election filing information: Online candidate filing for 2025 offices is available 24 hours a day starting Monday, May 5, 2025 at 8 a.m. and ending on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 5 p.m. Learn more: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/for-candidates/online-candidate-filing.aspx View the flyer for more information.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lake Washington Schools Foundation ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Twenty years of impact. One night to celebrate! ​ Please join Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) for their Be the Bridge Spring Benefit, a fun and celebratory fundraiser that highlights the impact that you and LWSF have made over the past 20 years, and continue to make, for local students.  ​ Enjoy appetizers, drinks and dessert while connecting with fellow LWSF supporters, hearing inspiring stories and meeting community leaders.   When: Thursday, March 27, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Seattle Marriott Redmond ​ Seating is limited, so please take a moment to reserve your spot today.​ Unable to attend? You can still be part of this milestone by making a donation here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Tech-Savvy Parenting: Setting Healthy Social Media Rules ​ Empower your family with the tools and knowledge to navigate the digital world safely. Learn practical tips for setting healthy social media boundaries, controlling privacy and security settings, and having conversations with your child about online safety and responsibility.   When: Wednesday, March 19, 7-8:30 p.m. Where: Juanita High School Performing Arts Center Register: https://juanitahsptsa.givebacks.com/store/items/1162412 ​ ​ ​ ​ Harmony at Home: Successfully Navigating Parent-Child Differences | ParentEd Talk ​ Parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially when your child’s personality or interests feel completely different from your own. Join this empowering ParentEd Talk with pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to discover how to connect with your unique child, embrace their strengths and turn conflicts into moments of growth.   When: Thursday, March 20, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Online webinar   Sign up here for this live Q&A-style webinar series for free. You'll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere. ​ ​ ​ ​ Social Emotional Learning for Parents workshop ​ Are you a parent and caregiver looking to deepen family connections, improve communication and tackle parenting challenges with patience and calm? Join us at LWSF’s last in-person workshop of the year starting on March 21! Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot!   Details and registration: www.lwsf.org/our-work/sel-for-parents. ​ ​ ​ ​ From Chaos to Calm: Compassionate Discipline for Spirited Kids | ParentEd Talk ​ Raising a strong-willed child? Instead of fighting their fire, learn how to guide it! On April 1, join parenting coach and author Joe Newman as he shares strategies to turn power struggles into growth opportunities and help distracted, defiant children become motivated, respectful and attentive.   When: Tuesday, April 1, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Online webinar   Sign up here for this live Q&A-style webinar series for free. You'll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere. ​ ​ ​ ​ Lake Washington PTSA ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ LWPTSA Lunch & Learn: Cultural Competency in LWSD ​ LWPTSA Council invites everyone to their next Lunch & Learn, as they welcome Pablo Ortega, LWSD's Director of Equity and Family Engagement, who will discuss how we incorporate and foster cultural competency in our schools. Why is cultural competence important? How are our children learning the skills, awareness and knowledge needed to respectfully interact with lessons and individuals from cultures different from theirs?   When: Thursday, March 20, 12-1 p.m. Where: Zoom – Register here Lunch & Learn consists of virtual sessions held on select Thursdays during the school year, where LWPTSA shares short presentations, followed by Q&A, on topics of interest to our PTA and school community. Lunch & Learns are always free to join. Grab your lunch, log on and learn with LWPTSA Council!   Questions? Email LWPTSA Council Executive Vice President Bhaskar Ravikanti, at EVP@LWPTSA.net. View the flyer here.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Building Excellence ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Rockwell Elementary good neighbor open house ​ The Lake Washington School District Support Services team, along with members of the construction project team, met with families and community members from the Rockwell Elementary School community on the evening of February 27. The goal of the event was to show the community the construction plans for the rebuild and enlarge project at Rockwell Elementary that will kick off this summer.  About 50 community members joined the team to learn more and ask questions about the upcoming construction project. Visit the LWSD website to read more on this open house and to access the project boards. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Student & staff success ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hitting the right note – Several LWSD students named to music honor groups ​ The lists are out and Lake Washington School District (LWSD) musicians are major players for this year’s musical honor groups. This year, two organizations chose students in band, orchestra and choir to join all-state and all-northwest groups. Forty-nine high schoolers and 94 middle schoolers come from LWSD schools this year. Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Meeting the students where they are – Juanita High School counselor wins state award for going above and beyond ​ Juanita High School counselor Stefa Chow is being honored as the 2025 Washington School Counselor of the Year. The award is given out by the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA). According to the WSCA, her peers and students, Chow has made a significant impact at Juanita High School; supporting students, staff and families with her dedication and innovative practices. The WSCA professional recognition committee was particularly impressed by her commitment to using data-informed practices and advocating for comprehensive school counseling programs across Lake Washington School District. Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Remember... ​ ​ ​ ​ This newsletter is just one way to stay in touch with what is happening in the district. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for up-to-date news and information. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator, Director of Human Resources, 425-936-1333, civilrights@lwsd.org; Title IX Coordinator, Director of Athletics and Activities, 425-936-1289, titleix@lwsd.org; and 504 Coordinator, Director of Special Services, 425-936-1407, section504@lwsd.org (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052) ​ ​

