Staff Appreciation
The Staff Appreciation Team is setting up a “mini kitchen” in the staff lounge room, similar to what the big tech companies offer their employees. We will have a shelf installed that we would like to keep stocked year-round but we cannot do it without your help! Please donate items starting today through Friday January 21st. There will be a donation box in the check-in lobby where you or your student can drop off items, this will be an ongoing ask so please feel free to purchase items throughout the year to help keep the mini kitchen stocked. Thank you!
Sign up here.
2022-2023 MISD Registration
Heads-up! Grade K-12 registration for the 2022-23 school year begins on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, and Zoom Information Night for new Kindergarten families will be held on Tuesday, January 25, from 6 pm-7 pm. It will be hosted by the Principal of each elementary school and include parents of current Kindergarteners. So mark your calendar for this excellent opportunity to ask them all of your Kindergarten related questions and learn more about our outstanding school district! For zoom links and additional info, click here.
Advocacy News
Focus on Advocacy Week
We need your stories, we need your voice, and we need you! PTA’s legacy is strong because of passionate advocates just like you building our legislative platform, one resolution at a time.
Join us for Focus on Advocacy Week, January 17-21, 2022, as we share this platform with our legislators in Olympia. Subscribe to the WSPTA Action Network and be part of #WSPTAOneVoice.
More information can be found here.
PTSA News
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 three dates left are:
- Mock ACT – Saturday, January 29 (Review Session – Feb. 8)
- 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
Remember you can also check the Seniors tab on the PTSA website for more information.
Presidents Letter
Greetings MIHS Families,
Well, it’s been quite a week! We know you have received many school emails this week, but if you have not yet had a chance to read the Superintendent’s message regarding the Omicron variant surge, you can find it HERE. Specific guidance regarding high school protocols was also sent out yesterday by Principal Walter Kelley, which can be found HERE. In addition, Principal Kelly sat down for an interview with Gabe Gottesman from The Bridge, the High School’s student-run radio station, for a special Q&A session. Check it out HERE. We encourage you to take time to become familiar with all of this guidance, as it answers many questions that have been circulating in the community about the status of school operations during this Covid wave.
One of the challenges the high school may face during this Covid wave is the possibility of short staffing due to teacher absences. We have teamed up with MIHS and the District to come up with an innovative solution. In lieu of certifying as a Substitute (which is also possible and encouraged if you qualify! You can find those details HERE), you can apply to be a Certified Paraprofessional for our school district. Details can be found in our communication sent yesterday HERE. This is a supervisory/basic tech role in the classroom, which would allow a teacher who has to quarantine, but is able to stream into their class – to teach from home. We are asking for your help to support our school and teachers at this challenging time and hope you will consider signing up. Please email us at president@mihsptsa.org if you have any questions or would like further information.
January brings Finals Week, which starts on January 18th. The daily schedule for that week is available HERE. Leading up to finals week, please check the MIHS Homepage for any updates and the most current information. As noted in the Principals email yesterday, there is some flexibility and potential extra time allowed for both students and teachers with this finals schedule this year. All are aware of the difficulties of preparing for and administering finals if students and/or teachers are out sick or quarantining! We know this is a very anxious time for students, so we encourage communication with teachers on individual circumstances.
Mark your calendars for our next PTSA General Membership Meeting which is coming up on January 28th at 9:30am. The meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar (meeting link to be sent). This is a date change from our originally scheduled meeting on February 11th. We moved the date up to include a presentation from the Committee for Mercer Island Public Schools (CMIPS) regarding the essential 2022 Levy Renewals on the ballot before the February 8 voting deadline. We will also be voting in our Nominating Committee.
Our PTSA is beginning to think about next year’s Board and will soon be presenting a slate of candidates for your approval to serve on the PTSA Nominating Committee. These volunteers will be working hard to recruit MIHS PTSA Executive Officers for the 2022-23 school year. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee or as an Executive Officer next year, please contact us at president@mihsptsa.org.
The Class of 2022 Senior Activities Committee is seeking a Baccalaureate Chair. This position is responsible for coordinating with the Interfaith Council to select the venue for this year’s Baccalaureate service, and to support the event by recruiting graduating seniors from various faith traditions to participate in the event. Please email Jody Kris at senioractivities@mihsptsa.org if you are interested and for more details.
The MIHS PTSA will be hosting a table at the 20th annual Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation Breakfast. It is coming up on February 9th, at 7:30am. The event will be held virtually again this year. We would love for you to join us and show your support for all the wonderful programs and services that MIYFS provides, including our two mental health counselors at the high school. Please Register HERE and select Maria Alberto/Debbie Burke as your table captains!
Don’t forget to mark your calendars with no school days for January. There is no school on January 17th in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and no school on January 24th for MIHS grading day. Also, TOLO festivities are now postponed.
Hang in there, everyone!
Maria & Deb
MIHS News
Schedule This Week
This week’s schedule will be the Regular Bell Schedule.
Next week’s schedule will be the 1st Semester Finals Schedule.
Principal’s Updates
Read Principal Walter Kelly’s January 7, 2022 letter
MIHS Counseling Center
Click here to read the December 2021 Newsletter.
MIHS Tolo is being rescheduled
Saturday TBA | 6:30-9:30pm
Watch for more information regarding this event.
Community Opportunities
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
