MIHS PTSA News – February 20, 2022

2/20/2022 12:56 pm

What's New!

PTSA News

The MIHS PTSA is proud to have paid for the printing of these “4 Agreements to Courageous Conversation” posters which are now being posted in MIHS classrooms and hallways. Please click below to hear KMIH radio’s Carys Ciobanu’s interview with PTSA VP of DEI Julie Ogata to learn more about these posters.

Announcing the MIHS 2021-2022 PTSA Reflections arts contest winners!

Congratulations to the following first-place winners, whose entries will advance to the state Reflections competition.

• Visual Arts: Alana Yang for “The Theory of Success and Happiness”.
• Photography: Chloe Yang for “One Note at a Time”.
• Literature: Ashwin Krishnaswamy for “Perseverance”.
• Film Production: Sasha Nelson for “Communication Innovation”.
• Dance Choreography: Sasha Nelson for “Stepping Out”.
• Music Composition: Ryan Hsi for “To Hope Is to Heal”.

The judges also awarded second place, third place, and honorable mentions to recognize the great work of many other students. View full list of 2021-2022 MIHS winners. Watch for details coming soon about the upcoming Reflections recognition program.

Mock SAT/ACT Tests

MIHS PTSA provides 6 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 not recorded or submitted to any high school or college organization. This is a perfect chance to ‘try out’ these tests.

The two dates left are:

• Mock ACT – Saturday, March 19 (Review Session – Mar. 29)
• Mock SAT – Saturday, April 23 (Review Session – May 3)

Learn more about the Mock SAT/ACT tests offered by the PTSA.

Information for MIHS Seniors and Senior Families

Grad Night Chaperones needed.  Get to help the Senior Class celebrate graduation on June 9!  Directly following the graduation ceremony, we need volunteers to chaperone Grad Night.  You can stay the entire night until 6AM or volunteer for half of the night, the first or second shift.  Yes, you can be as physically distant from your child as they’d like!  Thank you for considering.  Please contact Jody Kris at jodymkris@aol.com if you’re interested.

Caps and Gowns Orders and Yearbook Submission Information is found on our “Fall Tasks for Seniors” page.

• Grad Ad Submissions are Due EXTENDED to February 25, 2022
• Senior Community Service Hours Due April 30, 2022

Presidents Letter

Greetings MIHS Families!

First, a giant thank you to our community for voting to support Mercer Island schools! BOTH school levy renewals passed by large margins! As of Friday, there was a 40% voter turn-out reported, with 73.6% and 72.1% voting YES to pass our school levies. Wonderful results! Your continued support of our students & schools will benefit our entire community and we are so grateful we could just CHEER!

Speaking of cheer, we have a shout out for our amazing MIHS spirit teams! Cheer was named WIAA Academic State Champions with an average GPA of 3.898. Drill Team (MIDT) received the Outstanding Scholastic Award for their cumulative GPA of 3.844. Way to go, ladies! Also, as a mention – for the first time ever, Cheer is offering a clinic for HS girls interested in trying out for the team. Details are in the newsletter, take a look!

Next, an update regarding Senior Transcripts: The Counseling Department worked overtime this past week in support of the MIHS Senior Class. On Wednesday, February 10th, 7th semester transcripts were posted and sent to colleges. This is a record-breaking 5 DAYS from the date that grades were due! The speed in which our Counseling Department processed these transcripts is unprecedented and was a monumental effort… Key players in this effort: Jiovanna Koceski (MISD Coordinator for Information Systems), Clay Laughery (MIHS Instructional Technology Coach), and Yuliana Torres (MIHS Registrar) – in conjunction with the MIHS Counseling Department. We are so grateful. We invite parents to please join us in taking a moment to contact all involved to make sure our gratitude is felt for all of the extra hours and effort put in to make this possible!

Procrastinating Senior class parents – good news! The deadline to submit a Grad Ad for the yearbook has been extended to February 25th. Directions found HERE. …And more good news for all Senior parents: the traditional Grad Night party is on! It will be held following graduation on June 9th. Chaperones are needed! Please email Jody Kris at senioractivities@mihsptsa.org if you can help out. Check out the Senior Party FAQ HERE.

We’re sure no one needs a reminder that mid-winter break is almost here! It starts at the end of this week (cue “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus). Enjoy the break everyone, and have a wonderful week!

Maria Alberto and Debbie Burke
MIHS PTSA Co-Presidents
president@mihsptsa.org

MIHS News

Schedule This Week

This week’s schedule will be the Regular daily schedule

Principal’s Updates

Read Principal Walter Kelly’s January 14, 2022 letter

MIHS Counseling Center

Click here to read the February 2022 Newsletter.

Mercer Island Orchestra Disney and Dessert

You are invited to Mercer Island Orchestra’s annual Disney and Dessert Fundraising Event on Sunday March 6th, at the MIHS Commons. Doors open 1:30pm.
Surprise VIP Guest will be there so come dressed in your Disney best!
This is a fun and popular event. Take home a cupcake/cookie and listen to popular Disney tunes played live by our Island Orchestras.
Purchase tickets in advance at miorchestra.org or at the door.

MIHS Cheer Clinic and Tryouts

For the 1^st time ever…MIHS Cheer is hosting a cheer tryout clinic designed just for high schoolers! We know the pandemic has kept students from getting involved, so we want to welcome any MIHS students who want to give cheerleading a try! The first-ever MIHS Cheer Clinic will be held Wednesday, March 16^th 7:00-8:30 am. There is also a mandatory Cheer tryout meeting on Tuesday, March 8^th 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom. To register for the MIHS Cheer Clinic click here (please embed attached flyer). Here’s all the information you’ll need to know about tryouts: https://sites.google.com/view/mihs-cheer-tryouts-info/home

Ergon Student Exchange – Host Family Needed!

Host an Italian student, enjoy a true cultural exchange. Your child will be invited to Italy! For more information click HERE

MILEAP Opportunity

Calling all current Sophomores, here is a unique program offered by a local nonprofit organization called The Mercer Island Launch Educational Advocacy Project (MILEAP). The objective of MILEAP is to support qualified current sophomore high school students and their families in our community with mentoring and connections to educational and financial resources (up to $10,000) to enhance the opportunity for university-level education. You can learn more at their website www.MILEAP.org.Completed applications can be returned to Susie Brown in the MIHS Counseling office as soon as possible but not later than March 18, 2022.

Community Opportunities

Anti-Defamation League
Please join the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on February 24 at 9:00AM PST for a virtual program with Matthew A. Cherry, writer, producer, Former NFL wide receiver, and Oscar Winner for his movie Hair Love. This event is primarily for educators and their 4^th-12^th graders and families and community members are welcome. Learn more and register here.

Please join ParentMap magazine on Wednesday, February 16 at 1:00PM PST for a virtual program featuring ADL’s former Director of Education, Dr. Scotland Nash, on strategies for interrupting bias with your kids at home and in schools. Learn more and register here.

Spring Volleyball MI Boys and Girls Club
Registration is open! 8th/9th Grade Division. Questions: miathletics@positiveplace.org, 206-436-1939.

Community Conversations – Towards Inclusive Community
The MIHS Black Student Union Presents Towards Inclusive Community a conversation about the history of segregation and racial covenants on Mercer Island and steps we can take to build more inclusive neighborhoods. Sponsored by the City of Mercer Island. Recording Link HERE.