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  THE WOLF
January 7, 2016
 
In This Issue
Mark Your Calendars
From the Library
Health Room
Culture Fair
Weather Alerts!
Winter Art Club
Lego Club
District News
Advocacy
Community Events
Newsletter Submissions
  

Dear West Mercer families,

We hope you enjoyed a relaxing break with friends and family! Welcome 2016, and no matter what your new years resolutions (or lack thereof), January brings the opportunity to try new things. The WM Culture Fair will be Jan 12th, and give our families a chance to learn more about the cultural backgrounds of many of our students. Check out the Community Events section for sports and activities for 2016. 


 

And with January comes the possibility of winter storms, so, be sure to sign up for winter weather flash alerts so that you can get the latest news on school delays and closures. 

 

Sincerely, 

West Mercer PTA

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Fri, Jan 8: Principal's Coffee

Tues, Jan 12: 6:30-8pm WM Culture Fair

Wed, Jan 13: 5th Grade Orchestra Curriculum Night

Fri, Jan 15: Elementary School Visitation

Mon, Jan 18: NO SCHOOL/MLK DAY

Tues, Jan 19: Kindergarten Roundup at WM

Wed, Jan 20: 5th Grade Band Curriculum Night

Fri, Jan 22: Popcorn Friday

Upcoming next month...

Fri, Feb 4-5: 7:00-8pm School Musical

 

WEST MERCER ANNOUNCEMENTS

From the WM Library
                                      
Thank you West Mercer Parents and Birthday Kids for supporting our Birthday Book Program.
 
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 Health Room Needs 
Extra Clothes

We are in need of some extra clothing in the health room. What we need the most is pants or leggings for girls, small and medium sizes. Thanks!

WM Culture Fair in January
                       
Celebrate Diversity
Tuesday, January 12th
6:30 - 8:00pm
West Mercer's Gym

The West Mercer Culture Fair is just around the corner! This fabulous event is open to all grades. See more information in the attached flyer. We are still seeking participants. Please contact Khue Dang, Khue.Dang@unionbank.com or Jocelyn Barber, jossbarber@me.com.
  
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.

Art Club - Winter Session
 
The Winter session of Art Club at West Mercer is beginning. Art Club provides an opportunity for students to explore a variety of art forms. Classes meet once a week after school at WM and are open to students in 1st-5th grades.

For more information, contact Ellen Hochberg at ellenhochberg1@comcast.net or 206-595-4662 

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
MISD Elementary
Visitation Days
 
Mercer Island School District's three elementary schools will host elementary visitation days twice in 2016, on January 28 and May 13. 
 
The visitation days are primarily for families thinking about moving to Mercer Island or MI residents considering enrolling their children in our school district. Visitation hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The district's 4th elementary school, Northwood, will open by the start of the 2016-17 school year. Visitation at Northwood is planned for June, 2016.

Kindergarten Registration
 
Mercer Island School District will begin accepting kindergarten registrations on Wed, Jan 20, 2016. For parents seeking information about the district's kindergarten program and registration process, kindergarten information sessions will be held for each elementary school on Tues, Jan 19th.

District staff will be present at each school to answer questions, discuss educational programs, and distribute registration packets. Families who cannot attend may pick up a registration packet at one of the schools or district office or visit the district website. Additionally, families uncertain about their home school attendance area can find more information by visiting the district website or by calling Mary Newcomer at 206-230-6336.

 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

Vote YES! Twice!
Vote YES for Capital Projects 
and
Vote YES for Technology
 & Transportation 

Two levy renewals are being proposed in February that provide funding for critical capital improvements to protect our community's investments in our schools, new technology and transportation for students. These are renewals of current levies - there is no change to the current levy assessment rate. The last levy renewals were overwhelming approved by Mercer Island voters.  For more information, go to YesMIschools.org and/or attend the public information meeting at the MI Library (4400 88th Ave SE) on Wed, Jan 20 at 6:30pm.

Volunteers needed for sign waiving and handing out school activity flyers. Please sign up at:  signupgenius.com 

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.
 
