MIHS News – January 31, 2021

1/31/2021 5:13 pm

What’s New This Week!

Schedule this Week

This week is the normal Red Learning Schedule.

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.

PTSA News and Announcements

Parent Edge

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.

From Mercer Island PTA Council

Dear Mercer Island Parents and Community Members,

 

Happy new year! We hope that you and your families are having a positive start to 2021!

 

First, we would be remiss in not recognizing that these continue to be challenging times for many parents, teachers, and students. We especially want to acknowledge the disparate impact the pandemic is having on families and students of color. Consistent with our commitment to equity, we are working to advocate and support the entire Mercer Island community to stay diligent in its prevention practices during this pandemic to help MISD move forward with its plan for a safe return to in-person learning.

 

Now, we would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the various Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives that are being led by our PTA and other partners across the island. We know that DEI is a subject that many of you are passionate about, so we are pleased that there is so much commitment and activity to report. And, we hope that you are inspired to get involved or continue your involvement. Continue reading here….

Staff Appreciation

For February Staff Appreciation, our team is preparing Lunar New Year celebration themed “Have a Tea Break!” goody bags and are asking for donations of specific goodies to include in the bags. There are still a few unassigned items. Click here to see how you can help.

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.

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

Join Speaker Angela Tucker via Zoom with MIHS

Angela is a speaker, educator, mentor and consultant for children and adults of adoption. She has made several films and has a podcast that interviews adoptees from all backgrounds in an effort to shift societal perceptions about adoption. The conversations explore how adoption often reveals something new about racism, religion, immigration, trauma, and the many layers of unconventional families.

Join Angela Tucker via Zoom for an informative conversation on the topics covered in her film Closure.

• When: Wednesday, February 10th
• Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
• Download PDF for zoom link.
• Homework: Watch Angela’s documentary Closure currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. View for more information.

Grab and Go Meals

Check out the school district’s Food Services webpage for more information. Note: there will be no Grab and Go service on Monday, January 25!

Community Opportunities*

SPEAK UP FOR A NEW INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND!

Mercerdale (“Train Park”) is going to be remodeled – and the City wants to hear from you!  Please see the invitation below for a Virtual Meeting to gather community input.

Let’s make it truly inclusive. We don’t have an accessible playground on Mercer Island; the nearest one is in Bellevue, and you can learn more here. Let’s advocate for everyone to be included. This will be an interactive meeting where you can bring your ideas to the table!

 

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL MEETING
Mercerdale Playground Renovation – February 8, 2021

Notice is hereby given that the City of Mercer Island invites park users, residents, and child advocates to participate in a virtual public meeting for the Mercerdale Playground Renovation on Monday, February 8 from 7:00 to 8:30pm, using teleconferencing technology provided by Zoom. The meeting purpose is to explain the project goals and seek input from park users regarding play equipment options. This work is funded by the City of Mercer Island. For questions, contact Paul West at 206.275.7833 or email at paul.west@mercerisland.gov.

 

Meeting Link: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 852 7024 1487
Passcode: 470052

One Tap Mobile: +12532158782
Meeting ID: 852 7024 1487

 

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.

MIYFS “Rise Up!” Virtual Fundraising Breakfast

February 10, 2021 | 7:30 am

 

Register now for the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) 19^thAnnual Virtual Fundraising Breakfast! Held online (breakfast.miyfs.org) on February 10, the virtual format offers a unique opportunity for all Islanders to log in and learn more about the incredible work of MIYFS. Rise Up! Roll out of bed, stay cozy in your pajamas – and join MIYFS Foundation for an online program that promises to be full of fun surprises. There is no better way to start your morning than celebrating and supporting your friends and neighbors!

 

The event’s Master of Ceremonies is actor/comedian (and MIHS alum!) Joel McHale, special interviews with KUOW Radio host (and MI resident!) Bill Radke, and keynote address by 21+ year MI School District employee Kelly John-Lewis.

 

We need MIYFS now more than ever. Our island’s families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations are hurting – and the pandemic will have lasting effects on our community for decades to come. MIYFS is our island’s sole full-service, on-island social and human services provider. MIYFS offers a broad variety of programs, services and expertise that support the wellness and human service needs of all Mercer Islanders. It’s time to “Rise Up!” to support MIYFS. Register today!

 

Want to show your support for the MIYFS “Rise Up!” Virtual Breakfast NOW? Great! Purchase and wear a “Rise Up!” face mask (available for $10 onlineand at the following local retailers: Island Treats, Island Books, Studio 904, Cascade Frames, and Terra Bella)! And show us your jammies! Submit a photo of your family/pets cozy in pajamas holding these signs, and upload pajama photos here – and/or tag them with #riseupmiyfs on social media! Take a peek at others planning to support MIYFS in their PJs at breakfast.miyfs.org!

Free IEP Workshop Hosted by Behaviorist

February 3, 2021 via Zoom! The workshop will cover the IEP, Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), Accommodations and Modifications, attending an IEP Meeting, Prior Written Notice and IEP follow up, and have plenty of time for participants to ask questions. Click here to register and for more information.

College Planning Workshops Hosted by Heritage Wealth

College Planning Workshop – Planning Ahead Financially

With college costs rising at a rate double that of inflation, many kids end up buried in student loans. Join us on February 5th at 10am as we look at the benefits of planning ahead. We will cover topics including:

• Expected Family Contribution- how to qualify for more aid
• “Needs Based” Financial Aid including new tax credits
• Often Missed Sources- Running Start, WUE, Work Study, OneClass
• Tax shelters- 529, Trusts, GET, Education IRAs, Roth IRAs, etc
• Sheltering assets and income

RSVP here and for all of the details.

 

High School Financial Bootcamp – Teaching Kids Smart Money Habits

February 18th, 2:30pm. Wealth is a mindset. Let’s build it together. Money can’t buy happiness, but it affords us the ability to buy two things that the wealthy say are far more important than money: Freedom and Time. Join us as we discuss tips and strategies to build our Wealth Mindset, and tactics for making the best money decisions we can, with the resources we have.  We don’t teach kids about money in school, and so most young adults are sent into the world with little to no formal education in how to make smart money decisions. Join us and bring your kids for a discussion around some of the most important financial concepts that will not only help put them on a better trajectory but leave them excited about making better financial decisions.

 

 

*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.