After we built a variety of hexagon shapes, with different pattern blocks, then looked at the fractions we could make with each, an unexpected contest erupted over which teams could build the biggest regular hexagon, with six even sides and six vertices. Who could say "NO" to that kind of challenge?

Hexagons were evaluated on size, creativity, neatness, repeating patterns, and overall precise geometry. Both teams measured 19" from side to side, so we had a tie.

As you can see, the teams had many grand arguments and agreements to construct these geometric works of art.

This month, culinary students are preparing a variety of foods from different cultures. We've enjoyed Ethiopian doro wat, French crepes, German spaetzle and Native Alaskan salmon to name a few.

What clubs/athletics/extracurriculars have you been involved in?: MPPACT, ASB for 5 years (currently VP), GSA (a founding member!) Outside of school I like working on art projects (painting, drawing) and craft projects (like crocheting), and I'm really interested in history. I was also an Artist in Residence at the Remakery, teaching people how to make pleated skirts out of bedsheets.

What is one positive memory from your time here that you’ll carry with you forever? Going on a winter survival intensive. It was really fun and I learned a lot.

What is the best piece of advice you have received from a teacher? Several teachers here have told me to learn to accept help from others.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without…….”: ....beautiful things around me.

What's the most creative excuse you have ever used to get out of school work? I don't really make excuses. I’m honest and tell why I didn’t an assignment, or I just say that I didn't finish it.

What's one piece of advice for incoming high school students? Start to think about your end goal. You don’t have to make major decisions now, but you want to get your credits all lined up and figure out which classes to take now and in the future. Start building a plan.

What is the most meaningful assignment ever given to you by a teacher? It was a descriptive essay for Ms. S., and writing it about my room made me think about something that was so commonplace in my everyday life in more detail. I don’t particularly remember it as all that meaningful, but it was really interesting to have to change my perspective to be able to describe something that I saw every day and knew so much about already.

What’s the most important quality in a friendship? Why? Honesty and open communication, because it helps build a stronger connection and helps you understand each other. Straightforwardness builds trust and a more long lasting friendship

In 10 years, I will be…: Living my life and doing what I want. I’m not sure exactly what I want to do or where I want to be…..just happy.

Who/what do you find inspiring? People who are confidently themselves and who can express themselves in a genuine way, live according to their own rules, and make their own path. Examples: Jane Addams and Emilie Louise Floge.

What song summarizes your feelings about graduating from high school? Island in the Sun

What are your plans after high school? I plan to take a gap year and do some traveling around the US (maybe New England, Alaska, national parks) and maybe even. outside the US. I may do some backpacking and exploring. After that, I am going to college...maybe Evergreen or Western.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you? I love Lopez and I’m really glad I grew up here.

An impressive 2,243 books have been checked out since school started! In January alone, 483 books went out, with 477 books returned! Good job students and families for returning your books.

Did you know? Throughout the day, over 30 secondary students use the LMC for independent study, parent partner classes and social gathering. The lunch hour is a popular time as well.

We will soon be subscribing to the Gale database for use by all students. There are three distinct databases for students: elementary, middle and high school. This is an exciting opportunity for our students and is possible through the Statewide Database Licensing project. More to follow.

Accessing our library’s collection is easy. To look for books, go to www.lisdlmc.goalalexandria.com/researcher . In the smart search box, type in your area of interest, author or title. You can email your request to lmc@lopezislandschool.org.

TECHNOLOGY TIP OF THE DAY: Computers should arrive to school fully charged. We’re seeing an uptick in the need for chargers while at school. Please have your student(s) plug in their device before bed, preferably in a location that’s NOT their bedroom. This will assure that it’s ready to go for a great day of learning.

Hello Lobo families! I'm Rose Prust, the newest special education teacher at Lopez. Some of you know me, whether we met at Summer Camp, the South End Deli, or at the After School Program. I moved to Lopez in June 2020 and have absolutely fallen in love with the island. I come from Texas where I worked for six years as an English teacher to some wonderful seventh graders. I am fiercely dedicated to education, both my students' and my own. I am passionate about both reading and writing, and hope to share that with the children I have been blessed to work with. I am excited to help your Lobos reach their academic goals... hopefully some of them include some excellent books and amazing writing!

The basketball boys and girls teams headed off island on Thursday, February 3 to play in their first post season game. Unfortunately, both teams lost and their seasons are now over for the year. A big thank you to all the athletes and coaches that worked hard this season. A special thanks for all your patience with COVID testing. To all the seniors, good luck on all your future plans. To all the other athletes, until next year....Go LOBOS!

*Spring sports will begin on February 28. Please sign up for track or golf in the secondary office if interested.

We have had some long weeks of COVID testing and keeping our basketball team and school safe. We are preparing for spring sports and excited for all who are participating.

Nurse Karen and the WA State DOH would like to put out a warning about some COVID home tests that are not FDA approved. Do not use the tests that go by E25Bio, also sold as E25 Bio Sars COV-2 antigen test. These tests are putting out false results and are asking people to do a deep nasal penetration with a swab which can result in injury.

Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, advised us to expect six (6) more weeks of winter on February 2nd. I took that to mean six (6) more weeks until we begin to see some relief from COVID-19 and the impact it has had on everyone’s lives. It is a message of hope and resilience in the face of a cascading trauma of epic proportions. To overcome the trauma, we must stay the course in our efforts to defeat the virus. Vaccines, booster shots, and masks remain the best defense against a severe case of COVID-19.

The strategic planning process has begun and is in its preliminary stages. In mid-February, we will be making a survey available to everyone in the community. We hope you will all take advantage of that opportunity to share your thoughts on our work and how we should be changing or improving what we do. Early in March, we will be conducting focus groups with various representative groups. If you are interested in being part of these in-person focus groups, please send me an email at emurray@lopezislandschool.org. Later in March, our steering committee will begin the review of all the data collected, and our strategic plan will start to take shape.

We look forward to working with the community to create that plan for our district’s future.