MIHS News – October 4-17, 2020

10/11/2020 7:42 pm

PTSA News and Announcements

Corporate Matching

Thank you for your contributions for our annual PTSA campaign!  We SO appreciate your contributions, especially now in this virtual environment.  ONE MORE ASK: For those of you who have indicated that your employers MATCH contributions, please take 5 minutes to submit that match so we can benefit from that contribution as well.  THANK YOU!

 

Read more about Corporate Matching here.

PTA Reflections Art Contest

MIHS students are invited to submit entries for Reflections, a National PTA and Washington State PTA cultural arts competition. National PTA Reflections is America’s oldest and largest arts education program of its kind. The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works.

 

The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is “I Matter Because…” Students submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.

While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists can progress all the way to the National level!

 

Deadline for 2020 submissions: November 30^th

More information to come on submission guidelines. To review this year’s participation rules and download the student entry form, please go to www.wastatepta.org/events-programs/reflections/. If you have any questions, please contact the PTA Council Chairperson at reflections@miptacouncil.org or the MIHS PTSA VPs of Outreach at  outreach@mihsptsa.org. 

 

The MIHS PTSA is looking for a Reflections Chair 

The Reflections chair will collaborate with the Outreach Team and will be responsible to collect the students’ artwork and coordinate the submissions with the MI PTA Council. For more information and to apply for this position, please email outreach@mihsptsa.org.

Staff Appreciation

October Staff Appreciation

This month we plan to thank our fabulous MIHS staff with 150 individually wrapped Halloween treat goody bags for all teachers, staff, and facilities personnel.  This means, we will need lots and lots of candy!  Click here to sign up to help.

 

Join the Staff Appreciation Committee! 
Please email staffappreciation@mihsptsa.org to join today.  

Parent Edge

Life After High School – Three Part Visual Series
All programs will be live on Zoom, sponsored by KCLS and FREE to everyone. Questions about any of these programs? Contact Carrie at the Mercer Island Library:  clbowman@kcls.org 

• Conducting a College Search in the Time of COVID-19
  Tuesday, October 13, 2020 • 6:30-7:30pm
• All About Financial Aid for College
  Tuesday, October 20, 2020 • 6:30-7:30pm

Click here for more information and to register for these programs.

 

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 – 7pm – Pandemic Parenting:  Helping Kids Thrive in Our Digital World (appropriate for adults/parents of kids of all ages) Devorah Heitner, digital media and technology expert. Click here for more details and to register.

Thursday, October 29, 2020 – Two programs with Rosetta Lee, diversity speaker and trainer

• 4:30-6:00 pm. What I Said and What I Meant:  Understanding Cross-Cultural Communications (appropriate for adults and MIHS students)
• 7:00-8:30 pm Navigating Microaggressions (appropriate for adults and IMS and MIHS students)

Click here for more details and to register.

Information for MIHS Seniors and Senior Families

Cap & Gown Orders
Don’t forget to order graduation caps, gowns, announcements and other senior accessories.  You can do so online by going to www.jostens.com and searching for Mercer Island High School.  Don’t worry if you did not receive a Jostens packet at Fee & Photo Day.  All of the information you need is available on their website.   

 

Senior Picture Day
If your student did not attend photo day on Monday, October 5th, they may attend a photo session on one of the other designated dates (Oct 12, 19, 26) during the designated make-up time toward the end of each day.  Here is a map to show your student where to go.  

You have the option to purchase additional photos from Dorian.  Click here for instructions.

 

Yearbook Senior Portraits Due Monday, December 7, 2020
Custom senior portraits are optional. The MIHS yearbook staff will use the school ID photo if they do not receive a senior portrait submission from you. Instructions for uploading your photo are located here.Email miseniorportrait2021@gmail.com with questions.

 

Yearbook Grad Ads Due Monday, January 4, 2021
Senior grad ads are optional. They are personal pictures and reflections by you or other family members regarding graduating seniors. Ads can include a student, a team, a club, or any collection of students to celebrate graduation from MIHS. Instructions for submitting your Grad Ad request are located here.  Contact mihsyearbook2021@gmail.com with questions.

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.

Learn more about the Mock SAT/ACT tests offered by the PTSA.

PTSA President’s Letter

Dear MIHS Families:

 

We hope this letter finds you & your families doing well. It’s hard to believe that we are already 5 weeks into the school year. An important MIHS program is now launching – the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). Principal Kelly is the head of this committee, and he has made the decision to change the format to a closed group. He is currently looking for parents of 9^th & 11^th grade students for his PAC. 