Thursday, Mar 13 2025

Connections - February 27, 2025: Changes to schedul...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Read the website accessible version here February 27, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ In this issue ​ Change in length of student day & common high school schedules 2025-26 Upcoming career fairs Learn about serving on the school board Be the Bridge Spring Benefit for LWSF Social emotional learning for parents workshop Rockwell Elementary community construction meeting tonight, February 27 Student & staff success stories ​ ​ ​ ​ Work with us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We're hiring! Consider a career in LWSD ​ LWSD is always seeking great talent for positions throughout our district. In addition to other positions available throughout the district, we are looking for applicants for the following positions:  Nurses  Instructional Assistants (IAs)  Paraeducators  Custodians  Bus Drivers  Substitutes  These positions are also available in a substitute role. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Learning focused ​ ​ ​ ​ Change in length of student day & common high school schedules – 2025-26 ​ A message from Lake Washington School District Superintendent, Dr. Jon Holmen. Dear Lake Washington School District Families and Students, On October 1, 2024, I announced that high schools would shift from a 7-period to a 6-period high school day beginning next school year. This announcement included changing to have common schedules at Eastlake, Juanita, Lake Washington and Redmond High Schools.  After a process that included community, student and staff feedback, we have finalized the common high school schedule, and it includes the following:  Increased instructional time for each class, increasing the total class time per credit from 135 to 152 hours annually.  A block schedule where each class meets four times per week with two block periods of 80 minutes and two shorter periods of 45 minutes.  10-minute passing periods for students M-Th and 7-minute passing periods on Fridays.  Homeroom period one time per week.  Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ LWSD Human Resources team attending several career events ​ Come out and meet our hiring teams in person at these upcoming events (pre-registration or affiliation may be required): Confirmed events March 12 - UW SLP Fair (Special Education team) - 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Specifically for hearing and speech sciences students at University of Washington. Contact: allyb@uw.edu March 13 - Indian American Community Services (IACS-Anvi) - 1 - 5 p.m. The upcoming career fair is aimed at fostering connections between talented professionals and esteemed organizations in education, early childhood, finance, banking, technology, health care, real estate, small business, etc.   March 13 - UW Bothell Job search clinic - 4:45 - 6:45 p.m. Specifically for teacher interns in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington Bothell. Contact: jonuwb@uw.edu March 15 - City U Job Fair, Seattle campus - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Attendees will be over 100 soon-to-be teachers in attendance from City U. Contact: vbutler@cityu.edu Unconfirmed events April 30 - WSPA Tacoma - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. A career fair for teachers and administrators. Contact: Natalie Plott or call 360-943-5717 You can find out more about employment at LWSD here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Tuition preschool enrollment lottery for 2025-26 school year now open ​ The tuition-based Lake Washington School District (LWSD) preschool program is now accepting entries into our enrollment lottery for the 2025-26 school year. New families interested in securing a seat for their child to enroll at one of the LWSD preschool sites in the 2025-26 school year need to complete a preschool lottery entry form. Currently enrolled/returning preschool students, preschool students on an IEP or students enrolled in our Head Start program do not need to fill out a lottery entry form. Forms received before March 7, 2025, will be entered into a lottery for a seat in the LWSD Preschool program. The lottery will be held the week of March 18, 2025, and families will be notified the week of March 24, 2025. Any students who do not receive a seat via the lottery will be placed on a waitlist for that preschool location/session. Families on the waitlist at specific preschool locations will be called and offered seats as they become available. Please direct any questions to Nichole Townsend, preschool registrar at ntownsend@lwsd.org. Visit the preschool program webpage for more information and to submit a lottery entry form. Click here to view the flyer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: February is Black History Month ​ Since 1976, each president of the United States has designated February as Black History Month. The origin can be traced even further back to 1915, when an organization called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), led by Harvard-educated historian Carter G. Woodson, was formed. The ASALH dedicated its time to researching the achievements of Black Americans and other people of African descent. The goal was to inspire schools and communities across the United States to organize local celebrations, activities and lectures in an effort to teach Black history as it had never been taught before. Today, Black History Month is also celebrated in other countries around the world, including Canada (who also celebrate in February) and the UK (who celebrate in October). For a guide on how to celebrate Black History Month in the Seattle area, please visit: www.naamnw.org. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ FINAL REMINDER: Lake Washington schools open enrollment for in-district and out-of-district families: February 3-28, 202 ​ Lake Washington School District (LWSD) holds an open enrollment period each year for families who live in the district and want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school and for families who live outside the district and want to attend a school in the LWSD. Priority will be given to families who sign up during the open enrollment period. Families may apply between February 3-28 for a change to their school assignment for the 2025-26 school year. To learn more about our open enrollment period, open schools and the application process, please visit our website. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Early Entrance to Kindergarten applications: February 1-March 15 ​ Applications for LWSD's Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) program will open on February 1 and close on March 15, 2025. The FinalForms program will take applicants through the process and payment. The EEK program screens students whose families believe are qualified to enter kindergarten at an early age.   More information can be found on the LWSD EEK webpage.   Please note that student applicants must turn age 5 before November 30, 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​ FINAL REMINDER: Advanced Placement exam registration information for 2024-25 school year ​ LWSD is offering a LATE AP exam registration window from February 24, 12:01 a.m. – March 6, at 11:59 p.m. Students who register during the late AP registration window will incur a $50 per exam late fee in addition to the current per exam fee. Read more information about late registration and fees associated here. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Kindergarten registration for 2025-26 school year is open! ​ Register online now to ensure appropriate staffing for 2025-26 school year If you live in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and your child will be five years old on or before August 31, 2025, it is time to register your child for kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year! While K-12 student registration will continue throughout the school year and summer, families are highly encouraged to register students as soon as possible. Doing so helps LWSD balance class sizes and ensures adequate staff are hired in time for the new school year. It also enables our schools to build relationships with families and students before the start of the new school year. How to register: Registration for all K-12 LWSD students is online. All necessary documents can be accessed on the LWSD website and completed documents can be uploaded securely. Families who cannot upload documents may send them by U.S. mail or drop them off at their neighborhood school. Visit the Kindergarten Information page of the LWSD website to learn more about the registration process. To determine your neighborhood school, check the district school and bus finder, or call the district’s transportation office at 425-936-1120. Building-specific “Welcome to Kindergarten” opportunities will be scheduled throughout the spring, providing caregivers with opportunities to visit the school, ask questions and register on-site if needed. Visit your neighborhood school website for more information about these upcoming events. ​ ​ ​ ​ FINAL REMINDER: World language proficiency testing ​ LWSD offers in-person, world language testing for high school students. These tests help students meet the “world languages” graduation requirement. They can earn up to four high school credits. They can also earn the Washington state “Seal of Biliteracy” on their transcript and diploma.  All students in grades 8-12 can take one language test for free.  Students can take the test at any location (see list below). Tests are available in any language that is both written and spoken. See below for final test date and location. Test date: March 26 Date registration closes: March 5 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: LWHS Register and find more information here. Questions? Contact the Assessment Team at assessmenthelp@lwsd.org. ​ ​ ​ ​ District announcements ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thinking about serving on the school board? ​ Two LWSD school board positions will be on the November 2025 ballot: District 3 and District 4. The board and district will host informational and engagement sessions to share information about what it means to be a board member. School board directors are elected by voters in a school district. School districts identify five areas called “director districts” which aim to distribute population evenly across each of the five areas. To run for a school board position, a person must live within the designated area even though the individual will be listed on the ballot for all voters within the school district. School board members are elected to serve four-year terms. Visit: https://www.lwsd.org/board/about-the-board for additional information. Upcoming school board information sessions: March 10, 2025, at 7 p.m. - Virtual - LINK Session 1: School Board 101, Becoming a Candidate and Governance vs. Management March 24, 2025, at 4 p.m. - Virtual - LINK or In-person at Resource Center) Session 2: Key Responsibilities and Areas of Oversight (Study session and board meeting following the session should participants want to join) April 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. (In-person at Resource Center) Session 3: Questions & answers and dialog with board members King County election filing information: Online candidate filing for 2025 offices is available 24 hours a day starting Monday, May 5, 2025 at 8 a.m. and ending on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 5 p.m. Learn more: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/for-candidates/online-candidate-filing.aspx View the flyer for more information.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Upcoming temporary closure of Community Pool at Juanita High School ​ The pool will be closed from March 1, 2025-August 31, 2025 The Community Pool at Juanita High School (JHS) will be closed from March 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025 to make critical capital improvements to extend the life of the pool. Wave Aquatics, the group that manages pool operations, will provide additional communication to families and community members who regularly use the pool regarding alternatives to swim lessons/lap swims. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lake Washington Schools Foundation ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Twenty years of impact. One night to celebrate! ​ This year, Lake Washington Schools Foundation’s (LWSF) Be the Bridge Spring Benefit is more than just LWSF’s biggest fundraiser–it’s a milestone celebration marking 20 years of making a difference for students in Lake Washington School District!   When: Thursday, March 27, 5-7 p.m. Where: Seattle Marriott Redmond    Register now to join community leaders, educators and supporters for an inspiring evening of reflection, connection and generosity. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Social emotional learning for parents workshops ​ Are you a parent and caregiver looking to deepen family connections, improve communication and tackle parenting challenges with patience and calm? Join LWSF at their last in-person workshop of the year starting on March 21! Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot! Details and registration: www.lwsf.org/our-work/sel-for-parents. ​ ​ ​ ​ Building Excellence ​ ​ ​ ​ Building Excellence is Lake Washington School District's long-term plan to provide permanent classrooms for students and address aging facilities and reduce reliance on portables through 2034. The Building Excellence Plan identifies the specific projects needed and a long-term funding plan that allows all required projects to be completed by 2034. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ TONIGHT: Rockwell Elementary informational design and construction meeting, February 27 ​ Join us for an informational design and construction meeting Thursday, February 27 at 6 p.m. in the Rockwell gymnasium. Learn more about the school design, construction schedule and meet the project team! The rebuild & enlarge of Rockwell elementary is funded by 2022 Building Excellence Construction Levy. This project creates space for 252 additional students while also addressing an aging facility. Rockwell will include 30 classrooms and support spaces in a new two-story building that will open in Fall 2026. Construction will begin this summer (some preliminary work may start in the spring). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Student & staff success ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Forty-eight LWSD students recognized for excellence in art and writing ​ Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students have always excelled in art and writing, and this year is no different. Forty-eight LWSD students were recognized during this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Among all the LWSD schools that participated, students earned 28 gold keys, 25 silver keys and 43 honorable mentions. Artists who received a gold key for their entries are then judged on the national level. These students will find out in mid-March if they receive a national award. Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ LWHS students learn to produce compelling stories in today's digital landscape ​ Did you know students at Lake Washington High School (LWHS) have the special opportunity to take video classes taught by a distinguished television veteran? That’s right. Taught by Su Ring Vitue, a former TV producer at KING5’s New Day NW show, she is leading her award-winning classes in Video Production and Broadcast Communications right here in Lake Washington School District (LWSD). With her guidance, expertise and connections, students are mastering the art to produce compelling stories in today’s digital landscape.  Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Remember... ​ ​ ​ ​ This newsletter is just one way to stay in touch with what is happening in the district. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for up-to-date news and information. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator, Director of Human Resources, 425-936-1333, civilrights@lwsd.org; Title IX Coordinator, Director of Athletics and Activities, 425-936-1289, titleix@lwsd.org; and 504 Coordinator, Director of Special Services, 425-936-1407, section504@lwsd.org (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052) ​ ​

