LISD School Newsletter

From Dr. Martin....

Dear LISD Families,

As this is the beginning of a new semester and a New Year, this is a great time to shine the light on how our teachers are integrating student Habits of Work and Learning (HOWL) into their grading practices. Secondary report cards were recently sent out and HOWLs make up 10% of a student’s grade in a class. Secondary HOWLs are:

Show up on time
Arrive prepared
Use class time for learning

Elementary report cards will be sent out in February. There is a HOWL section on the elementary report card, and those habits include:

Listen to others
Follow directions
Work well independently
Collaborate with others

We call these “habits” because we believe they are essential to success in school and beyond. Our goal is to support students in developing them through repetition so these habits become automatic. We would very much appreciate families reinforcing these habits when you are helping children and teens with their school work or chatting with them about their school experience.

All my best,
Martha

Upcoming Key Dates

Jan 12: HS Basketball, girls at 4 pm, boys at 5:30 pm
Jan 13: HS Basketball, girls at 3:30 pm, boys at 5:00 pm
Jan 15: HS Basketball, girls at 4 pm, boys at 5:30 pm
Jan 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NO SCHOOL
Jan 20: MS Basketball - Red vs White game, 2:30 pm
Jan 23: HS Basketball, girls at 4:30pm, boys at 6:00 pm
Jan 24: School Work Party, 10:30 - 4 pm
Jan 24: Seed Swap & Soup Night, 4 - 7 pm, MPR

Meet our New School Board Members

In December, the Lopez Island School Board welcomed two new members. Both board members are parents of Lopez students and together bring a diverse set of skills and experience to the school board. Welcome Andrew Nichols and Matthew Bullock!

Andrew Nichols

Andrew Nichols (no relation to Andy Nichols of North Sound Communications) moved from Seattle to Lopez full-time in 2017 so his family could focus on living sustainably, be part of a tight community, and help take care of his Grandfather who has lived on island since the 80s. He works a remote full-time job at Samsung as a Sales Engineer traveling around the country helping solve problems for US Manufacturers. Andrew stepped up to become a board member after Superintendent Brady Smith reached out to parents seeking an advocate who could help represent families. Andrew is committed to transparency, communication, outreach, and is looking forward to helping students, families, and the community on the friendliest island in our little archipelago.

Matthew Bullock

Matthew Bullock moved to Lopez Island in 2020 to be closer to family and to embrace a lifestyle more connected to nature. Matthew works at San Juan County as the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management. He is a dedicated parent of two Lopez Island School District students and believes strong schools build strong and vibrant communities. Matthew brings over 25 years of organizational management experience and collaborative leadership skills to the School Board. Matthew is committed to transparent governance and supporting innovative learning opportunities for all students. He is looking forward to serving the parents, educators, and administrators of LISD to build a future where every student thrives and our district sets new standards for educational excellence.

Seed Swap & Soup Night - Jan 24

Garden season is just around the corner!

January is prime garden planning season! Come join the school L.I.F.E (Lopez Island Farm Education) team and other Lopez gardeners on January 24 for a delicious meal of soup, bread, and dessert and start planning your 2026 garden.

Most gardeners would probably agree that seed shopping is one of the most fun garden activities. The possibilities are endless at this time. January is a great time for some garden dreaming and fellowship with like minded green thumbs. Questions about this event or the school garden program? Reach out to school gardener Brett Jensen, bjensen@lopezislandschool.org

School Work Party - January 24

Community Helpers - We Need You!

Currently, the school district does not have a facilities manager on staff due to budget constraints. Superintendent Brady Smith is volunteering to fill the gap as best as possible but the only way this scenario works at all is with community support. Please attend the school work party on January 24. Drop in anytime between 10:00 and 4 pm. You could even swing by in the afternoon and stick around for the soup and seed swap gathering when you are done!

Swim Center Survey - Help Shape Programming

Survey in English and en español

The Lopez Swim Center is gearing up for a spring opening, and we’re looking for your enthusiasm and island spirit as we begin shaping our programming. This short survey will take less than 10 minutes and will give the Swim Center valuable information on what type of programming will be serve Lopez residents. All completed surveys will be entered into a drawing for a free family membership.

English version:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YS7R7Y5

Encuesta española

El Centro de Natación López se está preparando para una apertura al final del invierno o al principio de la primavera, y estamos buscando tu entusiasmo y espíritu isleño mientras comenzamos a dar forma a nuestra programación. ¡Por favor, participa en esta breve encuesta y tu familia podría ser la afortunada ganadora de una membresía familiar gratuita de tres meses!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6HNDT6S

Vaccines for Older Students

Many colleges are requiring certain vaccines before admission. Even if your student will not be attending college in the fall it's a good idea for them to get these vaccines to help protect them from serious illness.

Lopez Island School District

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.