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  THE WOLF
January 8, 2015
 
In This Issue
Mark Your Calendars
Seahawks Spirit Day!
Hoe Down
WM Science Fair
Running Club Returns
Health Room Request
MISD Legislative Coffee
My MI Health/Wellness Fair
MI Crossfit for Kids
MI Junior Hoopsters
MIFC Winter Sessions
MI Girls Lacrosse
TechSmartKids
Sponge Language Classes
Winter MIBGC Programs
Boys Spring Lacrosse
Bellevue Ice Arena
Newsletter Submissions
  

Welcome back and happy new year! We hope that you had a fun and relaxing winter break. Please note that school will be out January 19th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr Day. For those with incoming kindergarteners, the roundup will be January 26th at Island Park--hard to believe it is already time to start planning for next year. Though we have enjoyed some stunning, if cold, weather, don't forget to prepare for inclement weather; email and text alerts are available by signing up at www.flashalert.net   

 


Mark Your Calendars

January 8th - Winter session of Thursday Art Club begins

January 9th - 9:30AM Principal's Coffee

January 9th - SEAHAWKS SPIRIT DAY!!!

January 16th - 9:30AM - 11:30AM Elementary School Visitation for new/transferring families

January 19th - NO SCHOOL/MLK DAY

January 21st - 7:00PM 5th Grade Band/Orchestra Curriculum Night

January 23rd - 6:30-8:00PM Hoe Down at West Mercer

January 26th - 7:00-8:00PM  Kindergarten Roundup at Island Park for incoming families

January 30th - 9:30AM 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Assembly

January 30th - Popcorn Friday

Looking ahead:
February 13th - Kindergarten registration deadline

February 16th-20th - Mid-Winter Break

 

WEST MERCER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Seahawks Spirit Day!    

This Friday, January 9th is SEAHAWKS SPIRIT DAY!

Consider coming to school in Seahawks Gear or wear Blue and Green!   We want to show our support for the Seahawks for this Saturday'sdivisional-round playoff against the Carolina Panthers!  Show your spirit West Mercer!  Go Hawks!

 

West Mercer Hoe Down!    

Hee-Haaaawwww!!!!   

Kick up your boots at the  

West Mercer Hoedown!

 

When:     Friday, January 23  6:30-8:00pm

Where:    West Mercer Elementary

 

This is a great way to socialize with friends, show off your dance moves, and cheer on the kids as they show off the dance skills they learn during Hoedown Week!

 

$5 per person (includes a cookie or two!)

 

Please contact Yvonne Peters with questions (425.466.8904)   ypeters@alliedemployers.org

West Mercer Science Fair

 

Science Fair Registration
opens January 26th and
closes February 13th!

Looking forward to meeting and seeing our scientists this year on April 1st 2015.

Log on to West Mercer Science Fair
to register your scientists!

Friday Morning
Running Club Returns!

3rd, 4th and 5th graders are invited to join fellow Islanders from Island Park, West Mercer, and Lakeridge Elementaries for a half hour of heart pumping exercises, drills and running. Beginning at the end of January, we meet at the IMS track at 8:25 and MISD school buses will take you to your respective school at 8:55. This club is a free, non-competitive way to fire up your brain and body for school. Everyone is welcome to join as long as you wear warm running clothes, running shoes and bring with you a good attitude. We gear up for the MI Rotary Run 5k on March 22, but even if you don't want to participate in that event, you are welcome to join us for the Friday runs. The first kids to attend 3 practices will earn a MI Running Club sweatshirt.  Parent volunteers who like to run are welcome and encouraged to join us if your schedule permits.
 
When: Friday mornings 8:25-8:55
Duration: Jan. 30 - March 20 (depending on interest level we may continue after Spring Break)
Where: IMS track
Cancellations: Rain or snow cancels practice
Contact: Susan Empey (susanempey@yahoo.com)
Sign up: email Susan to be included in email updates and submit the signed waiver by the first practice  
Cost: FREE (if you decide to do the MI 5K, there is a registration fee)

Request from the 
Health Room

 

The health room is in need of girl leggings, stretchy pants and underwear sizes 6 - 18 or S- XL. These type of pants work best because they can fit a variety of different body types. We hardly have any to offer the gals that fell in the mud or have had an accident. Any donations can be dropped off in the health room or office.

 Thank you! 

 
DISTRICT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MISD Legislative Coffee:  Legislative Funding Impacts to MI Schools

 

Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Time: 9:30 am

Location: Island Park Elementary Library

Host:  Island Park PTA

 

The Mercer Island School District will be impacted by recent legislative changes including the McCleary Ruling, Initiative 1351 and the expiration of the 4% increase to the local school funding levy.  Come join the PTA Legislative Committee for a presentation by Dean Mack, Mercer Island School District CFO, on the impact of these upcoming fiscal changes to our school funding and learn how we as a community can advocate for our school district.  

 

For a nice summary of these issues, please see Lakeridge PTA's Advocacy page   
http://lakeridgepta.org/volunteer/legislationadvocacy/
 
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
My MI Health and
Wellness Fair

When: Saturday, January 10, 2015, 10 am - 2 pm

Where: Mercer Island Community & Event Center.