Friday, Feb 28 2025

Change in Length of Student Day & Common High School...

Dear Lake Washington School District Families and Students, On October 1, 2024, I announced that high schools would shift from a 7-period to a 6-period high school day beginning next school year. This announcement included changing to have common schedules at Eastlake, Juanita, Lake Washington and Redmond High Schools.    After a process that included community, student, and staff feedback, we have finalized the common high school schedule, and it includes the following: Increased instructional time for each class, increasing the total class time per credit from 135 to 152 hours annually.  A block schedule where each class meets 4 times per week with two block periods of 80 minutes and two shorter periods of 45 minutes. 10-minute passing periods for students M-Th and 7-minute passing periods on Fridays. Homeroom period one time per week. After an analysis of state-required instructional hours as part of this process, the following changes are also being implemented:  The high school student day will be reduced by 10 minutes.  The elementary and middle school student day will be increased by 5 minutes.  Preschool and Transition Academy programs will start and end 10 minutes earlier. These changes allow us to continue to meet our annual required 1027 instructional hour average for grades 1-12.  In addition, to further align educator planning time across all three levels, the following change is also being implemented:  Starting in the 2025-26 school year, high school and middle school students will be released 105 minutes before the regular end of the school day on Wednesdays. These changes provide additional weekly planning time for our secondary educators. There is no change to the elementary Wednesday early release.  Please watch this video for additional information: https://youtu.be/yMFwgkcFYBM   In addition, Deputy Superintendent Scott Beebe created another video to further explain the details of these changes. This video can be found here:  https://youtu.be/RDFTDM_tswk Click here to view the high school schedule for Eastlake, Juanita, Lake Washington and Redmond High Schools .   Again, I appreciate your partnership as we continue to work through the elements of these changes.  Sincerely, Jon Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent Lake Washington School District Lake Washington School District | 16250 NE 74th St. Redmond, WA 98052

