Lakewood School District
December 20, 2022
From all of us at Lakewood School District, we wish you a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year! We look forward to seeing you after winter break on Wednesday, January 4.
Scott Peacock, Superintendent
High-impact after-school math program for grades 3-10 next semester
Around our state and nation, students fell behind in school during the pandemic. Lakewood School District teachers and staff have put forth heroic efforts to help students regain some of that lost learning.
As part of Lakewood’s continuing commitment to accelerate student learning, we will be partnering with a tutoring company to implement a structured high-impact math tutoring program for students in grades 3-10. Small-group tutoring based on skill level will take place in our school buildings twice a week for one hour after school. The virtual tutoring sessions will be facilitated by district staff who will act as liaisons between the program tutors and instructors at the school. It will be funded by federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds. Limited transportation and snacks will be provided.
Research has shown that high-impact tutoring is an effective intervention to produce large learning gains for a wide range of students. Parents of students who would most benefit from the program will be contacted in January.
This high-impact tutoring program will supplement other programs that we have implemented in our district to help students make up for learning loss.
- Lakewood Summer Academy: Two sessions were open to all students over the summer in 2022 to engage them and keep them learning through the summer.
- Recovery services were offered to students on IEPs after the spring 2020 closure who needed to make up for academic losses. Services were determined by the student’s IEP team and specific goals were established. Students received additional support until they met those goals.
- This year, Lakewood High School’s After School Study Center is an opportunity for students to have a quiet space to work with a Chromebook and Internet access, as well as a place to ask questions. Transportation is provided.
- When needed, middle and high school families can check out a Chromebook and/or Internet hotspot to use for homework.
In addition to academic recovery, we know that some students have been struggling socially and emotionally. Lakewood has implemented the following to improve student outcomes related to these struggles:
- At least one full-time counselor at every school beginning in 2022-23.
- Behavior specialist: This district position specializes in collaborating with teachers to come up with behavior plans for students who are having difficulty meeting classroom expectations.
- Partnership with Care Solace to provide a warm handoff for students, families and others in our community who are looking for mental health services.
Computer Science in Education Week
The Coding classroom at Lakewood Middle School came to life with colorful characters and animations in December. Bubbles and fish moved through the water, a car sputtered along a sunny landscape and a UFO came in for a landing.
Students in Megan Moan’s Coding class have been working to create an animation that incorporates coding components such as variables, position and movement. They started by sketching out the animation on a paper grid before setting up the code to set their vision into motion.
Computer Science Education Week, December 5-11, 2022, was designed to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science. At LMS, beginning students can take Coding 1 and more advanced students can take Coding 2.
Life's Poppin', Not Stoppin': Overdose Awareness Week
As part of Overdose Awareness Week, December 5-9, members of the FCCLA "Good Vibes Crew" at Lakewood High School took on the task of educating students about the dangers of fentanyl and its prevalence in pills, vapes, dab pens and other illicit drugs.
The theme for the week was, “Life’s Poppin’, Not Stoppin’.” Students made jalapeño poppers, pop tarts, popcorn and cake pops to hand out during lunch. Their message: “Drugs may contain deadly levels of fentanyl, and you wouldn’t be able to see it, taste it, or smell it.”
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a Career and Technical Student Organization that functions as an integral part of the Family and Consumer Sciences education curriculum.
Students learn skill of technical writing while designing trees
What would you do to create your own decorated paper tree? You might search for directions online. Creating those directions requires a specific type of writing known as technical writing.
Students in Linda Underhill’s seventh grade English class wrote out directions for the tree along with a photo of the finished product and a labeled diagram they created on the computer. Their technical writing included a materials list, step-by-step instructions, and tips and tricks to allow the reader to successfully complete the task.
LHS Cougar Crew hosts Gingerbread Night
The Lakewood High School Cougar Crew hosted a Gingerbread Night for students, grades 9-12, on December 15. More than 100 students participated and tried their hand at constructing candy houses. Cougar Crew consists of student leaders who volunteer to help plan events and act as mentors for other students.
Is your child starting kindergarten in 2023? Apply for Transitional Kindergarten
A state grant will allow students who start kindergarten in the 2023-24 school year to apply for Lakewood’s free, full-day Inclusive Transitional Kindergarten program, which is scheduled to begin January 31, 2023. This new program will provide a strong educational foundation for kindergarten.
The program is designed for students starting kindergarten in fall 2023. Students must be 5 by August 31, 2023. Priority enrollment will be given to students who have not had an opportunity to participate in a preschool program and those applying before January 9, 2023. The class is open to all students living in the Lakewood School District attendance area.
The program will be housed at Lakewood Elementary School and will partner with other district early-learning programs. Inclusive Transitional Kindergarten is a full-day program that follows the district calendar. Hours are 8:20-3:15 and 8:20-1:45 on early release Fridays. Transportation will be provided. Breakfast and lunch are free for all Lakewood elementary students this year.
