MIHS PTSA News - October 29, 2023

10/26/2023 8:09 pm

PTSA NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS   

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.

  

Community Event: Screening of Short Film Take Me Home 

Please join us for a free community screening of the Sundance Film Festival award-winning short film, Take Me Home, on Thursday, Nov 2nd at 6 pm at the Northwood Elementary Commons, 4030 86th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040. Register here.

 

Director Liz Sargeant and Associate Producer/Educational Director Molly Jordan will be present for an after film discussion on disability awareness and Asian American representation.

 

This event is sponsored by the MIHS PTSA DEI committee, Make Us Visible WA, and Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington. For more information, please visit https://takemehomefilm.com or contact diversity@mihsptsa.org

 

Advocacy Updates

1) Three MIHS PTA members attended WSPTA Legislative Assembly Oct 21-22. Nearly 400 delegates from across the state presented and voted on updates to our 2023-24 Legislative Priorities and permanent resolutions on topics ranging from school funding to gun violence prevention. The adopted positions will inform our advocacy in Olympia when the legislative session begins in January 2024. Want to help us advocate? Email advocacy@mihsptsa.org.

2) Ballots are out for the school board and city council elections - please vote and remind your friends and family to do so! If you didn't receive or lost yours, you can request a replacement 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
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 

 

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 

Graduation Cap, Gown, and Tassel Orders due November 1, 2023

Info packets were handed out during Islander Hour on October 25, 2023. Any senior that missed out can pick up a packet in the front office and counseling office. Orders need to be in by November 1.

 

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  

Veteran's Day Assembly: Community Veterans Needed

As a part of our annual Veterans Day Assembly, Wednesday, November 8th, we will be recognizing veterans who have served in our community. We are seeking community veteran participation. Please fill out this form if you are interested.

 

MIHS Drama Presents: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Lovingly ripped from the film classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot has everything that makes a great knight at the theatre, from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters.  Come look on the bright side of life November 9th-11th and 16th-18th at 7pm in the PAC at Mercer Island High School.  Plague not included. 

 

Please visit our ticketing website to purchase tickets in advance. Cast list here. 

 

Upcoming College Visits & Workshops

This week we have over 20 colleges and universities visiting MIHS. In addition, we have a workshop on Monday 10/23 at 3 pm for all seniors applying to a university in the California State System using Cal State Apply. Seniors can bring their laptops and work on the application with an admissions rep from San Diego State University. The Career Hub is open to seniors for application help Tuesdays and Thursdays, both lunches, through November 30th! 

 

Mercer Island High School Marching Band

The MIHS Marching Band is one of six high school bands from across the nation that have been invited to march during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. This is such an honor for our student musicians and is the culmination of months of planning and support from our extraordinary Mercer Island Community. THANK YOU to everyone, including our island PTAs, for helping to make this experience a reality for our island teenagers.

 

A wonderful article that was recently published about our island’s marching band may be found here. Make sure you tune in on Thursday, November 23rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. on NBC to watch our beloved ‘Pride of the Island’ MIHS Marching Band. Thank you Mercer Island!

 

Seattle Competition for Young Entrepreneurs

This month, a group of young entrepreneurs, 3 seniors at MIHS, Benjamin Viafore, Nikesh Woerner, and Douglas Stovall, will run a business plan competition in partnership with the DECA chapter of Mercer Island High School. With the help of Jen McLellan, a teacher and advisor at Mercer Island High, the students created the non-profit The Seattle Competition for Young Entrepreneurs, or SCYE for short, which will host the competition on November 4th. The Seattle Competition for Young Entrepreneurs, features two rounds: first, participants submit one-pagers outlining their concepts by October 21st; second, the finalists will present their ideas and face questions on November 4th in front of a panel of judges. In order to make the competition as inclusive as possible, it is free to enter for all high schoolers in the greater Seattle area who can join teams of one to three to compete for cash prizes. A donation would be highly appreciated as the students need to cover the costs of running the competition as well as the costs of the prizes.
https://donorbox.org/the-seattle-competition-for-young-entrepreneurs

For more information, please see these boy’s website: https://thescye.com/ 

  

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

UW-Winter ‘24 Unique Afterschool Enrichment Opportunities Online

The University of Washington’s Youth & Teen Programs offers enrichment opportunities during the school year. Limited financial aid available. To learn more visit UW Youth & Teen Programs.

 

Newport High Ski Swap
Mark your calendar! The annual Newport High School Ski Swap will be on November 10-11. 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.

 

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.