LISD School Newsletter

Dear LISD Families,

The end of the school year makes me think about the importance of rituals and traditions at school. Traditions include things like graduation, promotion, and awards ceremonies; celebrations of learning (like STEAM fair, arts night, and senior project presentations); annual events and field trips we look forward to...like MPPACT performing at community events, field day, prom, the elementary family potluck, and yearbook signing.

Rituals are the small but mighty practices that anchor the ways people engage with each other....like the special birthday song the staff sings to each other at meetings, the way we end each meeting with the 3 As (announcements, appreciations, and apologies), classroom morning meetings, ringing the bell to open and close the school year, or the chants and cheers we hear from the volleyball team every time they score a point. Rituals are familiar and stabilizing, and they blanket us in a sense of belonging and connection.

As you participate in some of our end-of-year school rituals and traditions, I encourage you think about what they communicate about our school district's values and which help your family feel a sense of belonging and connection.

Have a wonderful weekend.

All my best,

Martha

• May 31: Elementary Field Day
• May 31: MPPACT Performance at Vita's
• June 1: AP Art Show - LCCA
• June 4: Elementary Arts Night MPR
• June 4: Financial Aid Night
• June 5: Athletic Awards Night presented by The PACK
• June 6 & 7: Washington Park Camp Out for grades 4, 5, & 6
• June 13: 8th grade graduation
• June 17: Last Day of School
• June 29: Second Annual Lopez Island Community Pride Celebration on June 29th sponsored by the Lopez Island School GSA club

Marine Biology students participated in a snorkeling tour with Anacortes Dive and Supply shop on May 20. Students saw various species of crabs, a nudibranch called a sea lemon, anemones, green urchins, jellies, red sea cucumbers, and a gumboot chiton to name a few. This kind of experiential learning can open students to a whole new realm of possibilities. Living on an island surrounded by pristine waters we often take for granted what lives below the surface. This field trip allowed students full immersion with the marine environment--the pull of the current and wave action, the taste of salt, the chill, the thick plankton and debris-filled water, and the creatures that make a living there—and complemented classroom learning. This experience was supported through a Lopez Island Education Foundation grant. Anacortes Dive and Supply exerted a huge effort fitting equipment for this size of group and providing 3 divemasters to teach and monitor students during the tour. Thank you to all who helped make this valuable experience happen!

The 8th grade went to Sucia Island with Samish educators as part of their Camp Moran experience this week. On the boat ride back to Moran, they were able to see an orca family (T124) in the water on the northeast side of San Juan. What a treat! The whale with the orange coloring is still a baby, and this was a fantastic experience for the students!

The 4th grade returned the salmon fry that had been in their classroom to the salmon Hatchery on Orcas Island. The salmon will be released into Eastsound after they have been marked and the adipose clipped. The fourth graders had an educational and fun trip.

Spanish Club students enjoyed a great trip to Bellingham. They ate Honduran, Mexican, and Peruvian food and went ice skating and took rumba dance lessons. It was a lot of fun and they learned that you don't have to go too far to find a lot of cultural experiences. Thank you to all that supported their fundraising efforts this year to help the students have some fun together and support Latin American and Hispanic businesses in our local area.

Senior Melissa Valencia represented Lopez Island at the state tournament this week. She finished the second round tied for 14th place. She played with heart and grace and perseverance through heat of the sun, rain, wind, chilly conditions and then a nice round with two other seniors in the state which made for a very good ending to the season for Melissa Valencia. We are so proud of her accomplishments in golf and in her high school academics.

Elementary field day is happening next Friday the 31st. This event is organized by the Lopez Island PTSA and multiple volunteers help make it a fun afternoon for all. This is a fun opportunity for kids to play organized games and do activities together for the last hour and a half of the day.

This week marks the last week of book checkouts to students. All books are due back to the library by Wednesday, June 5. As of May 23, there are 270 books out and about, either in the classroom or at home! The elementary students average 25 books out per class, while secondary averages 15 books per class. Please remind your student/s to return their books! Your support in this effort is greatly appreciated. If you have questions, please contact Deirdre at dsteinbrueck@lopezislandschool.org.

Important Reminder: All secondary student devices need to be turned in by Thursday, June 13th. If your student fails to turn their device in by the required time, the device will be locked and the student account will be charged for the full replacement of the device and peripherals.

We will have time set aside that day for students to bring their devices to the LMC to turn them in for the summer. If the device is damaged or missing its charger, pen, or case, the student account will be charged for the repair or replacement of materials. If the charger that is turned in with the student's device is not their own, the cost of the charger will be billed to that student's account and the charger will be returned to the student to whom it belongs.

If the student still has tech materials checked out from the LMC, such as a computer or charger, the student's account will be charged in full for unreturned materials.

Damaged devices will be repaired over the summer. If your family has not purchased the optional computer insurance, the charge of the repair will be applied to your student's Qmlativ account.

If any students need vaccines, the public health nurse comes once a month to the Family Resource Center. The next date is Tuesday, June 4th. If your child needs vaccines, please call and make an appointment - 360-468-4117. An appointment made at least 24 hours in advance is necessary.

Lopez Uncovered Music festival is looking for students interested in community service hours or anyone who would enjoy volunteering. On August 2nd & 3rd they need help making signs, helping run booths, setup, cleanup etc. If you are interested then mail Jenny Poole at jenny.lumf@gmail.com

The Lopez Pack is offering summer sports camps again this year. Sign up here!

Check out LIFRC’s Summer Camp lineup here. Summer camps available for tots, elementary students, and middle schoolers!

Futures NW will be partnering with us on a Financial Aid Night on June 4 and providing a presentation over Zoom. Time is 6:30 - 8:00 pm. There will be an English presentation in Isaac Berg's room (number 9) and a Spanish presentation in Al Torres' room (number 1) with interpreters available to help with questions. This presentation will be most relevant for students and families in 11th grade, but anyone is invited to come if they are interested in hearing about how the process for financial aid college and post-high school training programs works.

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 Brady Smith, HR Specialist ; Section 504, Mary Fordham. OR contact by phone, 360-468-2202, OR mail to 86 School Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261.