2012-13 Grant Awards

Mercer Island High School PTSA is honored to have awarded the following for the 2012-2013 school year. Presented by President, Mary Kay Woolston and President-elect, Debbie Hanson:

• Number of Grants submitted: 18
• Amount requested: $24,509.50
• Recommend awarding: $24,509.50

Teacher          Item                      Budget

1. Colin Bush: Trip to Seattle Opera   $780.00

Grant funds will be used to cover expenses for a trip to the Seattle Opera for sixty MIHS 12^th grade Humanities students in January, 2013.  This experience is an annual event with positive outcomes for student learning, including enhancement of classroom introduction to classical literature, philosophy and art.  Ticket costs and bus transportation fees are included.

2. Jamie Cooke:  Student Bio Expo   $897.00

This grant will fund expenses associated with the Student Bio Expo, an event sponsored by the Northwest Association of Biological Research.  This event will be held on May 22, 2013 on the University of Washington main campus.  Forty-five 11^th and 12^th grade MIHS Research and Ethics students plan to participate.  Specifically, grant funds will be used to purchase student poster and project supplies and to pay for bus service to the University of Washington HUB for the event. The event encourages student problem solving and critical thinking skills as students are required to plan and create their own long-term biological concept project while collaborating with a scientist mentor who will provide authentic assessment throughout the process.  Projects will be judges by a panel of science judges at the event.

3. Jamie Cooke:  UW Health Science Tour   $280.00

Grant funds will be used to covers expenses associated with a trip to the University of Washington for forty-five MIHS 11^th and 12^th grade Research and Ethics students to participate in a half-day tour on February 7, 2013.  Students will interact directly with professors and scientists while they explore the campus and facilities and participate in hands-on scientific based activities. Past activities have included working on a computer model used for training surgeons, using an interactive dummy to train doctors for triage and drug administration, visiting an organ transplant room, explore a cancer research lab, etc.

4. Gavin Cree:  Feed the Homeless – teenfeed.org   $500.00

This grant will fund a “feed the homeless” activity through teenfeed.org for 11^th and 12^th grades students in 2^nd period PFR class at MIHS during the month of December, 2012.  The class will spend class time preparing a meal, followed by bus travel to the shelter to feed homeless teens. The students are close in age to the teens they are serving and this program provides understanding that there are people suffering locally who look just like our students.  The program will lead to important classroom discussions about issues such as, drug/alcohol avoidance, healthy relationships, communication and mental illness.  Funds will be used to purchase meal supplies and bus transportation.

5. Zhousu He:  Chinese Talent Competition   $323.00

Grant funds will be used to cover transportation expenses associated with MIHS student participation in this year’s Washington State Chinese Language and Talent Competition for Chinese Language Learners.  This competition will be held on Sunday, March 25^th 2013 at Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle and approximately fifty 9-12 grade MIHS students are expected to participate.  This competition is organized by the Cultural Exploration of Greater China Foundation and is sponsored by the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Washington State, the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington, Chinese Microsoft Employees, Northwest Chinese School and OSPI.  This experience will provide students a chance to demonstrate their language skills and their knowledge of Chinese language and culture.  Students will benefit from meeting other Chinese language learners from the greater Seattle area.

6. Charlie Hilen:  Link Crew Training   $1,825.00

Funds will allow teacher Charlie Hilen, Coordinator of MIHS Link Crew and Bridges programs, to attend a 2 day formal training event for Link Crew Coordinators on December 4 and 5, 2012 in Stevenson, WA.  Charlie has not had any formal training to date and feels this course will improve his facilitation skills related to future Freshman Orientation and Bridges programs, which will directly benefit all MHS students, including the incoming Freshman class (350-400 students), all Bridges leaders, as well as all students who attend Bridges programs (the entire student body). This is a one-time event, supporting Charlie as the new coordinator of these programs in his first year.  Fees will cover 2 days of training and related materials, 2 nights of lodging and all meals. Fees will also cover transportation expenses and the cost of a substitute teacher to cover Charlie’s classes while he is away.

