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ISLAND PARK EAGLE NEWS
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Island Park Elementary PTA
March 24th, 2015
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Letter from a PTA Parent
Coming to America - An Ex-Pat's View of Schools in the USA
My husband and I and our 3 girls aged 5, 6 and 9, moved from London to Seattle at the end of July, 2014. The whole process of moving and trying to set up family life in another country where we knew no one was incredibly overwhelming. It was clear to me from day 1 that where we chose to set up home would dictate the success of this relocation, ultimately bringing happiness to my family.
After 5 long days of searching Seattle from East to West, I was disheartened having not found a place I thought we could call home. Eventually I fell upon Mercer Island, as I drove down Island Crest Way I melted into my seat as it seemed perfect in so many ways; not only for the excellent schools, but for the tranquility and beauty of the island, as well as the strong sense of community.
Since arriving at the end of July, I have tried to get involved in Island Park as much as possible, not only as a way to meet people but as a means to try and understand the education system here in America (which is surprisingly different from the UK). Recently I was awarded the role of Fundraiser for the PTA. Having come from the UK where fundraising, although necessary, is more of an added bonus, I have been very surprised at how much schools in the USA rely on fundraising to give kids the 'extras' that really make a difference in their education and enrichment, and also enable schools to hit the top of the rankings.In the short time I have been in this role it has also become increasingly apparent to me how much we rely on our parents in order to achieve these great results. Continue Reading...
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Spring Party & Auction ONLINE TICKET SALES CLOSE AT 5:00 PM TONIGHT (3/24).
If you have been waiting to buy your ticket, wait no longer! Buy before 5:00 pm tonight for $85 or you will pay $100 at the door the night of the event! To buy tickets: Spring Party Tickets
Come celebrate our IP community and raise funds for our Learning Support Team & Programs. March 27th from 6:30-11:00 pm at the SJCC. |
Need a BABYSITTER so you can attend the Spring Party?
Babysitting provided by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church! They will provide pizza, games & a movie all for only $20/kid ($50 for families with 3+ kids)
There are only a few spots left - so please register ASAP!
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Be Part of the Leadership Committee at the new Elementary School #4
In a partnership between MISD and the MI PTAs, we are looking for individuals to be involved with two different committees. The first is the
naming of the 4th elementary school (approximately 3 meetings before the end of this school year - June 2015.) The second is to be active in the
new school's PTA leadership & planning committee (throughout next year 2015-2016.) This is the chance to help decide the future of our new school.
If you are interested in participating in one or both of these committee, please fill out the
online application by April 3rd. Committee member selection will be made by PTA Presidents and Superintendent Gary Plano. For application and more information, please visit www.miptacouncil.org.
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PTA Science Fun Night
Science + Fun = Science Fun Night!
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 6-8 pm
Open to All Grades!
At the PTA Science Fun Night, teams of four students will rotate through three 30 minute sessions of hands-on science experiments/activities. Here is a peek at some of the fun activities...
Kindergarteners and First Graders
Test your skill at building a tall tower...made of SWEET TREATS! Join us at the PTA Science Fun Night to see just what this is all about!
Second and Third Graders
Have you ever wondered how far you can launch a GUMMI BEAR in the air? Come to PTA Science Fun Night and test it out!
Fourth and Fifth Graders
You've probably been on a roller coaster before, but have you ever had the opportunity to build the ROLLER COASTER OF YOUR DREAMS? You won't want to miss PTA Science Fun Night!
For more information and to register online, click here ! Registration deadline is April 20th.
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Parents - we need you!
Join us for an evening of cool science activities at the Island Park PTA Science Fun Night on Tuesday, May 5 from 6:00-8:00 pm!
If you have missed out helping in the classroom, this is the perfect opportunity to share a night of fun science and learning with your child.
At the PTA Science Fun Night, teams of four students will rotate through three 30 minute sessions of hands-on science experiments/activities. All experiments/activities will be run by trained parent or community volunteers.
We need lots of parent volunteers to make this event a success - prior science experience or knowledge is not necessary!
General Volunteers - Assist with the student registration, experiment room set-up and clean up, and snacks.
Parent Facilitators - Lead a team of four students through the three 30 minute sessions and facilitate any issues/questions with the activities. You can designate your child you would like to be paired with for the event - just include one child's name and grade level in the sign up.
