LISD School Newsletter
A Note from Dr. Martin
This was a busy week with standardized testing. 5th, 8th, and 11th graders took the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science, and 3rd-8th and 10th graders took the Smarter Balanced Achievement test in English Language Arts. It was all hands on deck as we addressed accommodations for individual and small group testing, figured out where non-testing students should go, and made every effort to provide a safe, quiet, and calm testing environment for students. Big thanks to Kathy Booth, our Assessment Coordinator, for organizing all of it, and to all the LISD staff members who pitched in to help.
Thanks to everyone who came to the LISD Town Hall on Tuesday night. We appreciated all the staff, parents, students, and community members who attended in an effort to learn, ask questions, and roll up their sleeves to help. Town Hall #1 in February was about information, and Town Hall #2 this week was about ideas, partnership, and action! I felt very energized by the curiosity, creativity, and spirit in the room.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. If you are riding in the Tour de Lopez, be safe and have fun. If you're not riding, let's drive slowly out there and keep the cyclists safe. I hope you'll join me in the rain to watch MPPACT perform in the village tomorrow afternoon.
All my best,
Martha
Upcoming Important Dates
- April 27: LIFE Garden Work Party, 10 - 12
- April 27: Tour de Lopez, 8:30 - 3 pm. MPPACT plays at 1:45 pm
- May 4: SAT Exam
- May 4: High School Prom at Woodman Hall
- May 9: Band & Orchestra Concert at the Community Center, 6 pm
- May 11: LIFE Program Plant Sale, 10am - 1pm
- May 6 - 9: Camp Moran trip for 6th grade
- May 13 - 16: Camp Moran for 7th grade
- May 18: Coach Berg Celebration at the Lopez Community Center, 3 - 5 pm
- May 20 - 23: Camp Moran for 8th grade
MPPACT Headlines Tour De Lopez Tomorrow!
Come down to the village and enjoy the show at 1:45 pm.
Last Week's Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
The ASB created a fun Earth Day scavenger hunt for students last week. Small groups of secondary students earned points for picking up items of trash and taking photos of earth day related items. The weather was perfect for this outdoor activity. The 10th grade class won with a total of 110 points and a total of 198 pieces of trash were collected on campus.
Band & Orchestra Concert on May 9
Come support our student musicians and enjoy a night of orchestra and band music. Concert is free.
Jesiah Gibson Earns San Juan Island Youth Steward of the Year Award
Throughout the past year, Jesiah has exemplified what it means to be a responsible steward of the environment and caretaker of Lopez Island’s beautiful natural areas and resources. Jesiah is a member of the Lopez Island Youth Conservation Corps where he has grown and developed into an excellent leader and has helped contribute to countless hours of citizen science, habitat restoration, endangered species recovery, noxious weed removal, and trail maintenance. In his free time, Jes has taken a keen interest in the local migratory and resident bird population and develops his own species accounts which he is working to craft his own guidebook on the birds of Lopez Island. Jes was able to receive the award in the presence of many of his fellow Islanders, young and old, including past Finnie recipient and founder of the San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps, Nick Teague.
Sophie Citro Wins Art Contest
Sophie Citro won the contest to create the Farmer's Market poster for this year. She created the poster by drawing digitally on her tablet and it took almost 40 hours to complete. Congratulations Sophie - the poster is fantastic!
Free Dental Exams Coming Up
Community Health Center of Snohomish County dental team is coming back to Lopez to offer dental cleaning and provide sealants (a thin coating on the back molars that prevents 80% of cavities) for children wanting to be seen. Upcoming school dental clinic dates are: Wednesday May 8 and Thursday May 9.
To sign up for this FREE dental service - fill out the online form.
Lopez Island Plant Sale Just Around the Corner
The Lopez Garden Club and the School LIFE Garden plant sale is Saturday, May 11 from 10 am to 1 pm. This year, the plant sale will be held inside the school - in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). This fundraiser is one of the biggest events for both organizations and helps support education of students in the classroom as well as guest speakers and other garden-related programming.
The school is still accepting donations of all types of plants- annuals, perennials, houseplants, succulents, flowers & veggies. If you can contribute, please contact Sara Jones, sjones@lopezislandschool.org
College Acceptance Notices for our Awesome Seniors!
