MIHS News – September 20 – October 3, 2020

9/27/2020 7:42 pm

PTSA News and Announcements

Support Virtual Classroom Enrichment at MIHS

One of the goals this year for MIHS PTSA is to support student learning and classroom enrichment with virtual innovations. Through the PTSA Grant program, we will help teachers bring enrichment ideas to their classroom such as guest speakers and innovative online supplemental learning programs. In addition, MIHS PTSA pays for all after school tutoring which will be virtual until students can return to school. Another benefit of your contribution to MIHS PTSA is parent education through Parent Edge which brings nationally known speakers to our community. We hope you will support MIHS PTSA and contribute to our Annual Giving campaign. Your contributions will make a difference to the students and teachers at MIHS.  All contributions to the Annual Giving Campaign, Friends of the Library and PTSA Membership are tax deductible.  Make your gift today!

 

Another form of donation can be made through the purchase of a personalized Legacy Brick. If you’d like to make a permanent mark at the high school, please consider buying a brick which can be engraved with your names, kids’ names, or an inspirational quote. Does your company offer Gift Matching aka Corporate Match? It’s an easy way to double your donation to MIHS PTSA!

 

This is what your MIHS PTSA Contribution supported during the School Year 2019-20:

• For 2019-20: $15,600 in classroom enrichment grants – Field trips, science equipment, music artist in residence, drama workshops, cooking program, additional literature curriculum for English 9-10, art equipment, dance lessons, after school help, staff culture club, outdoor experiences.
• Here is more of what your dollars support.

PTSA Membership: Get Access to Online Directory

Renew your PTSA Membership and get access to our online MIHS PTSA School Directory. Your PTSA Membership supports our advocacy work for students and teachers at the local, state and federal level.  Purchase your membership in your Membership Toolkit account – here. 

Advocacy Update

Seeking Applications for Chairperson of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

 

Help the MIHS PTSA ensure that our diversity and inclusion practices evolve and advance the PTSA’s commitment to DEI and anti-racism by becoming the MIHS PTSA DEI Chairperson.  The DEI Chairperson will be a member of the MIHS PTSA Board of Directors and work with other Mercer Island PTA DEI representatives. The DEI Chairperson position may be held by multiple persons. Please click here for a detail job description.  If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please email advocacy@mihsptsa.org. 

 

Become a MIHS PTSA delegate at the virtual WA State PTA Legislative Assembly

 

The MIHS PTSA is looking for members to represent our PTA at the WA State Legislative Assembly October 24 & 25 and vote on the WA State PTA’s Top 5 Priorities for the 2020-22 Legislative Session.  For more information on Legislative Assembly, please see WA State PTA’s Legislative Assembly webpage. If you are interested in becoming a delegate for the MIHS PTSA, please email advocacy@mihsptsa.org.

Staff Appreciation

Join the Staff Appreciation Committee!

 

We are so fortunate to have amazing teachers and staff members working hard every day to make remote learning a sucess.  Showing staff members how much we appreciate their dedication, flexibility, and creativity is now more important than ever.  

 

Many volunteers are needed this year to organize Staff Appreciation activities, pack goody bags, donate items, and volunteer for events to help make sure MIHS teachers and staff feel appreciated.  

 

You can help by joining the Staff Appreciation Committee!  Everyone is welcome to join.  Please email staffappreciation@mihsptsa.org to join today.  

NEW! 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 

Character Counts – College Admissions Beyond Grades and Test Scores
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 • 6:30-7:30pm

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

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.  Deadline to order is October 3. 

 

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.  

 

Note: Jostens’ Senior apparel will not be distributed on October 5, as originally planned. A rescheduled distribution date will be announced soon.

 

Yearbook Senior Portraits Due Monday, December 7, 2020

 

Custom senior portraits are optional. The MIHS yearbook staff will use school ID images 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.

NEW! President’s Letter

Dear MIHS Parents,

We hope you this letter finds you and your students doing well. Are you ready to hear more about your student’s online classes during the school day?  Ready for a brief overview of each class directly from their teachers? You’re in luck!  MIHS curriculum night is coming up this week!  Please keep reading for details on this and other important upcoming events!

• MIHS Virtual Curriculum Night:  September 30^th, 5:00pm.  There will be recordings from administration and from each teacher and counselors. Clubs are also making videos for students/parents to browse. It will be held asynchronously so that you and your student can go to the MIHS website and click on Curriculum Night link when it goes live at 5:00 p.m. or anytime thereafter. You can also view it at a later date in case you are not able to participate that evening. 
  
  Here is the link: MIHS virtual Curriculum Night information 

• MIHS Picture Days: October 5, 12, 19, & 26, Mondays, 12:30-4:30pm.  Each date is for a separate class – 10/5=seniors, 10/12=freshmen, 10/19=sophomores and 10/26=juniors. These are for Dorian school pictures only. ASB cards will be taken separately at a later date(s) yet to be determined.

• VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  MIHS needs adult volunteers (adults only, please) to help out at each picture day. Please go HERE for more information and to sign up. 