Click here to sign-up to volunteer!
Thanks for helping us bring fun and learning through science to both students and parents alike!
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Island Books Fundraiser
The Mercer Island community has been part of very successful fundraising efforts over the years at Island Books. Now the owners, Roger & Nancy Page, are asking us to work our magic and whip up support for those less fortunate. All day Saturday, March 28th (9:30-6 pm), Island Books will donate 20% of sales proceeds and provide stacks of wish list books and art supplies for The First Place School, an elementary school developed especially to support homeless kids in the Seattle area.
Last year Island Books was able to write a check for $2000 and customers generously donated hundreds of books as well. Please complete the circle and help others in need as we have helped you. Roger and Nancy Page
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MIPA's Circus save-the-dateApril 25th from 10am-2pm
Circus in on it's way! Pony Rides, Dizzy's Tumble Bus, bouncy houses, face painting, carnival games, food trucks and more, you won't want to miss it.
The event is on Saturday, April 25th from 10am-2pm at the Mercer Island High School.
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Age 11, Sixth Grade Immunization Requirement
Dear Parents and Guardians of 5th grade students, All students at age 11 are required to obtain one dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis i.e. Whooping Cough) Vaccination to attend 6th Grade in the State of WA. This is a booster dose to combat the continued escalated cases of Whooping Cough in Washington State. Please make an appointment now, for your child to obtain the required vaccine at age 11. Report the date your student obtained the Tdap Vaccination to Bonnie Barthelme RN at Islander Middle School anytime between now and September 8, 2015. [email protected]
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Upcoming Events
Island Park Spring Party/Auction March 27th 6:30-11pm JCC
Spring Break April 6th-10th
5th Grade Islandwood April 13th-16th
50's Sock Hop April 24th 6.30-8.30pm MPR
Science Olympiad May 5th 6pm-8pm
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Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Thank you to Kim Chou and all the wonderful parent volunteers who threw another successful Staff Appreciation luncheon on March 16th!
Spring Party/Auction
Huge kudos to the fabulous team of parent volunteers that have helped pull together this year's Spring Party/Auction: Michelle Ritter, Heather Fowler & Sue Maas for coordinating all the Classroom Art projects (and doing several of the projects themselves); Mindy Smith, Kristi Mehal & Elizabeth Kaplan for rounding up all the Teacher Features; Kendra Hubbell for filming and editing the amazing Learning Support video, Jamie Herz for securing the ever important community sponsorships; Andrea Simpson, Tuuli Saloranta & Jessica Crump for coordinating the Dessert Dash! Liz Buckley for helping pull off the Ben Bridge Diamond Bracelet again; Kirk Robinson & Gerry Kenny for building and painting the beautiful corn hole boards for the tournament! and Becky McAuley for her tireless efforts in data entry and set-up so our event runs smoothly!
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MI Parent Edge Presents:
KATIE DAVIS - Growing Up in the App Generation
Monday, March 30th, 7 pm, MIHS PAC
Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation: How Today's Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy, and Imagination in a Digital World conducted extensive research on how the digital youth of the "app generation" learn, communicate and express themselves. As parents and teachers, we might fear that apps blur a sense of identity, encourage superficial relations with others, and stunt creative imagination; however, they can also promote a strong sense of identity, allow deep relationships, and stimulate creativity. Join us to learn what it means to be "app-dependent" versus "app-enabled" and how life for this generation differs from life before the digital era. This event is geared towards parents of kids of all ages; students in grades 7-12 are also welcome and encouraged to attend. MI Parent Edge is jointly sponsored by the PTA's of Lakeridge, Island Park, West Mercer, Islander Middle, MIHS and St. Monica schools. Please visit www.miparentedge.org to view the entire parent education calendar of events.
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Island Park PTA Presents 50's Sock Hop
April 24th 6:30-8:30pm
All "cool" K-5 students and families are invited to put on your best "50's" styles. Come for the fun to raise funds for the "hand-in-hand instructional assistants" program. There will be live music featuring our very own Mr. and Mrs. Hamp with their singing group and four piece band the "The Raretones".