The class will have approximately 17 openings and be staffed with one teacher and one paraeducator. If you are interested in having your child considered for the program, please complete the application form | (Spanish form). We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to Lakewood families.
Lakewood High School 40th anniversary alumni contact form
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Lakewood High School, let us know how we can contact you with information about the spring celebration. You are also invited to tell us about your life after high school.
Highly Capable Program referrals due January 31
Lakewood School District is accepting recommendations for its Highly Capable Program. The Highly Capable Program is designed for students who demonstrate significantly higher academic performance in specific academic areas compared to grade level peers. The Highly Capable Program addresses student learning needs through a continuum of service models that span from kindergarten through 12th grade.
If you are interested in referring your student(s) for this opportunity, please complete the application materials and return them to the school by January 31, 2023. The referral form (English and Spanish) is posted on the district’s Highly Capable webpage. You can also download an alternative format of the application packet or download in another language using the district website’s alternative formats feature available for all PDF files.
If you need a printed copy of the application, please contact your child’s school directly.
CSHE meeting notes available on website
The Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Instructional Materials Committee had its second 6-12 CSHE curriculum adoption recommendation meeting on December 19 as directed by the board charge with amended instructions. View meeting notes for the amended charge on our website.
During its regular business meeting on November 2, the Lakewood Board of Directors approved amended instructions to the Comprehensive Sexual Health Education adoption committee to make a new proposal of three curricula, rank ordered, for adoption. Review the amended instructions with new parameters on our website.
Upcoming Events
- December 21: Regular Board Meeting at Lakewood High School or online
- December 21-January 3: Winter Break (No School)
- January 4: School resumes
- January 6: Regular dismissal (No early release)
- January 10: Chat with the Superintendent
- January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
- January 18: Regular Board Meeting at Lakewood High School or online
- January 20: Regular dismissal (No early release)
- January 27: Last Day of Semester
- January 30: Semester Break (No School)
- February 1: Regular Board Meeting at Lakewood High School or online
- February 3: Regular dismissal (No early release)
- February 7: District Choir Concert
- February 10-11: LHS Winter Play
Season of Giving
Musicians perform for seniors at Windsor Square and Vintage Apartments
On Tuesday, December 6, “Swingbeat” and “11th Avenue” had the opportunity to perform a holiday show for the residents of Windsor Square Senior Home.
While the music was important, it was what happened before and after the performance that made it a memorable experience for all. The students took time to sit and visit with the residents of Windsor Square. They shared things they are doing in high school and listened to stories from another generation.
One resident told Music Director Katy Trapp, “The music was so beautiful and these kids were so kind. You made my day.”
Middle school musicians performed at Vintage Senior Apartments on December 2.
Thank you for making Holiday Helpers a reality
Through the generosity of our community, more than 200 of our students and their families received new clothes, books, toys, snacks and other gifts during our Holiday Helper program. Thank you to everyone who donated and made Holiday Helpers a reality!
Food Drive
Cougar Creek Elementary collected more than 1,500 items during a food drive this month. Way to go, Cougars!
With the holidays upon us, there are many reasons to be joyful. It's a time for sharing, laughter, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends. The holidays, however, can also be stressful. We may be making plans to visit loved ones, managing our budget for gifts, or coordinating events with our community. With an already-packed schedule, these additional tasks can add stress to our lives.
Celebrating and connecting with family is important during the holiday season, but it's also essential to care for your mental health. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month brings awareness to the harmful effects of stress and reminds everyone to take care of themselves as they approach the holidays. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:
- Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health. It can be nice to stick with holiday traditions, but your mental health should take priority.
- Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
- Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and prepare for events. It can be stressful to shop on the same day as an event, so keep a list of tasks to prevent the rush.
- Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not in this alone.
- Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others. This holiday season, make time for yourself.
- Find a therapist. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed. If you would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by Lakewood School District 306:
- Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in over 200 languages.
- Visit www.caresolace.com/lwsd and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
Verify internet availability where you live
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published a new National Broadband Map. This map attempts to show where internet service is and is not available for every location in the country.
Several Washington state agencies are working together to ensure the information is accurate. You can help improve the map’s accuracy for your community by taking a few minutes to review your address or neighborhood and by challenging inaccurate information. If the information on the map for your address is inaccurate you can click on the “availability challenge” link and follow the instructions.
There are two other types of individual challenges available.
- Location challenges are available to add locations that are missing on the map, correct an address, or reposition the geographic placement of your location.
- Mobile coverage challenges utilize the FCC Speed Test App.
Learn more on the Washington State Department of Commerce website.
Schools and District offices closed December 21 to January 3
Schools and District offices will be closed Wednesday, December 21 until January 3. School resumes Wednesday, January 4. Happy Holidays!
More District News
Wondering if you missed something? Check out our District News page on the website.