LISD School Newsletter

We have had two really wonderful weeks of school and it feels fantastic to be back in the swing of things. Here is my list of top 10 highlights, in no particular order:

1. We have some fabulous new staff members and we will feature them in the next couple newsletters.
2. We also have some fabulous new students...some new to LISD and some new to Lopez Island. Welcome to all the new families!
3. Elementary students and staff are preparing for Open House on September 16. I just love Open House and the chance to say hello to ALL the elementary families in one evening. See you then!
4. Fall varsity sports competition started last week with girls soccer. They had an away game at Auburn on Friday and won! Check the sports schedule for three Lobo home games this week...boys soccer on Tuesday and Friday, girls volleyball on Thursday. Go Lobos!
5. Middle school soccer practices and MPPACT rehearsals have begun.
6. Kindergarteners are learning a lot about how we do things at "the big school," and they are really enjoying lunch together in the multi-purpose room :).
7. A stunning mural was donated to the school by the Coast Salish Youth Coalition. It has been installed in a very visible spot on the wall in the secondary office.
8. ASB has already hosted an ice-cream social and they have planned a fall sports pep rally and spirit dress up days for this week!
9. 4th and 5th graders are loving their typing class with Ms. Deirdre.
10. 2nd and 3rd graders are having so much fun with engineering projects.
    
    

I could keep adding to this list. For now, just know that the 2025-26 year is off to a great start. If you are interested in volunteering, so you too can experience this magic, please be sure to complete a volunteer background check form (no expense to you) and send an email to volunteer@lopezislandschool.org. In the email, you can let us know if you are hoping to volunteer in a specific way.

Hope you have a great week!

• Sept 9: Boys soccer, 3:30 pm
• Sept 11: School picture day
• Sept 11: Volleyball, 4:30 pm
• Sept 12: Boys Soccer, 4:00 pm
• Sept 16: Elementary Open House, 5 - 6 pm
• Sept 17: CTAC Committee meeting, LMC, 5:30 pm
• Sept 18: Girls Soccer, 4:00 pm
• Sept 22: NO SCHOOL
• Sept 23: Girls Soccer, 4:00 pm
• Sept 24: Boys Soccer, 3:30 pm
• Sept 24: School Board Meeting, LMC, 5:30 pm
• Sept 26: Volleyball, 3 pm
• Sept 26: Girls Soccer, 4 pm

Our very own James Barber, part of our outstanding kitchen staff, has recently been recognized as Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Guild International! His signature dish of Dr. Pepper Pork Tenderloin with Risotto and Collard Greens is what gave him the edge. Yum!

School picture order forms have gone home all students. All orders must be prepaid. If you don't have a paper form, you can order online at www.hellriegelstudio.com - Event Code: Lopez25. Retake day will be October 21.

LISD is pleased to introduce Ms. Tawnya Renelle, our new English/Language Arts teacher. While Richard Carter left some big shoes to fill when he retired after 21 years, Ms. Renelle has shown she is up for the challenge! She is currently in the middle of a fierce Scrabble battle with the students in the AP Literature and Composition class and while the students jumped out to an early lead, she's definitely mounting a comeback!

Ms. Renelle comes to LISD with multiple degrees in writing and literature and a deep love and appreciation for all things literary. When asked about how she landed on her career, she said, "I first came to writing through my grandmother and her love of poetry. When I was little she would read me poems and I loved the way the words sounded. Very quickly she taught me how to read and I read everything and anything I could. It is an honor to teach students about the joy of reading and books!"

Ms. Renelle will also be the advisor for the Drama Club and is very excited about fostering student interest in all elements of theatre.

Crafting and canning rank very high on her "non-academic interests" list -- which certainly puts her in good company with many folks in our community. If you see her around town, let her know that you are glad she chose Lopez!

Elementary Families, please join us from 5:00-6:00 on Tuesday, September 16 for Elementary Open House. Your child can take you on a tour of the classroom and tell you all about routines, norms, and a typical school day. You'll also be able to complete a volunteer form, complete a free and reduced lunch form, sign up for a LIPTSA membership, connect with the other parents/guardians in your child's classroom, and chat with your child's teacher. The event is open house style so drop by anytime after 5:00 and we'll wrap it up at 6:00.

We look forward to seeing all our elementary families on September 16!

This is such a fun week every year! Dress according to the theme each day. There will be a pep rally on Tuesday for Fall Sports. More info about spirit week will be on the screens!

Monday - PJ day

Tuesday - Lobo Pride

Wednesday - Matching Day

Thursday - Picture Perfect

Friday - Class Colors: seniors - blue; juniors - yellow; sophomores - pink; freshmen - green; 8th grade -red; 7th grade - purple

Time to get your season or annual pass for Lopez Lobos home games! Save yourself the hassle of paying separately for each home contest. Season pass for the family is $50, an annual pass is $100. Purchase your pass here.

Admission per game is $5 per adult. Youth, seniors, and ASB members are free.

Thanks to LISD for hosting summer camps and all the staff support! Take a peek at all the fun we had this summer in our Blog Posts. If your child attended Summer Camp 2025 and you have yet to share your feedback with us, we’d love to hear from you! Click here to access the anonymous survey.

We are currently planning and staffing the 2025-26 programs for grades K-4 and 5-8. Stay tuned for a start date soon! We are hiring for an Elementary After-School Lead Instructor. More info here.

Come learn more about what we have planned at the Elementary Open House on 9/16.

This is a super fun after school activity. Boys and girls of all grades (except Kindergarten) are welcome. First practice/fittings is Sept 10.

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Another exciting school year has started and another chance to be an important part of Lopez Island School - the Lopez Island Parent Teacher Student Association (LIPTSA)! The greater our membership, the stronger we are! Memberships are only valid for 1 year - so please RENEW or JOIN via this link!

There is no wrong or right way to be involved – anything you can give, whether it’s volunteering at 1 or all events, or simply purchasing a membership, will support our school's potential. We invite you to JOIN because we can do more together than apart. It only takes a few minutes! Anyone can and should join - students, parents, grandparents, community members, teachers.

LIPTSA supports critical academic needs, is an active voice on decisions that impact your child’s health, safety, and quality of education, and builds a stronger, more inclusive school community.

Questions? Email lopezislandptsa@gmail.com or come chat with us at the Elementary Open House on September 16th from 5PM - 6PM.

The LISD Community Technology Advisory Committee will be having their first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 17th, 5:30-6:30 in the school's Library Media Center. Please join us if you are interested in helping guide the direction of technology at our school. All are welcome!

We are so fortunate to have a community supported technology levy that provides essential tools and programs at our school and our technology committees have worked for years to help guide the use of these funds. If you have any questions, please reach out to jhammond@lopezislandschool.org

LISD Senior Sophie Citro has achieved the status of semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation! To receive this recognition a student in 11th grade must score in the top 1% on the PSAT exam. Approximately 16,000 in the class of 2026 nationwide achieved this level and only several hundred in the state of WA. She will now move on to see if she can become a finalist which can lead to entrance into top schools and thousands of dollars in scholarship money. Congratulations Sophie!"

Brady Smith, Superintendent

Martha Martin, K-12 Principal

The Lopez Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator Sarah Rucker; Section 504, Mary Fordham. OR contact by phone, 360-468-2202, OR mail to 86 School Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261.