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THE WOLF
October 16, 2014
 
In This Issue
Mark Your Calendars
Thank You!
Seahawks Spirit Day
Shoe and Sock Drive
Artwork for WM Directory
Vision & Hearing Screening
BoxTops Collection
Counseling Program
New K-2 Literacy Curriculum
Ski and Sports Swap
School MakeUp March 16
MISD Construction Updates
MIPA Halloween Party
Toy Swap
MathComp and ScienceFun
Bellevue Ice Arena
Youth Theater Northwest
Parks & Rec
Sponge Language Classes
TechSmartKids
Yoga
Newsletter Submissions

  

Halloween is just around the corner but we've got some important announcements and updates before the ghosts and goblins start ringing your doorbell and demanding treats! So pull up a chair and sip a hot beverage while you read what's coming up at West Mercer Elementary and in the community.

 


 
Mark Your Calendars

 

October 17th - Seahawks Spirit Day!

 

October 18th - October 19th:  Legislative Assembly 

 

Wednesday, October 22:  Picture Re-Take Day

 

Thursday, October 23rd: 6:00pm All Island Band Night Rehearsal

 

Friday, October 24th:  All Island Band Night

 

Friday, October 24:  Popcorn Friday

 

Monday, October 27th - Hearing/Vision Screening 

 

October 27th - October 28th:  MISF Phone-a-Thon

 

November 5th - Staff/Teacher Appreciation Lunch

 

November 8th - IMS PTSA Ski and Sport Swap

 

November 11th - NO SCHOOL/VETERANS DAY

 

November 13th - BoxTops Collection Day

 

November 15th - MIPA Toy Swap

 

 

WEST MERCER ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU!

A GIANT Thank You to our WM Fall Cleanup Volunteers!  

Many hands make little work, was never truer than last Wednesday when a civic minded group of parents and children came together to weed and prune the very overgrown West Mercer courtyard. Your sweat equity truly made the courtyard a more inhabitable space for children and teachers to use throughout the school year. On behalf of all those who can now use the space more comfortably, thank you so very much!    
                  
Seahawks Spirit Day!

This Friday, October 17th
is Seahawks Spirit Day!  

 

Show your spirit and wear Seahawks Gear, wear Blue and Green, or wear PINK just like the Pros do to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Go Hawks! 


Shoe and Sock Drive

Congratulations on a successful  
Shoe and Sock Drive during Walk to School Day! 

 

West Mercer families donated 146 pairs of shoes and 96 pairs of socks to benefit Treehouse Foster Care Support in Seattle.  What an amazing effort to show our support!  Many thanks to everyone who donated!

-West Mercer Student Council

    

Artwork needed for the 2014-15 School Directory

                   
All students are encouraged to enter an original artwork for the West Mercer Elementary Directory. Our theme is: PAWS

 

Use your imagination, be creative, and have
FUN.  

 

You may draw your artwork on THIS FORM or on an 8.5x11 sheet of plain (unlined) paper and make sure to outline your drawings with a marker. Don't forget to write your name, grade, and teacher at the bottom of your artwork. Please submit your entries at the front office.

  

Questions? Contact Somkul Asava-aree at sasavaaree@gmail.com

 

Deadline is Monday, October 20, 2014

  
Vision & Hearing Screening Volunteers Needed! 
 
West Mercer's annual vision and hearing screening takes place
on MONDAY, October 27th.
 
We need over 30 volunteers to successfully screen our entire student body (~ 670 students)! We are in need of  more volunteers to work either the morning shift (9:00 ~12:20) or  the afternoon shift (12:15-3:15). Training is provided at the start of the shift.
We also need about 3 people to help with re-screens in the morning on Thursday, Oct. 30th. 
 
Click Here to sign up now! 

  

Questions?  Please contact Susan Anderson at susan.anderson@we4ski.net.
 
BoxTops Collection

Wolves please turn in your BoxTops and Labels for Education on Thursday, November 13th. 

 We'll be collecting them under the covered area during lunch recess - help your school PTA, and receive a prize for every 50 BoxTops/Labels turned in!  

