Hello Lancer Families,
As we welcome the vibrant energy of April at Lakes High School, it’s an exciting time for both students and parents. This month, we mark a significant milestone in our academic calendar with the commencement of State Testing, starting April 15th, specifically within our 10th and 11th grade English classes. This period is a crucial time for our students, as it not only reflects their hard work and dedication throughout the year but also sets the foundation for future academic endeavors. We encourage parents to support their children during this time, offering them the necessary encouragement and ensuring they have a quiet, comfortable study environment at home. Let's come together as a community to motivate our students, reminding them of the strength and resilience they possess. With our collective support, we are confident that they will excel and make us all proud.
Month of the Military Child and Purple Up! Day
April is the Month of the Military Child! Each April the Department of Defense and Military Community and Family Policy acknowledges the important role military children and youth have in supporting the military service of their family members and the unique challenges they face.
Lakes will be celebrating military students and families on April 18th, in the Lakes Main Gym, we will have the I Corps Band playing a concert from 530pm to 7pm. On April 15, we encourage all students, staff and families to wear purple for National Purple Up! Day in honor of military children.
Military life can present obstacles that may make school challenging. Please visit the district’s Resource Page for military families to find support for social emotional learning, tutoring, childcare and more.
Public School Volunteer Week
April 17-21 is Public School Volunteer Week! We are grateful for all the dedicated parents, family and community members who support Lakes High School students inside and outside of the classroom.
Volunteer at your school today! Lakes High School welcomes parents/guardians and family members to help us reach our goal of academic success for all students through volunteering. CPSD has implemented a new online application that allows you to sign up for volunteer positions with ease. For more information on how to volunteer at Lakes High School, view the Volunteers webpage on the district website.
For questions relating to volunteer opportunities, please contact our main office by calling 253-583-5550. If you have any questions about the application or problems with submission, please contact Holly Bocchi; [email protected], the district volunteer coordinator.
Parks Appreciation Day Cleanup (High School Students)
Want to help beautify your community and improve the environment while earning volunteer hours?
Join CPSD and the city of Lakewood for Parks Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 27. Each year, community volunteers team up to clean up city parks by picking up trash, pulling weeds, and landscaping to preserve the parks and prepare them for the busy summer season.
Park locations vary and are selected before the event. Volunteers will be notified of their cleanup location prior to April 27.
Fill this volunteer form to join us at the next Parks Appreciation Day to help make a difference! In the form, you can also sign up to volunteer at upcoming summer events.
Congressional Art Contest for High School Students
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s office is accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. It is an opportunity to recognize, honor and encourage young artistic talent across the nation.
This year’s competition includes a theme to guide student artwork. The 2024 theme is “Joy.” Students are asked to share their artistic expression of what joy means to them.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students living in Washington’s 10th Congressional District. The winning artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and the artist will be recognized at the Congressional Institute
Artwork is due by Thursday, April 11.
To submit, attach a high-resolution photo of your art as well as the student release form in an email to: [email protected]. For more information and official rules, visit: https://strickland.house.gov/services/art-competition or call Congresswoman Strickland’s District Office at 360-459-8514
Election Day is Tuesday, April 23! Your vote counts!
If you are not yet registered to vote, you can register today by visiting https://vote.gov/register/wa/. If you are registering by mail, your registration form must be received eight days before the April 23 election. If you miss the deadline to register online or by mail, you can register in-person at the Tacoma Pierce County Elections Office until Election Day at 8 p.m.
Once you receive your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked by April 23 and can then be dropped off at a drop box location near you – no stamp needed.
There are three drop boxes in the Lakewood Area at the Lakewood Park and Ride (10417 S Tacoma Way), Lakewood City Hall (6000 Main St SW) and Tillicum Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW).
SYAC Students Debut Fentanyl Awareness Project
Members of CPSD’s Superintendent’s Youth Advisory Council entered the school year with the desire to make a positive impact on their school and the greater Lakewood community. As part of those efforts, students created a series of public service videos to highlight the dangers of fentanyl and the effect it has on their classmates and surrounding community.
The videos were created with the help of a grant from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Middle and high schools intend to share them in classrooms and assemblies across the district. The idea for the videos emerged as students researched the topic and how they could help make a difference.
Watch recent media coverage by Fox 13 Seattle and Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier’s weekly message to residents.
We Need Your Input: Anonymous CEE Survey
We need your help improving your student’s school and learning experience!
After Spring Break, we will send The Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE) annual survey that allows families to give their input on school performance and student learning. We use the results of this survey to improve school practices.
The anonymous survey will be available to complete from April 15 to May 6 and should only take about 10 minutes to complete. Please check your inbox for an email from your school with a link to complete the survey after Spring Break.
District Joins Social Media Lawsuit
The ever-present digital age has brought about incredible advancements, but it has also ushered in the influence of social media platforms that significantly impact our students. While these platforms offer some benefits, they are increasingly causing harm to our students, particularly in the areas of mental health, privacy, and safety.
We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts these platforms have on our students, such as cyberbullying and other related issues. The Clover Park School District Board of Directors recently passed a resolution to participate in a lawsuit against several social media companies.
The resolution passed by our School Board is grounded in the recognition that excessive social media use is contributing to mental health issues in our community, state and nation. The lawsuit, which is currently taking place, aims to hold social media companies accountable for the harm they have caused.
As we move forward with this lawsuit, we remain committed to supporting our students in every way possible. We will provide updates on the lawsuit's progress and continue to offer resources to help families navigate the digital landscape.
Here are some valuable resources to help you navigate your child's online activities and support their safety and well-being: · Common Sense Media for expert reviews, age-appropriate recommendations, and advice on media usage.
· Parenting, Media, and Everything In Between (Common Sense Media): Explore this Common Sense Media article to gain insights into the world of social media and how to manage it as a parent. · CPSD Internet Safety Information Night Video: Watch the CPSD Internet Safety Information Night video to learn more about internet safety and protecting your child online.
· Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok (Common Sense Media): TikTok is immensely popular among youth. This guide will help you understand and manage your child's TikTok use.
· TikTok App Safety (internetmatters.org): Discover tips and resources for ensuring your child's safety on TikTok by visiting internetmatters.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can ensure a safer and more positive online experience for our children.