|
There is no question that we are living through historic and challenging times. COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down and has amplified entrenched inequalities in our communities. This has been a difficult, scary and isolating time. And yet we refuse to lose hope. Even as our Pantry Packs weekend food program faced supply challenges, our volunteers seamlessly shifted their operations to meet the increased needs for packs - from 940 per week to over 1,300. With children and caregivers facing increased mental health challenges, our Balance in Mind team began providing virtual Parent Chats and "Real Talk" for teens that provide education and support for youth mental wellness. Thankfully, our donors, both individuals and companies, have stepped in to ensure that our programs have the financial resources necessary to serve all who need support. (Please see our Donor Spotlight below about two LWSD teens who decided to make a difference.) And importantly, I am proud to share that the Lake Washington Schools Foundation stands in solidarity with the Black community. Our Board of Trustees has voted to support and adopt LWSD's statement on racial equity. Please click here to learn more. Even though the school year has come to a close, our work at the Foundation will continue. I encourage you to read below about the support, information and programs that we are offering to students and families over the summer. Please join us in working together toward a future where, despite loss or obstacles, we create opportunity for ALL. We are here for ALL of you. Stay healthy and be well, Katy Philips Interim Executive Director Stay tuned for upcoming Parent Chats and Real Talk for Teens!  The Balance in Mind team is working on new topics to support youth mental health over the summer. In the meantime, enjoy recent Parent Chats here, including Supporting LGBTQ Teens, Cultivating Kindness During Hard Times, Is it Stress, Distress, or Anxiety and more! Also, be sure to check out their Instagram page @bimteens which supports teens and parents through "Real Talk", weekly challenges, humor and inspiration! Join Find Your Fit for two upcoming college-prep webinars!  WHAT: Helping Your Teen Navigate the College Process with independent educational consultant Mary Pat O'Neil and guest speaker, licensed therapist who specializes in integrative mental health at SageMED, Marrie Ketchum. WHEN: Tuesday, July 14 from 7pm-8pm WHO: Parents/Guardians WHAT: Do You Have to Choose a College Major When You Apply to College with Mary Pat O'Neil and guest representatives from the University of Washington and Gonzaga University. WHEN: Thursday, July 16 from 1pm-2pm WHO: Parents/Guardians and high school students Webinars are free to attend, $5 suggested donation is appreciated. 100% proceeds go to LWSF. Kids Coming Together introduces new time for virtual games! Kids Coming Together (KCT) helps kids grades 3-8 make new friends through events facilitated by high school leaders. With the limitations of meeting friends in person, KCT has transitioned their events to a virtual format, hosting virtual games on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:30am. Events are open to all kids but KCT extends a warm welcome to kids who could use a new friend or kids who want to BE a new friend. KCT also welcomes those who are new to the area, those that are shy, or those with Asperger's, ADHD or social anxiety. Teens Making a Difference in the Community During COVID-19 Pandemic
LWSD students and sisters, Vanesha and Varshini co-founded a nonprofit initiative called Joys of Giving which was established to bring hope, opportunity and resources to those in need.
When COVID-19 struck our community, they saw the need to raise funds to provide food, mental health support, and educational opportunities. They learned that the Lake Washington Schools Foundation would become the perfect fit and have directed $2,000 to support the LWSD community! April LWSF Impact Update: How LWSF is responding to COVID-19, a student philanthropist and more...4/22/2020
Even in hard times, I like to find reasons to celebrate. At the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, we have some celebrations to share including a story about a student philanthropist and how our programs have transitioned to accommodate the needs of the community. You, our community, make these celebrations possible, thank you! As you may have heard, we recently hosted our virtual Be the Bridge Benefit. Thanks to our sponsors, table captains and caring community, we raised over $200,000! Also, if you haven't watched our new LWSF programs video or messages from some of our friends, they are truly heartwarming! With the added stressors surrounding COVID-19, our programs continue to provide food, support, and resources to students and families even as school buildings are closed.