7. MJ Hillstrom:  AP Exam Coordinator   $2,689.50

Funds are requested by MJ Hillstrom to hire an AP Exam coordinator for growing MIHS AP programs.  MJ has found that coordination of AP exams has interfered extensively with her college counseling responsibilities and she proposes transferring coordination of AP exams to a qualified and experienced individual, Heather Chvany.  Heather has substituted many times at MIHS, is a MI parent and she proctored most AP MIHS exams in May 2012.  MJ proposes that Heather spend 150 hours on AP related work between February and May, 2013, allowing MJ to work more closely with Junior families in preparation for upcoming college admission.  Additionally she will be more available to seniors as they make final college choices, deal with financial aid, appeals, etc.  Approximately 600 AP exams will be administered during his time, affecting a large percentage of MIHS students.  Principal Puckett supports this proposal.

8. Evelyn Jimenez:  Spanish Immersion Camp   $1,551.00

This grant will fund the opportunity for MIHS Spanish students to attend an overnight Spanish Immersion Camp from Friday, March 22 to Saturday, March 23, 2013 held at Camp Waskowitz in North Bend, WA.  Spanish language students from several local high schools will attend, along with Spanish-speaking high school exchange students.  Once the camp begins on Friday, every participant is expected to speak only in Spanish.  Teams will be formed with representatives from each school and students will participate in fun indoor and outdoor activities, games, workshops, songfests, dancing and sports all while speaking only Spanish.  Past experience with this camp shows that students will improve Spanish speaking skills quickly.  Students who attend will be asked to pay their own admission fee of $90 and this grant will fund scholarships for students in need, transportation fees and the cost of four teacher registration fees.

9. Linda Scalzo & Tony Kuhn:   MIHS Entrance Sign    $3,200.00

Funds will cover the purchase and installation of a new MIHS sign, to hang above the front entrance of the school.  This sign will identify the main entrance for visitors, decreasing confusion and will match similar signage in the vicinity.  The sign will also increase school pride and will be purchased from Seattle Commercial Sign.

10. Craig Olson:  Bridges Program    $7000.00

Funds will support the Bridges advisory program, including the funding of new coordinator, Charlie Hilen.  Increased budget needs are in line with Bridges expenses from the past and are related to an enriched curriculum with related materials and greater guest speaker costs.  This is a one-time grant as the general-ed Bridges budget will be increased next year to match the increased need.  All students at MIHS, including junior and senior Bridges leaders will benefit from the increased funding.

11. Patricia Weston:  Chemistry and Physics Lab Equipment   $310.00

This grant will fund the purchase of 56 Battery Holders, 5 Electricity Meters, and 30 Alligator Clips to be used in Chemistry and Physics classrooms.  The new equipment will replace broken and outdated materials and will allow more students access to required equipment during Electrochemistry labs.  MIHS students taking Chemistry 2 Honors, AP Chemistry, Physics 2/3 and Physics 2 Honors will all benefit.

12. Patrick Zanders:   Crest Learning Center Field Trips/Ropes Course   $1500.00

Grant will pay for a field trip to a high ropes course at Odyssey Ropes Course operated by the Greater Seattle YMCA for all Crest students, as well as a senior class leadership retreat to Larrabee State Park.  These programs focus on strengthening the “The Crest Essentials” of Community, Work Ethic, Healthy Relationships and Fun and provide alternative, hands-on learning experiences for this student population.  Grant fees will cover transportation costs and program expenses (admission fees, etc).

13. Jamie Prescott &Vicki Puckett:   Medallions for Senior Volunteer Service Program   $1,500.00

This grant will fund the purchase of medallions for MIHS seniors to wear during graduation to honor hours of Community Service.  Students who meet the challenge will be awarded medals of recognition in accordance with the number of volunteer hours they have served (Gold, Silver and Bronze).  The Volunteer Service Coordinator monitors submitted student volunteer service hours and will designate senior recognition levels in the Spring, in time to order medallions for graduation.  This grant will help to honor student volunteerism at MIHS and all students have the opportunity to receive a medal based on levels of participation.

Additional Grants funded mid-year 2012-2013:

14.  Jill Sider:  Canoe Island French Camp Overnight/Immersion   $1,500.00

15.  Jane Stafford:  English Writing Workshop Field Trip to Hugo House    $454.00

16.  Kim Schjelderup:   Federal Reserve Bank Field Trip   $200.00