English Crossing Elementary

A Small District Going Big Places

Slam dunk! More sports for 6th grade

Above: The Lakewood Middle School varsity boys basketball team huddles during a game in December. Below: LMS varsity girls soccer players celebrate a goal during a game in December.

girls soccer Soccer, basketball and volleyball are available to sixth graders this year for the first time at Lakewood Middle School. Sixth graders were already participating in cross country, wrestling and track & field. The decision to allow sixth graders to participate in team sports was made last year by Cascade Middle School League directors.

Interest has been high this year, with enough students last season for three volleyball teams and three boys basketball teams. This season, there are three girls basketball teams.

Lakewood extended participation to sixth graders with funding from the voter-approved Educational Programs & Operations levy, which is used to fund athletics and extracurricular activities.

Lakewood Middle School Athletic Director Jim Barth said he is pleased with the decision because it allows sixth graders to participate more fully in their school community. “It makes sense with our district focus on belonging,” he said.

In accordance with RCW49.60, the Lakewood School District does not discriminate in employment and schools. The Lakewood School District provides Equal Educational and Employment Opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, handicap/disability, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, creed, religion, age, veteran or military status, use of a trained dog to guide or service animal by a person with a disability, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and designated youth groups. The district complies with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations to include, but not limited to, Title IX, Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, RCW 49.60 “The Law Against Discrimination,” and RCW 28A.640 “Sex Equity,” and covers, but is not limited to, all district programs, courses, activities, including extracurricular activities, services, access to facilities, etc. Inquiries regarding compliance procedures should be directed to Lakewood School District, 17110 16th Drive NE, Marysville, WA 98271, Attention: Title IX and Civil Rights Officer, Timothy Haines, 360-652-4500, thaines@lwsd.wednet.edu or ADA Compliance Officer and Section 504 Compliance Officer, Amie Verellen-Grubbs, 360-652-4500, averellen-grubbs@lwsd.wednet.edu.