Lake Stevens Middle School outlines transition plan and family engagement for incoming sixth graders

Lake Stevens Middle School Principal Lisa Sanchez presented a detailed overview of the district's Transition to Middle School process at the April 10 board meeting, describing steps designed to ease students’ move from elementary to middle school.

Sanchez said the school organizes elementary school visits to feeder schools (Glenwood, Skyline, Hillcrest), schedules transition meetings involving counseling, special education and administrative teams, and relies on data systems prepared by the district’s data staff to produce realistic projected enrollment figures. She described the master schedule as a planning “puzzle” shaped by student course requests and by staff availability for endorsements and specialized instruction.

For families, the school plans a community engagement event — Pirate Night — on May 28, 2024 to introduce staff and explain registration procedures, automatic enrollment processes, and options for students to change pre‑registered classes (for example, substituting Band or Choir for Art/Tech). Sanchez also noted that students who qualify for Hi‑Cap programs are automatically enrolled in Advanced Challenge Language Arts and/or Pre‑Algebra, while students with IEPs are placed in appropriate courses to meet their needs. A registration change form will allow families and students to request alternative electives or challenge courses.

Data Analyst Kristi Morrow and Data Integration Specialist Chris Martin were cited as coordinating systems and data sharing with counseling and special‑services teams to support scheduling and well‑informed placement. Board members praised the school’s planning and emphasis on family comfort during transitions.

The presentation closed with board questions and expressions of appreciation for the school’s deliberate attention to student needs and family engagement.