Like the new spring growth, we have to be nimble and flexible as our students face a more dynamic and uncertain world. Thankfully, we have our community all coming together to make the best possible present and future for our students. That in itself is a celebration. Thank you for your support and enjoy this Impact Update. Wishing you safety, wellness, and your own reasons to celebrate. Kindly, Helen Sernett Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation P.S. To help us remain nimble and ensure funding for our programs we are participating in the global giving movement, #GivingTuesdayNow regionally sponsored by 501 Commons. If you were planning on participating, please consider Lake Washington Schools Foundation as your charity of choice. Our students, especially those that may be more marginalized by their family or personal situation, need us now more than ever and we are working to meet their needs every day. Reach for Success Grant application deadline extended! In response to COVID-19, the deadline has been extended to April 30. Know of an innovative project or program that you would like to secure funding for? Proposed projects should be in alignment with LWSF's mission of enhancing academic access and nurturing students' emotional well-being. Apply for a grant for the 2020-2021 school year to receive up to $3,000 which can serve a class, a grade level, or an entire school! Application, FAQs, guidelines, and more can be found at www.lwsf.org/rfs. If you have a project, but are concerned about meeting the application deadline, please contact us at info@lwsf.org. Together, we can make a difference. Join Balance in Mind for their weekly webinar "Parent Chat" and "Real Talk" on Instagram!  Every Wednesday, join "Parent Chat" to talk with mental health professionals and other parents in a safe and supportive environment. New topic every week! April 22 - Tips for Inspiring Motivation April 29 - Tips for Big Emotions May 6 - Tips on the Parent-Child Struggle Also be sure to tune in every Tuesday at 4pm live on Instagram for "Real Talk" with a teen host and a counselor from Youth Eastside Services. To join, follow @bimteens on Instagram! Donor Spotlight: Sanika Sanika, a 7th grader in Lake Washington School District, grew up camping and spending time outdoors with her family. She enjoys hiking, snowshoeing and has even tried her hand at cider making! As a student at Environmental and Adventure School, she participated in the community service activities that are offered at the school and discovered how much she enjoyed giving back to her community. She realized that, “You don’t always need to make a large change in your community to make a difference.” Last year on Earth Day, she found the perfect way to combine her love of the outdoors and her desire to give back to the community. Sanika organized activities for her younger sister’s preschool friends to show them things that they can do to help take care of the planet’s natural resources. She also participated in tree planting and trail clearing events. In the fall of 2019, Sanika learned of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program and decided to apply. In February, she learned that she had been selected as a State Honoree... January lwsf impact update: Spring Luncheon announcement, a student fights student hunger...1/31/2020
The new calendar brings reflection on all that students and families have experienced in the current school year. Thanks to support from friends like you, the Lake Washington Schools Foundation has: - helped students and their parents navigate the college application process through our Find Your Fit workshops. - grown our Balance in Mind program with classes, webinars, speaker panels, and more - all to support youth in their mental wellness. - delivered mentoring and social support for hundreds of elementary students through two amazing programs: Kids Coming Together and LINKS. ...and much more! Be sure to mark your calendar for our annual gathering of the LWSF community: Be the Bridge luncheon on March 26 at the Redmond Marriott featuring keynote speaker, Susie Kroll, MA, MHP, LMHC - learn more below! Registration opens soon and there is still time for you or your business to become a sponsor and/or gather a group to attend to invest in our students. I would be remiss if I signed off without promoting our Valentine's Day campaign. Not only will you be supporting students with your donation, you will also be acknowledging the incredibly hard work of your child’s teachers and school staff. Given our wet, gray weather lately – it’s a perfect way to share a little heartwarming spirit this Valentine's Day. Wishing you and your students the very best this new year! Sincerely, Helen K. Sernett Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation Mark your calendars for LWSF's annual be the bridge luncheon! Our Be the Bridge benefit luncheon will take place on March 26 at the Redmond Marriott from 11:30am-1pm. We are excited to announce that Susie Kroll MA, MHP, LMHC will be our keynote speaker for this inspirational event. Susie is the founding Mental Health Professional for the Redmond PD, King County Sheriff's office, and 4 others across King County. With Susie's extensive background and knowledge, she is passionate about advocating for mental health. Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Email info@lwsf.org to learn about our packages. Registration opens early February! Show a teacher how much you care by sending a valentine! Our teachers work so hard all year long. Luckily we have 3 ways to show a teacher how much you appreciate them this Valentine's Day. For a $25 donation, we’ll recognize your teacher on the Lake Washington Schools Foundation website’s Wall of Love. For a $35 donation, put a teacher's name on the Wall of Love AND we’ll send a keepsake postcard to your favorite teacher. For a $50 donation, put a name on the Wall of Love, send a keepsake postcard, AND we'll include a special Valentine’s Day LWSF tree pin. Donor Spotlight: Aly fights student hunger Aly, an elementary school student in the Lake Washington School District, was inspired by friends who had birthday parties where they asked for toys to donate to kids in need rather than gifts for themselves.
