September 20, 2026: Issue 3 | | Welcome to those newly added to our distribution list! The Kang Crier is a bi‑weekly LWHS PTSA newsletter, shared every other Sunday to keep families informed. For previous issues and to see future distribution dates, click here. | | |
PASS THE POUCH IS HERE!
Our annual Pass the Pouch campaign is underway, and this year’s goal is $50,000!
Last year, LWHS PTSA provided more than $48,000 in grants to support students, classrooms, clubs, staff, and programs throughout LWHS - and that’s only part of what PTSA funding makes possible.
Our suggested annual donation is $100 per student, but every gift—large or small—helps us continue investing in our Kangs.
💜 Goal: $50,000
💜 Every donation makes a difference.
And don’t forget employer matching—your donation could go twice as far!
| | Kang Coffee Chat, September 29 | | |
The first Kang Coffee Chat of the year is Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 8:30 to 10am in the LWHS College & Career Center. Hosted by the LWHS PTSA, this event offers a chance to connect with Principal Christine Bell, administrators, and counseling staff while exploring ways to help students get involved at LW. Join us to share information, support our students, and build community!
| | | Support LWHS by Supporting PTSA | | |
Why join PTSA? Because every added member strengthens our mission to connect home, school, and community while advocating for students, staff, and families at LWHS. The more members we have, the stronger our voice! No volunteer commitment is required, though we always appreciate those who choose to donate their time and talents.
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Make a BIG Impact and Donate Your Time and Talents!
If you are looking to volunteer with PTSA, we have openings on our board and committees available for the 2026-2027 school year. Open positions can be viewed on our PTSA website.
We’re especially looking for a volunteer or team to lead our Staff Appreciation Committee, one of the most impactful ways we support the amazing staff who make LWHS such a special community. Much of the planning is already in place, including dates, themes, and ready-to-use templates for volunteer recruitment and donation requests. We just need someone to bring it all together and help our staff feel valued. If you enjoy building community, organizing events, or giving back, we’d love to have you join us.
For more information or to volunteer, contact our PTSA President, Afnan Dallsheh. We hope you will join us and we look forward to welcoming you!
| | From the Desk of LWHS Principal, Dr. Christine Bell | | |
Dear Kang Families,
It has been such an encouraging start to our school year. Students and staff are excited to connect with one another, and our new bell schedule has been a positive change. Student engagement in extracurricular activities has also been stronger than ever.
Our Club Fair was an opportunity to highlight the wide range of student interests at LWHS while increasing awareness of, and participation in, our clubs. It is not too late for your student to get involved! I strongly encourage every student to participate in at least one club, activity, athletic program, or other school community. Involvement helps students develop friendships, discover their interests, build leadership skills, and feel a stronger sense of belonging at school.
Extracurricular involvement can also help students stand out when applying to colleges, universities, scholarships, and future opportunities. Grades are important, but they do not tell a student’s full story. Admissions teams want to understand what makes each student unique: what they care about, how they contribute, and how they have grown beyond the classroom. Please talk with your student about finding a meaningful way to get involved. Visit the LWHS Clubs website for more information.
Curriculum Night was very well attended. We appreciated the warmth of our parent community, the commitment of our teaching staff, and the opportunity to cultivate community through authentic connections. Thank you to everyone who joined us to meet teachers and learn more about the work happening throughout our building.
“Cultivating Community” is our theme this year, and families will have many opportunities to engage. One example is our Parent and Community Learning Walks. Our first Learning Walk is planned for the afternoon of September 24, and many parents signed up right away. Thank you! We will offer additional Learning Walks throughout the year.
If you have ideas about how you might volunteer or contribute to our school community, please reach out. One of our goals is to welcome more guest speakers who can share their career experiences and expertise with students.
Thank you for your continued support. Students spend only about 17 percent of their year at school, so your partnership is essential as we work together to help every student connect, belong, and succeed.
Go Kangs!
Dr. Christine Bell
Principal, Lake Washington High School
| | Youth Eastside Services and LWHS | |
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
My name is Mina Rizova and I am the new mental health counselor from Youth Eastside Services, working at LWHS. My job is to provide counseling on site and support students’ wellbeing by addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, academic stress, friendship, and relationship challenges, etc.
Periodically, I will be contributing useful information to the parent newsletter. For this installment I wanted to focus on raising awareness about teens’ increasing use of AI and the inherent danger of using of AI chatbots when it comes to addressing mental health crisis:
- AI chatbots are designed to keep the person engaged and tell them want they want to hear, even if it is information on how to hurt themselves.