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Volunteer Appreciation & Awards
SAVE THE DATE
Please Save the Date for the 2015 Volunteer Appreciation Event to be held on Wednesday, June 10th. More details to follow. If you would like to nominate someone for this year's awards, please contact Jola Jensen [email protected] or pick up a form on the PTA bulletin board in the main hallway or in the main office.
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Yearbook Team needs you! Enjoy Online Scrapbooking? Do you enjoy online scrap-booking? Want to help preserve your kids school year? If you are interested in being part of the yearbook team this year and next year, contact Sandra, [email protected] or Tammy, [email protected].
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Learning Garden Leaders Needed!
Spring is almost here and we are desperately looking for a volunteer to create a garden plan and coordinate helpers to work in our Island Park Learning Garden.
Our beautiful garden space has been seriously neglected and is ripe for new ideas. We have kids (and parents) who are eager to get their hands dirty but we need an interested parent or grandparent to create a vision and schedule some work parties. If you have a green thumb and are interested in taking on this Fun volunteer opportunity, please contact Erin McGuire at [email protected].
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Congratulations to Ms. Carlson's Class for winning the winter BoxTops contest! Ms. Carlson's class collected a whopping 1,014 BoxTops (beating the 2nd place classroom by 338 BoxTops!). The kids celebrated their win with a special popsicle recess this past Friday, March 20th. Next BoxTops contest starts April 1st! Keep clipping and sending them in. The next winning class will get to have breakfast in the classroom - complete with doughnuts and cereal!
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Library News
Storyteller/Author Visits
This March we have the good fortune to have two author/storyteller events in Island Park Library. On Monday, March 30th, Martha Brockenbrough will be here presenting to the third through fifth grade classes. Then on Tuesday, March 31st George Shannon will be presenting to the kindergarten through second grade classes. These events have been made possible grants from the Island Park PTA and the Bainbridge Schools Foundation.
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6th Grade IMS School Supplies
Helping Education-Here and Globally Attention all 5th Grade Parents! Unlike the elementary schools, Islander Middle School does not offer a school supply package service that provides your student with all of the year's supplies.
However, HelpEduc8, local, charitable business, offers the same service. HelpEduc8 sells pre-made packages of school supplies to families of Mercer Island middle school students. Each package is custom-made in consultation with IMS teachers to contain all the supplies a 6th grader will need at Islander Middle School for the entire year, at a lower price than one would pay buying all supplies separately at local stores. HelpEduc8 saves you time and money, and ensures that your student will have all of the necessary supplies to have a successful school year. All net profits are donated to Save the Children, a charity dedicated to providing education and hope to millions of children worldwide affected by conflict.
Please contact us at [email protected] to be added to our email list and notified when packages are available to order for the 2014-2015 school year, or if you have any questions you may have about our services. We will also be attending the IMS Gator for Night event on March 18th; feel free to stop by our table to find out more about what we do!
Thanks!
Lindsey Reitinger, Evelyn Davis, and Amanda WallHelpEduc8, LLC
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MERCER ISLAND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
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MI Parent Edge - 2014-2015 Calendar of Parent Education Events
Join Parent Edge for a great year of stimulating speakers and events! Please visit www.miparentedge.org to view the entire calendar.
MI Parent Edge is jointly sponsored by the PTA's of Lakeridge, Island Park, West Mercer, Islander Middle, MIHS and St. Monica schools.
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MERCER ISLAND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
Looking for sports or activities for your child? Check out Mercer Island Activities for Kids for a listing of the most recent activities!
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CrossFit
Join us for a 4 week camp incorporating CrossFit, social skills, team building and nutrition. Sessions are led by a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer and CrossFit Kids coach. During the 4 week camp your child will be introduced to healthy movements, team building activities, social skills, emotion regulation and healthy eating habits. They will learn about nutrition and make healthy snacks to bring home all while moving and engaging in individual and team activities.
Cost: Register early and save! $125 until 4/1/15 $145 until 4/19/15 $165 until 4/25/15
When: Sunday's from 12-2pm for 4 weeks. **April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17. Where: Mercer Island CrossFit, 3801 E. Mercer Way (inside the SJCC) *You do not have to be a member of CrossFit or the SJCC to attend the camp.
Who: Any and all kids in grades 2-5
Contact Allison McGee to register or for more information- [email protected], 206-595-2011
Mercer Island Parks & Recreation
Run Like a Girl
Hard. Fast. Strong.
