Connect with Family Partnership Staff, ISD Families
Issaquah School District (ISD) invites all families, whether you’re new to the area or have been part of our community for years, to join a welcoming and informative conversation with ISD Family Partnership staff and fellow parents/caregivers. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, build connections and gain insights about navigating school programs, policies and community resources in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Drop by the ISD Administrative Office (5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah) on Oct. 9. The morning session runs from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., followed by the evening session from 6:30-8:30 p.m. If you’re unable to attend on Oct. 9, future Family Connections meetings will be held on Dec. 8, March 16 and May 11.
There will be no formal presentations. Instead, the discussion will follow questions submitted by families—either during the event or in advance through the registration form.
Superintendent Update: Helping Students Build Skills to Thrive
Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick shares a community update, including academic results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment, as well as some of her takeaways across the system as she visits schools. Students and staff are creating relationships, building durable skills, and learning to be strong and effective communicators and collaborators. From early learning to building critical thinking skills to preparing for their path after graduation, students and staff are tackling big learning together.
School Board Town Halls: ‘Profile of a Graduate’
Issaquah School Board is inviting students, families and community members to join an upcoming town hall meeting and share ideas about what every ISD graduate should know. This work is part of ISD’s “Profile of a Graduate,” which will guide how students are supported on their path to graduation and beyond. Find more details here.
The three town hall sessions include:
- Beaver Lake Middle School: Oct. 16, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Maywood Middle School: Oct. 27, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Issaquah Middle School: Oct. 28, 6:30-8 p.m.
Register Before Monster Mash Sells Out
Help the Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF) raise a MONSTROUS amount of support for local students on Oct. 25! The Monster Mash 5K is already more than 80% sold out. As of today, Endeavour Elementary is leading the way for school registrations and Cougar Mountain Middle School for cross-country team participation. Every registration submitted by Oct. 12 will receive a race t-shirt and medal. Register today!
ParentWiser Presents ‘Cultural Conflicts: Two Worlds, One Home’
Raising teens in multicultural families can be challenging — differences in language, values and identity often spark tension. Join this talk to learn practical ways to connect across cultural divides, create space for honest dialogue, and honor both you and your teen’s identities. Let’s build bridges with clarity, compassion and connection.
Cloe Zeng is the chief growth officer at The Gottman Institute, the world’s leading relationship brand trusted by over 15 million people. She drives innovation and growth, bringing research-backed strategies to families, organizations and communities.
Dr. Fangying Stephanie Shi is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in depression, anxiety, addiction and cross-cultural relationships, integrating Eastern philosophy and mindfulness with psychology to help individuals live fulfilling lives.
Join these two knowledgeable speakers at The Circle (160 NW Gilman Blvd, Suite 326, Issaquah) on Monday, Oct. 20, from 6:30-8 p.m. Please register for the event in advance.
Committee Recommends Levy Proposals to Superintendent
The members of the 2026 Levy Advisory Committee reached consensus on a package of proposed levy renewal measures during the committee’s fourth meeting on Sept. 30. The committee recommends that the superintendent propose the renewal of all three of the district’s current levy measures, along with some specific feedback about prior areas of investment and the potential for innovation or additional investment in some priority areas such as mental health and behavior supports. Find more details here.
General Election: Are You Registered to Vote?
The General Election is Nov. 4. You must be a registered voter to cast your ballot. You can register to vote online or by mail through Oct. 27 to vote in the November election. You may also register in-person through Nov. 4 at a King County Elections center.
Learn what’s on the ballot, including candidates for the ISD Board of Directors. Find out how to register to vote online, by mail or in-person at the King County Elections webpage.
New High School Construction Expected to Start in Spring 2026
During the school board meeting on Sept. 25, directors had the opportunity to review renderings of the new high school’s interior. The project will use approximately $146 million in available funds from past voter-approved measures in 2016 and 2022, as well as other sources such as state School Assistance Program funds and interest earnings. Construction is expected to begin in March 2026, and the school is expected to be ready for students in the fall of 2027.