Thursday, Feb 20 2025

Connections - February 12, 2025: Mid-Winter Break, p...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Read the website accessible version here February 12, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ In this issue ​ No school Feb 13, 14 & 17 Preschool lottery window open February is Black History Month & CTE Month National School Counseling Week LWPTSA Lunch & Learn: Special education & parenting workshops Students create public transit video LWSF Be the Bridge Spring Benefit, webinars and workshops Flag football Mentor award recipient ​ ​ ​ ​ No school: Mid-Winter Break – February 13-14 & Presidents Day – February 17 ​ Just a reminder that Mid-Winter Break is February 13-14 and all schools will be closed. District offices will remain open during the break. Schools and district offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, for Presidents Day. ​ ​ ​ ​ Work with us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We're hiring! Consider a career in LWSD ​ LWSD is always seeking great talent for positions throughout our district. In addition to other positions available throughout the district, we are looking for applicants for the following positions:  Nurses  Instructional Assistants (IAs)  Paraeducators  Custodians  Bus Drivers  Substitutes  These positions are also available in a substitute role. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Learning focused ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Tuition preschool enrollment lottery for 2025-26 school year now open ​ The tuition-based Lake Washington School District (LWSD) preschool program is now accepting entries into our enrollment lottery for the 2025-26 school year. New families interested in securing a seat for their child to enroll at one of the LWSD preschool sites in the 2025-26 school year need to complete a preschool lottery entry form. Currently enrolled/returning preschool students, preschool students on an IEP or students enrolled in our Head Start program do not need to fill out a lottery entry form. Forms received before March 7, 2025, will be entered into a lottery for a seat in the LWSD Preschool program. The lottery will be held the week of March 18, 2025, and families will be notified the week of March 24, 2025. Any students who do not receive a seat via the lottery will be placed on a waitlist for that preschool location/session. Families on the waitlist at specific preschool locations will be called and offered seats as they become available. Please direct any questions to Nichole Townsend, preschool registrar at ntownsend@lwsd.org. Visit the preschool program webpage for more information and to submit a lottery entry form. Click here to view the flyer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ February is Black History Month ​ Since 1976, each president of the United States has designated February as Black History Month. The origin can be traced even further back to 1915, when an organization called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), led by Harvard-educated historian Carter G. Woodson, was formed. The ASALH dedicated its time to researching the achievements of Black Americans and other people of African descent. The goal was to inspire schools and communities across the United States to organize local celebrations, activities and lectures in an effort to teach Black history as it had never been taught before. Today, Black History Month is also celebrated in other countries around the world, including Canada (who also celebrate in February) and the UK (who celebrate in October). For a guide on how to celebrate Black History Month in the Seattle area, please visit: www.naamnw.org. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Prepared for the global workplace ​ February is Career & Technical Education Month  Did you know that LWSD has approximately 20,802 student CTE registrations participating in 109 different Career & Technical Education (CTE) course options taught by 163 CTE teachers? The School Board proclaimed the month of February as Career & Technical Education month in LWSD.  Read the full proclamation here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ National School Counseling Week was February 3-7 ​ Last week was National School Counseling Week. Lake Washington School District’s 101 school counselors help students reach their full potential and LWSD would like to recognize these efforts. In January, the LWSD Board signed a proclamation declaring February 3-7, 2025, as National School Counseling Week. School counselors are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development. Thank you to all our counselors for this incredibly important work. Read the full proclamation here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Instructions for accessing elementary report cards in Skyward Family Access ​ Elementary report cards have now been posted to Skyward Family Access. More information about Elementary Report Cards can be found on our Elementary Report Cards webpage. Parents who have forgotten their login or password can use the "Forgot your Login/Password?" link on the Skyward Family Access login page. Report cards before 2024-25 are available in Family Access but must be downloaded to view. The "eye" icon will only appear for report cards from 2024-25 and beyond. Here are the directions for accessing your child's report card. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Lake Washington schools open enrollment for in-district and out-of-district families: February 3-28, 2025 ​ Lake Washington School District (LWSD) holds an open enrollment period each year for families who live in the district and want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school and for families who live outside the district and want to attend a school in the LWSD. Priority will be given to families who sign up during the open enrollment period. Families may apply between February 3-28 for a change to their school assignment for the 2025-26 school year. To learn more about our open enrollment period, open schools and the application process, please visit our website. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Early Entrance to Kindergarten applications: February 1-March 15 ​ Applications for LWSD's Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) program will open on February 1 and close on March 15, 2025. The FinalForms program will take applicants through the process and payment. The EEK program screens students whose families believe are qualified to enter kindergarten at an early age.   More information can be found on the LWSD EEK webpage.   Please note that student applicants must turn age 5 before November 30, 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Advanced Placement exam registration information for 2024-25 school year ​ LWSD is offering a LATE AP exam registration window from February 24, 12:01 a.m. – March 6, at 11:59 p.m. Students who register during the late AP registration window will incur a $50 per exam late fee in addition to the current per exam fee. Read more information about late registration and fees associated here. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Kindergarten registration for 2025-26 school year is open! ​ Register online now to ensure appropriate staffing for 2025-26 school year If you live in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and your child will be five years old on or before August 31, 2025, it is time to register your child for kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year! While K-12 student registration will continue throughout the school year and summer, families are highly encouraged to register students as soon as possible. Doing so helps LWSD balance class sizes and ensures adequate staff are hired in time for the new school year. It also enables our schools to build relationships with families and students before the start of the new school year. How to register: Registration for all K-12 LWSD students is online. All necessary documents can be accessed on the LWSD website and completed documents can be uploaded securely. Families who cannot upload documents may send them by U.S. mail or drop them off at their neighborhood school. Visit the Kindergarten Information page of the LWSD website to learn more about the registration process. To determine your neighborhood school, check the district school and bus finder, or call the district’s transportation office at 425-936-1120. Building-specific “Welcome to Kindergarten” opportunities will be scheduled throughout the spring, providing caregivers with opportunities to visit the school, ask questions and register on-site if needed. Visit your neighborhood school website for more information about these upcoming events. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: World language proficiency testing ​ LWSD offers in-person, world language testing for high school students. These tests help students meet the “world languages” graduation requirement. They can earn up to four high school credits. They can also earn the Washington state “Seal of Biliteracy” on their transcript and diploma.  