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:
- Bus drivers
- Instructional assistants (IAs)
- Paraeducators
- Custodians
- Substitutes
These positions are also available in a substitute role. Check out the LWSD website for job descriptions and postings.
Learning Focused
Congratulations, Class of 2024!
More than 2,100 LWSD students will be graduating this year. On June 13 and 14, graduating students from six of our high schools were handed their diplomas at Alaska Airlines Arena at University of Washington in Seattle. Throughout graduation season,follow our Facebook page anddistrict websitefor pictures and videos of these once-in-a-lifetime ceremonies.
A message from Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen
More than 2,100 LWSD students will be graduating this year. On June 13 and 14, graduating students from six of our high schools were handed their diplomas at Alaska Airlines Arena at University of Washington in Seattle. Throughout graduation season,follow our Facebook page anddistrict websitefor pictures and videos of these once-in-a-lifetime ceremonies.
Read more of this message from Dr. Holmen on the LWSD website.
LWSD 2024-25 school year calendar updated with preschool dates
The final version of the 2024-25 school year calendar has now been updated with preschool dates and is available on the LWSD website. Please visithttps://www.lwsd.org/about-us/district-calendarto see the future calendar. You can alsoclick here to go directly to the 2024-25 calendar.
Celebrating our LWSD 2023-24 retirees
Lake Washington School District has created a presentation honoring all the retirees from the 2023-24 school year. We want to thank all our retirees for their years of tireless work with the district and we wish them luck on whatever retirement holds for them.
LWSD earns Level One District recognition, three schools earn Sustaining level in King County Green School Program
Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has been working with the King County Green Schools (KCGS) program to bring awareness about sustainability to our community. That work paid off as the program has recognized LWSD for achieving Level One District recognition this year. To receive recognition as a Level One King County Green School District, school districts must meet certain criteria. Some of the criteria relate to school participation in the program, waste reduction, policies and more. The district needs a 75% participation rate from its schools to qualify. LWSD now has 84% of its schools involved in the KCGS program.
In addition, three schools in Lake Washington School District were recognized as first-time Sustaining Green Schools by KCGS in June. Dickinson Elementary/Explorer Community, Ella Baker Elementary and McAuliffe Elementary were all added to this designation in 2023-24. This is in addition to Environmental & Adventure School (EAS) and the shared campus of Carl Sandburg Elementary and Discovery Community School, which had previously received this recognition and have sustained their status.
Read more about this on the LWSD website.
Volunteering in fall 2024
If you would like to volunteer in our schools in the fall, please make sure your volunteer status is current. Contact Chris Robison (crobison@lwsd.org) if you have any questions about your approval status.
If you’ve let your volunteer approval status lapse or you need to apply for the first time, please submit the application NOW! Here is the link to the Raptor online volunteer application.
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 sponsored by the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, the LINKS Lunch Buddy Program connects students from 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.
Driven by his passion for championing kids and their families, Al provides social-emotional support to students as a Lunch Buddy mentor at John Muir Elementary. This year, he meets weekly with three lunch buddies: Surafel, Mario and Dom. They enjoy playing Uno, Checkers and Connect Four, while also engaging in heartfelt conversations that address both academic and emotional needs. Al’s strong connections with the students and staff also enable him to identify emerging needs and explore opportunities to provide additional support.
Read more about this award on the Lake Washington Schools Foundation website.
Reminder: Results from Smarter Balanced Assessments will be available online on June 21
Each spring, Washington public school students in third through eighth grades and 10th grade are tested in English language arts (ELA) and math, with exams called Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA). Students in fifth grade, eighth grade and 11th grade are also tested in science, with an exam called the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). This testing meets state and federal requirements.
Individual scores for the SBA exams administered this past spring for ELA and math are being delivered electronically from the testing vendor. Scores (level and scale score) will be added to Family Access on June 21. Full-page PDF reports with more scoring details will be available from OSPI in the fall, and these will be posted to Family Access at that time.
Only SBA ELA and math scores will be available in June. Science scores will not be available until the fall after OSPI releases those scores.