The district plans to use a community engagement process to help shape academic programs and offerings for the new school. Community input will continue to play a key role in shaping the vision for this campus and the students it will serve. Learn more about the process here.
‘Securly Home’ Now Active for Families of Students in Grades 6-12
ISD is excited to share that “Securly Home” is now active and available for families with students in grades 6-12. Securly Home is a tool that allows parents and guardians to monitor and manage their student’s activity on school-issued devices while at home. It provides real-time insights into online activity, allows for custom filtering, and offers features like pausing internet access and setting offline schedules.
An email was sent on Wednesday, Sept. 24, with instructions for getting started. If you missed it, you can visit Securly Home and download the app. Be sure to enter the email address associated with your Skyward/Family Access account.
More information about Securly Home can be found on the district website, at the bottom of the page under “Monitoring Technology Use at Home.”
Homeroom Huddle: Developing Durable Skills Through CTE
In a rapidly changing world, what skills do students really need to succeed after high school? In the latest episode of Homeroom Huddle, explore “durable skills” and how Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes create an ideal environment to learn them. Joined by a teacher, a student, an industry engineer and the district’s CTE director, this conversation uses real-world examples to show how these hands-on pathways prepare every student for a future-ready life. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app. More details here.
FAFSA Application Open Now for Class of 2026
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the most important steps in preparing for college, regardless of your financial background. The FAFSA is your gateway to financial support for college, career school or trade programs—and it officially opened on Sept. 25. Learn more about the FAFSA.
How to fill it out:
1. Visit https://studentaid.gov.
2. Create an FSA ID for both the student and one parent.
3. Gather necessary documents: Social Security numbers, W-2s and bank statements.
4. Complete and submit the FAFSA online. It’s free and takes less time than you think!
How to Stay Informed, Up to Date
Are you looking to stay informed about what’s happening at your student’s school or at the district level? Here is ISD’s official means of communications with our families and community members.
- School Bulletins:Each of the ISD school buildings sends out a bulletin between 4-6 p.m. on Thursdays during the school year. Emergency bulletins are sent if something timely happens on campus (bear sighting, police activity near a school, modified lockdown or other emergencies).
- District Weekly Bulletin “The 411:”The district’s weekly bulletin is sent out in the afternoon on Mondays (and some Tuesdays when holidays fall on Mondays).
- Emergency Notifications:During an emergency, ISD will first ensure that students and staff are safe before sending information to staff and families affiliated with that location via email, text (you must opt in for text messages from the mobile phone number that is listed in your guardian Family Access account), and occasionally robocalls.
- Text Messages: If you are not receiving text messages and would like to, send the word “Yes” or the letter “Y” to the number 67587 from the cell phone number that is listed in your Family Access account. If you have already opted in, you do not need to repeat this process. ISD will send a districtwide test of the text message system on Thursday, Oct. 16, and will send multiple reminders before the test.
- Websites: For upcoming events, news, staff directory information, lunch menus, bus routes and much more, visit your school’s website or the district website. To translate the websites, use the drop-down menu in the top right corner of the screen (or on mobile, use the menu indicated by the three horizontal lines in the top right). Select the language you would like.
- Social Media: Social Media: The official district social media platforms include Facebook @IssaquahSchools, Instagram @issaquahschools, YouTube at youtube.com/issaquahschools. Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick is also on Instagram: @suptowyick. In time-sensitive events and for certain other topics, ISD may also post to Twitter @IssaquahSchools, but it is no longer one of its primary platforms.
- FlashAlert Notifications: FlashAlert is the system the district uses to send emergency school closure or delay information to local media (TV, radio). Parents/caregivers, staff and community members may sign up to receive notifications via email, text or push notification to your phone by downloading the FlashAlert Messenger mobile app.
- Visit the Issaquah School District Flash Alert page to sign up and create an account.
- Download the FlashAlert mobile app by searching for FlashAlert Messenger on your Android or Apple/iOS phone.