 Questions - please contact 

wmboxtopsandlabels@gmail.com 

 
West Mercer Elementary
Counseling Program
 
Dear Parents and Guardians:
During a child's elementary school years, important development is taking place intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally. At West Mercer, we recognize that a child might get discouraged in any one of these areas. To help navigate these issues, a full-time school counselor from Mercer Island  Youth and Family Services is available to provide services again this year. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LETTER OUTLINING WEST MERCER'S COUNSELING PROGRAM
 
Laura Falsgraf, MA, LMHC
West Mercer Elementary School Counselor
Mercer Island Youth and Family Services
Office #206-236-3438
 
SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS
TODAY!
Informational Sessions on MISD's NEW K-2 Literacy Curriculum 

Please join MISD staff members to hear more about our new K-2 curriculum, learn how to support your child at home, and discuss future plans for grades 3, 4, and 5.
 
Thursday, October 16
Session 1- 9:30am to 10:30am; PEAK (Boys and Girls Club)

Session 2- 7:00pm to 8:00pm; Islander Middle School Library (Repeat of Session 1)

More information here.
  
SKI AND SPORTS SWAP Needs Your Help!
 
IMS PTSA Ski & Sports Swap will be
November 8, from 8am -2pm

This annual tradition is a wonderful opportunity to come out for a few hours and make a huge difference AND be first in line for the sale!
 
Click here MI Ski & Sports Swap Volunteer Sign Up to go directly to sign up or find more info at www.mi-skiswap.com.  Be part of the legacy. 
 
Mercer Island School District Using March 16 as
Make-Up Day
                                         
The Mercer Island School District will hold classes on Monday, March 16 to make up for the day that was missed Sept. 29. All schools, programs and transportation will operate on a normal Monday schedule. Read more...
  
MISD Construction Updates

You may have seen the story, "School district launches online construction update tool," last week. Through these facilities web pages, the district will provide regular updates to the community regarding the three targeted facilities projects to address school overcrowding authorized in the February 2014 special election.

The online construction tool is available here.

Updates will also be posted through the district Facebook and Twitter accounts.

 
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
MIPA Halloween Party
  

The Mercer Island Preschool Association's Halloween Party is a fun, non-spooky event designed for preschoolers and all children ages 1 to 6. There will be fun Halloween-themed crafts, games, and activities, and of course, tricks and treats! Bring children dressed up in their favorite costumes.

 

Join us this year:

When:  Saturday, October 25th, 2014, 10 am - Noon
Where:  Mercer Island Community Center, Mercer Room, 8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Island, WA
Who:  Families with children ages 1 to 6
Cost: $3 per child (MIPA members) or $5 per child (non-MIPA members)  

 

Toy Swap is Coming Soon!
November 15 at IMS

Clean out your playroom and donate toys and gear to MIPA. Toy Swap proceeds fund MIPA charities such as preschool scholarships and parks for our own community.

 

Clothes and shoes will be accepted, but will be merchandised differently this year. Some items may be donated to other charities. We will be striving for a more manageable inventory of desirable clothes and shoes for the event.

 

More information about donating available here.

 

If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please email Toy Swap Co-Chairs Becky McKanna or Christy Shiers.

 
2014 CIE/USA-Seattle MathComp and ScienceFun Program

 

This year Chinese Institute of Engineers will again host the annual CIE/USA-Seattle Math Comp and Science Fun Program at Interlake High School, Bellevue.  More program information available here.

 

This is a great way to help kids engage in STEM activities. And just like last year, we will also host an education-related seminar for parents. Interested students please complete the online Registration Form by 10/22/2014 (Wednesday). No registration fee required. 

  

For more information about CIE Seattle Chapter and our annual MathComp/ScienceFun program, please visit our website at: www.cie-sea.org.

 

Bellevue Magic Season 
Ice Arena

Dates: Nov. 28, 2014 - Jan. 11, 2015 
Location: Bellevue Downtown Park
 

Skate and celebrate at the Magic Season Ice Arena, the region's largest open-air holiday ice skating experience! This beloved Magic Season tradition is the perfect memory-making activity for family and friends. The festive venue offers shelter for all-weather skating, seasonal food and beverage concessions, music from STAR 101.5.    This is also an easy fundraising opportunity for our school. Simply tell the attendant at the entrance which school you are from and each student attending will raise $3 for their school's PTA.   

