LISD School Newsletter

Hello LISD Families,

We are back in the swing of school after that much-needed and enjoyed mid-winter break. Teachers are preparing for spring conferences to be held March 24-28. For conferences week, elementary students will be released at noon every day, and secondary students will be released at noon on Wednesday through Friday. Elementary students will have lunch at school every day that week, and secondary students will have lunch at school on Monday and Tuesday, with a robust mid-morning nutrition break on Wednesday through Friday.

The secondary staff is working hard to plan intensive courses, which will happen the week of March 31- April 4. Intensives are a departure from regular classes and an opportunity for students to choose something different to learn about that week. This year, our intensive courses are Asian & Tex Mex Cooking, Lobo Challenge, "Sur-Thrival", Museum Quest, Nature Based Art, Board Games...the Long Ones, and Hiking & Biking. Secondary students completed a survey and each student was placed in one of their top three course choices.

The elementary staff is planning a Celebration of Learning to be held the evening of April 2, 5:30-6:30. Families and visitors will have an opportunity to visit ALL elementary classrooms to see the projects and products that have been engaging our students most recently. Project based learning is one of the themes emerging from our Portrait of a Graduate focus synthesis, so I hope you'll come out on April 2 to see what's happening in our elementary classrooms.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I'll be spending my Saturday night chaperoning the 70s themed high school dance and hoping I see some go-go boots, bell bottoms, headbands, bold prints, and disco inspired outfits.

All my best,

Martha

• March 3: HS Track & HS Golf Begins
  March 12: School Board Work Session, 4pm, LMC

• March 12: LISD Spring Concert, 6 pm, Lopez Community Center

• March 14: All Staff In-Service - NO SCHOOL

Time to wow your friends and family and the Lopez community in general with your super awesome talent! No talent too small. Anything you can do that you are proud of is worth sharing! (Within reason of course. No fire juggling. 🙂). Deadline for talent sign ups is March 14. The Talent Show is Saturday, March 29.

Sign up here.

March was designated Music In Our Schools Month® by the National Association for Music Education 40 years ago as a chance to highlight the importance of music education in our schools. To celebrate, we’ll be highlighting different parts of the school music program in the newsletter every week in March. If you want to cheer on our Lobo musicians this month, there are many events to choose from:

• March 8: Mariachi Lobo performs at LIFRC’s Winter Health Fair
• March 12: Spring Concert at LCCA featuring the MS Band, HS Sinfonia, and Mariachi Lobo
• March 22: 3rd & 4th graders travel to Bellingham to sing at Elementary Choir Day, combining with students from elementaries around the region to sing together in one choir
• March 26: Mariachi Lobo travels to Western Washington University to participate in the HS Orchestra & Mariachi Festival, the first group recently (possibly ever?) from Lopez to participate in this event!
• March 29: The PTSA Talent Show, which will feature students musicians of all ages

Attention students grades 9-12! This is an amazing opportunity to go off island for a day and try different trades at Skagit Valley College. Each student gets to try two different trades where you get to do things hands on with the instructors as if you were a student in the program. Here are the options:

• Automotive Mechanic
• Early Childhood Education
• Welding
• Manufacturing
• Diesel Technology Mechanic
• Computer Science
• Nursing
• Data Management
• EMT
• Environmental Conservation
• Fire Technology
• Culinary

Spots are limited - sign-up as soon as possible and let Mr. Ellis know that you have signed up so he can know for planning purposes.

The 3rd and 4th graders and their families had a great time playing math games at Game Night last Wednesday! It was so successful and fun we’re going to continue math game night monthly. Math is fun!!

Ninth grade Biology class went to Seattle Children's Discovery Lab where they used gel electrophoresis to perform a DNA fingerprinting experiment. They learned how scientists can use this method to investigate outbreaks of food borne illness or in criminal investigations. Students also listened to a career talk and learned about a summer apprenticeship opportunity. This is such a great field trip for our students. Thank you to Joe Behnke and the parent chaperones for making it happen!

The Pack is trying to get a feel for how many girls would be interested in playing softball? Beginners welcome. Age range is 8 - 14yrs old. Fill out quick survey here.

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 Sarah Rucker; Section 504, Steven Dahl. OR contact by phone, 360-468-2202, OR mail to 86 School Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261.