MIHS PTSA News – January 30, 2022

1/30/2022 5:00 pm

 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.

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

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

• Grad Ad Submissions are Due February 18, 2022
• Senior Community Service Hours Due April 30, 2022

Presidents Letter

Dear MIHS families,

Well – January has been quite the bumpy ride! Cheers to all of us for making it through together and continuing to move forward! Special thanks to our school nurses and administrators for the extra long hours working behind the scenes, to our teachers who are going beyond and helping each other out, and for our parent community who stepped up in a big way to be ready and available to come to the rescue if needed and to offer support. According to the MISD dashboard, Covid case counts at the High School have dropped to 16 within the past 14 days (data updated on January 26). This is a significant decrease, and it is encouraging that things are heading in the right direction.

It’s registration time! Presentations by academic counselors are currently happening for the 2021-22 school year. Tell your student to take advantage of the Counselor of the Day table outside of the library if they need assistance. We can hardly believe that we are already talking about the next school year. Here are some of the important dates to assist your students:

Feb 2 & Feb 9– Department chairs will be hosting a curriculum fair during Islander Hour
Feb 2– Skyward opens for 2022-2023 course registration for Classes 2021, 2022 and 2023
Throughout Feb – Counselors available at the Counselor of the Day Table for course selection consultations.
March 2– Skyward Closes

The Nominating Committee for the MIHS PTSA 2022-2023 Board of Directors was voted in at our General Membership Meeting this past Friday. A special thank you to: Irene Geisner, Jodi McCarthy, and Tanya Aggar. Please email us if you are interested in getting more involved with the MIHS PTSA, or contact a member of the Nominating Committee. It’s a pretty gratifying way to contribute to our school community, we promise!

The Annual YFS Foundation Breakfast is coming up on February 9th at 7:30am. We hope to see many of you virtually at this great community event. Your support of YFS is critical for helping them maintain many vital social services for the Mercer Island community, including of course our wonderful mental health counselors, Chris Harnish and Caleb Visser. We welcome you at our table! Simply choose “Maria Alberto/Debbie Burke, MIHS PTSA” as your table captains when you register.

Election day is February 8, 2022 – get those ballots turned in! The MIHS PTSA has endorsed both of the important levies up for renewal – they are critical for our student’s continued funding and support!

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 January 2022 Newsletter.

MIHS BSU Presents 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. Wednesday February 2 7:00pm over Zoom. Sponsored by the City of Mercer Island. Register here.

MIHS Tolo is being rescheduled

Saturday TBA | 6:30-9:30pm
Watch for more information regarding this event.

MIHS Drama Program Presents Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice

Tickets Available Here

• January 27 – 29 and February 3 -5 at 7pm
• January 29 and February 5 at 2pm

MILEAP Opportunity

Calling all current Sophmores, 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 18TH, 2022.

Community Opportunities

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. Wednesday February 2 7:00pm over Zoom. Sponsored by the City of Mercer Island. Register here.

PEPS for Parents of Adolescents and Teens
For Mercer Island parents and caregivers of children 10-18. This program will provide connection, resources and support for parents.  Topics include adolescent brain development, mental health and identity development. 9 week online program | Thursdays 6:00-8:00 PM | January 20-March 24. Session dates:  1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24   (No session on 2/24 during MISD midwinter break). Note – this group is specifically for Mercer Island parents.  If you are an MI parent who would feel more comfortable sharing your successes and challenges with a group of parents outside the community, stay tuned for opportunities to join a PEPS for Parents of Adolescents and Teens group comprised of parents from the greater local area.  If you’re interested in learning more about this option, please email HealthyYouth@mercerisland.gov.

MIVAL Winter Junior Art Show
MICEC January 18 – March 12, 2022
Greetings from the MIVAL Junior Art Show Team. We are happy to announce that the gallery space at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center is beginning to reopen after closing in March 2020. We are happier to announce that the next show in that space will highlight art by our community’s talented K-12 artists. More information about registration can be found through this link. Please register as soon as possible, so that we can estimate space. Final registration including titles of up to 2 pieces of two-dimensional art is due by January 10, 2022. Art delivery to the community center is Saturday, January 15, 2022, with accommodation for earlier drop off possible. If you need more information or have questions review the registration information or contact MIVAL Winter Junior Art Show Co-Chairs Carol Whitaker carolwhitaker@mival.org and Zeynep Alev zeynepalev@mival.org