 

PAC meetings will be held once a month on Thursday mornings from 8:15-9:45am.  They will start out as virtual meetings via Zoom, and will move to in-person at MIHS once guidelines will allow it.  Find out more information HERE.  Self-nominate or nominate someone else HERE.  The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, October 13^th.

 

Once the committee is fully formed you will be able to find a complete list of your grade level PAC reps HERE.

 

Photo days are coming up for Freshman (10/12), Sophomores (10/19), & Juniors (10/26). Students will be receiving their ID cards that same day. There will be no photo make-up day. If your student cannot make it during their assigned day, they can go during the last time slot of the day – 4:10pm – 4:30pm on one of the other days. 

 

Don’t forget toregister for #Pandemic Parenting: Helping Kids Thrive in Our Digital World: Devorah Heitner, digital media and technology expert, will share tips for how parents can help kids thrive in our digital world. This free event is appropriate for adults/parents of kids of all ages. Join in to learn:

• How parents can support their children’s uses of technology to connect, create, and learn
• A framework for deciding what digital platforms and apps are appropriate (or not) for elementary aged kids, tweens, and teens
• Tips for teaching kids how to self-regulate their screen time
• How to empower kids to use technology and digital media for social good
• How to help kids through a virtual school day (brain breaks, physical activity, snacks and high fives!)

Please register by 5PM the day prior to the program to receive a Zoom link. More information HERE.

 

The PTA is the largest organization advocating for children in America. Every fall, representatives from all PTAs around Washington state gather for legislative assembly, and vote on the legislative priorities of the Washington State PTA (WSPTA). This annual priority setting determines which policies the WSPTA will advocate for to our representatives in Olympia. MIHS PTSA is proud to be sending 2 student members and 7 adult members to the Washington State Legislative Assembly at the end of October.  

Have a great week & Go Islanders!

Debbie Burke & Stacy Nakata
MIHS PTSA co-Presidents

MIHS News

Admin Updates

Click here to see Principal Kelly’s latest weekly video, dated October 2.

NEW! Parent Advisory Committee

The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of parents from each of the four grade levels who meet with Principal Walter Kelly each month to discuss issues and concerns among parents and school administration.  Principal Kelly is the head of this committee and has made the decision to change the format of the PAC to a closed group. It will consist of a group of parents selected by him based on review of the applications and nominations he receives.  He will communicate with parents the decision regarding acceptance to the committee and will communicate meeting dates to those selected. The PTSA is helping to facilitate communication and the nomination process, and will have participating representation on the PAC.

 

The meetings will be held once a month on Thursday mornings at MIHS.  The time is 8:15-9:45am.

PAC reps serve a two-year term; new reps are recruited for the Freshman and Junior classes each year.  These meetings are a time for Principal Kelly to communicate school administration news, seek input and discussion on specific topics, while also allowing time for PAC reps to report on school related issues pertinent to the grade levels they represent. PAC reps should make themselves available to field questions from parents in their grade, communicate feedback to Principal Kelly, and follow-up by passing along answers to inquiring parents.

 

Interested Freshman and Junior class parents: please nominate yourself or someone else for the PAC committee by following this link. NOMINATION DEADLINE:  Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Picture Days

MIHS Picture Days: October 12, 19, & 26, Mondays, 12:30-4:30pm.  Each date is for a separate class – 10/12=freshmen, 10/19=sophomores and 10/26=juniors. These pictures are required for student ID cards. Detailed information, including specific time slots based on Islander Hour Teacher Name, will be sent to families prior to their student’s designated day.

Virtual Enrichment Classes With 6crickets

Mercer Island School District has partnered with 6crickets to curate specialized virtual classes from quality providers throughout the nation on a variety of topics including engineering, robotics, debate, math, fitness, dance, music, entrepreneurship, science, theatre, and world languages. Register now at: bit.ly/EnrichMISD. For any questions, please use the help button and online chat at the portal or reach out to support@6crickets.com. 

Grab and Go Meals

Please complete this form to pre-order meals for your student(s). More info here.

 

Community Opportunities

MIYFS Recycling Event – October 17, 9am-3pm, Luther Burbank South Parking Lot

Click here for more information.

 

MIYFS Foundation Raising Donations for Local Food Pantry

Bring your cash, supermarket gift card or credit card donation to the Recycling Event, or donate from the comfort of your own home at miyfs.org. See more details here.

 

*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.