LISD School Newsletter

Dear LISD Families,

Happy New Year! I truly cannot believe that this school year is halfway over! Winter break brought some much needed rest and reset, and it has been wonderful to be back at school with students and staff. I am definitely feeling energized and optimistic about 2024 and our second semester of the school year. As you know, our new superintendent, Brady Smith, is on board now, and that means I get to fully focus on being the best K-12 principal I can be. Here is what that means for me:

• I can finally identify every elementary student by name.
• I can get to know all our students better.
• I can spend more time supporting students and staff.
• I can spend more time in classrooms, hallways, and other student spaces.
• I can be more responsive to phone and email messages.
• I can support staff in the implementation of mastery based learning, universal design for learning, and restorative practices.
• I can follow my own educational and leadership interests and curiosities...reading books and seeking professional development.
  
  

"More" doesn't mean perfect, but it always feels good to regain focus and renew purpose. I hope the beginning of 2024 is also bringing you some fresh energy and clarity. Here's to a great year for all of us!

All my best,

Martha Martin

• Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, January 16 - HS Girls & Boys Basketball - HOME
• Wednesday, January 17 - MS Girls Volleyball - HOME
• Sunday, January 28 - PTSA Chili Pick up
• Thursday, February 1 - LISD Town Hall
• Saturday, February 10 - PACK Crab Feed

Our school district will be hosting a town hall on the evening of February 1 at the Lopez Community Center for the Arts to provide information and answer community questions about the district's financial reality and challenges. We'll send more information about this in the next couple weeks as well as a link to submit questions. For now, please save the date.

Zero period orchestra is open to new and returning string players in grades 5-8. Students will have the option to play violin, viola, cello, or upright bass and will learn skills including playing techniques, how to play in an ensemble, and how to read music. To sign up, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/HGg3jZKXZ81wfPUg7

Please contact Naomi Vliet at nvliet@lopezislandschool.org with any questions

Who: 5th-8th grade students

Time: 7:15-8:15 am

Days: Monday - Wednesday - Friday

Sara Hurley and Katrina Lovejoy will be taking good care of our students in the school nurse's office going forward. Katrina has been at the school working with the kitchen crew for a while and will still work in the kitchen one day a week.

From Sara: I have been an RN for over 5 years and have worked in medical/surgical, family practice, and OBGYN. I graduated from Lopez Island HS in 2005, and my family has been on island since the late 1800s. I moved back to Lopez a year ago with my husband and two kids; I'm very excited to join the team as the new school nurse!

From Katrina: I have been a CNA since 2012. My background is mainly in the geriatric population, working in large assisted living facilities that were equipped with dementia/ Alzheimer’s living services. That taught and gave me experience in medication distribution, and observation for other health problems. I do have a child with life threatening allergies that requires him to need an epipen and asthma medicine so I am very familiar with the signs and symptoms when someone with a life threatening allergy is having a reaction. I enjoy hiking and going to the beach with my kids and husband.

The Spanish Club had a very busy holiday season and wanted to extend a warm thank you to the community for supporting their fundraising efforts in the holiday season. The students in the Spanish Club participated at the Holiday Bazaar and the Little Winter Market selling candy from Mexico and salsa verde and pico de gallo and acquiring the tamale orders. The students also helped out with the Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support and EMT banquets. A HUGE THANK YOU to Karina Cerada for all her help with the tamale making. She volunteered her whole weekend to be of service to our students. We couldn't have made 500 tamales without her!

The fundraising goal is to earn enough money to travel to LA for the intensive week and learn about Latino culture in a "hands on" experience. The club members are currently researching what they are interested in doing during this trip.

Interested? Apply here.

Questions? Email erica@lifrc.org.

Sign up now for chili! The PTSA is selling chili as a fundraiser. Limited availability so sign up now. Chili available for pick-up on January 28. Delivery available.
Sign up here.

Buy tickets online here.

If you prefer to pay for your tickets via cash or check, you can purchase tickets from Karrie Warner in the elementary office.

Brady Smith, Superintendent

Martha Martin, 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.