The community is invited to help build pathways for student success by attending Lake Washington Schools Foundation’s ninth annual “Legacy for Learning” luncheon fundraiser, which will be held on April 23 at Juanita High School in Kirkland.
The keynote speaker, EvergreenHealth CEO Robert Malte, will explain how the Lake Washington School District is building pathways to student success by providing students with real-world experiences through public-private partnerships with schools. One partnership, for example, allows high school students enrolled in the district’s new STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Signature Programs to explore health-care careers by working directly with EvergreenHealth, an integrated health-care system based in Kirkland.
Additional speakers will include: school district Superintendent Traci Pierce; Roger Blier, founder and CEO of Passport Unlimited; and former news anchor and creator of La Famiglia Design Monica Hart, who returns as emcee. Luncheon guests will also hear inspirational stories of student success told by students and their teachers.
In addition to benefiting kids and schools, the event also will be environmentally friendly. Luncheon sponsor Waste Management is partnering with the foundation to put on a “zero-waste event.” According to Waste Management, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Lake Washington Schools Foundation to create a zero-waste event. Working with our valued partner to help them achieve their goals is in keeping with our company’s mission.”
The success of a zero-waste event is based on the total garbage generated, combined with how much of the event’s waste can be recycled, reused, repurposed, donated or composted. Believing that great schools create vibrant communities, the foundation has been raising money since 2005 to ensure academic excellence and success for all school district students.
At the luncheon, the foundation aims to meet or exceed its goal of raising $225,000 to provide the school district with flexible and timely support. Community donations to the foundation help struggling students gain confidence through the LINKS (Looking Into the Needs of Kids and Schools) mentoring and tutoring program, provide Reaching for Success classroom grants so that students have innovative activities that engage them in learning, and support the Access Fund which allows students in need to fully participate in middle and high school.
For the first time, the foundation is funding the school district’s New Teacher Support Program for second-year teachers. This program allows the district to attract and retain the best teachers available by providing classroom management and curriculum support, along with help with organization and planning. The New Teacher Support Program is designed to improve student learning, accelerate skill acquisition for new teachers and reduce costly teacher attrition.
Proceeds from last year’s “Legacy for Learning” luncheon helped fund the district’s new Signature Programs, innovative, three-period high school classes in which students apply their learning to real-world problems in fields such as global health, environmental engineering, sustainable design, forensics and psychology. Signature Program students also learn about careers by working with community and business partners such as EvergreenHealth, AT&T and Swedish Hospital.
Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and a speaking program from noon to 1 p.m.
Lunch is complimentary, although there is a suggested donation of $150. There are still opportunities to be a table captain, to sponsor the luncheon or to volunteer to help make the event a success.
To register, visit www.lwsf.org.
Juanita High School is located at 10601 N.E. 132nd St. in Kirkland.
For more information, email luncheon@lwsf.org or call 425-936-1414.
