MIHS News – February 21, 2021

2/21/2021 5:13 pm

What’s New This Week!

MIHS Drama Presents: Jane Austen’s Emma

February 25 – 27 and Marcy 4 – 6 at 7pm, February 27 and March 6 at 2pm

Adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher, our winter production, Emma, brings you Jane Austen’s comic masterpiece told via the virtual world.   In this lovely adaptation, Jane Austen steps on stage herself to guide her delightful characters through the obstacles and joys of romance.  Emma Woodhouse who is “handsome, clever, and rich” attempts to marry off her trusting young friend Harriet to all the wrong people, and she nearly misses out on true love x`herself.  Come watch as these characters find their way through the hopes and possibilities of love. 

This production’s ticket sales will be on a donation basis only. If you feel compelled and are able, please consider donating an amount of money toward the production. Proceeds will go to the MISD Drama Boosters, who are sponsoring this show. No amount is too small.  We appreciate your support. 

 

How to watch: Once you purchase your tickets through BookTix, they will email you a link address for the show/time you will be viewing.  Visit MISDB.org for more information.

MIHS PTSA Membership Meeting This Week

Please join us for our upcoming PTSA Zoom General Membership Meeting on Friday, February 26th at 9:30am.  We are preparing for next year and will be electing our Nominating Committee. You will also have an opportunity to hear updates about MIHS PTSA programs and to hear from our Principal Walter Kelly.  Meeting Link HERE.

MIHS Parent Information Nights on Hybrid Learning

MIHS is hosting 2 upcoming Parent Information Nights. This is an opportunity for the MIHS Administration to answer your questions regarding the return to in-person learning. The meetings will be held Monday, February 22^nd at 7:00PM and Monday, March 1^st at 7:00PM via Zoom. Meeting link for both nights HERE.

MIHS Celebrates Black History Month

We are excited to have MIHS celebrating Black History Month. Last June, a group of MIHS students organized an island wide march for Black Lives Matter.  It was a moving experience that brought attention to needed change in our society.  Let’s keep the momentum going by continuing to educate ourselves about racism and how we can take action to make a difference.  Let’s start by celebrating the richness and diversity added to our culture by Black artists, Black authors, Black historians and Black activists.  READ the full article which contains information on The Black Renaissance project, The Black Experience in American History and many more links to thought-provoking resources. 

 

Our PTSA is committed to advocate for institutional and systemic changes that ensure equity, justice, respect, and inclusion of all children, locally, and at the state and national level. You can learn more or get involved by contacting our MIHS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Chairs at  diversity@mihsptsa.org..

Perpetual Foreigner – A three part, free webinar on Asian-American History

Presented by MIHS student group – the Education Coalition for Asian American Representation – in partnership with KCLS.

 

Feb 24, 7pm – Perpetual Foreigner, Part 1 / The Chinese Workers of the Transcontinental Railroad, followed by A Partial History of Asian American Immigration

March 3, 7pm – Perpetual Foreigner, Part 2 / The Vietnam War, followed by Supreme Court Cases – In Pursuit of Systemic Change

March 17, 7pm – Perpetual Foreigner, Part 3 / Historical Discrimination of Asians and Asian Americans, followed by Discrimination in Current Events

MIPTA Council

Are you interested in getting involved with the MI PTA Council?

 

The Mercer Island PTA Council is an umbrella organization for all of the PTAs in the MI School District.  The mission of the MI PTA Council is to serve as a resource to unit PTAs, families, and community members within the Mercer Island School District – and to advocate for the health, well-being, inclusion, and education of every child.

 

Nominations Are Being Accepted for the 2021-2022 MI PTA Council Executive Committee. Deadline to nominate: March 1, 2021

 

We would like to invite all MISD parents to consider the various leadership opportunities available within the MI PTA Council!  The Nominating Committee is now taking nominations (including self-nominations) for the 2021-2022 Executive Committee positions, which include:

• President
• Vice President/President-Elect
• Secretary
• Treasurer

We are also looking for nominations for the following appointed Vice President positions. 

• VP of Advocacy
• VP of Communications
• VP of Diversity Equity and Inclusion
• VP of Programs

If you or someone you know is interested in serving in one of the above positions, please submit your nomination by emailing the PTA Council Nominating Committee member at mcodyritter@yahoo.com below by March 1, 2021.  

 

If you would like to learn more about the positions and review responsibilities for these roles, please email the Nominating Committee at mcodyritter@yahoo.com.

MIHS/IMS Cheer Clinic

Calling all C-H-E-E-R candidates! 
MIHS Cheer is getting ready to hold its Middle School Cheer Clinic and tryouts in-person! For the first time ever, the Cheer Clinic will be open to current 6th-9th graders. 

Don’t miss out on this fun chance to learn what MIHS Cheer is all about. Please e-mail Coach Elizabeth Bobadilla to get on the distribution list as dates, times, and locations are still being finalized.|

Here are important dates to get on your calendar:

• March 22-26 Cheer Clinic (6th-Freshmen)
• March 25 at 6:30 pm Cheer Candidate & Parent Meeting via Zoom
• April 12-16 Cheer Tryouts Week!