 

Click here for more information.

 

Youth Theatre Northwest presents:

 

WHO : Youth Theatre Northwest

WHAT : Night of the Living Dead by Lori Allen Ohm

WHERE: Luther Burbank Park, 2040 84th Avenue Southeast, Mercer Island

WHEN: October 17, 18, 24 & 25 -FRI/SAT at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., & 9:30 p.m.

HOW: Tickets are available at YouthTheatre.org or at box office (prior to performance time)

 

Audience members are asked to report to the Box Office located near the North Parking lot

 

Read more here

 

YTN Website: YouthTheatre.org

YTN Phone: 206-232-4145

YTN Offices: Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 4400 86th Ave SE

 

Mercer Island Parks & Rec

  

Fall/Winter Registration has started.  Go to www.playonmercer.com to view 
the online digital guide.

Parks & Rec Fun Fall Events!

 

Monster Mash Dash: Family FUN RUN

  
Dress up and join us for a run or walk through Luther Burbank Park. Runners will run from the south end of the park to Calkins Point and back. Refreshments served afterwards. Don't forget to dress up for the costume contest with prizes awarded! Dogs on a leash are welcome and also encouraged to wear a costume!

Age: All Ages
Day/Date: Saturday October 25
Time: 10am
Fee: $12 + tax (children in strollers are FREE) register at www.myparksandrecreation.com or call 275-7609 course #15062
Location: Luther Burbank Park (South End Near Beach)

 

Sponge Language Classes

 Hola, Ni Hao, and Bonjour!

Sponge language classes are just getting started for the year at the Mercer Island Elementary schools, and you can still sign up for class! We offer a research-based, exciting and engaging curriculum taught primarily in the target language. Our goal is to help build comprehension and communication skills through active learning -- which means lots of games, stories and songs!  It's not too late to join the fun! 

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.  Visit www.spongeschool.com/sign-up/ and select the big pink "Mercer Island Elementary Registration" button to register. Contact us by email at info@spongeschool.com or call us at 425.274.5188 with any questions. 

Register now and secure your spot in class! 

 

TechSmartKids - 2014
After School Computer Programming Course
 

TechSmartKids, a leading provider of computer

science and physical computing education for elementary and middle school students is offering

after school computer programming classes for

West Mercer students and the community.

 

For students new to coding this fall TechSmartKids

will be offering their C101-Intro to Coding I class

for Grades 2-5.

 

Classes begin the week of October 6th

 

The C101-Intro to Coding I class meets once a week

for 90 minutes at one of the following times:

 

* Wednesday 2:40-4:10pm

* Thursday 4:15-5:45pm

* Friday 4:15-5:45pm

 

Enrollment

Enroll Online: http://www.TechSmartKids.com 

Enroll by phone: 425-786-7824

TechSmartKids Fall 2014 Courses available here.

Yoga - Fall 2014 Yoga for Athletes Classes at PEAK!  

 

Yoga for kid athletes! Join certified kids yoga instructor, Heather Feldman from Yellow Yoga, for a weekly one hour yoga session that is specifically designed for child athletes. Build core strength, increase flexibility and balance, help prevent injuries, increase focus and attention, increase endurance, boost self-confidence, and promote mental, physical and emotional health. For more information please contact Becky Shaddle, bshaddle@positiveplace.org 

 

WEDNESDAYS at 6pm, ages 7-10 

SUNDAYS at 5pm, ages 9-11 


SUNDAYS  at 4pm, Parent and Child (ages 8-13)

 


NEWSLETTER
SUBMISSIONS
The Wolf newsletter will go out on the first and third Thursday of each month.  If you have any announcements that you would like to appear in an upcoming newsletter, please send in your submissions by the end of business day on Monday prior to publication.  Submissions can be made to:  westmercernewsletter@gmail.com.  
West Mercer Elementary PTA | 4141 81st Avenue | Mercer Island, Washington 98040 | 206-236-3430