Boy Scout Troop 457's Pancake Breakfast

Boy Scouts from Troop 457 will be hosting a pancake breakfast on February 7th. See more details in the attached flyer.

Gymnastics at Newport HS 
on MLK Jr Day

The Newport High School Gymnastics team is having a day camp on Mon, Jan 18, from 8-11am for boys or girls, grades K-6th of any experience level. Cost is $55, $10 discount for siblings. Questions? email coach, Melissa Baker (bakerm@bsd405.org) or see the flyer.

NPSA Soccer at WM

Nowland Premier Soccer Academy is returning to WM for an 8 week training clinic in Winter/Spring! There are limited spots and the program fills quickly. You can reserve a spot by clicking here or by emailing contactnpsa@gmail.com.

Family Dessert Theater

The 5th Ave Adventure Musical Theatre for Kids presents an original show about the first 11 "Mercer Girls," recruited by the UW President in 1864 to work as teachers in the Washington Territory. Desserts are included!

At the SJCC (3801 E Mercer Way)
Sat, Feb 27th at 6:30PM
$10 adults, $5 members/seniors/students/youth

MIPA Annual Preschool Fair

What: MIPA's 17th Annual Preschool Fair.
When: Saturday, January 23rd, 10 am to Noon
Where: MI Community and Events Center 
Event description: Looking for a preschool, enrichment program, or childcare on MI? Don't miss MIPA's 17th Annual Preschool Fair. 

Annual K-8 Girls Jr. 
Basketball Camp

Learn new skills or brush up existing skills and have FUN! Dates: Saturdays Jan 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, Feb 6th from 12-2pm at the MIHS gym. For more information, click here.

Mommy Matters Workshop

Mommy Matters blends Positive Discipline and Gotten principles. Tuesdays, 10-11:30am, Jan 26-Mar 22 at the SJCC.

For more information call 206-226-2707, email: Melissa@GrowParenting.com, 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

Register for the 2016 Spring Season at www.MIGirlsLacrosse.com.  Register before Jan 15 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.
 
TechSmartKids
TechSmartKids is offering after school computer science coding classes beginning Monday, January 11th. Enroll online at or by calling 425-786-7824. New C101 class added for early release Wednesdays 3-4:30pm. Click here for more information.  
 
Sing With Our Kids
Babysitting Class

Learn how to engage babies and young children with simple singing activities, and how these benefit their development. Certificate of completion included.
Date: February 27, 10am-11:30am
Age: 11-15
Fee: FREE Registration required, call 275-7609
Location: MI Community & Event Center

Eastside Dream Elite Cheer

This cheer program, for boys and girls ages 7-18, is conducted by Eastside Dream Elite and by Head Coach Anne Taylor Christiansen. For more info visit www.eastsidedreamelite.com.
Course: 15818
Date: Tuesdays, Jan 5 - Feb 9, 5:30-7pm
Fee: $74
Location:MI Community & Event Center. Register by calling 275-7609 or online.

Super Sitters 
Babysitting Training

This program is designed to train young people in basic babysitting and home-alone skills. Participants receive a Babysitting 101 handbook and a certification card upon completion of the class. 
Course: 15789
Date: Sat, February 13, 9am-2pm
Fee: $49
Age: 11-15
Location: MI Community & Event Center. Register by calling 275-7609 or online.

Cook, Learn, Grow
If your child LOVES to cook, then this 4 week after-school cooking program is just for them! For more information, visit here. 
Course: 15941
Date: Mondays, February 22-March 14, 4-5pm
Fee: $179
Age: 5-11
Location: MI Community & Event Center. Register by calling 275-7609 or online.

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. 

Sponge Language Classes
       
Learn Spanish or French at West Mercer. With our immersion-based, spiral curriculum, students can successfully join at any time. All classes are held before school from 8:00 to 9:00am at WM. Registration and information is available online or email at info@spongeschool.com or call (425) 274-5188.


NEWSLETTER
SUBMISSIONS
The Wolf newsletter will go out on the 1st and 3rd 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