Female 5K fun run
Calling all girls, ladies and women! Dress up for fun, and run or walk through beautiful Luther Burbank Park. Guys come cheer them on!
Register course #15551 at www.myparksandrecreation.com or call 206.275.7609
Registration deadline May 3.
T-shirts for all participants. No bibs or chips.
Download waiver from www.playonmercer.com (special event page) and email to [email protected] or drop off at the M.I. Community & Event Center. More details available at www.playonmercerisland.com
(special events)
Parks and Recreation Egg Hunts
April 4, Mercerdale Park
Sponsored by Windermere Real Estate and JayMarc Homes
Lil'Ones Egg Hunt Bring a basket and your sweet tooth and get ready to hunt for goodies. Find a golden egg for the "eggstra" special surprise. A separate section will be reserved for the 1 to 3 year old hunters. Ages: 1 - 6 Time: 5pm Sharp! Fee: $5 Donation/Family No registration required. Flashlight Egg Hunt Bring your flashlight and a basket to haul off your loot. Lots of eggs, candy and prizes for everyone. Find the golden egg during our Eggstravaganza for an "eggstra" special surprise.Ages: 7 - 10 Time: 8:30pm Sharp! Fee: $5 Donation/Family No registration required.
Boy Scouts
Attention all parents of 5th grade boys. Is your son interested in adventure, leadership and serving your community? Has he ever thought about becoming an Eagle Scout? Does he like to have fun? Is he active? Mercer island Boy Scouts Troop 457 has provided these opportunities to boys since it began in 1953. Boy Scouts is open to all boys ages 11 & up with no prior scouting experience required. If you are thinking about joining or want more information, please view our website or contact outreach coordinator, Karen LeMaster at [email protected] or Scoutmaster Dan Hansen at [email protected]
Modern Manners for Children
Clise Etiquette offers classes and camps for children.
Class May 3rd 10am-1pm Mercer Island
Camps July 20th-24th and August 24th-28th Seattle
for more information visit www.cliseetiquette.com
SJCC Summer Camps
SJCC has been a defining time for thousands of campers over the past five decades. Campers learn songs, play gaga, act onstage, create science experiments, and make lifelong friendships. Whether this will be your first summer or you're a seasoned veteran, we are excited for you to build friendships, create memories, connect with the outdoors, and, most importantly, have fun in the sun! SJCC Summer Camp has weekly options from June 22 through August 28. Camp runs Mondays to Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here for full details. Sponge Summer School
Hola! Ni Hao! Konnichiwa! Summer is coming up quick and we're excited to offer immersion camps in Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese! Camp is a great opportunity to continue language over the summer, or to try something new! Week-long camps are offered in Bellevue and Seattle from June 22 through July 24. For more information and to register for camp, visit us online at www.spongeschool.com/sign-up/summer-camp/. Interested in joining classes mid-session on Mercer Island? Classes for Spanish, French and Mandarin are held before and after school at all three Mercer Island Elementary schools. Busing is available between schools, so your children can learn their favorite language regardless of the school they attend. Contact us by email at [email protected] or give us a call at (425) 274-5188 with any questions. We love to see new faces!
Girls Spring Softball
No experience needed. All ages are welcome and wanted!
Registration for Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camps begins on February 7, 2015!
We offer a wide variety of summer camps, including art, cooking, Legos, kayaking, music, sailing, sports, & day camps for ages 3 & up. View the camp brochure online at www.playonmercer.com.
Cheerleading Camps
Come join the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department Cheerleading Program!
All skill levels welcome! For more information or Sign up for classes by calling 206-275-7609 or register online at www.MyParksAndRecreation.com. Scholarships available for Mercer Island residents who qualify.
Rain City Water Polo
Does your child love the water and team sports? Then water polo is perfect. We specialize in introducing kids to the sport and have programs to suit all ages. Boys and girls age five and older are welcome to join us. We have programs in north Seattle, west Seattle and on Mercer Island. A Free Trial is always available.
Check out our offerings at www.raincitypolo.com or get in touch by emailing [email protected] or by calling 206-999-5686.
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Mercer Island School District
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Island Park PTA
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THANK YOU 2014 -2015 HAND IN HAND AUCTION SPONSORS!
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