MIHS PTSA News - April 30, 2023

4/30/2023 3:45 pm

WHATS NEW!

Staff Appreciation Week: May 8th - 12th

The Staff Appreciation Team has something fun planned for each day of the week. Please see the descriptions below and learn how you can contribute. Thank you, in advance, for your participation!

Monday, May 8th: Little Free Library in the staff lounge. You can contribute by donating new or "like new" books to the large, grey staff appreciation bin in the high school lobby. We’d like a mix of fiction and non-fiction books, and please make sure they are in good condition.

Tuesday, May 9th: Dessert Bar in the staff lounge with desserts and to-go containers so staff can enjoy a sweet treat throughout the day and/or bring something home for later. Please sign up here.

Wednesday, May 10th: Electronic Thank You Card from kudoboard - hopefully full of personal messages from students and parents. You may address the whole team or call out an individual staff member. It would be great to share something specific for which you are particularly appreciative. Please take a moment to sign the card here.

Thursday, May 11th: In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we will be serving an amazing Vietnamese Luncheon. We will be purchasing the food for this event, but if you’d like to help set up, serve, or clean up, please email us at mihs.staff.appreciation@gmail.com.

Friday, May 12th: Stock the refrigerator in the staff lounge with Fun, Fancy Drinks! Feel free to sign up for drinks in the Dessert Bar Sign Up or just bring in any fun drinks you think the staff would enjoy (juices, sodas, flavored waters, k-cups, etc.) Donations can be dropped off in the large, grey staff appreciation bin in the lobby.

MIHS PTSA Presents: Ijeoma Oluo

Monday, May 22 | 6:30pm | MIHS PAC

Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller So You Want To Talk About Race.

Please join us for a viewing of the speech that best selling author Ijeoma Oluo gave to our MIHS students during Black History Month.  Also included in the event will be a viewing of a student documentary, "Finding Community", created by our Black Student Union.  There will be a discussion led by a student panel and facilitated by Mercer Island parent and community member, Kimberly Miyazawa Frank, Global Head of DEI & Philanthropy at AppLovin.  Click here to register.

Advocacy Update

PTSA NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

MIHS PTSA fundraiser at Island Books!

Wednesday, May 10th The fundraiser will be ongoing throughout the day with two in-store events

9:30 to 11:00 am Mimosas and bagels

4:30 to 6:00 pm Wine and cheese

As you check out, simply inform the Island Books sales person that the purchase is part of the MIHS fundraiser.  A portion of ALL in-person sales benefits the PTSA.  Last year we had the largest turnout in years, so let’s keep that momentum going! 

 

*Volunteers needed to help with the Island Books fundraiser click here for volunteering opportunities at the event.

 

PTSA Book Club: Hosted by Daniel Kiely, MIHS librarian.

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee.

 

We will have two meetings-- one online and one in the high school library on the following dates:

• Virtual / Zoom: Wednesday, May 31 @ 7pm

• In person: MIHS Library: Thursday, June 1 @ 7pm, including refreshments

If you are interested, sign up here - Equity Book Group Signup. Of course, everyone is welcome - even if you just read one chapter! See links below to get a sense of the books’ content.

Talks and InterviewsHeather McGee on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Heather McGee Ted Talk

Libraries, audio book purchases, etc. Seattle Public King County Amazon (Audible) LibroFM

Now is the time to order 2023 congratulatory Grad Grams!

For the past 30 years, family, friends, businesses, and community organizations have sent Grad Grams to Mercer Island students. This year we are selling Grad Grams to students completing Preschool, Kindergarten, 5th, 8th and 12th grades. Each Grad Gram is printed on parchment paper, personalized with your congratulatory message, and mailed directly to the graduate’s home. All proceeds from the sales of Grad Grams go to the Mercer Island Community Scholarship Program, which recognizes outstanding MIHS graduating seniors. You can support this program by purchasing Grad Grams or by donating directly to the MI Community Scholarship Program. Your contributions allow our community to provide 27 students with scholarship funds, up to $500 each, for future educational expenses. Your support makes a difference!
Click here to purchase 2023 Grad Grams

Senior Activities

Celebrate Your Class 2023 Graduate!

• Graduation Lei - $25 each.  Deadline is May 26th. Order via Forms & Payments.
• Grad Grams - $6 each.  Deadline is May 20th. Order via MI PTA Council.
• MIHS Personalized Legacy Brick - $55 each.  Deadline is June 21st. Order via Forms & Payments.
• Mercer Island Trade: Treat Box, Glassy Baby and more. Order here.

For more information view the Graduation Gifts page.

Class 2023 Senior Party

Immediately following graduation on Tuesday, June 13th, members of the MIHS Class of 2023 will travel to two secret destinations for a night filled with fun and food!  View for more information and to Sign Up for Senior Party. 

Senior Party Admission Sales Ends June 11 at Noon

March/April - Early Bird Price:  $210

May - Regular Price:  $225

June - Late Price: $250

 

Find out more about Senior activities here: Mercer Island High School PTSA - Seniors 

 

MIHS NEWS

MIHS Drama Presents: Shakespeare in Love

Penniless and indebted to two demanding producers, struggling young playwright William Shakespeare is tormented by writer’s block until he meets the beautiful Viola de Lesseps, daughter of a wealthy merchant, whose fiery passion for poetry and drama leaves her secretly longing to be an actor. Both are despondent when they learn that Viola’s father has promised her to the stuffy Lord Wessex in order to gain a title for their family. Under the veil of secrecy, Will and Viola’s passionate love affair becomes the basis of the very play he is writing – Romeo and Juliet. With opening night – and the wedding day – fast approaching, the plots race toward a parallel conclusion. Will it all work out in the end or are the two star-crossed lovers destined for tragedy?

