Lakewood's Going Places
December 2024
Greetings,
I hope that this message finds you well as we enter the last school week of 2024. I am amazed at the speed at which this year has gone, and how quickly we are approaching the mid-year mark. As we reflect on this past year, our district has much to be proud of, with high levels of student learning, engagement and belonging being at the top of the list. We are also tremendously grateful to our families and the community for your continued support of Lakewood School District, including the passage of the Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) and Capital Levy this past April. Our district continues to be going great places, and we are excited for the strategic direction work taking place right now, and grateful to the more than 70 students, staff, family and community members who have been attending these committee meetings.
The spirit of community is alive and well across our district, and while there are countless examples of this every day, I want to highlight a few in this message. Our Transportation Department braved the cold weather on Saturday, November 16 to host a daylong “Stuff the Bus” food drive at the Smokey Point Walmart. Staff and members of their families were there all day to pass out lists of items to support both the Marysville and Arlington Food Banks, gather donations, and stack them in the bus. This was not a small endeavor, with $123 and 3,696 pounds of food collected throughout the day. Another strong example is the long-running Holiday Helpers program. With a focus on supporting our families who are experiencing homelessness, our staff and community members have rallied to support 89 children this year with gifts of a book, favorite snacks, warm coat, and new pajamas. Thank you for your ongoing support of this program and of all the students and families in our community.
As we near the end of the last school week of 2024, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your partnership with our staff and district. We are honored to work in collaboration with you to support high levels of learning and growth for all students. Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a great start to your 2025!
All my best,
Erin
As we approach winter break, we want to acknowledge the importance of student mental health and well-being during this time. Breaks can offer a chance for rest and connection, but they may also bring challenges in maintaining routines and emotional balance. We are here to support you and your child’s mental health. Below are some tips, resources, and guidance to help navigate the break with a focus on well-being.
Tips to Support Mental Health at Home
1. Maintain a Routine:
While breaks offer flexibility, keeping a loose but predictable daily schedule can provide your child with a sense of security. Include consistent wake-up times, meals, and bedtime routines. (Source: American Psychological Association)
2. Foster Connection:
Use the break to strengthen family bonds through shared activities such as cooking, board games, or family walks. Encourage your child to stay connected with friends through playdates, video calls, or group activities. (Source: CDC, Child Mind Institute)
3. Encourage Emotional Expression:
Create a safe space for your child to share their feelings. Simple check-ins like "How are you feeling today?" can make a big difference. (Source: Child Mind Institute)
4. Balance Screen Time:
Help your child find a healthy balance between screen-based activities and offline fun. Encourage physical activity, creative projects, or outdoor play. (Source: APA)
5. Practice Relaxation:
Introduce your child to simple mindfulness activities, such as deep breathing, journaling, or gratitude exercises, to help them manage stress. (Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry)
Resources for Additional Support
- Mental Health Resources from LWSD Website
Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support:
- Noticeable changes in mood or behavior, such as increased sadness, irritability, or withdrawal.
- Difficulty sleeping or significant changes in appetite.
- Loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy.
- Death of a family member or loved one in a child's life may need grief support during holidays.
If you observe these signs or have concerns about your child’s mental health, we encourage you to access the resources on our website: Mental Health Resources.
Together, we can create a supportive environment for our students to thrive both at school and at home. Wishing you and your family a restful and joyful break!
Lakewood recently applied for and received a $25,000 Device Maintenance and Replacement grant from OSPI. This funding will help cover the costs of lost or damaged devices. With this grant, 70 new Chromebooks have been ordered and will be delivered to our schools to replace missing devices. This will help ensure students have the technology they need for success.
Thank you to staff, families, and community partners who came together to provide clothes, books, and toys for 89 students in need.
The Snohomish PUD stopped by to deliver items for 10 students donated by Stanwood line crews (pictured). Families also had the opportunity to pick out a toy from Toys for Tots.
One recipient of the program wrote, “It is a huge relief on my Mama heart to know that when I fall short, there are still people who will rally with me to make sure my child doesn’t feel the effects of my layoff. It means more than I can say. We are lucky to have such a community of support at school.”
