Lakewood School District

Greetings,

In Lakewood, we are proud to be a small district going big places. But often, we don’t have to go anywhere to do big things. Each day, I have the chance to see the amazing work staff are engaged in across our district and see examples of this in action.

In Cougar Cabinet, students from each of our five schools have started to implement plans they have been working on this year. While priorities vary from school to school, examples at the high school level include signs that are now posted around the school with expectations for bathroom and hallway etiquette. At the elementary level, one school was writing encouraging messages on hearts for students who need some extra encouragement.

Another example is the Green Thumb Club at Lakewood Middle School who recognized that they can make a difference in their school community. The club obtained support from Waste Management to conduct a waste audit at their school to see how much waste could potentially be diverted from the landfill.

Sharing information about our district with legislators is also a critical way to highlight all that we are accomplishing and some of the challenges we are facing. Last week, we hosted Sen. Ron Muzzall at Lakewood Middle School, Lakewood Elementary and Lakewood High School. This was an opportunity for one of our elected leaders to visit with students and teachers, as well as to see first-hand some of the facilities challenges at our oldest schools.

Tomorrow is election day. While each person can only cast one vote, we know that collectively our voices have great power. We appreciate everyone who participates in the democratic process of voting. Together, we are Lakewood.

All my best,

Erin

Tuesday is Election Day! Remember to return your ballot in time to be counted.

You have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to get your voted (and signed) ballot to a drop box. Five ballot drop boxes are open during this election:

• Arlington (near library)
• Everett (Courthouse Campus)
• Lakewood (parking lot east of the middle school)
• Marysville (Harbor Freight)
• Smokey Point (near Lowe’s)

Ballots can also be mailed (no stamp needed). If you are mailing your ballot, it must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, April 23 to be counted, so make sure to check the mail collection time before dropping your ballot in a USPS postal box. (The last collection at the Lakewood Post Office is 4:30 p.m.)

• Not registered? It's not too late to register and vote! Stop by the Auditor's Office in Everett before 8 pm on April 23 to register and get a paper ballot.

Thank you, school volunteers! ❤️

April 22-26 is Public School Volunteer Week. Students light up when they have classroom visitors and your involvement means we can offer more opportunities to our students.

Learn how you can make a difference as a volunteer by checking with your teacher, your school or your school PTA. Applications are good for two years and can be completed online.

How much waste does one middle school create in a single day? Lakewood Middle School’s Green Thumb Club conducted a waste audit to find out.

Students sorted items that had been thrown into the trash into piles: items that could have been recycled, compostable food and paper items, trash, and unopened food.

The heaviest pile after the club sorted everything? It was the compostable food and paper at 52 pounds. Recyclables weighed 28 pounds and the remaining trash only weighed 37 pounds. An additional 9 pounds made up the unopened food.

The Green Thumb Club plans to explore one high-impact step they can take this year to minimize how much compostable or recyclable waste goes into the landfill. They are creating posters for Earth Week to share information with the rest of their school. Waste Management provided supplies for the activity.

Dr. Erin Murphy, Superintendent, was on hand to receive Lakewood’s third electric bus on March 14 from Collins Bus Corporation.

In 2020, Lakewood applied for and received a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to purchase three electric school buses at a cost lower than the purchase of diesel-fueled buses.

Chargers for the buses – included with the grant – have also been installed. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, electric buses save money, since we don’t have to purchase fuel.

They also lower the total cost of ownership. There are no oil changes, no transmission, and no emission parts to maintain or replace. Buses can go 100 miles on a charge.

Another bonus – since the bus is so quiet, students naturally talk at a lower volume.

Students in Tiffany Dewitt's fifth grade class measured trees near the playfield and took the estimates back to their classroom. Plugging in the type of tree and their numbers to the MyTree website, they were able to estimate how much water the trees pull out of the ground each year – helping to dry out their playfield during our wet winters.

One student estimated the alder tree he measured near the playground could take in more than 3,600 gallons of water in one year – or 72,000 gallons in 20 years!

