MIHS PTSA News - November 6, 2022

10/30/2022 3:45 pm

WHAT'S NEW!

MI Healthy Youth Forum 2022 - Do Well, Be Well

November 9 | 6:30 - 8:30pm | MI Community and Events Center

Learn how social and emotional skills are the foundation for your child's success and wellbeing.  Join a dialogue with parents of children in similar developmental stages.  All community members are invited to attend.  Appropriate for parents of children of all ages.  Register at www.MIHealthyYouth.com.

 

PTSA NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Voices Heard Event - Judy Kusakabe

Check out the Judy Kusakabe Speech Transcript from the Voices Heard AAPI Community Event on October 22, 2022

 

Parent Edge

Stream on Demand until November 14, 2022 State of the Kids Uniting for Youth Mental Health

 

November 17th , 7pm on Zoom Youth Suicide Prevention for Parents

PTSA Reflections

The 2022-2023 PTSA Reflections arts contest call for entries!
Celebrating student creativity, the PTSA Reflections program helps students explore the arts. To participate, students submit original works in response to this year’s theme: Show Your Voice.

This year we’ll be recognizing participants and winners at special in-person events. Details to be announced.  Enter by November 30, 2022. Get all the details and submit your entry!

New Family Buddy Program

Have questions about school traditions and acronyms? Don't know who to ask? Sign up for our New Family Buddy Program! Get paired up via email with a returning MIHS family who can answer your questions! Send an email to newfamily@mihsptsa.org with your name and the grade(s) your child(ren) are in, and any interests or affiliations you'd like to share about your student for us to try to find a good match.

Staff Appreciation

As we start a new school year, please help the PTSA stock the mini kitchen in the high school staff lounge. The mini kitchen is a place where teachers can grab a quick snack for a little extra energy boost. It's one way we keep them encouraged and show our appreciation. Items purchased off of this wishlist will ship directly to the school. Your support is greatly appreciated! Purchase items here.

Mock SAT/ACT Tests

• Starting in Fall 2023, all students taking the PSAT-related assessments will take the digital tests. SAT weekend administrations in the U.S. will still be paper and pencil.
• Starting in Spring 2024, all students will take the full SAT Suite of Assessments digitally.

New Families

What: Coffee/treats/social connections for parents new to MIHS!
When: Nov 18 from 8:00 to 9:30am
Where: Coffee shop seating area at Metropolitan Market, Mercer Island

Drop by or stay for the whole time - whatever works for your schedule. We'll be in the coffee area with name tags. We hope to see you there!

Judith Anderson & Melissa Benaroya Co-Chairs, PTSA New Families Welcome Committee

Class of 2023 Seniors

It is our pleasure to be able to share with you that the Class of 2023 Commencement will be held on Tuesday, June 13th, at Benaroya Hall at 7:00pm.

We are continuing to work on the details of this event. As we learn more about what this exciting day will look like, there will be more information available on the Class of 2023 Graduation website. We will send that link out when it is live. *One item to note as you are planning for this event is that Benaroya’s capacity is less than our previous venue, so tickets will be limited. We are working on exact numbers so that we can get you that information as soon as possible.

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2023 in this new venue!

MIHS NEWS

Daily Schedules

Get the 2022/23 Daily Block Schedule here.

 

Principal’s Updates

Read the October 31, 2022 Principal Letter

MIHS Counseling 

November newsletter

Veteran's Day Assembly

To honor Veteran’s Day, MIHS will host an assembly on November 9th from 12:30-1:20pm to celebrate, recognize and honor the living and deceased veterans of the Mercer Island Community. The MIHS leadership class is looking for participants and speakers for the assembly.  If you, a family member or a friend have served, please consider participating by including a picture to be shown in the assembly or attending in person.  If interested in participating or speaking, please click here.

 

MIHS Drama Presents GREASE

Now that our Summer days have drifted away, the Mercer Island High School Drama Department would like to invite you to spend a few hours at Rydell High. Before you start streaming the new Grease prequel series on Paramount Plus, come see the original musical that inspired it all. Join us for Grease November 10th-12th and November 17th-19th at 7pm in the PAC. For more information click here.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Newport High Ski Swap

Mark your calendar! The annual Newport High School Ski Swap will be on November 11-12.  It's the largest ski swap in the Seattle area. Clear out your garage and bring your snow sport gear to sell at the swap (pre-register items online).  There will be several retail ski vendors selling new gear as well.  You can find thousands of new & used items available at unbelievable deals!  Skis, snowboards, boots, poles, jackets, pants and more!  See attached flyer or visit www.newportskiswap.com for more information.   

 

Community Conversations

There are some great opportunities to increase awareness about of issues of racism and inclusion sponsored by the City of Mercer Island.  For more information and to register for upcoming events click here

Monday, November 7 from 6:30-7:30 In person at the JCC or Online via Zoom
This hybrid session features Island resident and Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie giving a talk on the experience and the value of different abilities. 

Thursday, December 8 from 6:30-8:00pm (Virtual)
Training on recognizing and accounting for implicit bias.

 

 

MI Healthy Youth Initiative - TakeFive

Despite far reaching protective factors, Mercer Island youth have not escaped the unprecedented mental health crisis that is occurring in the youth population across the United States. Mental health conditions can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, and background, and as such, it is important to create opportunities to easily screen for wellbeing and link any needed resources.

Mercer Island Youth and Family Services and the University of Washington have partnered to create the “TAKE Five” tool to support youth mental health and wellbeing. “TAKE Five” is a free, anonymous, online tool available to high school students. The tool is designed to provide a personal, private, self check-in for youth about their emotional state and coping strategies. The tool gives individualized feedback to students and also provides factual information about what other high school students are experiencing to give students perspective.

MIHS Students can access the online tool on a phone, tablet or computer at www.TakeFiveMI.org.

 

  

Pixie Hill presents Mercer Island Children’s Business Fair

Sunday, November 13th 11 am – 3pm VFW 1836 72nd Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Buy tickets in advance for $8 here or $10 at the door.

Pixie Hill Preschool is proud to host Mercer Island’s first ever Children’s Business Fair!  The one-day fair will allow children the opportunity to showcase their individual businesses and explore entrepreneurial skills.  Kids will develop a brand, create a product or service, and build a marketing strategy, and then open for business for customers at our one-day marketplace. Whether your child is an up and coming chef, mastering their fine art skills, jewelry maker or loves to experiment with new slime combinations, the world is their oyster at the one day event!  Tables and chairs will be provided for each child vendor. The future business leader will need to bring their merchandise, marketing materials, cash and/or a certified Venmo account.   Does your child want to start a business? Anyone 18 or under can apply for one of 50 spots to participate. To register for the Children’s Business Fair please click here

 

Boys and Girls Club 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

It is time for Islander 3 on 3 Madness! This fun competition will be on Friday, November 11 (non-school day) starting at 12pm. Register a team and join us for this fun community

event! *Every player must register individually, boys & girls in grades 5th - 12th grade, no registration fee, must have a current B&G club membership, teams must have a minimum of 3 players (max of 4 players) Deadline to register is November 7, 2022. Click here for more information 

 

Sharpen Your Writing Skills with University of Washington
This online class is a great opportunity to improve writing fundamentals, read and analyze text and use that analysis to create narrative, persuasive and expository essays. Learn strategies for tackling high school writing tasks and college admission essays. Online class runs Mondays and Wednesdays, January 9 March 22, 6-7:30pm. To learn more visit us online at Winter 2023 Afterschool Programs!