Dear Kang Families, 

As I mentioned in my last message, Tim Shultz is leaving LW for a job opportunity out of state. We will miss him and it will be a loss to our community. To fill the role of Associate Principal we have a seasoned and familiar leader. Karen Barker will join the team in July of this year. 

Karen was raised in Bellevue, attended WWU, Emporia State U, UW, and is currently working towards her doctorate degree at the University of Missouri- St. Louis. Karen has been an administrator for 13 years in LWSD, serving at Dickinson/Explorer before being selected to plan and lead the newest school in the district, Clara Barton. Her family includes her husband and two teenage daughters, and her beloved dog Pepper. Karen is thrilled to be joining the amazing team at LW this year, and we are fortunate to have her.

As we return to school in August there will be opportunities for families to get to know Mrs. Barker. In the meantime, she will be hard at work preparing for her first year as a Kang.

On another note, I recently spoke with a teacher who is concerned about student consumption of energy drinks. She told me that she has students who will drink several energy drinks during the school day. Some of them will drink more than one during her class period. We wondered if parents are aware of this. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides guidelines for schools. The CDC cautions parents and draws attention to the fact that caffeine is a stimulant that can have serious effects on teen health. Please refer to this website for details: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/energy.htm. My ask is that you talk with your teen about energy drinks. Just one drink includes more caffeine than the recommended limit. 

There is another area that should be a focus for our families. Young adults have been using the parking lot at LW to gather and consume alcohol on the weekend. They post on social media for friends to bring alcohol and meet up on our campus. Despite work with district security and local police, this behavior continues to be a concern. In addition to the damage caused to our campus, my concern is that our students are engaging in underage drinking and potentially driving under the influence. Please, check on your teen and their whereabouts. Talk with them about the dangers of drinking, and of drunk driving, and alert them to the possible criminal charges that can result from this behavior. Over the summer we will have gates installed that will prevent access. Until then we will need the support of our families to help us curb this risky behavior. 

Thank you for your attention to these matters. By working together we can create a safer environment for the teens in our community. 

Go Kangs!

Dr. Christine Bell

Principal, Lake Washington High School

Connect with Mrs. Bell at cbell@lwsd.org

Dear LWHS PTSA Members,

It's May. I'm sorry, "What?" It's May! How is it not only the END of May and Memorial Day weekend, but how do I have students who are finishing their Freshman and Junior years? In a few short weeks, I will have a Senior. Senior?!? I need to sit down, this movie is playing at warp speed!

I imagine each of you are experiencing some level of this same sentiment. Whether your student is finishing their Freshman or their Senior year, or is somewhere in between, it goes by in a blur. We start the year in September with goals, aspirations, and energy. And I know I normally end the year, feeling like I've been watching a movie at warp speed. Each of us acting out our own roles, frequently with parents playing the roles of producer, director, screenwriter, and costume designers!

On Wednesday, June 5th, we are given the opportunity to acknowledge the peers, volunteers, and staff members who have made a difference in our own movie at LWHS. Consider the LWHS Volunteer Tea to be the Academy Awards of service at LW. We have the opportunity to recognize the people who put in the most work and who dedicate their lives to serving our school community. All are welcome to attend and I hope to see you there! (Red carpet attire NOT required.)

Best Wishes,

Colleen Rutherford

LWHS PTSA President

Event: Volunteer Tea

Date: Wednesday, June 5th

Time: 2:30pm

Location: LWHS Commons

On May 22nd at the LWHS PTSA General Membership Meeting, PTSA board members were nominated and elected for next school year:

President: Colleen Rutherford​

VP Ways and Means (Fundraising)​: John Gartner & Linh Clark​

Treasurer: Kim Miller​

We have the following open positions (job descriptions can be found here):

• Executive Vice President​
• VP School Support​
• VP Student Programs​
• VP FACE​ (family and community engagement)
• Secretary​

We need more volunteers to fulfill these positions along with additional committee positions, in order to maximize the benefits of the donated funds.

There are also many rising senior parents who are looking for partners, including ePrep and Kang Crier editor. Please visit our website to learn more about these positions. If you can help our community in any of these positions, please contact us.

The LWHS staff really felt our love and we would not have been able to do it without you!! A heartfelt thank you to all our donors and volunteers for stepping up during this celebration week.

And another BIG THANK YOU to all the donors and volunteers that helped during the many staff appreciation events throughout this entire school year (please join us at Volunteer Tea on June 5th). It's a big endeavor and helps to keep our PTSA spending towards the programs that most directly benefit our students and staff.

With warm appreciation, PTSA Staff Appreciation Chairs: Beatrice Joe, Brandi Comstock and Susan Davis

CALLING ALL UNDERCLASSMEN FAMILIES:

It is time to pay it forward; PTSA needs volunteers to help with Senior Farewell! Please contact Colleen Rutherford, if you are interested in throwing a great party for Seniors and their families. PTSA provides a good budget and needs help with coordinating this time-honored event!

Senior Farewell provides an opportunity for all 2024 seniors and families, as well as LWHS staff, to connect and celebrate one final time as LWHS Kangs. Time and space limitations at the graduation ceremony prevent a reception; Senior Farewell provides a chance for seniors and guests to mingle, enjoy light refreshments, and take photos in caps and gowns.

Senior Farewell will be held in the LWHS Commons directly preceding Senior Sunset, on Friday, June 7th, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

There is a lot going on for Seniors from now until the June 14th Graduation and Senior Party. For the convenience of Senior families, here is a calendar of known upcoming events.

Required by LWHS by May 29: Senior Survey (school sponsored)

May 29: Senior March (in partnership with feeder elementary schools)

Jun 1: Senior Prom (ASB sponsored)

Jun 5: Senior Awards Ceremony (by invitation) at LWHS Commons (school sponsored)

Jun 7: Senior Farewell (6:30pm to 8:00pm) at LWHS Commons (PTSA sponsored)

Jun 7: Senior Sunset (ASB sponsored)

Jun 14: Graduation (7:30pm to 9:30pm), UW Alaska Airlines Arena (school sponsored)

Jun 14: Senior Party (9:30pm to 5:00am - PTSA sponsored)

The LWHS Senior Party is a fun-filled all-night party for the Class of 2024! This annual tradition is a chaperoned, drug- and alcohol-free celebration that provides a safe, once-in-a-lifetime evening for our graduates. It is a last chance for graduates to be together after the formality of the ceremony and before they go their separate ways for summer and beyond and relieves the stress of making plans!

The party is held immediately after graduation on June 14th. Selected venues for the party are top secret so as to surprise our Seniors!

Tickets are $225.

Additional information including scholarships and the ticket purchase link are available on the Senior Party information page here.