PTSA News and Announcements

Parent Edge

Presentation: Curiosity & Questions – Engaging in Difficult Conversations
Virtual Presentation: March 18, 2021 at 7:00PM

Current issues provide a great opportunity to engage others in rich conversation, share important values, encourage deeper understanding of the news, and disrupt bias and prejudice. Mercer Island community members are invited to join this workshop to reflect on bias, engagement, and communication. The workshop is facilitated by Anti-Defamation League Education Director, Scotland Nash EdD.

Discussion points include:

• What are your spheres of influence?
• What are the necessary ground rules for meaningful and respectful dialogue?
• Incidents of hate are on the rise, what are strategies to talk about them at the table?

Register Here Brought to you by MI Youth and Family Services, ParentEdge, MIHS DEI Committee and MI PTA Council. Questions?Contact MIHS PTSA Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee Chairperson Lauren Leahy

 

Parenting in Place Masterclass Series
February 17 – APRIL 7, 2021
8 part program (via Zoom) 
Watch live on Wednesdays 5PM (PT) or view the recording

 

Are you burned out, concerned about your child’s well-being and wondering how your family will manage during the winter as we near a year into the pandemic? 

The Parenting in Place series comes from a group of parenting experts, therapists, authors, educators, and neuroscientists who’ve joined to share their very best strategies and ideas for how you and your family can thrive in the coming months.

 

This series is available to Mercer Island residents at a discounted rate of $10 (a portion of the registration fee for Mercer Island residents is being underwritten by MI Parent Edge & Mercer Island Youth and Family Services). Special rate available to the first 200 to register! Click here to register and learn more details about each week’s topic.

Mock SAT/ACT Tests

Over the course of the school year, 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.

 

Note: the final two Mock tests are an SAT on Saturday, February 27 and an ACT on Saturday, April 3.

Register and/or learn more about the PTSA sponsored Mock SAT/ACT tests.

PTSA Advocacy

Our Washington State Legislature is in session, and PTA Advocacy is in full force! We are focusing on the WSPTA legislative top five: increasing access to nursing and mental health support staff, preserving education funding, closing the digital divide, support for students with disabilities, and preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide. We also support equitable services for highly capable students, emergency preparedness, and mitigation of climate change, as well as a host of other student- and child-related issues. Learn more here and here and here.

 

Be brave, Be involved, Engage in Advocacy: sign up for newsletters and action alerts and learn ways to advocate for schools and children. Questions? Reach us at:  advocacy@mihsptsa.org.

MIHS News

Schedule this Week

This week is the normal Red Learning Schedule.

Principal’s Message

Watch Principal Kelly’s video message, which includes information about Black Lives Matter Week and Black History Month, an update on the transition to in-person hybrid learning and the plans for athletic team practices and seasons.  Click here to watch the video.

Yearbook Order Deadline – March 1st

Don’t miss the opportunity to reserve a 2021 yearbook! Deadline is March 1.

The year — regardless of how abnormal it is — is flying by. We all rely on social media to capture moments, but yearbooks preserve those memories forever, and our yearbook staff is working hard to include so many aspects of this year in print. We cannot order additional books after the deadline, so order yours today.

 

To order, go to https://wa-mercerisland.intouchreceipting.com. And thank you for supporting the MIHS yearbook program.

Grab and Go Meals

Check out the school district’s Food Services webpage for more information.

Community Opportunities*

KCLS Presents….

All About Financial Aid for College – Tuesday, Feb 23, 6:30pm 
Learn about the financial aid process and how to apply. Discuss rules around FAFSA, CSS Profile, family assets, tax credits available when paying for college and how they all work together. There will be time for questions.

 

David Aramaki is a member of the Washington Financial Aid Association as well as the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC). Please register by 9pm on February 22.  You will receive a Zoom link the day of the event.  Be sure to check your spam folder.

Paying for College – Thursday, Feb 25, 4:30pm 
Learn the basics of financial aid, including FAFSA and CSS profiles, searching and applying for scholarships, and writing scholarship essays. Discuss resources available to low-income students when applying to college. Please register. You will receive a Zoom link the day of the event. Be sure to check your spam folder.

MIYFS Newsletter Relaunched

MIYFS has relaunched its newsletter; it will continue as the MIYFS Monthlyin 2021. You can find great community information and resources in this newsletter. Click here for the initial newsletter and to sign up for the monthly email.

 

 

*Mercer Island High School PTSA (MIHS PTSA) and the Mercer Island School District have neither reviewed nor approved the programs, personnel, activities or organizations announced in these flyers or websites.  The participants agree to protect, indemnify, and hold harmless the district and MIHS PTSA, including elected and appointed officials, employees, agents, staff and volunteers, from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or rights of action, directly or indirectly attributed to the activities.  Permission to distribute this information and or flyers should not be considered a recommendation of the programs by the school district or by the MIHS PTSA.  These are neither school district nor MIHS PTSA sponsored activities.

 

For additional news, please click on What’s New on our website, where you can scroll through all of our news posts.