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  THE WOLF
October 8th, 2015
 
In This Issue
Mark Your Calendars
Thank you!
Vision & Hearing
Directory Artwork
WM Garden Clean Up
Literacy App
WM Counseling
District Announcements
Legislative Update
Community Events
Newsletter Submissions
  

Dear West Mercer families,

 

What a great start to the school year already! Fun social events welcoming our new families, celebrating our community, and helping others have been a big part of the first month of school. Hopefully you are enjoying this busy time with all of the activities and programs with your kids!

 

This week's Wolf is packed with fun social events, great after school programs and important information about upcoming elections and legislative issues. Please don't forget that there is NO SCHOOL TOMORROW! 

 

Sincerely, 

West Mercer PTA

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Fri, Oct 9th: NO SCHOOL/State Inservice Day

Tue, Oct 13th: Hearing/Vision Testing

Thurs, Oct 15th: All Island Band Night Rehearsal

Fri, Oct 16th: Popcorn Friday

Fri, Oct 16th: All Island Band Night

Wed, Oct 21st: Fall Clean Up Day

Fri, Oct 23rd: Principal's Coffee

Mon, Oct 26th: Election Forum at WM

Oct 26-27: MISF Phone-a-thon

Wed, Oct 28th: Picture Re-Take/Class Picture
 

 

WEST MERCER ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU!

Thanks to all the families that joined in for our Ice Cream Social -- Over 850 bowls served! Thanks to all the volunteers (who scooped 26 gallons) & special thanks to our fantastic Ice Cream Social chairs:
TAMAR MAR & KARRIE SUTKUS

Hats off to BARB DI RE for chairing & hosting our Kindergarten Social! We hope all of the Kindergarten parents enjoyed the festivities and made some long-lasting friendships. 

Congratulations to LAUREL BAKER for such a successful New Families' Social.  Thanks for hosting and we welcome all new families to West Mercer!

Finally, a big thanks to everyone who ditched their cars and walked to school / took the bus on Wednesday. Thanks to all the volunteers who made it happen. Keep up the habit! And thank you to all the STUDENT COUNCIL parents who brought muffins for the event and another shout out to Einstein's for donating bagels!
 
Vision & Hearing Screening
Volunteers Still Needed!
  
On October 13th, West Mercer will hold the annual Vision & Hearing Screening.
If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please follow the link to sign up.
If you have questions, please contact Susan Anderson.

Directory Artwork for WM's 
2015-2016 School Directory

Deadline: Tues, October 13th

All students are encouraged to enter an original artwork for the West Mercer School Directory.

Our theme is: West Mercer Wolf P.A.W.S
Use your imagination, be creative, and have FUN.
Questions? Contact Maricel Aziz at  maricel@reflectionsloft.com, or see the attached  flyer.

WM Garden Clean Up!
  
Join your fellow West Mercer families for a fun day of sprucing up the WM front garden and courtyard. We'll do a bit of weeding and plant bulbs to beautify the garden this coming spring. Great way for kids to have fun learning about plants and take pride in their school!

Wednesday, October 14th, 2:00 PM, just after early release. Dress for the weather and meet at the courtyard with gloves for you and your kiddo and your favorite weeding tool! Bulbs and yard waste bags provided.

Please RSVP to Kate Akyuz, projectkate@gmail.com so we know how many will join this fun fall event.

Kindergarten Team 
Needs Help with Literacy App
  
The West Mercer Kindergarten Team is looking for someone to create a very basic app to go with their literacy curriculum.  If you know how to create iOS apps we would love to chat with you!!  Please contact 
Julie Newcomer if you are able to volunteer your time and talent. THANK YOU!!
WM 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 school counselor from Mercer Island Youth and Family Services is available to provide services again this year.
We provide age-appropriate classroom activities and discussions about relationships, decision-making and problem-solving, and other issues related to physical and emotional health including teaching students our conflict management program called Kelso's Choice. Here is a helpful 
website: kelsoschoice.com/community/parent-page
Please read the attached letter from Jennifer Johnson for more detailed information.

 
DISTRICT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MI Parent Edge Presents

Throw Out the Checklisted Childhood!

Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of "How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success"

Thurs, Oct 29 7 PM, MIHS PAC

Join Parent Edge as we welcome Julie Lythcott-Haims, author and former Stanford University Dean of Freshmen, for an engaging and informative evening taking a hard look at the overparenting trend in today's society. While the stories and statistics can be tough to hear, especially since we will likely catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mix, the solutions and end-result of raising self-sufficient, resourceful kids is well worth the pain! 

Please go to the attached link to view the full flyer.

For parents of kids of all ages. Free with PTA Membership.
 
MI Parent Edge is jointly sponsored by the PTAs of Island Park, Lakeridge, West Mercer, Islander Middle, MIHS and St. Monica schools.

MI Band Boosters Present

Island Carnival!

A Band Together Fundraiser for Grades 5 - 12
Saturday, November 7th: 6 - 10:00pm
Mercer Island Community Center
Adults Only

Don't miss this unique evening to support MI School district band programs. The evening's theme, "Island Carnival!" will feature an eclectic mix of music by Seattle-based band En Canto, wine, beer, hors d'oeuvres and desserts with a Brazilian flair. There will also be a Live and Silent auction, featuring one-of-a-kind auction items. 

For tickets, please visit www.misbb.org or for more details, see this flyer.

 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

November 3rd Election

Mercer Island has five open City Council positions and three open School Board positions. 
 
The deadline for Voter Registration and address change/updates for the November 3 electionis October 5th. In-person registration deadline for those not currently registered to vote in Washington State is October 26th. 

For more information on candidates or to register to vote, click here.

