MIHS News – February 28, 2021

2/28/2021 7:09 pm

What’s New This Week!

 

Advocacy Updates

Action on Student Tip Line Legislation

Our Washington State Legislature is in session, and PTA Advocacy is in full force! Follow along at our blog: https://www.wastatepta.org/blog/ 

 

We just saw a groundbreaking bill for a student tip line pass our Washington State Senate unanimously (see https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5327&Initiative=false&Year=2021). We continue to focus 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.

 

WSPTA Call to Action – Addressing Firearm Safety Measures to Increase Public Safety

 

Dear Washington State PTA Member,

 

Every other day, a Washington child or youth dies at the hand of a firearm.  High-capacity magazines make shootings more deadly and allow shooters to fire more rounds, faster.  The Washington Post estimates that more than 240,000 American students have now experienced gun violence at school, including nearly 7,000 students in Washington.

 

We have the opportunity to restrict the access of these most deadly weapons in SSB 5078, which would limit the sale and transfer of high-capacity magazines over 17 rounds. This common-sense legislation was requested by our Attorney General’s office. Please contact your representatives and ask for their support.

 

Thank you,
Sherry Rudolph, WSPTA Advocacy Director

 

Take Action Here.

 

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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 Drill Team

2021-2022 MIHS Drill Team Tryouts – Save the Dates!

Mandatory tryout info meeting: Monday, March 8 | 7-8:15pm
Tryouts: March 29^th – April 1^st (Tues – Thurs), 4-6pm

Do you like to dance? Would you like to join the 2020-2021 MIHS Drill Team? Students interested in trying out for the team and at least one parent or guardian must attend the mandatory pre-tryout meeting on Monday, March 8th. Find the Tryout Meeting link HERE. Contact Coach Kyle Mosler with questions.

 

IMS Drill Clinic
Come have fun & dance with us!!

MIHS Drill Team is holding an in-person IMS Drill Clinic March 15^th – March 20th, 4:00pm-5:30pm at the Northwood Elementary Outdoor Pavilion. This week long clinic provides insight on what it’s like to be on the drill team where you will learn dance technique, jumps, kicks, and choreographed dance routines (no previous dance experience required). 

 

This is open to all 6th-8th graders. Please contact Sandra Levin at levinsandra@me.com to request more information and to answer any questions. 

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.

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.

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 Mock test for the current school year is 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 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.

Presidents Letter

Dear MIHS Families:

 

We hope everyone enjoyed their mid-winter break and had a successful first week back! 

A couple of reminders: 

• Students will have until 11:59 PM today, February 28th to enter their course requests for 2021-2022 in Skyward.
• Yearbook order deadline is March 1st. To order, go to https://wa-mercerisland.intouchreceipting.com. 

In our General Membership meeting this past Friday we voted in our Nominating Committee. A special thank you to Sophy Yang, Jola Jensen, & Erin Gurney for serving on this important committee. We will be sharing which positions are open, nominating deadlines, and contact information soon!

 

Our official fall sports season has started with football returning to the field on February 24, and all other fall sports set to begin March 1. This, along with plans in place to begin hybrid learning, means it is more important than ever for us to do our part to implement safety protocols outside of school to support this for both our students and teachers.

 

There are 2 things we can do now to show support of our returning students and staff:

1. Please follow community health guidelines.  Practice social distancing, remember to fill out the daily health attestations for students in school, and be honest about how your student is feeling.  If your student is ill – STAY HOME!
2. Please take a minute to reach out to your teachers and counselors and send them a personal note of positivity and gratitude.  We want them to feel our support, both verbally as well as through our willingness to do our part.

This past Monday, February 22nd, MIHS successfully hosted an informative 1st Parent Information Night that addressed the upcoming daily schedule & safety protocols. This meeting was recorded and you can access the video HERE. 

 

MIHS will be hosting the 2nd Parent Information Night tomorrow night – Monday, March 1st at 7pm via Zoom. Meeting link HERE.  The main area of focus will be what instruction will look like in the hybrid learning model.

 

Please join us for a conversation based on the book & movie “Just Mercy” on Saturday, March 13th at 7pm. Read the book and/or watch the movie ahead of time then tune in at 7pm to listen and learn from criminal justice experts and your neighbors. For further details please see the “Do the Work MI Community” Facebook page. This event is being hosted by Do the Work MI Community, ONE MI, SGORR (Student Group on Race Relations at MIHS), & the SJCC.

 

MI Youth and Family Services, ParentEdge, MIHS DEI Committee and MI PTA Council are co-hosting a presentation for the Mercer Island Community. This presentation will provide a great opportunity to engage others in rich conversation, share important values, encourage deeper understanding of the news, and disrupt bias and prejudice.

• Curiosity & Questions – Engaging in Difficult Conversations, March 18th, at 7:00pm

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. Register Here. Questions? Contact MIHS PTSA Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee Chairperson Lauren Leahy.

 

Have a great week!

Debbie Burke and Stacy Nakata
MIHS PTSA Co-Presidents

MIHS News

Schedule this Week

This week is the normal Red Learning Schedule.

MIHS Parent Information Nights on Hybrid Learning

MIHS is hosting one more of its Parent Information Nights. This is another opportunity for the MIHS Administration to answer your questions regarding the return to in-person learning. The remaining meeting will be held Monday, March 1^st at 7:00PM via Zoom. Meeting link HERE.

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.

MIHS Drama Presents: Jane Austen’s Emma

Remaining Performances:
March 4 at 7pm (Cast Highbury)
March 5 at 7pm (Cast Hartfield)
March 6 at 2 pm (Cast Hartfield)
March 6 at 7pm (Cast Highbury)

 

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 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.

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

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!

Grab and Go Meals

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

Community Opportunities*

Ergon Student Exchange

Host an Italian exchange student and give your child a friend to share life with

 

“I am grateful that our family had Giacomo here during this pandemic. He has brought us joy, fun, and laughter.” (Fawn, former host mother)

 

Hosting an exchange student can be an enriching experience for your family, even during remote learning. And now there are reasons for hope, with mass vaccination speeding up in the United States. Beatrice, Cecilia, Sofia, Marco, Ludovica, Matteo, Jacopo… share this hope and look forward to their dream coming true of their exchange in the United States and experience living with an American family for a semester or full year. They are strongly motivated, responsible, respectful students, and carry a $2 million insurance covering Covid-related expenses. They are all tested for Covid before departure. 

 

Ergon devotes great care to selecting students and matching them with host families. Many of our MI families share lasting friendships with their students. Click here to read a testimonial from Mercer Island mom Jayme Witman.

 

In the summer of 2022, the Italian family will offer your child a direct exposure to Italian culture through an all-expenses paid vacation. Ergon sponsors the flight! 

 

To learn more, visit www.ergon-se.org and e-mail  info@ergon-se.org. Thank you!

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.