All students in grades 8-12 can take one language test for free.  Students can take the test at any location (see list below). Tests are available in any language that is both written and spoken. See below for test dates and locations. Test date: February 26 Date registration closes: February 12 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: JHS Test date: March 26 Date registration closes: March 5 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: LWHS Register and find more information here. Questions? Contact the Assessment Team at assessmenthelp@lwsd.org. ​ ​ ​ ​ District announcements ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ LWPTSA Lunch & Learn: Special education ​ LWPTSA Council invites everyone to their next Lunch & Learn, as they welcome Dr. Shannon Hitch, LWSD's Executive Director of Special Services, who will discuss special education. Hear about the resources and supports available to students in our school district. Find out who is eligible to access special education services in LWSD, what to expect and how to keep your students' accommodations current. When: Thursday, February 20, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Zoom – Register Lunch & Learn consists of virtual sessions held on select Thursdays during the school year, where LWPTSA shares short presentations, followed by Q&A, on topics of interest to our PTA and school community. Lunch & Learns are always free to join. Grab your lunch, log on and learn with LWPTSA! Questions? Email LWPTSA Council Executive Vice President Bhaskar Ravikanti, at EVP@LWPTSA.net. Click here to view the flyer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Transformative Parenting: Empowering Your Journey With Teens ​ Unlock the secrets to a happier, healthier relationship with your adolescent! Lake Washington PTSA Council presents a comprehensive event designed to provide you with the tools, knowledge and confidence to support your teens through their most challenging years. When: Saturday, March 1, from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Where: LWSD Resource Center (16250 NE 74th St., at Redmond Town Center) MORE INFO & RSVP: https://www.lwptsa.net/transformative-parenting/ To guide you in your transformation, LWPTSA is excited to welcome knowledgeable speakers who will help you connect with your kids and empower your parenting journey. This event is free and open to all parents and caregivers in the LWSD community. Questions? Email Danish Majeed, LWPTSA Council’s VP of Family and Community Engagement, at FACE@LWPTSA.net. Click here to view the flyer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Students at Lake Washington HS and Juanita HS help create video to promote public transit ​ A group of students from Juanita High School and Lake Washington High School who participate in the Sustainability Ambassadors program recently made a handy video about how to ride Metro. In addition, they helped distribute ORCA cards to 260 students at their schools. Watch the video here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming temporary closure of Community Pool at Juanita High School ​ The pool will be closed from March 1, 2025-August 31, 2025 The Community Pool at Juanita High School (JHS) will be closed from March 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025 to make critical capital improvements to extend the life of the pool. Wave Aquatics, the group that manages pool operations, will provide additional communication to families and community members who regularly use the pool regarding alternatives to swim lessons/lap swims. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Are you ready for inclement weather? ​ We wanted to remind our community about our procedures for inclement weather. When emergency conditions such as snow and ice or windstorms result in school schedule changes, the district will notify families directly through ParentSquare. Please note: No notifications will be sent or posted if school is operating normally. Here are a few ways to help get your family ready: Make sure your contact information is updated in your Skyward account so you don't miss email, phone or text alerts: lwsd.org/skyward. Follow Lake Washington School District on Facebook and X for news and updates. Sign up for text alerts through www.flashalert.net. Learn more about how decisions are made and communicated in case of schedule changes due to weather. Visit Skyward to see your family's snow bus route locations. Go to Skyward > Transportation to see your route information. Please note: It is possible that your snow route will be the same as your regular route. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lake Washington Schools Foundation ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Twenty years of impact. One night to celebrate! ​ This year, Lake Washington Schools Foundation’s (LWSF) Be the Bridge Spring Benefit is more than just LWSF’s biggest fundraiser–it’s a milestone celebration marking 20 years of making a difference for students in Lake Washington School District!   When: Thursday, March 27, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Seattle Marriott Redmond    Register now to join community leaders, educators and supporters for an inspiring evening of reflection, connection and generosity. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Social emotional learning for parents workshops are back ​ Are you a parent and caregiver looking to deepen family connections, improve communication and tackle parenting challenges with patience and calm? Join LWSF at their in-person or virtual workshops starting February and March! Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot! Details and registration: www.lwsf.org/our-work/sel-for-parents. ​ ​ ​ ​ The Lost Art of Civility: Raising Respectful Kids | ParentEd Talk ​ Ready to shape a kinder, more respectful world? It all begins with how we parent. Join celebrated authors Sam Goldstein and Robert B. Brooks to discover practical strategies to raise empathetic, respectful kids who can engage in constructive dialogue and handle social challenges with integrity When: Tuesday, February 25, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Online webinar Sign up here for this live Q&A-style webinar series for free. You'll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere. ​ ​ ​ ​ Student & staff success ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ All-district flag football event ​ In November 2024, the KingCo Conference launched its inaugural Girls’ Flag Football season. All four comprehensive Lake Washington School District (LWSD) high schools are full participants in the league schedule. On January 22. Juanita High School and Lake Washington High School hosted Eastlake High School and Redmond High School in an all-district event which showcased not only the talent of our student-athletes, but also the passion for and the growth of girls’ flag football. LWSD is the primary sponsor of an amendment to add girls’ flag football as an official WIAA recognized sport for the 2025-2026 school year. Read more about this on the LWSD website.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Celebrating Al Veillette, a champion of youth mentorship ​ Meet this year’s Brad Owen’s Excellence in Mentoring Award recipient, a longtime volunteer with the LINKS Lunch Buddy Program.  Whoever said one person can’t make a difference has never met Al Veillette, the esteemed recipient of this year’s Brad Owen’s Excellence in Mentoring Award.  Presented by Mentor Washington, this award honors everyday heroes who selflessly dedicate their time, energy, and resources to positively impact the lives of young individuals. Al’s exceptional and longstanding commitment to mentoring students through LWSD’s LINKS Lunch Buddy Program exemplifies the spirit of the award.  Partially funded by the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, the LINKS Lunch Buddy Program connects students from the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) with caring adult mentors. This year, 195 students were matched with mentors who volunteer to spend quality time with the students weekly during their lunch periods.  Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Remember... ​ ​ ​ ​ This newsletter is just one way to stay in touch with what is happening in the district. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for up-to-date news and information. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator, Director of Human Resources, 425-936-1333, civilrights@lwsd.org; Title IX Coordinator, Director of Athletics and Activities, 425-936-1289, titleix@lwsd.org; and 504 Coordinator, Director of Special Services, 425-936-1407, section504@lwsd.org (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052) ​ ​