- Some newer versions may offer information on connecting to a crisis resources and a real human being, but those can be overridden by repeated requests and are not reliable
- There is no confidentiality when using AI; it is like posting to an open message board.
If your teen is having a hard time, please advise them to seek help from a trusted adult, a qualified professional, or a reliable and established source of support. If you would like to connect your student to mental health counseling at school, please talk to their school counselor.
Thank you and hope you have a good school year ahead of you!
Mina Rizova, LMHC, SUDP
Behavioral Health Support Specialist
at Lake Washington High School
| Reminder: PSAT / SAT Registration Deadline is Sept 30 | | |
On Wednesday, October 21st, LWHS will host the PSAT and SAT College Board exams. All high schools in LWSD participate.
CLICK HERE for info on what to expect, how to sign up, and deadline information. Questions can be directed to our Testing Coordinator, Pauline Salois Gillespie.
| | Reminder: College & Career Center | | |
College Rep Visits in the College & Career Center
Interested in learning more about a college? Representatives from the colleges listed below will be on hand to answer questions in the College & Career Center! The following 30-minute visits are scheduled for September:
Sept. 21, 8:00 am- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Sept. 22, 8:00 am - Willamette University
Sept. 22, 11:36 am- Gonzaga University
Sept. 22, 12:41 pm- Boston University
Sept. 23, 8:00 am- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Sept. 24, 8:00 am- University of Pennsylvania
Sept. 24, 11:11 am- Johns Hopkins University
Internship Opportunity
The LWHS College & Career Center is seeking an Instagram Intern for the 2026-27 school year! This is an unpaid, non-LWHS position requiring approximately 5-7 flexible hours per week. Applications will be reviewed September 28, and all applicants will be notified by school email by 3:00 p.m. that day. Interviews will take place that week, with a virtual option available. Click here for a description of duties and list of preferred qualifications.
AI Policy: Please do not use AI to complete your application. We value creativity, authenticity, and your own voice over a polished AI-generated response.
Apply Here: LWHS College and Career Center Instagram Intern
Contact our College & Career Specialist, Alex Clark-McGlenn with any questions.
| | LWHS Theatre Presents Boy Gets Girl |
Reminder: LWHS Booster Club is Seeking New Board Members | |
Are you a proud Kang parent looking to get more involved? Interested in nonprofit board experience or supporting all athletics and arts programs at LWHS in one role?
The Lake Washington High School Booster Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports 19 athletic and arts booster clubs, is seeking new Executive Board members.
We'd love to hear from parents with experience in bookkeeping, accounting, advertising, project management, social media, administration, or leadership. Whether you're interested in serving on your own or with a group of friends, join us in supporting our student athletes, musicians, and thespians. Go Kangs!
Visit lwhsboosters.org or email secretary@lwhsboosters.org to learn more!
| Reminder: Seniors Party Volunteers Needed | |
The LWHS Senior Party is a fun-filled all-night party for the Class of 2027 on the night of graduation! This annual tradition is a chaperoned, drug-free and alcohol-free celebration which provides a safe, once-in-a-lifetime evening for graduates.
We are currently looking for 5 adults willing to sit on the Senior Party Committee: Registration Chair, Chaperone Chair, Bus Sign-ups Chair (lunch at school), Prize Committee Chair (donations).
If you are interested, please reach out to Senior Party Chair Colleen Rutherford at seniorparty@lwhsptsa.org.
| Reminder: College Essay Workshop | |
Do you have a Senior applying to college?
College Essay Workshop connects trained coaches with students to help edit and refine their essays and personal statements. Encourage your student to join us!
Check availability and schedule a session via Signup Genius
New this year: Sign-ups do not close! Students can make a spur of the moment decision, sign up for a slot, and join a session immediately (space permitting).
As always, we welcome drop in students at in-person sessions. No sign up required: first come, first served.
Also available: CEW Offline - Coaching support via email with a 48-hour turnaround! Please include the prompt you're writing for, target word count, the high school you attend, and any other pertinent info.
This program is free to students thanks to LWPTSA council and LWSF. Questions? Ask us!
| | | |  | | LWHS PTSA Mission Statement: To strengthen the educational connection between home, school, and community while serving as a powerful voice for students, and to enrich the learning environment for students, staff, and families at Lake Washington High School. | | Information distributed in the Kang Crier does not imply endorsement by Lake Washington High School PTSA. We assume no responsibility for any content that does not originate from lwhsptsa.org, nor do we independently verify or exert editorial control over information not specifically endorsed by LWHS PTSA. Lake Washington High School PTSA shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused by the use of this content. | | | | |