 

Tickets can be purchased by following this link. Please follow the directions carefully in order to receive your ticket receipt. We encourage you to purchase tickets in advance. Student tickets $10, adult tickets $17, MISD staff tickets $10

 

May 4th & 6th, 7pm: Cast Rose

May 5th, 7pm: Cast Globe (ASL interpreted performance)

May 6th, 2pm: Cast Globe

Drama Student Spotlight

Come join the whole drama community at the K-12 Student Spotlight event at the MIHS Performing Arts Center on May 31 from 6 - 8 pm. Students from West Mercer Elementary, Lakeridge Elementary, IMS, and MIHS will be performing scenes/songs from this year's plays, musicals, and improv events. Admission is gratis but suggested donation is $20/family. For more information or to volunteer, please email megansatkinson@gmail.com or sally_martin@icloud.com

MIHS Band Presents: Mindy 500

Saturday, May 13 | 10am to 3pm

Come race Big Wheels through the halls of the high school to help the marching band fund its road trip to New York City. You can take a spin on an oversized trike, check out an amazing car show, try some new food trucks and play all sorts of other games from Mario Cart to Rubik’s Cube timed races.

 

You can buy tickets ($25) the day of or from one of your favorite band members. All proceeds go directly to students, who are raising money for their trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every year, hundreds of bands from across the country vie to march in the largest, most-watched parade in the nation. The MIHS band is one of only six high school bands to win a spot in the 2023 parade line up.

 

The band is no stranger to big events, performing in the Tournament of Roses, Seattle Seahawks’ half-time shows and the London New Year's Parade. But the Macy’s parade will be a first for the school and the band will represent Washington State for the first time in 20 years.

 

What started as a way to drum up business for Macy’s back in 1924 has become an immense spectacle. Some 3.5 million people view the parade in person along the Manhattan route and more than 50 million watch it on TV. There are some 10,000 participants including twelve of the nation’s best marching bands.

 

But getting more than 200 students and their instruments there in November has a Big Apple price tag. Band members have already sold more than 200 car wash tickets to Brown Bear Car Wash. But the MIndy 500 is the biggest fundraiser to help students defray the cost for their road trip. Come have some fun and help the band pave the way.

MIHS Schedules

Get the 2022/23 Schedules here.

Principal’s Updates

To read the Principal Newsletters: this link will take you to the MIHS website, scroll down and click on Principle's Message. or click here

MIHS Counseling 

Get the MIHS Counseling Newsletters here.

COMMUNITY NEWS   

MI Healthy Youth - Cannabis: The Role of Parents and Community in Prevention

Watch the webinar recording of this valuable resource for parents here.

Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative - Island Space

Island Space is a movement that promotes healthy lifestyles for teens in Mercer Island. Island Space encourages students to talk with their peers and trusted adults about how they cope with the pressure and expectations in our community and to ultimately grow skills to help them make healthy choices when coping with stress.

National Charity League (NCL)

Freshmen girls and moms (Class of 2026), ready to have fun together while helping our greater Seattle area? Lake Washington and Evergreen Chapters of National Charity League (NCL) are holding a mini-membership drive. The Lake Washington Chapter will be accepting applications from May 1-15. The Evergreen Chapter is accepting applications from May 1-31.

 

Spend time with girls in your class, choose from over 30 local philanthropies, and make a difference in our community! Join with your friends and make new friends, too.  Moms, meet other mothers during monthly opportunities featuring speakers and events. It's also a rich, rewarding way to spend time with your daughter while helping others! Want to learn more? Join our Information Meeting via Zoom on Monday, May 8 at 6:30 PM.

 

Contact Kirsten Bourke, VP Membership, Lake Washington Chapter at membershiplakewashington@nclonline.org or Burcu Bayrili, Evergreen Chapter at Burcu Bayirli at bayirli@umich.edu for the Zoom meeting info and application links.

UW Youth & Teen Programs

The University of Washington’s Youth & Teen Programs offers enrichment opportunities during the school year and summer.

 

This summer we’re excited to offer a variety of in-person and online courses for students entering fourth through 12th grades. Visit the Summer 2023 Courses page, where you can filter courses by grade, date, location and availability.   

Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative

Did you know…Parents are the #1 Influence?

Over 80% of young people ages 10–18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink or use drugs.

 

While most Island youth do not consume alcohol, cannabis, or misuse prescription medication in a typical month, it is important for all parents to understand their crucial role in prevention. Parents make a huge difference when they talk with their kids early and often about the implications of substance use and the importance of staying alcohol and drug free.

 

The goal of the Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative is to successfully launch every Mercer Island youth into adulthood with a foundation of physical and mental health, well-prepared to cope with the academic, social, and emotional challenges of adulthood.  We are here to provide Mercer Island parents with tools and resources to support your child’s success.  To learn about Prevention Basics, visit www.mihealthyyouth.com.

 

If you have questions email HealthyYouth@mercerisland.gov.  If you or your child needs support, contact a MIYFS school-based counselor or call the MIYFS confidential intake line at (206) 275-7657.