• NEW FAMILIES – MISD Virtual New Families Event: Thursday, October 1, 5:00pm. Are you new to Mercer Island schools? If so, we encourage you to attend.  If you have questions about any of our local schools or about our Mercer Island community in general, this is the place with answers. This year it will be held webinar style. Various community organizations will speak briefly about their activities and program offerings. Virtual Meeting Link HERE.  

MI Parent Edge: 

MI Parent Edge has been busy finalizing speakers and they are excited to bring two important topics to our community in October (all programs are virtual presentations): 

• Wednesday, October 14, 7:00pm – #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 presentation is appropriate for adults/parents of kids of all. 

• Thursday, October 29, 4:30-6:00pm – What I Said and What I Meant:  Understanding Cross-Cultural Communications: Rosetta Lee, diversity speaker and trainer (appropriate for adults and MIHS students)

• Thursday, October 29, 7:00-8:30pm – Navigating Microaggressions: Rosetta Lee, diversity speaker and trainer (appropriate for adults and IMS and MIHS students)

You may be wondering: Why Join PTSA or Donate to our annual Fundraising Campaign? Consider this: In joining PTSA you enhance the learning opportunities of EVERY student at MIHS. PTSA funds school enrichment activities at MIHS in every shape, size & flavor. Joining PTSA is the best way to say “Thank You” to your student’s teachers and we do this on your behalf all year long! Here’s a brief sampling of what we fund:

• Student and family directory
• Regular weekly newsletters keeping you up to date
• $40,000+ in classroom enrichment grants
• Parent education on important topics like coping with stress, pressure to succeed, youth suicide prevention, talking with kids about alcohol and substance use, and how to make youth sports a positive experience
• College Night Lecture Series
• Staff appreciation lunches & student appreciation events
• Courtyard renovation
• Classroom supplies for teachers
• Reflections art program
• National College Fair field trip for all juniors 
• And so much more…

Thank you again to those who are stepping forward to volunteer for PTSA and those families donating to our PTSA.  We cannot imagine our school without your support.  You are truly appreciated!

Have a wonderful week!

 

Debbie Burke & Stacy Nakata
MIHS PTSA Co-Presidents

MIHS News

Admin Updates

September 15 letter from Principal Kelly regarding offensive posts on Schoology.

Principal Kelly’s latest weekly video from Friday, September 18.

Letter from MIHS Admin team with conversation starters for families.

Schedule This Week

Click here for the Red Learning Day Schedule.

NEW! 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. You can create one login for your family and simply add the desired classes to your cart for a quick checkout. You can easily share your child’s schedule with friends to take classes together. For any questions, please use the help button and online chat at the portal or reach out to support@6crickets.com. 

Yearbook Distribution Postponed

Due to printing errors, yearbook distribution must be postponed. We will not hand out yearbooks on Sept. 21. Thank you for your patience as we formulate a response. We will update you as soon as we can. Email greg.smiley@mercerislandschools.org with questions.

Upcoming Events

Freshman families – please check your email regarding small group tours September 28, & October 5 from 1:00-3:00PM, MIHS. Please fill out this Health Attestation before you arrive.

Curriculum Night – Wednesday, September 30th 5:00-7:00pm.  Details upcoming

Grab and Go Meals

Grab & Go Meals! provided by the MISD Food Services department, now offers a free lunch and breakfast for the next day for ALL children 0-18. Meals are provided at no cost thanks to the extension of a USDA nationwide waiver. This waiver is in effect through as late as Dec. 30, 2020, depending on available funding. Please complete this form to pre-order meals for your student(s). Walk-ups will be accepted. 

Meals can be picked up at the Mercer Island High School Commons and the Islander Middle School Commons between 11:30am and 1:00pm. Masks are required to enter the building. All social distancing and safety protocols will be followed. More info here.

Counseling Department

Click here to read the September Counseling Newsletter.

The tradition of College Representative Visits is taking place virtually this school year. All students are welcome to remotely meet with the Representatives. To see the postings and register for the virtual visits, students need to log into their Naviance account at https://student.naviance.com/mihs. (Freshmen students will be guided by the Counseling Department to set up their Naviance account in the next few months.)

Fall Sports

Fall Sports have been pushed back to a March 1 start date, but online registration forms can be completed now. Fees can be paid at a later date. Click here for more information.

Community Opportunities

NEW! Seattle JazzED Fall Programs
If you’re missing pep band this fall, or would love to try pep band experience and don’t usually get to, this is for you. In the Virtual Protest Songs Project you’ll learn famous protest songs performed by Nina Simone, Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye and Janelle Monae in a groove based style (think Beyonce’s Homecoming music). You’ll also learn the historical significance of each artist featured, and the protest story they tell in their song. Grades 5-12. Open to all instruments, including voice and ukulele. You’ll register for a level based on experience. Time commitment: 2 hours per week for 10 weeks (Oct-Dec). Sliding scale and free tuition available, no questions asked. Learn more 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.