The students also put removed rocks from the school’s planter beds, added fresh soil, planted seeds, and decorated signs to encourage younger students not to step in the planter beds.

Do you have a child who will be 5 by August 31, 2024? Families are invited to join us for an Open House on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. to learn more about attending kindergarten in Lakewood School District.

Cougar Creek, English Crossing and Lakewood elementary schools will be open for families to stop by, see the school, visit with school staff and see the inside of a school bus. Details will be available closer to the event.

Still need to register? Registration packets are available at our schools or at the district office. Help us plan for the 2024-25 school year by turning in your packet as soon as possible. Learn more about what you will need to register for kindergarten.

Cougar Cabinet played a fun icebreaker game before they got down to business, working on implementing goals they have in their schools. And last but not least: food tasting. The cheesy-bacon hashbrowns and thyme carrots were a hit! Watch Inside Cougar Cabinet with the high school facilitators to learn more.

In honor of National ASL Day and Deaf History Month, students at Lakewood High School who are learning American Sign Language signed an entire episode of Cougar News. LHS offers up to four years of ASL instruction.

Senior Nyla Murray, who is taking ASL 4 this year, has been signing for Cougar News all year, but this is the first time she has signed an entire episode. Learning ASL helps students learn communication skills, breaks down barriers, and opens doors to new career opportunities.

Second-graders at Lakewood Elementary listened intently in the library recently as school librarian Ashley Miller read “The Boy Who Loved Maps” by Kari Allen.

While reading the book, students learned important parts of a map: the compass rose for telling the direction of north and a legend to help read the symbols on the map. But most importantly, students learned they can create their own maps.

After reading the story, students excitedly browsed through book titles to find books to check out. Then they had a chance to create their own maps. Students created maps of their neighborhood, a local park, their school and other places they felt a connection to.

April is National School Library Month, a time when we celebrate our school libraries and the librarians who make them a special place where students can find that just-right book.

Lakewood has both an occupational therapist (OT) and a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) who provide services to students receiving special education services. The occupational therapist is responsible for identifying the presence of a disability and whether there is an educational need for school-based occupational therapy services through evaluations and observations in the classroom, cafeteria, and playground. If a student is found to be in need of school-based occupational therapy services, the OT works in collaboration with the Individualized Educational Program team (Special Education Teacher, General Education Teacher, and Parent) to develop appropriate goals.

In Lakewood, you will see the occupational therapy practitioners (Ann G., OTR/L and Ann B., COTA/L) working with children of all ages (developmental preschool through high school). They work with students who have delays in fine motor skills that affect their ability to complete classroom activities such as writing, cutting with scissors, opening pencil boxes, and operating classroom tools such as a hole punch or stapler.

They may address sensory processing needs by providing accommodations such as noise-canceling headphones or adaptive seating (wiggle cushions or wobble stools). In the higher grades, the occupational therapy practitioners are working with students using assistive technology to access their educational program and gaining skills needed to be successful in the workplace.

FFA competed in two events last week - poultry judging and vet science.

Five students competed in poultry judging for the first time along with 14 other teams from around the state.

The vet science team is headed to the state convention next month. They placed 5th out of 19 teams overall and claimed a first place score in the group activity.

To create more awareness and acceptance for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), April is Autism Acceptance Month. The practice started in 2008, and it has evolved to become a significant event in the Autism community globally.

This landmark yearly event plays a vital role in challenging social stereotypes. It also contributes significantly to creating a better society and world for people with ASD. The theme for autism awareness month 2024 is #Awareness – #Acceptance – #Appreciation: Moving from surviving to thriving.

Why Is Autism Acceptance Month Important?

Although there is a large-scale global movement aimed at increasing autism acceptance, the reality is, the fight is far from over. According to one study, more than 60% of adults with autism report that they continue to experience stigmatization.

Additionally, less than 30% of autistic individuals are currently employed. And according to Autism.org, only 26% of students with autism feel accepted and happy when they go to school.