Wednesday, Feb 12 2025

Title IX Update - February 5, 2025

Hello Lake Washington School District Staff, Families and Students,   I am very proud of the commitment the Lake Washington School District (“District”) community has made to each and every student enrolled in our District. Our dedication is evident in how we come together to support students, staff, schools, fund new school construction, advocate for change, and rally when one of our own community members is in need. I have seen countless examples of empathy and grace throughout my years at this District.   Last week, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) authored a “Dear Colleague Letter.” OCR directed this letter to a broad set of stakeholders regarding departmental updates and changes. On January 31, 2025, OCR announced a shift in future enforcement of Title IX. Effective immediately, OCR will now enforce Title IX under the provisions of the 2020 Title IX Rule instead of the 2024 Title IX Rule. This decision follows a federal court ruling that vacated the 2024 IX Rule and previous injunctions that blocked its enforcement in multiple states.   Title IX is a federal civil rights law that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. This law prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding, including public school districts in the state of Washington. The specific provisions of Title IX include equal access to education, response to sexual harassment and assault, and requires equal opportunities for student athletics. The 2024 Title IX Rule extended federal protections for students who identify as part of the LBGTQ+ community as well as procedural changes related to sexual harassment claims.   Although OCR reverted to the 2020 Title IX Rule, Washington state laws separately provide protections for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Specifically, Washington state law prohibits discrimination in public schools not only on the basis of sex, but also due to sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity. Our District policies and procedures are consistent with the broader protections set forth in Washington state law.  Additionally, today, President Trump signed an Executive Order applicable to any institution receiving federal dollars (which includes the District). This Order prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. The impact of this Executive Order remains unclear, particularly as to how school districts should navigate the differences with Washington state laws and reconcile both federal and state law with the District’s current policies related to anti-discrimination and our ongoing commitment to equity.   Our District policy, Operational Expectation-14, specifically states, “We are committed to raising the opportunities and achievement of all learners regardless of race, ability, religion, language, culture, ethnicity, income, sex/gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, and other aspects of student identity.” Going forward, we will closely monitor this situation and will seek guidance from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington Attorney General’s Office to assess how the Executive Order may impact our athletic programs and student athletes.  Finally, the District values each member of our school community, and our ongoing commitment is to create a safe and inclusive learning and working environment that honors each individual and their unique identity.   Thank you for joining me in continuing to make the District a great place for all members of our school community.   Sincerely, Jon   Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent  Lake Washington School District Lake Washington School District | 16250 NE 74th St. Redmond, WA 98052

Thursday, Feb 06 2025

Winter Weather & School Closures

February 4, 2025 Dear LWSD staff, students and families:  With the arrival of inclement weather, we are reminded of the unique nature of the Pacific Northwest. Earlier this year, we dealt with power outages due to wind and right now we are responding to cold, snow and ice. This morning, I made the decision to close 16 of our 55 schools. This occurred because of the drastic difference in conditions across the district. Arguably, we got some things right in the process and we missed the mark on others. Our desire is to keep our schools open for students and I apologize if you or your family experienced difficulty this morning due to our decision.   Our typical practice of closing all schools rather than a few will continue but when exceptions such as this morning occur, we will make decisions in the best interest of the majority of students. Each individual family or staff member may experience these things differently and we know that individual decisions will be made in the best interest of your needs. This may mean excusing a child from school for the day because of your unique situation or, as a staff member, needing to take approved leave. I know that each of these decisions is challenging, and I know we all have a shared interest in providing services and supports for students with a priority of safety for all involved.   With more weather events expected this week and into next, I wanted to share how school closure decisions are made with the goal of bringing more clarity to this process.   We have many different micro-climates around the district: Our district covers 76 square miles, including low-lying areas next to Lake Washington as well as higher altitudes at Finn Hill, Education Hill, Union Hill/ Redmond Ridge, and the Sammamish Plateau.   In one part of the district, roads may be perfectly clear while other areas are struggling with several inches of snow or icy conditions. In emergency situations, such as snow and icy weather conditions, the top priority is the safety of students and staff. The district also recognizes that snow days disrupt family schedules and extend the school year. The decision to close schools is not an easy one. Decision-Making Process To help make the best possible decision, the district gathers a lot of information first. A meteorologist is on contract to provide pinpoint predictions for the specific microclimates around our area. This helps the district understand which areas may be affected by upcoming weather and which may not.   Predictions are one thing; actual conditions are another. That’s why transportation department staff drive the roads around the district beginning at 3 a.m. on days it looks like a school closure might be necessary. They report on real-time road conditions. Custodians may be asked to report to work early at schools so they can also report on conditions at the schools themselves and begin to prepare the school sites.   Once all the information is collected, support services staff relays the information to district administration, with an analysis of the situation. There are three options available: Leave schools open Start schools late Close schools Late start is used when conditions are borderline, and because of the interconnectedness of our system must include all school sites. The resulting extra time and daylight reasonably make it easier for students to get to school safely.   For communication and administrative reasons, it has not always been possible to close just some schools in the district while leaving other schools open for weather events. Today was an attempt at only closing the most impacted schools in our district. My team completed an after action this afternoon to learn from this experience, and we will be publishing updated information to our website concerning the possibility of this type of partial closure in the future.    Safety of students Regardless of the district’s decision to close schools, families can and should make the decision that is best for their students.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to keep our community safe. Sincerely, Jon    Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent  Lake Washington School District

