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Volunteer Opportunities!

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Where Does EMS PTSA Money Go?

Much of our budget is dedicated to curriculum enrichment and staff grants. This year, our PTSA has supported our school and students by helping fund the following:

Later this year, we will also assist with 8th grade promotion, make improvements to our emergency preparedness program, and purchase student daily planners.

None of this is possible without the support of our members, volunteers and donors. Haven't donated this year? It's not too late! Not a member yet? Join us! Membership doesn’t mean you must volunteer or attend meetings—although we’d love to have you at our General Membership Meeting in May!

Help Build Our '22-'23 PTSA Board

Just a Few Quick Questions

If you have done any of these, you’re already an advocate for kids and education. Consider joining our PTSA board for the last few months of the year as our Advocacy VP! Email president@evergreenptsa.org to learn more about this role and how you can help by serving our school community.

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Come Work—or Volunteer—at EMS!

Nutrition Services at EMS and other LWSD schools is looking for you! Working with Nutrition Services is the perfect job for parents, with shift times that fit your students' school days. The current openings at EMS are from 9 am to 1:30 pm Monday through Friday. Please click the image to the right for more information and to apply.

If you're curious and have questions, or if you're interested in working fewer hours or days in either a paid or volunteer capacity, contact Maja Adzievska, LWSD Nutrition Services Manager, at c-madzievska@lwsd.org.

IMPORTANT: Traffic Safety Info for Drop-Off & Pick-Up

We have seen and we appreciate your efforts to help improve traffic flow during drop-off and pick-up. Thank you, Eagles! We need your continuing support, however, to keep students safe and on time and to streamline traffic, especially now that we no longer have a school resource officer (SRO) or an instructional assistant (IA) dedicated to traffic safety. Please show respect and kindness to our school community by following these expectations.

Drop-off instructions	Pick-up instructions
(click image to enlarge)	(click image to enlarge)

Some key pointers to keep in mind, in addition to the instructions linked above:

Avoid the Crowds

• Please have eligible students ride the bus. Buses are less crowded than they were earlier this year, now that they've added more.
• Consider dropping off earlier, or picking up later. Traffic is much lighter before 8:10 am and after 3:05 pm.

Streamline the Process

• Take advantage of the lower lot. There is usually no wait for drop-off! For a simple summary of drop-off options, view this quick video.
• Narrow the gap between your vehicle and the one in front of yours to allow more cars to access the drop-off zones.
• Make sure your student is prepared for a quick drop-off. Shoes should be tied already, jackets on, backpacks zipped and ready in hand.

Be Courteous

• If students need assistance or more time—e.g., to access the trunk or manage several items—please park in a stall instead of blocking traffic.
• Allow cars that need to back out of parking stalls to do so.
• Southbound 208th: Allow vehicles exiting the school driveway to merge onto 208th. If they can't get out, cars can't get in!
• Exiting from the upper lane: Also allow vehicles from the lower lot to merge into both driveway lanes.
• Please use the same courtesy when entering the EMS driveway—take turns with cars waiting to enter from the opposite direction.

Be Safe

• Avoid parking along 208th to pick up your student. It's dangerous for them to cross streets outside of the marked crosswalks.
• Drive slowly and watch out for students in and out of crosswalks. Have your student use marked crosswalks only.

We appreciate your continued cooperation!

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Pathway Forward Update from LWSD

Yesterday, March 9, LWSD Superintendent Jon Holmen shared an update regarding changes in COVID-19 guidance from the Washington State Department of Health. Please visit the LWSD Pathway Forward page for the full update, which includes details about the choice of whether to wear masks or not beginning March 12, specific situations where masks will still be required or recommended, the latest changes to quarantine protocols, access to testing, and more.

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Special Education Group Meeting on 3/15

Families with children who have 504s, IEPs or IHPs are invited to attend the monthly meeting of LWPTSA's Special Education Group. This month, learn about guardianship and special needs trusts from local expert Christy Thompson Ibrahim of Jones & Ibrahim, PLLC.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 15 at 7 pm; family networking starts at 6:30 pm
WHERE: Online via Zoom

Please send any questions to specialeducation@lwptsa.net.

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Lunch & Learn: School Transitions on 3/17

Lake Washington PTSA Council invites parents and caregivers to the next free, online Lunch & Learn discussion, "School Transitions." This topic is particularly relevant for families with students in 5th and 8th grades, heading to middle and high school.

WHEN: Thursday, March 17 at noon
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/schooltransitions031722

Contact Mindy Lincicome at evp@lwptsa.net with any questions.

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LWSF Parent Chat Webinar on 3/23

At the next free online Parent Chat, hosted by Lake Washington Schools Foundation's Balance in Mind program, learn what parents can do about youth susceptibility to extremism.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 23 at 7 pm
REGISTER: www.tinyurl.com/BIMWinter2022

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Social & Community Service Opportunities for Kids

Live, in-person events with Kids Coming Together, powered by Lake Washington Schools Foundation, have resumed! These events are great opportunities for children in grades 3-8 to meet new friends and connect with their community. Visit their calendar of upcoming events for more details and to RSVP.

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Talking With Our Kids About Crisis

As we see and hear news about crisis and war unfolding in Ukraine, so, too, do our children. The National PTA's One Voice blog offers thoughts and resources on discussing crisis with kids—and the opportunities present in this discussion to model kindness and empathy, and to nurture social responsibility and self-awareness. We extend wishes of safety and belonging to the families of our students and staff members of Ukrainian and Russian heritage, as well as to the families of service members both at home and abroad.

March Is Women's History Month