She began her philanthropic journey at her 8th birthday party where she hosted a diaper drive for Eastside Baby Corner. She did it again for her 9th birthday party and then became curious of other ways to help kids her age. She discovered Pantry Packs, a local program that feeds children experiencing food-insecurity to cover weekend and school break meals. Not only was it a program that helped kids, it helped kids right at her school. It became the perfect fit. By the time her 10th birthday came around, she wanted to add a creative touch to her fundraising efforts so she designed her very own “Stop Hunger"... What are you thankful for? Here at Lake Washington Schools Foundation, we're thankful for the generosity of our donors who make the programs that we fund possible. We're thankful for the compassion of the volunteers who give their time to help students. And I’m thankful to be here to represent a foundation that helps so many diverse and uniquely capable students. In this Impact Update, I would like to share our gratitude and highlight a few ways that community support has made a difference this school year through LWSF programs, donations, and our dedicated volunteers. Pantry Packs, powered by LWSF, provides food to LWSD students for weekend meals. This year with nearly 900 students requesting support we are more thankful than ever that our community can help this record number of students experiencing hunger focus their attention on learning rather than their rumbling tummies. Find Your Fit has helped LWSD families in figuring out what comes next after LWSD on their college journey. And already this year LWSF has helped LINKS expand Lunch Buddy Mentoring Services to five additional elementary schools, bringing mentors to 15 schools. I’m grateful for the mentors, and for the students who are open to help and support. This year we have already been reminded too frequently of how urgently students and families need social-emotional learning, resiliency, and mental health support. I am grateful for our community partnerships and programs like Kids Coming Together and Balance in Mind that aim to meet that need from a variety of angles. Thank you for your unrelenting support of LWSD students. I hope that you are inspired by what your community support has made possible and that as we embark on this busy holiday season, you find moments to engage in what inspires you most. Sincerely, Helen K. Sernett, CFRE Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation Thank you to our volunteers!
This October, we were honored to have Microsoft and BECU participate in packing events for Pantry Packs, a program serving students across the district experiencing food-insecurity. Not only did these groups pack the packs, they also supplied the food – and what a lot of food it was! Another Microsoft group helped us place "get to know you" questions on Jenga blocks which will be played between a LINKS mentor and their lunch buddy. They will each pull a block and answer that question to encourage a fun and positive interaction. These LINKS mentors volunteer an hour a week to connect with a young student who could benefit from additional social-emotional attention. On November 15, we had our Ambassador Tea and gained serveral new ambassadors from different schools across the district. Thank you to our new Ambassadors for becoming an important communication liaison between their school and the Foundation to help keep their school community informed about LWSF programs and events. Email Katy@lwsf.org to become an ambassador for your school! Thank you to ALL of our amazing volunteers. It really is true that together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of our students. Balance in Mind is committed to the well-being of students Balance in Mind, powered by LWSF, is a program led by passionate volunteers who work to raise awareness of youth emotional health and well-being. This school year, Balance in Mind volunteers have connected with parents, school counselors, educators, administrators, students and local community organizations to understand the need and what they can do to help. What has Balance in Mind been up to since the beginning of the school year?
Find Your Fit has helped hundreds of LWSD families become college ready To meet the growing demand of Find Your Fit college-prep workshops with Mary Pat O’Neil, we have added additional workshops this school year including Helping Your Teen Navigate The College Process, Apply to College 101, and College Essay and Application workshops. Whether you are new to the United States, an overwhelmed teen, or a parent looking to support your child through the college journey – Find Your Fit has been a valuable resource for LWSD families. Be the first to know about upcoming workshops by connecting with us on social media. Our next workshop will be in January, registration opens soon! These workshops fill up quickly! Kids Coming Together, providing opportunities for local youth to make new friends through social and service events  Kids Coming Together, powered by LWSF, has provided opportunities for local youth to make new friends and connect with their community through social and service events such as game nights, feeding farm animals, fixing up dolls for Eastside Baby Corner and CPR for middle school kids. All of these events are led by volunteer high school students who receive training from KCT so that they can help facilitate friendships. Currently serving Sammamish, this program's goal is to expand across the District.