Wednesday, Feb 05 2025

Connections - January 30, 2025: Elementary report ca...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Read the website accessible version here January 30, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ In this issue ​ How to access elementary report cards Open enrollment opens February 3 Early Entrance to Kindergarten application window opens February 1 Smarter Balanced Assessment reports Late AP exam registration opens February 24 Schools celebrate legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January is School Board Recognition Month Privacy protection tips LWSF webinars Community Pool at JHS closure dates Staff awards ​ ​ ​ ​ Work with us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We're hiring! Consider a career in LWSD ​ LWSD is always seeking great talent for positions throughout our district. In addition to other positions available throughout the district, we are looking for applicants for the following positions:  Nurses  Instructional Assistants (IAs)  Paraeducators  Custodians  Bus Drivers  Substitutes  These positions are also available in a substitute role. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Learning focused ​ ​ ​ ​ Instructions for accessing elementary report cards in Skyward Family Access ​ Elementary report cards have now been posted to Skyward Family Access. More information about Elementary Report Cards can be found on our Elementary Report Cards webpage. Parents who have forgotten their login or password can use the "Forgot your Login/Password?" link on the Skyward Family Access login page. Report cards before 2024-25 are available in Family Access but must be downloaded to view. The "eye" icon will only appear for report cards from 2024-25 and beyond. Here are the directions for accessing your child's report card. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lake Washington schools open enrollment for in-district and out-of-district families: February 3-28, 2025 ​ Lake Washington School District (LWSD) holds an open enrollment period each year for families who live in the district and want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school and for families who live outside the district and want to attend a school in the LWSD. Priority will be given to families who sign up during the open enrollment period. Families may apply between February 3-28 for a change to their school assignment for the 2025-26 school year. To learn more about our open enrollment period, open schools and the application process, please visit our website. The list of open schools will be updated on our website by February 3, 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​ Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) applications: February 1-March 15 ​ Applications for LWSD's Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) program will open on February 1 and close on March 15, 2025. The FinalForms program will take applicants through the process and payment. The EEK program screens students whose families believe are qualified to enter kindergarten at an early age.   More information can be found on the LWSD EEK webpage.   Please note that student applicants must turn age 5 before November 30, 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​ Spring 2024 Smarter Balanced Assessment PDF reports ​ In spring of 2024, students in 3rd-8th and 10th grades took the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in English language arts and math. Students in 5th, 6th and 11th grade took the Washington State Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). The primary purpose of these tests is to check in on how students are doing compared to some of the state standards. Scores from the SBA were posted to Family Access in June of 2024 under “Test Scores.” OSPI has now provided electronic score reports in PDF format to the district for the students that took the spring test. These score reports do not provide any new student score data; however, they do provide some graphical and textual explanations of the data. These score reports will be sent to families via Parent Square in the next two weeks. In past years these documents have been uploaded to Skyward Family Access. The new version of Skyward does not allow for mass upload of documents yet which is why we will be delivering these through Parent Square. We anticipate that we'll have the ability to upload these into Skyward Family Access sometime during 2025.   ​ ​ ​ ​ Advanced Placement exam registration information for 2024-25 school year ​ LWSD is offering a LATE AP exam registration window from February 24, 12:01 a.m. - March 6, at 11:59 p.m. Students who register during the late AP registration window will incur a $50 per exam late fee in addition to the current per exam fee. Read more information about late registration and fees associated here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Schools celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s pursuit of peace and justice ​ Schools throughout LWSD took time to recognize the importance and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s pursuit of freedom through nonviolence. Redmond Middle School held an assembly to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Friday, January 17. Leadership students spoke about Dr. King’s teachings and students from the Black Room formed a panel and answered questions on how the country can move forward and embrace what he stood for. The choir closed the program singing Lift Every Voice and Sing. Visit the LWSD Facebook page to see more photos from LWSD MLK assemblies. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ January is School Board Recognition Month ​ The month of January is School Board Recognition Month in Washington state. The goal of this recognition is to honor school board members as outstanding elected officials and champions for public education. "School directors play a crucial role in promoting student learning and achievement by creating a vision, establishing policies and budgets, and setting clear standards of accountability for all involved," says Governor Ferguson in his proclamation. Read the full proclamation here. Interested in learning more about our Board of Directors? You can see videos of every school board meeting on the district website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Protect online privacy with these tips from Common Sense Media ​ LWSD is preparing students to become 21st-century learners. For its digital citizenship curriculum, the district has adopted Common Sense Media. January 28 was Data Privacy Day. Here are some data privacy tips for families from Common Sense Media: Grades K-5 Have a conversation about personal versus private information to be shared online. Use privacy settings when accessing online resources or tools. Avoid location tracking. Power up passwords. Skip clickbait quizzes and "special offers." Grades 6-12 Use privacy settings. Read the fine print. Discuss online scams, clickbait and "special offers." Understand how tech companies make money. Other topics addressed in Common Sense Media’s curriculum include media balance and well-being, digital footprint and identity, relationships and communication, cyberbullying, digital drama and hate speech, and news and media literacy. ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: Kindergarten registration for 2025-26 school year is open! ​ Register online now to ensure appropriate staffing for 2025-26 school year If you live in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and your child will be five years old on or before August 31, 2025, it is time to register your child for kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year! While K-12 student registration will continue throughout the school year and summer, families are highly encouraged to register students as soon as possible. Doing so helps LWSD balance class sizes and ensures adequate staff are hired in time for the new school year. It also enables our schools to build relationships with families and students before the start of the new school year. How to register: Registration for all K-12 LWSD students is online. All necessary documents can be accessed on the LWSD website and completed documents can be uploaded securely. Families who cannot upload documents may send them by U.S. mail or drop them off at their neighborhood school. Visit the Kindergarten Information page of the LWSD website to learn more about the registration process. To determine your neighborhood school, check the district school and bus finder, or call the district’s transportation office at 425-936-1120. Building-specific “Welcome to Kindergarten” opportunities will be scheduled throughout the spring, providing caregivers with opportunities to visit the school, ask questions and register on-site if needed. Visit your neighborhood school website for more information about these upcoming events. ​ ​ ​ ​ CORRECTION: World language proficiency testing ​ **Some of the date, time and location information was inaccurate in the last edition of Connections. Please refer to the updated dates, times and locations in this article.