· When will we make-up the missed snow day? Fortunately, weather make-up days have already been built into this year's school calendar. The one make-up day (so far) will be added to the end of the year in June, making the last day of school June 19. Please refer to the online calendar if we incur more make-up days before the end of winter.

· Bargain hunters, mark your calendars: The District is holding a surplus sale that will include computers, technology equipment, and miscellaneous furniture from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the May Valley Service Center.

· Schools will administer the Stanford 10 Achievement Test Feb. 4 through Feb. 15, and we need every student ready to do their best. The results are one measure used to help identify students for special programs (SAGE, MERLIN, Humanities Plus, Advanced Middle School Math, BEL) throughout the district and to help teachers know more about student skills in specific areas like fractions, decimals, vocabulary, and comprehension. Parents can help students be prepared by feeding them a good breakfast on test days and making sure they get a good night's sleep before. We receive a different type of information from the Stanford 10 than the WASL, so it is important that we administer both assessments to make sure students are developing academically. Both types of information help teachers to be better informed about providing the appropriate level of challenge and support for students. For more information about the Stanford 10 Achievement Test is online.

· Interested in the Science-Technology elementary magnet programs? You must attend a mandatory information meeting next week to enroll.

· Good news: Issaquah Middle School has received a state honor for WASL test-score improvement; Liberty Sophomore Iman Belali has been selected as one of the top 21 Leader for the 21st Century making a difference in women's lives; and four Issaquah High School juniors are flying high as Washington Aerospace Scholars.