If you have a student in grades 3-8 who is struggling to meet new friends, be sure to check out upcoming KCT events: - Dec 2, Boys Game Night - Dec 4, Girls Game Night - December 11, Make Holiday Cards for Local Seniors October LWSF Impact Update: Balance in Mind, find your fit college-prep workshops, and more10/2/2019
Joining LWSF on July 1st, I realized that while some things quiet down in the summer, our work never sleeps. It began with the announcement of our Reach for Success grant awards and it never stopped! You helped make possible several Find Your Fit college application preparation workshops this summer. Demand for these classes is high and the waitlist long, as a result we have added two workshops on October 10 and October 28 with more to be scheduled soon. This summer our Youth Mental Health Taskforce gave way to Balance in Mind, a volunteer team focused on parent education about social-emotional learning. Thanks to funds that our community gave last year, this team is expanding their Youth Mental Health First Aid offerings during the 2019-2020 school year. The first is October 20. Your support has also made possible the "It's Real" resource guide that helps students and families navigate available community services. Balance in Mind and LWSF are also partnered with Overlake Medical Center & Clinics to bring screenings of the anxiety-awareness documentary, Angst, to several LWSD schools this year. Next up is a screening at LWHS on October 22! Check out our social media and PeachJar flyers for details on these and many more offerings from Balance in Mind coming this year thanks to your support. Within my first weeks, I learned the exciting news that your gifts helped fuel the Pantry Packs summer pilot program to feed students attending summer school! You were able to provide an additional 500 packs on top of the already 25,000 packs distributed last school year. Speaking of Pantry Packs and starting up the current school year, we have been running our Start Strong campaign. So far our generous community has given over $45,000 to feed students this fall. Demand this school year is already high, can you help us feed every student in need? (And a sincere thank you to those who have already donated!) Please reach out if you have any questions or to discuss opportunities for involvement with LWSF. We do have volunteer opportunities available through the LINKS Lunch Buddy program, Pantry Packs, Kids Coming Together, and our LWSF Ambassador program! Sincerely, Helen K. Sernett, CFRE Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation Find Your Fit with these two college-prep workshops!  High school seniors, join us on October 10 from 6pm-8pm for a College Application and Essay Workshop! Topics covered:
High school students of all grade levels and parents, join us on October 28 from 6pm-8pm for an Apply to College 101 Workshop! Topics covered:
Both are free to attend, only prior registration required. Upcoming events with Balance in Mind!  Empower yourself to help a child in need! LWSF is offering a Youth Mental Heath First Aid Certification course to introduce adults to the distinct risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, build understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teach individuals how to help youth who are in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. WHAT: Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification WHEN: Sunday, October 20, 9 AM–6 PM WHERE: LWSD Resource Center WHO: Adults 18+ Registration is required, $75 per person, light refreshments provided. Scholarships available, email info@lwsf.org. A big thank you to our sponsor Overlake Medical Center & Clinics and our partner Lake Washington High School for helping us host a screening of the anxiety-awareness documentary, Angst. Be sure to join us on October 22! WHAT: Screening of Angst WHEN: October 22, 6:30pm-7:30pm WHERE: Lake Washington High School WHO: Ages 10+ Free to attend, registration required. P.S. Have you downloaded our resource guide for students to help point them in the right direction when experiencing a mental health challenge? Print one now and share with a child you care about. Make a difference in a child's life by becoming a LINKS Lunch Buddy  LWSF is proud to fund and support LINKS, a mentorship program that provides one-on-one attention for a student who may benefit from additional social-emotional support. While the only minimum requirement is an hour a week, the impact on a student can last a lifetime. "Every year, it’s amazing the amount of positive energy that comes back towards me from the Buddy without asking for it." --LINKS volunteer Ken Goodwin Currently, the program has a list of students across several schools who are in line for a mentor. Please consider this wonderful opportunity to be a difference in a child's life or suggest to someone who you believe to be the perfect fit. Upcoming orientation: October 23, 12pm-2pm at the LWSD Resource Center Ready to make a difference? Email Victoria at vgoetzenelson@lwsd.org. LWSF is searching for Ambassadors! The school year is in full swing and LWSF is looking for an Ambassador at each school!