Directions to access SBA test scores beginning on June 21:
- To access Lake Washington School District’s Skyward portal, click on the Family Access link on the district website.
- Log in to Skyward Family Access with your username and password.*
- Click on the Test Scores tab.
*Parents who have forgotten their login or password can use the "Forgot your Login/Password?" link on the Skyward Family Access login page.
More information about state testing can be foundhere.
Reminder: Head Start Preschool in Lake Washington School District
Lake Washington School District offers Head Start Preschool for income-eligible families at Bell Elementary and Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Head Start preschool is a federally funded service for children ages 3 to 5 from low-income families that supports early learning, health, nutrition and family well-being. Head Start Preschool includes a 3.5-hour developmentally appropriate preschool with trained staff, two nutritional meals, health and developmental screenings, wrap-around family support services and transportation at no cost to eligible families.
Head Start preschool hours (2024-25)
AM class: 8:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. or
PM class: 12:10 - 3:40 p.m.
Head Start locations: A.G. Bell (for Kirkland residents) and Old Redmond Schoolhouse (for Redmond residents)
To apply for Head Start Preschool, parents/guardians must:
- Complete an application:
(English)preschool application|instructions
(Spanish)preschool application|instructions - Verify income as indicated on the application.
- Make sure the child is up to date onrequired immunizations.
Questions? Call the Head Start office at 425-936-1170, option 2.
Reminder: Registering a new student for 2024-25 - Please register by July 11
Please visit our registration pageif you have a new student that hasn't been registered yet. Our online enrollment system will be unavailable beginning midnight on July 11. The system will be back online at 8 a.m. on August 5. This downtime is needed as we update our student information system. Families that can't get their materials in by July 11 will need to wait to register until the system is back online on August 5.
District News
Welcome to summer 2024!
A message from King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, the King County Sheriff’s Office and Public Health –Seattle & King County
As your children get ready for summer break, it’s important to remember that water activities are not without risk. King County has experienced a rise in preventable drowning fatalities since 2019, with preliminary data showing 30 deaths in 2023. Many of these deaths could have been avoided with life jacket use and supervision. It’s crucial to prioritize water safety to protect our kids.
To stay safe this summer, theKing County Department Natural Resources and Parks, theKing County Sheriff’s OfficeandPublic Health – Seattle & King Countyadvise the following:
- Wear a USCG-approved life jacket when swimming, and during boating activities. It’s mandatory for children under 12 on vessels under 19 feet.Learn to choose the right life jacket here.
- Learn to swim and self-rescue. Swim lessons are available at low or no cost to qualifying families in Seattle and many surrounding areasseattle.gov/parks/pools/swim-seattle. Or check with your local park department.
- Supervise children closely near water and appoint a dedicated “water watcher.
- Avoid alcohol, cannabis, or other impairing drugs during water activities and while supervising.
- Learn CPR. Visitkingcounty.gov/cprfor training information on Hands-Only CPR.
For more information, click here to view the letter from King County.
Free public transportation for riders 18 and under
Thanks to a huge collaboration and coordination effort by local transit agencies, youth ages 18 and younger can ride transit for free throughout King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties!
Process for boarding
Riders ages 13 – 18 are encouraged to show one of the following to the transit operator, if they have it:
- ORCA card
- School ID
- No ORCA card or no ID? NO problem! Simply hop onboard! 😊
- Youth under the age of 13 or without school ID are encouraged to apply for a card, with the help of an adult, at myORCA.com
Questions?
ORCA is the agency in charge of running this program. If you have any questions, please visithttps://info.myorca.com/contact/to learn more.
Summer meal resources
Lake Washington School District will be operating limited meal service for the summer onsite programs at Muir Elementary, Lake Washington High School and Juanita High School. Meal service is offered to those enrolled at these sites during these dates:
- Muir Elementary - Sack breakfast & lunch; July 8 – August 2
- Juanita High School - Sack lunch; July 8 – August 2
- Lake Washington High School: Variety options lunch; June 27 – July 17
Breakfast and lunch at Muir will be supported by Title 1 funding with no charge to those students. Students in summer programs at Juanita High School will be offered sack lunches at a cost of $4.00, or free for those with free or reduced meal eligibility with current application on file with Lake Washington School District. Students in summer programs at Lake Washington High School will be offered lunch only, with a variety of meal options to choose from. Cost for these students is $4.00, or free for those with free or reduced meal benefits and have a current application on file at Lake Washington School District.