This week we have some new college acceptance offers for our seniors. New updates are in bold:
- Ava Barzegar: Accepted to Abilene Christian University, Schreiner University, Southwestern University, Tarleton State University, Texas Lutheran University, University of Dallas, and University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Wesleyan, St. Mary's University, Texas State University, Texas Christian University. New addition: Trinity University in San Antonio, TX
- Jade Gonzales: Accepted to UCLA, UC Irvine, Gonzaga, Whitman, Case Western, Harvey Mudd College, Washington University St. Louis, University of Colorado, University of Denver, University of Utah, and University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan.
- Bryan Coro: In addition to being accepted to Seattle University and Central Washington University, Bryan has also been accepted into University of Washington - Bothell.
- Basil Pendragon: Accepted to Western Washington University, Fairhaven College
- Cameron Napier: Accepted to Bellingham Technical College - Radiology
- Emma Hatchel: Accepted to Everett Community College - Nursing
Lopez Island PTSA - Come Join Us!
The Lopez Island Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is seeking new members for our board. No prior board experience necessary - just a desire to support our Lopez students and teachers and help our school be an amazing place to learn and work.
The PTSA organizes multiple family friendly activities during and after school hours. Fun events like the Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza, the Talent Show & Auction, Chili Sales, and the Elementary Field Day help foster a strong sense of community among our school families. PTSA members also participate in various boards and committees and provide valuable feedback to school leadership on emerging school issues. Our Lobo community is stronger when we work together through the PTSA to support our students and teachers. The stronger our PTSA is, the better we all are for it.
All members and prospective members are invited to a social on May 16 at Grace Community Church, 4:30 - 6:30 pm. For more information or to RSVP - contact lopezislandptsa@gmail.com
Online Payment Option for All Student Fees
Summer Sports Physicals - July 15 and August 8
If you think your student will want to play sports next year - the best time to get their sports physical is the summer!
The Lopez Island Medical Clinic has opened up two dates in the summer for sports physicals - July 15, and August 8. Call (360) 468-2245 and press #2, then press #1 to connect to the clinic and schedule your child’s sports physical today!
All student athletes must have a sports physical on file before they can participate in a practice and the physical must be current through the entire season. Sports physicals are good for two years.
Staff Appreciation May 9
Sign up to show our teachers a little extra TLC! Sign up here!
Save the Date - Help Celebrate Coach Berg!
Interview With A Senior: Basil Pendragon
Name: Basil Pendragon
What clubs/athletics/extracurriculars have you been involved in? I’ve been a member of the GSA for three years. I did the YCC crew leader in training last summer. It’s not really a school extracurricular, but I was working with kids from our school and the YCC has a partnership with the school.
What is one positive memory from your time here that you’ll carry with you forever? Spending lunch time with my friends. Sometimes we’d go to town and that was fun.
What is the best piece of advice you have received from a teacher? Mr. Tetu used to remind me to NOT over explain and to learn how to summarize my thoughts. I used to spend hours on assignments that should have taken ten minutes, so this advice helped me learn to manage my time better. I still do this sometimes, but I’ve improved over the years.
Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without…….” My loved ones, art, and music.
What is the most creative excuse you have ever used to get out of school work? I’ve had pretty valid excuses, like being sick, and I try to not let myself get behind because that sits on your mind.
What is one piece of advice you have for incoming high school students? Advocate for yourself. It’s really important. I used to have a lot of anxiety about this but I have realized that, when you go talk to teachers and advocate for yourself, they can sometimes offer help you didn’t even know was possible.
What is the most meaningful assignment ever given to you by a teacher? My AP art portfolio was not exactly a single assignment, but it was a sustained investigation. The portfolio was about the stages of grief and that year, I was struggling myself after losing a pet in such a tragic way. It helped me process and put my emotions onto paper.
What’s the most important quality in a friendship? Why? Trust is very important. If you can’t trust a friend, then you are always on edge. You won’t fully be able to make a connection and feel comfortable.
In 10 years, I will be… I’d have my bachelor’s degree in art and probably be working for myself. I’d like to have my own cottage in the woods. I hope to be content.
Who/what do you find inspiring? I take a lot of inspiration from nature in my art work, and my friends and loved ones also inspire me in different ways.
What are your plans after high school? I’m going to Western in Bellingham and plan to get my bachelor’s degree in art. This summer, I’m going to sell some art work to get some cash for college. I’ll be on Lopez for a while until I move to Bellingham.
Is there anything else you want people to know about you? I am thankful to everyone for supporting me through my education, to the community for being there for me, and to my GSA for being a second family.
School Meals Next Week
Lopez Island School District
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 Brady Smith, HR Specialist Beth Stanford; Section 504, Mary Fordham. OR contact by phone, 360-468-2202, OR mail to 86 School Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261.