Connect with LWSF staff, other community members, and learn about the Ambassador program at our Ambassador Tea on November 15 from 11:30am-12:30pm. Light lunch will be provided. To RSVP, email Katy@lwsf.org. This summer, LWSF will continue offering programs to support students in the LWSD, including:
We're also raising funds for summer school scholarships. With an enriching array of camps, career exploration options, and accelerated academic classes, summer school in the LWSD is for everyone, and we intend to make sure that everyone can afford to go. Can you sponsor a kid's summer dreams today? Our support of summer school doesn't end with scholarships. Thanks to an incredible outpouring of generosity from the community, we are planning to deliver Pantry Packs to food-insecure children attending LWSD summer school this year. Our deepest gratitude to the donors who give and the volunteers who work hard to keep this vital program running. And a very special thank you to everyone who donated to youth mental wellness programming this year. We're deploying an array of tactics to support mental health right now, from our youth mental health first aid certification courses to the creation of a teen-centered support services flyer (available online here; contact us for printed copies). Please reach out to me if you have any questions. Together, we can give every child in the LWSD the chance to succeed in school and in life. Sincerely, Chris Wheaton Interim Executive Director Lake Washington Schools Foundation DONOR SPOTLIGHT: MOM AND DAUGHTER TEAM UP TO PAY SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT  Local parent at Juanita High School, Prerna Gupta and her daughter Zoe were shocked when they recently learned that there were many families in her community who had student lunch debt that they were struggling or unable to pay. “The answer was simple right then. Let’s try to fix this together,” shared Prerna. “Unfortunate events happen to all families and meals in school should be the least of their concerns!” Prerna reached out to the school district and Lake Washington Schools Foundation as she contemplated the best way to move forward. She and Zoe decided to organize a silent auction fundraiser. “We got so many generous donations for the gift baskets and then people opened their hearts and wallets … to raise this amount together.” With the help of the community businesses who donated items and the community members who attended, they raised $6,300. “I thought that this fundraiser is a good way to raise awareness and hopefully motivate more people to take action in some way.” With this success under her belt, Prerna is setting her sights on a fundraiser to be held next year that will extend to other schools the district. “Everyone has the opportunity to make a choice to make a change!” Way to go, Prerna! Thank you for showing us that every community member has the power to make a difference in the lives of students and families in our community. NEXT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CERTIFICATION IS JUNE 22  Empower yourself to help a child in need! LWSF is offering this formal program to introduce adults to the distinct risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, build understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teach individuals how to help youth who are in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. WHAT: Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification WHEN: Saturday, June 22, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM WHERE: LWSD Resource Center WHO: Adults 18+ Registration is required, $75 per person, light refreshments provided. HAVE FUN, MAKE FRIENDS, AND SERVE OTHERS WITH KIDS COMING TOGETHER LWSF is proud to fund and support Kids Coming Together (KCT), a local, teen-led group that helps children in grades 3–8 build friendships with peers through community service events. KCT is now recruiting teen leaders as well as kids in grades 3–8 to participate in these service events. Upcoming events include: June 13: Teacher Thank-You Cards June 19 & 26: Farmer's Market Trash Patrol June 23: Get Crafty with Senior Citizens Interested? Register to attend one or more of these events or receive further information and learn how your student can get involved! GET COLLEGE-READY WITH OUR FREE FIND YOUR FIT WORKSHOPS Summer is a great time to get ready for the college application season! LWSF partners with Mary Pat O’Neil of True Fit College Counseling to provide free college application workshops for kids and families. Here are three ways to Find Your Fit this summer:
WHAT: College Application Bootcamp WHEN: June 29, 10:00AM–3:00PM WHERE: LWSD Resource Center WHO: Rising seniors (class of 2020) only!
WHEN: July 30, 2:00PM–4:00PM WHERE: Kirkland Library WHO: High school students and parents
WHEN: August 5, 2:00PM–4:00PM WHERE: Redmond Library WHO: Rising seniors (class of 2020) only!
|
Archives
May 2021
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
