LISD School Newsletter

Dear LISD Families,

It's February already and that means Valentine's Day is just around the corner. At school, Valentine's Day provides an excellent opportunity to focus on kindness (one of our four character habits!), empathy, compassion, and healthy relationships.

I'm having a lot of conversations with both elementary and secondary students about kindness, how each of them would like to be treated by others at school, what makes them feel most safe and positive at school, and what are the most important elements of friendship. Sometimes these conversations happen in a culture-building capacity, and sometimes they happen as the result of unkind words and behavior. Disagreements and differences are part of life, and it's our job as adults to help children and teens learn strategies to navigate our divisive world and to model kindness. Here are some strategies that both parents and educators can use to help our kids...and ourselves.

• Lean into empathy
• Foster a respect for differences
• Be considerate and thoughtful
• Listen actively with the intent to understand
• Encourage questions
• Teach conflict resolution and non-violent communication
• Volunteer together
• Cultivate inclusivity and belonging

Focusing on being kind ourselves helps us recognize and look for kindness in others, and that makes me think of that quote by Fred Rogers (a.k.a. Mr. Rogers): “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

It can be rough out there. Let's be and encourage our kids to be kind helpers as much as possible.

Have a great weekend.

All my best,

Martha

• February 7: HS Girls Basketball Playoff Game (District Round 1), 5 pm

• February 10: MS Girls Basketball starts

• February 14: 2 pm release for all students

• February 17 - 21: Mid-Winter Break - NO SCHOOL

• February 26: School Board Meeting, 6pm, LMC

This survey is super short and should take less than 2 minutes to respond but it's pretty important. Please let us know what you think about the calendar change we implemented this year.

Calendar Survey // Encuesta de calendario

If you missed the in-person focus groups in early January, there is still an opportunity for you to share your ideas for our Portrait of a Graduate project. We are hosting two Zoom focus groups on Thursday, February 13 and we are hoping lots of parents, guardians, LISD graduates. Lopez employers, and other community members will join us for an hour. Here are the links:

February 13, 2:00 pm

February 13, 5:30 pm

Our first Lopez Island wrestling club practice will be this Monday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM in the MPR. This is an all ages K-12 practice and all genders. If we do not have mats (delivery not confirmed yet) we will still have a meet and greet with coaches, answer questions, and work on a few things without mats. Come in clothes to practice. If you have any questions email Robb Ellis at rellis@lopezislandschool.org

Hello Lobos! My name is Matt Kredell, and I am the newest addition to the school board. My wife Rebecca, daughter Piper, sons Boden and Ronan and I moved to Lopez from Austin in 2023 and we are truly blessed to be able to live in such a wonderful place.

In September of 2024, I had the opportunity to serve LISD as the middle school co-ed soccer coach. Through this coaching opportunity I was able to meet the students, their parents, the school administration, and the community at large as they made the trek to the away games. At home games, the giving, support, and the pride of this community was awe inspiring. It also got me interested in what more I could do to help.

My family and I are new to Lopez Island, only having been here over a year, but in that short time we have noticed that the community here is special. Everyone I have met since becoming an island resident has gone out of their way to be kind and welcoming. The community cares that our school finds a way to get what it needs, to ensure Lopez students are afforded the same opportunities any other high quality public school could offer…and more.

I volunteered to be on the school board to be a change agent as our community faces the upcoming budget challenge to ensure Lopez Island School has the support and funding needed to continue doing what it does so well, educating the island’s future generations. I am interested in finding unique ways to secure this funding while expressing our island’s needs to our State Representatives. I feel I can best facilitate my interest in giving back to this community by serving as a school board member and embracing all the many hats that may entail. I want to ensure the community knows, as a board, we are representing their interest in our children’s future.

Our School Board is accepting applications for a School Director to fulfill an unexpired term. This position expires on 11/30/2025.

To be eligible for appointment, applicants must be registered voters and reside within the boundaries of the Lopez Island School District. The School Board meets the fourth Wednesday of each month for regular meetings. Interested parties should submit a letter of interest to Board Secretary Brady Smith, c/o Lopez Island School District #144, 86 School Road, Lopez Island, Washington 98261 or via email bsmith@lopezislandschool.org no later than 4pm on Thursday, February 21st, 2025.

For more information about this position, please contact Brady Smith, Superintendent of Schools at 468-2202 ext. 2350, or via email at bsmith@lopezislandschool.org.

Our young golfers are still in need of a leader this season. We typically field a strong golf team. If you are an experienced golfer, please consider stepping up to coach this season. No experience necessary - a positive attitude and a willingness to teach will make you an exceptional candidate. Full position description and directions on how to apply here.

This is a FREE early childhood screening opportunity. Specifically for children from age 0 - 5 yrs, this screening will help parents identify their child's strengths and opportunities for growth. This check of your child's development covers large muscle development, fine motor abilities, communication, comprehension, social skills, vision & hearing, and self-help abilities.

FREE, but advance sign up is required.

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.

Enjoy a great meal, socialize with awesome folks, and support Lopez athletics at the same time!
Get your tickets 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.