** LWSD offers in-person, world language testing for high school students. These tests help students meet the “world languages” graduation requirement. They can earn up to four high school credits. They can also earn the Washington state “Seal of Biliteracy” on their transcript and diploma.  All students in grades 8-12 can take one language test for free.  Students can take the test at any location (see list below). Tests are available in any language that is both written and spoken. See below for test dates and locations. Test date: February 5 Date registration closes: CLOSED Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: RHS Test date: February 26 Date registration closes: February 12 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: JHS Test date: March 26 Date registration closes: March 5 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: LWHS Register and find more information here. Questions? Contact the Assessment Team at assessmenthelp@lwsd.org. ​ ​ ​ ​ District announcements ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Are you ready for inclement weather? ​ With weather forecasters predicting snow next week, we wanted to remind our community about our procedures for inclement weather. When emergency conditions such as snow and ice or windstorms result in school schedule changes, the district will notify staff directly through ParentSquare. Please note: No notifications will be sent or posted if school is operating normally. Here are a few ways to help get your family ready: Make sure your contact information is updated in your Skyward account so you don't miss email, phone or text alerts: lwsd.org/skyward. Follow Lake Washington School District on Facebook and X for news and updates. Sign up for text alerts through www.flashalert.net. Learn more about how decisions are made and communicated in case of schedule changes due to weather. Visit Skyward to see your family's snow bus route locations. Go to Skyward > Transportation to see your route information. Please note: It is possible that your snow route will be the same as your regular route. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lake Washington Schools Foundation ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Social emotional learning for parents workshops are back ​ Are you a parent and caregiver looking to deepen family connections, improve communication and tackle parenting challenges with patience and calm? Join LWSF at their in-person or virtual workshops starting February and March! Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot! Details and registration: www.lwsf.org/our-work/sel-for-parents. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Confident Conversations: Guiding Kids Through Puberty and Adolescence ​ Feel confident having honest discussions about difficult topics with your kids! Join the next ParentEd Talk with parenting experts Julie and Peter Metzger for research-backed tips on discussing body changes, consent, relationships and more. Become a trusted, safe space for meaningful conversations. When: Wednesday, February 5, 7-8:00 p.m. Where: Online webinar Sign up here for this live Q&A-style webinar series for free. You'll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere. ​ ​ ​ ​ How to Create a Balanced College List | Find Your Fit webinar for high school families ​ High school students and families, join independent college counselor Mary Pat O'Neil for an informative webinar on building a balanced US college list. Learn how to use search filters, research colleges and create a plan for success together. When: Tuesday, February 11, 7-8:00 p.m. Where: Zoom webinar Details and registration: www.lwsf.org/our-work/find-your-fit ​ ​ ​ ​ Building Excellence ​ ​ ​ ​ Building Excellence is Lake Washington School District's long-term plan to provide permanent classrooms for students and address aging facilities and reduce reliance on portables through 2034. The Building Excellence Plan identifies the specific projects needed and a long-term funding plan that allows all required projects to be completed by 2034. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming temporary closure of Community Pool at Juanita High School ​ The pool will be closed from March 1, 2025-August 31, 2025 The Community Pool at Juanita High School (JHS) will be closed from March 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025 to make critical capital improvements to extend the life of the pool. Wave Aquatics, the group that manages pool operations, will provide additional communication to families and community members who regularly use the pool regarding alternatives to swim lessons/lap swims. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Student & staff success ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ It takes a village – Eastlake teacher wins award for motivating students in mathematics ​ Behind the students who succeed in specific subjects are the teachers who help them get there. Gregory Emerson, Eastlake High School (EHS), is certainly one of those teachers as he is one of 20 teachers throughout the country who was awarded the Edyth May Sliffe Award. The Edyth May Sliffe Awards for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching in Middle School and High School are given annually to middle and high school mathematics teachers who have done outstanding work to motivate students in mathematics by participating in one of the MAA American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) competitions. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Juanita High School assistant principal named top in state, headed to national conference ​ Terry Jess, assistant principal at Juanita High School, has been named Assistant Principal of the Year in Washington by the National Association of Secondary Principals (NASSP). According to its website, the NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year program annually recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for students. These assistant principals are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession. Read more about this on the LWSD website. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Remember... ​ ​ ​ ​ This newsletter is just one way to stay in touch with what is happening in the district. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for up-to-date news and information. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator, Director of Human Resources, 425-936-1333, civilrights@lwsd.org; Title IX Coordinator, Director of Athletics and Activities, 425-936-1289, titleix@lwsd.org; and 504 Coordinator, Director of Special Services, 425-936-1407, section504@lwsd.org (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052) ​ ​

Friday, Jan 31 2025

Instructions for accessing elementary report cards i...

Elementary report cards have now been posted to Skyward Family Access. Here are the directions for accessing your child's report card. 1.   Select “ Skyward   Family Access ” from the “Students and Families” drop-down menu on the LWSD website ( www.lwsd.org ). 2.   Log in to Skyward Family Access with your username and password. 3.   Select the Portfolio Tile. 4.   Click on the eye icon next to the report   card.   This will open the report card in a new browser window. 5. The browser window can be translated using these   translation   directions  More   information   about   Elementary   Report   Cards   can   be found   on   our   Elementary Report Cards . Parents   who   have forgotten   their   login   or   password   can   use the "Forgot   your   Login/Password?"   link   on the Skyward Family Access login page. Report   cards   before   2024-25   are available in   Family   Access   but  must be downloaded to view .   The “eye” icon will only appear for report cards from 2024-25 and beyond. Lake Washington School District | 16250 NE 74th St. Redmond, WA 98052

Monday, Jan 27 2025