To locate free summer meals in the community, outside of Lake Washington School District, please utilize the following resources to find a location(s) near you:
- USDA resources
o Families can call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)
o For Spanish, families can call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)
o USDA summer meals locator:https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
o USDA National Hunger Hotline- can be reached Monday–Friday - No Kid Hungry resources
o Texting line - Text "Food" or "Comida" to 304-304 to find free summer meals.
o Meal site locator -https://www.nokidhungry.org/find-free-meals.
Reminder: Student health plans, medications and immunization records
Lake Washington School District is committed to the health and wellness of our students. Each school has a registered nurse available to provide a range of services. At the beginning of each school year, nurses collect student health information to plan for needs during the school day. As we plan for the 2024-25 school year, we want to remind everyone of a few important health-related items.
Individual Health Plans & Medication Authorizations
If your student has a life-threatening health condition, the following requirements must be met before your student can attend school. You must supply:
- The required emergency medication to the school,
- Health care provider orders,
- An individual health plan, and
- Any necessary supplies on or before the first day of school.
These documents should be submitted directly to the School Nurse and NOT through FinalForms. Until these requirements are met, your student will not be able to attend school.
For more information, visit:https://www.lwsd.org/programs-and-services/health-services.
Immunizations
Immunization records must be turned in to the school on or before the first day of attendance. Your student cannot attend school until you provide these records.
Tdap:For the 2024-25 school year, all students attending grades 7 through 12 must have had one booster dose of Tdap vaccine. All seventh through eleventh-grade students must have received their Tdap vaccine dose on or after age 10 to be accepted for school entry. Students in twelfth grade must have received their Tdap dose on or after age seven to be accepted for school entry.
Medically Verified Records
Medically verified records include one or more of the following:
- A completedCertificate of Immunization Status (CIS)signed by a health care provider. Find the CIS form by visitinghttps://www.doh.wa.gov/SCCIand clicking on “Certificate of Immunization Status.
- A CIS filled out by you or another parent/guardian with medical records attached.
- A CIS printed by a health care provider or school from the Washington State Immunization Information System.
- A CIS printed fromMyIRwhich is a free Department of Health online tool that allows families to view and print their official immunization records themselves. Go tohttps://myirmobile.com/to begin the sign-up process. LWSD is utilizing the Washington Immunization Information System (WAIIS) School Module which requires parent consent for nurses to upload immunization records. Please sign the WAIIS consent form in Skyward Family Access to allow the School Nurse to manage your student’s immunization records.
For more information, visit:https://www.lwsd.org/programs-and-services/health-services/immunizations.
Questions about immunizations?Please contact your school nurse.
Sports Physicals Required for Middle School/High School Sports Participation
As a reminder, sports physicals are required to participate in middle and high school sports. High School sports seasons start in August, so it is important to have your paperwork on file in the school office before the start of the sports season. Health Care Provider offices in our area expect more appointment requests for physicals in August, so scheduling your appointment early is a good idea. For middle school students, sports begin in September. Families will receive messages fromFinalFormswith reminders about completing the required forms.
For more information, visit:https://www.lwsd.org/programs-and-services/athletics.
Reminder: S-EBT or "SUN Bucks"
The federal government has authorized funding to provide eligible students with a new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program called SUN Bucks. Starting this summer, the Department of Social and Health Services has partnered with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to distribute these benefits. Eligible families will receive a one-time payment of $120 per student in each household onto a new SUN Bucks card that will be mailed at the beginning of June.
This program continues a pandemic-era program that has distributed funds to eligible families since COVID. It received federal approval in April 2024. Students may be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks if they already participate in certain food-related programs like the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and more. Families who are not already participating in these types of programs can apply for funding by submitting a Summer EBT application. Once the process opens, applications will be available in English and Spanish until August 31.