 

What: My MI invites West Mercer families to attend our upcoming Health & Wellness Fair, a FREE family-friendly event to promote, share, and celebrate health and wellness on Mercer Island.  Features of the event include educational presentations, a Kid Zone (with wellness activities, face painting, a fitness circuit, and more), 25+ health and wellness exhibitors; sandwich samples from Homegrown, and more! 
 

For the latest event info, visit:  

 

MI CrossFit for Kids 
at the SJCC
 
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! 
$135 until 1/10/15
$150 until 1/17/15
 
When: Sunday's from 1-3pm for 4 weeks. **Jan 18, 25, Feb 1, 8th. 

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, they do not have to be a member of the SJCC or CrossFit to attend. 
 
Contact Allison McGee to register or for more information - 206-595-2011 

MI Junior Hoopsters
 
Winter Clinic with Girls Varsity Coach Kaela Yuen & MIHS girls' coaching staff and players. 

Grades K-5, Saturdays 12-1:30pm

For more information, click here.

MIFC Technical Director's Winter Sharpness Sessions
 

The Winter Sharpness Sessions will be a fast-paced, fun filled training environment providing players with activities and games that are purposefully fun while simultaneously developing their fundamental skill base.  Your child will learn the way, and dribbling moves, of Messi, Renaldo, Dempsey, Yedlin and the like!

For more information, click here.


Register Now 
for MI Girls Lacrosse Spring Season - Grades 1-8
 
Registration is OPEN at www.MIGirlsLacrosse.com. Mercer Island Girls Lacrosse focuses on developing individual and team skills, and strives to provide a high-quality experience to all players, at all levels, by fostering sportsmanship and promoting a love for the game. We are excited to see our returning players, and we welcome girls who are new to lacrosse and want to join the fastest growing sport in North America!
 
Don't wait to register as a $25 late fee will be charged for registrations after January 15. If you have questions about the upcoming season, equipment needs, practice schedules, etc., please contact migirlslaxms@gmail.com (Grades 5-8) or migirlslaxes@gmail.com (Grades 1-4).
 
 Winter 2015 
After School Coding Courses

TechSmart Kids teaches after school Coding (Computer Science) & Making (Physical Computing) courses for elementary & middle school students. This fall over 200 students on Mercer Island enrolled in TechSmartKids Coding Courses.
 
Enrollment is now available for TechSmartKids Winter 2015 Coding Courses:
 
Enroll Online:          http://www.TechSmartKids.com
 
Enroll by phone:      (425) 786-7824
 
For more information, click here.
 
Sponge Language Classes

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Xīnnián Kuàilè! Bonne Année! Happy New Year! 

Here at Sponge, we're looking forward to a new year full of language immersion and learning, and there´s still space in many of our classes at the Mercer Island elementary schools. Language is such a gift, and we're very excited to share it with each and every one of you. We could say, ¡Toma un regalo! ¡Gracias! Zhè shì lǐ wù! Xiè Xiè! Voilà un cadeau! Merci!Here´s a present! Thank you!

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/ to register. Contact us by email at info@spongeschool.com or give us a call at (425) 274-5188 with any questions. Register now and secure your spot in class! We´d love to see you in the New Year! 

 

See lists of some of our favorite books and music in French, Spanish, and Mandarin!

 

 

Boys and Girls Club Winter Athletic Programs
 
Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club offers a number of active programs for kids throughout the fall and winter, including:
  • Basketball 
  • Parkour
  • Wrestling
  • Yellow Yoga
  • Futsal
  • Baseball try-outs
 Programs are ongoing. See the flyer, 
www.mi.positiveplace.org, or call 206-232-4548 for more info.
Boys Spring Lacrosse 2015

 

REGISTRATION at mercerislandlacrosse.com

 

Kindergarten

Sundays 3/15/15 - 5/17/15, 2:30-3:30  

IMS South Playfields

Equipment: stick, cleats, dress for inclement weather

 

1st/2nd Grade

Practice Thursdays 3/12/15, weekly, 3:45-5PM 

At your MI elementary school

First scrimmage 3/15/14, last scrimmage 5/17/15

Scrimmages: Sundays 1-2:30 at IMS South Playfields

Equipment: stick, cleats, dress for inclement weather

 

3rd/4th Grade

Practice Tuesdays, 3/10/15, weekly, 3:45-5PM

At your MI elementary school
Games weekly on MI/greater eastside, mainly Sat

First games 3/14/15, last games 5/16/15

Equipment: stick, full pads (helmet, chest/shoulder, elbow, gloves, mouth guard), athletic cup

 

5th - 8th  (Excluding Silver/Black Teams)

First practice Monday 2/23/15

Practices weekly Mon/Wed/Fri at IMS 4:30-6:30pm

Games weekly on Saturdays on MI/greater eastside

First games 3/7/15, last games 5/16/15

Equipment: stick, full pads (helmet, chest/shoulder, elbow, gloves, mouth guard), athletic cup

 

Questions K-2nd grade contact Jola Jensen: jolajensen4@gmail.com

Questions 3rd/4th grade contact Missy Johnson: tonyandmissyjohnson@comcast.net

Questions 5th/6th grade contact Sarah Rowe: sarah.rowe@comcast.net

Questions 7th/8th grade contact Susie Plummer: susie@uvillage.com

 

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.


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:  editor@westmercerpta.com.  
West Mercer Elementary PTA | 4141 81st Avenue | Mercer Island, Washington 98040 | 206-236-3430