Community Letter

Dear LISD Families,

Our superintendent announced some changes for next year at this week's board meeting. We will keep you informed as we learn more and as details are ironed out. Among those changes is the decision to keep 6th grade in the elementary wing beginning with the 2023-24 school year. Becca Hamilton, our 5th grade teacher, has communicated this information to 5th graders and their families. She held a special morning meeting with her class to discuss this change. Questions are rolling in from parents, students, and staff. We are eager to begin planning so we can build a strong 6th grade program and transition to middle school.

We are working to bring this school year to a strong finish. In next week's newsletter, we'll provide a comprehensive list of all schoolwide end of year events.

We hope you enjoy this beautiful warm spring weekend!

All our best to you and your family,

Mary and Martha

Due to a shortage of drivers - The AFTERNOON routes will be on a three bus schedule for the remainder of the year.

Teri and Leanne's routes will be combined for the afternoon only. Leanne's students will arrive home at approximately the same time, but Teri's students can expect to arrive about 20-30 minutes later than normal.

There are No changes to Kenny and Diano's routes.

If you have any questions please contact Teri at tlinneman@lopezislandschool.org

Join the LIFRC for summer fun and save the dates!

• British Challenger Soccer Camps. June 26-30. Open registration with a fee. Registration opens is open.
• Specialty Camps for Tots: Dates TBD in July/August. Open registration with a fee. Registration opens in May.
• Six weeks of full-day Summer Camp Huckleberry (going into 1st-5th grade) and Summer Camp No Name (6-8th grade): July 10-August 18, Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm

Free of cost to full-time Lopez resident families – funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. Note that priority will be given to campers who are enrolled in the current After-School Program and attend regularly. For more information and to apply for a spot in the After-School program, visit the LIFRC Website.

Only looking to join Summer Camp? We have a waitlist.

The Community Health Center of Snohomish County Mobile Dental Team came to the Lopez School on Thursday and Friday, and provided free dental care to 28 students. Thanks to all the students, staff, and family members who helped make this happen, and a huge thank you to Dr. Ritika Chandra, and her outstanding assistants Diem and Theavy.

Dr Ritika Chandra

Assistants Theavy and Diem

The Lopez Island Farm Education (LIFE) program is partnering with the Lopez Garden Club again this year to offer a plant sale on Saturday, May 13. We are seeking plant donations! If you can start a tray of garden vegetables or flowers to donate in May, it would be most appreciated. We are accepting all plant starts except tomatoes. This is a very popular event and we could use more plants to ensure we have a great selection for our community.

Additionally, we are in need of plant pots and trays. If you have any extras please consider donating. 4 inch pots are ideal but will take any size. For more information, please contact Sara Jones, sjones@lopezislandschool.org.

The students from Heritage Spanish have created a wonderful tribute to celebrate the upcoming Dia del Niño.

Since 1925, Dia Del Niño, or Day of the Child, has been an annual event throughout Mexico that is celebrated on April 30th. This day recognizes children, their importance to society and their well-being.

Lopez and Orcas students traveled to Japan for two weeks with the Japanese Connections program led by Patricia Burleson and Hugh Burleson, Orcas teacher Val Hellar, and Lopez teacher Joe Behnke. Lopez students included Valentina Rendon, Phoebe McGown, Olivia Kramer, and Amelia Patino. The group visited Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Himeji, Ieshima (Lopez school's Japanese sister school's island), Nara, and Kyoto. Stay tuned for a presentation night date where students will share their experience and report on their study topics.

Lopez Island School District’s Music Production and Performance Artist Collective for Teens (MPPACT) will be headlining this year’s Tour De Lopez on April 29th in the heart of Lopez Village. The music kicks off at 11 am with the Lopez Cajun Band and MPPACT will take the stage from 1:30-3 with their mix of pop, reggae, R&B, and classic rock. There will be food - there will be drinks - there will be local vendors - there will be music!

MPPACT is a student-driven LISD extracurricular led by Jesse Hammond. Created in 2015, this program has since exploded and brought youth music to the Lopez community and beyond. MPPACT isn’t limited by traditional boundaries or genres and these young musicians explore the styles of jazz, rock, classical, R&B, pop, blues, and more. Their shows feature top hits and deep cuts from a virtual musical time warp and are sure to inspire you to smile, sing, and dance. For more information, please visit https://www.lopezislandschool.org/we_are_unique/music/m_p_p_a_c_t

Washington students take state and federal tests regularly to assess their learning growth

as well as the progress of the educational system as a whole. State tests include the

following:

Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA): English language arts (ELA) and math

tests in grades 3–8 and 10 are required for federal and state accountability. The

high school ELA and math assessments can also be used to meet a student's

graduation pathway requirement.

There are two parts to each assessment:

• ELA Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
• ELA Performance Task (PT)
• Math Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
• Math Performance Task (PT)

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS): Science tests for

grades 5, 8, and 11 are required for federal and state accountability.

Dates for Smarter Balanced Assessments at Lopez Island School District. Most students

have completed the ELA tests. We are proud of the students’ hard work this week.

Elementary: Grades 3, 4, 5

• Math CAT Tuesday, May 2; make up Wednesday, May 3
• Math PT Thursday, May 4; make up Friday, May 5
• Secondary: (ELA and Math Grades 6, 7, 8, 10, and some 11/12)
• WCAS (Science) Grades 8 and 11 Monday, May 8
• Math CAT Thursday May 11
• Math PT Friday May 12

Make up testing will continue until all students have completed the testing.

For more information or questions, please contact Kathy Booth, District

Assessment Coordinator at kbooth@lopezislandschool.org

Please be sure that students have their computers charged and ready for the

assessments which will be held in mornings from 8:35-11:00 am.

