LISD School Newsletter

Lately, I've been very thankful for the arts and thinking about how lucky we are to have such a strong arts community on Lopez Island and here at school. We offer a drama class, elementary art and music enrichment, middle and high school art and music classes, advanced placement (AP) art, and an extracurricular music performance and production club (MPPACT). We have also been able to offer specialty art opportunities (like pottery) through secondary intensives. Many of our students find so much joy and peace in the arts, and they learn new skills that they can build on year after year.

LISD hosts an AP art show in the spring, a Winter Arts Night (December 11th this year!), MPPACT performance in the community throughout the year, student performances at graduation, a display of elementary art at the Pumpkin Extravaganza, the talent show hosted by LIPTSA, and any other opportunity we have to showcase the creativity of our students. Soon, you'll see elementary holiday art adorning the local post office.

I have some good news to share. Due to a very generous donation to our music program, we will be able to offer early morning orchestra classes for 5th-8th grade students, an additional high school music class, and a 6th grade musical theater class starting in January. We are so grateful for this donation, and so excited that our wonderful music teacher, Naomi Vliet, will be able to share her knowledge, experience, and passion for music even more broadly. 5th-8th grade families, we'll let you know how to sign up for orchestra very soon.

I hope you'll join me in supporting the arts by attending the MPPACT performance at the Little Winter Market on Saturday, December 9, and Winter Arts Night on Monday, December 11.

Have a wonderful weekend!

All my best,

Martha

The LISD Winter Arts Night is back on December 11th! This year, join us at Lopez Island School District with an arts walk through the secondary school from 5:30-6:00 PM to take in amazing creative wonders produced by our student artists. Then enjoy an evening of music starting at 6 PM in the MPR with elementary student musicians starting off the night. Our music instructor, Naomi Vliet will be showcasing our student musicians who will be performing pieces they have been working on in their music classes. Then at 6:30, MPPACT will take the stage to rock the MPR with their holiday song selections. Don't miss out on the fun and celebration of the arts at our school!

The annual Lions Club Christmas ship is coming to Odlin Park on Saturday, December 9th, at 3:30 pm. Santa will be there. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. All are welcome and it is a free event. Please note that this is a change of day from previous years (Sunday changed to Saturday). Contact Jerry or Diana Hancock if you have any questions. 360-468-3871.

And a big THANK YOU to the Lopez Lions Club for their very generous donation that covered the cost of new AEDs (automated external defibrillators) for our school. Our current AEDs were expired and not reliable for saving lives, so we reached out to the Lions Club to see if they could support our need for new devices and they did!

It's enchilada time - yum! And a challenging and thought provoking essay assignment for the advanced Spanish students. Read more in this week's edition of "Qué Onda".

The middle school boys wrapped up their final basketball games this week, including a surprise win on the road at Edison and a close loss at home to Allen, both teams they lost to by 20 at the beginning of the season. The students significantly improved their fundamental skills and learned to play well off each other, drawing praise from other coaches. Everyone playing in the last game was able to score a basket, and the younger group showed strong fundamentals while outperforming the opposing teams in bonus quarters.

High school basketball starts next week! Let's fill our stands for our home games.

• Tuesday, December 5: Girls play at 3 pm, boys play at 4:30
• Thursday, December 14: Girls play at 3 pm, boys play at 4:30

On Friday Dec 1, Lopez 6th Graders took a local field trip to the Post Office with tape, string and holiday decorations made by K-6 kids, under the leadership of Karrie Warner, to hang decorations.

The fourth graders are raising money to go to Olympia this spring. This will be the eleventh year fourth graders have visited and toured our state's Capital. This year's fourth graders are aiming to raise $2300. Currently, they are out and about asking for pledges for their upcoming Reindeer Run. Please help support this worthwhile trip. For more info, contact Lorri Swanson, lswanson@lopezislandschool.org.

Last week Ms. Rose and Ms. Heather's classes went on their second field trip, visiting both The Lopez Bookshop and Lopez Grind. Our students put their money sense to use as they each selected and purchased items from both locations. Thank you LIEF for sponsoring our trip! Also, thank you Stina and Melissa for providing your support as our paraeducators.

On December 7, 8 and 9, our community will have the chance to see an original musical play written by secondary teacher Richard Carter. Winds in the Morning will feature our very own principal and interim superintendent Martha Martin along with Lopez students and other familiar community members. Come sing along with carols and sea shanties in this heartwarming holiday musical!

Thursday December 7 is the Preview Performance is at 7pm and is admission by donation. This is a great evening to come show your support and see the show for "pay-what-you-can" prices! The play lasts just under 90 minutes without intermission.

For Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm and 7pm, tickets are on sale via the LCCA website and at Paper Scissors: $20 for adults, $15 for youth 12 and under. There are 130 ticketed seats available, plus additional seating or standing room will be sold at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm and 1:30pm respectively.

The Class of 2025 was at the Lopez Children's Center Bazaar last Saturday creating and selling custom buttons for holiday shoppers. They raised over $300 for the junior class and the Children's Center! Much appreciation to everyone who stopped by their booth to support them.

LISD's Music Production and Performance Artist Collective for Teens (MPPACT) performed at the phenomenal Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce Tree Lighting Ceremony last Friday. Music filled the air as the heart of our village was transformed into a winter wonderland. If you would like to catch MPPACT and their holiday/winter setlist you can find them at the Little Winter Market on December 9th from 10-2. They are also playing at the LISD Winter Arts night on December 11 at the school.

Thank you to all who spread the word for the Great 2023 Superintendent Search! Our search committee is hard at work reviewing and interviewing applicants. We hope to have more information soon. We are also pleased to let you know we are close to hiring a new school counselor. As always, we continue our search for paraprofessionals and have many substitute positions available. Please see our website for more information and applications.

Martha Martin, Interim Superintendent & K-12 Principal

The Lopez Island 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 employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator Martha Martin; HR Specialist, Beth Stanford; Section 504, Mary Fordham. OR contact by phone, 360-468-2202, OR mail to 86 School Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261.