Eighth graders learn computer skills for life
Putting together a budget with charts in Excel, formatting a professional resume in Word, and formatting a professional presentation in PowerPoint are all skills that transfer to a wide range of industries and careers.
At Lakewood Middle School, eighth graders learn these Microsoft programs during Office Tech, taught by Megan Moan. Students can take certification tests during the class to earn a place on the “Wall of Awesomeness.” LMS placed 15th in the state for Microsoft certification during the 2023-24 school year.
Computer Science Education Week, December 9-13, 2024, was designed to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science. Understanding the advanced features of these Microsoft programs helps students work more efficiently. It also provides valuable expertise to include on a resume as students progress through high school and beyond.
One step at a time: Robotics teaches basics of coding
Moving a ring from one spot to another might not seem that difficult. But when it’s a robot that’s moving to the ring, picking up the ring, carrying it to a designated location, and dropping it onto a pole, each step requires precision. Each piece of the robot’s code must be correct or the robot’s path will go off course. The robotics elective at Lakewood Middle School allows seventh and eighth graders a chance to explore computer science in an interactive environment by programming VEX robots.
Computer Science Education Week, December 9-13, 2024, was designed to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science. Through trial and error, students in robotics tweak their code to get the robot’s path just right. They can also add their own flare. “Beep Beep” one robot called as it jolted from the starting line at an accelerated speed before the eighth grader tried some of the other sounds that are available.
Fifth graders learn the building blocks of coding with Legos
Putting Legos together was only the first step for fifth graders at Cougar Creek Elementary. During science this week, students synced Bluetooth technology to their computers and wrote code to bring their creations to the next level.
As part of Hour of Code and Computer Science Week, students explored real-world applications of robots —from exploring hard-to-reach places to carrying heavy loads. After students fine-tuned the code for their individual robots, they had a chance to build and code their collaboration robots.
Worthy of a website: LHS students build their own
As the end of the semester draws near, the web design class at Lakewood High School has moved beyond HTML and CSS. They are now starting work on JavaScript, a language of its own. And unlike some other computer codes – JavaScript is case sensitive. Teacher Scott Koon demonstrated how the exercise wouldn’t work if he missed the capital letter in the code exercise.
Students in the class build an entire website during the semester. Along the way, they practice thinking creatively to overcome hurdles and they learn to pay attention to details. Dec. 9-13, 2024 is Computer Science Education Week, a week designed to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science.
“Writers, go write!” student teacher Sean Fitzsimons told second graders as they worked on their writing projects. One student started work on a cover for her book about coloring. Another story was about a boy and his dog, who was trying to get a treat.
Students at Lakewood Elementary showed off their writing to their families during a Writing Celebration this week after going through the process of brainstorming an idea, planning, drafting, and editing. Students also had the opportunity to create a cover for their work. As they learned the differences between fiction and nonfiction writing, students also practiced correct capitalization, punctuation and spelling.
A class of reading buddies at Cougar Creek Elementary got into the holiday spirit recently by making a winter craft together. After completing the craft, the big buddies (fourth graders) read books with their little buddies (first graders).
The partnership gives students practice reading aloud in a relaxed atmosphere. The older students also have the chance to be a role model while the younger students continue to boost their reading comprehension and vocabulary.
A pizza party, game day, and ice cream are all fun incentives that students can earn at English Crossing Elementary for attending school. Each day of 100% ALL-IN attendance earns a different incentive.
Daily attendance provides a routine for students that reduces stress and creates a sense of security. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect with peers and their teachers. Thank you for partnering with us for good school attendance!
If your family is facing barriers to attendance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school. Together, we can find solutions. Lakewood also has Student Support Advocates who can help connect families with resources: https://www.lwsd.wednet.edu/parentstudent/student-services/ssa-student-support-advocates
Open positions at Lakewood School District
Apply online for the following open positions:
- Teacher - Elementary MLL
- Bus Driver (Multiple positions)
- Custodian (LHS)
- Mechanic
- Paraeducator (Multiple positions)
- Student Supervision (CCE)
- Assistant Coach (Baseball, Football, Girls Golf, Softball)
- Athletic Trainer (LHS)
- Strength Coach (LHS)
- Weight Room Supervisor (LHS)