Calendar

We ask each of our local PTA presidents and their school principal to attend this yearly workshop, designed to help lay a foundation for the ’24-’25 academic year. We will cover the purposes and limitations of PTAs and school administrators, conflict resolution, and other topics to help PTAs and schools build strong partnerships.

We have revamped the event this year to be shorter, less repetitive, and with more time for networking.

One principal from each school is required to attend this event. PTA presidents should prioritize attendance. If your PTA’s president is unable to attend, another board member should be designated to participate.

Lake Washington PTSA Council, in coordination with Lake Washington School District, is hosting our 8^th annual welcome event for our new and international families. Click for map of event location: 16250 NE 74^th Street, Redmond WA 98052

This is a great opportunity for families to learn about the school district, ask questions, and meet other LWSD families. Whether you’ve moved from a different county or from a different country, this event is for you!

Community partners will be set up in the lobby from 4-7 pm, and LWSD and PTSA speakers will be in the board room from 5-6:30 pm.

LWPTSA Council would like to support this event by once again providing free child care for participants from 4:45-6:45 pm. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact our FACE VP, Danish Majeed, at FACE@LWPTSA.net.

An agenda and more details will be available soon. For general information about past welcome events, visit this page.

This month as we kick off our 2024-25 Lunch & Learn series, we want to know: What topics do YOU want to learn about with us this year? Join us on Zoom at noon on Thursday, Oct. 17, and let’s brainstorm and discuss together. 

Register for the Zoom link

The Lunch & Learn series consists of short presentations and discussions on topics of interest to all community members, from noon – 1 pm on select Thursdays online via Zoom. Grab your lunch, log on, and learn with us! Event links will be shared on our website calendar, social media and newsletters close to the event dates. Topics and featured speakers are subject to change and will be updated as they are finalized.

LWPTSA Council presents a webinar: Learn About LWSD’s Active Assailant Protocols, on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 7:30 pm, via Zoom.

REGISTER HERE

Topics include:

• Various active assailant protocols with specific focus on the multi-option response protocol ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) used by LWSD
• How multi-option preparedness is useful and consistent with other emergency preparedness responses
• What ALICE is and is not
• Why the term “drill” is problematic
• 2024-2025 emergency procedure terminology changes and drill schedule
• How parents can facilitate discussions on the topic
• How to manage our fears of active threat situations

Featuring Dr. Brooke Miller Gialopsos (Seattle University), Sheila Kembel (LWSD School Safety & Crisis Manager) and Dr. Cheryl Lero Jonson (Xavier University)

November’s Lunch & Learn was rescheduled from its original date due to the storm and power outage. The Zoom link remains the same. Please join us!

All members of our school community are invited to join us for this month’s Lunch & Learn on “The Role of Technology in the Classroom,” with guest speakers Forrest Baker, LWSD Executive Director of Technology Services; Aubrey Dane, LWSD Technology Integration Specialist; and Jake Duke, LWSD Curriculum Specialist. Learn about how our students’ teachers are integrating technology in the curriculum, how device use differs from K-12, how our schools and parents can partner to be mindful of screen time in and out of the classroom, and more. Bring your questions, and get answers!

Register for the Zoom link

LWPTSA Council’s Lunch & Learn series consists of short presentations and Q&A on topics of interest to our school community, from noon – 1 pm on select Thursdays online via Zoom. Grab your lunch, log on, and learn with us! Event links will be shared on our website calendar, social media and newsletters close to the event dates. Topics and featured speakers are subject to change and will be updated as they are finalized.

This month, join us for a transformative DE&I workshop: 

FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

Are you ready to deepen your understanding of equity and racial awareness? This workshop is an incredible opportunity to gain the tools you need to address equity and race effectively. Together, we’ll explore the journey from color blindness to racial cognizance, empowering you to foster meaningful and lasting change.

✨ What You’ll Gain

• Practical strategies for advancing social justice in schools
• A shared language to navigate important equity conversations
• Inspiration and actionable steps to challenge systemic inequities

We encourage PTA leaders to join us for this vital conversation. Your involvement can help shape actionable change in our school communities. We can’t wait to see you there.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
WHERE: Zoom — Register

🎙 About the Speaker

Ilsa Govan, Co-Founder of Cultures Connecting, is a nationally recognized facilitator, consultant and social justice activist. A former Equity and Race Specialist for Seattle Public Schools, Ilsa has extensive experience addressing institutional racism. Her work includes an award-winning book exploring issues of privilege and racial justice.

📚 Pre-Reading/Viewing

• Dr. Caprice Hollins’ TEDx Talk: What White People Can Do to Move Race Conversations Forward (YouTube)
• Social Justice Checklist for Schools (PDF)

This is your chance to learn, connect, and grow as part of a community committed to building more inclusive and equitable schools.

For any questions or further details, feel free to contact Council DEI Co-Chairs Zahra Eslami and Mansi M. Majeed at Diversity@LWPTSA.net.

Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee meets one Wednesday each month of the school year (with the exception of September and June) at 11:30 am. During the 2024-2025 year, meetings will be held online via Zoom.

DEI chairs and other interested leaders from PTAs and PTSAs in the Lake Washington School District are invited to these monthly meetings to discuss DEI issues and advocacy initiatives that impact our students and families.

Effective Learning Strategies at Home:
Reinforcing Classroom Skills to Build
Strong Habits and Improve Learning

Featured speaker:
Kelly Pease
LWSD Director of K-5 Teaching & Learning Services

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LWPTSA Council’s Lunch & Learn series consists of short presentations and Q&A on topics of interest to our school community, from noon – 1 pm on select Thursdays online via Zoom. Grab your lunch, log on, and learn with us! Event links will be shared on our website calendar, social media and newsletters close to the event dates. Topics and featured speakers are subject to change and will be updated as they are finalized.

Join us as we discuss the upcoming change from a 7-period day to a 6-period schedule in LWSD high schools. How will it affect our students, their graduation pathways and class choices? What steps are the district taking to prepare for this big change? Hear from our guest, LWSD Deputy Superintendent Scott Beebe, and bring your questions and concerns.

REGISTER HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK*

*Update (1/9): Due to an unprecedented response, we have reached the maximum number of participants for this Zoom session.

LWPTSA Council’s Lunch & Learn series consists of short presentations and Q&A on topics of interest to our school community, from noon – 1 pm on select Thursdays online via Zoom. Grab your lunch, log on, and learn with us! Event links will be shared on our website calendar, social media and newsletters close to the event dates. Topics and featured speakers are subject to change and will be updated as they are finalized.