Here are some ways Autism Acceptance Month contributes to the fight for a better life for individuals with ASD:

• Promoting Understanding: Autism Acceptance Month increases people’s understanding of ASD’s characteristics, strengths, and challenges. Additionally, the month helps significantly combat myths and misconceptions.
• Challenging Stigma and Stereotypes: During Autism Acceptance Month, there is a collaborative effort to challenge stigma and negative stereotypes surrounding ASD. The event encourages society to move beyond discrimination and recognize the unique value of every individual.
• Empowering Self-Advocacy: Much more than creating a perfect environment for people to fight for ASD rights, Autism Acceptance Month also empowers individuals on the spectrum to speak up for themselves. It provides autistic individuals a platform to share their unique experiences and perspectives.
• Advancing Policy and Systems Change: Autism Acceptance Month provides an opportunity to advocate for policy changes that benefit autistic individuals. It focuses public attention on areas where societal structures and systems may lack support or accessibility. This, in turn, increases the clamor and drive for inclusive policy development.
• Building Community and Solidarity: Autism Acceptance Month brings together families, individuals, and societies from diverse backgrounds. This, in turn, fosters the creation and maintenance of a supportive community where people with ASD can find love and acceptance.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for the Lakewood community? Whether they're a student, staff member, or a dedicated community member, we want to celebrate their commitment and impact!

Award Criteria: The Heart of Lakewood Community Service Award honors significant contributions to the Lakewood School District or local not-for-profit organizations, neighborhood groups, associations, or initiatives.

Eligibility:

• Current and former students
• Staff members
• Community members

How to Nominate: Send your nominations to rharnden@lwsd.wednet.edu before the deadline on May 22. Applications are available on our website.

Award Presentation: The winners will be honored at the Board meeting on June 5.

• April 23: Election Day
• April 26: Administrative Professionals Day
• April 26: Early-Release Friday
  
• April 30: District Band Concert: 7 p.m.
  
• May 1: Regular Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
• May 3: Early-Release Friday
  
• May 3-5: FFA Spring Plant Sale: (5/3) 1-4 p.m., (5/4) 8 a.m.-2 p.m., and (5/5) 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
  
• May 3-4: LHS Drama Club Presents: Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies, Oh My!
• May 10: Early-Release Friday
• May 15: Regular Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
• May 17: Early-Release Friday
• May 21: LHS Spring Band Concert
• May 22: Board Study Session at 5 p.m.
  
• May 24: Early-Release Friday
  
• May 27: Memorial Day (No School)
• May 31: Early-Release Friday
• May 31: LHS Spring Choir Concert
• June 7: Early-Release Friday
• June 7: LHS Graduation Commencement
• June 13: Last Day of School

• View our calendar page
• View our calendars-at-a-glance

Are you interested in spending time occasionally as a teacher at one of our schools? Do you have a bachelor's degree? We need you! Apply to be an emergency substitute teacher by downloading an application on our website.

See our website and tell your friends about the following open positions.

• Bus Driver (Multiple Positions)
  
• Paraeducator 1:1 (Multiple Positions)
  
• Paraeducator Instructional Specialty (English Crossing)
• Student Supervision (Cougar Creek)
• Athletic Trainer (LHS)
• Head Coach (Soccer)

Substitutes are also needed in multiple positions: teachers, bus drivers, paraeducators, food service, student supervision and custodial.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, coming in May, we have an opportunity to break the stigma around mental health on our campus by talking openly, compassionately, and kindly to each other. No one should ever struggle alone.

School staff are the backbone of student well-being, but remember that you also can’t pour from an empty cup.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we join the mental health community to reaffirm our commitment to building our understanding of mental illness, increasing access to treatment and ensuring those who are struggling know they are not alone.

If you or someone you know wants to be connected to a mental health care provider, contact Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential mental health care coordination service provided by Lakewood School District 306:

• Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
• Visit www.caresolace.com/lwsd and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help, use the resources around you, and never give up hope.

Wondering if you missed something? Check out our District News page on the website.

• Friends & Neighbors Newsletter
• Going Places e-newsletter
• Annual Report