Upcoming Candidate Forum:

October 14th, 7-9:00 pm
Storm Jewish Community Center

PTA Election Forum - Focus on Schools

October 26, 7-8:30 pm
West Mercer Elementary School Gym

Come get informed and hear from the Mercer Island candidates running in the November 3 General Election.  This forum is an opportunity for the candidates to share their positions on school-related issues. This forum will include a brief talk from the primary election candidates and an ample audience Q&A period.
 
To learn more about the General Election please visit the King County Elections Website.
 
Legislative Assembly 

Legislative Assembly is October 24 at the Red Lion Inn in Olympia.  If you are interested in attending, contact our Co-VPs of Advocacy. To read about the WSPTA priorities for the 2015-2016 school year, click here.

For more information on legislative and advocacy issues impacting orchids, please visit the Legislation and Advocacy page on the WM PTA website.
 
Link to WMPTA Legislation and Advocacy
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS and PROGRAMS
The Mercer Island School District and WM PTA Council have neither reviewed nor approved the program, personnel, activities or organizations announced in this section. The participants agree to protect, indemnify and hold harmless the district and PTA, 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 information regarding these programs should not be considered a recommendation of the program by the school district or by the PTA. This is neither a school district nor a PTA sponsored activity.
 
Gymnastics Camp, Oct 9
The Newport High School Gymnastics team is offering a camp for K-6th grade kids on Fri, Oct 9th, 9AM-12PM. For more information click here, or see the attached flyer

MI Community Dinner

MI Food revolution and Let's Move Community Dinner at the MI Community and Events Center with Chef Kurt Dammeier. Thursday, October 15th at 5:30 or 7:00pm. The dinner is family friendly. Tickets are on sale now at www.mifoodrevolution.org. Please see the attached flyer for full information.

Seattle Children's Theater

Attached you will find the SCT School Year Catalogue. SCT offers programming throughout the school year and during school breaks.

2015-2016 Season
Subscriptions Now on Sale

SCT Drama School Programs
Summer Registration Open

Bippity Bricks LEGO Club

The Bippity Bricks LEGO Club is an after school program at West Mercer, open to girls and boys in 1st-5th grade. STEM topics like simple machines will be combined with building techniques like plate built lettering and building in the round. 

For more information and to register, click here or contact Alice Finch.

Fall After School Art Club

Art Club at West Mercer provides an opportunity for students to explore a variety of art forms.  Classes meet once a week, immediately after school, at West Mercer.  Classes are open to students in First through Fifth grades.

For more information, contact Ellen Hochberg at ellenhochberg1@comcast.net or 206.595.4662

Luther Burbank Playground Mosaics

An on-line application is now available for 3rd - 5th graders who enjoy working on creative, detail-oriented art projects and are available on Tuesday afternoons beginning in mid December. Click here for more information.

Parent Education Seminars
 
The Eastside Youth Soccer Association is proud to sponsor a series of talks by John O'Sullivan, founder of the Changing the Game Project. For more information, see the flyer.
 
MI Parks & Rec Events: Parents Night Out & Fun Run
 
Parents Night Out 
Saturday, 5-10pm, Ages 4-12
$15 first child; $10 siblings  
Register course #15838
 
Monster Mash Dash-One Mile Fun Run
Saturday, October 31, 10:00am
Only $10 per person and kids in strollers are free! Register course #1570 by October 23
206-275-7609
 
Join MI Girl Scouts!
 
Girl Scouts on Mercer Island is big! Our service unit is made up of over 30 troops of girls from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Learn more at
 
MI Select Boys Basketball
 
All 5th-8th grade boys interested in playing select basketball are encouraged to try out for the Mercer Island Select Program. For more information please go to www.mibasketball.org.

MI Girls Lacrosse Fall Ball
 
MI Elementary Fall Ball (1st - 4th Grade)
Sundays, Sept 20th - Nov 8th, 12:00-1:00pm

5th Grade Fall Ball
Sundays, Sept 20th - Nov 14th, 10:30am-12:00pm
5th grade girls play with the middle school girls
 
Registration is open! Visit www.migirlslacrosse.com or email: migirlslaxes@gmail.com.
 
Girls Basketball
K/1st and 2nd Grades

Boys & Girls Clubs Girls Basketball
K/1st Games on Mondays, Sept. 28th - Nov. 9th
2nd Grade Games on Thursdays, Oct. 1 - Nov. 12th
 
Register online at www.mi.positiveplace.org or call 206-436-1950.
 
Mercer Island Boy Scouts
  
Boy Scouts is open to all boys ages 11 & up, no prior scouting experience required. For more information, please view our website www.Troop457.com or contact outreach coordinator, Karen LeMaster or Scoutmaster, Dan Hanson. 
 
LOGOS

LOGOS is a weekly camp style program for 1st - 5th graders with recreation, Bible study, worship skills, and a family dinner time. See the attached flyer.

Sponge Language Classes
       
Spanish, Mandarin and French are offered at all three Elementary schools. Busing is available between schools for all morning classes, and to Island Park from all schools on Wednesday afternoons. 
Register at:  www.spongeschool.com Contact us by email at info@spongeschool.com or give us a call at (425) 274-5188 with any questions, or see this flyer for details. 
 
Modern Manners for Modern Children Part I
 
Treat your children to a fun and educational manners class taught by Camille Callner of Clise Etiquette.
Please follow this link to learn more or to register.
 
TechSmartKids
 
TechSmartKids is offering after school computer coding classes this fall. Coding classes are available as fall session only or full year. 
 
Coding classes begin the week of October 5th. Enroll Online at http://www.techsmartkids.com or by phone by calling (425) 786-7824.


NEWSLETTER
SUBMISSIONS
The Wolf newsletter will go out on the 2nd and 4th 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.org.  
West Mercer Elementary PTA | 4141 81st Avenue | Mercer Island, Washington 98040 | 206-236-3430