MIHS PTSA News - February 11, 2024

2/7/2024 8:01 pm

PTSA NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PTSA General Membership Meeting on February 12, 2024

Please join us for the MIHS PTSA General Membership Meeting, Monday, February 12, 2024 at 9:30 am in the Library Presentation Room. Our guest speaker will be Principal Nick Wold who will be presenting the school's Dance Culture! We will be gathering to vote on our nominees for the 2024 MIHS PTSA Nominating Committee, who will work together to assemble a slate of 2024-25 leaders for our board.

Staff Appreciation - Lunar New Year Luncheon

The PTSA needs your help with our Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year Luncheon on Tuesday, February 13th. Our teachers and staff look forward to these lunches and are truly grateful for your contributions.

Take a moment and look through the Sign Up Genius and sign up to help. Please drop off items to the staff lounge by 10am on Tuesday February 13th.

Advocacy Update

Exploring solutions to our district's enrollment and funding challenges. As you may know, our district receives inadequate funding from our state. We make up the difference with local levies, bonds, and our community’s generous donations. State funding depends on the actual count of students in the building, and it makes up the majority of staff costs. This means that when enrollment drops, we do not receive adequate funding to simply drop class size and retain staff; we need to re-budget and potentially cut staff and programs. Our PTA, board, and district are partnering with others around the state to seek legislative changes to the funding model that would help us maintain our staff and programs despite drops in enrollment. Such change is slow... continue reading

PTA Art Reflections Contest Winners and Awards Ceremony

Please join us on Monday March 4th, 5-7pm, in the IMS Commons to celebrate our MIHS artists! The evening will take the form of an art exhibition, and students will receive their respective awards. All friends and family are welcome. See the winners here.

Help Stock the Staff Mini Kitchen

As we start a new year, please help the PTSA stock the mini kitchen in the high school staff lounge. The mini kitchen is a place where teachers can grab a quick snack for a little extra energy boost. It's one way we keep them encouraged and show our appreciation. Items purchased off of this wishlist will ship directly to the school. Your support is greatly appreciated! Purchase items here.

Mock SAT/ACT Tests

MIHS PTSA provides testing opportunities as a chance to practice a real test, become familiar with a testing environment, and help identify which testing platform is best for each individual student. All this in a 'Mock' situation where tests are to recorded or submitted to any high school or college organization. This is a perfect chance to 'try out' these tests. Learn more about the Mock SAT/ACT tests offered by the PTSA.

Information for MIHS Seniors and Senior Families

2024 Grad Yard Sign On Sale Now

Celebrate your MIHS class of 2024 senior in style with a grad yard sign for just $35. All orders due by March 15 with delivery to your yard in April. Click here for order info.

MIHS News

MIHS Career Hub February Events

Monday, February 12th- MISD-sponsored Historical Black Colleges & Universities Informational Webinar
A panel of HBCU representatives will participate in an online Q&A about these unique institutions.

Renton Tech College Field Trip- If you know a student who would be interested in visiting RTC, please send them the Career Hub.

Seattle Gap Year Fair- Curious about Gap Year Options? Visit the Gap Year Fair at Roosevelt High School on Thursday, February 15th to find out more. Register here.

International Universities Fair- Wondering about going to college overseas? Visit with admissions reps from 23 international universities to find out about how to make that happen! The fair will be held at Odle Middle School in Bellevue on Thursday, February 29th.

Click here for upcoming events.

MI Orchestra Boosters Presents Candlelight Soiree

Saturday, March 16 | 6:30-8:30pm | Yuan Ru Art Center

Mercer Island Orchestra Boosters presents Candlelight Soiree, a MIOB fundraiser for adults only, with special performances by high school chamber music students, IMS Coach Caitlin Olive, and Orchestra Directors Bryan Kolk and Sarah Hart. Music, art, appetizers, drinks, cocktail attire. There is no cost to attend. However, a minimum donation of $125 per person at the event is suggested. Registration is required. Please RSVP here.

Want to Lear More About College and Career Readiness at MIHS?

Take a look at what our Mercer Island High School College and Career Readiness (CCR) offers for your student. These courses are a chance for your child to explore, try out, learn, and collect marketable skills for careers they might be interested in pursuing (without paying a college tuition). The MISD CCR department stretches across all career clusters and gives both a taste of and, if your student wishes, a deep dive for your student into career experiences with developed course pathways.

Explore! Discover! Finding an interest, passion, aptitude NOW in high school sets up our students for success in college. . . . and beyond! Take a peek at a quick video sharing what some of our CCR courses offer at MIHS. For more detailed information, take a peek at our course catalog and sizzle reels.

Daily Schedules

Get the 2023/24 Daily Block Schedule here.

Principal's Updates

Read the Principal Newsletters here.

MIHS Counseling

Get the MIHS Counseling Newsletters here.

Community News

PEPS for Parents of Adolescents and Teens

Join a 4-week online “Art and Science of Parenting” program for Mercer Island parents and caregivers of high school students The PEPS for Parents of Adolescents and Teens sessions will help adults gain the confidence they need to support their adolescent’s healthy development. Click here to register & more info.

Summer J Camp Now Hiring

J Camp counselors work in teams to create meaningful, fun, and safe experiences for kids. Together with dozens of your peers, you will develop leadership and problem-solving skills; learn how to empower, motivate, and coach others; and have a fabulous summer! Click here for more info.

UW Unique Afterschool Enrichment Opportunities Online

The University of Washington’s Youth & Teen Programs offers enrichment opportunities during the school year. Limited financial aid available. To learn more visit UW Youth & Teen Programs.

NAMI Eastside 2024 Youth Mental Health Conference

March 22, 2024 - Annual youth-led mental health conference featuring panel discussion, a resource fair and more. Click here for more info.

Rotary Youth Exchange Program is a short term summer exchange between families, facilitated by Rotary Clubs at each end of the exchange. Click here for more info.

AI + X: Interdisciplinary Artificial Intelligence Fall Program by Stanford/MIT Alumni
Inspirit AI Scholars equips middle and high school students with an AI toolkit to build a capstone project, AI + X, that draws on students' unique interests, from sustainability improvements to cancer diagnosis to criminal justice reform and more. No coding experience required, and advanced cohorts are available. For more information please read more here. Fall applications are now open and due September 15. Contact program coordinator Jared at jared.greene@post.harvard.edu with any questions.

BridgeWhiz is a FREE online course designed to teach students in grades 4 through 12 the mind-building challenge, great fun, and competitive excitement of contract bridge, which will nurture your child’s team and individual competitive spirit. Build social skills. And enhance deductive reasoning and math abilities.