LISD School Newsletter

The first four weeks of school are behind us, and I can honestly say that it has been one of the smoothest back-to-school seasons I've experienced.

Thank you to elementary families for coming to Elementary Open House last Tuesday, and much appreciation to the elementary teachers for preparing students and learning spaces for this sweet event. I know our students loved showing family members around their classroom, explaining activities, and engaging you in some of those activities. We also appreciate the Lopez Island PTSA, the Lopez Island Family Resource Center after-school program staff, and the Lopez Swim Center for hosting informational tables.

I've seen many secondary families at home games in the last few weeks. Thanks for coming out to support our student athletes on the field or in the M.R. Buffum Gym. Fans are essential so please keep showing up...and bring your friends and neighbors. Go Lobos!

Soon, it will already be October. We'll have our first set of parent/student/teacher conferences, LIPTSA will host the awesome annual pumpkin carving night, MPPACT will play a Halloween concert in the village for trunk-or-treat, and you can enjoy more Lobo home games. Lots of fall fun to be had!

All my best,

Martha

• 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
• Sept 27: Pottery Glazing Party, 2 pm
• Sept 29: Middle School Soccer, 4 pm
• Sept 30: Boys Soccer, 3:30 pm
• Oct 1: Volleyball, JV 3 pm, Varsity 4:30 pm
• Oct 1: MS Soccer, 4 pm
• Oct 3: Boys Soccer, 3:30 pm
• Oct 4: SAT Exam

If you are emailing the school about your student's attendance, please use the email attendance@lopezislandschool.org. This is very helpful for the school in keeping all attendance related communications in one place.

Additionally, the following list has all the single dates during the school year where there is no school and it is not a holiday. When possible, please try to schedule off island appointments for your students on these days.

• Friday, October 10
• Monday, October 20
• Friday, March 20
• Monday, March 23
• Monday, April 27
• Friday, May 22
• Friday, May 29

LIFRC is back again with some great after school opportunities for 5th - 8th grade students: Robotics! Games! Outdoor conservation and stewardship. Art club. Fun activities for kids and no cost to families. The After School program starts this week! Stay tuned for an announcement about the elementary after school program.

Register here

We are so happy to welcome Heather Carrión to staff at LISD. Heather serves as our Elementary Garden Teacher and our Multi-Language support teacher for our students who speak English as a second language.

Growing up, Heather spent her summers on Lopez on a small farm. Her farm had a big garden and both her parents spent time with her in the garden. Gardening has been a part of her life since childhood. Heather also worked as a horseback riding instructor at Camp Nor’wester when it was located on Lopez. Heather has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and learned Spanish while teaching in Peru for 6 months. Heather and her husband César have four grown children and have recently moved to Lopez as full time residents with their horses, chickens, rabbits and sweet corgi, “Boulder”, to enjoy island life and discover how best to serve our community. Welcome Heather. We are glad you are here!

Lopez Island School District doors are open to volunteers for the 2025/26 year! We're looking for big-hearted folks who are ready to make our school the best it can be. Tell us what you'd like to do, and we'll find a place for you. Want to be around kids? Be a greeter at pickup and dropoff, an occasional van driver, or a lunchtime monitor. Prefer something not student-focused? Help in the library, scan yearbooks, help out in the school garden, or do facility maintenance tasks.

Give just a couple of hours each week (or more, if desired) and you'll be making a meaningful community contribution. Email volunteer@lopezislandschool.org and we'll get back to you with more information. Thank you for helping to make our school the best it can be! Soon you'll be able to answer the question: "What you did you do at school today?"

Please submit your school fees ASAP. This includes sports fees, ASB fees, technology fees and art supply fees if your student is taking art. These fees contribute to essential programs, resources, and activities for our students. Payments can be made in person to the Lopez Island District Office. Please call or email ahead to make sure there will be someone in the office to take your payment at the time you come in. Sara Jones, District Secretary, 360-468-2202 x2300

You can also pay online. Click here for the instructions to pay online.

Lopez Grind Coffeeshop has a secret FREE YOUTH MENU on First Saturday Art Walks! So come ask for the menu and get a free drink and a treat from their youth menu on Saturday, October 4 from 5-7 pm, and check out some excellent art on skate decks by Nick Teague! More info about First Saturday Art Walk - which happens every first Saturday of the month - is here.

Put on your artistic hat and come join LIFE (Lopez Island Farm Education) folks to help decorate bowls that will be used at a future event. This will be a fun way to spend a few hours on Saturday afternoon. No experience needed and all supplies including ceramic bisque bowls and glazes will be provided. Kids are welcome.

The organizers for the proposed Lopez Parks & Rec District are holding a Town Hall next week. Lopez residents will be voting on the the Lopez Parks and Rec district this fall and this event is a great chance for you learn more about this proposed organization.

More info here.

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.