Learn more:Washington SUN Bucks Summer EBT Program | DSHS.
Lake Washington School Foundation
Help our most vulnerable students this summer
Summer is just around the corner! For many, this means vacation and relaxation. For others, it's time for summer school. Summer school helps students build foundational skills, recover grades and extend their learning.
For our community'smost vulnerable students, summer school can be a lifeline, offering a safe environment, an opportunity to attain grade-level proficiency and daily nutritious meals.
Please help support these studentsas the Lake Washington Schools Foundation partners with LWSD to provide:
- Engaging learning experiencesfor students at Title I schools and the Elementary Summer Literacy Academy;
- Transportationfor students attending summer school, including those experiencing homelessness; and
- Food and snacksto keep students nourished and focused during the school day.
Let's ensure every student has equal access to education in our district.Donate and be a Summer School Hero today!
Parent Chat will be returning in September
LWSF Parent Chat webinars have concluded for this school year. LWSF is excited to bring you a new series of youth mental health topics and speakers in the fall! In the meantime, you can access a wide collection Parent Chat recordings on a variety of topics onYouTube.
Building Excellence
Kirkland Middle School welcome modular addition
Early in June,Kirkland Middle School(KiMS) embraced innovation with the arrival of modular structures, paving the way for accommodating 200 more students. This expansion, featuring eight-classrooms, is a testament to community support, realized through the passing of the 2022 Building Excellence Levy.
Modular construction
Modular construction, the method chosen for this project, involves prefabricating building sections in controlled factory settings. These sections, or “modules,” are then transported and meticulously assembled on-site. This efficient process minimizes the disruption of school operations caused by construction activities on an occupied site.
A journey of precision and teamwork
Despite the challenges posed by inclement weather, the modules journeyed from Kent to their new home with strategic precision. Utilizing the Houghton Park and Ride as an interim staging area, the final leg of the modules’ journey saw them expertly maneuvered into position by a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles and cranes, under the guidance of skilled construction teams.
A proven strategy for educational environments
The Lake Washington School District is no stranger to modular buildings, having successfully implemented them in projects like Tesla STEM High School and Explorer Community School. This approach has consistently delivered savings in time, cost, and resources.
Looking ahead
With the anticipated opening in Fall 2024, the eight-classroom addition will elevate KiMS’s total capacity to 900 students, ensuring a robust learning environment for current and future generations. This milestone reflects the district’s commitment to educational excellence and community collaboration.
Check out this timelapse video of a module being lifted into place.
See the project details athttps://www.lwsd.org/programs-and-services/facilities/construction/building-excellence-plan-projects.
Student & Staff Success
Fun for all – LWSD hosts inclusive soccer matches through Unified Soccer program
Lake Washington School District (LWSD) continues to focus on its efforts around inclusivity. High school athletic directors, in cooperation with the Special Services Department, launched the first Unified Soccer program this spring atJuanita High School(JHS), Lake Washington High School(LWHS) andRedmond High School(RHS). On Saturday, May 11, LWHS hosted a “soft opening” of soccer contests among all three high schools in a round-robin format. The event was well received by student-athletes, coaches, parents and fans. The second and final event took place on Saturday, May 18, at RHS, and followed the same format.
Unified sports bring together athletes with and without disabilities to play on the same team, competing and learning from each other in a variety of sports. What makes Unified Sports programs so special is their ability to break down barriers. The program promotes inclusivity, understanding and respect for all individuals regardless of their abilities. Through this program, people with intellectual disabilities can showcase their skills and talents in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Read more about this on the LWSD website.
LWSD teams finish at the top of the leaderboard at state Science Olympiad
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced the winners of the third annual Washington Tracking Network (WTN) Youth Science Contest in late May. The contest is an opportunity for high school students to develop their science and communication skills by engaging with health and environmental data from their own communities. Seven Lake Washington School District students from Tesla STEM High SchoolandEastlake High Schoolfinished in the top three for their projects.
Read more about this on the LWSD website.
