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  THE WOLF
December 3, 2015
 
In This Issue
Mark Your Calendars
West Mercer Announcements
Community Events
Newsletter Submissions
  

Dear West Mercer families,

 

November gave us the opportunity to remember to be thankful for so many things. Thanksgiving break is behind us, and the end of the year will be here soon. First term report cards will be arriving via constant contact on Friday evening, and conferences follow soon with no school in session December 7-9, so that the teachers can meet with each and every parent. 

 

December also brings Winter Break for time with friends and families. There are also a number of camps available for those days off of school, check it out below. The change in term also means a new round of activities for our kids both at the school and offered by local youth organizations, see more below about what our community has to offer.

 

Sincerely, 

West Mercer PTA

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Fri, Dec 4th: Next Popcorn Friday

Mon-Wed, Dec 7th-9th: NO SCHOOL for Teacher Conferences

Thurs, Dec 17th: Winter Music Assembly

Mon, Dec 21st - Jan 1st: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

Upcoming next month...
Mon, Jan 4th: School back in session

Fri, Jan 8th: Principal's Coffee

Tues, Jan 12th: WM Culture Fair
 

 

WEST MERCER ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU!!
  
Thanks to all who attended Island Books Brunch & Browse! Erin Gurney did an outstanding job organizing this fundraiser, and Island Books was more than gracious to host us. Over $1,000 was raised for the West Mercer PTA!!
 
Thanks to our wonderful Wolf Wear chair Karin Shelton for organizing those countless shirts and hoodies. If it hasn't already, your Wolf Wear order will soon appear in your child's back pack. Wear with pride and keep up the spirit!
Cynthia Winiski & Veronica Bethlen: THANK YOU for honoring West Mercer's staff with a fabulous Staff Appreciation Lunch!  It's an incredible amount of work, but wow, the compliments are unending.
 
Thanks to all the students who participated in Crazy Hat Day! A fun way to head into a long weekend.
 
From the WM Library
                                      
Thank you West Mercer Parents and Birthday Kids for supporting our Birthday Book Program.
  
103 beautiful books went out for birthdays in Sept-Nov! Books were labeled with the birthday child's name and birthday and included a special bookmark.
  
It is not too late to honor your child with a Birthday Book. The application is online with the PTA information. "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents"   
  
WM Culture Fair in January
                                         
The West Mercer Culture Fair is coming in January and is open to all grades. See more information in the attached flyer.  
  
Social Media Guru?
  
Are you a social media guru who wants to help the West Mercer PTA with your talents?  We are looking for someone to help manage the West Mercer PTA Facebook page.  Want to learn more?  Please contact Julie Keeler at communications@westmercerpta.org.
Weather Alerts!
 
It is beginning to feel like winter and with that can come power outages, ice and snow. Sign up here for Mercer Island School District weather alerts and stay in the know about school delays or closures.

Lego Club - Winter Session
 
 The winter session of West Mercer's Lego Club will meet Tuesdays 3:30-5:30 in the WM library, Jan 12- Mar 22. For more information see the attached flyer.
 
DISTRICT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Input Needed on Spanish-Language Program
 
The probability is high that a Spanish-language program will occur this coming fall. This will require the elementary school day to be extended by 15 minutes, every day, to allow additional time needed to have children study Spanish and not detract from the other content areas. Please click here to learn more and to take the survey.

From MISD Superintendent, Dr. Gary Plano
 
A lot is happening in the Mercer Island School District! Dr. Gary Plano provided the attached update in November: from Dr. Gary Plano.
 
 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

No updates at this time

WM PTA legislative advocacy website
  
 
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.
 
Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby

Troop 624 will be hosting the annual Pinewood car Derby on Dec 17 at MI Presbyterian Church. 
See attached flyer. 
Island Youth Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker
Celebrate the holiday season with a student ballet production of "Excerpts from the Nutcracker" with magical scenery, exquisite costumes and sophisticated dancing. Appropriate for all ages.

Performances at the MI JCC, Dec 12th & 13th and 19th & 20th. Tickets: www.childrensdance.org or call 206-275-4750. More details, see flyer.
Winter Break Camps

The SJCC has camps available for kids K-5 during the MISD Winter Break. Check out details about these fun camps in the attached flyer.

Mommy Matters Workshop

Get support and learn about what matters most as your child moves through the toddler/preschool years! Mommy Matters blends Positive Discipline and Gotten principles. Tuesdays, 10-11:30am, Jan 26-Mar 22 at the MI JCC.

For more information email Melissa@GrowParenting.com, call 206-226-2707 or visit MommyMatters.

Mercer Island Boys Lacrosse

MI Boys Lacrosse Spring season registration is open now. Grades K through 8. See the attached flyer for details about dates, times, and more.

Mercer Island Girls Lacrosse
Grades 1-8

Registration opened on 12/1 for the 2016 Spring Season at www.MIGirlsLacrosse.com.  Register before Jan 15, 2016 for $25 discounted registration!  
 
Grades 1-4 register for "Elementary Program" at migirlslaxes@gmail.com.
Grades 5-8 register for the "Middle School Program" at migirlslaxms@gmail.com.
 
Get Your Little Dribblers Signed Up!

The Little Dribblers program is run by the MI Boys Basketball Booster Club. Get your boys on the court each Saturday. Register here.

Dates: Dec 5, 12, 19, Jan 9, 23, 30, Feb 6 
Location: MIHS Main Gym
Fee: $85

Luther Burbank 
Playground Mosaics

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.

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

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
       
Gracias! Xiexie! Merci! There is still space in many of our classes at Island Park, West Mercer and Lakeridge. Schedule, Registration, and information about tuition is available online at www.spongeschool.com/sign-up.

TechSmartKids
 
TechSmartKids is offering after school computer coding classes this fall. Winter session coding classes begin the week of January 13th. 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