What’s your earliest memory at LISD? I came here halfway through kindergarten. I was such a fashionista and I remember my mom taking all this time to make sure I was dressed in a specific outfit every day. I was the only kid in kindergarten with bright pink hair!

What clubs/athletics/extracurriculars have you been involved in? I have played golf and volleyball.

What is one positive memory from your time here that you’ll carry with you forever? When Jennifer Ramos moved here, I was so excited to have another little girl classmate. Our teacher told me about her ahead of time and I sat with her on the bus that first morning when she was brand new. It is such a sweet memory and I was so happy when Jennifer talked about it in her senior interview.

What is the best piece of advice you have received from a teacher? This advice helped me so much even though I did the opposite thing this year! Mr. Tetu was very persistent about me applying myself in every aspect in high school. Because of remembering that, I’m proud of my accomplishments.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without…….” An iced oat milk latte.

What is the most creative excuse you have ever used to get out of school work? I never really did that kind of thing. I put that energy into just getting assignments done and moving on.

What is one piece of advice you have for incoming high school students? Focus on what makes you happy and do that as much as you can. Continue to focus on that because what makes you happy will change as you do. If you stay present in all of high school, you’ll leave no room for regretting not being there mentally.

What is the most meaningful assignment ever given to you by a teacher? In elementary school, in Connie Holz’ class, we researched the history of our names. I was able to learn more and write about my Jewish heritage, which I didn’t really get because my great grandmother was not practicing Judaism, so it didn’t get passed down to me.

What’s the most important quality in a friendship? Why? Relatability because it’s more fun to talk to people you have a lot in common with. It makes you feel validated in the way you are and the way you react to things.

In 10 years, I will be… Working at an accessible therapeutic art center for children in need. I want to be very in touch with myself, focusing on what makes me happy, and not get sucked into just working and being an adult.

Who/what do you find inspiring? I find my parents super duper inspiring. They are hardworking people who put their all into every day, but they still put so much time and energy into caring for both of their kids.

What song summarizes your feelings about graduating from high school? Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi. The song talks about how, as we move through life, we are all in pursuit of our own happiness….and that feels like what I need to do for my future.

What are your plans after high school? I plan to go to Evergreen in Spring 2024 and study art, gender and sex, and world religions. After I graduate, I have to get a major knee surgery so I’ll be spending a lot of time healing. I’m looking at it in a really positive way.

What is one important life lesson you learned in kindergarten? I learned that the way I treat people has an effect and that I need to careful about that. I don’t want to make people feel upset so it’s something I watch out for always.

Is there a book or movie that has changed your life? I like the show Midnight Gospel. It’s an animated series that features this guy who has very philosophical and spiritual interviews on a podcast. They play that audible with animations. It’s a way to learn about philosophy in a different way.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you? I feel like people might think I’m not approachable, which is probably because I’m very anxious. I want people to know I’m not mean and I can help you if you need it!

Lopez Island School District (LISD) is grateful to select staff and community members who have agreed to serve on a Calendar Committee to consider traditional and alternative calendar possibilities. We expect the 2023-2024 calendar to follow a traditional model, as it has in years past. The committee is dedicated to taking the time needed over the next five months to explore proposals for future years that consider the needs of our entire community, including students, staff, families, farms, community partners, and local businesses.

Right now, the committee is in an initial data-gathering phase. Over the spring, they will be seeking community input. Please stay tuned for opportunities to share your thoughts--and thanks!

Many of these positions qualify for Medical, Dental, Vision, & Retirement benefits, plus paid leave time!

Classified:

· Paraeducator - Are you fluent in both Spanish and English? We would love to have you work with our secondary students in their classrooms as a Bilingual Paraeducator! This is a daily position starting ASAP.

· Elementary Custodian - perfect for you if you like to work independently! This position helps to clean and maintain the Lopez Island school buildings. This is a 7 hours daily position starting ASAP.

· Paraeducators - Interested in working with students individually, in small groups, and/or in general classrooms and helping assist teachers in modifying student behavior? Then Paraeducator is your dream job, and we have positions available!

· Special Needs Behavior Technician- If you have been thinking about being a Special Needs Behavior Technician for Lopez Island School District...well you are in luck!!!! We are looking for a Special Needs Behavior Technician to hire for this school year!! Behavior technicians are responsible for assisting behavior specialists and the Special Education department to implement behavior reduction and skill acquisition treatment plans. The candidate will assist students with day to day activities, monitor their behavior, record and collect data on students’ progress, and communicate with the team.

· Van Driver - Want to get out and see the island? This transportation position drives a wheelchair van (or another vehicle) to transport student(s) with special needs to and from school. This 3.5 hour per day, Monday through Friday.

- Stipend:

· HI CAP - providing leadership of the Special Service Program for Highly Capable (HC) students, grades K-12, in the Lopez Island School District.

- Substitutes:

· Certificated Teachers

· Paraeducators

· Bus Drivers

· Cooks

You can see full postings on our website! Just go to District Info and then to HR and Employment for more details.

We look forward to working with you!!!

Ed Murray, Superintendent

Martha Martin, Secondary Principal

Mary Fordham, Elementary 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, Ed Murray – emurray@lopezislandschool.org; Title IX Coordinator, HR Specialist, Summer Hagge – shagge@lopezislandschool.org; Section 504, Mary Fordham – mfordham@lopezislandschool.org; OR contact by phone, 360-468-2202, OR mail to 86 School Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261.

Website: lopezislandschool.org
Location: 86 School Road, Lopez Island, WA, USA
Phone: 360-468-2202