MIHS PTSA News - October 1, 2023

9/29/2023 6:50 pm

This week at MIHS... 

MI Pop Up Shop - Glassybabies, Glasses and Senior Sweatshirts!

Check out the unique and fun MI items for everyone! The MI Pop Up Shop is open for a very limited time - Sept. 27 - Oct. 9. So place your orders quickly! Click here to order

 

Sponsor: The MIHS PTSA Senior Activities Committee. All proceeds benefit the Senior Party, an event that provides a safe graduation night for all seniors. Questions: Contact: Emily Ferrari

 

MISD New Family Welcome Event

The Mercer Island School District New Family Welcome event is scheduled for Thursday, October 5, from 6pm-7:30pm in the Commons at Islander Middle School. Islander Middle School is located at 7447 84th Ave. SE.

 

At the New Family Welcome, pizza will be served and music students from the high school will perform. No RSVP is necessary and children are welcome. More than 25 Island community organizations will be in attendance to offer information about their services. You will also be able to meet me, members of the MISD School Board, and key school district leaders.

PTSA NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

MI Candidate Forum

Meet the candidates for MI School Board and City Council on October 18, 2023 at 7-8:30pm at Islander Middle School, doors open at 6:30pm. Some of these candidates will be making significant decisions impacting our elementary schools in the coming year. Here's your chance to learn more about them before you vote. If you'd like to submit a question, please click here. All questions for the candidates must be submitted by October 10th. No questions will be accepted on the night of the forum. The event will be held in person and have a digital option. Click here for more info.

 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

“Indigenous Peoples’ Day" is a holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October in the United States, in lieu of Columbus Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day, at its core, aims to celebrate and honor the past, present, and futures of Native peoples throughout the United States and acknowledges the legacy of colonialism, which has devastated Indigenous communities historically and continues to negatively impact them today. More importantly, however, Indigenous Peoples’ Day moves beyond the narrative of oppression and honors the histories, cultures, contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples.” From Illuminative For Our Future: an advocate’s guide to supporting Indigenous Peoples’ Day

 

Read more here...

 

Parent Edge Event: Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic -- And What We Can Do About It

Jennifer Breheny Wallace, Award-Winning Journalist, NY Times Bestselling Author

Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)
Thursday, November 9, 2023, 12PM, Parent Circle Discussion

Featuring interviews with some Mercer Island families and Superintendent Fred Rundle, award-winning reporter Jennifer Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture, and finds out what we must do to fight back.

 

Achievement Pressure is a real thing in our community and we want to create a safe space to process what we know is true in the Mercer Island culture. Webinar presented by our program partner, The Parent Venture. Recording available post-event.

 

Register for the webinare: https://jenniferwallace2023smcoe.eventbrite.com 

 

The PTA Reflections Art Contest Call for Entries!

Celebrating student creativity, the PTA Reflections program helps students explore the arts. This year’s theme is I Am Hopeful Because...

 

To participate, students submit original works in any of six categories—literature, music composition, photography, visual arts, film/video, and choreography/dance—in response to the theme. We will be recognizing participants and winners with an in-person awards ceremony on March 4, 2024 and a real gallery showing! Details to be announced.

 

Enter by December 1st, 2023. Get all the details here. To enter, click here.

 

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 as a time to recognize and celebrate the many achievements, contributions and histories of our American Latinx and Hispanic communities. Read more here.

 

Help Stock the Staff Mini Kitchen

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.

 

Information for MIHS Seniors and Senior Families

Yearbook Portraits Due Dec. 15th

Custom senior portraits for the yearbook are OPTIONAL. The MIHS yearbook staff will use school ID images if they do not receive a senior portrait submission from you. Instructions are located here.

Email mihsportrait@gmail.com with questions.

 

Yearbook Grad Ad Submissions Due Jan. 12th

Grad Ads are an optional way for families to add personal pictures and reflections about students in the class of 2024. Ads can include one child, a group of kids, a team, a club, or any collection of students to celebrate graduation from MIHS. Grad Ad Instructions are located here.

 

Contact mihsyearbook2024@gmail.com with questions.

 

Remember you can also check the Seniors tab on the PTSA website for more information.

Mock SAT/ACT Tests

MIHS PTSA provides 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 to recorded or submitted to any high school or college organization. This is a perfect chance to 'try out' these tests. Learn more about the Mock SAT/ACT tests offered by the PTSA. 

 

MIHS News 

ASB needs help with the Homecoming week and dance (October 11-14, 2023)

Volunteers are needed for the lunches leading up to and the day of the event with ticket sales, and also during the actual dance with set up and on-site attendees. Please sign up here.

  

NACAC National College Fair

NACAC is hosting a national college fair in Seattle (October 6 & October 7). This is a great opportunity to do some in person research if you are planning to continue your education after high school. If you are interested in attending on Friday, it is an excused absence. You can register to attend Friday or Saturday's session here. 

 

MIHS College Visit

We have 40+ colleges coming to MIHS this week. Check out the list of schools currently signed up here.

College visit schedule for the week of Oct. 9th.

 

MIHS Playwriting Project

The Mercer Island High Drama Program's first event of the year is the annual Playwriting Project. In

cooperation with guest artists from Youth Theatre Northwest, five student playwrights have been selected to write a ten-minute play. Those plays will be directed by guests from YTN and performed by their fellow classmates.

 

Please join us on Thursday, October 19th at 7pm in the MIHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) to celebrate new works by Izzy Ferrari, Kyle Gerstel, Paige Kirby, Macie Nordberg, and Tiger Yang.

 

Daily Schedules

Get the 2023/24 Daily Block Schedule here.

 

Principal's Updates

Read the Principal Newsletters here.

 

MIHS Counseling

Get the MIHS Counseling Newsletters here.

 

Community News

 

MI Heathy Youth Initiatives Fall 2023 community programs now being offered. We are excited to offer a series of no-fee programs for MI parents and caregivers, for more information please go to https://www.mihealthyyouth.com/. 

 

Rotary Youth Exchange Program is a short term summer exchange between families, facilitated by Rotary Clubs at each end of the exchange. Click here for more info.

 

BridgeWhiz is a FREE online course designed to teach students in grades 4 through 12 the mind-building challenge, great fun, and competitive excitement of contract bridge, which will nurture your child’s team and individual competitive spirit. Build social skills. And enhance deductive reasoning and math abilities.